Echo Magazine June 2017 by OUTvoices Phoenix (former Echo Magazine)

PLUS:

2017 Mercury Season Preview

The New Kids on the Block

Meet Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2017

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 28, #9 | ISSUE 693 | June 2017 | COMPLIMENTARY

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inside this issue Issue 693 | Vol. 28, #9 | June 2017

features

NEWS 12 News Briefs 16 Datebook 18 one•n•ten Kicks Off Annual Fundraiser 21 Tucson Celebrates Pride with a New Week of Festivities 26 Valley Youth Selected For National HRC Project 28 Trans Queer Pueblo shares the message behind its parade protest 30 Child Crisis Arizona Hosts Comedy Night 32 Eddie Broadway Brings National Title to Arizona PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS

60 Without Reservations 62 At The Box Office

Meet the New Kids on the Block Eva Angelica Stratton and Kristofer V. Lee kick off their reign as Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2017.

The Summer’s Hottest Tickets We caught up with Andy Cohen and Melissa Etheridge ahead of their Valley visits, and here’s what they had to say …

63 The Small Screen 64 Between The Covers COMMUNITY 66 All Over The Map 68 The Right Side of History 69 Trans Spectrum of Arizona 70 Talking Bodies ON THE COVER Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2017 Eva Angelica Stratton and Kristofer V. Lee. Photo by Scotty Kirby.

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We Will Be Heard The Phoenix Mercury continues its quest for a fourth championship title with a newly reconstructed roster.

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Bisbee or Bust Arizona’s mile-high city cordially invites you to its 13th annual Pride celebration weekend, June 16-18.

inside this issue

echomag.com web exclusives

PHOTO GALLERIES Did the Echo cameras catch you out and about

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/vegasgaypoolparty.

at this month’s events? Find out at echomag.com/ gallery/2017-photos. COMMUNITY CALENDAR From pageants to advocacy, this is where the community goes to find out what’s going on in the gayborhood. echomag.com/ community-calendar

Viva Las Vegas Find out what fabulous LGBTQ events Sin City has to offer this summer. echomag.com/las-vegas-lgbtq

Miss Gay Arizona USofA Newcomer Eva Anglica Stratton shares what her newest title means to her. echomag.com/eva-angelica-stratton

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY Looking for a local group to join? Have a group that’s seeking new members? Either way, this is the place to connect. echomag.com/ community-directory MARKETING SOLUTIONS Find out why Echo is the publication your future clients are already reading. echomag.com/ marketing-solutions

Dana Goldberg Bisbee Pride’s hilarious headliner dishes on her start in comedy and what will make her upcoming visit special. echomag.com/dana-goldberg

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Summer Pride Tucson celebrates LGBT Pride Month with a week of festivities

s part of LGBT Pride Month, Tucson is hosting a series of community events that all come together under the umbrella of Summer Pride. Summer Pride, which will take place June 2-12 at various locations throughout Tucson, is an event concept developed by Pete King, owner of summerpride.com. His vision for Summer Pride, according to the website, is to create a week of exciting events that appeal to a wide cross section of the community. “Summer Pride is a fantastic week of LGBTI community events that celebrate the spirit of liberation and equality ignited by the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion,” the website explains. “It is a collaboration of organizations, businesses and social groups.’ However, King clarified that Summer Pride is not intended to be a replacement for Tucson Pride, which will observe its 40th anniversary Sept. 30. “Like many cities, Tucson is big enough to support lots of events,” the website explains. “It just so happens that many Tucson organizations plan events to take place the first week of June … [which] is a traditional time for many communities around the world to have celebrations. Now Tucson does, too.”

The Benefit | June 3 TIHAN celebrates the 20th anniversary of their signature event, Treasures for TIHAN, with "An Evening Under The Stars" beginning at 6 p.m. at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel, 880 E. Second St. in Tucson. One of the community's premiere annual fundraisers turns 20 with a sparkling evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, festive entertainment and live and silent auctions. Proceeds benefit TIHAN's programs and services for people affected by HIV/AIDS. For more information on "An Evening Under The Stars," visit tihan.org/ treasures2017/treasures_event_info.htm.

The Movie | June 8 Join Out At The Movies for a screening of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar beginning at 7:30 p.m. at The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd, in Tucson. Tickets are $15 and proceeds support Habitat for Humanity's Rainbow Build (habitattucson.org/get-involved/ events/rainbow-build). news

For more information on the screening, visit loftcinema. org/film/to-wong-foothanks-for-everything-julienewmar.

The Happy Hour | June 9 Tucson's most popular monthly gay outing, the G3 Gay Happy Hour, is celebrating its fourth anniversary from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento, in Tucson. G3 is a social event for gay men and their friends that takes place the second Friday of every month, and the courtyard at Mercado San Agustin will provide the backdrop for G3's birthday bash, which will include cocktails, food offerings, music and a festive crowd ($9 cover). For more information, visit tucsong3.com.

The Brunch | June 10 Join the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) for Out Brunch 2017 beginning at 10 a.m. (registration) at Tucson University Park Hotel, 880 E. Second St., in Tucson. Hosted by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” veteran and Echo Magazine Hall of Fame inductee Tempest DuJour (pictured), and featuring entertainment from Bryan Safi and Erin Gibson of TV Land’s “Throwing Shade,” this inaugural event honoring the 2017 Godat, Steve Hall and Dr. Jean Baker Community Ally award recipients. Ticlets are $65 in advance and proceeds benefit SAAF's LGBT Initiatives Program. For more information, visit outbrunchaz.saaf.org.

The Parade | June 10 The Rainbow Parade, an electrified costume parade comprised of six contingents – one for each color in the Rainbow Flag is going to sashay through the streets of downtown Tucson (projected route: along Congress Street, between Fourth and Church avenues), beginning at 8 p.m. At this parade even the street will play a part in the show, with sound and lighting effects bouncing off the buildings blurring the line between

Join Tempest Dujour for Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation's Out Brunch 2017 at 10 a.m. June 10. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/tempestdujour.

parade participants and spectators. For more information, or to sign up to be in the parade, visit summerpride.com/ parade.

The Concert | June 11 Tucson and Phoenix LGBT choruses are joining forces for “Celebrating the Spectrum,” beginning at 3 p.m. at Tucson Temple of Music and Art, 220 S. Scott Avenue, in Tucson. Desert Voices, together with Reveille Men’s Chorus and the ReVerb Ensemble, welcome The Phoenix Metropolitan Men's Chorus, Voices of the Desert and The Phoenix Women's Chorus to the Temple of Music for this semiannual concert that’s empowerment through song. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and proceeds benefit Desert Voices. For more information, visit desertvoices.org. For additional details, including information on the The Opening, The Mixer and The Memorial stay tuned to summerpride.com. Source: summerpride.com. Summer Pride 2017 June 2-12 Various locations throughout Tucson. summerpride.com EchoMag.com

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OUT & ABOUT Phurfest 2017 April 29 & 30 at Embassy Suites Hilton Phoenix Airport, Phoenix. Photos by Gregg Edelman.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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An AmAZing Ambassador

Valley youth selected to serve on national HRC Project By KJ Philp

ou may have spotted him holding a “I stand with Planned Parenthood” sign at the State Capitol or volunteering at the one•n•ten booth at Rainbows Festival last fall. Maybe you recognize him from one of his signature photo pose – he’s captured shots with everyone from former NFL player Michael Sam and author, activist and reality star Jazz Jennings to HRC president Chad Griffin and Echo Magazine Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Bobbi Lancaster.

In fact, it was Dr. Lancaster, a mentor and a friend to local volunteer extraordinaire Justin Jones (pictured), who set the wheels in motion for his most recent opportunity to get involved. The HRC Foundation’s Youth WellBeing Project introduced this year’s group of youth ambassadors, which included Jones and 15 others, Feb. 17. “This program is designed to amplify the important voices of teens and young

adults, and engage them in helping HRC Foundation improve the lives of LGBTQ youth at home, at school, at work, and beyond,” explained Vinnie Pompei, As HRC Foundation’s director of Youth Well-Being Project and Time to THRIVE conference chair. “These youth have real and meaningful contributions to make to HRC’s work and to their communities.”

The second day was the opening for the Time to THRIVE conference, which included [a variety of] speakers … [the third] day included some youth-related workshops. On the last day, we had … a panel on how to be LGBTQ individuals in corporate America.

And, according to hrc.org/resources/ youth-ambassadors, this class of young people was selected to participate in the program “because of their courage in sharing their own stories and their demonstrated commitment to speaking out about issues facing all LGBTQ youth.”

Jones: My personal highlights were meeting and greeting everyone. I had the privilege to get on stage to talk about immigration issues myself. Overall I had a great time in Washington, I had a chance to visit the Capitol, the Jefferson and Martin Luther King Jr memorials and the National Mall.

As youth ambassadors, Jones and his peers will represent the HRC Foundation and help to raise awareness about its youth-focused programs, including the annual Time to THRIVE Conference, which took place April 27-30 in Washington DC. Echo Caught up with Jones as soon as he returned from DC, to find out more about his experience at the conference and his goals for the year ahead. Echo: Describe the moment you found out you had been selected. Jones: … I could not believe it, that moment was so surreal. I’ve never felt so much joy in one day, something that will have a lasting impact in my life. Echo: What is your primary role as a Youth Ambassador for HRC? Jones: My primary role as a Youth Ambassador is bringing awareness to issues that youth are facing, such as HIV/ AIDS, immigration, diversity inclusion in the LGBTQ community and youth LGBTQ education. Echo: You just returned from the 2017 Time to THRIVE conference in Washington DC, what was that like? Jones: The first day was our LGBTQ Youth Lobby Day, making sure that our senators understand that LGBTQ people want equal rights and not extra rights.

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Echo: What were some of the personal highlights for you?

Echo: What does the year ahead look like for you as an HRC Youth Ambassador on a local level? Jones: As for what I will do on the local level, I plan on working with the HRC Arizona steering committee to focus on how can we get more youth and young adults to be a part of HRC. … I am working really closely with teachers and other educators to make schools more LGBTQ friendly … areas that I am specifically focused on are LGBTQ homelessness (Arizona is one of the highest in the country), immigration and LGBTQ education. For more information on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Youth Ambassadors Program, visit hrc.org/ resources/youth-ambassadors.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interview with Justin Jones, visit echomag.com/justin-jones.

KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. He can be reached at editor@echomag.com. news

OUT & ABOUT Echo Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards Reception April 20 at Kobalt, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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Photo by Diego Nacho.

Trans Queer Pueblo shares more about the message behind this year’s parade protest By KJ Philp

n the morning of April 2, more than 12,000 spectators lined Third Street, from Thomas Road to Steele Indian School Park, awaiting the Phoenix Pride Parade. The annual procession, according to phoenixpride.com, comprises more than 2,000 individual participants with decorated vehicles, colorful floats and festive walkers. This year’s event was met with a protest by members of Trans Queer Pueblo (TQP), an autonomous LGBTQ+ migrant community of color that "works to create community solutions to build the leadership of our people and the power of our community to create concrete social change here in Phoenix." The message: Phoenix Pride should be using its influence to make both Phoenix and Pride safe for LGBTQ+ people of color (POC). Following the protest, Echo Magazine caught up with Dago Bailon, an assistant with TQP who has been organizing to create safe spaces for people who identify as undocumented and queer since 2011. Echo: TQP was a Phoenix Pride Parade participant in 2016. At what point did you collectively decide that this year was going to be different? How did that meeting/conversation go? Bailon: Every year, our participation in Pride is decided by our membership and community … We ask ourselves whether today’s Pride marches are accessible and relevant for our LGBTQ+ communities of color. This year our community determined that, though the first pride was a protest against police brutality, today it celebrates the police and takes money from sponsors that finance mass incarceration, criminalization, the stealing of native lands and more. This year, our membership felt great

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urgency to bring back the spirit of Pride. … [which] means honoring our full identities, like the distinct and different colors of the rainbow flag. We are trans, queer, immigrants, POC, poor [and] undocumented people. Just like our rainbow flag, we can’t choose just one color or stripe to uphold or defend [because] we are all of them at the same time. Echo: What was the message TQP was sending? Bailon: We hear from our community that for queer and trans people of color, especially undocumented people, Pride is not a safe place to celebrate because they collaborate with the police who deport and persecute us and they promote and accept funding from companies like the Bank of America and Wells Fargo, that finance our detention and incarceration. Furthermore, despite important political ties, Pride does not use its influence to make Phoenix safe. Despite close ties with the Mayor and City Council, Pride is silent when it comes to the struggle for justice of migrant communities or communities of color here in Phoenix. Echo: Do you feel that it was understood by the intended recipients? Why or why not? Bailon: We received an outpouring of support in the weeks after Pride from LGBTQ+ people, especially LGBTQ+ people of color, who were excited that finally the voice of the community was heard in a mainstream LGBTQ+ event … The message – of bringing Pride back to its roots … and honor[ing] all of the identities of the community – resonated deeply with everyone that reached out to us from Phoenix and around the nation.

Echo: In what ways has this helped your mission? Has your mission been negatively impacted in any ways? Bailon: In this time of great threat from federal and state governments toward all of our communities, a unity of silence is not helpful and doesn’t protect anyone from transphobic laws in schools, from police brutality and persecution, from mass deportations or from threats to our health and wellbeing. In order to move forward in true and active unity, defending our communities and fighting for justice, we have to end the white supremacy, misogyny and transphobia that divide our LGBTQ+ community. We are often afraid to use these words – we might sound to angry, we might be dismissed – but we can’t solve a problem if we are too afraid or too complicit to name it. If our LGBTQ+ institutions are allied with the corporations, police and governments that are carrying out acts of violence on migrants, native people, black people, trans people – in short, the majority of our community – then we are not standing together for LGBTQ+ justice. For more information, look for Trans Queer Pueblo on Facebook, @tqpueblo on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, visit transqueerpueblo.tumblr.com or email trans.queer.pueblo@gmail.com.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interview with Dago Balion, visit echomag.com/tqp.

KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. He can be reached at editor@echomag.com. news

Phoenix Pride Releases Statement Regarding Planned Parade Protests Justin Owen, executive director of Phoenix Pride, issued the following statement (dated March 31, 2017) in response to planned protests by immigrants’ rights activists at the 2017 Phoenix Pride Parade April 2, in Phoenix: The annual Phoenix Pride Festival and Pride Parade serve as a community celebration to recognize the pride we have in our Phoenix LGBTQ community and to celebrate the advancements we have made in gaining rights, acceptance and standing in our city, our state and our country. In recent years, we have joined together to revel in the national recognition of same-sex marriage, to rejoice in the defeat of dangerous and discriminatory policies like Arizona Senate Bill 1062, and to recognize the granting of equal rights protections in housing, employment and public accommodations by the City of Phoenix. While we continue to fight the injustices that exist in our society, it is important to take stock of advancements we’ve made and to celebrate the victories that we have achieved together. We are aware that there are still many causes that need attention, and we always stand willing to work with members of our community to end oppression and injustice of any kind and against any individual or group. The purpose of the Pride Festival and Parade is to honor our past, celebrate our present and look to our future, while providing the Phoenix LGBTQ community with a safe place to gather and enjoy. Our first priority is always the safety and security of those who attend the Pride Festival and Parade, either as parade participants or as spectators, as well as those who attend the festival as guests. We are absolutely committed to this principle and cannot afford to condone any behavior that might disrupt the festivities in a way that could endanger anyone’s safety or security. As we do every year, we are working with our public safety partners at the City of Phoenix to insure a safe event for all who attend. Interference with the parade route, or direct disruption of the parade or festival, will not be permitted, as a matter of safety for the public. We have tremendous pride in the protest history of our movement, and as always, we will welcome peaceful protests by those who wish to express their concerns about any issues of social justice. We ask our friends, neighbors and all fellow Phoenicians to respect our need to maintain safety, and to carry out any protest activities with respect and dignity and to not endanger themselves or any other members of the public. “We anticipate a wonderful Pride weekend, and will look forward to resuming our normal business – including meeting with any members of the community who have concerns they wish us to hear – beginning on Monday. As always, we express our appreciation for the support and assistance of the Phoenix civic, business and resident communities who make Phoenix Pride both possible and successful. Source: Phoenix Pride. news

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Comedy For A Cause Child Crisis Arizona invites prospective parents out for a night of laughs and education By Liz Massey

n the annals of great combinations, there’s peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, and dinner and a show. Local adoption agency Child Crisis Arizona (CCAZ) is hoping to add “comedy and adoption education” to that list, with its Night of Comedy gathering, an event that will blend the talent of openly gay Valley comedians with information about how LGBTQ individuals and couples can begin the adoption process in Arizona. The Night of Comedy will take place June 3 at the Webster Center at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. It’s a free event designed to aid recruitment of new LGBTQ adoptive families to the agency’s roster. According to Ken Hoffman, event organizer and adoption/training supervisor for CCAZ, attendees will get their giggles on with the help of Gene Moore and Ernesto Ortiz, who have performed at Phoenix Pride and other queer venues, including The Rock and Cruisin’ 7th. “This comedy event will be very family friendly,” he said. “It is a no-pressure event. We want people to have information about adoptions and to let them know we’re there to support them when they’re ready to begin their journey.”

Hoffman added that he will emcee the event, and that current LGBTQ adoptive parents associated with CCAZ will discuss their experiences as parents and answer questions at intermission and during breaks between acts. Ortiz, who partnered with Moore to create the Workin’ It Out comedy podcast and show to provide a showcase for performers who want to deliver openly LGBTQ comedy material, said he’s participating in the event to help his community, as well as CCAZ. “There are many kids who need a safe home with a loving family,” Ortiz said. “Many LGBTQ people can provide a home and love … Performing in this event is a way to help create happy and healthy homes.” Moore added, “We want and deserve the same rights as everyone else. We are also as capable of loving and caring for children as our straight counterparts.” Arizona’s Department of Child Safety is underwriting the cost of the venue and CCAZ staff time for the Night of Comedy, Hoffman said. While CCAZ hosts recruitment events for other adoptive parent populations, including Native Americans and members of the

TAKE IT ONLINE For Echo’s full interview with Ernesto Ortiz and Gene Moore, visit echomag.com/ comedy-for-a-cause.

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Mormon church, Hoffman said DCS had singled out the Night of Comedy as an “innovative” approach to recruiting prospective parents. “(DCS) said this type of event hadn’t been done before,” he noted. “They were actually asking if they could come, too. They are interested in funding this event because LGBTQ couples and individuals often have fewer children in their home before they make inquiries to adoption agencies, and DCS would like for us to be able to place siblings together [in a home].” According to Hoffman, LGBTQ Arizonans interested in adoption often believe there will be difficulties in the process related to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The informational interludes at the Night of Comedy are designed to dispel this notion, especially where CCAZ is concerned. “We will work with any LGBTQ person who wants to expand their family,” he stated. “CCAZ wants to plant our flag and make sure community members know that, especially since the marriage laws have changed, there are no barriers in terms of the adoption process for same-sex couples.”

Night of Comedy, hosted by Child Crisis Arizona 6 to 8 p.m. June 3 Desert Botanical Garden’s Webster Center 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix childcrisisaz.org/comedynight 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. news

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me to get to Tennessee and nationals. He reigned with such purpose and dignity. He was the national title holder when I was Mister Phoenix Gay Pride in 2014, so we had a lot of time to discuss how that title prepared him for the USofA title. Echo: Speaking of your reign as Mister Phoenix Gay Pride, what influence has Miss Phoenix Gay Pride 2014 Barbra Seville had on your jpurney? Broadway: … without that reign with her, as well as becoming amazing friends with her, I would not have been prepared to do this. She taught me a lot about the business side of drag and how to make Eddie Broadway a household name. I really owe a lot of who Eddie is today [to] of her. Echo: How have your recent accomplishments in Phoenix helped prepare you to bring this title home? Broadway: Every single thing that I have been involved with has been a lesson of some sort, whether good or bad. It’s all paved the way [for me] to be the man I am today and help prepare me to be a successful national titleholder. It’s all so serendipitous how it all seems to have fallen into place in such a systematic way. Echo: What did you do differently to prepare this time around?

Making it Reign Eddie Broadway brings Mr. USofA M.I. title to Arizona By KJ Philp

Echo: After all these years, what does the national title mean to you?

ddie Broadway is a man of man titles: Mister Phoenix Pride, Echo Readers’ Choice Awards winner and Hall of Fame inductee, dad (to Dee Jae Galaxy-Broadway), husband (to Melody Broadway), His Royal Grace Duke of the Imperial Sovereign Empire of Arizona’s Reign XI and Licensed Master Social Worker, to name a few. But no matter what Broadway’s accomplished, he’s always had his eyes on just one more goal. One that was always just beyond his reach until March 13. On a stage in Dayton, Ohio, Broadway was crowned Mr. USofA M.I. 2017, a title he describes as the one that changed everything. After competing in the 2016 national pageant as Mister Arizona USofA MI 2015 and earning the title of 2nd alternate, Broadway switched things up a bit. This 32

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Broadway: I took A LOT of people’s advice on my package. I wanted to get nationally recognized performers input on what to do and how to improve. I actually utilized an interview coach, which paid off as I placed first in my group and third overall in that category. I started thinking more about this reign as opposed to the crown itself. I feel that I grew a lot as a person through having to navigate a lot on my own. But when I needed them, my family and friends were there with open arms.

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year, he earned his ticket to the national stage as Mister Tennessee USofA MI 2016 and the rest, as they say, is history. Echo: Can you give us the backstory as to how decided to compete (thereby qualifying for nationals) in Nashville last December? Broadway: I thought for a while about going back, but was really unsure about what state to represent. Brandon Packer came back from Tennessee on a business trip and said, “why not there”? I contacted the promoter and … We hit it off and I decided that this was going to be my home away from home. Echo: Brandon Packer last brought home a national title, in what ways has his journey impacted yours? Broadway: I literally would not have won if it wasn’t for him. He sponsored

Broadway: It represents an ultimate dream coming true. I saw this crown five years ago and I knew one day it would be on my head. It represents my perseverance and my drive to be a leader on a national scale. It represents the countless friends, fans and family members that truly believed in me.

READ THE REST For Echo’s full interview with Eddie Broadway, visit echomag.com/make-it-reign.

KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. He can be reached at editor@echomag.com. news

OUT & ABOUT Coronation XII: Geeks Gone Glam May 6 at the Hilton Phoenix Airport. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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OUT & ABOUT Come As You Are: Lavender Ball April 29 at Fair Trade Cafe at Civic Space Park, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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The latest, whenever, wherever. New this year, Bisbee Pride released a limited quantity of VIP passes, which include access to all featured events. Tickets, for $75,are available at bisbeepride.com/tickets.

feature story

Bisbee Pride has only grown since 2004, and Sowden said it has to do with the festival as much as the town and its residents. “People feel really accepted here,” she said. “They feel the sense of community. That’s what we hear every year. People just feel like Bisbee is a safe place to be.”

Bisbee or Bust

Aimee V. Justice will host Decadend Diva Dance Party June 17.

Arizona’s mile-high city invites you to its 13th annual Pride celebration By Tamara Juarez

or the past 12 years, Bisbee has observed LGBT Pride Month with a city-wide celebration that’s open to everyone. And, heading into its 13th annual Pride weekend, the tightly knit and quite eccentric southern Arizona community is prepping for what could easily be its most impressive weekend of festivities to date. From June 16 to 18, vendors, supporters, sponsors, entertainers and allies will converge, quite literally, in the streets of one of Arizona’s most historic towns, making it an ideal opportunity to see new sights and visit new venues. “It’s sort of our way to introduce people to Bisbee as a gay-friendly place,” said Kathy Sowden, owner of Finders Keepers antique shop in Bisbee and festival organizer since 2009. “We like to show them the best of Bisbee so they’ll come back, and if we had the festival in a single location, they wouldn’t get to see the town. We have really cool architecture and have lots of fun in the bars and venues, so it’s a very unique experience.” Throughout the year, “America’s Best Historic Small Town” attracts more than 1,500 visitors from throughout Arizona and beyond – about a quarter of its original population. Throughout the

past decade, Bisbee has become widely known for its vibrant art and music scene, as well as its beautifully preserved architecture, which showcases the very best of the Eclectic Movement of the early 1900s.

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“I have not been to Bisbee or attended Bisbee Pride, so I’m really excited to get down there,” she said “... I think it’s beautiful when smaller towns that don’t really get celebrities or big shows or prides [attract so much attention, because] they appreciate it more. They get to go out and be gay.”

Goldberg will perform alongside comedian Sampson McCormick and Phoenix-based queercore comedic rock band The Pübes during the “LOL - Laugh Out Loud” feature event at 7:30 p.m. June 17. The weekends schedule of events also includes a wine tasting and live theater show at the Bisbee Royale, the annual Miners and Madames Street Dance at the Copper Queen Saloon and the Twisted Sister Bingo fundraiser for Chiricahua Community Clinic’s Domestic Violence & Advocacy Program.

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Check out Bisbee’s cool saloons in your finest lingerie! Start with cocktails at the Screaming Banshee or Contessa’s Cantina. The Lascivious Lingerie Pageant | 7:45 p.m. Meet up at Pride Village and compete for the most Lascivious Lingerie. The winner gets a prize and will ride in the Bisbee Pride Parade. Cost: free. Midnight Miners & Madame’s Street Dance | 8 p.m. Dress like a miner or a madame and dance your booty off in front of the Copper Queen Hotel and Saloon. Cost: $10.

Pride Village, Street Fair | 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Day Stage | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Drop into the Blue Mule Cafe in the Bisbee Royale for live music, comedy and drag shows all day long. Cost: free. Wine Tasting and Live Theater | 1-3 p.m.

The Pübes will perform at the “LOL - Laugh Out Loud show and the Decadent Diva Dance Party June 17. Photo courtesy of The Pübes.

PLUS:

2017 Mercury Season Preview

Bisbee Pride Parade - Celebrating Diversity | 5-6 p.m. Register in advance and meet at 4:30 p.m. in the Courthouse parking lot. Cost: free. “LOL - Laugh Out Loud” | 7:30 p.m. Live comedy show hosted by Dana Goldberg with Sampson McCormick and The Pübes at the Bisbee Royale Theater. Cost: $30 Decadent Diva Dance Party with Live Bands | 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Hosted by Aimee V. Justice with DJ Cue and a live band every hour, including Rockus, Rawjam and The Pübes, at the Bisbee Royale Theater. Cost: $10.

When asked about what she’s most looking forward to at Bisbee Pride, Goldberg did not pass the opportunity to crack a joke. “That the show is inside,” she said with a laugh. “I’m sort of kidding, but I am happy that I’ll be in an airconditioned room in Arizona, in the middle of June.

Lingerie Pub Crawl | 6 p.m.

Stop by Pride Village in Grassy Park for a cocktail and browse the wears of many artisans. Cost: free.

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.

Aimee V. Justice. Photo Scotty Kirby.

June 16 Bisbee Pride welcomes visitors at its Pride Village, located in Grassy Park by the Mining Museum. Pick up an accessory for the dance or have a featured cocktail to start the weekend off right. Cost: free.

June 17

The 14th Annual Bisbee Pride June 16-18 Various locations through Bisbee bisbeepride.com

As an avid LGBTQ advocate, Goldberg has shared a stage with some of the world’s most iconic figures, including former president Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey and many more.

This will be Goldberg’s first pride event for the season, and she said 56

it’s an honor to perform for the Bisbee audience.

Bisbee Pride Event Schedule Pride Village in Grassy Park | 3-10 p.m.

June 18 Twisted Sister Bingo | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

PLUS:

2017 Mercury Season Preview

A fundraiser for Chiricahua Community Clinic’s Domestic Violence& Advocacy Program at the Bisbee Royale Theater (lunch and cocktails available). Cost: bingo cards are $1 each.

TAKE IT ONLINE For Echo’s interview with Bisbee Pride headliner Dana Goldberg, visit echomag.com/dana-goldberg.

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EchoMag.com

The New Kids on the Block

Transcending The Binary

JUNE 2017

The New Kids on the Block

Transcending The Binary Artist’s series tells trans stories

Echo’s 2016 HallPride of Fame inductees Meet Miss andMeet Mister Phoenix 2017

Artist’s series tells trans stories

Echo’s 2016 HallPride of Fame inductees Meet Miss andMeet Mister Phoenix 2017

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS 28,28, #2 #9 | ISSUE 686 693 | NOVEMBER 2016 || COMPLIMENTARY LGBTQ VIEWS AND ANDENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT| |VOL. VOL. | ISSUE | June 2017 COMPLIMENTARY LGBTQ NEWS, NEWS, VIEWS 28,28, #2 #9 | ISSUE 686 693 | NOVEMBER 2016 || COMPLIMENTARY LGBTQ VIEWS AND ANDENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. | VOL. | ISSUE | June 2017 COMPLIMENTARY

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Mister and Miss Phoenix Pride 2017 Kristofer V. Lee and Eva Angelica Stratton. Photos by Scotty Kirby. 40

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Meet the New Kids on the Block Eva Angelica Stratton and Kristofer V. Lee kick off their reign as Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride By Laura Latzko

efore a panel of judges composed of the Valley’s most recognizable and most awarded drag personalities, 17 hopeful entertainers took to the stage all with one common goal: to walk away with a crown that represents the LGBTQ community. Serving as the formal step-down for Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2016, Naomi St. James and George “Geo” Johnson, this year’s pageant took place March 19 at The DoubleTree by Hilton Tempe. Under the theme “Egyptian Royalty: Ascension To The Throne,” 11 Miss contestants and the six mister contestants brought their best to talent, eveningwear and on-stage question categories before a packed house. After more than five hours, the contest culminated with the announcement that revealed Eva Angelica Stratton and Kristofer V. Lee received the top scores of the evening and were thus crowned Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride 2017. The two entertainers began their reign that evening, though the Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade, April 1 and 2, served as their formal introduction to the community. The Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride Pageant, according to phenixpride. org, is a community event supported

by local organizations and numerous illusionists. As a recipient of the title Miss or Mister Phoenix Pride, the winners will become the faces of the Phoenix Pride organization during their reign. Among their duties as titleholders is promoting pride in our community, state and country; portraying role model qualities with integrity and dignity; and raising awareness of the Phoenix Pride Scholarship Program. This year’s pageant contestants raised more than $28,000 for the Phoenix Pride Scholarship Program. Because of this collective effort, Victor Avila, Phoenix Pride program manager, said that Phoenix Pride will be able to give away seven scholarships, which combine for a total of $35,000 this year. Throughout the year ahead, Avila said Stratton and Lee will help to educate community members about Phoenix Pride’s mission and programs, including its grants and scholarship opportunities – roles, he estimates they’ll be perfect for. “Everybody brings something [unique] … to their reign,” Avila said. “But I do feel that Kristofer and Eva, being millennials, will definitely help us to reach that audience. Currently, that’s who’s trying to get through school.”

The Path To the Pageant Stratton earned her ticket to the Pride Pageant as Miss BS West 2017, a title

fitting for a contestant who regularly performs at the Scottsdale bar. She is part of the cast of Elements and has taken part in Stars of Tomorrow at BS West. For Lee, the title of Mister Imperial Court 2017 not only earned him a place in the Pride Pageant, but also marked the first title he’s ever captured. In the months leading up to the pageant, Stratton and Lee both worked closely with their fellow contestants by participating in their various fundraisers. And, in return, others did the same for them. According to Lee, the six male entertainers running for Mister Phoenix Pride wanted to present a united front. “What was really important to me throughout this whole process was us being a collective group, because we all had one goal,” he said, “[and to] make sure it was apparent to the community that we’re not at each other’s throats, and we’re not out to get each other. We’re here to make sure the community walks away better.” During prelims, Stratton and Lee agree that they immediately felt a connection to each other, even though they had never done a show together. Photos from the Phoenix Pride prelims, Lee said, tell the story. “Looking at those photos of the whole journey” Lee said, “We just naturally gravitated toward each other.” Although very different journeys landed them on the same stage, Lee and Stratton share one distinct characteristic: the

Former Miss Phoenix Pride Titleholders

Former Mister Phoenix Pride Titleholders

2016: Naomi St. James

2003: Anita Champagne Pride

2016: Geo Johnson

2015: Trixxie Deluxxe

2002: Aurora Gayheart

2015: Dee Jae Galaxy-Broadway

2014: Barbra Seville

2001: Antwenette

2014: Eddie Broadway

2013: Khloe V. Monroe

2000: Mimi Rae Rose

2012-2013: Jensen Dean

2012: Grecia Montes D’ Occa

1999: Paula Sha’

2011: Freddy Prinze Charming

2011: Olivia Gardens

1998: Pussy Lahoot

2010: Nikki Kidd

2010: Diamond Dallas

1997: Diane Daniels

2009: Brandon Packer

2009: Chane’ Jordan

1996: Ellie

2004: Tomi Boi

2008: Afeelya Bunz

1995: Felicia Fahr

2007: Claudia B.

1994: Roxy Blue

2004: Paula Sha’

1993: Markus

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JUNE 2017

“A lot of times pageantry is for your own selfsatisfaction. You are doing pageants because you want to accomplish something for yourself. Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride is completely selfless. It’s much larger than any of us.” Eva Angelica Strattona

explained. “Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride is completely selfless. It’s much larger than any of us.” It was her selfless ambition that prompted Stratton to approach this pageant a little differently. Because the Pride pageants contestants are committed to raising funds for the Pride Scholarship Fund, Stratton focused on using the resources she had on-hand – reusing a pageant gown and reworking a previous talent number – for a shot at Miss Phoenix Pride.

same Midwestern work ethic that fuels their desire to work hard every day. That drive to strive for greater things for the community they represent, they estimate, will guide them throughout their reign together.

A Quintessential Queen Originally from Michigan, Stratton has only been living in Arizona for about two years. But, with more than a decade of performing under her belt, she’s won numerous titles in Michigan and Arizona. Still, she maintains, it’s the community impact that makes the Phoenix Pride title special for her. “A lot of times pageantry is for your own self-satisfaction. You are doing pageants because you want to accomplish something for yourself,” Stratton 42

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“I felt like if I was going to spend any money, I should just donate to the scholarship fund. I didn’t want to take money away from the money I was raising,” Stratton said. “I was going to use the best of what I had available and make it the best that I could present, and I really focused more on raising the money. It’s our entire community here … Being a trans woman, being an entertainer and being a pageant queen, I thought this was my opportunity to give back.” Although her primary focus is her Arizona title, Stratton said she wants to be a voice for LGBTQ people in her home state as well. “I understand that my drag started in Michigan, but it brought me here,” she said. “So, I feel like I’m representing them as well as representing Arizona.”

The Lion (Hearted) King Lee, a native of Ohio, relocated to the Valley 11 years ago and started his career as a male entertainer at a Mr. BS West competition two years ago. Unlike most male entertainers in the Phoenix community, Lee doesn’t have a dance background – instead he focused on theater and choir during his school years. Born under the astrological sign of Leo,

Lee has always found his way to the stage and describes his performance style as very theatrical. “I feel like I’m three quarters male lead and one quarter drag king,” he said. “I can learn choreography, but it’s not something that comes naturally to me. What comes naturally is being emotive [through] facial expressions [and] getting my point across that way.” Still, he credits many local drag queens, including his drag mother, Saellah Vi, with influencing him as a performer, leader and titleholder. As soon as Phoenix Pride’s contestant criteria changed to make him eligible to compete for the title (ahead of the 2016 pageant), Lee was interested. Ultimately, it was Lee’s commitment to helping the community, especially LGBTQ youth aspiring to attend college, that drove him to compete this year. “What’s most important about this title is making sure that our community is visible, has the support that it needs to remain viable and has individuals that are out there raising money,” Lee said. “I thought that I could do it, and it was something I was extremely passionate about.”

Natural Chemistry For both Lee and Stratton, serving this community in their new roles has a far greater meaning than just the jewels and the title. Additionally, both titleholders have resolved to make the year ahead about the community, not about them. “Being Miss Phoenix Pride has been one of the most educational, humbling, honoring moments yet in my life,” Stratton said. “It really is, because it’s not about us … It’s about our community as a whole and everyone and anyone who identifies [with] our community.” In the coming year, your Miss and Mister Phoenix Pride are looking forward to engaging with, and learning more about, different facets of the community with the goal of increasing unity. “We have this amazing chemistry … this passion, this drive … to make sure that cover story

every area of our community can be represented,” Stratton said. “If [there is something] we don’t know, [we] are the first to say, ‘We don’t know, and we need to educate ourselves.’” Already during his reign, Lee has had the chance to interact with different types of people in the LGBTQ community, including children. “What’s great about this title is that we have the opportunity to be around and talk to individuals

Laura Latzko is a freelance writer 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.

that don’t go to bars,” Lee said. “As a performer, you audience is very limited, if that’s your only avenue.” Still, your best opportunity to catch Mister and Miss Phoenix Pride in action is at your favorite community bars – and, on the stage is where the dynamic duo shines brightest. For more information on the Phoenix Pride pageant or the Phoenix Pride Scholarship Fund, visit phoenixpride.org.

“What’s most important about this title is making sure that our community is visible, has the support that it needs to remain viable and has individuals that are out there raising money. I thought that I could do it, and it was something I was extremely passionate about.” Kristofer V. Lee

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JUNE 2017

OUT & ABOUT Barbra Sevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sixth Annual Salsa Challenge May 7 at Karamba Nightclub, Phoenix. Photos by KJ Philp.

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feature story

Photo courtesy of Andy Cohen. feature story

Deep Talk and Shallow Tales Andy Cohen and Andersen Cooper promise an unscripted and uncensored evening in Phoenix By Megan Wadding

s part of their current tour, two of the fiercest and funniest hosts in television are heading to Phoenix for a night of “unscripted, uncensored and unforgettable” conversation.” Friends for more than two decades, Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper are bringing their AC2 tour, an intimate evening of deep talk and shallow tales, to Comerica Theatre June 9.

Echo Magazine caught up with Cohen to find out more about why this pair of hosts work so well together and what attendees should expect from their Phoenix show. Echo: Can you tell me the how the idea for AC2 came about? Cohen: Anderson was interviewing me for a book I had out two years ago. His agent represents Bill O’Reilly who has been on a tour with Dennis Miller for many years and she said that [we] could craft a show and take it on the road. So, we did and here we are, 25 or so cities later. Echo: What can you tell me about your friendship with Anderson? Is it true that you met more than 20 years ago on a blind date? Cohen: Yes. Well, we were set up on a blind date, but we never went out on it. He said that he could picture me gesticulating wildly, and that he just decided then that he was never going to go out with me! Echo: A lifelong friendship is a pretty good compromise! Cohen: Absolutely! Echo: What can attendees expect from the show? Cohen: It’s pretty loose. It’s great. It is really funny and it’s a great night out. There are always a lot of couples there, a lot of groups of girlfriends. It’s just a lot of fun. It’s kind of half about [Anderson] and half about me. It’s a real conversation and then we open it up to the audience and let them ask us anything they want.

Definitely, if there’s news that’s happening or something that he or I have been involved with, then we’re there. Echo: Anderson’s specialty is world news and your specialty is pop culture, but you complement each other perfectly. How does that work and where do you think intersect that makes this pairing work so well? Cohen: I think we just share a common sense of humor and appreciation for each other and news and pop culture and great storytelling. We just have great rapport because we’ve known each other for 20-something years, so we have a lot of history together and a lot of great stories. We know how to bring out the best in each other and it comes out through [in the show].

photo shoot together last week and I’m seeing him tomorrow night. But we end up seeing each other more on tour and FaceTime than anything else. Echo: Have you been to Phoenix before? Are you looking forward to doing the show here? Cohen: I haven’t been to Phoenix in many years. I was there for work for CBS News many, many years ago, so I’m excited to [come back]. Echo: What other projects do you have going on, other than the show? Cohen: Just that I have “Love Connection” airing this summer on Fox that I’m really excited about. It’s just kind of a perfect show for me. It’s a reboot of that great old game show.

Echo: What sort of feedback are you getting from people who have attended the show?

Echo: The AC2 tour dates seem to be selling out – congratulations on that. Phoenix is excited to see you both in June.

Cohen: They love it! They have a blast. I think they’re surprised at how funny Anderson is.

Cohen: Thanks! It’ll be a great night out. It’s a lot of fun.

Echo: Do you think you know how to bring out the best of his humor? Cohen: I think partly, but he is just really funny. This is the best iteration of Anderson that you’re going to get, [is] seeing him on stage. Echo: How often do you and Anderson get to see each other when you’re not touring? Cohen: We talk or text every day. We see each other as much as we can, but we both have crazy schedules. We had a

AC2 An Intimate Evening with Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper 8 p.m. June 9 Comerica Theatre 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix ac2live.com Megan Wadding is a freelance writer and travel addict with a degree in journalism. Follow her on Twitter at @MeganWadding.

Photo by Glenn Kulbako.

Echo: What sorts of things do you anticipate you and Anderson will talk about in Phoenix? Cohen: We have topics that we keep heading back to, but we just let the conversation take us where it goes. Echo: Does what you talk about change at all depending on what city you’re in? Or is it all completely off the cuff? Cohen: Yeah, sometimes a little bit. feature story

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JUNE 2017

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Photos courtesy of Melissa Etheridge. feature story

Memphis Rock And Soul Melissa Etheridge brings new tour to the Valley of the Sun May 25 By Sarah Toce

rammy and Oscar award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge has been celebrated three decades over for her paramount career in the recording industry, and now she’s upping the ante. You can do that when you’re the sitting atop the happiest point in your life. “This tour is kind of a combination – over the years I feel like I’ve been working on the greatest set list in the world on every album,” Etheridge said. “ … You’re still gonna hear the hits, but you’re gonna see me in a way that you’ve never seen me before – ever, ever, ever. It’s probably the most dynamic I’ve ever been with these songs … It’s just a crazy amazing fun, fun, fun, fun, fun time.” Etheridge’s catalog is as successful as they come. Still, she reveals a secret hope to fold a new dynamic into the fray. “What I’d like to present are the songs you know and love. You’re gonna hear those hit songs – they’re just the staple of the show,” she said. “Then, I’m gonna bring some of the Memphis Rock and Soul songs to this tour. They’re just amazing.” Etheridge’s efforts to constantly improve her performance don’t take a back seat on this tour, which will hit Talking Stick Resort’s Salt River Grand Ballroom May 25.

“The craziest thing is, I’ve actually gotten better [with experience],” she said. “That is the thing that gets me. Every year I go out there and I think, ‘How am I gonna learn? How am I gonna get better?’ And I do get better. It’s really been so great pushing myself to perform these songs with the horns and things, it’s just a blast.”

remotely possible. “The song was originally written in 2002 from my Lucky album,” Etheridge shared. “When I was in Berlin, I wrote the song. I had been in Berlin in 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down because I just happened to be playing a gig on the very weekend that history was happening. When I was there, what really struck me as I was standing in the middle of history was that people coming together create change and anything can happen.” The song’s worldly lesson of growth and change has multiplied in importance over time. “People can bring walls down. People can change minds and hearts. That song is about that – it’s about: you can’t hold people back,” she said. “That it will rise and the change will come and the walls will come tumbling down. These are very interesting times for all of us and it calls us all to stand up and really decide what we hold dear in our hearts. Is it fear, or are we going to expand and understand the things that don’t make sense to us and don’t seem normal to us, but to begin to understand.” On a more personal level, Etheridge, 55, revealed she is the most content she’s ever been. She is married to writer/ producer Linda Wallem of “Nurse Jackie” fame. The two tied the knot in Montecito, Calif., in 2014. “I am very happy. I am so in love with my wife and it’s just one of the most wonderful, incredible relationships

I’ve ever had,” she said. “It’s solid, solid, solid and I cannot emphasize enough how wonderfully happy I am.” Etheridge and her ex-wife, Tammy Lynn Michaels, share custody of their 10-yearold twins. She also has two grown children from a previous relationship with ex-partner, Julie Cypher. “I have two adult children and they are out doing their lives. One is in New York City going to Columbia University and the other is out finding himself,” she said. “I love being a mother. It’s a better experience than I ever thought it ever could be.” Should there exist any doubts to the contrary, Etheridge added: “I feel like I’ve finally hit my stride in my 50s. Like, I finally went, ‘Oh, this is what life’s about!’ I’m really enjoying it. Really.” Etheridge seemed revved up to welcome her extended family – the fans – to her latest endeavor. “Even if you’ve seen me before 10 or 20 times,” she said, “this is a new thing you’ve never, ever seen.” Melissa Etheridge: M.E. Live 8 p.m. May 25 Talking Stick Resort’s Salt River Grand Ballroom 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale melissaetheridge.com/events Sarah Toce, an award-winning journalist and the recipient of the National Diversity Council’s 2016 LGBT Leadership Award, was named one of GO Magazine’s Red Hot Entrepreneurs of 2014. She can be reached @SarahToce or sarah.tocetheseattlelesbian.com.

Her message to fans – new and old: “Do come out, do enjoy.” When asked if there was one song in particular that she most looked forward to performing on this tour, she replied: “It’s a combination [of the music]. You never know which song is going to resonate with the crowds. I mean, I always know that ‘Come to My Window’ is the biggest hit there is and such, but every crowd has its own spirit …” Etheridge’s monumental 2002 hit “Giant” might be more relevant now than when it was first released – if that’s even feature story

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JUNE 2017

OUT & ABOUT Phoenix Phantomz vs. North County Stars April 29 at Moon Valley High School, Phoenix. Photos by KJ Philp.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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The Phoenix Mercury continues its quest for a fourth championship title with a newly reconstructed roster Story and photos by Devin Millington

ollowing two preseason games versus the Seattle Storm, the Phoenix Mercury opened the 2017 regular season May 14 against the Dallas Wings. Under the tagline “We Will Be Heard,” the team has set its sights on a WNBArecord-tying fourth championship. “The mantra emphasizes the Mercury’s commitment to having our impact felt both on the court and in our community, while fostering an environment of inclusion and acceptance for fans and players alike,” the team released via mercury.wnba.com. Just as the Mercury kicks off its 2017 season, we’re bringing you all the details on what’s new and what you can expect to see on the court in the coming months.

The Coaching Staff With the rollercoaster ride of 2016 almost a distant memory, the Phoenix Mercury set out to correct the issues that plagued the team most. At a March 21 preseason town hall, Jim Pitman, Mercury general manager, shared that he made moves that focused on improving rebounding, team defense and athleticism, just to name a few. Pitman further explained that improvements needed to be made in the locker room as well. It’s an issue that typically doesn’t get addressed until it directly affects on-court chemistry. 52

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Pitman and Ann Meyers Drysdale, Mercury vice president, also made a very special move: hiring Penny Taylor as the team’s director of player development and performance earlier this year. This newly created coaching position, seemingly taylor made for the 13-year WNBA veteran (10 years of which were spent in Phoenix) working directly with Phoenix Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello and rest of the coaching staff as well as focusing on strengthening areas of weakness and enhancing skills training with the players. In the meantime, Brondello, who earned 2014 WNBA Coach of the Year honors, was announced as the head coach of the Australian Women’s National Team April 17, making her the 11th head coach in Opals history. But don’t worry, X-Factor, Brondello just signed a multi-year contract extension with the Phoenix in October.

“I sat down with Jim Pittman and Sandy and just kind of mapped out what the next four months looks like individually to make sure that when I’m on the court, I can help this team as much as possible,” she told reporters at the team’s media day event May 8. Following her performances at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and with the USA Basketball Women’s National Team this past summer, Diana Taurasi earned an unprecedented fourth USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award (she previously earned the honor in 2006, 2010 and 2012).

Diana Taurasi Just like her previous 12 seasons with the team, all eyes are once again on Diana Taurasi, the team’s all-star veteran. And for good reasons. Not only is DT hotter than ever, she opened the 2017 regular season just 178 points shy of becoming the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history.

Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi.

(2014-2015 with the Mercury) Candice Dupree to the Indiana Fever. In return, the Mercury received former WNBA Champion power forward Camille Little from Indiana and the draft rights to rookie forward Jillian Alleyne from the Connecticut Sun in the three-team trade deal. (Alleyne was cut from the team following its two preseason games.) Little has compiled averages of 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and a 45.1-percent career field goal percentage in an 11-year career with San Antonio, Atlanta, Seattle and Connecticut. Additionally, mercury. wnba.com reports that she has added a three-point shot to her game in recent seasons: After attempting 187 threes in her first eight seasons, she has 283 attempts in her last three and has connected on 34 percent.

Danielle Robinson.

Brittney Griner

Little was specifically acquired to bolster the Mercury’s lackluster rebounding performance, according to Pitman. And, during the first day of training camp, Vince Kozar, vice president of operations, stated he was very pleased with the Little acquisition.

Griner spent her second consecutive off season in Russia with Brondello and Taurasi as part of the UMMC Ekaterinburg team. Upon returning to Phoenix in March, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year signed a multiyear contract extension with the Mercury.

New Names To Watch

When asked about the new faces on the team, Griner’s face lit up at the mention of fellow rookie and Baylor Bear Alexis Prince.

At 5-foot-9 and 125 pounds, Robinson is known for her game-changing speed at both ends of the floor. Her leagueleading and career-high 6.7 assists in 2013, and her career 4.9-assist average ranks seventh in the history of the league, fourth among active players. She is a career 45.8-percent shooter from the field, in part because of her ability to get to the rim.

“When Baylor University was recruiting Prince, I was her player escort and I’m very excited to that we have her here,” Griner said, adding that she’s especially fired up for this year. “I know it sounds cheesy, but we will be heard.”

A Couple Missing Faces DeWanna announced that she is pregnant and will miss the 2017 season. In a statement released by the Mercury, the three-time WNBA’s Sixth Woman of the Year assured the Mercury and the X-Factor that she will be present, cheering on the Mercury during the 2017 season and back to playing with the team in 2018. Bonner released the following statement March 8: “I am so happy to announce that I’m expecting. I have always wanted a family and I have looked forward to this chapter of my life. While I am disappointed to miss the 2017 season with my Mercury family, this was the right decision for me right now. Don’t worry, X-Factor, I will still be around this summer, and I will be back and better than ever in 2018!” In a shocking move, the Mercury traded five-time WNBA All-Star feature story

Three-time WNBA All-Star and defensive dynamo Danielle Robinson was acquired from the San Antonio Silver Stars (who drafted her from the University of Oklahoma in 2011) via a trade for Isabelle Harrison and a first round draft pick.

“DRob” gives the Mercury a highcaliber point guard who drives and dishes unlike anyone the team has seen in quite some time. The three-time WNBA All-Star, teamed with Taurasi and Griner should make for a formidable trio that’s tough to defend and exciting to watch.

Alexis Prince.

Talbot and Cayla George led the team with 16 points each in their final preseason game, proving that Talbot worked hard to get acclimated in short order. Additionally, Mercury selected Alexis Prince of Baylor in the third round of the 2017 WNBA Draft (29th overall pick). At 6-foot-2, the forward recorded her best year at Baylor during the 2016-2017 season, finishing with career highs in scoring (12.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). The former Big 12 Freshman of the Year knocked down 62 three-pointers on the season, while hitting 41.6-percent of her attempts from long range. Prince is the second-ever Bear to be picked by the Mercury, joining Griner, who was drafted in 2013 (Griner and Prince played together in the 2012-2013 season). The Mercury brought back Shay Murphy, Cayla George, and Leilani Mitchell in an attempt to improve team chemistry and locker room camaraderie, while adding quality basketball players with highly developed skills.

The Quest for Four With two regular season games behind them, the Mercury is giving fans an idea of how members of the new team roster

“We really haven’t had a dynamic point guard like DRob,” Taurasi shared at the team’s media day event. “It’s going to change things up with DRob with the rock. She just so quick and dynamic and puts so much pressure on the defense.” Australian Stephanie Talbot was added to the roster and, while this is her rookie season in the WNBA, she brings four years of overseas experience with her. When asked how she felt her preseason games went, she admitted, “I didn’t know what to expect and went in a bit timid, but I came back, got on the practice court and in the second game I came out and obviously as a team we did much better.”

Shay Murphy.

are gelling and what fans can expect in the coming months. It’s no surprise that the biggest challenges facing the Mercury this season will be the games against Western Conference rivals – the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx, who the Mercury will face June 30 and July 14 and 16, are aging and didn’t make any significant moves in the off-season. On the other hand, the defending WNBA champions are looking strong after acquiring Odyssey Sims, could pose a huge hurdle for the Mercury in their June 10, 18 and Aug. 24 games. The match-up between DRob and Sims should be exciting to watch. I

OUT & ABOUT Phoenix Mercury vs. Seattle Storm May 7 at Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix. Photos by KJ Philp.

predict DRob will have the edge, thanks to her explosive speed, experience and defensive prowess. The team, as a whole, seems focused on the details and poised to go after its fourth WNBA title. Once again, the X-Factor will be focused on Taurasi and Griner – who are guaranteed to put on a great show. With this dynamic duo leading the way, the Phoenix Mercury will be heard this season, and it will be loud. Devin Millington is a retired teacher-turned-freelance writer and photographer. He is also the web designer and accomplished portrait artist behind devinmillington.com.

Phoenix Mercury 2017 Schedule The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury, presented by Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort, kicked off the 2017 regular season May 14 with a home opener against the Dallas Wings. Two of the season’s most noteworthy games include the fourth annual Pride Night June 16, which will include a PRIDE Placard courtesy of Prisma Graphics for the first 10,000 fans to arrive will receive (additional details to come); and the Penny Taylor Retirement Ceremony July 7, which will include Penny Taylor Rally Towel for the first 9,500 fans and a retirement ceremony following the conclusion of the game. For tickets, visit phoenixmercury.com or call 602-252-WNBA. May 19 (Fri)

@ San Antonio 5 p.m.

May 23 (Tues)

New York

7 p.m.

May 27 (Sat)

Dallas

7 p.m.

June 1 (Thurs)

@ Chicago

5 p.m.

June 4 (Sun)

@ New York

Noon

June 7 (Wed)

@ Indiana

4 p.m.

June 10 (Sat)

Los Angeles

7 p.m.

June 16 (Fri)

Chicago

7 p.m.

June 23 (Fri)

@ Seattle

7 p.m.

June 30 (Fri)

Minnesota

7 p.m.

July 5 (Wed)

Washington

7 p.m.

July 7 (Fri)

@ San Antonio 5 p.m.

July 9 (Sun)

New York

3 p.m.

July 12 (Wed)

Atlanta

7 p.m.

July 14 (Fri)

Minnesota

7 p.m.

July 16 (Sun)

@ Minnesota

4 p.m.

July 19 (Wed)

Indiana

12:30 p.m.

July 25 (Tues)

@ Atlanta

4 p.m.

July 28 (Fri)

@ Chicago

5:30 p.m.

July 30 (Sun)

San Antonio

3 p.m.

Aug. 4 (Fri)

@Connecticut

4 p.m.

Aug. 6 (Sun)

@ Washington

Noon

Aug. 10 (Thurs)

@ Dallas

5 p.m.

Aug. 12 (Sat)

Seattle

7 p.m.

Aug. 18 (Fri)

@ Washington

4 p.m.

Aug. 20 (Sun)

@ Connecticut Noon

Aug. 22 (Tues)

@ Minnesota

5 p.m.

Aug. 24 (Thurs)

Los Angeles

6 p.m.

Aug. 27 (Sun)

@ Seattle

4 p.m.

Sept. 1 (Fri)

Connecticut

7 p.m.

Sept. 3 (Sun)

Atlanta

1 p.m.

(Bold indicates home games.) 54

JUNE 2017

EchoMag.com

feature story

Bisbee or Bust Arizona’s mile-high city invites you to its 13th annual Pride celebration By Tamara Juarez

JUNE 2017

EchoMag.com

According to Sowden, 10 to 15 businesses will participate in celebration weekend by offering special deals for Pridegoers. Additionally, Pride entertainers will take the stage at various locations all weekend long. Comedienne Dana Goldberg, named one of the funniest lesbians in the country by advocate.com and Curve Magazine, to headline the event. As an avid LGBTQ advocate, Goldberg has shared a stage with some of the world’s most iconic figures, including former president Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey and many more. When asked about what she’s most looking forward to at Bisbee Pride, Goldberg did not pass the opportunity to crack a joke. “That the show is inside,” she said with a laugh. “I’m sort of kidding, but I am happy that I’ll be in an airconditioned room in Arizona, in the middle of June. This will be Goldberg’s first pride event for the season, and she said

it’s an honor to perform for the Bisbee audience.

TAKE IT ONLINE For Echo’s interview with Bisbee Pride headliner Dana Goldberg, visit echomag.com/dana-goldberg.

New this year, Bisbee Pride released a limited quantity of VIP passes, which include access to all featured events. Tickets, for $75,are available at bisbeepride.com/tickets. Bisbee Pride has only grown since 2004, and Sowden said it has to do with the festival as much as the town and its residents. “People feel really accepted here,” she said. “They feel the sense of community. That’s what we hear every year. People just feel like Bisbee is a safe place to be.”

Aimee V. Justice will host Decadend Diva Dance Party June 17.

Bisbee is a dominantly liberal community and was the first town in the state to pass a Civil Union Ordinance before marriage equality became nationally recognized. Proceeds from Pride events, Sowden said, help promote educational, cultural and recreational events for the LGBTQ community and fund other nonprofits. The 14th Annual Bisbee Pride June 16-18 Various locations through Bisbee bisbeepride.com 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.

Bisbee Pride Event Schedule June 16 Pride Village in Grassy Park | 3-10 p.m. Bisbee Pride welcomes visitors at its Pride Village, located in Grassy Park by the Mining Museum. Pick up an accessory for the dance or have a featured cocktail to start the weekend off right. Cost: free. Lingerie Pub Crawl | 6 p.m. Check out Bisbee’s cool saloons in your finest lingerie! Start with cocktails at the Screaming Banshee or Contessa’s Cantina. The Lascivious Lingerie Pageant | 7:45 p.m. Meet up at Pride Village and compete for the most Lascivious Lingerie. The winner gets a prize and will ride in the Bisbee Pride Parade. Cost: free. Midnight Miners & Madame’s Street Dance | 8 p.m. Dress like a miner or a madame and dance your booty off in front of the Copper Queen Hotel and Saloon. Cost: $10.

June 17 Pride Village, Street Fair | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Stop by Pride Village in Grassy Park for a cocktail and browse the wears of many artisans. Cost: free. Day Stage | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Drop into the Blue Mule Cafe in the Bisbee Royale for live music, comedy and drag shows all day long. Cost: free. Wine Tasting and Live Theater | 1-3 p.m.

The Pübes will perform at the “LOL - Laugh Out Loud show and the Decadent Diva Dance Party June 17. Photo courtesy of The Pübes.

Join winemaker James Callahan of RUNE Wines for a wine pairing and tasting in the Bisbee Royale Theater. Get your limited edition Bisbee Pride 2017 wine glass and enjoy a live performance of “Are You Married?” with Robin Taylor. Cost: $30. Bisbee Pride Parade - Celebrating Diversity | 5-6 p.m. Register in advance and meet at 4:30 p.m. in the Courthouse parking lot. Cost: free. “LOL - Laugh Out Loud” | 7:30 p.m. Live comedy show hosted by Dana Goldberg with Sampson McCormick and The Pübes at the Bisbee Royale Theater. Cost: $30 Decadent Diva Dance Party with Live Bands | 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Hosted by Aimee V. Justice with DJ Cue and a live band every hour, including Rockus, Rawjam and The Pübes, at the Bisbee Royale Theater. Cost: $10.

June 18 Twisted Sister Bingo | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A fundraiser for Chiricahua Community Clinic’s Domestic Violence& Advocacy Program at the Bisbee Royale Theater (lunch and cocktails available). Cost: bingo cards are $1 each. feature story

EchoMag.com

JUNE 2017

OUT & ABOUT Grand Opening Gala April 22 at the Melrose Collective, Phoenix. Photos by KJ Philp.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

JUNE 2017

EchoMag.com

JUNE 2017

without reservations

Story and photos by Rachel Verbits

hen it comes to Fox Restaurant Concepts, the sky’s the limit, and Doughbird Pizza & Rotisserie, the group’s 16th concept in the Valley, proves it with its down home, something-foreveryone approach to two classic styles of cuisine. The newest member of the Scottsdalebased restaurant group announced that it would deliver a fresh take on two favorites: pizza and rotisserie. The doors to the highly anticipated establishment finally opened in March, and we couldn’t wait to fly by and try it out. Nesting on the corner of 44th Street and Indian School Road, the bold white

brick building commands attention of passersby.

The Local.

Once inside the new building at Arcadia Gateway, we found ourselves face to face with an open kitchen that really serves as the focal point of the Northern California chic-inspired space. Light pours through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the large dining room to reveal the barrel-rolled wood ceilings. The plush, yet family friendly seating areas add an upscale feeling to the unmistakably homey vibe – an excellent aesthetic combination for some of the most comforting food in town. But first, cocktails. As a nod to the neighborhood, the Indy School Mule features Ketel One vodka blended dried five spice, lime and ginger beer, kicking up the spice on the classic mule. The Local, also a tribute to the area, is made with muddled strawberry, lemon, and Arcadia grapefruit vodka from OHSO Brewery & Distillery just down the Rocky Free Range roasted chicken with mac and cheese.

road. Crafted with just the right amounts of sweet, tart and very fresh grapefruit flavors, it will, indeed, be a local favorite in no time. After perching up with our drinks, we were ready to peruse the upscale, homestyle offerings that Doughbird has already become known for. Without overcomplicating what they do best, the menu offers a diverse selection of sides, starters, salads and sandwiches, in addition to the pizza and rotisserie options. The seasonally inspired pizzas boast a wide range of flavor combinations: from the Wild Mushroom (black truffle, Swiss chard fontina and rosemary) to the crispy Sweet buttered corn and perfect potatoe purée.

pastrami (aged Gruyere, pickled mustard seed, purple kale, rye salt). Our server recommended the pepperoni and burrata, which features organic tomato and wild oregano, and I did not object. Fresh burrata is added to the pizza after the baking process, allowing it to melt ever so slightly, creating the perfect creamy consistency to balance out the salty and crisp pepperoni. Fun fact: Every pizza is made with Bianco DiNapoli organic canned tomatoes, a collaboration between James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco and third generation canner Robert DiNapoli. Canned in California exclusively for the famed Pizzeria Bianco creator until just last year, the sweet taste of these organic San Marzano-inspired tomatoes is now available in a handful of lucky restaurants. And Doughbird is one of them. Also developed by Bianco and DiNapoli is Doughbird’s secret weapon: the housemade chili oil. We topped our pizza with a few shakes, and were delighted by the added flavor and heat, which made it a perfect complement, without overwhelming. Here, chef Chris Barch (formerly of The Henry) has elevated the rotisserie game by roasting fresh fish, veggies and Pepperoni and burrata pizza.

Creekstone Farms prime rib in addition to its Rocky Free Range Chicken (all of which you’ll notice smartly featured throughout the other menu offerings). The classic Rocky Free Range roasted chicken, which can be ordered as a half or whole bird, is rubbed with a simple mix of salt, brown sugar, chili and garlic powder, and cooked to perfection. Served plump and juicy, the roasted chicken practically falls off the bone. It’s everything you want to taste when you see a picture-perfect roasted chicken. While the entrée selections stand out on their own, diners should not pass up the opportunity to experiment with the nine different sauces (the first comes with your order and they’re a dollar each thereafter). Because Pineapple Teriyaki and Spicy Buffalo Hot Sauce are among the better-known flavors, I opted for the Jamaican jerk marmalade, a Caribbean punch of sweet and spicy, and the umami sauce, a complex savory flavor that will confuse and delight your palate. Aptly named after the fifth “taste” that humans can detect (along with sweet, sour, bitter and salty), umami truly cannot be compared to anything else and left me at a loss for words. Because it’s not truly a chicken dinner unless you have all the fixings, Doughbird has excellent options here, too. Each order comes with your choice of a side dishe – from coleslaw and mac and cheese to cauliflower mash and kale and Brussels sprouts – and you can add additional selections for $5 each.

Doughbird

It’s time to deconstruct your idea of pizza and rotisserie chicken, because Doughbird is taking some of your favorite cuisines to another level. Here you’re invited to be as traditional or daring as your taste buds desire – either way, you’re not likely to be disappointed.

foxrc.com/nso/doughbird

4385 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sun-Thurs 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri-Sat

Rachel Verbits is a published writer and a selfproclaimed foodie who spends her time exploring all the amazing eats Arizona has to offer. EchoMag.com

JUNE 2017

at the box office

By Hans Pedersen

Wild Awakening Available on DVD May 30 | 94 minutes | Drama

Staying Vertical Available on DVD May 30 | 98 minutes | Unrated | Comedy, Drama

Openly gay, award-winning French director Alain Guiraudie (Stranger By the Lake) directs this explicit, dream-like comedy about a bisexual filmmaker named Léo, who’s seduced by Marie, a free spirit living in southern France. When Marie winds up pregnant, Léo continues having sex with other guys, including two roommates. But after Marie gives birth, she abandons both the infant and Léo, who must face the challenges of single parenthood. Nominated for the Palme d’Or (the highest prize) at the Cannes Film Festival, the Guiraudie’s latest work is both sexually charged and quirky as it grapples with such topics as sheep herding and, even stranger, sex during euthanasia.

The clash between shirtless ranch hands and a homophobic dad fuel a lot of the conflict in this erotic thriller that easily slides into campy, gay soap opera territory. Emma tries to run the family riding school while her brother, Toni, is busy bed-hopping with the town hunks, leaving them to rely on an older, more aggressive ranch hand, Ramón, for help. But Ramón’s hot, sultry-eyed son, Aaron, has caught the attention of both Emma and Toni. And as Ramón begins hurling epithets when his son, Aaron, enjoys some male bonding with Toni, the threats start to fly and the danger ramps up. Directed by Joan Fermí Martí, this steamy Spanish soap includes a fun, over-the-top performance by female impersonator Jordi Pujol.

Tomcat Available on DVD June 13 | 124 minutes | Drama

Wonder Woman In theaters June 2 | PG-13 | Adventure, Fantasy

In the epic origin story directed by Patty Jenkins, Princess Diana (Gal Gadot) must leave her home in 1918 to study the humans who are deadlocked in the Great War. As she visits an embattled Europe, Diana’s determination to save women and children who are threatened by Germans leads her to discover and utilize her inner superpowers. Ignoring proscribed gender conventions of the era, Diana is reborn as Wonder Woman. And, as she helps U.S. intelligence officer Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who is stranded behind enemy lines, Wonder Woman must stop the Germans from launching a massive chemical weapon and try to save millions from mass destruction. 62

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This Austrian film, set in a rambling home in a Viennese vineyard, centers around Stefan and Andreas, lovers who spend time lounging around their house naked, working in the classical music industry and socializing with friends. But when the life of their cat, Moses, is threatened, their idyllic paradise is thrown into tumult. Written and directed by Händl Klaus, the drama is sweet and tender – at first – until the mayhem breaks out. And a warning, cat-lovers may want to think twice before checking out this slightly nihilistic, yet awardwinning flick. Lukas Turtur and Philipp Hochmair co-star.

Hans Pedersen is a freelance writer based in Phoenix. movies

Photos courtesy of eonline.com.

the small screen trips. You’ll see all of that. Echo: Does the show paint an accurate picture of what it’s like to work there? Cooley: Yeah, I think so. Looking at The Abbey, you see the stress of the business, but then you have the relationships that are built, the opportunities that are available with clientele coming in. The Abbey has a lot of celebrities coming in because we are in Hollywood. It’s so great, because it is such a great introduction and it can lead to so many other possibilities. There are some good storylines to be told. Echo: What was your favorite part about the show in general, filming it, getting it together?

“What Happens at The Abbey” New reality show offers a glimpse inside the best gay bar in the world By Nikole Tower

n the very same month that West Hollywood’s most iconic gay bar celebrates its 26th anniversary E! is premiering “What Happens at The Abbey,” a new reality show that gives viewers from around the world a glimpse into the business, the community and the lives of the employees who bridge the gap between the two.

Just ahead of the first of the sevenepisode season, which aired May 14, Echo caught up with David Cooley (pictured), owner of the establishment and executive producer of “What Happens at The Abbey,” to find out more about the new reality show. Echo: Can you explain how The Abbey came to be the institution that it is today? Cooley: The Abbey started in 1991. We’re celebrating 26 years this May. It started off as a small coffeehouse … and in the past 26 years it’s grown to what it is today … [The Abbey] is a restaurant, a bar and a nightclub. It’s a gay club where everyone is welcome and it has become a city landmark. It’s become a place where people know they can come and have a good meal, a good drink and a good time. Echo: Bars don’t typically last this long in LA because of the constant competition. How has the bar survived while so many others have closed? Cooley: I think my policy from day one: We’re a place, I’m going to repeat myself, the small screen

Cooley: [Getting] the opportunity to film a show with E! ... I had the best people around me. I had a good circle of people around me that would offer me guidance and direction. I really enjoyed it. [They] worked really well with me and have avoided being disruptive toward the business. At the end of the day, I think we’ve got a great show. “What Happens at The Abbey” premiered May 14 on E! For more information, visit eonline.com/shows/ what_happens_at_the_abbey.

where everyone is welcome. Years ago, when you were going out to gay bars … If you were a lesbian, you would go to this bar or if you were into hot muscle boys then you would go to that bar. So, they all have that certain clientele that they cater to. Everyone learns at The Abbey, if you go in there you’ll see a mix of everybody. Everyone’s having a good time. My philosophy is still that. I also put together an amazing staff who also plays a part in our longevity. Echo: Why is it important to have a show about a successful gay bar in LA? Cooley: The Abbey has become a very recognizable brand. It’s a great opportunity for people to see what The Abbey [is all about] if they have never been. They can see the excitement, the DJs, the dancers, the music and the storylines. Echo: The Abbey evolves throughout the day – lunch crowd, dinner crowd, happy hour and nightlife. Will the show feature all sides of the venue life? Cooley: The show on The Abbey is about The Abbey itself. It focuses on my staff and we’re in Hollywood, it’s a place where people go to chase their dreams and make something of their life. It does focus on my employees and their lives and, of course, there’s some drama. Straight or gay, there are storylines for everyone to follow. We also filmed in two other cities during little

TAKE IT ONLINE For Echo’s full interview with David Cooley, visit echomag.com/the-abbey.

Nikole Tower, an Arizona native currently attending ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has an extreme case of wanderlust and an insatiable passion for music. EchoMag.com

JUNE 2017

between the covers

Scores By Terri Schlichenmeyer

“I

’m telling!” If you were ever a child, that whine is familiar to you. It indicated a tattletale nearby, a secret spilled to Mom and somebody about to be in trouble. Whatever. Annoying as it was, “I’m telling” never hurt much more than your pride then. Today, as in the new book Scores: How I Opened the Hottest Strip Club in New York City, Was Extorted Out of Millions by the Gambino Family, and Became One of the Most Successful Mafia informants in FBI History by Michael D. Blutrich, serious snitching could get a guy killed. How does it happen that a gay man would own a mainstream strip club? It was, says Blutrich, a long story that started after he opened his law firm and, in search of an investment, purchased a Los Angeles nightclub. Believing that the success of his California business could transfer to New York, he recalled the excitement of a private banker who

claimed he’d always wanted to own an upscale strip club. Being a closeted gay man, that wasn’t exactly Blutrich’s dream but he couldn’t shake the idea. Partnering with the banker and others, they began looking for a building and batting ideas around. Scores was born, with a planned opening on Halloween night, 1991. “And then the mafia arrived.” In order to operate, the partners were told, they would need “protection,” which would involve some of New York’s biggest mafia families in a sort of symbiotic relationship, plus a grand-a-week kickback. It would also involve skirting Big Apple laws for as long as possible, because Scores would be the city’s “first and most notorious upscale gentlemen’s club” and there were rules against what a customer would find inside those Upper East Side doors. Because of the novelty and the entertainment it offered, Scores was successful – more successful than Blutrich had ever thought. He rode a wave that made him a rich and semifamous man – at least, until the FBI caught up with him and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse … And, of course, that’s far from the end of the tale. What’s left to say about Scores involves rompishness, humor, surprisingly heartpounding chapters, a little Goodfellas, a little Boogie Nights and quite a bit of fun. That last appeal comes in the form of

JUNE 2017

EchoMag.com

Scores: How I Opened the Hottest Strip Club in New York City, Was Extorted Out of Millions by the Gambino Family, and Became One of the Most Successful Mafia informants in FBI History by Michael D. Blutrich. BenBella Books, 2017 | $26.95.

overgrown tales, courtesy of Blutrich’s memories of what happened inside his gentlemen’s club every evening for nearly five years. Readers who remember the most infamous discos of the ’70s will find something familiar in that, updated to the 1990s but no less outrageous. But this book isn’t all party: Blutrich delightfully drops names, including many you’ll recognize, but he’s deadly serious when he switches his tale from wild to wired and from dancing to danger. Indeed, though, you know the risk has largely passed – he wrote a book, after all, right? The whole of the story is one you’ve got to read. There’s an amazingly small amount of profanity and prurience inside these pages; it’s there, but not as much as you’d think there’d be, given the subject matter. That restraint uniquely serves to enhance this book and heighten the story’s value, making Scores a book you’ll want to squeal to everyone about. 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

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JUNE 2017

ALL OVER THE MAP

The Day My Pride Was Born By Liz Massey

t seems that everyone has a couple of mostly useless “superpowers,” and one of mine seems to be remembering the exact date of several major milestones in my life. For example, I remember the date of what I consider to be my official coming out: Jan. 16, 1990, when I scribbled my declaration on a paper napkin at the student union and came out to one of my classmates. And I remember a date later that year when my LGBTQ pride was born: Oct. 31, 1990. Just as important as my actual coming out process, this date marked the first time I truly felt myself to be a part of the LGBTQ community. It had been a tense fall on the campus of the Midwestern university I was attending. There had been a smattering of anti-gay hate graffiti found around town, and students had protested the ROTC allowing military recruitment on campus when gays and lesbians were banned from serving. This prompted two peaceful, if somewhat raucous, protests at the Chancellor’s residence, which was located a half-block from where I lived. After participating in one of these protests, I wrote a guest opinion column for the student newspaper that called out the Chancellor for his silence. It wasn’t a firebrand’s rallying cry; in fact, reading it over now, 27 years later, I’m actually impressed how measured and empathetic my tone was. The column was published on Oct. 25, and I was summoned to the Chancellor’s office later that same day. As soon as I sat down, the Chancellor launched into a rant about my column, laboring under the false assumption that I had covered the rally as a reporter for the newspaper AND participated in it – which wasn’t true. After harping for a few moments on my alleged professional deficiencies, the Chancellor ended with, “Well, you’ll never work for the New York Times – or any other good newspaper.” 66

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Back out on the street on campus, my numbness turned into anger. I didn’t really care if I ever got a gig with the New York Times – I just wanted the Chancellor to realize I wasn’t the sloppy journalist he had described me as. I met with the university ombudsman the next day and told him I wanted the Chancellor to apologize. He suggested I write to the Chancellor and suggested that I cc: him on the letter. In my letter to the Chancellor, I laid out point by point where he had been mistaken and requested an apology. I delivered a copy to the Chancellor’s office and one to the ombudsman, then went back to the business of being a college senior. Several days later, I went for a run in the afternoon and came back to my hall to cool down. I saw a message that my father had called, so I got on the phone with him and was listening to one of his stories about empty-nest life with my mother when one of my hallmates handed me a piece of paper. It said, “The Chancellor is waiting for you in the lobby.” I had a bit of a quandary … my dad didn’t know about the newspaper column, and I didn’t want to tell him right then. So, after making the Chancellor wait for about 10 minutes (and causing a significant stir in my hall!) while I tried to wind up the conversation with my father, I blurted to my dad that, “The Chancellor of the university is here to see me, I’ve got to go now.” What the Chancellor delivered was less of an apology than an acknowledgement that he’d gotten his facts wrong. But it was typed on his letterhead and signed by him. Only two or three lines long, it was still vindication. After the Chancellor hand-delivered his apology, I wrote my parents to tell them the entire story. My father’s letter

in reply started off with a rousing line of encouragement: “Well, it looks like you climbed out of that sewer all covered in honey.” That helped me know that when I was ready to come out to them (which happened about nine months later), everything would be OK. I say that my pride was born on that day – Halloween 1990 – because despite not being out to more than a handful of people at that point, I realized that my words promoting LGBTQ equality had power. I realized that large institutions had checks and balances in place, that sometimes gave marginalized people power. I also realized that I had managed to secure the support of allies, including the ombudsman, and that had given me courage. More than anything else, though, my actions that week made me proud of myself, perhaps for the first time in my adult life. Putting myself in the cross-hairs of the university’s top administrator wasn’t easy for me. But I persisted in advocating for myself and others because it was the right thing to do, and that forever changed how I viewed my connection to the LGBTQ community. 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

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JUNE 2017

The Right Side of History

Three reasons to keep the tough conversations going By Kevin Patterson

hat we ignore, we allow. Anytime we shy away from having highrisk conversations because we are uncomfortable, we enable the problem to continue and possibly escalate the associated emotions. We can’t get tired of having these conversations.

result, some individuals were not comfortable with the statement being made here. My question to those folks is: Did you feel uncomfortable because the tone of the demonstration felt negative during a celebratory event?

Our community, historically, began to grow in solidarity once we made it safe to have high-risk conversations that elevated the needs of those who were suffering. Today, for whatever reason, it seems as if that’s no longer the case. Here are three examples on which Equality Arizona is committed to continuing the conversation:

Consider this: While some in our community have so much to celebrate, others fight daily to have their basic rights acknowledged, and often navigate their daily lives feeling unsafe and unprotected. This type of vulnerability should make us all, as the LGBTQ community, feel uncomfortable because these underrepresented voices are our brothers and sisters. Therefore, I urge you to get to know those who aren’t like you and don’t see the world through your perspective, and embrace the diversity of those who might expand your world view.

Example 1: Lately, I’ve heard many sentiments along the lines of, “I am so sick of reading about politics. On social media, I am hiding everything political.” While it can be so easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed with the negativity present in many posts, hiding or avoiding them because we don’t want to face it won’t help us advocate, protect or elevate each other. Consider this: No one’s forcing any of us to engage in political banter on social media, especially if that’s not your thing. But I urge you to ask yourself “why?” Why are you tuning out what your friends, family and acquaintances have to say? Is it indifference? Is it because their ideas conflict with yours? Or are you just overwhelmed with the volume, frequency or repetition of the headlines you’re seeing in your new feed? How EQAZ can help: For anyone looking for straightforward updates on the political issues in Arizona, I encourage you to subscribe to our biweekly newsletter at equalityarizona.org. By doing this, you can choose when and where you’d like to catch up on the conversations we’re having in your home state without having them interfere with your personal relationships or social media newsfeed. In turn, you’ll be better informed and better equipped when these conversations come up. Example 2: Another example was from the Phoenix Pride parade this year when a group organized a peaceful demonstration designed to vocalize their feelings of being not being heard, as trans people of color, which prompted us all explore our thoughts and feelings on the matter. As a 68

JUNE 2016

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EQAZ can help: Currently, the board of EQAZ has a subcommittee focused solely on the work of equity and social justice in our communities. This committee works to identify the many intersectional connections among those who are most marginalized, looks for ways to increase awareness through education, locates resources to address related needs and invites these otherwise marginalized voices to the conversation. If you would like to be a volunteer, a board member, or would like information on the work of this committee, EQAZ is always so grateful for more help in this meaningful work. Example 3: A third example is the barriers that still exist for LGBTQ families wanting to foster/adopt the 19,000 children in our state system. Many of our state legislators don’t want to hear how these barriers hurt both the families and the children involved and don’t want to have the conversations that would lead to simple recommendations for policies that would serve as solutions for all involved. Consider this: In the state of Arizona, there is preferred order of child placement that ranks “qualified homes.” At the top of this list is what is referred to as “mom-dad” homes or traditional homes. In the middle is single mother, kinship (friends and extended family) and then single father. Last on the

list is same-sex couples. While many judges choose to overlook this preferred placement order in favor of fair treatment, amendments and bills have been proposed to permanently remove this language have been unsuccessful. While the LGBTQ community has many fierce supporters and allies at the capitol, the majority leaders who have the power to make simple changes to enable true equality don’t want to have the necessary conversations. How EQAZ can help: Along with Arizona’s Children Association, EQAZ launched Project Jigsaw, a campaign seeking to remove barriers that exist for LGBTQ families looking to adopt children in the Arizona system. Together we work to capture and share stories of prospective and existing families, and the barriers they’ve encountered, in an attempt to change hearts and minds in committee hearings. To find out how to share your stories with us, and be a part of our mission to end this devastating crisis, visit equalityarizona.org/projectjigsaw. The point is that injustices and emotionally-charged circumstances will never go away. We will grow weary of the feelings they conjure. However, what we ignore, we allow. Until we have nothing left to fight for, we must never let the conversations stop. To strike up a conversation with EQAZ, you can reach us at eqaz@equalityarizona.org. We look forward to hearing from you! Kevin Patterson , a proud father, husband, community leader and the board president of Equality Arizona (EQAZ), is relentlessly dedicated to the pursuit of equality and justice needed to make Arizona the ideal place to live and love.

community

guest colum states are much easier than others and requirements are changing constantly. Arizona is among several states that will amend birth certificates to reflect changes to names and gender designation. Additional copies of birth certificates are $35 at vital records offices; provide certified change of name order from Maricopa, SSN card and a picture ID. For all other states, Lambda Legal maintains an up-to-date list at lambdalegal.org/know-your-rights/ transgender/changing-birth-certificatesex-designations.

Five things you need to know before legally changing your name and/or gender marker

egally changing your name and/or gender marker can be one of the most affirming steps for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. While each individual has a very different journey and experience, Echo Magazine recognizes that there are specific challenges involved with navigating the legalities of this step.

available. You will be given a slip of paper for you to call three to five business days later to schedule a court hearing. It takes about a month. If you are married, you will need to get a notarized document from your spouse … Following the hearing, you can (and should) immediately go get a certified copy of the name change order.

As a resource to those our readers who may find this information valuable, we’ve included Trans Spectrum of Arizona’s “Name and/or Gender Marker Legal Change” excerpt from its Resource Guide here:

Gender Marker Change

Legal Name Change in Maricopa County superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/sscdocs/ pdf/cvnca10pz.pdf You don’t need a lawyer to change your name in Maricopa County. All the forms and instructions are available for download through the Self-Serve Center. You can download the entire packet or each piece individually. The instructions will tell you what to fill out, how many copies to make, and where to go to turn it in. • Form for adults with minor children: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/ superiorcourt/self-servicecenter/ forms/civilcases/civil_cvncc1.asp • Form for adults without minor children: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/ superiorcourt/self-servicecenter/ forms/civilcases/civil_cvnca1.asp. To get a hearing date, follow the instructions, turn in the application and pay the filing fees. If you cannot afford the filing fees, there is a payment plan community

In order to get the gender marker changed, you’ll need a letter from a licensed physician saying two things: one, that you are “irrevocably committed” to changing your gender, and two, that you have received “appropriate clinical treatment.” The signed letter or signed statement must include the physician’s license number. Physician can include licensed medical, naturopathic and mental health practitioner. A letter from a doctor is not required if you are doing a name change only.

Social Security ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf If you are receiving SSI, SSDI or Medicare benefits, you will need to inform them, so they can update that information as well. It takes only about a week to get a new Social Security card, but it will take over a month to get a new Medicare card. You will get a letter at the SSA office that same day that you can use until you get your updated Social Security card in the mail. Check Social Security website (secure.ssa. gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212200#c) for proper wording for gender marker change.

Birth Certificate You’ll want to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate from your state of birth if you plan to modify it. Some

State IDentification Card/ Driver License Changing your gender marker and name through the Arizona Department of Transportation and Motor Vehicles Department requires that you apply for a new license (duplicate) in person at any MVD office. To request your gender noted on your record to be changed, the letter or signed statement from any licensed physician is required. The letter must be presented within three months from the date the statement was signed. Also bring your copy of the change of name order, SSN card and the fee for duplicate ID which can cost anywhere from $10-$12 (MVD fees subject to change). For more information on Trans Spectrum of Arizona’s resource guide, visit transspectrum.org. Source: transspectrum.org/resource-guide/8.

Name & Gender Marker Change Clinic For anyone seeking additional information on legally changing their name and/or gender marker, Arizona LGBT Bar Association and one•n•ten are hosting a clinic designed to help individuals legally chance their name and/or gender marker to align with their identities. Volunteer lawyers will provide free information and assistance with the paperwork and process to transgender and gender non-conforming adults, youth and children (please note that youth and children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). Name & Gender Marker Change Clinic 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 20 one•n•ten’s Phoenix Youth Center 3660 N. Third St., Phoenix azlgbtbar.com onenten.org

EchoMag.com

JUNE 2017

talking bodies

Enhance your summer bod with trainer-approved diet hacks By Tia Norris

nce again, pool season is upon us. And no matter where you’re at on your health and fitness journey or what your summer plans entail, you want to look your best when the opportunity to soaking up the sun presents itself.

Active adults (especially in Arizona) need 100 ounces of water per day. Every single part of your body will work better if properly hydrated. There’s no way around this one.

While I always recommend consulting a health and fitness professional to discuss what type of workout program and diet is right for you, last-minute efforts to look and feel your best run rampant during pool season. Instead of taking risky shortcuts this summer, try some of these trainerapproved diet hacks (arranged by desired outcomes).

If you seek general well-being: • HYDRATE. No one drinks enough water!

• Chug cold water first thing in the morning. This is one of my favorite hacks. Within minutes of waking up, I’ve already had 20 ounces of ice cold water. This has been scientifically proven to jumpstart metabolism and burn calories. • Buy pre-cut and pre-seasoned foods to prep. Lezbehonest, we are all busy af and you can save hours chopping, seasoning, marinating and more by buying your food prepped and ready to go. Think about what you eat most frequently and I guarantee there’s a shortcut out there. • Eat what’s most important first. Of course you’d much rather eat the French fries than the kale salad. But, if you fill up on b.s. before eating what’s most nutritious, you’re not going to get to the most important part of the meal.

On your own terms

Hospice care is all about quality of life …and making the most of the time you have left.

For the most compassionate care, choose Hospice of the Valley. Proudly serving the LGBT community. 602.530.6900 hov.org

• Have dry, nonrefrigerated options– bars, beef jerky, protein powder, nuts, etc. – in your gym bag, in your purse, in your desk, at your house at all times. No matter how prepared you think you are, life will always throw curveballs at you and the last thing you want to get stuck somewhere hangry without a backup plan.

If you seek weight loss: NOT FOR PROFIT. FOR COMFORT.

Lin Sue Cooney, director of community engagement Funding provided by donations designated for marketing.

JUNE 2017

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• Eat before you eat. Eat a handful of almonds, or a protein shake or something

else clean before you go out to eat. You’ll be less tempted. • Caffeine is your friend! Caffeine is a top-notch fat burner and appetite suppressant, when used in moderation. Go for it! • Don’t buy garbage if it will tempt you. If you don’t have it in the house, you most likely won’t be able to eat it. • If you’re cutting carbs, bread is the first thing that needs to go. Instead, get creative: try bagel thins, open-faced sandwiches, lettuce wraps, etc., to stay on track with a low-carb goal. • Switch butter and cheese for such lower-calorie alternatives as avocado, egg whites or Greek yogurt – especially if you’re a texture person. If you seek muscle gain: • Eat your biggest meal post-workout – this is when your muscles are most receptive to nutrient uptake. But don’t wait longer than an hour after a workout to eat. • Add extra olive oil to all meals, smoothies, anything you can stand. Olive oil is virtually tasteless, but huge on calories. Pour it on! • Set calorie goals by times of the day. Apportion your calories to the hours in the day, so you know how much you need to eat by each hour or each set of hours. • Unless you’re a pro, you must go dirty, 95 percent of muscle gain clients cannot do a clean bulk! Go dirty, which means anything goes: pizza, ice cream, fast food, whatever! Just eat those calories and get big now, so you can cut the fat later. Of course, you won’t get very far with these hacks unless you’re already on a solid exercise program with other good dietary foundations. But if you’re looking for a few quick tips or shortcuts, toss in a few of these tried and true tricks! Tia Norris is the president and head trainer at FitPro, LLC, a local fitness company. Find out more at fitprollc.com. health & fitness

business cards For a complete listing of all Echo display advertisers, please see our Lambda Directory on page 82. To advertise your business here, call 602-266-0550.

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local business

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local business

When things seem dark, help can restore hope.

If you're struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out. Central AZ Crisis Line: 602-222-9444 #YouMatter #BeSafeOut

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JUNE 2017

BUNKHOUSE

phoenix bar map

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.

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

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

Greenway Pkwy Thunderbird

Thomas

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

Tatum

CHARLIE’S S M

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

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

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

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

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

Super HH 4-7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open to close

32nd St.

cocktails & beer 8 p.m.- close Olives vodka, 8 p.m.-close

. Ave

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

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

nd Gra

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

. Ave

McDowell 14 2 12

STACY’S @ MELROSE

202

Roosevelt

4 Van Buren

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

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

5th

21 22 16 25 3 10 20

Scottsdale Rd.

8 23 5 28 7 26 18

Indian School

16th St.

7th St. 27

40th St. 44th St.

9 p.m. Karaoke

poker

Lincoln 24th St.

Camelback

ve Ca Northern

Central

7th Ave.

27th Ave.

43rd Ave.

Glendale 19 Bethany

Shea Blvd

Dunlap 51st Ave.

Cactus

143

101

$1.50 Rolling Rock pints & well drinks until 10 p.m.

S M T

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

W T F

HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL

Karaoke, 9 p.m.-close; HH & $3 charity shots ALL DAY HH, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint, $3 charity shots, $4 Mojitos & Caipirinhas ALL DAY; live DJ

Broadway

*MAP IS NOT DRAWN TO SCALE

Baseline

HH & $1.50 draft pint, 4-8 p.m.; $1.50 draft pint & wells, 8 p.m.midnight; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

Mesa Chandler

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

MAP CODES:

JUNE 2017

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

NU TOWNE 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

BOYCOTT BAR 4301 N. Seventh Ave.

F, N, E 602-265-3233

OZ BAR 1804 W. Bethany Home Road

MF, N 602-242-5114

BS WEST 7125 E. Fifth Ave.

MF, D, E 602-200-9154

PLAZMA 1560 E. Osborn Road

MF, N, E 602-266-0477

BUNKHOUSE 4428 N. Seventh Ave.

M, N, L 602-200-9154

ROSCOES ON 7TH 4531 N. Seventh St.

M, N, G 602-285-0833

CHARLIE’S 727 W. Camelback Road

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

ROYAL VILLA INN 4312 N. 12th St.

M, AO 602-266-6883

CLUB VOLT 3108 E. McDowell Road

MF, D, E 602-267-8707

STACY’S @ MELROSE 4343 N. Seventh Ave.

MF, D, N 602-264-1700

CRUISIN’ 7TH

M, E

3702 N. Seventh St.

602-212-9888

THE CASH NIGHTCLUB & LOUNGE 2140 E. McDowell Road

F, C, D 602-244-9943

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

THE ROCK 4129 N. Seventh Ave.

M, N, E 602-248-8559

FLEX SPAS PHOENIX 1517 S. Black Canyon Hwy

M, AO 602-271-9011

TICOZ LATIN KITCHEN

5114 N. Seventh St.

602-200-0160

KARAMBA NIGHTCLUB 1724 E. McDowell Road

D, E 602-254-0231

TOASTED

4221 N. Seventh Ave.

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

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N R D C

Neighborhood Bar Full Restaurant Dance Club Country Dancing

L E G AO

Leather/Bears Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag) Go-Go Dancers Accommodations/Other phoenix bar map

out & about 4Some Fridays April 12 at Club Volt, Phoenix Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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JUNE 2017

OUT & ABOUT Phurfest Cub and Mr. Phurfest Contest April 28 at Pat Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bunkhouse, Phoenix. Photos by Gregg Edelman.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

JUNE 2017

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JUNE 2017

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. 65 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT/ RETAIL Flex Spas Phoenix p. 81 Pleasure World p. 67 The Chute p. 80

DENTISTS James Kelly D.D.S. My Dentist Open Wide Dental

INSURANCE p. 65 p. 67 p. 4

EDUCATION Maricopa County Community College District p. 39 EVENTS

APARTMENTS Alta Filmore/Alta Midtown p. 83 East and West Apartments p. 72 El Cortez Apartments p. 59 Illuminate/Baron Properties p. 10, 11 Madison Grove Apartments p. 31

Bisbee Pride p. 43 Bizbowl p. 19 Flagstaff Pride p. 45 IGNITE National HIV Testing Day p. 34 LGBT Night at the Ballet p. 55 Phoenix Mercury p. 51 Summer Pride p. 20

ATTORNEYS Jackson WhiteAttorneys At Law Phillips Law Group Tucker, Michael J.

JW Advisors Inc. Paragon Credit Consulting Pawn 1st

p. 29 p. 2 p. 74

AUTO SERVICES Community Tire Pros

p. 73 p. 73

p. 13

Melrose Collective

p. 76 p. 9 p. 75 p. 77

COUNSELING SERVICES Building Blocks Counseling Stonewall Institute |

p. 72 p. 75

ADD/WES Roofing Don’s Painting Service Lyons Roofing Rainbow Bug The Mattress Man Valdez Refrigeration Wallbeds n” More

p. 75

p. 72 p. 72 p. 67 p. 73 p. 64 p. 74 p. 17

HOSPICE Hospice of the Valley

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MASSAGE ProActive Therapeutic Massage

p. 73

MORTGAGES Jeremy Schachter, Pinnacle Capital Mortgage

p. 3

MOVERS Two Men and a Truck

p. 74

PET SERVICES Pet Sit Arizona

p. 73

PHARMACIES CVS Specialty Pharmacy p. 67 Fairmont Pharmacy p. 65 REAL ESTATE Coronado Commons

p. 84

REALTORS

HOME SERVICES

Bunkhouse Charlie’s Kobalt Bar at Park Central Stacy’s @ Melrose

JUNE 2017

p. 73

GALLERY

BAR & CLUBS

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Benefits Arizona p. 67 Edward Vasquez, Allstate p. 3

p. 70

Arizona Gay Realtors Alliance p. 3 Berney Streed, Re/Max Excalibur p. 73 Bradley B. Brauer, HomeSmart p. 3 Daniel J. Nickles, PLLC, HomeSmart p. 31 David Oesterle, ReMax p. 3 Fred Delgado Team, Keller Williams p. 3 Jan Dahl, HomeSmart p. 3 Matthew Hoedt, Realty One p. 3

Melinda Murphy, Lifestyle Partners p. 65 Nicholas Yale, Realty Executives p. 3 Shawn Hertzog, West USA p. 3 Steve Fourie, Home Smart Elite Group p. 72 RELIGIOUS GROUPS Community Church of Hope

p. 72

RESTAURANTS China Chili Hula’s Modern Tiki Z’Tejas

p. 61 p. 61 p. 59

RETAIL Off Chute Too

p. 79

RETIREMENT PLANNING Calvin Goetz, Strategy Financial Group p. 3 SALON Exodus Hair Studios

p. 72

WELLNESS Boston Scientific p. 81 Central Phoenix Gym p. 71 Elite Plastic Surgery p. 5 FitPro, LLC p. 72 Gilead p. 22-24 JWW Fitness p. 73 Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS p. 14, 15 Spectrum Medical Group p. 78 TERROS Health-LGBTQ Consortium p. 75 Triumeq p. 36-39 Willo Medi Spa p. 74 lambda directory

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