The
World at her Paws Oshun Onyx brings ямБrst-ever international female bear title to Phoenix
LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 30, #2 | ISSUE 710 | NOVEMBER 2018 | COMPLIMENTARY
November @ The Center Martha Graham Dance Company The EVE Project Saturday, Nov. 10
Story Pirates AfterDark Friday, Nov. 2
The Capitol Steps
Make America Grin Again Friday, Nov. 23 Saturday, Nov. 24
Mark Cortale Presents Broadway @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Featuring Seth Rudetsky as Pianist and Host
Jessie Mueller Saturday, Nov. 17
Order your tickets today! ScottsdalePerformingArts.org | 480-499-TKTS (8587) | 7380 E. Second St.
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FOR OVER 16 YEARS!
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602-920-6888
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE Issue 710 | Vol. 30, #2 | November 2018
NEWS 8
Letter From The Editor
12 News Briefs 14 Datebook
COMMUNITY 48 Not That You Asked 50 Talking Bodies 52 We the People 54 Guest Columnist
OUT & ABOUT
2018
16 Tucson Pride 38 Desperado LGBT Film Festival 67 The Imperial Court of Arizona’s Underwear Auction 64 Adonis Grand Opening at Caravan Taproom
ON THE COVER Oshun Onyx, the first-ever Ms. World Bear. Photo by Scotty Kirby.
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Hall of Fame Team Echo is proud to introduce the Class of 2018 and we invite you to get to know these community heroes.
WEB EXCLUSIVES
World at her Paws Oshun Onyx brings first-ever international female bear title to Phoenix
LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 30, #2 | ISSUE 710 | NOVEMBER 2018 | COMPLIMENTARY
NOVEMBER 2018
Colby Ryan shares the importance of offering a new LGBTQ character narrative in new series. echomag.com/grossemisconduct
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The World at her Paws Oshun Onyx brings first-ever international female bear title to Phoenix.
Laugh Your Head Off Comedian Kathy Griffin dishes ahead of her tour finale in Phoenix.
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Taking the Necessary Steps Aunt Rita’s Foundation celebrates a new era of HIV Equal as part of AIDS Walk Arizona.
Would You Rather?
Remembering Our Roots
Terri Schlichenmeyer reviews Katie Heaney’s memoir about growing up and coming out.
Echo’s proud to share this compilation of archival stories, photos and artwork courtesy of the LGBT History Project.
echomag.com/would-yourather
echomag.com/lgbt-historyproject-2018
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LETTER EDITOR FROM THE
By Amy Young
A
s I say hello to the Echo community in my new role as managing editor, I have to start by thanking the current team here at the magazine for giving me a warm welcome.
• Doug Klinge
KJ Philp may be sliding out of the position – he has gone above and beyond to show me the ropes and inspire the continuation of the quality content readers have come to expect – but don’t expect to not hear from him anymore. His stellar writing skills will be put to use as he continues to pen intriguing articles for the Echo pages as soon as he is able.
On page 32, it’s another first, but this time not for me. In 2018, Oshun Onyx took the first-ever title of Ms. World Bear. Her life has been full of challenges, the likes of which could be insurmountable. However, Oshun has a determination to stay on the rise; she is working hard to make her life a productive one. Read about her new honor and history. Echo staff had a fun time in the studio with this queen and her crown as the talented photographer Scotty Kirby snapped some glamorous shots.
I am bringing years of experience in journalism with me to this new position. The last ten years, I have been focused on writing, for numerous publications, about Phoenix, from the interesting cultures and subcultures that comprise our landscape, to the individuals that continue to make the city a vital, beloved destination. I look forward to hearing from the readers and welcome feedback and encourage productive dialogues. I couldn’t have started at a better time. The annual Hall of Fame issue that begins on page 21 is a look at some of the exceptional members of the community. In this case, some are former residents, like previous Echo managing editor Liz Massey, but their impact will forever impact the region. Each of these inductees have used their passion and talent to inform, inspire, fundraise, and foster unity in the LGBTQ community and beyond. It’s an honor to shine a spotlight on each one and their particular piece in Phoenix’s puzzle. Echo is thrilled to name the following 8 individuals as this year’s Class of 2018 Hall of Fame: • Julie Craig • Leticia Frye • Steve Gallardo 8
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• Liz Massey • Elle Murtagh • Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100 • Rhonda Walden
Her November appearance in Phoenix certainly isn’t comedian Kathy Griffin’s first visit here, but her Laugh Your Head Off Word Tour is the first since she encountered much controversy after she shared that photo of herself holding a bloody facsimile of Trump’s head. She talks to writer Ashley Naftule on page 40 about how she made it through that ordeal. Regarding that situation and others, she drops plenty of hilarious quips. Beyond those highlights, Echo’s November pages are full of great content to dig into – from reviews and round-ups of recent books and films. There’s also plenty of fun, on-thescene pics that let you recall how much fun you had an event or lament what you missed! That’s all for now – I’ll let you get to reading – but again, I look forward to being a part of Echo and striving to find great stories that exemplify our diverse, unique community. Amy Young is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. A longtime journalist, her work has appeared numerous publications, regional to international. Please contact her at editor@echomag.com.
LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: Amy Young CONTRIBUTORS: Edward Castro Buddy Early Michelle Talsma Everson Tamara Juarez Laura Latzko Tuesday Mahrle Kaely Monahan
Ashley Naftule David-Elijah Nahmod Tia Norris Seth Reines Terri Schlichenmeyer Nikole Tower Megan Wadding
ART DEPARTMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: nightfuse.com and Scotty Kirby. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Gregg Edelman NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863
ECHO READERSHIP: 50,000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29/year ACE PUBLISHING, INC. MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 16630
Phoenix, AZ 85011-6630 PHONE: 602-266-0550 EMAIL: manager@echomag.com Copyright © 2016 • ISSN #1045-2346
MEMBER:
Echo Magazine is published by ACE Publishing, Inc. Echo is a registered trademark of ACE Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers or advice columnists. Publication of a name, photograph of an individual or organization in articles, advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation, unless such orientation is specifically stated. Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing, Inc.
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NEWS BRIEFS
HRC Endorses Ann Kirkpatrick for U.S. Congress HRC has announced its endorsement of Ann Kirkpatrick to represent the people of Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District. “Ann Kirkpatrick is a proven leader who will fight for equality, fairness and Arizona families,” said HRC Arizona state director Justin Unga. “Throughout her time in public service, she has consistently worked to move equality forward, fighting for every person’s right to work and live free from harassment and discrimination. HRC is proud to endorse her candidacy and will continue mobilizing its tens of thousands of supporters in Arizona to turn out for equality in November.” During her tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Kirkpatrick scored a perfect 100 on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard – a critical tool for measuring members of Congress’ support for LGBTQ equality and policies. She was a co-sponsor of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act and supported a ban on employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by federal contractors. Kirkpatrick is
committed to passing the Equality Act, important federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s civil rights laws. “The current administration has attacked and threatened the civil liberties of various communities. Instead of backing down, the Human Rights Campaign is working harder than ever to protect the freedoms of our LGBTQ communities,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m honored to have HRC’s endorsement – a group that fights against discrimination and honors human rights, is an organization I’m proud to work alongside.” In Arizona, HRC has identified more than 800,000 “Equality Voters” – voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Arizona in the 2018 cycle, and has staff and resources on the ground in the state as part of the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.
ONE Community Spotlights local LGBTQ and Allied Heroes Ahead of its eighth annual Spotlight on Success Local Heroes Awards, ONE Community announced its 2018 LGBTQ and allied honorees. The awards will be presented during the organization’s annual luncheon, Oct. 26 at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix. Each year this event brings together more than 600 LGBTQ and allied business and community leaders. ONE Community will celebrate and honor this year’s outstanding individuals who are committed to making Arizona truly Open for Business to Everyone. Presented by PetSmart, this year’s Unity Agent honor is awarded to John Graham, President and CEO of Sunbelt Holdings.
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As one of the most respected leaders in Arizona, and in the real estate industry, Graham has been a dedicated and vocal champion for diversity, inclusion and equality in Arizona. He has partnered with ONE Community on panels and business inclusion summits to talk about the importance and benefits of inclusion and has written op-eds and letters urging inclusive practices in employment, housing and public accommodations for all Arizonans. In addition, he has called on the state to update its current nondiscrimination law to be LGBTQ inclusive and, on the governor, to sign an executive order on expanded protections for state employees. Along with his work with ONE Community, Graham’s current and past community affiliations include the ASU Foundation, Banner Health Foundation, Brophy College Preparatory, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Office of the Governor, Paradise Valley Country Club, PGA Southwest Section, Phoenix Symphony Association, Positive Coaching Alliance, Teach For America Phoenix, The Nature Conservancy, Urban Land
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. Source: Human Rights Campaign.
Institute, Valley of the Sun United Way, Valley Forward Association and the Wells Fargo community advisory board. This year’s Local Heroes honorees come from a diverse cross-section of the community, but what they all have in common is their dedication to ensuring Arizona celebrates, respects and protects all who live and work in this great state: • Sylvia Moir - Chief of Police, City of Tempe • Ed Zito - president (retired), Alliance Bank • Josh Nunez - principal, Nunez & Associates • Tyler Conaway - PRIDE chair, PayPal • Robert Chevaleau - president, Arizona Trans Youth & Parent Organization • Linda Lyon - president, Arizona School Boards Association ONE Community is the coalition moving LGBTQ diversity, inclusion and equality forward in Arizona. All proceeds from the Spotlight on Success raffle support the ONE Community Foundation, which provides education and training opportunities to business, faith, transgender and millennial leaders. Our innovative education and outreach programs have become a model for LGBTQ organizations nationwide. Source: ONE Community. news
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OCT.
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OCT.
The third annual PHX Zine Fest, featuring people from all over the nation who create a culmination of DIY small press publications, comics, photo books, art and more, will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Unexpected Gallery, 734 W. Polk St., in Phoenix. phxzinefest.com NOVEMBER 2018
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As part of its annual gala event, Compete Magazine will present its 2018 Diversity Sports Awards (known as the Peteys) and honor athletes and organizations for their efforts in sports diversity, equality and inclusion from 6 to 10 p.m. at DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Tempe, 2100 S. Priest Drive. competenetwork.com
NOV.
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NOV.
How does drag culture challenge gender identity? What is the history of drag, and how is it shaping mainstream culture today? Join Hip Historian Marshall Shore and a panel of local performers for “Dispelling the Myths: Drag Kings and Drag Queens,” at FilmBar, 815 N. Second St., in Phoenix. thefilmbarphx.com
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NOV.
Award-winning actor and celebrity impersonator Joe Posa has joined forces with “Fashion Police” executive producer Tony Tripoli for “The B*tch is Back, A Joan Rivers Tribute,” beginning at 8 p.m. (both nights) at Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road, in Phoenix. davissonentertainment.com
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The Phoenix Women’s Chorus will kick off its 25th season with four performances of its newest show, which champions inclusivity, empowerment and social justice, including 7 and 9 p.m. Nov. 17, and 2 and 4 p.m. Nov. 18 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 6300 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. azpwc.org
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A Night @ the Center, the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS’ annual fundraiser, will feature a cocktail hour with heavy appetizers, clinic tours, entertainment by the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus, followed by a live DJ, dancing, and dessert, will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at 1101 N. Central Ave., Ste. 200, in Phoenix. swhiv.org/events
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The Phoenix area Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil, an observance to memorialize those who have lost their lives due to violence, hate or transphobia, will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arizona State Capitol Building, 1700 W. Washington St., in Phoenix. facebook.com/azdayofremembrance
NOV.
OCT.
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Aunt Rita’s Foundation and Walgreens presents AIDS Walk Arizona 2018, a fundraiser featuring five stages of entertainment, will take place from 7:30 a.m. (registration) to 1 p.m., with the walk/run beginning at 10 a.m., outside Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St. (See story, page 36.) aidswalkaz.org
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Remember to cast your vote on Election day. The last day to request your ballot by mail is Oct. 26. Early ballots must be mailed in by Oct. 31 and the last day to vote early in person is Nov. 2. azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections
NOV.
OCT.
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ONE Community presents its eighth annual Spotlight on Success Awards Luncheon (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and networking cocktail reception (1:303 p.m.) at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix, 340 N. Third St. onecommunity.co
Local First Arizona’s Fall Festival, a free, family (and dog) friendly celebration of all things uniquely Arizona, will include 200 vendors, food samples, beverage garden, live entertainment, games and a kid Zone from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hance Park, 1242 N, Central Ave., in Phoenix. localfirstaz.com
NOV.
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Az Gay History and ASU Library present “Digital Collection: Bj Bud memorial Archives (1966-2015),” a selection of periodicals and photographs from the largest LGBTQ collection in Arizona, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tempe Transportation Center, 200 E. Fifth St., in Tempe. bit.ly/2IKU9ul
NOV.
Phoenix Pride presents Rainbows Festival, a twoday event boasting a full lineup of entertainment, community resources and vendors, will take place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Heritage Square Park, 113 N. Sixth St. in Phoenix. (See story, page 28.) rainbowsfestival.org
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The Scottsdale International Film Festival will screen eight titles with LGBTQ themes – Boy Erased, The Chaperone, Every Act of Life, Good Manners, The Heiresses, Mapplethorpe, Rafiki, Studio 54 and Wild Nights with Emily – at Harkins Shea 14, 7354 E. Shea Blvd., in Scottsdale. scottsdalefilmfestival.com
NOV.
OCT.
DATEBOOK 20-21 2-11
GLSEN Phoenix presents its fourth annual Sparkle, Glitter, GLSEN, a cocktail fundraiser and awards ceremony benefiting the organization’s work to end bullying and harassment of LGBTQ students in K-12 school environments, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Memorial Hall at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, in Phoenix. sparkleglitterglsen.com
MARK OUR CALENDARS To have your event considered for Echo’s print and online calendars, submit your event details to echomag.com/ community-calendar *All submissions are subject to Echo’s discretion. news
HEART SOCIETY
Wednesday, November 21 | 7 p.m. $23.50–$33.50
“For any of you looking for a nice easy listen of soul + rock ’n’ roll, Heart Society delivers in a powerhouse package.” —Quirktastic
Upcoming Concerts Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. November 6 An Intimate Evening with Bettye LaVette Featuring Evan Mercer on Keyboards November 7 Karla Bonoff November 18 & 19 Jane Monheit November 25 A Special Holiday Concert with Gypsy Soul December 1 And many more!
2018 Concert Series sponsored by
MIM.org | 480.478.6000 | 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ
Pride in the Park
Sept. 29 at Reid Park in Tucson. Photos by Bill Gemmill.
For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/2018-photos. 16
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Out & About
HELP US MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFE FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS!
COCKTAIL FUNDRAISER & AWARDS CEREMONY
Presented by
The 4th annual Sparkle Glitter GLSEN event celebrates individuals who have made a significant impact on the lives of LGBTQ youth in the Greater Phoenix community. All funds raised go towards GLSEN Phoenix's mission to end the bullying and harassment of LGBTQ students and make our K-12 schools safe for all. The event includes a silent auction, raffle and award ceremony, as well as an hors d’oeuvre station, a beer, wine, and champagne bar, and a signature cocktail.
Get your tickets now and learn more about the event and sponsorship opportunities at
sparkleglitterglsen.com November 15th, 2018 • 6 - 9pm
(VIP from 5:30pm)
• Memorial Hall at Steele Indian School Park
PHOENIX’S 1ST
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Join Compete As We Celebrate Diversity and Honor Outstanding Athletes & Organizations
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Arizona Coyotes Arizona Diamondbacks National Football League (NFL) Ryan O'Callaghan, Out Former NFL Player Cactus Cities Softball Conard Franz Phoenix Gay Flag Football (PGFFL) And More!
th
2018
9 Annual th
Petey Awards Scottsdale | Tempe | Mesa
Diversity Conference Nov. 10 Petey Awards Nov. 10 Awards Brunch Nov. 11 For More Information Visit sportsdiversityawards.com
Community Heroes Inducted into the Class of 2018
E
ach year, as part of LGBTQ History Month, Echo Magazine honors community heroes who have helped raise awareness and spark change on the local and national levels by nominating them for induction into our Hall of Fame. Echo’s annual Hall of Fame tradition was established in 2006, and each year LGBTQ and allied community members have been recognized of their contributions in government and politics, nonprofit service, activism and entertainment. The individuals profiled on the following pages mark the 13th class to be inducted, and they join more than 100 others who have left a lasting legacy throughout the years. Echo would like to thank those who took the time to submit nominations for this year’s candidates and we invite you to join us in congratulating the Class of 2018.
Meet Echo’s previous Hall of Fame Inductees:
•Kirk Baxter •John Bircumshaw •Ed Buck •Bj Bud •Bill MacDonald •Bob Ellis •Amy Ettinger •Neil Giuliano •Don Hamill
•Bob Aronin •Morrie Carter •Babe Caylor •Dr. Kenneth Fisher •Gerrie MayerGibbons
•Madelaine Adelman •Gregg Edelman •Mike Fornelli •Scott Jacobson •Barbara McCullough-Jones •Annie Loyd
hall of fame
•Bob Hegyi •Linda Hoffman •John King •Steve May •Marti McElroy •Dianne Post •Steve Schemmel •Tish Tanner •Dale Williams
•Katie Gummere •Bill Lewis •Artie Michaelis •Jeff Ofstedahl •Don Pintacura •Bob Spier
•Dr. John M. Post •Boots/Ray Reid •Donna Rose •Bill Sheppard •Darin Simmer •Tom Simplot •Kyrsten Sinema
•Melinda Mae Brown •Bob DeJardine •Conrad Egge •Cheryl Emery •Bob Fernie •Regina Gazelle
•Rocco Menaguale •Tambra Williams •Dr. David Payne •Roger Rea •Lila Sherman •The Rev. Patrick Stout •Bunny Tarquinio
•Ken Cheuvront •Randy Gorbette •Helena Grayson •Gary Guerin •Sam Holdren •Donna McHenry
•Barbra Seville •Brandi Sokolosky •Meg Sneed •Charlotte Strayhorne
•Jimmy Gruender •Lauren Henschen •Daniel Hernandez •Angela Hughey •Pussy LeHoot •Lawrence Moore
•Nancy Nunez •Sheri Owens •Amanda Simpson •Megan Schmitz •Micheal Weakley •Rick Welts
•Dr. Rebecca Allison •Ron Casola •Damon Dering •John Goldschmidt
•Sen. Jack Jackson Jr. •Robrt Pela •Kado Stewart •Rev. Brad Wishon •Rich Zavala
2018
•Freddy Prinze Charming •Neil Cohen •The Rev. Charles Coppinger •Alan East •Al and Donna Ellis
•David Fiss •Austin Head •Kit Kloeckl •Lawrence Robinson •Donna Rossi
•Millie Carter Bloodworth •Rev. Jeffrey Dirrim •Linda Elliott •Jason Green
•Brendan Mahoney •Felicia Minor •George Martinez and Fred McQuire •Why Marriage Matters
•Eddie Broadway •The Pattersons •Bruce (Trethewy) (David, Kevin, Christian Caden and Cayla) •Tempest DuJour •Marshall Shore •Bobbi Lancaster •Keith Thompson •Claudia Work
•Daniel Eckstrom •Olivia Gardens •Neal Lester •Sheila Lopez •Gabriel Medellin
•Ron Passarelli •Stephanie Sherwood •Eileen Yellin
•Dawn Bowman •Jeremy Bright •Josef Burwell •Edward Castro •Geoffrey Dorsey
•Silvana Salcido Esparza •Jeffery Perales •Stevie Tran
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Julie Craig By Ashley Naftule Photos courtesy of Julie Craig.
2018
T
he grave of Emperor Joshua Norton is one of the most popular “attractions” in Colma. A city of graveyards, Colma is where the Bay Area buries their dead. Joshua Norton, who declared himself to be the Emperor of the United States in 1859, is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. His grave is a popular destination for countercultural pilgrims looking to pay their respects to the nation’s most benevolent tyrant. Those visiting the Emperor might notice an odd sight: a nearby grave dedicated to the Widow Norton, which is strange considering because the eccentric pauper-emperor never married. Buried at the foot of Norton’s grave is another one of the great self-made royals of American history, Jose Julio Sarria. If a disgraced businessman could declare himself the ruler of America, then why can’t a gay man call himself an Empress? Known as The Grand Mere and Absolute Empress I de San Francisco, Sarria was an outspoken activist who was the first openly gay candidate to run for office in the U.S. He also founded the sprawling Imperial Court System. 22
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Across the nation, many gay community members have followed in Sarria’s by reinventing themselves as nobility. Like Julie Craig, one of the Imperial Sovereign Empire of Arizona’s most dedicated members.
furs, but they share the wealth. The Courts across America have been fierce advocates for their communities, raising funds to help the disadvantaged and reinvest in their culture.
The blonde and composed Craig had been deeply embedded in the Court scene before coming to Arizona. Already royalty in Minneapolis’s Court, Craig came over twenty-five years ago to serve as Empress in Reign II alongside Michael Gaffney. It was a smooth transition for Craig.
As Empress, Craig has been part of that fundraising drive, helping the Court raise thousands of dollars in charity and scholarship funds, Craig serves in a mentorship capacity as a Queen Mother. Craig has also made a mark on the local scene as one of the oldest living drag queens. “I’ve been doing drag shows for over 24 years,” Craig says.
“It pretty much felt like home as soon as we moved down here,” Craig says. “There’s not many cultural differences between the Imperial Court in Minneapolis and the one here. We’re both nonprofit organizations dedicated to raising money throughout the year for people and organizations that really need that money.”
Craig also works with the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association and maintains ties with leather organizations across the Valley. “The Court was started here by two other men who were closely involved with the leather community, so we try to stay connected with all the different groups.”
One of the fascinating contradictions of the Court System is how a culture that prides itself on cheeky self-exaltation is also deeply altruistic. They may crown themselves as Emperors and Empresses and bedeck themselves in jewels and
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Julie Craig, visit echomag.com/julie-craig. Class of 2018
Letitia Frye By Amy Young Photos courtesy of Letitia Frye.
2018
“Y
ou never forget your first!” There are plenty of scenarios we think of first when we hear that adage, but in this case, Letitia Frye, a seasoned champion of charitable causes, is referring to the first time she took on the auctioneering duties at a fundraising event.
off that stage to find people wanting her business card. Using skills from theater class, Frye had the crowd believing she was a professional auctioneer. “I guess they’d never seen a tall blonde in a beautiful outfit chant and sell like a guy. The rest was history.”
“It was in 2003,” she told us, “not long after my son was born. My college roommate from USC had relocated to Arizona and was active in the charity scene. Kierland Commons just opened, and she was holding an event called Pardi Gras Under the Palms. I was a fulltime model then, as well as a boutique owner, and a morning news personality, so she asked me to emcee.”
Fast forward 15 years and time has seen Frye instrumental in raising more than $400 million. Local charities like one •n• ten and Aunt Rita’s Foundation have benefited from her dedication, and the complete list of local-to-global organizations is lengthy. Frye has shared the stage with celebrities, including Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp, and no matter the scenario, be it an intimate engagement or a large-scale gala, she keeps her passion level cranked to the top.
After she committed to hosting that shindig, Frye found out more details. “What I didn’t know when I agreed to be the emcee,” she recalled, “was that there were four live auction items to sell and no auctioneer. My friend convinced me that as a theater major, I could certainly play an auctioneer on stage.” She did just that, selling a dune buggy, a television, a trip to Hermosa Beach, and the most adorable of the items – a puppy. She was a hit with the crowd, coming Class of 2018
She cites a good education paired with family support as a foundation for her success. “I am proud of my education,” Frye said. “I went to a highly respected private school in Connecticut from fourth grade through high school. It was an amazing place called Green Farms Academy, where the teachers were unbelievable. That institution is also where Frye
developed a love of Shakespeare and the theater. “It lit a fire that shaped my life and career,” she told us. “I got a degree in theater at USC, along with a minor in Spanish that helped me live abroad when I was 15, as an exchange student. A proper auctioneering education was also part of her pursuits. “I studied auctioneering at the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Montana, and also completed a three-year certified program called the Certified Auctioneer Institute at Indiana University, as well as a related course offered by the National Auctioneers Association.” Even after obtaining numerous awards and accolades, Frye doesn’t rest on those laurels. She’s driven by the betterment of others and knows that keeping the door open to new knowledge and information is a critical factor in what gives her the power to help others. “Let’s face it,” said Frye, “we never stop learning.”
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Letitia Frye, visit echomag.com/letitia-frye. EchoMag.com
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Steve Gallardo By Amy Young Photos courtesy of Steve Gallardo.
2018
S
teve Gallardo’s life is peppered with outstanding achievements, like being a Senator. He also came out as gay to a group of reporters back in 2014 in the Senate Caucus room. He was a State Representative, a House Minority Whip, and a constant champion of human rights. His interest in political activity goes back as far as he can remember. “I’ve always had an interest in politics. I remember being fascinated with it in high school and even then, I knew I was going to be involved in public policy in some way shape or form.” It has always been his goal to be a voice for the underserved. “Even as a legislator,” he told us, “I was the loudest voice, like in the legislature against the infamous SB1070 which unfairly targeted all Latinos regardless of citizenship status. In 2006 I was the chairman of the successful ballot initiative to create a state minimum wage in Arizona. In 2013 I introduced a series of bills to enhance the rights of LGBTQ persons by ending the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, and ending the state’s preference of married persons over
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single persons in adoption. In my first year as a Maricopa County Supervisor, I was instrumental in creating a workplace policy to protect LBGTQ county employees.” His latest endeavor as part of the Latino Pride Alliance is the inception of Phoenix’s first Latino Pride Festival, which he saw as an opportunity for the Latino community to come together as one. “LGBTQ and allies,” he said, “and people who have never been to a Pride event and probably never would have attended one. This is an opportunity to celebrate our diversity, to be part of a celebration, and to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month and the LGBTQ members who are a part of that history.” Beyond that, Gallardo sees an important mission: connection. “We need to connect our community to the services they may not even know exist. I often talk about how our families face tremendous challenges, economically and socially. We need to do what we can to tear down the barriers faced by the Latino community, along with the additional struggles of the LGBTQ community. These are real issues that need to be addressed as a
society. We need to work with families and children. So, mainly, I was prompted to do this festival for multiple reasons; mainly to bring our community together to celebrate diversity, our culture, and to help the members of our community that are struggling. If it seems like Gallardo is tireless, it’s only because it is true. “I am not one to sit and relax,” he told us. “I’m always thinking of ways that I can pull together partnerships and fix a problem. I have a driving need to want to leave the world a better place than I found it.” When he does get some downtime, he loves spending time with his mom and his dog. “I have a chihuahua/daschund mix named Toby. My mom lives nearby, and she is Toby’s daycare provider. It is a great arrangement. I get to see my mom frequently, and Toby gets plenty of attention.”
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Steve Gallardo, visit echomag.com/steve-gallardo. Class of 2018
Doug Klinge By Amy Young Photos courtesy of Doug Klinge.
2018
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t was the early 1990’s when Doug Klinge, an Arizona transplant from Michigan, decided to walk away from a bad situation and follow a new path into a good one. He left a job that found him working for a toxic manager and opened Unique on Central, a fun boutique packed with LGBTQ-oriented merchandise that remained a popular destination until it closed in 2010.
With the help of some supportive friends, he determined his next move. They suggested that he take his retail experience and open his own store; one for the LGBTQ community. “They were confident that I’d be successful and that I’d also find a sense of justice in this new adventure, along with having a way to give back to the community.”
sessions as patrons picked their favorites.
“I worked for J Riggins, a men’s clothing store at Scottsdale Fashion Square where I was the manager for more than two years,” Klinge recalled. “After that first couple of years, I was assigned a new manager for our region who wanted me to fire my assistant manager. When I asked for a reason, she told me it was his lifestyle that she didn’t approve of and that she ‘didn’t want anyone like him working for the company.’ He refused, and two weeks later she tried to fire him for the same reason – being gay. When he confronted her and asked her if his being gay was indeed the reason why, she confirmed his assumption.
He didn’t hesitate. “I sold everything I had to make it happen,” Klinge told us. “I even sold my car so that I could move forward on this venture. I met with the landlord of the spot Unique started in and scheduled it to open on October 4, 1994. In February of 1995, I took over the space next door so that I could expand Unique.”
Creating a shopping destination was just part of Klinge’s mission. Adding that welcoming vibe was another. “I wanted a place that could be fun but also full of information about our community. My main focus was to bring unity to our community and raise awareness about all of the non-profit agencies here to provide support, and also to raise funds. I wanted to be an information resource – my hallway was filled with flyers and business cards for the community.”
With Arizona a right to work state, Klinge didn’t have much legal recourse. Class of 2018
Those who remember Klinge’s colorful boutique – and there are many – can tell you that it was a great place to go when you wanted to laugh. The greeting card section alone was a draw; it teemed with hilarious options. We’re talking about a card section that won “best of”-type awards. Filled with sarcastic and perfect one-liners, the card racks inspired lengthy browsing
If you needed a place to grab your rainbow jewelry or pick up some sexy spandex, Klinge had you covered. CD’s, t-shirts, candles, and even a tube of lube, this was your destination. Upbeat music kept the house rocking. Between that and the friendly, helpful staff, it was like walking into a shopping party.
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Doug Klinge, visit echomag.com/doug-klinge. EchoMag.com
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Liz Massey Photos courtesy of Liz Massey.
By Amy Young 2018
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ormer managing editor Liz Massey has had a direct impact on the evolution of Echo – in that role and as a continuous contributor. Currently a Virginia resident, Massey is fond of the many years she spent in Arizona. “I moved to Phoenix in 1997. The Kansas City area is where I grew up,” she told us. “I noticed Echo immediately, as it was a very nicely put together LGBT magazine.” Massey majored in journalism at the University of Kansas and had been actively writing. It was a natural inclination to want to lend her skills to Echo. “It’s ironic because my degree was in magazine journalism,” she said, “but most of the work I had been doing wasn’t. I’d done public relations for a library, industrial videos, and a number of other things.” In 2000, she saw an ad in the classified section of Echo. “Back in those days – I don’t know about now – people would read the magazine from back to front. They’d look at the bar photos, read the classifieds, and then read the stories. And what was so great about the ads is that they were gay-friendly 26
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and that was important. You didn’t have to worry about encountering a landlord who didn’t want to rent to a gay tenant – it was a great resource.”
2000 when Vermont allowed same-sex couples to engage in civil unions, prior to the Marriage Equality Act implemented there in 2009.
So, she spotted the help wanted ad. “The magazine was looking for an assistant editor and a managing editor. I tend to be a modest person and thought I should just apply for the assistant position. My friends, however, strongly encouraged me to go for the other, so I did.”
“It was important to me to try and broaden Echo’s definition of things. The health section was one of those areas. We were always focused on HIV coverage, of course, and I implemented articles about women’s health.”
Bruce Christian was the editor at that time, and Massey said that he was supportive of her taking on the role. “I was managing editor from 2000 to 2003 and my now ex-partner and I decided to move back to Kansas City. After about a year, we chose to go back to Phoenix.” Buddy Early was the editor at that point, so she couldn’t resume that role. “I started freelancing and then after a couple of years, I took on the proofreading duties. I did that for 11 years, and I believe there were four different editors throughout that time.” Massey said that she liked being able to write about the issues faced by the LGBTQ community, recalling times like in
“I like watching the magazine grow with the times,” Massey said. “For instance, the commitment to coverage of trans issues, especially over the last five years.” Does she have a favorite piece? “There were so many,” she said, “it’s hard to nail down just one. I did really enjoy Issue 600 – I even remember the number – it was a wedding issue. I wrote a comprehensive how-to piece, which was really fun to write in an LGBTQ context.”
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Liz Massey, visit echomag.com/liz-massey. Class of 2018
Elle Murtagh By Ashley Naftule Photos courtesy of Elle Murtagh.
2018
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lle Murtagh has worn many hats throughout her life: musician, business owner, activist, chef, husband, and father. But the latest hat she’s wearing might be the most comfortable fit yet: Being openly queer. “I’ve got this weight off me,” the soft-spoken Murtagh says over the phone. “I can be who I am.” As one of the founders and owners of The Coronado and Dark Hall Coffee, Elle Murtagh (along with her wife and business partner Emily Spetrino) has been an active figure in the Valley’s cultural and culinary communities. Indeed, Elle and Emily are the rarest of creatures, a local power couple that goes the distance. Along with their sons Iggy and Geno, the ubiquitous Spetrino-Murtagh clan are prime candidates for being crowned D.I.Y. Phoenix’s First Family (or a ska-friendly Brady Bunch). You couldn’t go to a Trunk Space show at the old Grand Avenue location without bumping into the pair and their brood, either offstage or on: Murtagh fronted ska groups The Dietrichs and Liam and the Ladies, while Spetrino played in outfits like Father’s Day and did performance art with Ryan Avery as The Best Friends.
Class of 2018
While Elle made her presence felt in the Valley by skankin’ it up as a ska musician, she really made her presence felt with her skills in the kitchen. She cooked up creative and delicious weekly brunches at Jobot. Spetrino and Murtagh tried their hand at running local businesses when they weren’t cooking elsewhere. They owned and operated a candy shop/record store called Sweets & Beats on Grand Avenue and later opened Bragg’s Factory Diner. While both businesses would close, it didn’t deter them from continuing to make their mark on the Valley’s scene. After years of hustling, they finally dropped the needle on their perfect groove: vegan eatery The Coronado. “This time our attitude was ‘”Fuck it, let’s not hold back, let’s do everything we can,” Murtagh says about their approach to opening The Coronado. Taking a page from their years in bands, they would send out their employees to flyer the neighborhood on slow days. The grassroots networking ethos of punk rock translated well to running a community restaurant. The Coronado quickly built up a following, thanks to the combination of tasty vegan food, coffee, and the
restaurant’s events programming. In addition to offering eats, they also offered monthly treats like a Simpsons trivia event and their still-running storytelling showcase Vinyl Voices. Murtagh and Spetrino’s shared passion for politics also helped The Coronado stand out as a “sanctuary restaurant,” a place that was open to supporting and signal-boosting sympathetic causes. Whether it’s denouncing Arpaio and Trump, partnering with the Satanic Temple to collect menstruation products, or their role as a vocally progressive queerfriendly space, The Coronado has gotten its share of flak from angry conservative Yelpers and counter-protesters. “There’s certainly been days where we’ve had to unplug the phone to keep people from calling,” Murtagh says with a sigh. “The stuff that people are willing to say when they don’t have to look you in the face— It’s amazing.”
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Elle Murtagh, visit echomag.com/elle-murtagh. EchoMag.com
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Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100 By Amy Young 2018
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e are all familiar with the saying, “It takes a village.” Sure, plenty of miracles and great deeds are continuously perpetuated by individuals working alone, but Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100 is a spectacular example of what can happen when passionate humans unite on behalf of an important cause. The Wonderful 100 started 10 years ago, when Seville – the beloved drag persona of Richard Stevens – decided to form a group to walk for AIDS Walk Arizona. The original mission was simple: 100 people would participate in the walk and raise $100 each. The funds would then be dispersed by Aunt Rita’s to different Valley HIV/AIDS organizations. Not only was the team successful that year, they laid down the foundation for a wildly successful decade of supporting this event. Since their inception, the amount of money this group has raised is near the $250,000 mark, utilizing a variety of promotional outlets, from social media to fun in-person events. Stevens recently announced that while he will still walk and support the cause in future years, he won’t be heading up BSW100 after this 10th year.
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The team has brought together a number of people who are passionate about HIV/AIDS awareness. Some of them, like former Echo Hall-of-Fame inductee Eddie Broadway, shared some highlights of their participation. “I got involved with the BSW100 during my reign as Mister Phoenix Gay Pride 2014,” said Broadway. “My queen, Barbra brought me on to the committee to help spearhead the events for that year. I was so new to Aunt Rita’s, the AIDS Walk and everything that the Wonderful 100’s mission included. I remember seeing the pride on all of our faces, especially Barbra’s, when we went on stage to get announced as the highest fundraising team.” That experience solidified his continued participation. “After that year, I contributed as I could with any events that the team had and got to walk a few times. One of my favorite moments, besides Barbra crying, is taking the short cuts through the city. One time, we - Barbra and I - arrived all the way at the end and patiently waited for the team that walked the entire thing. Barbra and the Wonderful 100 team has done the unthinkable, in
so many ways. The amount of money, education, and activism is astounding. I am proud to ever be part of an amazing team and dream like this.” Buddy Early is one of Echo’s former managing editors and current contributors. He can’t say enough good things about the Wonderful 100. “When Aunt Rita’s brought the Walk back a decade ago they had an uphill battle,” Early told us. “The Wonderful 100 was, I say without hyperbole, one of the main reasons it has been incredibly successful and why the community has rallied behind this cause.” “HIV research, treatment and prevention programs are low priorities for the current White House and Congress. AS BSW100 ceases, it will be vital that others step up to fill the void for this important fundraising event,” he added.
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with #BSW100 members, visit echomag.com/bsw-100. Class of 2018
Rhonda Walden By Amy Young 2018
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ot everyone knows what they want to do with their life at the age of 21. That wasn’t true, however, for Rhonda Walden. The Phoenix resident, who was born in Texas, had a penchant for – and experience in – the hospitality industry and wanted to open her own bar. Armed with determination and desire, she unlocked the doors on her first of many popular LGBTQ hangout destinations in 1970. It was called Happy Gardens and it was located in north central Phoenix, on Camelback Road where an Oregano’s restaurant now sits. “At the time,” Walden recalled, “we were one of just a few gay bars in town.” Before diving into her next Phoenix bar adventure, Walden worked for Darden Restaurants, the multibrand operation that owns several popular chain restaurants. That gig had her traveling around the west and southwest, further cementing her passion for drinking and dining establishments. When she felt it time to take the knowledge she absorbed from that position, traveling was a part of the Class of 2018
equation she decided to keep, this time, strictly for enjoyment. She made the rounds through Europe with a friend, bringing with her a love for the continent that she was familiar with from her youth. “I was a child in a military family and we spent a lot of time in Germany between the 1950s and ‘60s,” Walden told us. A self-proclaimed foodie, Walden says that European dining and cuisine taught her a lot about food and culture. These days, she and her partner of 20 years, Char Ortega, a dynamic and successful businesswoman in her own right, love to try new area restaurants but also carry soft spots in their hearts for long-running establishments like Durant’s. Walden, herself, has a passion for spicy food and has no problem venturing to another Phoenix classic eatery, Richardson’s for some kicky New Mexican cuisine. It was around 1987 when Walden opened Cash Inn Country with Carol Shearer and was there until about 1992. “I was a fan of country music at the time, and we all had so much fine line dancing,” she told us. She was
instrumental in building the bar inside the venue by hand, leaving a permanent mark on this popular joint. Following that endeavor, she opened some other clubs, like Country Club Bar and Grill, which is now the Pat O’s Bunkhouse Saloon, and Talk of the Town, which she renamed Desert Rose. In addition to owning and operating fun places to dance, drink, and eat, Walden and her partner are both very active in fundraising for area charities. Years back, Walden was involved in getting the Gay and Lesbian Association of Darts (G.L.A.D.) up and running. The nonprofit hosts two competitive seasons each year and the money raised at their events is split between multiple in-need organizations. “The Phoenix Shanti Group and Aunt Rita’s are two local groups that we have been able to help.”
READ THE REST For Echo’s complete Hall of Fame interview with Rhonda Walden, visit echomag.com/rhonda-walden. EchoMag.com
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The World at Her Paws Oshun Onyx wins first-ever international female bear title By Michelle Talsma Everson
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shun Onyx, also known as Brooklyn Diazz Onyx or the Southwest Leather Mama Bear 2018, knows what it’s like to have a foot/paw/boot in several worlds at once. She’s a proud woman of color who is also a member of the LGBTQ community, she’s been actively involved in the kink, leather and BDSM lifestyle for decades, she’s a decorated drag king and she’s an outspoken survivor of, and advocate against, sex trafficking. It’s the combination of these experiences, that led her to realize the importance of living life out loud and visible – to not be ashamed of who she is and where she’s been. In doing so, she hopes to encourage other members of these communities to do the same. In August, she competed for – and won – the inaugural title of Ms. World Bear 2018 during World Bear Weekend in Lexington, Ky.
The Bear Necessities Oshun explained that she has been involved in the BDSM and leather lifestyles for going on 20 years. She’s a longtime member of ONYX Pearls Southeast, an organization for women of color in the leather, fetish and BDSM lifestyles. She also spent years as a titleholding drag king, earning 1st alternate to Mister Phoenix Pride in 2015. She is also a member of the Imperial Court of Arizona and is currently serving as Baroness for Reign XIII. “I did a lot of sponsoring [of] different pageants and fundraising for different causes as a [drag] king,” Oshun said. “As a woman title holder, there often isn’t a lot of support. But I keep going because I am valid. As a person of color, as a leather person, as a person – I am valid and I am going to be here.” Upon realizing that she hadn’t found a way to incorporate her love of leather and BDSM into her time as a drag king, causing her or keep these characteristics of herself separate, she set a new goal. “I got tired of hiding it [leather],” she said. “I lost myself and I had to be true to myself. I remembered that the leather community does a lot of fundraising as well, so I ran for the Southwest Leather Mama Bear title.”
Making Bearstory After winning the title of Southwest Leather Mama Bear 2018, she wanted to do something bigger with her title. When members of the World Bear competition staff contacted her, it was an easy decision to run for the inaugural contest, billed as a unique event that “combines the bear, bootblack, and
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FEATURE STORY
pup communities into one actionpacked weekend of fun, philanthropy, and a competitive spirit of love and brotherhood/sisterhood.” Oshun’s partner, Southwest Leather Cub 2017 Tyler Merry (Pup Moh Moh), also made plans to attend World Bear Weekend and to compete for the World Cub 2018 title. Together, the couple raised funds, prepared their contest packages and departed for Lexington together on Aug. 21. “[Pup Moh Moh] is, first and foremost, my partner. My boy second, [then] my cub and my pup. He is also my best friend,” Oshun shared. “Holding our titles together for the first time was amazing. We got to travel, do events and talk to people together... Competing at an international level together ... wasn’t as stressful as it would be if we were competing alone, although the nerves and anxiety was there during competition time.” Joining Oshun in the quest for the inaugural Ms. World Bear title was Ms. New Jersey Leather 2014 Nikki LezBear and Mamabear (Courtney) of Louisville. As the first three female bears to take the stage in pursuit of the international female bear title, the contestants competed in title wear, swim wear, formal wear, fantasy wear and interview categories – with Oshun earning the highest combined score.
Taking Care of the Cubs Becoming the inaugural Ms. World Bear is a great fit, Oshun said, because
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it gives her a place for her platform: raising awareness about child sex trafficking. “Titles can help give you a voice, and because this is a world title, I can travel internationally,” she explained. This platform, she added, has already given her an avenue to discuss her personal experiences. “I was sold into child sex trafficking at 14 by my mother,” she explained. “When people think of sex trafficking, they think it only happens in thirdworld countries, but it doesn’t happen just there. It happens here. It’s mainly trafficking of children and men.” According to polarisproject.org, its National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) has received reports of 22,191 sex trafficking cases inside the United States since 2007.
It Takes A Den In addition to raising awareness, Oshun plans to raise funds for various nonprofit organizations. During World Bear Weekend, she noted that the weekendlong event was dedicated to raising funds for Rainbow Railroad (rainbowrailroad.com), a nonprofit that helps LBGTQI+ around the globe. One of her favorite nonprofits, she said, is the Starfish Project (starfishproject.com), which helps exploited women and children overseas. Oshun added that she would eventually like to start her own nonprofit to help victims of sex trafficking. Now that she’s officially Ms. World
Bear 2018, Oshun hopes to inspire other people of color to know that they aren’t limited to specific contest or events. She hopes that they, and everyone in the community, feel safe in leather bars, bear bars, and anywhere else they’re led to. “People are well-meaning, but please don’t treat women or people of color any differently,” she shared. “And don’t shun vanillas, either. We’re all people and should be all welcome.” To those unfamiliar with the leather and BDSM lifestyles, Oshun emphasized that it’s not all about sex. “It’s about community, about family, about looking out for one another. Most of the leather titles are fundraising titles that raise money for a variety of causes,” she said, adding that she could not have accomplished this achievement without support from her local community. “I don’t ever want anyone to feel that they’re unwelcome in the LGBTQ or leather communities,” she added. “We should make all people feel welcome until there’s a reason not to. All people deserve that fair chance.” For more information on Ms. World Bear 2018 Oshun Onyx, visit facebook. com/ms.worldbear2018. For additional details on World Bear Weekend, visit worldbearweekend.com. Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor and PR pro. A graduate of NAU, she’s been writing for Valley publications for more than a decade. You can find out more at mteverson.com.
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Register for Spring! enroll-maricopa.com
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or national origin in their programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information visit: www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.
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Photo by nightfuse.com.
Taking the Necessary Steps Aunt Rita’s celebrates a new era of HIV Equal as part of AIDS Walk Arizona By Michelle Talsma Everson
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others, sons, daughters, fathers, partners, coworkers, students – and even dogs – will descend on downtown Phoenix Oct. 28 as fighters, allies, leaders, activists and fundraisers.
Since the event’s return in 2008, Aunt Rita’s Foundation has raised more than 2.7 million dollars and AIDS Walk Arizona has become the state’s largest gathering to advance the cause of HIV/AIDS funding and awareness. “AIDS Walk Arizona is the largest community event statewide in support 36
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of Aunt Rita’s partnership with the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona to effectively end HIV,” said Glen Spencer, executive director of Aunt Rita’s Foundation. “It’s critical that everyone – especially the LGBTQ community that is particularly impacted by HIV – support and participate in this event.” This year, which marks Walgreen’s 10th year as a presenting sponsor, event organizers are anticipating 6,000 registered participants. Nicole Begay and Heidi Ebbert, both of
whom are living with HIV and champion efforts to educate all Arizonans about the importance of prevention and treatment, will co-chair this year’s event. The main stage, vendor village and food trucks will be set up at Third Avenue and Washington Street, and additional entertainment stages will be set up throughout the course.
HIV Equal Victor Avila, director of marketing and events for Aunt Rita’s, explained that this FEATURE STORY
HIV Facts • HIV is 100 percent preventable using condoms, PrEP, and effective treatment of people living with HIV.
Nicole Begay (left) and Heidi Ebbert are AIDS Walk Arizona 2018 co-chairs. Photos courtesy of Aunt Rita’s Foundation.
year’s event theme is HIV Equal. “To be HIV Equal means to eliminate the stigma behind knowing your status,” he explained. “Whether you have tested positive or negative, being HIV Equal means you are taking the necessary steps to remain healthy by being well-informed about your diagnosis and being proactive about remaining in, or achieving, good health.” This concept, he added, is intended to make everyone equal – regardless of their HIV status – and to eliminate the stigma. “By eliminating the stigma behind an individual’s status, we [are] … reducing the fear behind getting tested,” Avila said.
U=U According to an Aunt Rita’s press release, this year’s event will celebrate the newly discovered science behind U=U, or undetectable = untransmittable. “We now know that HIV-positive individuals who are in treatment and have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV,” Spencer emphasized. “HIV is 100 percent preventable and 100 percent treatable.” This significant milestone in the global effort to end HIV gives momentum to the City of Phoenix’s UNAIDS Fast Track Cities Initiative, also known as the 90-90-90-0 campaign. The initiative has established a goal to end HIV by 2030, and U=U helps to reduce new infections, reduce HIV stigma and enable HIV-positive individuals to live complete lives, according to the Aunt Rita’s. “HIV Equal ties into this message because everyone has a status, and it shouldn’t matter what your status is if you are [aware of it and] taking the steps necessary to be healthy – either treatment, or preventative measures,” Avila added.
#BSW100 Another milestone of this year’s event is the 10th anniversary of Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100, a fundraising team headed by Richard Stevens who is known by his drag persona, Barbra Seville. FEATURE STORY
Richard Stevens, aka Barbra Seville (right), celebrates the 10th and final year of Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100 AIDS Walk Arizona team. Courtesy photo.
“By bringing 100 people together to raise $100 each, we’re helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but we’re also building a community and furthering the discussion,” Stevens said. “It’s been the crowning achievement in my life.” Aunt Rita’s reported that Stevens’ team has raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars for Aunt Rita’s Foundation in the past nine years. (For more information on Barbra Seville’s Wonderful 100, see page 28.) “While Stevens is quick to say that it’s not about him, it’s [instead] about his team of volunteers, it still takes a tireless advocate willing to host bake sales, drag performances and many other special events it takes to raise that kind of money,” Spencer said. Another change this year is that it is the event’s final year in downtown Phoenix. “In 2019, AIDS Walk Arizona is moving to Tempe Town Lake, and at a new time of year on the last Saturday in February,” Avila said. “Aunt Rita’s will continue partnerships with the City of Phoenix and commence new ones in the City of Tempe.” Randy Schrock, Gary Mangum and Skip O’Neill originally founded Aunt Rita’s in 1988, Spencer explained. Initially money was raised at an annual bake sale with funds administered by an all-volunteer group of community heroes to provide comfort care to people with AIDS, he added. “Today, Aunt Rita’s maintains the grassroots spirit with a small and dedicated staff that provides philanthropic support to Arizona HIV service organizations, HIV education and outreach, advocacy initiatives and HIV prevention programming,” Spencer said. “AIDS Walk Arizona is Aunt Rita’s largest fundraiser and has allowed us to grant more than 1.8 million dollars to local nonprofits since 2005.” All proceeds from AIDS Walk Arizona are grant funded to Aunt Rita’s family of 12 partner agencies, all of which provide services in Greater Phoenix and, together, form the continuum of care for both HIV prevention programs as well as treatment programs. For more information on Aunt Rita’s, or its 12 partner agencies, visit auntritas.org.
• HIV is 100 percent treatable with a long list of well-tolerated HIV medications available, and 7 regimens that are one pill daily. • HIV positive individuals in treatment and with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to others, according to the CDC. • Arizona’s No Promo Homo law prohibits discussion of sex education in high schools that presents homosexual sex as safe sex; as a result, it is not discussed at all, putting thousands of children at risk every day and innumerable numbers of them who may have died as a result of this silence. • Of all new HIV infections in Phoenix, 38 percent are between the ages of 13 and 29. • In Arizona 85 percent of new HIV infections result from men who have sex with men. • HIV testing is free, confidential, and takes only 20 minutes and testing locations are available at HIVAZ.org. • The worst HIV status is “unknown,” and the CDC recommends that all Americans be HIV tested at least once. Source: Aunt Rita’s Foundation.
AIDS Walk Arizona Oct. 28 7:30 a.m. venue opens 8:30 a.m. main stage presentations 10 a.m. 5K run start 10:05 a.m. walk start Phoenix City Hall 200 W. Washington St., in Phoenix aidswalkaz.org
Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor and PR pro. A graduate of NAU, she’s been writing for Valley publications for more than a decade. You can find out more at mteverson.com. EchoMag.com
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Desperado LGBT Film Festival
Sept. 28 at Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.
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Out & About
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How Kathy Griffin Gets A Head in Show Business
The Candid Comic Wraps Up Her Laugh Your Head Off World Tour in Phoenix By Ashley Naftule
I
f living well is the best revenge, vengeance must feel especially sweet for Kathy Griffin.
The veteran comic faced a firestorm of controversy last year when she posted a photo of herself holding up a decapitated Trump head. The image was on-brand for the brassy, give-no-fucks Griffin. The prolific standup comic is Joan Rivers’ heir apparent, sharing the departed legend’s love for lampooning and ripping apart celebrities with savage glee (and like Rivers, Griffin’s knack for cutting cattiness has earned her a devoted LGBT[Q] following). And she’s never been one to be coy about her left-leaning politics. But the image proved to be too hot for Hollywood and political pundits, who roundly condemned the comedian. She got blacklisted from venues, dropped from her New Year’s Eve CNN gig, and was investigated by the government. Some commentators viewed it as a permanent fall from grace, but the 57-year-old comic has clawed her way back up with a triumphant world tour. Griffin has toured her new standup show, Laugh Your Head Off, across Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S. She’s fully embraced her status as an anti-Trump firebrand, selling merch on her website that reflects her convictions: Impeach Brett keychains, Fuck Trump mugs, even an air freshener of Trump in a prison jumpsuit pissing himself. And while industry insiders prophesized that her career was over after the photography incident, box office receipts don’t lie: the fiery-haired comic is more popular than ever. She’s also donating the proceeds from her June ticket sales to the Trevor Project, the nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth. Talking to Griffin on the phone, she reveals herself to be a gregarious and impassioned speaker: The kind of raconteur who can switch gears from politics to dropping some hot goss at the drop of a hat. 40
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Echo: You’re closing out your world tour at the Phoenix Symphony Hall. What made you choose Arizona as your curtain call? Griffin: When I decided to go on tour, I put out my first mailing list ever and asked people to sign up if they wanted me to do a concert in their town. And Phoenix came through in a big way. That’s honestly how I decided which cities to perform in. I am so excited about playing Phoenix Symphony Hall. I’m going to spill a lot of scalding hot tea up there. I do have one fear, though, which is that someone comes to the show accidentally thinking it’s a night of symphonic music and instead they get a night of resistance and dick jokes. Echo: What can folks expect to hear you talk about at the show? Griffin: There are a few parts of the show I call the meat and bones. About my interrogation, the dealings with the FBI. What it’s like to live under that spectrum of federal agencies for two months while they’re seriously considering charging me personally with the crime of conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States. Which carries a lifetime sentence! All this over a photo a citizen put up on Twitter that aggrieved the president. I think it’s significant because the arts, the gay people, the folks in the Arab community, the academics: We’re the first to go. It’s shirts and skins, baby. Us against them. And they, as Kamala Harris said, have all the power. We have to take it back. And let me tell you – Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, who is a member of your community whether he wants to admit it or not, has been a busy bee tearing away at LGBT[Q] rights. They’re now rescinding the rights of openly gay members of the military to be able to go to their locations with their spouse. So if there’s a gay U.S. military member in South Korea and they meet a guy in
Seoul and get married, the new rule is that the Korean guy can’t come back home with their enlisted spouse. They’re clearly trying to tear away at the fabric of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I can’t believe we have to religitate this fucker. But I’m still going to dish on the Kardashians, and I’ve got lots of great celebrity stories. I’m not going to do a three-hour lecture on the First Amendment. You’ll be laughing first and foremost, but I also do want to tell a story. And whenever that story starts to get too frightening, I throw in a nice fluffy Kim Kardashian story. You know they were my neighbors during this entire ordeal? Echo: I had no idea. Griffin: I lived next to Kanye and Kim. I had already moved by the time he went on TMZ and said slavery was a choice. They were very courteous neighbors, but I’m just saying: his wife has got her hands full. Echo: What was your take on seeing your former neighbor talking to Trump in the Oval Office? Griffin: I look at these things in a different way. I was on the no-fly list for two months, yet we’re living in a time when Ted Nugent gets invited to the Oval Office after saying, multiple times, that he would shoot Barack Obama. He gets invited, and I’m still on the Interpol list. I do think it’s ironic that he was very interested in manufacturing jobs because it seemed to me like he was trying to say to Trump, “How can I make my shit cheaper? What country does Ivanka do it in? Can you please just point me towards the Ivanka sweatshops?” I know Kanye wants to be a creative visionary, but I have breaking news for him -- Manufacturing is not coming back. Coal is not coming back. He wants to be the new Steve Jobs, and yet he thinks this stuff is actually going to come back. That’s like Lucille Ball coming back. FEATURE STORY
“I’m going to spill a lot of scalding hot tea up there. I do have one fear, though, which is that someone comes to the show accidentally thinking it’s a night of symphonic music and instead they get a night of resistance and dick jokes.” Kathy Griffin
Echo: How did you get involved with The Trevor Project? Griffin: The first time I ever did a Trevor event was here in Los Angeles. I hosted it, and Drew Carey was there, and the cast from “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” I remember thinking, OK, that’s cool, Drew’s an ally. I’ve been working with them ever since. That’s why I got the idea to make a donation to them based on every single ticket sold in the month of June. All of the tickets, and not just a “portion of the proceeds.” When celebrities do that, it’s such bullshit. A portion of the proceeds – fuck that shit. I wrote a $12,000 check and presented it to them at my D.C. show. Probably all the proceeds. Dammit, portion my ass.
Kathy Griffin’s Laugh Your Head Off World Tour 7 p.m. Nov. 4 Phoenix Symphony Hall 75 N. Second St., Phoenix kathygriffin.net/tour.php
Ashley Naftule is a writer and theater artist from Phoenix. His work has been published in Pitchfork, Vice, Bandcamp, Phoenix New Times, Popula, Longreads, The Outline, SYFY Wire, AZCentral, and Java Magazine. He’s a resident playwright and artistic director at Space55 Theatre. You can find him at @Emperor_norton on Twitter. FEATURE STORY
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AT THE BOX OFFICE
A Bird’s-Eye View Scottsdale International Film Festival expands focus on LGBTQ themes By Tuesday Mahrle
W
ith more than three dozen film festivals screening a wide variety of titles, genres and themes on big screens throughout Arizona each year, it takes thoughtful consideration and connection to ensure curate titles that reflect the diversity of their audiences. Since 2001, the Scottsdale International Film Festival has offered a bird’s-eye view of relevant topics. And this year is no exception. “The stories told in the films we have selected beautifully address a number of cross-cultural issues facing both men and women today, including sexuality, religious conflict, cultural expectations and a fair amount of comic relief,” Ettinger said. “We have always prided ourselves on our ability to offer audiences a wide-screen view of the world through the art of cinema, and this season’s slate is extraordinary.”
The 18th annual festival will take place from Nov. 2 to 11, and all screenings (besides Roma), will take place at Harkins Shea 14. This year, the festival has been expanded from its usual fiveday run to 10 days with more than 50 films, Q&A sessions with directors and 44
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actors and an LGBTQ movie series. Continuing its goal of inclusion and diversity, the festival has included LGBTQ films since its inception. “I had been aspiring from the jump to keep LGBT[Q] movies in the theater, whether it be one movie or three,” Ettinger explained, adding that audiences are in for an impressive lineup this year. While the interest and viewership for LGBTQ-centered films has continued an upward trajectory, Ettinger doesn’t see a future where LGBTQ and “mainstream” cinema will need to be divided. “Interestingly, as time has gone by and culture has evolved, [LGBTQ themes in] so many of the films I like and want to program into the festival … [are] becoming more of an organic part of the storyline, rather than a ‘made by gay, for gay’ concept,” she explained. “Gay is much more mainstream in movies and everyday TV watching.”
LGBTQ Spotlight Boy Erased Nov. 4 at 7:50 p.m. R | 114 minutes | Biography, Drama
Boy Erased tells the courageous story
of Jared Eamons, the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town. After being outed to his parents (Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe), he is faced with their struggle to reconcile their love for him with their beliefs. Fearing a loss of family, friends and community, Jared is pressured into attending a conversion therapy program. While there, he comes into conflict with the program’s leader and begins his journey to finding his own voice and accepting his true self.
Every Act of Life Nov. 3 at 2:05 p.m. | Nov. 10 at 1:55 p.m. NR | 92 minutes | Documentary
Every Act tells the story of the life and work of four-time Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally. Follow his personal journey through theatre, the fight for LGBT rights, addiction and ultimate recovery, his closeted relationships and the power his work has on generations.
Good Manners (As Boas Maneiras) Nov. 3 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. NR | 135 minutes | Horror, Science Fiction
Clara is a young woman living on the outskirts of São Paulo. She is hired Entertainment
to be a live-in nanny to a mysterious and wealthy single woman, Ana. The two form an unusual friendship but something is lurking in the background. One evening, things change from odd to frightful as Ana’s strange behaviors reveal her deep, dark secrets.
The Heiresses (Las Herederas) Nov. 4 at 2:25 p.m. | Nov. 11 at 1:40 p.m. NR | 95 minutes | Drama
Chela and Chiquita have been a loving couple for more than 30 years. Financial difficulties force them to sell some of their inherited furniture, each a beloved article of memorabilia. When Chiquita is sent to prison for fraud, Chela is suddenly left on her own and must venture out for work. While providing local taxi services for a group of elderly ladies, she meets a young woman, Angy, and is forced to break out her shell and rediscover her desires.
Mapplethorpe Nov. 9 at 7p.m. NR | 102 minutes | Drama, Biopic
Hailed as one of the most important, yet controversial photographers in American history, Robert Mapplethorpe brought the underground BDSM scene of New York City to life through his portraitstyle photography. Directed by Ondi Timoner, this biopic follows the artist
as he embraces his sexuality in the gay scene of NYC, finds his voice and vision as an artist and his self-destruction amid the the emerging AIDS crisis.
Rafiki Nov. 3 at 7:40 p.m. | Nov. 10 at 7:35 p.m. NR | 82 minutes | Drama
Inspired by Ugandan Monica Arac de Nyeko’s 2007 Caine Prize-winning short
,
story Jambula Tree Rafiki is the story of friendship and tender love that grows between two young women, amid family and political pressures. When love blossoms between Kena and Ziki, the two girls are forced to choose between happiness and safety.
Wild Nights with Emily Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. NR | 84 minutes | Comedy, Biopic
Starring Molly Shannon as Emily Dickinson, Wild Nights with Emily is a fictional comedy that challenges the spinster persona of the late writer and heralds her as a woman ahead of her time – in both intellect and sexuality. The film explores the vivacious, irreverent side of her that was covered up for many years – most notably Dickinson’s lifelong romance with another woman. For a complete list of the 2018 Scottsdale International Film Festival’s titles and showtimes, visit scottsdalefilmfestival.com.
Studio 54 Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. | Nov. 10 at 7:45 p.m. NR | 98 minutes | Documentary
Studio 54 was the epicenter of ’70s hedonism – a place that not only redefined the nightclub, but also came to symbolize an entire era. Co-owners, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, seemed to come out of nowhere to suddenly preside over a new kind of New York society. Now, 39 years after the velvet rope was first slung across the venue’s hallowed threshold, a feature documentary tells the real story behind the greatest club of all time.
The Scottsdale International Film Festival Nov. 2-11 Harkins Shea 14 7354 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale scottsdalefilmfestival.com
New Years Eve Sale!
Tuesday Mahrle is a film critic and host of “Whiskey and Popcorn,” a Phoenix-based movie podcast.
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NOT THAT YOU ASKED
rights we’ve attained coming under threat, and many Americans deciding they aren’t afraid or ashamed to display their true hate, having a community that is a safe space may be exactly what we need. Our community could have that place where we are the majority, could protect one another, organize and rally, and I could stumble bar-to-bar until I lock eyes with someone who figures they’d like to see me naked.
I’m Here for a Melrose Place Reboot By Buddy Early
I
t’s been over two decades since I accidentally walked into a bath house in Washington D.C.’s gay district. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. Well, as much as five seconds can be those things. I had only heard of such places, and if I hadn’t been fresh out of the closet I may have stayed and enjoyed myself doing what people do in those places. Still, it was a part of an eye-opening night out in a community populated largely by LGBTQ people. Over the next few years, I would spend a lot of time visiting gay neighborhoods in other cities – DuPont Circle, San Francisco’s Castro District, West Hollywood, Hillcrest in San Diego, New York City’s West Village. I marveled at how, you know, gay they were. Blocks of businesses all catering to us. Bars, restaurants and shops with names like The Crack, Uncle Trudy’s and Inhibitions – a gift shop where you could pick up a rainbow you-name-it; an amateurish periodical with older, hairy men eating oatmeal or cereal or whatever served in a bowl they’re holding as if they were about to shot put it; and lavender bath bombs. Gay, gay, gay, gay, gay. For blocks. And the lesbian bar. I learned more about those communities than I did about my own. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that Phoenix had no gay ghetto? After my first visit to Phoenix’s
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one-and-only gay restaurant, I walked out onto the street and did not find what I was half-expecting. I was disappointed not to bump into a gay dude walking from his apartment to the gym, or two gay men walking from their apartment to the gym … or five gay men leaving the gym to get a gay smoothie. The nightlife in Phoenix was not what I was hoping for. I longed for that convenience of bar-hopping down a street on foot, waiting for that magical moment when I would lock eyes with someone who figured they wanted to see me naked. I had to accept that Phoenix wasn’t like other cities. The gays and lesbians here were more scattered. Some seasoned gays even told me Phoenix was the way it was because people moved here from other places, and they were over the gay neighborhood concept. I guess it made sense. But those same seasoned gays taught me about Phoenix’s LGBTQ history. It’s actually pretty rich, some of it documented in papers and photographs and some of it handed down through stories shared over drinks. I learned to revere Phoenix’s LGBTQ history, even if it never had that physical core that I fantasized about. It has occurred to me recently that the notion of Phoenix having an actual LGBTQ neighborhood is one worth revisiting. With so many of the equal
In fact, I think we’re already witnessing a revitalized LGBTQ community in Phoenix. Despite my habit of often ridiculing millennials and the younger generation that follows (I don’t remember what they’re called, post-Millennials or generation fluid or something), I see a desire to be a community once again. The Melrose District has drawn a great number of these young LGBTQ folks and certainly allies, as people are deciding that when it comes to living, working and playing, convenience is important. The pendulum has swung; whereas we have long been a community of LGBTQ people that desperately wanted to blend into the rest of our city, and be seen as just like everyone else, to one that recognizes there is such a thing as LGBTQ culture, and it’s wonderful. I’m excited to see what else our community can bring to that stretch of Seventh Avenue known as the Melrose Curve and the adjacent neighborhoods. Is this going to be our Oak Lawn? Our Capitol Hill? Our Short North? There’s enormous potential – for a vibrant community hub and (natch!) for me to find someone who agrees to see me naked. Count me in. Buddy Early grew up in Tempe and has been involved in various communities across the Valley since. He is a former managing editor of both Echo Magazine and Compete Magazine. Community
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TALKING BODIES
Dietary Supplements That Actually Supplement By Tia Norris
T
hese days, there’s a magic pill, potion or lotion for just about any fitness goal you could dream up. Whether you want to perform longer, recover faster, burn more fat, build more muscle, have more energy, have less energy, or anything in between, you can find a dietary supplement that claims to make your goal a reality. But, do supplements actually work? Which ones are most effective? And if they work, at what cost? As a professional trainer, who has their client’s best interests – and results – at heart, I have tried and/or thoroughly researched every kind of supplement available. My conclusion: 95 percent of dietary supplements suck. Frankly, the world of supplements is a dangerously misleading place and my advice is to stay away from the quick-fix claims and seductive marketing. Still, our bodies require supplementing. Because of this, I’ve put together a list of tips and considerations for anyone in search of an introduction to supplements that actually supplement. First, the most-critical point I need to make about supplements is that they are unregulated. Because supplements are not drugs, they are not subjected to the heavily regulated criteria that drugs are. This means that anyone, at any time, can produce any combination of ingredients – for better or worse – and sell them on the market, as long as they have a disclaimer on their labels. Let that sink in. Honestly, the thought of Joe Schmoe, who doesn’t know sh!t about sh!t, creating a “fat burner complex” and selling it to you, to put into your body every day for any length of time, with no checks and balances, is scary AF.
Nutrition Keeping that in mind, remember that most of your nutrition should come from 50
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real food. Supplements are (go figure) intended to supplement an otherwise functional program, not to replace one. The majority of your meals should come from whole grains and minimally processed fruits, vegetables, meats and so on – not primarily from a powder or packet. Now that we’ve got the groundwork laid, let’s get onto the supplements that do work.
Protein Powder Yes, you probably need to supplement your protein intake. Almost none of my clients get enough protein to support their fat loss and physique goals. Adding a clean protein powder helps you get more of the best protein sources into your diet. This is an extensive topic to cover, but here are the basics: • Whey isolate (not concentrate, not hydrolysate) is best, but go for an egg white or vegan powder if you can’t stomach whey. • For increased digestive efficiency, get a protein powder with at least 5 grams of BCAA’s (branched chain amino acids) per serving. • For best results, take one scoop immediately after lifting. Add another scoop throughout the day, if needed.
Pre-Workouts While the first major pre-workout supplements market the 1980s, rise in popularity among more mainstream/ average gymgoers has been relatively recent. Because they do help most people transition from work to working out, I have a quick rundown for you: • Try to avoid pre-workouts that are a caffeine blowout – more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per serving will produce a crash in most people. This is an individual threshold that could be lower based on your tolerance.
• Try to cycle off of pre-workouts when you already feel energized. It’s easy for these to become a crutch, which produces a tolerance. • Instead of caffeine, some preworkouts utilize B vitamins as the main stimulant. I have found that these work best for me, personally.
Carbs and Salt What about if you’re more of a cardio-based athlete? Cardio, for the vast majority of people, is fueled by carbohydrates. If your cardio is less than 45 to 60 minutes, and is climatecontrolled setting, you probably only need a salt supplement in small doses. But if your cardio duration exceeds an hour, or you’re primarily outdoors in the heat, you’ll want more salts and need to also consider adding more calories. My minimum is 100 calories (25 grams) of quick, sugary carbohydrates per hour (perhaps more, depending on activity, duration and environment).
Fat Burners There isn’t nearly enough space here to delve into the world of fat burners. So, the quickest and safest advice I have for you is this: skip these altogether and just drink more plain coffee! Caffeine is the most powerful fat burner on the (legal) market. Add in an extra cup or two, particularly on an empty stomach, to harness caffeine’s formidable fat burning power. The supplement industry banks billions every year, a huge chunk of which is devoted to clever marketing to convince you to buy their smoke-andmirrors products. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Tia Norris is the president and head trainer at FitPro, LLC, a local fitness company. Find out more at fitprollc.com. Health & Fitness
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WE THE PEOPLE
get to pick and choose which customers to serve. The Masterpiece Cakeshop baker won at the U.S. Supreme Court because a majority of the justices believed his case did not get a fair hearing from the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The justices did not decide, however, the underlying question of whether a wedding vendor’s freedom of speech authorizes them to deny some customers service in spite of a nondiscrimination law. In fact, although the baker won this round, the Arizona Court of Appeals recently cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion as support for the rights of customers who may want calligraphy on their wedding invitations.
If You Face Discrimination, Report It
Don’t Tolerate Discrimination, Even From “Artistic” Businesses By Steve Kilar
M
y husband and I had a small wedding –just us and six other people. We didn’t put a lot of thought or money into most aspects of the event, but we did put quite a bit of planning into the food. Following the ceremony, which we had in our living room, the eight of us went to Pizzeria Bianco in Heritage Square. Back at home after dinner, my husband made a special punch that we served from a crystal bowl with a ladle, as if we were at the kind of middle school dance you’d see on TV. And, of course, we ordered a fancy cake. The team at Kick Ass Kakes in central Phoenix made us a simple, but beautiful, three-tiered carrot cake with white frosting and silver fondant bands at the base of each layer. It was an edible work of art. I hesitate to use that word, “art,” and not because of the kitschy porcelain grooms that stood on top of the cake. I am cautious about using that word because a selfdescribed “Christian” legal organization based in Scottsdale is trying to weaponize “art” against same-sex couples and people who are not cisgender.
What Does Art Have to Do with Discrimination? The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has argued in many court cases that some businesses employing artistic 52
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skills should be able to turn away customers despite nondiscrimination laws intended to protect the whole public’s access to goods and services. They argued that a florist in Washington state should not have to supply flowers for a gay couple’s wedding and they told a court in Phoenix that an Arizona-based calligraphy company should be able to deny requests for wedding invitations from same-sex couples, among other cases. In a lawsuit that the U.S. Supreme Court decided earlier this year, the ADF argued that Masterpiece Cakeshop, a Colorado bakery, should be able to turn away same-sex couples’ wedding cake orders because the artistic skill that goes into producing a cake means it is expressing a message from the baker. The U.S. Constitution gives a high level of free speech protection to artists who produce unique works and do not offer their services broadly to the public. The government typically cannot censor their work, tell them what their work must look or sound like, or mandate the message their work conveys. The ADF is trying to group skilled businesses in with artists because of the significant free speech protection our laws provide artistry. But when a business opens its doors to the general public, no matter how much artistry goes into its product, the owner does not
Unlike Colorado, Washington and many other states, Arizona does not (yet) have a law that protects customers from sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. Nevertheless, several Arizona cities—Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, Flagstaff and Sedona—prohibit businesses from discriminating against customers because of these personal characteristics. In these five places, the local government will investigate complaints about sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. If you ever feel like you are mistreated by a business because of your sexual orientation or gender identity, you should report it. Do not let the ADF’s attempts to complicate this issue dissuade you. A business that is open to the public, even a business that uses artistry to make its products, should not deny a customer service because of that customer’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Requiring a business that is open to the public to treat all customers equally, no matter how much skill goes into the product, does not mean the business is expressing any particular message. The cake my husband and I requested reflected our intimate, modest wedding. It was exactly what we had in mind. Even though Kick Ass Kakes baked it, and used great skill to decorate it, the cake reflected what we wanted our wedding to say about us, not what the Kick Ass bakers wanted to say about our wedding. Steve Kilar is the communications director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona (acluaz.org). If you have questions about your rights that you would like addressed in a future issue, write him at skilar@acluaz.org. COMMUNITY
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GUEST COLUMNIST
Coming Out of the BDSM Closet By Omar Beretta
I
was recently in Perú interviewing transgender and nonbinary individuals for a piece about LGTBQ+ diversity. In doing so, I realized how much trans and nonbinary people know about themselves, compared to the standard cisgender gay male. One of them presented themself as a “trans guy, pansexual, atheist, nonbinary, anarcha-feminist and BDSM dominant.” The BDSM reference got me thinking: When is it the right time to open up to those around us about BDSM practices? It was not until 2013 that the American Psychiatric Association depathologized kinky sex, including BDSM. Anyone familiar with the BDSM world knows about the stigma. This is one powerful reason to keep one’s BDSM inclinations to oneself, and only live the life within its endogamic, often suffocating world. For some, this creates anxiety and shame. Coming out of the closet as LGBTQ+ can already be challenging; and coming out of the BDSM closet presents more complex considerations. In honor of National Coming Out Day – observed Oct. 11 in the United States – I have asked people from various backgrounds (who engage in sane, safe and consensual BDSM practice), how much they share about it. Andy, 53, is the manager of a store in the Netherlands. Andy is out of the BDSM closet to his husband, family, friends and work colleagues. The word “honesty” comes again and again as we talk. His husband of 10 years is not into BDSM, but they have agreed that Andy can have one BDSM lover, to whom he is faithful. Occasionally, the three socialize together. Andy’s lover has a husband of four years who has agreed to this arrangement. Recently, Andy’s lover expressed that he would like to explore certain BDSM
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practices of which Andy is not interested, so the four of them have agreed that Andy’s lover will find a new lover willing to integrate these practices, while keeping the rest informed. Salvatore, 50, a high school teacher, lives in Southern Italy. He is single and has a few BDSM lovers. Although there is a solid BDSM community in his country, Salvatore shares that as many as half the men he meets in this community are straight or gay, cis men who are not out of the closet to anyone. Salvatore is out to close friends only. He pleads that his sexual preferences are private and that neither family nor work colleagues should be informed about his doings. We chat about his reasons for not coming out, and we agree that those were the same arguments for which many gays and lesbians resisted coming out of the closet in years past. Alex, 45, a university teacher from Argentina, is only out to a few close friends, based on the same reasons as Salvatore. None of his (few) partners shared the BDSM life, and he concludes that it played a role in the breakups. Pablo, 52, an author and advocate of BDSM in Argentina, is out to everyone. When I ask him if the BDSM life has ever made him anxious or unhappy, he replies: never, apart from the anxiety or unhappiness that may derive from love. Although the BDSM practice has traditionally attracted older players, there is a steady increase of younger men and women in the scene. Hova, 24, a university student from Argentina, is a heavy metal enthusiast. He compares the stigma around BDSM to that associated with heavy metal music, and concludes that the misconceptions are derived from lack of information. He
is open to his closest friends, some of whom also expressed interest in experimenting with BDSM. Iván, 33, a designer from Argentina, finds that BDSM empowers him to connect with others outside the social canon, thus enriching his life. David, 30, a journalist from Argentina, says that he is “not yet” out of the BDSM closet because he has just started this road of discovery, but is willing to be open about it in the future. Arturo, 24, a human rights activist from Perú, is angry about the moral sanctions imposed by church and state on all forms of dissident sexuality. He would be more open about his lifestyle if it did not entail undesirable consequences. Niqo, 27, a producer from Paraguay, explains that the narrow views on any form of sexual dissidence are so ingrained in the Paraguayan society, that coming out of the BDSM closet would be met with contempt. Fer, 27, an LGBTQ+ activist from Paraguay, finds that worrying about coming out of the BDSM closet is a privilege of the upper classes, to which I agree. Disclosure seems to be integral to dating. Most people I spoke with acknowledged that not being honest with their partners about the BDSM life jeopardized the connection with them, and had a role in the subsequent breakups. The possibility of coming out to family, friends and work colleagues varies greatly, depending on how rights on gender issues have evolved and are integrated in the social fabric. Diego, 30, a psychologist from Uruguay, reminds me that while BDSM sex provides a plethora of possibilities beyond genital intercourse, contemporary society still considers sex beyond coitus as taboo. Is hetero (and homo) normativity blinding us? What is at stake here is not just a personal decision, but rather a radical transformation of the way in which freedom is exercised. As the normative/capitalist social relations erode all forms of sexual dissidence in order to reproduce itself, the BDSM closet will remain crowded. Omar Beretta is a former lawyer, yoga instructor, and publishing company ownerturned world traveler who practices Ayurvedic medicine, Shamanism and teaches creative writing workshops in Asunción del Paraguay. He can be reached at yacarevolador.blogspot.com or at @yacarevolador on social media. COMMUNITY
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Tilton
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LOCAL BUSNESSES
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DRAG CALENDAR OCTOBER Oct. 20
4:30 p.m.
HERTIAGE SQUARE
Phoenix Pride Rainbows Festival featuring Detox from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Oct. 21
4:30 p.m.
HERTIAGE SQUARE
Phoenix Pride Rainbows Festival featuring Raja from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Oct. 21
9 p.m.
THE ROCK
Dahl Haus Featuring Dahli & Astrud Aurelia
Oct. 25
10:30 p.m.
KARAMBA
Aubrey’s Horror Story hosted by Aubrey Ghalichi
Oct. 26
10 p.m.
THE ROCK
Lady Christian’s Trailer Trash Review Hosted by Lady Christia
Oct. 28
9 p.m.
BS WEST
BS West Halloween Show & Mister & Miss BS West Pride Pageant
Oct. 29
10:30 p.m.
KARAMBA
Ruby’s Spook Show hosted by Ruby Reynolds
Oct. 31
9 p.m
CANS DELI
VAMP: Halloween hosted by Jenna DuMay (Tucson)
Nov. 1
10 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
Pipin’ Hot Thursdays presents Vanessa Mateo from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Nov. 2
10 p.m.
THE ROCK
Barbra Seville Girlie Show hosted by Barbra Seville
Nov. 3
7 p.m.
PAT O’S BUNKHOUSE
Emperor XII Eddie Broadway presents Freakshow - Burlesque of the Bizarre
Nov. 3
1 p.m.
THE DUCE
The Main Event: Mister & Miss RipplePhx Pageant
Nov. 3
10:30 p.m.
OZ BAR
Sinful Saturdays hosted by Sonja Jae Savage
Nov. 4
9 p.m.
THE ROCK
Late Nite Snax hosted by Benaddiction
Nov. 4
9 p.m.
BRODIE’S TAVERN
Diamond Divas hosted by Jessica Michaels & Holly Woodland (Tucson)
Nov. 7
10 p.m.
KOBALT
Mister & Miss Kobalt Pride Pageant
Nov. 8
9 p.m.
STACY’S @ MELROSE
New Kings on the Block Show hosted by Blake Riley
Nov. 8
9 p.m.
IBT’S
The PlayHaus hosted by Haus of Kunt (Tucson)
Nov. 8
9 p.m.
SKY BAR ON 4TH
Nail Polish hosted by Allona Dee (Tucson)
Nov. 9
10 p.m.
THE ROCK
Barbra Seville’s Girlie Show hosted by Barbra Seville
Nov. 11
7 p.m.
IBT’S
Sucia Sunday’s hosted by Diva (Tucson)
Nov. 11
6 p.m.
THE ROCK
Mister & Miss ArizonaDrag.com Pride Pageant
Nov. 14
10 p.m.
KOBALT
Barbra’s Big Break hosted by Barbra Seville
Nov. 15
9 p.m.
STACY’S @ MELROSE
Boyz are Back in Town hosted by Blake Riley
Nov. 15
9 p.m.
SKY BAR ON 4TH
Nail Polish hosted by Allona Dee (Tucson)
NOVEMBER
Mark Your Calendars For Echo’s complete event listing, visit echomag.com/communitycalendar.
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Bar Guide
EVERY MONDAY 9 p.m.
KOBALT
Naughty or Nice Bingo hosted by Olivia Gardens
10 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
The Strip Factor hosted by Claudia B & Piper M’Shay
EVERY TUESDAY 9 p.m.
STACY’S @ MELROSE
The Queer Agenda featuring Carnita Asada, Dahli, Rubye Moore and Benaddiction
EVERY WEDNESDAY 8 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
La Loteria hosted by Susan Martell & Juan
9 p.m.
BRODIE’S TAVERN
Naughty Drag Bingo hosted by Jessica Michaels (Tucson)
10 p.m.
IBT’S
Viva la Diva hosted by Diva (Tucson)
10 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
Diamond en Fuego hosted by Diamond Dallas
10:30 p.m.
KARAMBA
The Karime Lizaldi Show hosted by Karime Lizaldi
EVERY THURSDAY 9 p.m.
THE CASH
Truth or Dare Drag Bingo hosted by Freddy Prinze Charming & Felicia Minor
9:30 p.m.
BOYCOTT BAR
Glamourhood: Drag! Live Music! Dance! Comedy!
10 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
Pipin’ Hot Thursdays hosted by Piper M’Shay
10 p.m
KARAMBA
Urban Thursdays hosted by Aubrey Ghalichi
EVERY FRIDAY 9 p.m.
PLAZMA
Freaky Fridays hosted by Celia Putty
9 p.m.
IBT’S
Flawless Fridays hosted by China Collins (Tucson)
10 p.m.
CLUB VOLT
4Some Revue hosted by Luna, Gigi, Joey & Toothpick
10:30 p.m.
CRUISIN’ 7TH
Thank Grande It’s Friday hosted by Espressa Grande
10:30 p.m.
BS WEST
Elements: The most decorated showcast in Scottsdale
11 p.m.
LA PUPUSA LOCA
Labios Rojos Show de Imitadores
SET SAIL F ALL-NEW HOR THE On 7th S ULA’S treet
HULA’S HAS
MOVED! NEW LOCATION! 5114 N. 7TH STREET HULASMODERNTIKI.COM
EVERY SATURDAY 9 p.m.
IBT’S
Saturday Night Starletts hosted by Janee Starr (Tucson)
9 p.m.
STACY’S @ MELROSE
Keeping up with the McKenzies
9:30 p.m.
AQUA NIGHT CLUB
Susana Martell Siluetas Travesty Show
10 p.m.
THE ROCK
The Barbra Seville Show hosted by Barbra Seville
10 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
Saturday Night Under the Stars hosted by Claudia B
10:30 p.m.
CRUISIN’ 7TH
Lady & The Tramps hosted by Lady Christian
EVERY SUNDAY 7 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
Pussy LeHoot & Friends
7 p.m.
STACY’S @ MELROSE
Stacy’s Follies featuring special guests
10:30 p.m.
KARAMBA
The Ruby Reynolds Show hosted by Ruby Reynolds
11 p.m.
CHARLIE’S
Latin Explosion hosted by “The Latin Dynamite” Adriana Galliano
11:30 p.m.
AQUA NIGHT CLUB
Labios Rojos Show de Imitadores
bar guide
Fine Chinese Cuisine Wine Cocktails SPECIALTY DISH
Honey Walnut Prawns 602.266.4463 Third Street / One Block S. of Osborn
www.chinachilirestaurant.com EchoMag.com
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PHOENIX BARS
Phoenix Bar Guide
20 19
7 7
23 22 55 26 25 19 18
16 11 10
16 15 27
22 21 17
5th
9 8
32nd St. St. 32nd
8
Bethany Home
24 25 3 21 3 20
e. Av
6
1 15 2 14
2
24 23
10 9
13 12 44
18 17
14 13
11 12 *MAP IS NOT *Map is notTO drawn DRAWN SCALEto scale
60 92
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|EchoMag.com | EchoMag.com EchoMag.com
LOCAL BUSNESSES
11
ANVIL ANVIL
2424 E. E. Thomas Thomas Road Road 2424
602-334-1462 602-334-1462
M, D, D, L L M,
2 2
AQUA NIGHT AQUA NIGHT CLUB CLUB
1730 E. E. McDowell McDowell Road Road 1730
602-253-0682 602-253-0682
F, N, D, E, F, E, N D
3 3
BAR 11 BAR
3702 N. N. 16th 16th St. St. 3702
602-266-9001 602-266-9001
M, N, E, N M, E
4 4
eBAR BLISS/R BLISS REBAR
901 N. N. Fourth Fourth St. St. 901
602-795-1792 602-795-1792
MF,N,N,ER M,
5 5
BOYCOTT BAR BOYCOTT BAR
4301 N. N. Seventh Seventh Ave. Ave. 4301
602-515-3667 602-515-3667
MF, D, D, E E MF,
6 6
BS WEST BS WEST
7125 E. E. Fifth Fifth Ave. Ave. 7125
480-945-9028 480-945-9028
MF, D, D, E E MF,
77
BUNKHOUSE BUNKHOUSE
4428 N. N. Seventh Seventh Ave. Ave. 4428
602-200-9154 602-200-9154
M, N, L, N M, L
8 8
CARAVAN TAP ROOM CHARLIE’S
4835W.N.Camelback 15th Ave. Road 727
602-592-9386 602-265-0224
MF,C,E,E,ND M,
9 9
CHARLIE’S CLUB VOLT
727 Road 3108W. E.Camelback McDowell Road
602-265-0224 602-244-1465
M, MF,E,D,DE
10 10 10
CLUB VOLT CRUISIN’ 7TH
3108 Road 3702 E. N.McDowell Seventh St.
602-244-1465 602-212-9888
MF, M, ED, E
11 11 11
CRUISIN’ 7TH DICK’S CABARET
3702 Seventh 3432 N. E. Illini St. St.
602-212-9888 602-274-3425
M, M, E, G N
12 2 12 12
DICK’S CABARET FEZ
3432 Illini St. St. 105 W.E.Portland
602-274-3425 602-287-8700
M R
13 13 13
FEZ FLEX SPAS PHOENIX
105 St. Hwy 1517W. S. Portland Black Canyon
602-287-8700 602-271-9011
MF, R M, AO
14 14 14
FLEX SPAS PHOENIX KARAMBA NIGHTCLUB
1517 Canyon Hwy 1724S. E.Black McDowell Road
602-271-9011 602-254-0231
M, D, EA
15 15 15
KARAMBA KOBALT NIGHTCLUB
1724 E. McDowell Road 3110 N. Central Ave., Ste. 125
602-254-0231 602-264-5307
D, MF,E E, N
16 16 16
KOBALT LOS DIABLOS
3110 Ave., Ste. 175 1028 N. E. Central Indian School Road
602-264-5307 602-795-7881
MF, MF, E, R, N N
17 17 17
LOS DIABLOSSALOON NU TOWNE
1028 School 5002 E. E. Indian Van Buren St. Road
602-795-7881 602-267-9959
MF, N,LR M, N,
18 18 18
NU OFFTOWNE CHUTE SALOON TOO
5002 E.Seventh Van Buren St. 4115 N. Ave
602-267-9959 602-274-1429
M, M, L, AN
19 19 19
OFF CHUTE TOO OZ BAR
4115 1804N. W.Seventh BethanyAve. Home Road
602-274-1429 602-242-5114
MF, MF, A N
20 20 20
OZ BAR PLAZMA
1804 W.Osborn Bethany Home Road 1560 E. Road
602-242-5114 602-266-0477
MF, MF, N N, E
21 21 21
PLAZMA ROYAL VILLA INN
1560 4312 E. N. Osborn 12th St. Road
602-266-0477 602-266-6883
MF, E, N M, AO
22 22 23
ROYAL VILLA INN STACY’S @ MELROSE
4312 St. Ave. 4343N. N.12th Seventh
602-266-6883 602-264-1700
M, MF,AD, N
23 23 24
STACY’S @ NIGHTCLUB MELROSE & LOUNGE THE CASH
4343 N.McDowell Seventh Ave. 2140 E. Road
602-264-1700 602-244-9943
MF, F, C, D, DN
24 25 24
THE NIGHTCLUB & LOUNGE THE CASH CHUTE
2140 Road 1440 E. E. McDowell Indian School Road
602-244-9943 602-234-1654
F, M,DAO
25 26 25
THE THE CHUTE ROCK
1440 E. Indian School 4129 N. Seventh Ave. Road
602-234-1654 602-248-8559
M, M, A N, E
26
THE ROCK
4129 N. Seventh Ave.
602-248-8559
MF, E, N
MAP CODES: 27 2601 ON CENTRAL A Adult Retail & Entertainment M Mostly Males F Mostly Females MAP CODES: MF Mixed Male/Female M Mostly Males F Mostly Females MF Mixed Male/Female
LOCAL BUSNESSES
2601 N. Central Ave. N Neighborhood Bar R Full Restaurant D Dance Club C Country Dancing A Adult Retail & Accomodations D Dance Club E Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag)
602-466-2074 MF, E, R L Leather/Bears E Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag) G Go-Go Dancers AO Accommodations/Other L Leather/Bears N Neighborhood Bar R Restaurant
EchoMag.com EchoMag.com FEBRUARY EchoMag.com|| |NOVEMBER OCTOBER 2018 2015
61 93
BAR
The Imperial Court of Arizona’s Underwear Auction Oct. 6 at Pat O’s Bunkhouse, Phoenix.
SPECIALS
Photos by nightfuse.com.
BUNKHOUSE S $1 drafts & HH prices all day & night M 7 p.m. Darts with Acxell T Latin Night with Diego W 9 p.m. Karaoke T Underwear night: $1 off all drinks if in skivvies! GoGo dancers 9 p.m. F 8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Miller family products. 4 & 6 p.m.: Free-to-join poker S 8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Bud family products
CHARLIE’S S Super HH 4-7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open-close M 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 8 p.m.-close, 1/2 off drinks for wearing underwear, $3 Jack Daniels T 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 cocktails & beer 8 p.m.close W 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; $3 Three Olives vodka, 8 p.m.close T 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 drinks open-close F 2-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics, $3 pitchers; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $1 drafts 10 p.m.- midnight S Noon-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $3 Absolut & Bacardi 10 p.m.-midnight
STACY’S @ MELROSE S $1.50 Rolling Rock & Wells, open-7 p.m.; Showtime 7 p.m.-10 p.m.; $1 Rolling Rock & Wells; $2.50 Bud Light; $3 Fireball shots 7 p.m.-Close; Happy Hours 10 p.m.-сlose M Happy Hours; $2.50 Rolling Rock ALL DAY T Happy Hours; $5 Martinis & $2.50 Rolling Rock ALL DAY W 2-4-1 all day*; *no shots T Happy Hours 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; $1.50 Rolling Rock & Wells 8 p.m.-midnight F Happy Hours 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; $2.50 Rolling Rock all day; $2.50 Bud Light, $4.50 Pinnacle vodka & Fireball 8 p.m.-close S Happy Hours 4 p.m.-8 p.m.; $2.50 Rolling Rock all day; $2.50 Bud Light, $4.50 Pinnacle vodka & Fireball 8 p.m.-close 62
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YOUR
AD HERE! For details, call 602-266-0550.
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Adonis Lounge Grand Opening
Sept. 26 at Caravan Taproom, Phoenix. Photos by nightfuse.com.
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Out & About
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ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Please support our advertisers who help keep Echo free
ACCOUNTANTS/ TAX PREPARATION
EVENTS Aunt Rita’s Foundation
43 46
Robert F. Hockensmith, CPA, PC
53
Festival of Trees
Steve Price, CPA
56
Hidden in the Hills
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT The Chute
65
APARTMENTS East and West Apartments
56
PHOTOGRAPHY
30-31
Latino Pride Festival
18
Musical Instrument Museum
15
Scottsdale Center For the Arts
2
Forakis Law Firm, PLC
45
Jackson White-Attorneys At Law
39
Phillips Law Group
10
Salvador Phillips
67
Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair
5
AUTOMOBILE DEALER Right Toyota
49
BARS & CLUBS Bunkhouse
61
Charlie’s Phoenix
9
Charlie’s Phoenix
68
Stacy’s @ Melrose
57, 60, 61
39
COUNSELING 49
DENTISTS 55
Open Wide Dental
4
Bradley B. Brauer, HomeSmart
3
David Oesterle, ReMax
3 3
Jan Dahl, HomeSmart
3
Matthew Hoedt, Realty One
3
Melinda Murphy, Lifestyle Partners
51
Discover Card
51
Nicholas Yale, Brokers Hub Realty
3
JW Advisors Inc.
56
Shawn Hertzog, West USA
3
REAL ESTATE
GALLERIES Exposed Studio & Gallery
55 30-31
Steve Meisner, GPCI AZ
Carpet Depot
51
Don’s Painting Service
56
Metro Cleaning
47
Tilton Electric
56
Valdez Refrigeration
56
19
RELIGIOUS GROUPS Community Church of Hope
HOME SERVICES
56
RESTAURANTS China Chili
59
Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers
49
Hula’s Modern Tiki
59
RETAIL INSURANCE
Off Chute Too
Amy Powell, Health Markets Insurance 47 55 3
35
Kim Chartier, Loan Depot
RETIREMENT PLANNING Calvin Goetz, Strategy Financial Group
3
Salon 24
56
WELLNESS
MORTGAGES Mortgage Corp.
63
SALONS
MARKETING
Jeremy Schachter, Fairway Independent
My Dentist
3 56
Fred Delgado Team, Keller Williams
850zip.com
Stonewall Institute
Berney Streed, Re/Max Excalibur
17
Edward Vasquez, Allstate
Smirnoff
Arizona Gay Realtors Alliance
20
Benefits Arizona
BEVERAGES
REALTORS
Sports Diversity Awards
Hidden in the Hills
AUTO SERVICES
43
Sparkle, Glitter, GLSEN
FINANCIAL SERVICES
ATTORNEYS
Foto Forum
3 53
Adelante Healthcare
53
Anytime Fitness
65
FitPRo, LLC
55
Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS
11
SW Center IGNITE
13
EDUCATION
PHARMACIES
Maricopa County Community
CVS Specialty Pharmacy
55
LGBTQ Youth Coalition
34
Fairmont Pharmacy
63
Willo Medi Spa
56
College District
35
TERROS Health - Safe Out
To find out more about advertising in Echo, call 602-266-0550 66 66
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