Flame Magazine April 2014 by FLAME Magazine

//SOUND CHECK

COURT IN THE ACT

//FAVORITE BITCH®

ROOMMATES FROM HELL

//THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOAN

NOTHING MUCH CHANGED, I’M JUST OLDER

//BECOME WHO YOU ARE

CHANGING MOTOWN TO ‘MOTOWN

Crystal Harding

BORN TO BE A DIVA

//PUBLISHER Peter Rayes PETER@FLAME-MAG.COM //MANAGING EDITOR Austin VanKirk AUSTIN@FLAME-MAG.COM //ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Dorothy “Joan” Stevenson JOAN@FLAME-MAG.COM //ART DIRECTOR Paige Hake //LOCAL ADVERTISING Peter Rayes ADVERTISING@FLAME-MAG.COM //NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM //PHOTOGRAPHERS Ricardo DuPerron Alejandro Garza DWS Photography Murray Grondin Claudia Ham Tony Lowe Al Shimmary //CONTRIBUTORS Jason Burtt Trent Davis Jai Ferrick Joseph Gerbino Jim O’Connoll Steven Palmer Tyler Ricardi Ed Sikov Joan Stevenson Jason Salerno Miss Tiger Jeremy Sanders Mick Sandoval Mark Dawson //GRAPHIC DESIGN PR Solutions //WEB DEVELOPMENT PR Solutions INFO@THEPRSITE.NET

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CONTENTS

APRIL 2014

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CRYSTAL HARDING BORN TO BE A DIVA

PHOTO BY TONY LOWE

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COURT IN THE ACT

ROOMMATES FROM HELL

SOUND CHECK

FAVORITE BITCH®

NOTHING MUCH CHANGING CHANGED, MOTOWN I’M JUST OLDER TO ’MOTOWN

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOAN

BECOME WHO YOU ARE

April means the start of Spring. It’s a time of awakening for me. I’m starting to shake off the lethargy of winter. It’s getting warmer, and everything’s beginning to grow. I’m opening my windows and shaking out the dust, trying to reconnect to the world. April also brings with it my birthday. Most of my birthdays have passed without much fanfare, not for lack...

I’ve not been living in Metro Detroit for very long, relatively speaking, but in that short time I’ve become infatuated with the place. There’s so much potential here for growth and restoration, which makes me hopeful that Detroit could once again be a major U.S. city...

APRIL 2014

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AIDS isn’t over; gay men are only 2% of the US population, but are 64% of new HIV infections.

MICHIGAN AIDS COALITION INVITES YOU TO

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Good Grub. Great Cause 25% of all food and non-alcohol sales will beneﬁt

Michigan AIDS Coalition

www.michiganaidscoalition.org • 248-545-1435 For a list of participating restaurants visit: www.diningoutforlife.com/detroit/restaurants

FLAME // SOUND CHECK 8//

COURT IN THE ACT written by: Mark Dawson

Courtney Act has been causing a stir lately, hanging with pal Chaz Bono, performing private “Applause” dances for Lady Gaga, and competing on the new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. If that isn’t enough, she has also unleashed a new dance anthem that encourages people to shift their perspective on Russia’s anti-gay laws. “So often, we see something we don’t like and we push against it, thinking we are being productive and sparking change, when we are really fueling negativity and anger,” says the drag star. “I believe the more practical

APRIL 2014

way to bring about change is to know what we want, turn in that direction, and simply be the change we seek.” “To Russia With Love” is a fun, electro-pop song about an intense love affair that takes place in the middle of Russia’s most prominent cities and landmarks. The music video features the Barbie-doll bombshell in and out of make-up. Fans are treated to a few glimpses of Act’s adorable male counterpart, Shane Janek. Even out of make-up, Courtney Act is a stunner.

queens by drag queens! It is not often that the world conforms to the drag way of life. When it does, it’s magical. Speaking of magical, can your new single make magic happen in Russia? “To Russia With Love” is simply a message of love. In the words of John Lennon, all you need is love. What does Russia need to learn about the LGBT community? There are no greater rights than human rights, and it’s important to embrace equality. What does the LGBT community need to learn about Russia? Russia isn’t only oppressive for gay people. It is hard for everyone, particularly women. This is more than an LGBT issue; it is a human rights issue for the people of Russia and the world. If you win RuPaul’s Drag Race, how will you spend the year? My passion is performing. I love being on stage and entertaining people. So that’s where I’ll be, win or lose. “To Russia With Love” is available now on iTunes. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the Russia Freedom Fund, an organization that has been started to combat discrimination and violence in Russia based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Visit CourtneyAct.com.

Why did you decide to compete on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race? I felt like I was ready. In 2011, I moved to Hollywood to pursue my dreams. I had ideas about what would happen, but what I didn’t know is that I would fall in love with drag all over again. I honed my makeup skills, learned how to style my wigs, and even [learned to] thread a sewing machine: all essential skills for Drag Race. What makes you stand out from the competition? I am a quadruple threat. I can sing, dance, act, and look like a goddamn supermodel. Was the experience harder than you expected it would be? I was prepared for the worst: for physical and emotional torture. And it was actually the most fun time! Doing what I love with a group of similarly-minded people was liberating. Getting to be creative every day and perform in different drag costumes, why, it’s every little boy’s dream! What did you learn from competing on the show? I learned to focus attention on the present moment. Even the challenging competitions that were not my forte became fun when I gave them my full concentration. RuPaul’s Drag Race is not your first televised competition. You competed on Australian Idol. How did the two compare? Idol was a singing competition, and although I have been singing my whole life, I was competing against girls who had the most amazing voices and I had to find other ways to impress the judges and the audience. Drag Race is a competition made for drag

APRIL 2014

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Crystal Harding BORN TO BE A DIVA written by: Austin VanKirk / photos by: Tony Lowe

For over ten years, Crystal Harding has been entertaining the Metro Detroit LGBT community with her performances and bartending skills. Whether she’s sashaying on stage or sliding drinks across the bar, you can bet she’s having fun and trying her best to make sure you’re enjoying yourself, too. At a young age, she decided to make her mark in the community, and it truly seems as though she has. I for one am looking forward to what more she has in store for us in the years to come. I had a lovely chat with Crystal and was introduced to a friendly girl with plenty of pep. That conversation has been transcribed here, allowing readers the opportunity to become better acquainted with this diva extraordinaire. With pleasure, I present the charming Crystal Harding.

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FLAME // FEATURE: CRYSTAL HARDING

“...all the love and support I receive makes it totally worth it.” I hear you’ve had quite an extensive career around Metro Detroit. Can you give me a quick list of all you’ve done within the Community? I’ve waited tables at Como’s, which is a big part of our gay community here in Metro Detroit. I’ve performed drag for about ten years now all over the city. I started when I was sixteen and still in high school. I would go out to perform, race home to grab a few hours of sleep, and wake up a mess for first hour with eyelash glue and remnants of makeup on my face. And then I’d fall back to sleep by third hour. [Laughter] But currently I am bartending and performing at Gold Coast. Have you won any titles or accolades for your performances? I have! I won Miss Amateur Rainbow Room, Royal Junior Miss Michigan, Miss Rainbow Room, and Miss Gigi’s. I was the youngest Miss Gigi’s and the first person of Middle Eastern descent to ever hold the title, which I felt was a pretty big accomplishment. As I understand it, you’ve not only performed in drag at Gold Coast, but also bartended in drag, which is sort of unique. Can you tell me what that was like? It was so much fun, because I got people drunk and I got drunk with them! [Laughter] I got to meet a lot of people up close and personal. Normally when I am performing, the most interaction I get with my supporters is to grab their dollar and say thank you with a kiss on the cheek. Bartending in drag, and just bartending in general, has provided me with the opportunity to actually get to know the people in the community that come support me. What do you have planned for yourself in the next few years, both personally and professionally? Well, personally, I hope to be married with some kids—but

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we’ll see how that goes. Professionally, I’m hoping to see myself expand more as an entertainer—and as a bartender. I’m also planning to audition for RuPaul’s Drag Race and gain some fame outside of Michigan. You’re currently the House Diva at Gold Coast. I trust you’re enjoying yourself? I love it so much! I mean, if I didn’t love it so much I wouldn’t have been doing it for all these years. Sometimes it’s tiring, but at the end of the day, all the love and support I receive makes it totally worth it. Can you tell us if there are any upcoming events or occasions at Club Gold Coast we should be looking forward to? Oh, yes, there are quite a few. We are having an A-B-C theme party coming up soon. Also, as it gets closer to Easter, we’ll be having both a Good Friday and Bad Friday party. For the Good Friday party we’ll all dress up like angels, and for Bad Friday we’re dressing all badass, sort of Rihanna-ish. And don’t forget Amateur Night every Sunday—I’ll be bartending! When can folks see you perform at The Gold Coast? Better yet, is there somewhere readers can go to stay updated on your schedule? I’m a Facebook whore. My Facebook page can tell you everything you want to know about me and where I’ll be. Feel free to add me as a friend and say hi, too. I’ll let you know where the party is! The web address is https://www. facebook.com/crystal.harding.9. //

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FLAME // FAVORITE BITCH®

If you’re gonna share the rent, then ya better be ready to have your share of drama! Just when you thought the worst a roommate could do was finish off your bag of OREO cookies or force you to hear their drunken sexcapades ... think again. This installment of #FavoriteBitch is all about ROOMMATES FROM HELL! If you happen to have one, drop me a message at ask@misstiger.com! I’ll be sure to serve them a fierce verbal eviction they’ll never fuckin’ forget! DEAR MISS TIGER, My roommate said she can’t find the money to pay me for the three months back rent she owes. What do you think I should do?

Time is of the essence, motha fuckah! Take a break from eating pussy and take yo’ ass to the nearest exterminator! NEXT! DEAR MISS TIGER, I owe my roommate back rent. I’m too ashamed to say how much but shit happens. He has stolen my vintage collection of 36, still in the box and mint condition Cabbage Patch Kids. He’s threatening to sell them on eBay if I don’t come up with what I owe. My dolls are very precious to me. I’m wondering if you could loan me $950. Please e-mail and let me know. —Larry

—Nikki DEAR GET SOME MASKING TAPE AND A SHARPIE CUZ YOUR ASS IS ABOUT TO HAVE A GODDAMN YARD SALE, She may not be able to find the back rent... but she’d sure as hell find her shit on the motha fuckin’ sidewalk! NEXT! DEAR MISS TIGER, My ex and I decided to continue living together after we broke up. We have a big house and agreed that if we ever found new boyfriends, it would be okay if they lived here too. Well, Toby let his ex move in, the same bi-curious ex that fucked him over. Toby also let that dude bring his girlfriend! They’re both living here for free. I don’t know what to do and need your advice, Miss Tiger! —Scott

DEAR MY NAME IS MISS TIGER NOT THE MOTHA FUCKIN’ TOOTH FAIRY, I receive a ton of e-mails and just when I think I’ve heard it all, a hot mess like you comes along. Boo, I swipe my ass with Charmin - not an ATM card! Be glad you don’t live with me because all those damn Cabbage Patch Kids would go right back to the orphanage that they came from... and the $950 would be the only cabbage I’d be worrying about! NEED ADVICE? WRITE ME OR ASK YOUR QUESTIONS DURING THE DEREK AND ROMAINE SHOW ON SIRIUSXM OUTQ CHANNEL 109 - APRIL 21ST 9PM ET. ITS FAVORITE BITCH... LIVE AND READY FOR BULLSHIT!

DEAR BITCHES GOT MORE ROOMMATES & MORE DRAMA THAN A DRAG QUEEN GOT WIGS, Ain’t shit in this life for free... hell, even an STD comes with a price! Go to your computer, print out a Google map to the nearest shelter and place it, along with all their shit, in a paper bag and send those hoes on their merry way, hunty! For future reference, there are a few things you never do in life: Never reuse the same plate at an all-you-can-eat-buffet and never live with, fuck, or loan money to your ex! DEAR MISS TIGER, I let my new girl move in and she gave me bedbugs. What should I do? —Straight Guy Who Needs Your Advice DEAR YOUR NEXT E-MAIL WILL BE ABOUT THE OTHER BUGS SHE GAVE YOU AKA CRABS,

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MISS TIGER ADVICE COLUMNIST • SIRIUSXM RADIO PERSONALITY ... AND EVERYONE’S #FAVORITEBITCH! WEBSITE: FAVORITEBITCH.COM TWITTER: @MISSTIGER ADVICE: ASK@MISSTIGER.COM

FLAME // THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOAN

NOTHING MUCH CHANGED, I’M JUST OLDER written by: Joan Stevenson April means the start of Spring. It’s a time of awakening for me. I’m starting to shake off the lethargy of winter. It’s getting warmer, and everything’s beginning to grow. I’m opening my windows and shaking out the dust, trying to reconnect to the world. April also brings with it my birthday. Most of my birthdays have passed without much fanfare, not for lack of trying, but this year as the day approaches I really find myself swimming in thought wondering what’s next. I will have reached a significant milestone by the time this is published. The kind of milestone where you take stock and start thinking about what you’ve accomplished in life and what, if anything, you’ll leave behind. Now I don’t want to sound like I’m sitting here crying in my martini about how I’ve never done anything in life—far from it. I’m just marveling at how fast it seems my life has gone by, and I’m still wondering just how to leave my mark on it or make some kind of statement with it. There is a song that I have been singing for many years called “What’s Up?” Sometimes when I sing this I preface it by saying it is the story of my life. The opening line is … (number) years of my life is still trying to get up that great big hill of hope, for a destination...” I would always give my current age, but no matter what age, the sentiment is accurate. This month that number will be fifty. Some people think about what they’re going to do with their futures and plan accordingly. Some people manage to find their path, and then there are others who just go where life takes them. I think I fit in that last category. I never seriously thought about making a plan about what I would do or what I would be. Oh sure, I’ve had my share of pipe dreams, but I never really set out just what exactly I wanted to do. When I got older, I just knew that it would have something to do with music. Over the years I have had some limited success in music and entertainment. I started singing and even got into musical theatre, which I enjoy enormously, but I think I have yet to have had that “ultimate” owning moment. That moment where I feel like THIS is it. THIS is what I am here for. I’ve been close a couple of times, but the circumstances have never completely been those of my design. For several years I have been wanting to/trying to accomplish something of my design. There’s something that I have always wanted to do. To have my own concert; not be a front for someone else’s band or just the girl singer singing a handful of songs loosely agreed upon by just picking them out of air, but choosing music that I have a meaningful, emotional connection with. Why else am I singing? What have I been doing this for? In my younger years I tried to set goals to achieve accomplishments, but now I don’t have goals so much as a to do list and the older I get, the bigger that list gets and the more I wonder if I’ll ever get any of it done. At first I try

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to tackle anything with unbridled enthusiasm, but more often than not I get distracted or life itself throws up a huge cockblock. Things always get derailed, the dream gets deferred yet again. Every time I’ve planned, there was always something that stopped everything in it’s tracks. I kept trying, but the attempts became fewer and farther between because each disappointment was kind of difficult to take. Earlier in life it’s easier to rebound from knocks and stumbles. But as the years have gone on, I have found it more and more difficult to get back on track, to try to make things happen. The closest I ever got was Fall of 2012. For the first time in years, I made the attempt. Everything seemed to fall into place. Rehearsals were underway, and advertisements were made. I was actually feeling that this might be able to happen. After decades, it might happen. Well, it didn’t. That in and of itself was a huge disappointment (again), but this time the reason why was the most hurtful. Not enough people RSVP’ed to the venue so the venue had to cancel. What was hurtful was the lack of support from the various communities and people that I have been an open and giving supporter and participant of over the years. This time it wasn’t the cancellation of the show per se that I was upset about, but it was that betrayal that took me a while not to be bitter about. But looking fifty in the face brings me to the realization that this is something that as an artist I need to accomplish. Afraid as I am of trying again (and I am), this is something that I need to check off my to-do list. I hesitate to say bucket list, because I like to think that I’m not that far gone. Maybe by accomplishing this I can get to a “destination” and reach a peace within myself. I’ve said all that I’ve to say about this: Life goes by pretty fast, so if you have a dream in life, go for it! If you have a goal you want to reach, don’t let a cock-block stop you. Stick to your guns and try to make that dream work. No matter what it is. If it’s something that is going to fulfill or enrich your life, something that will help you be a better you, then keep reaching—even if it scares you. Don’t they say that everyday you should do something that scares you? If you have a birthday this month, may you have the happiest of celebrations. As you blow out your candle, make a wish, and then go out and make that wish come true. (Hey, that’s good advice even if it isn’t your birthday!) //

FLAME // BECOME WHO YOU ARE

CHANGING MOTOWN TO ’MOTOWN written by: Austin VanKirk I’ve not been living in Metro Detroit for very long, relatively speaking, but in that short time I’ve become infatuated with the place. There’s so much potential here for growth and restoration, which makes me hopeful that Detroit could once again be a major U.S. city that is a center for culture and business. I believe that a large component of this movement can and should come from the LGBT community. It’s happened before in Asbury Park, New Jersey; Dupont Circle, D.C.; Boys Town in Chicago, Illinois; and Oak Lawns in Dallas, Texas. If all these other cities could be restored by LGBT folk, why couldn’t Detroit, or at least portions of it? If there was any time to begin this process in full force, it may be now, or at least approaching that point. Major economic leaders in our country are predicting an economic boom in Detroit very soon. This is supported by the movement of several large businesses, like Quicken Loans, relocation to the downtown area. I don’t know about you, but I’m very excited to see Detroit turn over a new leaf. I imagine a vibrant nightlife, a variety of art galleries fueled by a thriving group of creative minds living in the city, and the restoration of homes and neighborhoods. These things, while hinging on a few stereotypes, could all become a reality if LGBT folk came together to make a concentrated effort in Detroit.

“I IMAGINE A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE, A VARIETY OF ART GALLERIES FUELED BY A THRIVING GROUP OF CREATIVE MINDS LIVING IN THE CITY, AND THE RESTORATION OF HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.” The Broken Windows theory states that if something is dirty and decrepit, people will not respect it. However, if something is kept nice it will elicit a certain sort of reverence from the people that come into contact with that area. Think about it: if you’re in a grungy bathroom in a less-than-classy bar, are you likely to pick up the scrap of paper towel you dropped on the floor? Probably not. What if you’re in a a pristine bathroom of a swanky restaurant? I know I would be more inclined to pick up that scrap of paper towel. The same idea can be applied to neighborhoods, and in this case, those of Detroit. Nicer communities pioneered by LGBT Detroiters would attract other people, who would attract even more people, and the process would simply snowball from there. Further, if more affluent gay folk moved to Detroit, it would

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allow for a greater tax base for the city. This means more funding could be allocated for infrastructure development and public services such as the police force. Similarly, the unfortunate situation of Detroit Public Schools would prove not to be much of a factor for LGBT families, who are less likely to have children than heterosexual couples. I also say now is the right time in history to begin to the “homofication” of Detroit, because ss I write this, the judge who heard the case against Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage is currently deliberating the constitutionality of the ban (fingers crossed!) With this pending victory, and the continued progression of LGBT rights in this state, it will be more of an incentive for folks of neighboring states to move here as well as for current Michiganders remain. I believe a tremendous amount of talent in our community is lost due to these political injustices, but a reversal of these laws and practices will help us retain and even reclaim talent. On the topic of losing talent, many of our young people have dreams of living in a large, cultural city and “making it big,” and so flee to Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles. Detroit could just as easily be one of these dream cities with vivacious music and theatre scenes to help in the fulfillment of these young folks’ goals. The creation of such an environment will take some time, true, but it will still have to start sometime, with someone. With the hopes that particular “someone” is a reader, I say to you the time is approaching. Considering the already large group of artistic talent dwelling in the city, I can’t imagine this to be too far of a stretch. Detroit’s proximity to Windsor and the rest of Canada poises it to be a truly multicultural and international city. The growth of Detroit surely must also encourage that of its sister city, which would encourage an increase of travel and trade between our countries. This would also place Detroit and Windsor in a unique position to become powerhouse twin cities that span national boundaries, something rarely seen in the world. As with any action taken of this nature, there are risks to be considered. Undoubtedly, there will be challenges in bringing this vision to reality, but are we not capable? Are we not all imbued with the resiliency to overcome any obstacles in the endeavor to revitalize Detroit? Are we unfit pioneers? Maybe I’m over-romanticizing the matter, but I think we are not so easily deterred. But what do I know? //

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GIGI’S

GOLD COAST // SIN APRIL 2014

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