Dallas Cole
MR. GIGI’S 2013-2014 //SOUND CHECK WITH
AIDEN LESLIE
//THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOAN
ARE YOU TIRED OF FACEBOOK YET? //BECOME WHO YOU ARE
ENDA: WHY IS THIS NOT ALREADY A THING?
//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 //GRAPHIC DESIGN PR Solutions //WEB DEVELOPMENT PR Solutions INFO@THEPRSITE.NET 4//
DECEMBER 2013
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CONTENTS
DECEMBER 2013
//11 DALLAS COLE: MR. GIGI’S 2013-2014
PHOTO BY TONY LOWE
Knowing what I know about pageantry in the LGBT community, it is not a surprise the Mr. Gigi’s title has developed into something that is admired and sought after. The title continues on after having been created 40 years ago to give the boys in Detroit and Michigan a city level title to claim. In this case, we think someone has caught the pageant bug and seeks to claim many titles and crowns after this one...
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FADE IN ON AIDEN: LOST LOVE ON THE DANCE FLOOR
ARE YOU TIRED OF FACEBOOK YET?
ENDA: WHY IS THIS NOT ALREADY A THING?
SOUND CHECK “Nobody Said” continues Aiden Leslie’s journey in search of life’s ideal. Where his previous song, “Diamond Dreams,” focused on achieving fame and fortune, “Nobody Said” tackles a desire many (including Leslie) feel is even more out of reach—finding ultimate love...
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOAN Facebook has become the global meeting place. It’s the cyber equivalent of the town square where we all meet to gossip, share news, dish dirt, and throw shade. So are you sick of Facebook yet? Teenagers are. A new study released by the Pew Research Center shows that teens are losing interest in the social...
BECOME WHO YOU ARE Many states, Michigan included, do not have legal protections for LGBT people in the work place. This is particularly problematic in conservative states where education about LGBT issues is scarce, states such as Wyoming and Florida (which you think would be a little more accepting, given the state’s large gay population and penis shape). But maybe we can’t peg the blame all on the red states and conservatives...
DECEMBER 2013
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FADE IN ON AIDEN LOST LOVE ON THE DANCE FLOOR FLAME // SOUND CHECK
written by: Jason Salerno
“Nobody Said” continues Aiden Leslie’s journey in search of life’s ideal. Where his previous song, “Diamond Dreams,” focused on achieving fame and fortune, “Nobody Said” tackles a desire many (including Leslie) feel is even more out of reach—finding ultimate love. How did you meet the man you sing about in “Nobody Said”? I was introduced to him through a friend. I had seen pictures, but more or less, it was a blind date. We hit it off in the beginojaláning. What led to him withdrawing from the relationship? It’s hard to say exactly, but the more we got to know each other, the more I learned how hard it was for him to fully commit.
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have been different. But, then again, I’m not sure I was really ready. What lessons did you take from the failed relationship? I learned that at the end of the day, it had little to do with him. It really had everything to do with me. Whenever we get into relationships it’s always a mirror on ourselves. Through him, I realized that in many ways, I was the one who was shut down emotionally and afraid to trust. In the song, I write about hiding and not crying and those are two things I’m very good at doing. For a lot of guys, it takes a lot of strength to show true emotion and allow someone to see your vulnerable side. At least you got a great song out of it, though, right? (Laughs) I hope so! My songs are my diaries. They’re my therapy. I need to get it out somehow.
Perhaps he just wasn’t ready to get serious?
Does he know you wrote a song about him?
Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s true. If he was ready, things may
I would never admit to a guy that a song is about him. The
DECEMBER 2013
“FOR A LOT OF GUYS, IT TAKES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO SHOW TRUE EMOTION AND ALLOW SOMEONE TO SEE YOUR VULNERABLE SIDE. ”
messages are personal and private. Some things you have to keep to yourself. How will he respond when he hears “Nobody Said”? I don’t know. If it were me, I would probably be shocked at first, and once I calmed down, maybe I’d be flattered. What kind of guy are you looking for next? I am always attracted to a guy who is not afraid to look me directly in the eye and feel confident enough to smile and say hello. That’s sexy. It’s takes a strong person to do this. I also like someone who has the club thing out of his system. Don’t get me wrong, I love to go out every once in a while, but when it’s every night of the week, that’s not for me. And, someone who has a passion for something and is willing to work for it is, well, hot.
Besides your looks, what makes you a catch? (Laughs) I know what I want, and more than ever, I’m not afraid to say it. And I never stop dreaming. I hope that gets someone’s attention, because I know that it always gets mine. You’re also a giver, as demonstrated by your work with AMFAR GENERATION CURE. I am so proud to be working closely with AMFAR GENERATION CURE, helping them to continue to raise awareness and accelerate the search for a cure for HIV/AIDS. It’s incredibly rewarding to be at a place in my life when I can give back to the people who have supported me. For more information on Aiden Leslie and his new single, “Nobody Said,” visit www.aidenleslie.com. //
DECEMBER 2013
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Dallas Cole
MR. GIGI’S 2013-2014 written by: Tony Lowe
Knowing what I know about pageantry in the LGBT community, it is not a surprise the Mr. Gigi’s title has developed into something that is admired and sought after. The title continues on after having been created 40 years ago to give the boys in Detroit and Michigan a city level title to claim. In this case, we think someone has caught the pageant bug and seeks to claim many titles and crowns after this one.
PHOTOS BY TONY LOWE
DECEMBER 2013
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You are the newest titleholder for Gigi’s, how does it feel?
FLAME // FEATURE: DALLAS COLE
Being crowned the New Mr. Gigi’s of 2013-2014 is one of the best goals that I have accomplished thus far. I feel ecstatic that of all four contestants I was the winner. I was in the audience for the competition, and of all the contestants I think you really came for it. Thank you! I had a great team behind me including my Father, Geo Cole, and I thank every single one of them. I went into this competition well prepared with a rigorous attitude and a mindset of having fun regardless of the results and enjoying what are now memories with my fellow Gigi’s family. You are part of one of Detroit’s biggest LGBT families: The Cole Family. Did they have any influence over your decision to compete? Absolutely. The encouragement was well beyond fulfilling. I knew that I had the support of my Cole family and friends and that alone drove me to do the best that I could. My Father, amongst others, was one of my biggest supporters and I also saw a few other members of my family at the pageant. I love my Cole family. Often times people who haven’t been to a pageant, drag or otherwise, just think this is a go-go boy contest. I feel like in the last couple of years the boys have really stepped up their game and want to compete like the queens do. I would definitely agree. The queens of the house show up and show out. They work hard, plan hard and in the end compete to the best of their ability. In few words, they bring their A game. The boys are growing and moving in that same direction. These boys have much more to offer than the show you see in their underwear. They are articulate, caring and we
PHOTOS BY TONY LOWE
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DECEMBER 2013
work hard to ensure that our audience is satisfied and happy with the performances. We strive to provide entertainment through presentation, performance and other entertaining elements. I believe as these pageants for Mr. Gigi’s continue, we, the boys, will be competing just as the queens do. What do you have planned for your year as Mr. Gigi’s 2013-2014? During my reign, I am planning and already have things in motion to promote the club and to bring in a variety of people. I attend Eastern Michigan University and I am working on some charity projects with my fellow classmates and the LGBT community we have here on campus. I am planning an endless parade of events for the community to enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives. I want to be involved within the community in which we live in. I am determined, dedicated, disciplined and I desire to make things happen. Do you have aspirations of going on to State and National titles like some of the others within the Cole family? My family is known for holding many titles, and as long as my last name is Cole, I will strive to do the same. We are a family of unity, grace, love, support, and titles. Is there anything you would like our readers to know? I am very grateful to serve the year 2013-2014 as your newly crowned Mr. Gigi’s. I will do my best at making sure my reign is successful and remembered and I hope the Misters after me will do the same. You can see Dallas Monday nights with Nickki Stevens, Chico and the Boys, and Friday nights for Fuck You Fridays with Sabin and DeAngela “Show” Shannon at Gigi’s. //
“I AM DETERMINED, DEDICATED, DISCIPLINED AND I DESIRE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.”
PHOTOS BY TONY LOWE
DECEMBER 2013
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FLAME // THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOAN
ARE YOU TIRED OF FACEBOOK YET? written by: Joan Stevenson Facebook has become the global meeting place. It’s the cyber equivalent of the town square where we all meet to gossip, share news, dish dirt, and throw shade. So are you sick of Facebook yet? Teenagers are. A new study released by the Pew Research Center shows that teens are losing interest in the social networking site that has pretty much become a permanent fixture in our lives. I remember when the only way you could be on Facebook was if you went to a certain college as a means of communicating with other students on other campuses. That was back in the early 2000s, and MySpace was still the place for the young and the hip to hang out. Where Tom was your first friend and friends became commodities or placed in your top twelve like badges to wear. Now MySpace is a vast, wanna-be-hipster wasteland that is struggling to stay relevant, but I still to this day can’t bring myself to delete either one of my two pages. I liked MySpace. It was fun, like a party, and it was one of the first places I ever got to share my music with the world. On MySpace you could dress your page any way you liked, bling it out with effects, fabulous colors and layouts. I set up my first ever blog. And people actually read it! There were no games, no apps, no chats, just friends sharing and having fun. The first time I ever saw a Facebook page was in 2008. I was lead there by a search for a YouTube video which directed me to go to Facebook for it. I didn’t like Facebook. Facebook was plain and blue and white: “boring.” I was not impressed. I resisted Facebook for as long as I could, but slowly and surely I made the jump as we all did. Facebook grew and changed, and continues to change . . . and change. Too much if you ask me! Hey, remember back when there was nothing in the margins at all? I wish you could have more of a say in the design and the look of you page with more than just a “cover” photo, but the only place you can do that now is tumblr. For a while, teens and young adults ruled Facebook until parents got hip to it, too. I think most of them joined to keep tabs on little Johnny or Jane, but then they started realizing that they could have social connections and friends hanging out here too and reconnecting with college and high school friends. They liked it so much they stayed. And that is part of what’s killing it. Mom and Pops (and your Grans) know everything you do and say to your friends. Facebook is better than the NSA for creeping. Unless you change your settings, some of the things Facebook tells your friends...
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when you’re playing a game
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what you “like” e.g. restaurants, movies, books, products, businesses, etc.
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what you comment on, whose profiles you comment on
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where you are
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where you’ve been
DECEMBER 2013
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where you’re going
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pictures you’re tagged in
Facebook has become your own personal stalker. You want to know every nuance of your friends’ lives in detail? Just watch them on Facebook. In fact, recent changes to Facebook tell whether you’re on your computer or mobile phone when you’re online. I guess that way your friends know to bug you at home or on your cell. How many of you have avoided your FB page once you found out, courtesy of the green dot, that someone you were trying to avoid was also online? While I am all for connecting with friends (whether physically or virtually) I am still amazed at the level of “sharing” that Facebook does all in the name of being “social.” Do I really want to know all of my friends’ information all the time? Do I really want everyone else to know everything I do? What you share can get you in trouble with the law, can get you in trouble with your friends, and can actually get you fired. I would like to adjust things, but it can be so confusing going through the rigorous privacy settings to customize your Facebook experience. Scrolling page after page, it all gets to look like gobbledy-gook to me after five minutes. It’s times like this, I would prefer a guide book. Remember books? Those things with words printed on paper? Then there are the FB wars! Drama and shade, shade and drama, especially when it comes to the “Community.” Entertainers, supporters, and detractors will bring their bar beefs and petty squabbles to the blue and white. This often makes things worse than they are. It makes all of us look bad, and in the case of entertainers especially, it makes us look unprofessional. I personally would like to see a return to the kinder, gentler Facebook that was the early 2000s. I would also like to be able to play a game without needing “friends” to be able to advance to the next level. Facebook and other social media, have become a constant fixture in our lives. As a result, we should be careful and responsible with it since it has become so powerful. Be careful what you share and how you share. I know that the MySpace “party” atmosphere is gone, but we can still have a good time. Share good things and not the hurtful. Keep the shade off the page and be supportive. //
FLAME // BECOME WHO YOU ARE
ENDA: WHY IS THIS NOT ALREADY A THING? written by: Austin VanKirk Many states, Michigan included, do not have legal protections for LGBT people in the work place. This is particularly problematic in conservative states where education about LGBT issues is scarce, states such as Wyoming and Florida (which you think would be a little more accepting, given the state’s large gay population and penis shape). But maybe we can’t peg the blame all on the red states and conservatives. Recent polls indicate that most Americans—liberal and conservative—believe that our community already has these protections. And I think there is something to be said for that. It seems to me that the country believes that a person should be judged by his work ethic, not the color of his skin, faith, sexuality, or gender identity. They are thinking, “This is America; of course LGBT people are protected under the law!” I believe I am joined by the majority of the population (62 percent according to a 1994 poll conducted by Time/CNN) in asking, “Why is this not already a thing?” Let’s take a quick stroll through the history of ENDA (The Employment Non-Discrimination Act). The legislation was first introduced by Democrat senators from Massachusetts, but it didn’t make its way out of the committee phase. Supporters of ending discrimination for LGBT individuals tried pushing for it again in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999, each time resulting in failure. Finally, a bill was brought before the Senate in 2001, which also did not pass. Once more, supporters tried in 2007 resulting in the same disappointing end. My question: why did this fail so many times? Clearly, it is supported by the people, which is ostensibly how this country runs—the people decide. Yet another question: why are we not enacting laws that ensures equal rights for all American citizens? When did “Liberty and Justice for all” become a meaningless platitude? The weak answer provided by the opponents of ENDA/equality is that the implementation of said law will cause frivolous lawsuits resulting in a loss of jobs. This answer, however, is only a theory that has no basis in fact or actuality. On the contrary, individual states that have enacted LGBT workplace protection laws, such as Oregon and Colorado, report no significant increase in lawsuits based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Opponents also say that the bill is and has been too broad in scope. Wait, what? Even after seven redrafts, seven attempts at retooling to make it more appealing to everyone involved, this bill is still “too broad”? Color me incredulous. There is also the claim that such a law is “unnecessary.” Oh, really? Tell that to the nurse in Michigan who, although he’d provided years of excellent service and was the recipient of accolades, was fired because his employers were worried he might make patients “uncomfortable.” Tell that to the
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DECEMBER 2013
local bank teller in Arkansas. Tell that to the transgender supermarket worker who had to be let go because higherups couldn’t decide which bathroom she should use. Tell that to the more than 70 percent of Americans who believe that LGBT folk face more discrimination in the work place than their heterosexual peers. What all of this says to me, is that in this country, we have a particular group of people that insists on maintaining its position as the bully on the playground. This group asserts that it has the right to be better than the chubby kid with glasses and braces sitting over there on the bench. The bully needs to establish its dominance on the playground, and singles out that one kid to deny him access to the drinking fountain or jungle gym to do so. How else will the other kids know that the bully runs the playground? But let me tell you something about that chubby kid with the glasses and braces. Eventually, those braces come off, yielding perfect teeth. Those glasses are replaced with contacts. That chubby body hits the gym and pumps out impressive pecs and arms. He grows up to be a strong, seasoned, and successful individual. He drives by the old parking lot and waves to a balding, paunchy bully nudging a soda can around the pavement, the only thing left for him to kick around. It’s never been about protecting religious freedoms or jobs or children or any other nonsense that these misguided conservatives peddle as applicable and legitimate arguments. It’s always been about appeasing a small sect of society, to make it feel better about itself by keeping others down. If that’s not a bully, I don’t know what is. A bully is always a bully, but the chubby outcast isn’t a chubby outcast forever. But what do I know? //
NOVEMBER 2013
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SCENE PHOTOS
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CLUB GOLD COAST
GIGI’S DECEMBER 2013
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PRONTO
SOHO
NECTO 22//
DECEMBER 2013