MONICA MILLS AN ALTRUISTIC ALLY
FLAME //
JANUARY 2015
JANUARY 2015
//PUBLISHER Peter Rayes PETER@FLAME-MAG.COM //MANAGING EDITOR Austin VanKirk AUSTIN@FLAME-MAG.COM //DIGITAL EDITOR Rachel Mann WEB@FLAME-MAG.COM //ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Dorothy “Joan” Stevenson JOAN@FLAME-MAG.COM //MEDIA RELATIONS COORDINATOR LeeAnn Connelly MEDIA@FLAME-MAG.COM //LOCAL ADVERTISING Peter Rayes ADVERTISING@FLAME-MAG.COM //NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM //PHOTOGRAPHERS Alejandro Garza Murray Grondin Tony Lowe //CONTRIBUTORS Tony Lowe Joan Stevenson Rachel Mann Austin VanKirk //GRAPHIC DESIGN PR Solutions 429 Livernois Street Second Floor Ferndale, MI 48220 248.952.8075 Copyright © 2015. FM MEDIA GROUP LLC. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER OR STAFF. NO PART OF FLAME, INCLUDING STORIES, ARTWORK, ADVERTISING, OR PHOTOS MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM FM MEDIA GROUP LLC. FLAME MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FM MEDIA GROUP LLC. FLAME MAGAZINE WILL NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING WHICH IS FOUND TO VIOLATE LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LAW. THE PRESENCE OF THE NAME, LIKENESS, PHOTOGRAPH, OR OTHER REPRESENATION OF AN ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR PERSON(S) IN FLAME MAGAZINE IS NOT AN INDICATION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
CONTENTS
//8
La Voix Leads the BIG BAND RESURGENCE SOUND CHECK
La Voix, the breakout star from this past season’s Britain’s Got Talent, is singlehandedly bringing the energy and rawness of the Big Band forties era back to the modern stage. “It was a time where pure talents shined,” reminisces the world’s newest drag icon. “When celebrities weren’t all caught up in image
//11
MONICA MILLS
AN ALTRUISTIC ALLY Monica Mills has for many years and in many ways been one of the greatest allies to Metro Detroit’s LGBT Community. Her goodly passion for volunteerism is inspiring. With decades of experience in bettering our community, she has worked with Gay Latinos, Arab Americans, African Americans, the Lesbian Community, and our youth.
JANUARY 2015
//14
WHEN IT’S TIME TO BREAK YOUR MIRROR STRAIGHT GIRL, GAY WORLD
I have a special corner of my mind reserved for liars. The first to take a seat in that corner was my mirror for making me see a version of myself that made me feel self-conscious. The second was my scale for making me panic when it didn’t tell me a small enough number. A vast portion of the other liars sitting in
//16
IDENTITY CRISIS?
BECOME WHO YOU ARE I’ve been thinking a lot about my identity lately. I wonder if the traits I exhibit, the ways I act, the things I say, are actually because I am naturally that way. I’m wondering if those same qualities have actually been mapped onto me by the different identities I subscribe to. For example, do I actually enjoy Beyoncé, or have I
JANUARY 2015
//5
FLAME //
JANUARY 2015
JANUARY 2015
FLAME // SOUND CHECK
La Voix Leads the Big Band Resurgence La Voix, the breakout star from this past season’s Britain’s Got Talent, is singlehandedly bringing the energy and rawness of the Big Band forties era back to the modern stage. “It was a time where pure talents shined,” reminisces the world’s newest drag icon. “When celebrities weren’t all caught up in image and marketing.” For the past ten years, La Voix has been taking on the giant divas of yesteryear and making them all her own. Even her name, French for “The Voice”, speaks to her uncanny ability to switch between the vocal styles of Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland and Cher with the click of a sparkly-gloved finger. She is the only UK drag artist to win first place in every award on the cabaret circuit including 2012’s Drag Idol, 2014’sLondon Cabaret Awards, and most recently the Gold Boys Scene Awards. But it was appearing as a semi-finalist on Britain’s most popular TV talent show that brought the vivaciously saucy performer to the world’s attention. “The show has had a huge impact on my act,” she says. “I now have a producer, an investor, and I’m taking the La Voixshow on the road!” Her aim is two-fold: to bring drag back to mainstream in the UK and Europe, as it is in the USA, and to usher in the next Big Band era. She’s enlisted the help of the London Gay Big Band, who will be joining her on tour. “You don’t realize how some of the old Broadway, jazz and Hollywood songs really sound ‘til you’ve heard them played by a band as big as what they were originally written for,” she says. “The sound literally lifts the roof and transports audiences back to a long forgotten time of pure brilliant
8//
JANUARY 2015
music.” In addition to her stage show, La Voix is currently starring in the new off-West End Pantomime show, Aladdin. “Its Vaudeville meets Disney,” she explains. La Voix plays the role of Aladdin’s mother, Widow Twankey. Pantomime has a long theatrical history in Britain, dating back to the 16th century. It is a form of musical theatre that combines songs and dancing with slapstick comedy and audience participation. Pantomime shows often include a big named celebrity. “I have done Pantomime with the likes of Mickey Rooney, Cilla Black, and Pamela Anderson. It’s crazy and humbling to think my little name now has top billing on a show!”
The talented performer may also soon be representing the UK in the next Eurovision. Her song, ‘Kinda Groovy’, is currently under contention. “It’s an amazingly catchy song; a mixture of Andrew Sisters meets pop,” she says. Hers is a heavy load to carry but La Voix is a woman on a mission. She’s determined to bring glamour, class, sophistication and humor back to stage and screen. La Voix is doing it, one standing ovation at a time. For more information, visit Lavoixtheshow.com. La Voix is also on Twitter and Facebook.
JANUARY 2015
//9
FLAME //
JANUARY 2015
MONICA MILLS
AN ALTRUISTIC ALLY Written by Peter Rayes Photos by Tony Lowe
JANUARY 2015
//11
FLAME //
JANUARY 2015
JANUARY 2015
FLAME // STRAIGHT GIRL GAY WORLD
When It’s Time to Break your Mirror
Written by Rachel Mann
I have a special corner of my mind reserved for liars. The first to take a seat in that corner was my mirror for making me see a version of myself that made me feel self-conscious. The second was my scale for making me panic when it didn’t tell me a small enough number. A vast portion of the other liars sitting in that corner are people that have told me things I need to change about my appearance—the people that have made me feel like I’m not good enough. I am an observer. I overhear conversations while waiting in line to check out at the store. I read Facebook comments posted by people I don’t know on Facebook statuses that don’t pertain to me. I listen to sighs of exasperation and expressions of frustration in the dressing room next to mine. In my observations, I have noticed that an obscene number of women, including myself, have at some point or another not felt beautiful in their own skin. The unofficial movement of uplifting other women in regards to their body image is one that is rapidly taking off and making its presence known. In contrast to that, in lieu of the upcoming New Year, I have heard proclamations of, “My New Year’s resolution is to lose weight” and “My New Year’s resolution is to get buff!” coming from multiple men in the gay community. Hearing this brought me to an entirely new revelation: women are not the only human beings with body image issues or with an unrealistic, lingering stigma of what it means to be beautiful. For whatever reason, there are certain trends or social issues that, when experienced immensely by a certain group of people, seem like they only effect those people. Nearly every day, as I scroll through my newsfeed on Facebook, I see some sort of meme or status relating to women’s body
14//
JANUARY 2015
images. There are the infamous photos of Marilyn Monroe accompanied by a spiel about how curvy women are sexier than stick thin women. There are videos of heavier set women in their underwear expressing how they are beautiful just the way they are. Then there’s the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and naked pictures of Kim Kardashian that trigger the thought “Man, I wish I looked like that!” in women’s minds. Women widely experience issues with body image, and because of that, when you hear “body image issues,” you most likely will automatically think of all or some of the things I described. Most importantly, you will probably relate it to women. Hearing so many gay men talk about their New Year’s resolutions, however, made me realize that just because women have such a defined experience with body image, doesn’t mean they are the only group of people that experience those issues. As a straight woman, recognizing where body image issues in regards to women come from comes naturally. Understanding where gay men’s body image issues come from is something I can only assume. What I assume is that the six-pack adorned, spray-tanned male models strutting up and down catwalks across the world have some sort of an impact on the way gay men feel about their bodies. When the gay men I know post “Man Crush Monday” photos on Instagram, they are usually shirtless pictures of Channing Tatum or Ryan Gosling. Rarely do you come across a picture of more-to-love Seth Rogen or “scrawny” Michael Cera with their shirts off and a #MCM hashtag underneath their picture. For gay men, it isn’t just about losing weight like it is for women. I hear a lot of New Year’s resolutions to gain more muscle, too. Six packs and huge biceps don’t come
naturally, but they are so commonly associated with being sexy that gay men will strive with all their might to work toward the unattainable goal of becoming perfect. This has to stop. Until people start to not only say that everyone is beautiful, but act on those words, men and women both will continue to feel inadequate if they don’t look like a Calvin Klein ad or a Sports Illustrated cover. Yes, Ryan Gosling is sexy. Yes, his abs are pretty hot too. But Seth Rogen’s personality is sexier than any set of abs on the planet, and to be totally honest, for me, that makes the rest of him pretty damn sexy, too (I’m a sucker for brown eyes and a cute smile). The women strutting their stuff on the runway at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show have bangin’ bodies that if I’m being honest, sure, I’d love to have. But more than that, I am totally happy looking like a fivefoot-tall, A-cup, petite-with-a-big-butt me. It’s one thing to strive to be healthy— that is a wonderful thing that I am not discouraging anyone from doing. It’s never good to be so overweight that you are putting your health at risk. If you’re at that point and the people in your life are still telling you how you’re perfect the way you are, you need to get some friends that care more about your health than your feelings—but that’s getting into another topic. If you are aiming to lose weight to benefit your health, go for it full force. If you are setting a New Year’s resolution to lose weight because you want to look like a cast member of Magic Mike, please, stop. Instead, make this your resolution: This year I am going to tell my mirror, my scale, and all of the people making me feel less than I am to fuck off and I am going to feel sexy in my own skin.
JANUARY 2015
Identity Crisis? FLAME // BECOME WHO YOU ARE
Written by Austin VanKirk
I’ve been thinking a lot about my identity lately. I wonder if the traits I exhibit, the ways I act, the things I say, are actually because I am naturally that way. I’m wondering if those same qualities have actually been mapped onto me by the different identities I subscribe to. For example, do I actually enjoy Beyoncé, or have I been programmed by a gay identity to like her music? Do I actually believe that everyone, regardless of the particular genders being paired, should be able to and must participate in marriage, or is this something that the HRC has made be believe? Is it impossible for me to ever be sexually attracted to and fall in love with a human with pronounced breasts and a vagina because I am something called a “homosexual,” as determined by today’s sexologists? The answer to the above questions is, frankly, no—except for the part about Beyoncé—her music, I’m pretty sure must be considered to be hellamazing by everyone regardless of sexual identity. If you don’t like her music, you’re obviously lying to yourself. I’m being facetious here, naturally, because that’s what I do. I’m Austin, that’s what I do. I take serious things and try to find the levity in them and then bring that to the forefront. I believe doing so helps people to be more comfortable talking about serious issues; it makes them palpable without trivializing them entirely. But… is this something I believe because I’m Austin, or is this something that my scholar identity has trained me or conditioned me to think? I haven’t a damn clue. But, in thinking on this the past few months here in Washington (which is an amazing place for getting lost on mountain paths and in one’s own mind, and in general—please come visit. But don’t stay too long… this is my Promised Land. Go find your own!) I’ve been pondering my identity and how much of it was simply
16//
JANUARY 2015
a programmed reaction in favor of or against something else. For instance, separated from my parents and family by hundreds of miles, a few mountain ranges, and one Mississippi River, I’ve been able to put some distance between myself and them, both physically and emotionally. For the past several years, let’s say for the past twelve years, I’ve linked up Country music to my parents. Now my parents are, objectively speaking, in their own way, moderately decent people, but there are several things that I do not like about them, and I want to be divorced from them in the mind of the public as much as possible. Since my parents subscribe to an identity that says they ought to like Country music, in a reactionary way, I did not permit myself, or rather, I was told by my identities not to like country music. Now, having put a great deal of distance between myself and the hill folk environment that I grew up in, I’m starting to listen to and enjoy certain types of country music—specifically the flavor referred to as “bro country.” I love rolling down my windows and blasting Florida Georgia Line throughout campus as I cruise on through. Those of you who are staunch subscribers to the gay identity are thinking, “Wait, what? I thought this guy was gay… why does he like country music?” And that’s the identity talking, not the individual. I think that was something that I struggled with for quite a while: “I shouldn’t like X because I’m gay and that’s not something gay guys like” or “I should act this way because this is how gay guys act.” Identity can be a great thing. It gives people who are feeling lost something to latch onto. It’s stability, it’s solid, and it’s comforting. It’s a thing that says, “This is who you are—you’re one of us.” That’s cool, until you have to start following the rules of that identity. Otherwise, you’re “an excep-
tion” or “you’re not really a part of our identity.” So, I’ve come to the following conclusion: fuck identity and the horse it done rode in on. I have far too much to learn and to experience without being inhibited by an identity telling me which things I can and cannot do, or at the very least, what I “should” or “should not” do. Consider this a public casting off of all my identities, save one: human. I’m no longer a man, certainly not a gay man. I’m not a scholar, an academic, or an author. I’m not single, married, or taken (which is a horribly possessive idea to be addressed in a future column). I’m not American nor a Christian. I am simply me, a human, capable of experiencing whatever I want to. And if you’re interested in experiencing life to the fullest extent that you can, it might be a good idea for you to shed your identities, too. But what do I know?
JANUARY 2015
FLAME //
JANUARY 2015
JANUARY 2015
FLAME //
JANUARY 2015
SCENE PHOTOS
NECTO
Tag ON INSTAGRAM USING #FlameMAGAZINE to be considered for our next issue and Check us ouT @FLamemagazine!
CLUB GOLD COAST / SIN JANUARY 2015
//21
FLAME //
GIGI’S
MENJO’S 22//
JANUARY 2015
JANUARY 2015
FLAME //
JANUARY 2015