Frontiers Vol. 35, Issue 03 by Frontiers

MAY 26 - JUN 8, 2016 | VOL. 35, NO. 03

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SIX WAYS TO GET FIT FOR BETTER SEX (P. 35)

L.A. PRIDE 2016

INSIDE THIS YEAR’S CONTROVERSIAL FESTIVAL

(P. 70)

CARLY RAE JEPSEN WANTS TO SAVE US FROM TRUMP

(P. 72)

YOUR SOUTH AFRICA BUCKET LIST 5 REASONS WE’RE LOVING LACMA MADRID HAS LOVE FOR THE BEARS DRINKS UP, ASS OUT AT MR. BLACK

SHAMIR His smart rhymes and killer falsetto give queer culture a much-needed refresh

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West HollyWood

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Program at 6:30 p.m. West Hollywood City Council Jewel Thais-Williams, Grand Marshall L.A. Pride 2016 Funny Women Presented By UnCabaret

Julie Goldman

Selene Luna

Marsha Warfield

Etheridge Award, June Mazer Lesbian Archives

March at 7:30 p.m.

from West Hollywood Park down Santa Monica Boulevard

The Dyke March is a FREE event. More information: croskin@weho.org â&#x20AC;˘ (323) 848-6403 6

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Contents

MAY 26 - JUNE 8, 2016

FEATURES

L.A. Pride 2016

SHAMIR: RUVAN

Our Poly Honeymoon Pt. 4: Madrid

Shamir

ON THE COVER Shamir photographed by Perri Thomas JUNE 8, 2016

Contents MAY 26 - JUNE 8, 2016

DEPARTMENTS NEWSBOX 21 24 26

AIDS/LifeCycle Is All Geared Up Watercooler Inside West Hollywood City Hall’s New Space Age Parking Garage Datebook

THE GAY AGENDA 29 30 32

The Story of Emoji New West Hollywood Eats 5 Reasons We’re Loving LACMA

21 29

HEALTH The Sex Circuit Fitness Q&A Are You Too Old for Pride?

35 36 38

TRAVEL Your South Africa Bucket List In Search of the World’s Best Hotel Pools The New Trend of Ship-Sharing

41 42

35 41

CALENDAR 47 48 52

One City One Pride Snapshots Mr. Black L.A. Returns

ENTERTAINMENT Nick Jonas Is All Grown Up The 10 Best Tracks by Garbage Who Is the X-Men’s New Big Bad? The Q&A: Fitz and the Tantrums Set Your DVR

57 58 60 60 62

COLUMNS 80 81 82

Billy Masters Gossip Gay Palm Springs

52 57 Frontiers magazine is published by New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC, 5657 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 470, Los Angeles, CA. 90036, and distributed throughout Southern California. Up to the first three copies of any single issue are free; additional copies are $10 each. Violators caught stealing or destroying issues will be prosecuted under California Penal Code 484. For magazine subscriptions, please call (323) 930- 3220. The contents of Frontiers may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Letters to the editor, artwork, photography, manuscripts and other correspondence may be submitted to Frontiers at the above address. We cannot acknowledge or return material unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Allow at least three months for processing. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or advertising in Frontiers is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation or the HIV/AIDS status of such person or organization. Copyright © 2015, New Frontiers Media Holdings, LLC.

PEOPLE INDEX Levar Burton 62 Mariah Carey 30 Christeene 54 Steph Curry 32 14

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Isaac Hayes 60 Shirley Manson 58 Robert Mapplethorpe 47 Idina Menzel 22

Gene Simmons 30 Jussie Smollett 26 Tinashe 62 Butch Vig 58

JUNE 8, 2016

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JUNE 8, 2016

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Dustin Tyner Stephan Horbelt ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR George Skinner ADVERTISING DIRECTORS Adam Goldberg, Cristian Valencia PALM SPRINGS ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Brad Fuhr Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Frank Perez

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Drew Droege

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dan Allen, Michael Anthony, Seth Browning, Peter DelVecchio, Gossip Gay, Jeremy Kinser, Jeff Leavell, Drew Mackie, Billy Masters, James F. Mills, Dominic Preston, Patrick Rosenquist, Dominik Rothbard, Mikey Rox, Aaron Savvy CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Hazel & Pine, Jason King Photography, Jeremy Lucido, Rolling Blackouts, Ronys Photobooth, RUVAN, Perri Thomas

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corporate ROBERT “BOBBY” BLAIR Founder & CEO

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Frontiers is published biweekly, with 40,000 print copies distributed throughout California. Frontiers is one of five brands owned by the only LGBT publicly traded company Multimedia Platforms, Inc. (stock symbol: MMPW). Collectively, Florida Agenda, Frontiers, FunMaps, Guy and Next magazine represent three of America’s most populous LGBT markets and 40 cities across North America, an estimated 7.5 million readers annually. Visit MultimediaPlatformsInc.com for further information. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. PROUD TO BE AFFILIATED WITH

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JUNE 8, 2016

WeHo Get Connected. Stay Connected. LIVE WELL. AIDS Project Los Angeles and APLA Health & Wellness provide these services to residents of West Hollywood: • Benefits Counseling: Need assistance with ADAP, Medi-Cal, Covered California? Call one of our expert Public Benefits Counselors at 213-201-1385. • Case Management: Looking for a new doctor? Considering moving? Need help with taxes? APLA can assist with these services and more. Call 213-201-1500. • Dental Services: Ready for your next close-up? Contact us to schedule your next exam, cleaning, or to get help for any other dental needs: 213-201-1388. • Psychotherapy: Live Life Better! Team up with one of APLA’s compassionate, competent and professional therapists. Call 213-201-1621.

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Geared Up Annual fundraiser AIDS/LifeCycle is just around the corner, but is it possible to beat last year’s record of raising $16.3 million? By Dominic Preston

1.7M The number of Americans have who been infected with HIV since the AIDS epidemic began in 1981. More than 617,025 have died of AIDSrelated causes

SPEAK OUT

ALC: AIDSLIFE/CYCLE

ow in its 15th year, the annual AIDS/LifeCycle trek is back, as thousands of cyclists will come together to raise what could be a record-breaking amount to help support HIV/AIDS services. More than 2,500 cyclists are expected to take part in the 545-mile, week-long ride from San Francisco down to L.A., supported by 650 volunteer roadies. So far they’re on track to raise over $16 million, and could well beat last year’s record-breaking $16.3 million haul. That money all goes to support people with HIV in the area, with the funds split between the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV/AIDS services provided by the Los Angeles LGBT Center. This year the event is even more special for WeHo residents, as the finish line (and accompanying festival) has been moved to Fairfax High School on Melrose Avenue, with cyclists traveling the final stretch on June 11. “The dedication of AIDS/LifeCycle participants has made it possible for us to provide leading-edge medical services to people living with HIV/AIDS at our Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic and to offer PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) to those most at risk of becoming infected, particularly among gay and bisexual men of color,” says Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the L.A. Center. “As we journey 545 miles through California, we remember the many lives lost to the disease—and celebrate the many lives we have been able to save.” Despite the scale of the event, it always inspires community among the riders, including traditions like the

annual “Red Dress Day.” The event also attracts support from beyond the cyclists, like last year’s Taylor Swift parody courtesy of RuPaul’s Drag Race queens Willam and Alaska, “Ride for AIDS.” “Every year, AIDS/LifeCycle riders gear up for their community in support of the free programs and services of San Francisco AIDS Foundation,” adds Joe Hollendoner, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “The dedication and sacrifice required to train for a 545-mile ride is an inspiration, and I am delighted to be part of this year’s event.” And while the fundraising may be devoted to organizations in L.A. and San Francisco, the event has grown way beyond California’s borders. This year, participants will hail from 41 different U.S. states and 17 countries, from as far afield as Australia, Taiwan and Poland. Oh, and if you weren’t feeling bad about not taking part already, prepare to: this year’s oldest rider will be 83 years old. What’s your excuse?

“I’m so proud of the Padres for hosting a Pride event during the season, and I hope that our community recognizes that error and intent are not related.” MLB Ambassador of Inclusion Billy Bean downplays claims of homophobia when the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus weren’t given the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the May 21 game, despite their planned performance

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Inevitably, all those people doing all that cycling get through an eye-watering amount of supplies. Organizers expect this year’s participants to work through 44,600 eggs and 11,000 Clif bars, with 810 gallons of coffee to wash it all down. They’ll also use up 18,000 packets of “butt balm,” about which the less is said, the better. It’s occasionally easy to get complacent about HIV, to forget that it’s still a major threat both in California and around the world, despite the advent of PrEP and other prevention and treatment methods. In the seven days that these cyclists make their journey down to L.A., more than 1,000 people will be infected with HIV in the U.S. alone— and since one in five people with HIV nationwide doesn’t know his status, those numbers could be even higher. AIDS/LifeCycle is not just a chance to raise money to support the valuable work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Center; it’s a reminder that this battle is not yet won, at home or abroad. Up to 7,000 people will become infected with HIV in California in 2016, and they’ll be reliant on these organizations—and others statewide—to offer them the treatment, advice and support that they need. AIDS/LifeCycle 2016 kicks off in San Francisco on June 5, finishing in West Hollywood on June 11. To donate or find more info, head to aidslifecycle.org.

SPEAK OUT “I think it’s great. Disney’s just gotta contend with that. I’ll let them figure that out.” Frozen star Idina Menzel speaks to Entertainment Tonight about the recent petition to give lead character Elsa a girlfriend in the upcoming sequel

ALC: AIDSLIFE/CYCLE

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WATERCOOLER

Your cheat sheet for intelligent conversation — By Peter DelVecchio

GOP Reps Torpedo LGBT Defense Amendment

A pro-LGBT measure that would have stripped “religious freedom” exemptions for defense contractors from this year’s defense appropriations bill appeared to have passed, with 29 Republican votes, when the clock expired on May 19. Then, to shouts of “shame” from Democratic colleagues, GOP leaders reportedly convinced enough of its members to change their votes to tank the amendment. The exemptions could threaten an Obama executive order prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination in defense contracting should they survive in the Senate and remain in the appropriations bill. “This is one of the ugliest episodes I’ve experienced in my three-plus years as a member of this House,” says out Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., who offered the amendment.

Fanning Becomes First Out Military Branch Head

A mere five years after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” an out gay man, Eric Fanning, 47, now leads the U.S. Army. He’s the first openly LGBT person to head a military branch. Fanning, former undersecretary of the Air Force and high-level Army advisor, was approved on a voice vote in the Senate on May 17. Fanning’s nomination had been held up by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, over an unrelated dispute with the Obama administration. Roberts supported Fanning’s nomination, as did several other Republican senators, including John McCain, R-Ariz., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. “I’m honored by today’s Senate confirmation and thrilled to return to lead the total Army team,” Fanning said in a statement.

Victims of Philadelphia Gay Bashing Sue Attackers

Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught, victims of a September 2014 gay bashing in Philadelphia, have filed a civil suit against their three attackers, Philadelphia magazine reports. The three—Philip Williams, Kathryn Knott and Kevin Harrigan (pictured), all in their 20s, were charged with assault, reckless endangerment and criminal conspiracy. Williams and Harrigan avoided jail by pleading guilty to lesser charges; Knott is currently serving 5-10 months. Knott is also being sued by a blogger who clams she lost her job after disparaging Knott online. Haught, who was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery after the attack, suffered a fractured jaw and orbital bones and permanent scarring, according to court papers. Hesse suffered cuts and bruises on his face and body. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages for physical and emotional injuries.

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For centuries, if not millennia, not being foundout as queer was essential to survival, but as we evolve towards greater equality for LGBTs, the need arises to count us. Toward that end, 21 federal agencies are working to develop a counting methodology, as the national census does not ask respondents’ sexual orientation. Estimates of the LGBT population have ranged from the “1 in 10” Kinsey figure, now largely discredited, to the roughly 5% suggested by entities like Gallup and the Williams Institute. U.S. Chief Statistician Katherine Wallman is leading a counting project, the progress of which is likely to be slow. There are no plans to include sexual orientation questions on the census, but individual state and federal agencies are modifying their questionnaires.

3 4 6

Poz People Less Likely to Receive Cancer Treatment

Despite progress in treating HIV, a significantly lower proportion of HIV-positive people receive treatment for cancer as compared to patients in general. While only 14% of HIV-negative patients receive no treatment for lung cancer, one third of positive patients go without care. The two populations’ numbers were roughly equal only with respect to anal cancer. The reasons for the discrepancy are not entirely clear. HIV-positive people are more likely to be uninsured, but the gap persists among those who are insured, even factoring in the likelihood of sub-standard treatment among those insured under Medicaid. Another potential factor is the absence of national cancer treatment guidelines for HIVpositive patients for most cancers, with the potentially significant exception of anal cancer.

How Will the United States Count Queer People?

Levi’s Unveils 2016 Harvey Milk Pride Collection

As it does annually, Levi’s has unveiled its line of LGBT-themed tops and bottoms to celebrate LGBT Pride, this year as part of a new collaboration with the Harvey Milk Foundation. The gender-neutral 2016 Pride Collection includes tank tops sporting a milk bottle and Milk’s name, shorts with a rainbow pocket patch and Milk’s likeness and a top listing important dates in the LGBT struggle, from the 1924 founding of the Society for Human Rights to last year’s United States Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The collection also includes bandanas corresponding to the old “hanky code” that “friends of Dorothy” used to signal sexual preferences to each other.

Join Macy’s as we Celebrate Family + Friends + Love + Life + Equality + Respect We are proud to join the parade across America in honor of National Pride Month. We think it’s really something to celebrate. Plus, join us in our continued support of The Trevor Project!

The Trevor Project provides life-saving crisis intervention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

F O R M O R E D E T A I L S visit

MACYS.COM/CELEBRATE

JUNE 8, 2016

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FRONTIERS IN LA MAGAZINE

4/22/16 1:49 PM

(MAY issue)- Single

OUT SPEAK 26

“We’re very excited about the completion of the Automated Garage,” says WeHo Mayor Lauren Meister. “The garage is located in an area of the city that has been in need of additional parking, and this garage will help to fill that need. The technology is amazing—and kind of fun, too! I drove in facing one way, but my car came out facing the other way … how does it know?!” “It’s a clean, green, parking machine,” says Councilmember John D’Amico. “Once again, WeHo brings technology and convenience to our way of life, expanding parking options for our residents, neighborhood businesses and City Hall visitors.” The city broke ground on the project back in 2014, with construction completed earlier this spring. It was designed by sustainable design architecture firm LPA, Inc. May 24 saw a grand opening ceremony for the garage with refreshments, music, comments from City Council members and the opportunity to look inside some of the parking bays at art murals made for the occasion. Watch a video of the new parking garage in action—and a construction to completion time-lapse video of the new garage—at FrontiersMedia.com. —D.P.

“I was thinking my little core group of amazing fans would be like, ‘What?’ but it just went so much further. Like, there were calls about it and Lee Daniels was getting death threats about it.” Out Empire star Jussie Smollett caused a social media firestorm after a prank tweet in which he implied he might be leaving the show. (He’s since confirmed he’ll be back.)

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TUE. | MAY 26

AN EVENING WITH CHURCHILL

The Queen Mary celebrates 80 years of public life at an event celebrating her maiden voyage with ship enthusiasts, VIPs and the public. A new gallery space will also host the first-ever exhibition of paintings by Sir Winston Churchill, dedicated by his greatgrandson. queenmary.com

MAY 27-30

CMG SPRING GATHERING

Discover what it means to ‘reboot’ your life— physically, emotionally, spiritually and sexually—with swimming, hiking, canoeing, climbing and more at Pathfinder Ranch. Over Memorial Day Weekend, 150 guys (mostly gay or bi, some trans, some straight) will connect for good times. thecmg.org

MON. | JUNE 2

WEST COAST LIBERTY AWARDS

Candis Cayne and Lawrence Zarian have been chosen as hosts of L ambda Legal’s annual event, which celebrates those working towards the organization’s vision of equality. The starstudded ceremony will take place at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel. lambdalegal.com

FRI. | JUNE 17

SAN DIEGO EQUALITY AWARDS

Equality California will honor LGBT families at this annual event, held at the Prado at Balboa Park. Three families, including that of local trans teen Zoey Luna, will receive Equality Awards for their leadership, courage and service. eqcaawards.com

SAT. | JUNE 18

S.T.A.G.E.: SONDHEIM NO. 5

The 32nd annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event will take place at Beverly Hills’ Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. One of Broadway’s most prolific composers will be honored with songs by an all-star cast. stagela.com

GARAGE: JON VISCOTT

nyone frustrated by parking in Los Angeles might be excited about the opening of any new parking garage, but the city of West Hollywood has unveiled something truly remarkable. On May 24, the city officially opened its new automated garage at City Hall on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Sweetzer, and we’ve never been this excited about the chance to park our car. This new 200-space garage—the first municipal project of its kind on the West Coast—sees drivers approach at ground-level to park their vehicle in one of four small bays. After that, drivers pull a ticket and walk away, leaving the building itself to rotate the car and move it through the garage to a parking space, retrieving it the very same way when it’s time to collect it. Apparently hiring robots to do our parking for us has more benefits than just looking cool; it saves more than 7,000 square feet as compared to a conventional parking garage, and getting rid of idling cars means fewer emissions, too (equal to taking 92 cars off the road each year). As for that freed-up space, the city has used it to create a community plaza with trees, a water feature and even a stage for community events.

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WEST HOLLYWOOD UNVEILS AUTOMATED GARAGE FROM A SCIENCE-FICTION FUTURE

DATEBOOK

2530101 LGBT Sign Language Print Ad – Frontiers 7.625 in. w x 10.125 in. h

Sometimes the most important things you sign aren’t in the office.

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THE

GAY AGENDA

MailChimp used the Force Atlas 2 algorithm to map the network of which emojis are most often used together

Once Upon Emoji

ay back in 2005, when only 27% of American cell phone users said they used the text messaging feature on their devices—compared to 97% of smartphoners today (how far we’ve come!)—we showed our mobile emotions like cave people. Punctuation and a limited number of Wingdings—that series of primitive dingbat fonts that laid the foundation for the modern emoji, invented by Japanese designer Shigetaka Kurita in 1999—allowed us to awkwardly wink, smile and stick out our digital tongues at one another to express our short-message-service feelings.

When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, however, the emoji took on a life of its own. Last year the Oxford English Dictionary deemed Face with Tears of Joy as the “word that best reflected the ethos, mood and preoccupations of 2015,” and now its colorful history is being told by author Gavin Lucas in The Story of Emoji, the first book to explain the genesis and significance of such important cultural icons like Smiling Face With Horns, Cocktail Glass and every gay bro’s favorite, Eggplant. Like a fairy tale for the Matrix Age, it’s fun for the whole . —Mikey Rox

The Story of Emoji

By Gavin Lucas ($25, 208 pp., Prestel) JUNE 8, 2016

NEW WEHO EATS

THE THE

GAY

AGENDA AGENDA

FOR PROPER PARISIAN

Movie Magic

If dapper Jay Gatsby hosted one of his swanky soirées today, you can bet his mixology game would be on fleek. And yours will be, too, when you jazz up straight pours of your favorite poison with rocks from Herb & Lou’s Infused Cubes ($15, herband lous.com), like The Cecile—mini ice bricks of cucumber and watermelon heightened with clover honey and thyme, imagined for tequila cocktails. Since Art Deco decadence doesn’t exist anymore, imagine your own glittering get-down by popping a package of these in the freezer. You can also choose from blood orange with ginger (for bourbon) and peach with Benedictineinspired herbs and artisanal bitters (for vodka). Your backyard socials will never be watered down again. —M.R.

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hits theaters. Other highlights include the Batcave from Batman v Superman, Batman’s armored anti-Superman suit and a genuine lump of pure Kryptonite. Warner Bros. unveiled the exhibition with a launch party featuring local celebs and comics fans Gene Simmons and L.A. Lakers star Jordan Clarkson. Get a closer look at some of the exhibit’s props and costumes in a gallery slideshow at FrontiersMedia.com. —Dominic Preston

We have Jessica Biel to thank for Au Fudge, also on Melrose, a kid-friendly spot (if that’s your kinda thing) that serves up organic dishes—but, you know, in a chic way. That means you’ll pay $8 for a side of fries and nearly $20 for a tuna sandwich. Luckily, as is required of any place self-described as “kid-friendly,” there is a cocktail menu. 9010 Melrose Ave., aufudge.com

Remembering 8 Iconic Moments from Mariah Carey’s 2002 Cribs Episode

he world has finally had a first look at Mariah Carey’s upcoming reality show—excuse us, docu-series— Mariah’s World, set to premiere on E! later this year. Eight episodes will take us beyond the glitz and glam, watching Carey prepare for her nuptials with Australian billionaire James Packard and her “Sweet Sweet Fantasy” world tour. Throughout the new show’s trailer, we’re reminded just how fabulous Carey is. At one point she divulges that she’ll never be in fluorescent lighting without sunglasses on. (Our new life goal.) As we watched the preview, though, we began to have flashbacks of her infamous episode of MTV’s Cribs. To refresh your memory, here are that ep’s

eight most iconic moments. 1. That time she showed up at the door in an amazing dress and described the “glazing process” of her walls that look like candy. 2. That time she walked into a shower she never uses. “I usually be in the bathtub, but this shower is very nice,” she says. 3. That time she took a bath in a towel and body suit. NBD. 4. That time her assistant helped Carey change into a new ensemble while moving to the next room. “Hurry up, Blaire, the clock is ticking!” 5. That time her dog attacked the cat in the kitchen.

WHEN YOU’RE WITH THE KIDS

6. That time she told us she had to switch out her fish to match her schedule. Nocturnal fish, FTW! 7. $HOES$HOES$HOES. We’re sure the total cost of her closet was well over $1 million! … and the most iconic of them all: 8. When she worked out on the StairMaster in her six-inch stilettos. The entire episode of Mariah Carey’s Cribs was legendary, and more of these moments are sure to come with her new series, guaranteeing that we’ll be discussing this diva throughout fall and winter. —Darius Dupins

FOR A DAMN GOOD BURGER The lines made headlines, but this new-to-L.A. burger spot deserves the hype. Danny Meyer’s famous chain Shake Shack opened back in March on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and West Knoll, serving roadside burgers, hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries and frozen custards (sporting ingredients from local bakeries and chocolate shops). Stop in sometime soon for the “Rainbow Connection” milkshake, as 5% of sales go to L.A. Pride. 8520 Santa Monica Blvd., shakeshack.com

PHOTO CREDIT TK MIKE WINDLE/GETTY IMAGES WB STUDIO TOUR:

he Warner Bros. Studio Tour has opened the doors to its latest exhibition, a prop and costume-filled insight into the studio’s DC Comics Universe. Officially opened on May 24, the exhibit’s focus is on original props, sets and costumes from two of this year’s biggest films, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. In the case of the latter, it’s a chance to get a close-up look at costumes from the likes of The Joker and Harley Quinn two months before the film even

Bringing its signature red awning, famous steak frites and top-secret sauce to West Hollywood’s Design District, Parisian import Le Relais de l’Entrecôte opened in March after having been in the works for years. It’s giving L’Assiette a run for its money. 8755 Melrose Ave., relaisentrecote.

JUNE 8, 2016

WHAT’S NEW, DTLA?

THE

GAY

AGENDA

Clokwise from top left: Urban Light, the Rain Room made purple to remember Prince, DIY punk spirit at Reigning Men, LACMA on Snapchat, Fernando Darin’s beautiful platings at Ray’s

AN APPLE A DAY It’s been rumored for years, but consider it official: Apple will make its retail arrival in DTLA’s most popular stretch of South Broadway. Look for it to open its Downtown spot in the historic Tower Theater building (above).

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Is your dating and hookup-app game hotter than Steph Curry’s playoff performance? WhoNow, a brand-new free app on the market (whonowapp.com), can help by organizing your sex and love life. Instead of creating connections, the app helps you make heads and tails of all that left and right-swiping on other apps by managing your matches, letting you share pics and allowing your trusted pals to provide anonymous feedback when you ask for it. So when you can’t decide where to take that potential new ex-boyfriend for brunch, there’s now a community of people eager to suggest the perfect place, all in an effort to take your relationship status from single to taken. —M.R.

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1. It’s Still Pouring Those who claim Ororo Munroe as their favorite X-Man (that’d be Storm for all you nonnerds) have likely already experienced Random International’s Rain Room, an immersive environment made of falling water that lets up wherever a person is detected. It’s a sight to behold, and after nearly a month of conservation work, it’s now back up and running, having made headlines in April when LACMA remembered Prince’s death by making the rain purple. 2. The Al Fresco Eats Is there a more uniquely L.A. spot than Ray’s and Stark Bar? Situated in the museum’s concrete courtyard, you’re invited to take a seat in the sunshine alongside fellow fine art-lovers and order up beautifully plated dishes that occasionally rival what you’ll find inside. If you haven’t stopped in for a bite of late, it’s time to plan your return. After years as executive chef of the Hollywood Bowl’s Wine Bar, Fernando Darin has found a new home, and his thoughtfully crafted menu features delightful options like a Black Kale Grapefruit Salad (the citrus and white balsamic vinaigrette is balanced by shaved ricotta salata) and the Spaghetti alla Chitarra (one of the few places in town you’ll find a Sicilian pesto). In June, mention “One City One Pride” for 10% off your bill. 3. An On Point Social Media Game The museum has garnered compliments since late 2014 thanks to one woman: Lucy Redoglia,

who handles LACMA’s next-level social media game—Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest and, yes, Snapchat. It’s the Snapchat presence you should be paying attention to (@lacma), as LACMA is the first museum to even have an account. Among her best work is a Snapchat story from late last year set to the final monologue of The Breakfast Club, but expect “funny art snaps” and sneak peaks of new exhibitions on the regular. 4. Men’s Fashion Reigns Supreme A comprehensive review of men’s style over the last three centuries? Don’t mind if we do. Reigning Men, on display through Aug. 21, is awe-inspiring in its non-chronological pairings of men’s clothes to show the ongoing dialogue of fashion. Inside you’ll find everything from a black leather jacket emobodying the DIY punk spirit of the 1980s to a British at-home Banyan robe of the 1880s. 5. Urban Lights Will Return You likely heard that one of the museum’s most iconic installations (and, indeed, an L.A. landmark), Chris Burden’s Urban Light, went dark on May 1 for a little revamping. “The focus of the restoration is on the actual light poles themselves. They need to be scrubbed back down to the raw cast iron, treated and repainted,” says LACMA’s Director of Communications, Miranda Carroll. Come June 30, those 202 street lights on Wilshire will be back in action, but don’t wait ‘til then to experience one of Los Angeles’—and the world’s—premier museums. —Stephan Horbelt

OUT AND PROUD All the details haven’t been announced just yet, but you’ll want to save the date of Aug. 7 for the first-ever DTLA Proud Festival, set to take place in Pershing Square. Keep up with the event’s progression by following it on Instagram (@dtlaproudfestival) and Twitter (@proudfestival).

A DRINK AND A DIP The historic H.W. Hellman Building in DTLA’s Historic Core (at the corner of 4th and Spring) is set for rooftop renovations. According to renderings, the building—on track to get 188 luxe live/work lofts—will also get a restaurant, a cocktail bar, a gym and a pool with cabanas, all situated above the city skyline.

LATE-NIGHT BITES Grand Central Market welcomes warmer months with the launch of its summer series on June 3, after which the open-air market will remain open every night until 10 p.m. Part of the series: special programming, live music, evening menu specials, happy hour and free shuttle service to other DTLA spots.

RAIN ROOM: VALENTIN ASCHWANDEN’S INSTAGRAM

5 Reasons We’re Loving LACMA

Slated for completion in June, SpySpace will open atop DTLA’s U.S. Bank Tower (the tallest building west of the Mississippi). The two-floor, 360-degree observation area will provide views of the entire city, and the SkySlide—a glass slide wrapping around the outside of the building—will take you from the 70th to the 69th floor in seconds.

LONG BEACH HOUSING AUTHORITY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER & HOPWA WAITING LIST TO OPEN JUNE 6, ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach (HACLB) will be accepting applications for its’ Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) program and HOPWA Program (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) starting Monday, June 6, 2016 and will close on June 20, 2016 at 11:59 pm. These vouchers can be used in any unit as long as the unit you wish to rent accepts Section 8 and meets the standards of the program.

SOLICITUD DE APLICACIÓ N ABIERTA La Agencia de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Long Beach (HACLB) estará aceptando solicitudes para el programa de Vales de Elección de Viviendas (Sección 8) y el Programa de Oportunidades de Vivienda para Personas con SIDA (HOPWA en inglés) a partir del Lunes, 6 de Junio de 2016 y se cerrará el 20 de Junio de 2016 a las 11:59 pm. El Vale de Elección de Viviendas (Sección 8) es un cupón para inquilinos. Este vale se puede utilizar en cualquier lugar , siempre y cuando la unidad que desea alquilar acepte la sección 8 y cumpla con las normas del programa.

HOW DO I APPLY: You may complete an application online at www.longbeach.gov/haclb/apply. Please call the Automated Information Telephone Line for more information: (562) 570-6309. If a desktop computer is not readily available to you please visit one of our satellite locations listed below to complete your application. Applications will not be available at the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach office.

CÓMO PRESENTO LA SOLICITUD: Puede completar una solicitud en línea en www.longbeach.gov/haclb/apply. Llame a la línea telefónica de información automatizada para obtener más información: (562) 570-6309. Si no posee una computadora de escritorio visite uno de nuestros locales periféricos que se enumeran a continuación para completar su solicitud. Las solicitudes no estara n disponibles en la Agencia de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Long Beach.

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The Sex Circuit

These 6 exercises are guaranteed to make you an athlete in the sheets By Seth Browning

tiring out! A power top is an athlete, and he uses all he has to deliver a powerful performance. Here’s a breakdown of your key movements and the exercises that will ignite them.

For the Tops I’m calling out to the few and the proud tops in Los Angeles. With all your options, you’ve got to resist

THRUSTING: Kettlebell Swings A good top is known for his powerful thrust, and a kettlebell swing mimics just that. It’s driven almost entirely from a thrusting motion, beginning with a weighted force from behind and delivering a quick and powerful movement through the hips. The thrust and swing deliver a 1-2-3 punch over and over and over. Sound familiar? (As a warning, beginner kettlebell users should be supervised by a trainer or use a light weight to start.) You’ll want to stand over the kettlebell with your feet hip-width apart, chest up, shoulders back and down. The bell should be in line with the middle of your feet. Squatting down, grip the kettlebell with your palms facing you and your thumbs wrapped loosely around the handle. Stand tall, still gripping the bell. Keep your arms

s men, we’re usually doing one of two things: having sex or thinking about it. As a result, sex is a great fitness motivator. Every drop of sweat from your run, every really deep squat and every guttural groan during a bench press is driven by a sincere effort to sculpt your body into one that gets you laid. I truly believe the best aspect of fitness is health, but I’ll also acknowledge that men are horny as hell. It’s a primal need, and I’m not mad at you; you need to get yours. But let’s take exercise beyond a headless torso pic on Scruff to lure the guys over. Let’s get to the next level, with moves that will keep the guys coming back and begging for more. These customized exercises—geared for both tops and bottoms—can dramatically improve your sexual performance and leave you slaying in the sheets. If you’re versatile, you could become a downright local legend.

We want to see your

#SweatySelfie! Put one of these into action and tag us on Instagram! @frontiersmedia @sethenator

long and loose while retracting your shoulder blades and engaging your core. Soften the knees, shift your body weight into your heels and lower your rear end back and down toward the wall behind you. Driving through your heel, explode through the hips to send the weight swinging upward from your quads as you squeeze your ass. As the kettlebell lowers between your legs, shift your weight back into your heels while hinging at the hips and loading both your hamstrings and glutes. 15 reps, 3 sets STRENGTH AND STABILITY: Cobra Push-Up It may not seem like a lot, but tops have to hold their own. Meaning they literally hold a mini-push-up for minutes on end while they do their work. Strong arms and stable shoulders help tops to keep great form without straining their lower back. A Cobra Push-Up simulates that position by being face down in a push-up without the use of your legs. Its arms-only emphasis dramatically develops your upper body strength. Lie face down with your hands directly next to your chest. Keeping your legs and torso to the floor, rotate JUNE 8, 2016

FOR YOUR

health

your elbows in, pushing your biceps out to the front as you press your arms up to full extension. 15 reps, 3 sets

unforgettable experience. Here’s a breakdown of key movements and the exercises that will absolutely humble your top.

STAMINA: Mountain Climbers Perhaps the thing those poor tops need the most is stamina. The combination of explosive, repetitive and stabilizing movements can be exhausting! Without the proper endurance built up, the top’s heart rate may climax before he climaxes. Avoid blowing a fuse by doing these Mountain Climbers. It’s one of the best exercises for increasing cardiovascular endurance. Get into a push-up position. Lift one foot off the floor and bring your knee to your chest. Return to starting position and repeat with the opposite leg. Rotate in a fluid, brisk and non-stop motion for 30 seconds. 3 sets

FLEXIBILITY: Standing Leg Swings An expert bottom is very mobile and can be tossed around with ease and comfort. But when your top is fighting your tight hamstrings, it can kill the moment. Show him how pliable you are by doing a series of Standing Leg Swings before you get nailed. This dynamic stretch is intended to release the hamstrings without over-stretching them. Stand with your legs at shoulder-width. Place one hand onto a pole or other secure object, placing the other on your hip. Carefully kick up one leg to hipheight. Let the leg fall below your hip and kick back up. Repeat briskly. 15 reps on each leg

For the Bottoms Roll call to all bottoms. Let the masses in L.A. stand at attention. With a drought of true tops, you must fight for your crown. A valedictorian bottom is not lazy but far from it. He stands out by artfully mastering a few challenging movements that command an

THE SQUAT: Pulses A great bottom doesn’t only know how to drop it low but how to move while he’s there. It’s a static position that can be quite demanding after a while. With Squat Pulses, you will learn how to not only withstand but totally kill it.

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Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart and your arms stretched out in front. Perform a squat, holding it at the bottom as you pulse a few inches up and down. 15 squats, 3 pulses each STABILITY: Plank to Push-Up Often a bottom has to hold himself in a position while an opposing force has his way with him. If you lack core stability and upper body strength, you’re not going to last. Plank to Push-Ups are the perfect way to help you stabilize while using only your upper body to resist gravitational force. Start in a push-up position. Keeping your legs straight and your hips level, come down to your forearms. Press your body up to your hands and do a push-up. Repeat. 12 reps, 2 sets

Contact Seth Browning at BodyByBrowning.com and on Instagram @sethenator

Is it safe to workout twice in one day?

Why do I have gas issues when I consume protein?

—Chase, Los Angeles

—Ryan, Long Beach

The answer is yes. With that said, you don’t want to work the exact same muscle group you worked out first. If you worked out your chest in the morning, it would be fine to work your biceps for your second workout. You could even include abdominals and cardio.

You may be taking in too much protein at once. Don’t exceed 40 grams in one meal, and I suggest taking an enzyme with it to help with digestion. Too many eggs at once can cause gas, and consuming whey protein is a little harder for digestion. A protein isolate powder is much easier on your body. Consuming protein every three hours throughout the day will also help.

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health RUB OUT LOWER BACK PAIN IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS Over 80% of Americans struggle with lower back pain every year, and a healthy, pain-free back is often something you take for granted until an injury occurs. You don’t have to be an orthopedic specialist or trainer to realize that taking a few preventative steps each day can keep your back in tip-top form.

Yearly LGBT celebrations can be difficult for gay men over 50, thanks to the community’s overemphasis on youth and beauty By Dr. Greg Cason

ette Davis famously said, “Growing old isn’t for sissies.“ The only problem? Sissies get old, too. And when they do, they’re likely to feel depreciated and socially invisible, according to a December 2015 study in the journal Science and Medicine. Many who have passed the age of 50 feel invisible. Not because people bump into them, but because they look right through them. This makes Pride especially difficult now that it has morphed away from its political roots into a big party where celebrity appearances and all-but-naked dancers (and dancing) are the reasons many go. This problem is known to many in our community. Those with visible disabilities, more than a few extra pounds or ethnic differences often feel see-through. It’s a feeling that eventually extends to everyone else as youth and attractiveness begin to fade. It’s like having a personal stock market crash—one’s value goes down. To find out the effects of this, UCLA professor Richard Wight and colleagues studied 312 gay men over 30 years. The men ranged in age from 48-78 (average of 61) and 61% of them were HIV-negative. The study asked questions that most older gay men think but dare not say: “Aging is especially hard because I am a gay man,“ “As I get older, I feel more invisible when I am with other gay men“ and “As I get older I feel pressured to look younger than my age.“ What they found is that the over-valuing of youth and beauty (ageism) in gay male culture—combined with oldfashioned self-loathing (homophobia)—really starts to eat 38

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at these men, creating what the authors call “internalized gay ageism.“ The effect? They feel depressed. These men then take themselves out of the game because they no longer feel valued by the other players. These are the same men who came out of the closet to create the visibility and acceptance we have today, had sit-ins and marches to gain the rights we now take for granted and lived through our community’s devastation by AIDS. To feel valued, the study found that one thing matters above all: mattering. It’s the degree to which people feel they are an important part of the world around them. That comes from believing that others think about them, seek their advice and care what happens to them. But how is that going to happen if one stays at home or is ignored once he leaves it? Maybe we can’t expect ourselves to stop drooling over smooth-skinned Adonises, but we can make room in our busy drooling schedule to be nice and say hello to someone who made a difference in our lives by blasting open the sealed closet door in theirs. Being gay 30, 40, 50 years ago was vastly different than it is today. These seasoned men paved the streets we are now able to march (and dance) down. Help them know they matter in your life and in their own. Contact Dr. Cason by going to DrGreg.com, or interact with him on Twitter @DrGregCason

2. Train those abs! The abdominal muscles must be exercised as seriously and consistently as every other muscle group in your body. Hitting abs two or three times each week is preferable to hundreds of sets day in and day out. Leg lifts, straight leg sit-ups and excessive twists are only going to cause more problems. Crunches—and lots of them, properly performed—are the best plan of action here. 3. Watch your posture! Your mother was right when she admonished you to “stand up straight!” Always stand tall, shoulders back, head and chin up and watch that tendency to slump forward with your head and upper body. Check you posture throughout the day. Take time to stretch. Watch your work ergonomics, and be careful not to stay in the same position for hours on end. Stay active all day, and get up to move around! — Tom Bonanti

PHOTO CREDIT TK

TOO OLD FOR PRIDE?

1. Lose that belly! A big gut can lead to an exaggerated lumbar curve. This in turn can cause postural problems while sitting, standing or walking, increasing the chances of inflaming and irritating nerves, discs and muscles. If you sit all day at work, problems are multiplied, since this position increases pressure on the lower back by as much as 40%.

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The view of Cape Town from Table Mountain

PACK IT

7 Things You Must Do in South Africa Vibrant, gorgeous and now cheaper than ever, the African nation’s fierce lineup of bucket list thrills await Photos and Story by Dan Allen

THERE’S NO SHORTAGE of device chargers on the market, from old-school corded options to solar-powered prospects (and a few newfangled designs scattered across the board), but none are as convenient, capable and au courant as the AMPL Smart Backpack ($249, ampl-labs.com), which is so in demand that it’s currently on backorder after an initial round of Indiegogo success. The jacked-up carryall features built-in power for an incredible seven devices at once—plus sto rage co mpar tm e nt s fo r each—without being tethered to a wall, helping you stay connected even when you venture off the grid. Listen closely and you can almost hear your mother’s sigh of relief. —Mikey Rox

t’s a lofty claim, but no country on Earth packs as powerful a travel punch as South Africa. With incredible wildlife, breathtaking scenery, posh resorts, a captivating history and its dynamic mashup of cultures, this is the sort of place you’ll want to return to again and again to discover more—but since it’s not exactly next door (factor in a solid day of flying each way from L.A.), you’ll want to make the most of your first visit. Here are seven things you absolutely must do.

1. Cape Town, Bottom to Top

The city is South Africa’s shining star for travelers, and no wonder: its mountain-backdropped seaside setting is picture-perfect, its weather gorgeous virtually year-round and its people warm, culturally diverse and beautiful. It’s also home to fantastic beaches, a throbbing gay scene, unique neighborhoods like the colorful Bo-Kaap and some of the world’s best restaurants and cafés. What’s more, intimate contact with whales, penguins and great white sharks is always within easy reach. For a special treat, check out stunning views of the city from on high with a

cable car ride to the top of iconic Table Mountain, or you can hike up Lion’s Head at sunrise or Signal Hill at sunset.

2. Track the Big Five

A proper South African holiday should factor in at least three days for safari, where you’ll have the chance to spot some of the world’s most exciting animals living (and, yes, sometimes eating each other) in their natural habitats. The ultimate checklist is the so-called Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard), and while nothing’s ever certain on safari, you’ll have a good shot at seeing them all at properties like Jaci’s Tree Lodge in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, or at the gloriously renovated Singita Ebony Lodge on the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

3. Take Advantage of the Exchange Rate

While high-end properties like Singita would’ve been out of reach for most Americans a few years ago, the current exceptional exchange rate (about 15 South African rand to 1 U.S. dollar) means you can treat yourself to some of South Africa’s—and, indeed, the world’s—most incredible and JUNE 8, 2016

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Clockwise, from top left: Maboneng, Johannesburg; elephants at Madikwe Game Reserve; Singita Ebony Lodge

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exclusive accommodations. Cape Town’s phenomenal Ellerman House offers impeccable service, rooms to die for with unmatched ocean views and an extraordinary South African art collection. The Delaire Graff Estate in the wine country’s Stellenbosch, meanwhile, is a heavenly oasis of total indulgence, with huge rooms (each with marble bath and your own private heated plunge pool) and a phenomenal spa. Fine dining is also far easier on the wallet than it would be at home, like at Johannesburg’s fabulous Winehouse restaurant—gay-owned and completely inspired by a French painting of Amy Winehouse. On the more traditional side, high tea at Cape Town’s “Nellie,” aka the Belmond Mount Nelson, is a refined but relaxed classic.

4. Learn a Thing or Two at Local Museums

South Africa’s history is quite complex, often disturbing and everevolving, but a few key museums will go a long way in helping you better understand how the country got where it is today. Cape Town’s District Six Museum chronicles the forced removal of an entire non-white downtown neighborhood in the 1970s, while Johannesburg’s excellent Apartheid Museum uses a variety of media to go into deep detail about how Apartheid started, thrived, caused tremendous suffering, nearly tore the country apart and finally ended in 1994. The struggle for gay and lesbian rights in South Africa is neatly incorporated into the mix, and through mid-June, the museum is even hosting a special exhibition about LGBT people and their relationships to their faiths.

5. Soak Up Wine Country

South Africa’s wines command more and more global attention, and the dazzling wine country starts just about half an hour east of Cape Town at the gorgeous Stellenbosch, also the nation’s second oldest town. Another half-hour east puts

you in the ultra-charming Franschhoek, first settled by French Huguenots in the late 17th century. Catch the town’s ‘hop on, hop off’ Wine Tram and visit up to eight fantastic local wine estates, and your transfer to and from Cape Town can even be booked as part of the same package.

See and be seen by this famed Miami pool, where you’ll find cabanas equipped with WiFi, flat-screens, mini-fridges, butlers and personal safes. But we say go ahead and splurge on the super-luxe island cabana, located in the very center of the Round Pool. fontainebleau.com

6. Enjoy Joburg

Cape Towners may try to convince you that Johannesburg, the country’s largest city, is too dirty and dangerous to be worth your time. Don’t believe them. Joburg may indeed have some very unsafe sections, but the city’s also tangibly alive with creativity and excitement, and is so large and sprawling (not unlike L.A. in that way) that you need never come near its no-go areas. Firsttimers to Joburg are often struck by how green the city is, and many formerly sketchy neighborhoods, like Newtown at the city center, are rapidly transforming into hotspots. Downtown’s Braamfontein section is the site of The Orbit, the city’s most popular jazz club, as well as Saturday’s wildly popular Neighbourgoods Market. On Sunday, the place to be is the Arts on Main warehouse complex in Maboneng, where you’ll find a wonderfully diverse mix of the city’s most beautiful, arty and hip hanging out.

7. Honor an African Legend

No man is as important to South Africa’s history as its first president, Nelson Mandela, who died in 2013 and whose memory is still very fresh in the hearts and minds of today’s South Africans— not unlike how it must’ve been for just-post-Washington early Americans. Scores of sites throughout the country pay homage to Mandela, none more important than Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town. Former fellow prisoners lead moving tours of the building where Mandela was held captive in a tiny cell for 18 of his 27 years in state captivity.

MORE PLEASURE IN PROVINCETOWN

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR a little extra R&R during your annual pilgrimage to Provincetown (and if you’ve never been to this popular LGBT summer spot on the Cape Cod coast, it’s high time you packed your bags), schedule an appointment for head-to-toe pampering courtesy of Shui Spa—now offering a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Kiehl’s—at Crowne Point Historic Inn & Spa (crownepointe.com). Premium skin care-integrated therapies include signature facials, like the Kiehl’s Customized Gentlemen’s Facial—a hot-towel treatment combining deep cleansing, exfoliation, a mask and serum to address your skin’s specific needs (a must after prolonged sun and sea exposure!)—plus body wraps, manis, pedis, massages and more. Complimentary use of the spa’s mineral soaking tub, steamroom and saunas is included with all Kiehl’s sessions—perks your body will be begging for come morning. —M.R.

ALILA UBUD BALI

The pool itself is a rectangular infinity that sits above Indonesia’s Ayung River Valley, but what’s most stunning is the feeling that the water seems to fall off into the jungle that surrounds it. The property is a tranquil, secluded hillside retreat that sits high above the canopy, full of contemporary design and traditional Balinese architecture. alilahotels.com/ubud

FOUR SEASONS SHANGHAI

Some consider it to be the world’s sexiest pool, partly because you’re able to book exclusive access for you and your partner, which comes with staff members discreetly available to top-off your champs or play your favorite soundtrack. Forty-one floors off the ground, it’s surrounded by the city’s futuristic skyscrapers. fourseasons.com/shanghai

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Say buon giorno to the brandnew Mandarin Oriental Milan, the latest property in the luxe hotel line’s roster. Its “Style My Suite” package treats guests to a pair of sunglasses designed exclusively for guests, a bottle of champagne and a couple’s massage treatment. mandarin oriental.com/milan One of Oahu’s most gorgeous properties, The Royal Hawaiian, is among the first to offer a Honeymoon Registry program for couples looking to head to Hawaii after their ceremony. And those looking to get married on-site can choose from six signature experiences. royal-hawaiian.com

Take a Bow

Charleston is home to The Spectator, a property that evokes the genteel Old South, but mixed with a luxurious trip back to the 1920s. Every guest gets a personal butler, high-end amenities and one of the city’s best speakeasy bars—Prohibition-reminiscent The Bar—at their fingertips. thespectatorhotel.com —S.H.

This summer’s hot new trend is renting someone else’s boat, which means ‘get your towel ready, because it’s about to go down’ By Mikey Rox

he above lyric is how comedy trio Lonely Island (of Saturday Night Live Digital Shorts fame) hyped up its inaugural excursion on a motherf@$*in’ boat, and you’ll likely experience the same enthusiasm when you set sail on your own self-captained vessel, which is totally a thing now thanks to the increasingly popular GetMyBoat and Bountbound—Airbnb-style, peer-to-peer (or is that pier-to-pier?) rental services specializing in all types of floating crafts. For its part, GetMyBoat, which launched in 2013, offers 57,000 options—from singleperson paddleboards to mega-yachts, suited to your capacity requirements (and budget, of course)—in 154 countries. Boatbound, which dropped anchor at about the same time as its competitor, boasts 12,000-plus listings, ranging from a six-person Bayliner to a 37-foot French cruiser, according to GeekWire. In Southern California particularly, variety on both platforms runs the gamut, including small fishing and sailboats, given the propensity for warm weather and favorable boating conditions. While daytrips are typical among renters, weeklong charters and cruises are not uncommon, says GetMyBoat CIO Bryan Petro. “These trips, depending on the type of boat you charter, can range from $50 per day to a few thousand,” he says. “As for weeklong rentals, we have 28,000 options all over the world that come with a captain, crew and provisioning, and can accommodate two to 10 people and range from $5,000 to $8,000 per week. When you split that with your crew, 44

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it’s really affordable.” “Affordable” is relative, for sure, but if you’re able to swing the fee between your (hopefully affluent) homies, you’ll be in swank company: Recently, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chartered the Ghost 1 Power Mega Yacht, featuring four luxurious staterooms, upper and lower saloons and a dining room with retractable roof, during an Australian holiday. The cost? Pocket change for Brangelina at around $9,000 per day. Other star-studded ships for rent on GetMyBoat include Johnny Depp’s Rum Diary schooner, the 108-foot Sunseeker from Casino Royale, the classic yacht featured in Tommy Hilfiger commercials and, yes, the pimped-out 122-foot OceanFast Super Yacht on which Andy Samberg and his waterlogged cohorts sipped Santana champ in their “flippie-floppies,” which is available for rent at $1,750 an hour or $14,000 per day. Unsure if you’re eligible to helm a vessel from these services? GetMyBoat has you covered there, too. It provides resources on boating guidelines for every state, including California’s Boater Safety Education Program, regulations, laws and information from the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways. Insurance— because without it, you might as well go down with the ship in the event of an accident—is available for purchase. To browse craft selections for your next adventure on the open ocean (or just an afternoon of putzing around Marina Del Rey), visit GetMyBoat.com and Boatbound.co.

BOYS, BOYS, BOYS NY BOYLESQUE FESTIVAL

June 10-11 Daniel Nardicio’s fifth annual event is a weekendofmorethan 30 performers from around the country. Friday’s “Teaser Party” is hosted by The World Famous *BOB*; Saturday is “The Main Event,” with performances b y T i g g e r, M r. Gorgeous and more. boylesquefestival.com

THIS IS BURLEXE

June 30 This unique burlesque and cabaret experience in London features stand-up, song, performance and some bare flesh. It’s a mélange of two acclaimed shows, Burlexe and Boylexe, that have run in Soho for the past five years, and it takes place at hideaway speakeasy Cecil’s. burlexe.com

MAGIC MIKE LIVE

March 2017 Set to make its debut at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel, the films will break free from the big screen (and those tear-away pants) and hit the stage. There’s not much yet confirmed, but go online and fill out a survey about your sexual tastes now. magicmikelive lasvegas.com —S.H.

JUNE 8, 2016

He broke the rules and changed the art world. Iconic images of celebrity friends, elegant floral still lifes, and graphic depictions of New York’s S&M subculture come together to celebrate Mapplethorpe’s enduring and provocative legacy.

ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE

the perfect medium

March 15–July 31, 2016 at the Getty

Support for Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Medium and its international tour has been provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art. The Getty Museum’s presentation is sponsored by Sotheby’s.

Thomas, 1987, Robert Mapplethorpe. Gelatin silver print, 48.8 x 48.8 cm. Jointly acquired by the J. Paul Getty Trust and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, with funds provided by the J. Paul Getty Trust and the David Geffen Foundation. © Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

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events

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■ Through June 12 LA BOHÈME Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

LA Opera’s mainstage season of masterpieces closes with this production of a timeless classic, reveling in the cinematic romance of Paris. laopera.org ■ Thu. | May 26 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY Grammy Museum

This traveling photo exhibit, featuring more than 40 iconic images of the rocker, was curated by the Grammy Museum at L.A. LIVE and defines his career in a new light. Through June 19. grammymuseum.org ■ Fri. | May 27 FROZEN: LIVE AT THE HYPERION Disney California Adventure

This new musical based on the popular animated film brings back Anna and Elsa with the excitement of live theater, elaborate costumes and sets and special effects. disneyland.com

■ Fri. | May 27 ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS El Capitan Theatre

Catch the film in Dolby Vision 3D and Dolby Atmos, and before the movie, immerse yourself in the mesmerizing world of Underland in an all-new light and projection show. Through June 12. elcapitantickets.com

■ Sat. | May 28 RUSTY PIPES Precinct

DJ Mateo Segade will spin 80s tracks all night at this irreverent party featuring righteous dancers, totally awesome imagery and a bevy of sleazy dancers. precinctdtla.com ■ Fri. | May 27 BILLIE HOLIDAY: FRONT AND CENTER Fremont Center Theatre

■ Sat. | May 28 DRAGULA L.A. Faultline

Writer/performer Sybil Harris brings vocalist’s story to life in this new show, in which Harris portrays multiple characters and sings songs comprising Holiday’s greatest hits. Through June 19. fremontcentretheatre.com

Get ready to rumble as the Boulet Brothers are bringing live drag queen mud wrestling shows to this month’s Dragula. Bring your fiercest 1980s wrestler drag trash look and walk the mudway! faultlinebar.com

We Are One

With 'Into the Streets,' One City One Pride expands to 40 days of fabulous arts and culture events By Patrick Rosenquist

est Hollywood’s One City One Pride is expanding this year. Instead of taking up the month of June, the festivities started on May 22, Harvey Milk’s birthday. This year’s theme is “Into the Streets“—taken from the historic rallying cry for increased visibility for queer people. With nearly 90 events in 40 days, the long-running arts and culture festival offers opportunities to learn about the history of drag, catch some unique theater experiences, as well as explore the many groups that comprise SoCal’s LGBT community. Here are our nine of our favorite upcoming events, with the full slate appearing at FrontiersMedia.com.

1. Working OUT An 89-year-old woman tells the story of accidentally coming out in a TV interview about Stonewall. An actor recounts being assaulted, but fears reporting the crime will end his career. A collection of stories and songs, Working OUT—loosely inspired by the 1970 musical Working—features LGBT seniors recounting their struggle to gain equality in a different age. June 4 & 5, Renberg Theatre, 6 p.m. 2. Vox Femina Rocks! Founded in 1997, Vox Femina is Los Angeles’ premier all-woman chorus. This year, the group is putting on a free concert filled with pop and rock hits, focusing on the works of gay icons like David Bowie, Lady Gaga and the Indigo Girls. June 5, Congregation Kol Ami, 3 p.m.

3. What Did Mapplethorpe Teach Us? Join Getty curator Paul Martineau, photographer Catherine Opie, LACMA curator Britt Salvesen and Yale art historian Jonathan Weinberg as they discuss the legacy and influence of late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. June 8, West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 7:30 p.m. 4. Got Framed This interactive large-scale installation debuted at Burning Man in 2015, and now it’s heading to Los Angeles for Pride. What is it, exactly? It’s a massive picture frame—and you’re invited to become its next subject. Pose with friends, by yourself or just admire the city for exactly what it is—a living work of art. June 11 & 12 at L.A. Pride 5. Trans Pride This year’s Trans Pride celebration kicks off with a screening of the upcoming documentary Free CeCe, followed by a conversation with the movie’s subject, activist CeCe McDonald. The art exhibit We Can Be Heroes opens to the public later that evening and runs through July 23. June 17 & 18, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 7 p.m. 6. Celebrating All Life and Creation Pow Wow Red Circle Project of APLA celebrates Native American heritage with a day-long exploration of Native foods, arts, music and history. Red JUNE 8, 2016

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■ Sun. | May 29 EAGLE SCOUT Eagle L.A.

■ Wed. | June 1 A SKATE NIGHT FOR PRINCE Moonlight Rollerway

For the fourth year in a row, the boys behind popular East Side party Cub Scout celebrate Memorial Day with a Sunday night of music (NYC’s Michael Magnan provides the soundtrack), drag (courtesy of Ambrosia Salad and Lady Bear) and cheap booze ($2 draft beer). eaglela.com

Lace up those wheels and get out on the wooden floor for four hours (8 p.m. midnight) of a skate tribute to The Purple One. The $15 admission includes skates. moonlightrollerway.com ■ Wed. | June 1 L.A. FILM FESTIVAL Local cinemas

■ Wed. | June 1 SALLY KELLERMAN Catalina Jazz Club

This year’s festival opens with East L.A.-set Lowriders at the ArcLight Cinerama Dome and closes with Desierto, starring Gael García Bernal and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. In between are many more surefire hits, like the world premiere of The Conjuring 2. Through June 9. filmindependent.org

“Hot Lips” Houlihan of M*A*S*H brings her show A Little Jazz, A Little Blues, a Little Rock and Roll, to the Hollywood stage as a celebration of her 40-year cabaret career. catalinajazzclub.com

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A portion of Austin Young’s Portrait of Anyone Who Shows Up In Drag, Los Angeles Edition, 2016

Circle will also be providing free HIV testing and resources. June 18, Plummer Park, 10 a.m.

of her classic text Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within with the West Hollywood City Poet Steven Reigns. Mixing meditation, discipline and writing exercises, Goldberg and Reigns evaluate how this widely read writing guide has changed with the years. June 30, West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 7 p.m.

7. A Brief History of Drag Drawing upon the ONE Archives and the work of photographer Austin Young, A Brief History of Drag explores the importance of drag queens in Los Angeles’ LGBT community, with ONE CITY a special focus on the organizONE PRIDE 2016 West Hollywood ing efforts of participants in the Through June 30 early days of the gay liberation weho.org movement. Through June 27, West Hollywood Library 8. Natalie Goldberg in Conversation with Steven Reigns Legendary writer and lecturer Natalie Goldberg discusses the 30th anniversary

9. ON E Archives: Cock, Paper, Scissors Featuring collages from 15 LGBT artists recycling print and media works, Cock, Paper, Scissors focuses on the history of the gay movement, from Stonewall to the present day. Artists include Marlene McCarty, Glenn Ligon and a site-specific installation by Mary Beth Edelson. Through July 10, Long Hall, Plummer Park, 1-5 p.m.

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TOUCH THURSDAYS | THE ABBEY Photos by Rolling-Blackouts

■ Thu. | June 2 THE MADWOMAN IN THE VOLVO Pasadena Playhouse

■ Fri. | June 3 DANCE DOWNTOWN: BOLLYWOOD Music Center Plaza

This memoir-based, threecharacter stage adaptation by Sandra Tsing Loh is a bumper-car ride through mid-life madness, all sparked by an unlikely trip to Burning Man. Through June 26. pasadenaplayhouse.org

Back for the 12th year, Dance DTLA brings evenings of dance under the stars to the Music Center Plaza and Grand Park on most Friday nights this summer. Learn new moves in a judgmentfree zone with a different dance genre for each event. musiccenter.org

■ Thu. | June 2 TOUCH THURSDAYS The Abbey

As the gay weekend starts Thursday, Frontiers presents a night of dancing, drinking and rabble-rousing before it gets fully underway. Join us as we people-watch some of the city’s sexiest men and women ... and maybe ogle a go-go dancer or two. abbeyfoodandbar.com

■ Thu. | June 2 THE HISTORY OF GAY PRIDE IN SILVER LAKE Silver Lake Library

The Silver Lake History Collective presents an interview with longtime local activist Walt Senterfitt about the history of gay Pride in the neighborhood, followed by a Q&A session. ■ Fri. | June 3 AN EVENING AMONG THE ROSES The Huntington Library

Her latest album, Come Back to Me Love, marked a return to big band classics from her mid-’60s beginnings and her hometown of Detroit, and now she hits the stage for two nights. Through June 4. catalinajazz club.com ■ Sat. | June 4 FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS The Autry / La Jolla Playhouse

America’s leading Native American theater company presents its 18th annual festival with staged readings of new and in-progress plays followed by audience talkbacks. Through June 5. theautry.org ■ Sat. | June 4 CINEMA PARADISO The Beachwood Cafe

The café’s summer series “Dinner, Drinks and a Movie” presents the 1988 classic right under the Hollywood sign at 7 p.m. The movie is free and the full dinner menu is available. beachwoodcafe.com

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It’s the third annual elegant celebration of the city’s LGBT community, taking place in the library’s unparalleled rose garden to kick off Pride Month. huntington.ticketleap.com

■ Fri. | June 3 FREDA PAYNE Catalina Jazz Club

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BEARS IN SPACE | AKBAR Photos by Rolling-Blackouts

DRINKS UP, ASS OUT Mr. Black L.A.—a party that ruled Hollywood’s gay nightlife landscape— is set to return for L.A. Pride weekend The ass-less cocktail waiter is always a staple,” Luke Nero says about Mr. Black L.A., a party that is primed to make its return to the SoCal social calendar on Friday, June 10, just in time for L.A. Pride. It’s a party that began in Manhattan a decade ago and was brought to the West Coast by Nero, where it enjoyed years of Tuesday night revelry before he and his nightlife-partner-in-crime, Andrés Rigal, decided to move on to other ventures. “It was an invigorated Hollywood gay glam party where everything sparkled. Very ‘not West Hollywood’ at the time, and Bardot—the venue—was brand-new,” Nero recalls of the party’s glory days. “Mr. Black made it OK to bring out the furs and tuxedos on a Tuesday night with the simple excuse of ‘just because.’” So what made this year’s L.A. Pride the perfect time to reinvigorate the popular event? The guys feel enough time has passed, and partiers are ready for a bit more bowties in their lives. “The party holds a special place in many people’s consciousness. It was a place MR. BLACK L.A. where people could absolutely express Union themselves and sip champagne at the June 10 same time,” says Nero. “Mr Black was tinyurl.com/gs2kgop an intense brand to produce, and I was tired, to be honest. But it had been asleep for long enough, and I was at a point where I could be excited again.” One noticable difference between the party’s previous years and its upcoming reincarnation is a move from Tuesday night to Friday. “My only condition on bringing it back was that it be held on a weekend,” says Nero. “There were so many people who would complain that they’d just get too fucked up to do Tuesday night every week. But a Friday or Saturday was a different story.” Other than calling out nightlife-lovers on a more convenient night, Mr. Black L.A. is also moving to a new venue—Union, the space formerly known as Jewel’s Catch One, the country’s first gay black disco. It’s an expansive space with multiple rooms, and Nero and Rigal plan to fill it to the brim. In the main room, local gay nightlife staple DJ Josh Peace will weave a dance floor tale of pop-inspired tracks, while in a separate room, DJs Victor Rodriguez and Chris Bowen—themselves of Cub Scout and Bears in Space—will treat partiers to disco and house beats. The guys are most excited, though, about the evening’s special guest performer. Mr. Black L.A.’s return will mark Erika Jayne’s very first local gig since joining the cast of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. (With even more DJs and performers are yet to be announced.) There are no set plans as of yet to bring back Mr. Black L.A. on a regular weekly or monthly schedule, though the idea isn’t out of the question. Still, that means you’d best don your furs and tux and join in the fun while it lasts. —Stephan Horbelt 52 FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

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SUMMERTRAMP | SAGUARO PALM SPRINGS Photos by Rony's Photobooth

■ Sat. | June 4 ART OUT! West Hollywood Park

■ Sat. | June 11 SPLAASH Andaz Hotel West Hollywood

Apt 3F takes over the park for an afternoon arts lab. You’ll discover new musicians, listen to poetry readings, stop at arts & crafts stations and witness a variety of performances, all celebrating the power of public art. Starts at 1 p.m. apt3f.org

One of the city’s biggest pool parties takes place during Pride weekend, walking distance to the festival and bars of WeHo, all day until sundown. Enjoy the flow of cocktails, DJ sets and private cabanas. tomwhitmanpresents.com

■ Fri. | June 10 QUEER ROCK EXPLOSION Viper Room

DJs Corey Craig and Glovibes will be providing sweet sounds from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at this party that will take over the restaurant’s bar patio in addition to the Skybar Pool. tinyurl.com/ z8wmemf ■ Sat. | June 11 BONKERZ! Precinct

For Pride weekend, this “big dumb gay party” is bringing none other than drag terrorist Christeene to L.A., along with live performances by Sissy Spastik and Disasterina. precinctdtla.com 54

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It’s the U.S. premiere of Hito Steyerl’s landmark video installation, in which he looks at the unprecedented global flow of data and the prevalence of surveillance. moca.org ■ Sun. | June 12 SUNSET TEA 1 OAK

This L.A. Pride closing party will feature Dan Slater (Sydney) and Dawna Montell (L.A.) on the turntables. Celebrate another year of a Pride survived! The first 100 tickets are only $29 at pridesunday.com. ■ Sun. | June 12 EAST SIDE PRIDE Akbar

West Hollywood isn’t your thing? Celebrate Pride on the East Side with a full day of one-hour DJ sets by local talents, and—best of all—$1 beer all day long! The fun begins at 4 p.m. akbarsilverlake.com

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■ Sat. | June 11 SUBMERGE Mondrian Hotel

■ Through Sept. 12 FACTORY OF THE SUN MOCA

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Coinciding with L.A. Pride, this two-evening event is curated by Chris Freeman of Pansy Division to feature queer rock acts like Black Sabbitch, GAYC/DC and Psychic Friend (featuring Will Schwartz of Imperial Teen). Through June 11. viperroom.com

JUNE 8, 2016

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A Pop Prince All Grown Up

LEAVING THE LYCRA BEHIND

ALL YOUR FAVORITE Power Rangers are back! There’s the red one! And oh, look! It’s the pink one! And the black one (so mysterious). Wait, they look a little ... different. It’s been a while since we’ve seen these colorful crimefighters, and everyone in Hollywood uses botox and fillers, but these teens have a decidedly alien feel to them, don’t they? And where did the spandex go? It’s just not gonna be the same without those skin-tight bodysuits. Get a much closer look at the Power Rangers (apparently they’re no longer “mighty“ or “morphin“) on March 24, 2017, when Elizabeth Banks (who clearly can’t turn down a paycheck) joins them as arch-nemesis Rita Repulsa for the reboot, imaginatively titled Power Rangers. Best enjoyed with some chocolate milk and Goldfish crackers. —Dominik Rothbard

On the cusp of his new album, Nick Jonas opens up about finding his sonic groove—and those pesky ‘gay baiting’ accusations By Stephan Horbelt “I ’M KIND OF AN OLD MAN AT HEART,” Nick Jonas says through the phone. “Between golf and cigars and other things that interest me, I’m a little bit of an old man.” It’s a shocking revelation coming from this 23-year-old, who happens to be one of the biggest—and, sure, also one of the sexiest—male pop stars currently making rounds on the radio circuit. In fact, his upcoming release—Last Year Was Complicated, available June 10—is sure to further cement his cred as a shiny young star of the pop world. But to his credit, he is a man—no longer a teen pop creation— and as I would come to find out, he’s also a mature artist who thinks seriously about his craft, his business relationships and his fans. Jonas has officially achieved solo star status. His 2014 record, Nick Jonas, offered up the hit single “Jealous” and got to number 6 on the Billboard 200. After years spent as one-third of the hokey pop-rock trio the Jonas Brothers, you’d think there would be a feeling of “OK, I’ve finally made it.” Isn’t this what was supposed to happen all along? “There’s always that thing in me that feels like I have a point to prove and hurdles to overcome,” he says. “But I feel like my focus initially was just to try and make the JUNE 8, 2016

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Track Record:

Garbage

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here was a lot of trash in the '90s, but there was only one Garbage. A brain-trust of producer/drummer Butch Vig, bassist Duke Erikson, guitarist Steve Marker and frontwoman Shirley Manson, the band married the spirit of grunge to the brevity of pop with a dash of electronic insouciance and have been doing so for over 20 years now. Over the course of five albums—with a sixth, Strange Little Birds, to be released June 10 in advance of a worldwide tour—they’ve provoked, entertained and challenged alt-leaning free-spirits and no doubt influenced new generations of strong-willed women ready to take up—and take on—their warrior queen, the incendiary Ms. Manson. In preparation for the band’s latest musical outing, here’s a look at the 10 best tracks by Garbage. —Dan Loughry

10. “Blood for Poppies”

(From Not Your Kind of People)

It’s rock. It’s reggae. It’s pop. On this 2012 track, the band moved beyond genre in a dense tapestry of rhythmic mastery.

9. “Parade”

(From Beautiful Garbage)

Manson’s been outspoken against the pop (and hence mainstream) hegemony; nowhere more so than on this skittish complaint about the music factory that pumps out faceless wannabes.

8. “Why Do You Love Me?” (From Bleed Like Me)

This slab of alt-pop is the perfect riposte to an unfaithful lout. It’s obvious why the offscreen object is in love with Manson—who isn’t?—but he can’t control his urges. Neither can Marker’s staccato guitar riffs.

7. “Temptation Waits” (From Version 2.0)

This is Manson’s siren’s call—a woman of a thousand faces waiting to lure you to your ultimate pleasure and inevitable doom. Resistance is futile.

6. “Queer” (From Garbage)

Not as in gay, but as in odd, though in a musical landscape less crowded with open performers, the title alone—and Manson’s biting delivery—turned this into an anthem for underground LGBTQ music lovers.

5. “I Hate Love”

(From Not Your Kind of People)

EDM for post-punks, with one of the prettiest vocals in the Manson canon against agitated rhythms and swirling keyboards.

4. “#1 Crush”

(From the Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack)

Goth love forever! And also perhaps the best thing about Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 adaption of The

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Bard, if you ask us.

3. “Only Happy When It Rains” (From Garbage)

Contradiction in glorious action, this single is a master class in how to set dark lyrics against sunny melodies and not look like a twat.

2. “Empty”

(From Strange Little Birds)

The first single from their forthcoming album bodes well for Garbage. Manson’s vocals are front and center—little production or echo—because with an instrument like that, who needs bells and whistles when you’ve got a megaphone at your disposal?

1. “Stupid Girl” (From Garbage)

Twenty-one years old and this track’s no oldie. It’s timeless. Bad boyfriends, the lure of love, sex, the desire for the next thing: it’s a recipe for disaster, and also pop nirvana.

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ENDGAME: CRAIG SCHWARTZ; WANDA SYKES: ROGER ERICKSON

best music possible. I’m glad things progressed the way they did.” And in case you’re wondering, that sense of humility is evidenced in everything he says. Jonas has officially found his sonic groove with Complicated—12 new tracks mostly comprised of R&Btinged, danceable grooves. He’s already released videos for “Close” (featuring fellow pop upstart Tove Lo) and “Chainsaw,” a track inspired by his split with longterm girlfriend and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo. Comparing the new album to his last, Jonas says, “The focus for me was really on working with a similar handful of producers so that I could accomplish a similar sound and just sort of let it progress in an authentic way. And I made the focus more on the writing and what I was saying and making sure that each statement was coming from a really honest place.” Speaking of honesty, Jonas has to admit that it’s hard choosing between the many mediums at which he’s exceled. He’s done just about everything—television (Scream Queens and Kingdom, on which he plays gay characters Boone and Nate, respectively), Broadway (How to Succeed at Business Without Really Trying, which ran 2011-2012) and film (the upcoming Goat alongside James Franco). “I think it’s hard to really choose between one or the other,” he says. “I’m really thankful that I don’t have to, and I’m hopeful that I can continue to find great projects to get lost in and work my ass off in.” Yet another of Nick Jonas’ strengths is the fact that he knows where his bread is buttered. I’m referring to his gay fans, of which there are many. (The abs-bearing, underwear-clad photo shoots don’t hurt, that’s for sure.) But in the past he has faced accusations of “gay baiting,” and while he doesn’t let the indictments get him down, they surely haven’t gone unnoticed. “Anytime you do something that is ‘a stand’ on some level, whether it’s something like the cancelation of my North Carolina shows or even just being a comfortable, confident male—a heterosexual male pop star—I think there’s not necessarily a history of people being as open about some of these things as I’ve been,” Jonas says. “For me it’s all about just being as confident and as comfortable as I can be in my own skin, to know that negativity on some level is going to try to find its way in, and people are going to do their best to find a way to make it about something else. My love for my fans—gay, straight, whatever—it’s all the same. I’m aware of my intentions, and that they were pure. Hopefully the community that has been so embracing of me will understand that as well. I think they have.” As our interview comes to a close, conversation veers once more toward “old man”-type things, namely settling down, having kids and all the trappings that come with those big life choices. “My brother [Kevin] and his wife just announced they’re pregnant again, so I’m an uncle for the second time, which is great,” he says. And as for himself, “A partner some day would be great, and then if kids are in my future, that would be amazing.” But I’m dying to know: as a former child star himself, how would he handle a son or daughter who wanted to take on the music biz? “I think I would tell them to tread carefully and to make sure they were doing it for all the right reasons,” he says. “I never really wanted to be famous. I just wanted to be able to make music and create. So I would make sure they’re in that same boat.”

(Isaac Ha The show and funn we still ca Chef and son

LGBT FILM FESTIVAL JULY 7-17, 2016

ESTEROS TUES | JULY 12 | 7:00PM | DGA 1

MODERN LOVE SAT | JULY 16 | 8:30PM | FORD

LAZY EYE SAT | JULY 16 | 1:30PM | DGA 1

SKIN SUN | JULY 10 | 4:00PM | DGA 1

For tickets and more information, visit outfest.org PRESENTED BY

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JUNE 8, 2016

The Q&A: Fitz and the Tantrums

BACK FROM THE DEAD

Before the band’s new self-titled album drops June 10, Fitz talks the state of the music industry and life as a new dad

With last month’s revival of GoT’s Jon Snow, here are more TV characters we’d like to see resurrected

WILL GARDNER

(Josh Charles, The Good Wife) After being shot in the courtroom, so many revelations came to light about the relationship he and Alicia could’ve had, carrying over to the series finale, where he was temporarily resurrected in Alicia’s mind.

Who Is the X-Men’s New Big Bad? Well, maybe ‘new‘ isn't the best way to describe Apocalypse, an ancient mutant and one of the superhero team‘s oldest nemeses

N ALVIN BILETNIKOFF (Kevin Pollack, Mom) It’s never been a sitcom to shy away from the dramatic, and when they killed Alvin (Bonnie’s exhusband, Christy’s dad) just as he and Bonnie were reuniting, it was heartbreaking.

ot only is Apocalypse the title character in the new X-Men movie, he’s also one of the biggest bads the series has to offer. (He may also be the first character Oscar Isaac has played that you won’t want to bone.) Befitting the ’80s aesthetic of the film, Apocalypse himself arrived in the comics in 1986. He’s immortal. He once ruled ancient Egypt. He’s the first mutant ever. (According to Marvel, his real name, En Sabah Nur, means “the first one,” though there’s some debate about that.) And while the comics version sports gray skin with sapphire lips, the Bryan Singer-sanctioned version of ol’ Pocky is all blue—yes, like Mystique, but also like Smurfette. If you’ve glimpsed Isaac’s Apocalypse and thought of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Batman & Robin, you’re not alone. Isaac himself appreciates the challenge of bringing this techno-glam blue raspberry to life on-screen. “I would do some acting and then go to my tent and try to breathe and not freak out that sweat was pouring into my ears and I couldn’t touch them,” he recalled to Rolling Stone. “But the challenge of basically doing kabuki theater in a film was crazy.” The same article notes that Singer regulated Isaac’s performance by asking him for “quarter-Skeletor,” “half-Skeletor” and “full Skeletor.” OK, maybe some viewers will want to bone Oscar Isaac-as-Apocalypse. We’re cautiously excited about becoming Blue Man groupies ourselves, though we’re actually holding out for the far gayer-sounding Mister Sinister and his Nasty Boys. Mr. Singer, can you make it happen? —Drew Mackie

Q: Normally bands make their first album selftitled, but this is your third. Why is that? A: Moving onto this new record, we wanted to continue the mantra of always trying to be in a state of evolution. This record, it was sort of like we could go even further with that approach to making music. This is really the album where we’re planting our stake in the ground, saying, ‘we’re here.’ Q: If you could release records in any era, when would that be? A: I’m gonna say now. There’s a doubleedged sword to the technology. People say nobody’s buying, nobody’s listening, nobody’s making money anymore, but it’s not completely true. Also, we have the internet, which lets you have this connection to the whole entire world instantaneously. It’s a pretty incredible time to be making music. Q: What’s your biggest touring nightmare? A: We went to Europe last year to do 14 shows in 14 days,

and on day one I got deathly ill. I spent the entire time sick as a dog, traveling through Europe, having to perform every night, and then just laying in my bunk on the bus. It was maybe the worst tour of my entire life. Q: What are you listening to right now, old and/or new? A: I really dig the new Alicia Keys song. I’m a huge lover of pop music. I love the entire 21 Pilots record. That’s pretty amazing. Q: Anything else you want to tell us about the album? A: I think for me, this album is the most emotional we’ve ever made. When you’re constantly touring, it’s a very weird state of mind. There’s nothing permanent in your life. In working with outside writers, they’d say, “Well, where are you? You’ve had all these life changes and success with the band. You got married, you have a child now. What is the story of what you’re experiencing right now?“ It was really great, because it let me sort of connect. —D.R.

FOUR VIDEO GAMES WE’RE DYING TO SEE TURNED INTO LIVE-ACTION FLICKS

CHEF

(Isaac Hayes, South Park) The show has been sharper and funnier than ever, but we still can’t help but miss Chef and his inappropriate songs. —D.R.

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA

MARIO KART

MEGA MAN

METAL GEAR SOLID

JUNE 8, 2016

SET YOUR

DVR 1. THE CARMICHAEL SHOW

As of writing this, NBC has failed to place The Carmichael Show on next season’s schedule, so this season finale could be your last chance to catch this intelligent, funny and relevant multi-camera sitcom. The episode is ominously titled ”President Trump.” Here’s an idea: let’s cancel Trump and nominate Carmichael for president. (Sunday, May 29, 8 p.m. on NBC)

2. ROOTS

In what will likely be the only time something is simulcast on both Lifetime and the History Channel (along with LMN and A&E), here comes a 2016 ”contemporary retelling” of Alex Haley’s novel as an eighthour miniseries. Levar Burton produces, Forrest Whitaker and Laurence Fishburne star. (Monday, May 30, 9 p.m. on History/ Lifetime/LMN/A&E)

3. AMERICA’S GOT TALENT

NBC has been broadcasting this for 11 seasons, and I couldn’t point out a winner if he took up residency on my couch. We’ve come to the conclusion that no, America doesn’t got talent. (Tuesday, May 31, 8 p.m. on NBC)

4. MAYA & MARTY IN MANHATTAN

Remember two years ago when NBC gave Maya Rudolph her own variety special and it was cheesy and awkward? Somehow it was decided Martin Short was missing. Only now it’s not a special; it’s a series. This live hourlong potential trainwreck will be with us all summer. (Tuesday, May 31, 10 p.m. on NBC)

5. iHEARTRADIO SUMMER POOL PARTY

TELEVISION LONG DIVISION

Isles

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Recycled procedural scripts

Rizzoli

The beating of a dead horse

6. MISS USA

Rizzoli and Isles final season premiere, June 6, 9 p.m. on FOX

For the first time ever, 52 contestants will compete in the 65th annual pageant instead of the normal, boring 51. In addition to all 50 states and D.C. represented, we have the added pleasure of objectifying a contestant sourced via social media. What exciting times we live in. (Sunday, June 5, 8 p.m. on FOX) —D.R.

PHOTO CREDIT TK

What could be better than a summer pool party? One where you don’t have to get off your couch and be shirtless in front of strangers. The CW welcomes special guests Flo Rida, Jason Derulo, Kygo, Tinashe and more, sunscreen not required. (Wednesday, June 1, 8 p.m. on The CW)

splash

bash 2nd annual

Friday and Saturday September 2nd - 3rd

4pm - 6pm

Join us for the Swiss Navy Splash Bash pool party at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel (exclusively for guests only). Mingle with industry talent, celebrities and with porn star Ryan Rose. www.bourbonorleans.com (504) 523-2222 Use Promo Code: SD2016

Photo of Ryan Rose by Falcon Studios | Film Tahoe Snowbound

JUNE 8, 2016

FRONTIERSMEDIA.COM

OUR

HONEYMOON Part 4

madrid loves its bears As the guys’ tour of Europe draws to a close, the Spanish capital’s offerings—its cafés, art and sexy steamrooms—reaffirm their soulmate status By Jeff Leavell

JUNE 8, 2016

or 10 years of my life, I was a heroin addict. Then I got sober. Then I relapsed and almost died from an oxycodone overdose. To say I am a lucky man is no small thing. To say I am a loved man is nothing short of a fucking miracle. I am loved by my husband, Alex. I am loved by our boyfriend, Jon. There have been others who have loved me blindly, without demand. I did nothing to deserve this. I was not always a good man. I was often a very, very bad man. People have hurt because of me. To say there is redemption, to say there is magic, to say that life is beautiful will never convey to you the pure joy I felt sitting on that train from Barcelona to Madrid with my husband on our honeymoon. To say I am lucky will never convey the absolute miracle of my life. We had a two-bedroom apartment right on the Chueca Plaza. Our living room windows opened onto the square, below us cafés and restaurants. We met our host, and he showed us around the apartment. His name was Franco. He was handsome and athletic, black curly hair and dark eyes, with dark scruff covering his face. He came into the apartment carrying a bike, his shorts tight, his T-shirt wet with sweat. He kept calling us “handsome big guys” like, “You handsome big guys will definitely meet lots of men here. Madrid loves its bear men.” He sat on the couch and told us his favorite saunas—”where the big boys go, and the daddies.” He smiled. He had a sexy smile. “I like the big boys and the daddies.” I ended up sucking him and Alex off while they made out. When Franco left, Alex and I decided to go walk around. “I didn’t see that coming,” Alex said as we locked the door behind us. “Please, the minute he walked in he was checking us out. All that big boy shit. His dick was hard the whole time he was showing us around,” I said. “Did you see his hands?” “No,” I laughed. I wasn’t looking at his hands. “They were so skinny and soft. I thought he was sexy, but those hands almost ruined it for me.” Alex took my hand in his as we stepped onto the plaza. “I love watching you be dirty. It’s so hot. When he came in your mouth, I almost couldn’t hold out. Even with his weird little fingers, I was so turned on watching you.” The thing that scared me most when I got sober was that my life would get really small. That it would end. That I would have to give up something—something important to me—even if I couldn’t necessarily

tell you what that was. The truth is, drugs always led me to the same place: alone. They never made the world bigger. I was so consumed with fear when I was high. Life became small. I always liked to think I was an outlaw, living on the edges of society. Heroin made me feel punk rock, like I was living inside a great poem. The world shone bright and beautiful in the beginning, like a dream of love. But that was all it was—just a dream. In the end, I was locked in my apartment watching TV and crying. My family was gone. My friends were gone. I was dying.

adrid was loud and beautiful. It had the chaos of a big city as well as those winding European streets and pedestrian alleys. We wandered the Chueca, stopping in at shops and looking for Englishspeaking bookstores. We ate lunch at an amazing little restaurant right in the plaza, behind the metro entrance. I can’t remember the name of the place, but it was amazing. For 10 euro we had a full three-course lunch. I had the fish soup and Alex had a ham and black bean soup. We each had the steak and rice lunch, followed by rice pudding and flan. We decided to take a nap. Walking back to our apartment, we made eye contact with a tall, beefy kid. (We found out he was 21.) He walked up to us. It took a few minutes to coordinate the language barrier; he spoke minimal English, and we spoke no Spanish. His name was Sebastian, and he had startling green eyes, a big smile and thick, masculine hands. (I checked, not wanting Alex to feel concerned.) He found a way to make it clear that he wanted to go upstairs with us and fuck me with Alex. Alex looked at me. I knew what he wanted to do. I smiled. “Fuck yeah,” I said. I showered and then the three of us sat on the couch where I had earlier sucked off Franco and Alex, and we made out, hands exploring each other. Sebastian was intimate and easy to be with; he moved slowly, touching me, taking his time. He and Alex took turns removing my clothes and laying me out on the bed, tasting me and touching me. The choice to get sober had been simple; no choice at all, really. I had lost everything. I was either going to die or make some radical change. I’m embarrassed to admit that at the time I was reading some Tony Robbins self-help ’you are the power’ book, and in it he said something that hit me like a fist in my face: make one change. That’s all you have to do. Make one change to your life and see how radical that one thing can be. I

the best of madrid CHUECA A square located in central Madrid’s Justicia neighborhood, with a metro station. The neighborhood is lively, young and full of restaurants, cafés and gay bars. MERCADO SAN ANTON This three-story local market and tapas food court is just off Chueca Square. La Cocina de San Anton, located on the top floor, has beautiful rooftop seating and specializes in local Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine with a friendly atmosphere and great service. SAUNA OCTOPUS The Octopus is a small men’s sauna in the heart of the Chueca with a pool, steamroom and sauna. Sexual activity is forbidden in the spa areas but encouraged upstairs in the private rooms. MUSEO NACIONAL CENTRO DE ARTE REINA SOFÍA Spain’s national museum of 20th century art, it houses Picasso’s Guernica and several works by Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí. Well worth the trip, and entrance only costs 6 euros. THE MONUMENT OF THE FALLEN ANGEL Located in Retiro Park, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a monument to Lucifer in the moment of his fall, tragic and beautiful. The park alone is worth the trip.

knew exactly what the change would be: sobriety. I always wondered what would have happened if I’d actually finished that book, but he was right. That one change to my life radically changed every aspect of who I was. The thing I was afraid would happen when I got sober was that I’d be forced into some box, forced into a conventional lifestyle; told to pray to God and to “get my life together,” go to bed at nine and wake up at five, live a normal, healthy, productive life. That’s not what happened. Instead, in many ways, I got the opposite. The more sober I got, the less conventional my life became. I found myself making choices that led me away from what most of the people around me were choosing. The more sober I got, the larger my life became. The larger I became. This is not a pitch for sobriety, by the way. I work in a bar. I like drunk people. But I was a straight-up daily heroin addict. I stole things and hurt people. I committed monstrous acts of brutality in order to live the life I was living. The world is happier with me sober. Being there, in our Chueca apartment with Alex and Sebastian, it occurred to me: this is who I am. I am this man. I am this man who is so in love with my husband, Alex, that I can feel it in my bones. I am this man who is also so in love with our boyfriend Jon. Somewhere along the way, I learned that love was unending. It was expanding. It was something I

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Read “Our Poly Honeymoon, Parts 1-3“ at FrontiersMedia.com

(Opposite page) An aerial view of Madrid’s Gran Via street at sunset; (right) Reina Sofía Museum; (below) Sauna Octopus; the multiple floors of Mercado San Anton

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had an unlimited supply of. I learned that, as corny as I know this sounds, my sexuality was something worth celebrating—not something to be ashamed of or afraid of, but something to be explored, to be experienced; something to be shared. Heroin, the thing I thought made my life huge, gave meaning to me and turned the banal into the poetic—in actuality, it robbed me of the most beautiful parts of who I am, of the endless potentiality that my life has become. I’m a man who has lived two very distinct and different lives. Being there, between Alex and Sebastian, my eyes closed, feeling them inside me, listening to them whisper to each other and kiss each other, I felt the world grow larger than it was before. I felt myself growing larger than I ever thought possible. That night, we ate dinner at Mercado San Anton. This would become our new favorite place in the whole world. The first floor is a local market with fish and meats and vegetables, the second floor a food court with amazing tapas, on top a rooftop restaurant, La Cocina de San Anton. Alex and I chose the food court. We walked around, observing what others did, looking at our choices: traditional tapas, oysters, Greek food, croquettes, even a small hamburger stand. I ate mostly seafood (delicious spreads on slabs of bread) and ham; Alex ate croquettes and Greek, though I suspect this choice was made by aesthetics—the guy at the Greek counter was hot as fuck. For less than 15 euro each, we ate like kings.

he next day, we decided to go see the Monument of the Fallen Angel. The statue is in Retiro Park. Alex and I took a bus from Chueca to the entrance of the park and then walked until we found a group of skateboarders doing tricks in a small square. In the center of the square was the statue of Lucifer. Standing before that statue, it’s hard to describe the beauty and the horror of the Angel—the pure look of terror on his face as he looks to the heavens, serpents wrapping around his feet, gargoyle monsters spurting water into the fountain. I felt a connection to the fear and the loss. What is stunning is that he’s not a figure of evil but of glorious beauty and tragedy. The sky was a cloudy blue; teenage boys absentmindedly did skateboard tricks at the devil’s feet. All around us, people enjoyed picnics and talked, holding hands. Alex and I stood transfixed. We were mesmerized by the beauty and the sadness of the monument. Afterwards we decided to buy espresso and walk to the Reina Sofía Museum to see Picasso’s Guernica and Dalí and Joan Miró. The Reina Sofía is large but manageable. Alex targeted all the things we needed to see. Neither of us want to spend hours lost and wandering. I wanted to stand alone before Guernica and Dalí and Miró, and after that I was done. We took the metro back to Chueca and decided to check out the Octopus Spa, recommended by our host. He told us the best time to go was between 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and it was 4:45. I used to believe in monogamy, and I still think it’s the right choice for many. I just don’t believe in it for me. I used to believe love was something limited; that I would meet my soulmate and that would be it. We would be in love forever, and I would never need or want anyone else again. I would be perfectly happy; content in every way. The only dick I would ever want was his. The only kiss. I would never want to say ’I love you’ or ’I miss you’ to any other man again. I couldn’t conceive of the possibility of loving more than one person. I didn’t understand anything about love. I still believe in soulmates. Alex is my soulmate. There’s a reason he is my husband. But that doesn’t demean or lessen my love for Jon. Or Alex’s love for Jon. But I no longer believe that is the end of love for me. I no longer believe that they are the only men I will ever desire or whisper secrets to. And I don’t want to be the end of love for them. I want them to experience everything. They are both 17 years younger than I am. They have their whole lives to live. Lives I want them to live. The thing about getting sober for me is that it

opened a door, and that door is vast; it is endless and huge. And with each step I take, the world expands, and I expand with it. This is definitely not the path I think everyone needs to take. I don’t think sobriety is the perfect life. I don’t think drugs are bad. Hell, I fucking loved being high. I don’t think poly is the best choice for everyone. I don’t think monogamy is bad. I just think this is the only choice I could have made and remained true to who I was. If I could’ve done it high and drunk, trust me, I’d be high and drunk right now. It just didn’t work out that way for me. Maybe this is what struck me so strongly about the Statue of the Fallen Angel that sits so beautifully in the center of Madrid. He is the path of independence; he is the path of freedom. There’s nothing out here that tells me how to do this thing I am doing with Jon and Alex, or what is right and what is wrong. There is no map. None of us know what we are doing. Sometimes it hurts like hell, sometimes I am jealous and angry, sometimes I want to break the world and demand everyone love me and only me. Other times I want to share it with everyone. All the love and all the sex and all the happiness. What Alex might want or need is not what I might want or need, or what Jon might want or need. We are each these complete universes with our own desires and wants and expectations. It can be scary imagining myself falling in love with someone else. I can’t imagine how that would make Jon and Alex feel. And yet Alex and I have already done this when we fell in love with Jon and survived. We became closer. Loving Jon allowed me to love Alex in new and unexplored ways. I want Alex to fall in love. I want Jon to explore what the world has to offer. I want us all to be allowed to express ourselves in every way possible, even if it scares us, even if we have no idea what might happen. Even if people tell us we have no right to this. Because we do. We have the right to whatever we want. Sometimes it’s just about trust; trusting that if we love each other, we will be OK. The Octopus Spa has a swimming pool and steamrooms and a sauna. Upstairs are private rooms. Fucking is discouraged in the spa areas. Franco was right. It was full of hot men, mostly daddies and muscle bears, and men just out of work and on their way home. Alex and I showered and got into the pool. They had giant shower heads that shot cold water down on you, which Alex found endlessly amusing. Anytime I would pass under one he would make sure cold water rained down on me, and then he would laugh. I tried to point out how infantile and ridiculous this game was, but he didn’t agree. He thought it was hysterical. There was one guy at the Octopus who stood out. JUNE 8, 2016

continued

He was startlingly handsome and reminded me of the statues of Zeus we’d seen at the Louvre. He was tall, in his early 50s, a beautiful beard, curly reddish-brown hair, well-built, large dick and perfect ass. Wherever we went, he always seemed to be close by. At some point he approached us. He spoke very little English. We decided to give up trying to communicate and started making out. The three of us went upstairs. After we all came, we sat in the tiny room and made out. He told us he had to be home soon; his husband was returning from Istanbul. He kept touching us as if he were just as amazed by us as we were by him. Before he left, he took both our hands in his and held them. It was strangely intimate. None of us said anything. He kissed each of us, slowly, holding us there, and then he was gone.

he next day we had a tapas lunch at the Mercado San Anton and made a reservation at the rooftop restaurant, La Cocina de San Antonio. We spent the day just walking. I love Madrid. It’s warm and friendly and full of all the bustling life of any big city. It has all the conveniences of New York or London, but it remains elegant like Paris. We spent hours sitting in cafés drinking espresso and watching as the people paraded by. “I could live here,” I said. “I feel really happy here.” Our waiter brought out a plate of cheeses and hams and olives we hadn’t ordered. When Alex tried to explain to him it wasn’t ours, he just smiled, and then brought out similar plates to the other tables. We’d been gone from L.A. for almost a month. Our lives felt very far away, and yet somehow I felt more like myself than I had in a very long time. I had nothing constraining me, nothing demanding my attention. For much of my life I enjoyed a certain freedom— financial freedom, freedom from worry, an ability to float through life—that I now realize was decadent; a luxury not afforded to most people. I squandered that luxury. I threw it away. I locked myself in rooms and stuck needles into my arms and chased some dream of perfection that didn’t exist. Couldn’t exist. I remember clearly nights spent at Michael Alig’s infamous Disco 2000 at Limelight. Myself and a boy I loved who would later OD on heroin would walk to the front of the line boldly; we knew who we were. We knew we would always be on the list, even if we didn’t ask. We were young and spoiled and fueled by ecstasy and heroin and whatever else we could put into our bodies. I remember standing on the catwalk, looking down at the dance floor, at the world spiraling in darkness and color, lights flashing. All those outfits, all those people. You could lose yourself out there. I remember raising our hands into the air and screaming, dancing as hard as we could, looking for some kind of salvation, some kind of escape; something we believed we’d been promised. We would end up at Florent eating escargot and french fries or at Save the Robots, getting so high we no longer knew who we were or where we’d come from. When I learned the boy I loved died, I remember thinking, “Fuck. He did it. He got the fuck out. He really did it.” And in my haze, in that drug-induced dream state I lost so much of my life to, I thought it was beautiful and poetic and tragic. I howled and laughed. We went dancing, we rolled his ashes into joints and smoked them. We celebrated him by destroying ourselves. I turned to Alex, sitting in the café in Madrid, and said, “I wonder what will happen.” “What do you mean?” he responded. “To us. I just, I wonder what will happen.” 68

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He took my hand in his and held it. “Me too, baby. Do you think we will be OK?” I don’t think I’ve ever loved anybody the way I love Alex. The strength and the consistency of it. We aren’t even-keeled people. I have friends who say they never fight, and I am always sort of in awe of that. I don’t know what it means. Alex and I fight. We have knock-down drag-out screaming matches. We have fought so hard I thought we would break. We fight and we fuck and we hold each other, and there has never been a moment when I doubted his love for me or my love for him. It was the thing I could hold onto throughout it all. I remember when I told Alex that I’d tested HIV-positive. We had been together two years. It was on the porch of our house. I was sure he would leave me. That it would be the thing that finally broke us. I cried, and he just held me. He wrapped me in his arms, holding me as tight as he could, and

he kept whispering into my ear, “It’s gonna be OK. I love you. It will all be OK.” And he was right. He’s usually right. “I do, baby. I think we will be OK,” I said. I tried to find the words for what I wanted to say. “I just … I don’t know who I’m gonna be. Who we are going to be. I’m 47 years old and I have no idea what is going to happen.” “Me neither. But we will do it together. I know that much,” Alex said. We took a picture of ourselves kissing and we sent it to Jon. We ate cheese and lamb and a thick fish soup, and ham croquettes—Alex made us order croquettes everywhere we went—at La Cocina de San Antonio. We sat outside. It was 11 p.m. and the restaurant was just starting to get busy.

t was 1 a.m. on a Friday night when we finished dinner, so we bought Red Bulls and decided to explore the bars of the Chueca. Nothing really got busy until 3 a.m. We made out with a flight attendant from Chicago and a tall, blond college student from Iceland. The blond college student asked if he could come home with us. The three us fell asleep naked, wrapped around each other. When we woke up, we laughed because we hadn’t even fucked; we’d just cuddled and talked and told stories to each other. While the college boy showered, Alex and I ran out to get coffee and pastries. We fucked him in our bed and then we cuddled some more, drinking coffee. I remember one night at Save the Robots I was so wasted that I fell and hit my head on the toilet. I stumbled into the street, blood pouring into my eyes,

and then I woke up two days later in a shooting gallery in the Bronx. I have no idea how I got there. My shoes and wallet were gone. My head pounded. I had a huge gash in my forehead. Around me, people moved like ghosts too stoned to know they were already dead. Outside on the street, I began to puke. It seemed to go on for an eternity, as if everything that had ever been inside me was flooding its way out, escaping the damage and destruction. I was 22 years old. The ride for me had barely begun. To tell you that I am lucky, to tell you that I am somehow blessed, to tell you that I am a man loved and who gets the honor of loving will not do justice to the absolute fucking magic that I believe exists in the world. I have watched people die. I have seen people commit atrocities upon each other for nothing. Laying there, in that bed, with that beautiful blond Icelandic college student and my amazing husband, wrapped inside them, sheltered from whatever storm was coming, I knew, suddenly, that Alex was right. Whatever would come—and let’s be real, this is life we are talking about—it’s going to come. Life will happen. Some of it will be beautiful, and some of it will be devastating. There will be loss and sadness and joy and love, but the thing I suddenly knew with a certainty was that Alex and I would be there together. We had fought and struggled and we had built something. Something that was our very own. Something that didn’t answer to anybody else. Something that belonged only to us. Watching Alex fall in love with Jon was the most breathtaking thing I had ever seen in my life. It hurt in a way nothing had ever hurt before, and it opened inside me a kind of joy I had never experienced. Watching as he held on to our Icelandic friend, the way his fingers held onto his beard, the way they kissed, I’ve never been so in love in my life. Sunday morning at 4 a.m., our alarm went off. We made our way through the dark streets of Madrid to the metro that would take us to the airport, to Jon and to home. I don’t believe we get happy endings. I don’t believe any of us will be saved from the inevitabilities of life. But I do believe we are given moments when we are offered choices. Will I love this person or will l not? Will I allow myself to be the most me I can be? Will I choose to grow and fight, to deny the rules imposed upon me even when I am tired and want to watch TV instead? Will I continue, even as I get old, even as I get sick, even as it seems that everything is against me? I am a lucky man. I am surrounded by love and support. And I have no idea how this happened. Sometimes late at night I try to find the trail that has led me to where I am now. I try to follow the choices; I try to see the map; the outline that has built this amazing castle. But I can’t. So I keep repeating to myself, over and over, every day, “You are the luckiest man I know.” At the airport we bought sandwiches. Ham and cheese and butter. We drank strong espresso. We held hands. We didn’t talk a lot. We were both sad to be leaving and excited to be home. It was going to be Thanksgiving in a few days. Jon was going to meet us at the airport. “Did you have fun, baby?” I asked Alex. “Baby, do you know how happy you make me?” he said. “How glad I am that I married you? Do you know how much I love you?” I didn’t know how to answer him. I was afraid that if I spoke I would start to cry. So I just held his hand tighter, and I closed my eyes. And I said it again: “I am the luckiest man in the world.”

L.A. Pride

MMXVI For its 46th year, Los Angeles prepares to celebrate LGBTQ Pride like few cities on the globe canâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with a nonstop weekend of big-name performers, loud-andproud locals on foot and a diverse community of queer folk ready to party

JUNE 8, 2016

L.A. Pride

MMXVI

I. The Controversy CSW President Chris Classen Answers Critics and Confirms L.A. Pride Is for Everyone By Jeremy Kinser

FRONTIERS: Even though L.A. Pride has been a music festival for many years, all hell broke loose when you rebranded it as “L.A. Pride Music Festival & Parade.” What was behind that decision? CHRIS CLASSEN: Let me make a slight correction: We didn’t rebrand anything. That’s been the criticism we’ve received. We weren’t making significant changes to the festival. There are half a million LGBT people in Los Angeles. We’re the second largest market in the country. Most people in West Hollywood know what L.A. Pride is. There are a lot of activists there. Outside of West Hollywood, there’s a younger generation who doesn’t really see why they need Pride. We wanted to make sure we were engaging a number of up-and-coming activists. What they do understand is social gatherings like a 70

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music festival. L.A. Pride has been a music festival for several years. We’ve been a ticketed, music-oriented festival within West Hollywood Park, with multiple stages and performers. The programming this year is virtually identical to last year. The word “Music” was added as a nod to the younger generation who might not think they would need to experience L.A. Pride. What caused the backlash, and what was your response to it? There were a couple of things that caused it. I think the biggest was miscommunication. You have an all-volunteer board that is putting this on every year. I think we did a poor job on communicating the lack of change to the public. When the word “music” was in the title and we moved to a ticketed Friday night in order to help the organization remain fiscally solvent and sustainable, we didn’t do a good job speaking to the public and giving them the reasons why before it went public. We own that mistake. We should have done a better job. Next year we’ll definitely involve the community a lot more in meetings so that everyone is on the same page and can give input during the planning process. Over the years there have been complaints about “greedy Pride organizers” while those organizers have responded that Pride doesn’t make money. Does Pride turn a profit, and if so, where do the profits go? We did raise ticket prices $5 this year, and that was part of the pushback from the community. We’re a nonprofit, and this is our 46th festival. We have zero full-time employees; we only have seasonal consultants. We operate out of a

PRIDE PHOTOS: LA PRIDE; CLASSEN: CSW/LA PRIDE

ride weekend in L.A. is traditionally a time when members of all the LGBTQ communities come together to show solidarity for one another, celebrate accomplishments in our collective struggle for equality, rally the troops for more work to be done or just show our visibility and enjoy a beverage and a concert in West Hollywood Park. This year, some community activists took umbrage when the word “music” was added to the standard moniker “L.A. Pride Festival and Parade,” and headlines have questioned whether Pride has turned its back on LGBT elders and lost its original meaning, becoming a gay version of Coachella. Chris Classen, president of Christopher Street West, believes our Pride festival must continue to evolve or it could face extinction. He admits to mistakes his team made, responds to complaints from community activists and clears up many of the misconceptions that have arisen during the past weeks.

Classen

300-square-foot office. The board is completely all unpaid volunteers. I think part of the confusion is that the brand ‘L.A. Pride’ is very recognizable. It has the same recognition as a much larger nonprofit. The fact is that if we add up all the Prides from 1988 to 2015, we’ve actually run a net deficit of $40,000. Part of that is because during the past five to 10 years, the cost of doing this festival has gone up exponentially. We get asked why Pride can’t be free. The weekend is free. The parade is free.

of the board of directors are paid. It does cost a lot to put this on. Our security was $100,000 this year. Our insurance has doubled during the past couple of years. It’s an expensive event to throw. Some of the criticism lobbed at CSW came from veteran activists and elder members of the local LGBT community. Based on your research, and with all due fairness to them, is this a group that actually goes into the festival?

What is the cost of producing the festival? The festival itself costs a little over $2 million to produce. Those are real numbers, and they have to come from somewhere. There are cities that have free Prides, and the money from those does come from their municipality. The city of West Hollywood does help us out with fees—it offers free parking for the weekend—but we only get a small amount of cash from them, about $10,000 to do the mayor’s event each year. The rest of the money has to come from tickets, food and beverage inside the festival and from our sponsors. We do our best to get the most sponsorship dollars we can without having it feel like we’ve sold out to a corporate entity. Last year we came away with some earnings, which was fantastic, and that allowed us to come into 2016 in the black. The money we make goes back into producing Pride weekend. None

I can’t say whether the specific faction of activists who have been protesting have been inside the festival or not. I think some of the pushback we’ve gotten from that group is that we were excluding the older generation. I think that came out of the confusion around our ticketing data. If I say that eight out of 10 people who come into the festival are under the age of 34, that doesn’t mean that we’re excluding people who aren’t in that category. I’m not in that category. What we’re saying is that we recognize the majority of the people who are here, but we’re still programming a lot of events inside the festival and the parade that appeal to everybody. To be honest with you, I hadn’t heard of some of the musical acts we booked this year, but when I listened to them, they’re fantastic, and I’m excited. This is a discovery weekend. It doesn’t matter what age you are.

II The Details PRIDE PHOTOS: LA PRIDE; CLASSEN: CSW/LA PRIDE

The Festival

The Parade

Held at West Hollywood Park June 10-12, the festival—this year extended to three full days of programming—is a mélange of food and drink, hard-hitting performers on three stages (many of them LGBTQ artists) and community outreach. Tickets can be purchased before Pride weekend at lapride.org ($25/day, $45/weekend), or at the event ($30/day, $55/weekend). The festival kicks off on Friday at 6 p.m. when the Dyke March barrels down Santa Monica Boulevard, followed by a night of free programming in the park. On the festival grounds, enjoy attractions like Erotic City, the Country/Western Pavilion and (new this year) on Saturday, a Drag Revue.

Taking to the streets on Sunday, June 12, the world’s longest running LGBTQ Pride parade will feature traditional community floats and most likely a few surprises. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard at Crescent Heights, ending at Santa Monica and Robertson. This year’s grand marshal is none other than Jewel Thais-Williams, the local icon who for years ran Jewel’s Catch One—the country’s very first gay black disco—and co-founded the Minority AIDS Project. A moment of silence will be held during the parade for this year’s social outreach platform— the HIV crisis currently ravaging LGBTQ comminities of color.

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III. The Headliner Carly Rae Jepsen Loves Gay People So Much She's Ready to Marry All Of You By Jeremy Kinser

HAZEL & PINE

eady to have a good time, Carly Rae Jepsen has found the perfect place for it: West Hollywood. The Canadian-born singer-songwriter, best known for her global sing-along hit “Call Me Maybe,” will bring her signature brand of upbeat pop confections to the annual L.A. Pride Music Festival where she’ll close the weekend as the headlining entertainer on Sunday, June 12. Pride organizers have moved away from the long-standing tradition of booking singers of a certain vintage to perform their classic hits, this year updating the entertainment portion of the weekend with a lineup of current chart-toppers. Jepsen, as a burgeoning gay icon, is part of the plan to appeal to the demographic of people who actually attend the festival. Besides, she’s already accustomed to predominantly queer audiences. The 30-year-old entertainer points to a moment at a recent show in New York when she looked out at the crowd and realized it was filled with gay fans. “It was like a celebration,” she recalls. “You could see people connecting and slow-dancing together. I loved being a part of it.” Similarly, Jepsen wants Pride revelers to be prepared for a no-holds-barred party. “I think we’re going to pull out a few extra surprises because it is such a day of celebration and love,” she reveals. “I think whatever we can do to amp up the energy and to really throw a proper party is exciting to us.” Meanwhile, Jepsen has plenty of reasons to celebrate herself, including a career that continues to evolve. After placing third on Canadian Idol in 2007, she was propelled to international prominence in the music world five years later. “Call Me Maybe” became an inescapable anthem about romantic yearning after fellow Canuck Justin Bieber tweeted his love for it. The track went on to sell 17 million singles and earned her two Grammy Award nominations.

While the music industry and fans can put unrealistic expectations on artists to deliver follow-ups, effusive doesn’t quite begin to describe the plaudits greeting her 2015 album, E·MO·TION. An audial onslaught of irresistible pop songs—like the unquestionably relatable “Boy Problems”—the album had top music critics searching for superlatives, with many praising it as the best pop album of the year. Somehow, Jepsen keeps the praise in check, remembering the hard work that went into crafting the songs. “It makes me so happy that I’m almost uncomfortable,” she says of the positive response. “I spent so long making the album, and so much stress and time and energy went into it. I was trying not to care one way or the other of how people would react to it. I just felt I could be proud of it, regardless. I think the response was a big surprise and not something I was banking on. It’s the biggest gift I can imagine.” You could almost hear gay heads exploding when Jepsen recently disclosed that her next album would be informed by 1970s-era disco. She describes her love of ABBA and The Bee Gees as “a natural attraction that started long ago.” She hastens to add that while those are some of the artists she’s listening to at the moment—along with classic Motown and young soul singers such as Leon Bridges—it’s entirely possible she’ll throw a curve ball and head in a completely different direction before actually recording new songs. As with many camera-friendly pop singers who came before her, acting offers were extended to Jepsen. In 2014 she made her Broadway debut as the lead in the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and this past January she earned standout reviews as Frenchie in FOX’s Grease Live! blockbuster. “I was so nervous about that production. I was shaking for two months JUNE 8, 2016

L.A. Pride

MMXVI straight,” she remembers. “I’m really proud to have been a part of it.” As for more acting roles, Jepsen says it’s a bit of a question mark. “If there’s something I find interesting and the right offer comes my way, I’ll definitely look at it, but there are no plans to go hunting for a role,” she says. “Or making it more important than the next album.” Although it would be enough for Jepsen to just exist in the distance as a sunny pop music princess and distract us with her infectious lyrics and slinky hooks, be aware that she has already earned her stripes as a firm and forceful LGBT ally. In 2013 she canceled a planned concert for the Boy Scouts Jamboree due to the organization’s then-policy that barred gay adults as scout leaders. She thinks her position may be due to a liberal upbringing in Canada. “I think it’s because I grew up without realizing how many people were suffering from being discriminated against,” she says. “Once I became aware of that, I felt very protective of my gay friends. I wanted to do what I could to voice my opinion about that.” She’s even willing to go a step further. With the country in a state of chaos thanks to anti-LGBT legislations and the most divisive presidential election in memory, many folks, both gay and straight,

are wondering if a move across the border is in their future if Donald Trump is elected president in November. “I’ll marry all of you,” Jepsen says with a giggle. She also reveals that she’s been following the presidential debates and notes, “There are some very scary options out there, but there’s always room for hope.” As an unofficial ambassador to the Great White North, Jepsen seems completely comfortable with her ‘girl next door’ status and her relatively manageable level of fame, particularly after witnessing the chaos that greets Bieber, with whom she remains pals. “I can’t imagine the level of fame that he has to face on a daily basis,” she states plainly. “I don’t envy that part of it. I know personally that I couldn’t survive without being able to disappear on occasion.” Before she does, though, she has a Pride show to put on. Jepsen urges fans of all ages to attend her show and hopes newcomers will have just as much fun as she did at her first Pride event. “I got hooked,” she says, “because it’s the most fun you can possibly have.” Carly Rae Jepsen plays the L.A. Pride Music Festival’s mainstage on Sunday at 10:30 p.m.

IV The Music

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Sunday for the booty-shaking bounce music of New Orleans-based Big Freedia and “Da Baddest Bitch“ herself, Trina, who will close out the festival at 8 p.m. Across the festival grounds on the Latin Stage, headliners include Spanish-speaking acts Oscar y Edgar Velazquez, Diana Reyes and Maribel Guardia, plus the sounds of ’90s hit-maker Robin S. and house queen Inaya Day. On both the hip-hop and Latin stages,

local DJs will be interspersed throughout the headliners. This year’s mainstage lineup is the most diverse and jam-packed ever, featuring the likes of pop princesses Bebe Rexha and Charli XCX (Saturday) and Hailee Steinfeld (Sunday). Also taking the mainstage are Krewella (part of Friday’s free night of programming), queer artists Daphne Willis, Le1f, Brayton Bowman and Michael Blume.

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ore than 51 groups, solo musicians and DJs will treat festivalgoers to music over three days and three stages, from up-andcoming LGBTQ acts to R&B and hip-hop artists who made names for themselves in the ’90s and ’00s. On the Hip-Hop Stage, Friday sees the unbeatable female duo of Da Brat and Faith Evans take the mic, while things are sure to get a bit raunchier on

JEPSEN: HAZEL & PINE

V. The Upstart Shamir Has More to Offer Than Your Average 21-YearOld, Like a Killer Falsetto and a New Way of Looking at Queer Culture By Patrick Rosenquist

RUVAN

JEPSEN: HAZEL & PINE

wanted to explore the clichés of Vegas,” says Shamir, referring to his breakout album, last year’s Rachet. “A lot of the city caters toward tourists, and I thought, they don’t understand that this is a place where people grow up. You never see the other side of Las Vegas.” Shamir Bailey, who grew up in the shadow of the Strip, wants the world to know that Vegas is more than one of the world’s most sinful playgrounds; it’s where someone can grow up, find his identity and make a name for himself. Tourist traps aside, Vegas is a real town, and the immediacy of Rachet—along with the 21-year-old’s unique voice—brings the struggles of a Vegas native to blinding light. Not everyone is enamored with the lights of Caesars Palace or the Cosmopolitan, and there are people trying to make a life in a city that ignores its homegrown residents. He grew up next to a pig farm that supplied pork to the casinos on the Strip—one of the many head-spinning revelations about being a Vegas native. Although Shamir came of age far from the glitz of Las Vegas Boulevard, as most Nevada residents know, the entertainment industry consumes the entire city. That uncomfortable match-up of the desert’s strangeness and the glamor of the Strip fuels Shamir’s work, exposing the sausage-making of America’s favorite vacation

spot. There’s a community behind the gambling, and it’s heavier than fantasy lets on. “There’s a whole side of Vegas most don’t know,” he says. “That oversight says a lot about the city.” The idea that something so wonderful can exist in the middle of the desert is spectacular, and Shamir sees his unique upbringing as a way to connect and understand people, and is rather blasé about how the idea of fame latches onto our imagination. Rachet is best understood as a cycle through one native’s experience with endless nightlife. Vegas is a place to party, and the city’s residents are aware of that. “I wanted the album to reflect the way a night out works,” says Shamir. “It starts out pretty chill, while the night is still young, but the dance tracks come in the middle, which is when you’re feeling great. You reach a peak and you have to come down, which is why the end of the album is so different.” Even miles away from the city’s bright center, Shamir knows intimately how a jaunt in Vegas typically plays out. Another of Shamir’s goals with the album was to explore how he sees sexuality. As part of the younger generation, he’s one of a few up-and-coming tastemakers who have rejected the LGBT label, finding such pigeonholing to be artificial. Instead he represents a new way of looking at the queer identity—a way that is JUNE 8, 2016

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“

We all start out as humans. Going from there is a challenge.

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Shamir plays the L.A. Pride Music Festival’s mainstage on Saturday at 8 p.m.

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As far as Shamir is concerned, his first L.A. Pride appearance will be a piece of cake. He may be from Vegas, but he’s familiar with the decadence of West Hollywood and is looking forward to wowing the crowd with his unique voice and love of the West Coast. And while not currently working on a new album, Shamir is quick to talk about his future plans. “I’ve been working on some songs, but I’m always working on some songs,” he says. “I’ve written some stuff, but I’ve been in the studio, too.” Those looking for a follow-up to Rachet will have to wait for him to coalesce the new work into an album. “I don’t know where it’s going to go,” he says, “but this album is going to be pretty great.” As of now Shamir is scheduled to appear at multiple venues over the next year, including Chicago’s Pitchfork Festival in July—a testament to any artist’s burgeoning popularity and wide appeal. “My mother and father always knew I would be a musician,” he says, “but maybe they didn’t know how.” In addition to the honesty and melody conveyed in his output, Shamir has been able to uncover something great through the music—a way to express his unique take on identity. The queer community is due for a new idol, isn’t it? RUVAN

at once more encompassing and more nuanced, understanding of differences but not beholden to the schisms that define LGBT life. “I was raised by a hippie mom, and she told us, ‘Before anything, you are a person,’” he says. It’s a shift in thought for many in the gay community—one where labels are useless and, in fact, cumbersome. He’s comfortable with masculine pronouns, but he believes labels limit how people interact with each other. “I’ve always been androgynous,” he says. “We all start out as humans. Going from there is a challenge. Maybe labels make us feel better or something, but they don’t reflect the community.” As far as his career goes, Shamir is working off his album’s success. Spin, one of a litany of music mags to laud Ratchet, called the album “the year’s best debut,” while Rolling Stone refers to his track “Call It Off” as “the ultimate springtime un-cuffing jam—a call to arms for jaded PYTs seeking greener pastures.” His disco-house-tinged honesty, irreverence and falsetto voice have made him a star to look out for. Regarding his performance at this year’s L.A. Pride Music Festival, Shamir is both excited and unsure of what to expect. “I don’t think I’ve been to a Pride parade,” he says. “I have been to Vegas Pride, but it’s not very official. Does that count? I’ve been a number of times.”

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JUNE 8, 2016

By Dominik Rothbard

ummer‘s nearly here! Trips to the beach. Skimpy swimwear. Outdoor adventures. But what if you hate the sun? Or your bathing suit hasn‘t fit since the ‘90s? What does the summer have in store for people who worship air conditioning, dark rooms and the indoors? Summer blockbuster movies, that‘s what! We‘re taking a closer look at some of the films that will be grabbing our attention—and our $15—this summer.

NEIGHBORS 2

Opposite page: (top, clockwise from left) Neighbors 2, Bad Moms, Suicide Squad, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Ghostbusters, Absolutely Fabulous; (below right) X-Men: Apocalypse

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POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING (June 3) Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer Samberg stars in this mockumentary as singer/rapper ConnerReal, whose sophomore album just bombed. But the plot‘s not what matters here—it‘s the cast, which is overflowing with A-list cameos and some of the funniest actors in Hollywood, from Sarah Silverman and Bill Hader to Usher, Carrie Underwood and Adam Levine. Curiously, Justin Timberlake isn‘t on the list. Wonder what that‘s about...

(Out Now) Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron 2014‘s Neighbors was a surprisingly hilarious film, and we all know sequels are consistently better than the first, right? Well, that aside, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising has a pretty solid premise: Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, now expecting their second child, call on Zac Efron to help take down a new sorority that has moved in next door. Chloë Grace Moretz leads the pack of sinister sorority sisters.

(June 17) Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O‘Neill We know what you‘re thinking. It‘s been 13 years since Finding Nemo. How long do fish live again? Well, with Finding Dory, we‘re six months after the events of Finding Nemo, and the breakout character of the first film, played by DeGeneres, finally gets a chance to take center stage as she hunts for her long-forgotten family.

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE

GHOSTBUSTERS

(May 27) Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Michael Fassbender Since ancient times, the first and most powerful mutant, Apocalypse, has been worshipped and revered. After a hibernation of thousands of years, he awakens and is disgusted by the state of the world. (Frankly, we can‘t blame him.) He enlists a mini-army—his “Four Horsemen“—to help him destroy humanity and build a better world, but not if the X-Men can stop him first.

FINDING DORY

(July 15) Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones It was recently reported that this all-female reboot is the most Thumbs-Down‘d movie trailer on YouTube. How can this be? Melissa McCarthy and our three favorite Saturday Night Live ladies—the titular ‘busters—have never been not funny, and the trailer‘s a riot! Haters gonna hate. Busters gonna bust. Expect Ecto Coolers to be back in supermarkets in 3...2...

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (July 22) Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Swalha Sure, the new Absolutely Fabulous movie isn‘t coming out until late July, but we have a hunch that by the time you‘re reading this, half of West Hollywood will be camping outside movie theaters waiting for a seat. This is our Star Wars. Patsy, Edina, Saffy, Mother and even Bubble are back. As for the plot? We‘d say it doesn‘t really matter, but it‘s a good one: Patsy and Edina accidentally kill Kate Moss. Brilliant, sweetie darling. JASON BOURNE

(July 28)

Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones They said it couldn‘t be done. There was no way Matt Damon would be lured back to another Bourne movie. After Jeremy Renner took the lead in The Bourne Legacy, it seemed all hope was lost, but somehow, someone convinced Damon to return for (and as) the spy. Julia Stiles also returns, which is nice, but not really surprising. As for the plot? Explosions!

BAD MOMS

(July 29) Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn A plot so simple, it‘s amazing it hasn‘t been done before: A bunch of mean moms (Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith) torment a nice mom (Kunis) to the extent that she enlists in some misfit moms (Bell and Hahn) to take those mean bitches down. Somehow, Kesha also got a role in this. It seems like a guaranteed good time.

SUICIDE SQUAD

(August 6) Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis In an offshoot of the DC Universe, a secret government agency known as Task Force X, led by Amanda Waller (Davis), recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black-ops missions for clemency. We‘re told to expect a Batfleck cameo when he goes head-to-head with Leto‘s Joker.

SAUSAGE PARTY (August 12) Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, Kristen Wiig Any movie starring Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd named Sausage Party automatically goes on our short list. Rogen stars as Frank, a sentient sausage who lives in a supermarket and dreams to be brought home like an adorable puppy. Until he learns the truth of his existence. Frank and his food friends must escape becoming someone‘s meal in this animated, R-rated parody of Pixar movies.

ALSO COMING TO THEATERS MAY

Nice Guys Alice Through the Looking Glass Money Monster

JUNE

The Conjuring 2 Independence Day: Resurgence The Neon Demon Now You See Me 2 Warcraft

JULY

The Legend of Tarzan Star Trek Beyond Ice Age: Collision Course

AUGUST

Florence Foster Jenkins Pete‘s Dragon Ben-Hur JUNE 8, 2016

THE WORLD OF BILLY MASTERS From left: Jonathan Groff, Laverne Cox, Scott Bakula, Nyle DiMarco, Jessica Lange with Ryan Murphy, Dustin McNeer

BOSTON’S BELOW-THE-BELT FIRST, THE LATEST IN GAY-FAVORITE TV, PLUS WHO IS AMERICA’S NEXT NUDE MODEL? Good as New My native Boston was recently the site of the nation’s first genitourinary vascularized composite allograft transplant—commonly referred to as the first successful penis transplant—done at Massachusetts General Hospital. The head of the team was also instrumental in the first hand transplant four years ago, and if you don’t think the hand and penis go together, then you aren’t paying attention. Thus far, the organ has not been rejected, which is quite an accomplishment for any penis in Boston. Although we’re not sure where the organ came from, I think it’s safe to assume the donor was just some stiff.

the role of a woman who turned a blind eye to her husband’s secret sex life. After all, she spent years perfecting that part! You know who else is looking for sex? The characters in Looking. And we’ll find out what happened to them in the upcoming farewell movie. HBO has announced the feature-length finale will premiere July 23. Reportedly, the film picks up one year after Jonathan Groff’s character left San Francisco. Everyone seems to be wondering who will come back (hopefully Scott Bakula stops by). A bigger question is whether the few viewers who stuck with the show ‘til it limped to the end of Season 2 even care to see how it all wraps up. Stay tuned.

Coming to the Small Screen In a move that is being called “groundbreaking,” CBS has given the green light to Doubt, a one-hour legal drama starring Laverne Cox. One report said, “This will be the first broadcast series featuring a transgender series regular character played by a transgender actor.” That may technically be true, but one must give ABC its due for casting Candis Cayne in Dirty Sexy Money way back in 2007 (although, technically, she was “recurring” rather than a “series regular”). Alas, Doubt has something that almost guarantees it will fail—star Katherine Heigl. Oh well. A television series about the long-running feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis? Yes, please. FX has ordered eight episodes of Feud from Ryan Murphy. And if you were excited to see Crawford and Davis battling, wait till I tell you who will be playing them—Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon (as Crawford and Davis, respectively). I can’t wait! We’ve gotten some photos of Katie Holmes on the set of The Kennedys: After Camelot, and I must say it’s uncanny how much she looks like Jackie Kennedy. Of course, I had no doubt she could play

Don’t Eff with a Diva A couple weeks ago, my dear friend Jenifer Lewis sent me a video of her singing with Brandy and Roz Ryan in her kitchen. It was an informal gathering of the divas; I’m told Roz brought fish. The ditty, improvised on the spot, was to the words, “I don’t want nobody fucking with me in these streets”—only a snippet of a song, but one that could become a gutsy gospel anthem. I forgot about it until a handful of fans sent me a link to the same video this past week—and it’s now had over 18 million views! Not only that, but scores of people have filmed their own version of the song, including Lee Daniels and Jussie Smollett. Check them out on my site.

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Taking the S.T.A.G.E. One of my favorite events every year is the annual STAGE Benefit in Los Angeles. The Southland Theatre Artist Goodwill Event will once again focus on the music of Stephen Sondheim, which is why the title for this year’s event is “Sondheim No. 5.” The concert will take place at the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills on June 18 and will be the 32nd installment of this annual benefit for AIDS Project Los Angeles. Once again directed

by David Galligan, the show is slated to include Patricia Morison, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Loretta Devine, Allison Janney, Andrea Marcovicci, Barrett Foa, Davis Gaines, Jason Graae, Bruce Vilanch and Carole Cook, all under the musical direction of Michael Orland. For tickets and information, go to StageLA.com. Ask Billy: What a Show-Off Our question comes from Richard in Miami: “You’ve talked about Nyle DiMarco from America’s Next Top Model. What about Dustin McNeer? He’s absolutely stunning and always seems to be showing off.” To put it mildly. But first, let’s address who McNeer is. He competed on ANTM during DiMarco’s season. In fact, DiMarco made a point of saying McNeer was the only contestant who made an effort to learn sign language in order to communicate with him. Let’s all say it together: awwww. Was he flirting? Is he gay? Just a tease? The jury’s out, but one thing is certain—he likes attention. And he’s been getting it by leaking some tasteful nudes since last December, not that I’m complaining. We’ve even received a couple of videos of him in the shower, and who am I to deny you those? A tasteful and yet explicit mouthful awaits you at my site. When models are leaking, it’s time to grab a mop and end yet another column. Wow, we really ran the gamut this week—from transplanted privates to leaking privates. For those interested in penises, this certainly is a varied collection—one of the many joys to partake of at BillyMasters.com, the site that uncovers only the best. If you have a question—or a story to leak—send it along to Billy@BillyMasters. com, and I promise to get back to you before we see if a membership to my site could be covered under Obamacare—or, at the very least, count as a healthrelated deduction. So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible.

QUEERSAY

BY GOSSIP GAY

A PRIDE SEASON RUMINATION

“W

e’re here! We’re queer! We haven’t eaten solid food in 15 days!” Oh, the battle cry of every homosexual as Pride season rears its flawlessly coiffed head. But that’s not really the case, because while the media might have us believe Pride is all gyration and starvation, the truth is this celebratory season comes in all shapes, sizes and colors of the rainbow. I must admit that I, too, get lost in the shuffle of binge-drinking on the boulevard and overpriced fried food. That’s why, here and now, I’m taking a moment to dedicate this article to my first memory of L.A. Pride, exactly 15 years ago. Because one never forgets his first L.A. Pride. You see, I’m a Chicagoan at heart, with memories of Pride on Halsted Street—PFLAG parents proudly parading, rainbow-friendly sidewalk sales at GayMart and always-entertaining demonstrations, compliments of the Christian Coalition. But, most importantly, the guys: the most un-metrosexual of men this side of the Mississippi! Men with farmers’ tans, five o’clock shadows and T-shirts with actual sleeves! Men who eat carbohydrates, drink regular beer and are merry! The two-hour line outside SideTracks cooks up a true melting pot of imperfect perfection. There, amongst the twinks, trans and muscle bears, I’d always felt perfectly at home. So when this Windy City boy landed in the City of Superficial Angels, I was more than beset by the bulging biceps and botulism-filled foreheads that packed The Abbey. With more than a midsection inch to pinch before my first L.A. Pride, I was motivated to turn my flab into fab. The following month played like a masochistic MasterCard commercial. Searing my flesh in a faken-bake booth? $35. A trip to Pink Cheeks for a hairy Italian’s worst nightmare? $84. A personal trainer named Hans who obviously wasn’t held as a child? $300. Developing a set of abs on which the Amish would kill to launder? Priceless. While others ate for daily caloric sustenance, I “enjoyed” an exclusive diet of coffee, cigarettes, vodka shots and carb-free Jelly Bellies. Upon P-Day’s arrival, I was a starving, sticky, sweaty (but strangely smooth) shadow of a psychopath stumbling down Santa Monica. An oncoming stampede of shirtless demigods in Prada pants forced my low self-esteem and me to duck into Fiesta Cantina for one too many two-for-one mojitos. Surrounded by extra-large men in extra-small tank tops who were attempting Beyoncé’s booty-bounce, lipstick lesbians reminiscing on last week’s killer Home Depot clearance and blond boys who proudly list skills like “non-existent gag reflex” and “bubble butt” on their acting résumés, I had what my therapist refers to as a breakthrough: Maybe my physical flaws would keep me from gracing Abercrombie’s latest shopping bag, but god dammit, maybe that was OK. I asked my inner homo what he really wanted. Unhesitatingly, he squealed, “Chili cheese fries, stat!” I promptly gorged myself with gusto, ranch dressing cascading down my chin, a smile creeping across my recently bleached teeth. Amongst the people, personalities and personality disorders of West Hollywood, I’d found home. Whether it be your first or 50th L.A. Pride, celebrate it loud and proud! We’ve come so far, and we’ve accomplished so much that we all deserve to embrace our rainbowed awesomeness this year.

For more Gossip Gay, go to FrontiersMedia.com. Drop me your dirty little secrets at QueerSay@hotmail.com, and don’t worry, I never give up my deep throat! JUNE 8, 2016

PALM SPRINGS

Clockwise from top left: The cabanas at Miramonte, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Sessions at the Hard Rock Hotel, King’s Highway

YOUR DESERT PLAYGROUND Eat, stay and play like an Old Hollywood celebrity as the Coachella Valley beckons you to Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week By Patrick Rosenquist

GREATER PALM SPRINGS RESTAURANT WEEK June 3-12 visitgreaterpalmsprings.com

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alm Springs is best known for its relaxed attitude, great weather and affinity for the strange. When talking about the perks of the desert, food rarely enters into the equation. Most don’t see the Coachella Valley as a place to discover a fantastic meal, but as any desert rat can tell you, there are many fun restaurants sprinkled throughout the area. Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week, taking place June 3-12, highlights the eclectic nature of desert dining; international cuisines are reconfigured to fit the area’s desicated vibe, and they draw upon local produce as well as California’s love of the weird to create unique meals. But the fun doesn’t stop with food. If you’re looking to stay at a great desert property or fill your time between lunch and dinner with thrilling adventure, there’s no shortage of opportunities. Here are some highlights of the upcoming event:

Eat To sort out the basics, Restaurant Week in Palm Springs means participating establishments offer prixe fixe menus at $28, $38 or $48 dollars per head. Usually the menu reflects what the restaurant does best; you’ll find chef’s favorites and specialties listed in what amounts to a three-course dinner—appetizers, entrées, dessert. Naturally, the menu depends on the location. King’s Highway, the Ace Hotel & Swim Club’s reconfiguration of the traditional diner, offers eclectic American fare. You’ll dish on the baklava sundae as a dessert, along with Pacific grouper with charred okra as an entrée. Lulu California on Palm Canyon splits the difference between American classics and Californian fun—oysters Rockefeller are broiled with blue cheese, while the pasta primavera features garbanzo

beans and seasonal vegetables. With a wide range of restaurants involved, you can work your way through a sophisticated and cutting-edge dining scene. If you thought Palm Springs was just a place for Steak Diane, you’re in for a real shock.

Stay The Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs is one of the area’s best properties. (I mean, it has hosted the White Party and survived.) Located in the center of town, if offers a chance to explore Arenas, the city’s gay strip, while also providing an oasis for those who have desk jobs but want to live like a rock star for the weekend. Beyond that, Miramonte in Indian Wells offers 11 acres of olive trees, rose gardens and citrus groves, while at L’Horizon Resort & Spa, guest rooms emulate luxe private residences.

Play The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is old territory for most seasoned SoCal travelers; we all know to bring a jacket and allot a few hours toward exploring the chocolate mountains. But have you checked out the Aerial Museum, which explains the desert city’s role in the development of aviation? The Palm Springs Air Museum boasts the largest collection of flyable WWII planes, and pays homage to the Valley’s important role as an early base for flight travel in America. Want to stick closer to the ground? La Quinta Brewing Company is a great diversion. Los Angeles lacks the heft of other cities when it comes to home-grown beers, but our desert counterpart can’t say the same.

JUNE 8, 2016

PALM SPRINGS

CALENDAR

Fri. | May 27 AMY AND FREDDY Copa Room

Sat. | June 4 JONATHAN KARRANT Purple Room

Musical comedy duo Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen return for a weekend of outrageous shows. copapalmsprings.com

The jazz vocalist sings hits from the great American songbook . purpleroompalmsprings.com

Wed. | June 1 QUEEN OF THE DESERT CONTEST Renaissance Hotel

This annual drag contest benefits the Deser t AIDS Project. desertaidsproject.org

Sun. | June 5 DRAG ME TO BRUNCH Rio Azul Mexican Restaurant

Comedy, songs and female impersonators to entertain you over brunch, every Sunday starting at noon. rioazulpalmsprings.com Wed. | June 8 THE STING Camelot Theatre

Paul Newman and Robert Redford are at their best in this 1973 comedy, part of the Classic Hollywood film series. camelottheatres.com Fri. | June 10 SPLASH HOUSE Saguaro and Riviera Hotels

A weekend-long poolside music festival at two venues, plus an afterhours party at the Palm Springs Air Museum. splashhouse.com Tue. | June 21 SHORTFEST Camelot Theatre

Hundreds of short films will screen during the six-day film festival. psfilmfest.org —James F. Mills

GET A ROOM L.A. RESIDENTS ARE ALL TOO familiar with the city’s “May Grey” and “June Gloom,” which makes spring and the beginning of summer a great time to book it to the desert. After all, there’s no better place to “strip down” and relax poolside. In fact, that’s the idea behind a new promotion at the recently reimagined V Palm Springs, a property in South Palm Springs that recently underwent a $15 million renovation. From now until Sept. 22, the hotel will take 25% off best available rates for guest rooms (each of which comes with outdoor space and relaxing swings—can’t beat that). In addition, the hotel is also offering 25% off food and beverage at Elixir Pool Bar & Grill, a poolside spot serving up Polynesian-inspired food and drink, opened in April. Book for two or more nights, and you can stay “stripped down” a little longer with late checkout. Book your upcoming Palm Springs stay at vpalmsprings.com. —S.H. 84

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JUNE 8, 2016

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