GED Magazine - July 2023

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Michael Westman

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alexander Rodriguez

Kevin Perry

Mark A Thompson

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Stan Jenson

COVER MODEL: Lockhart Brownlie

Photo courtesy Lockhart Brownlie

Hello Summer! Our special feature this month is Dancer, actor, choreographer, Lockhart Brownlie. He will also be appearing on GED’s podcast U.S. of Gay, so be sure to tune-in for all the tea. We are also happy to have Jordan Jayro, Byron Lane, and features on Santa Barbara and the OUTfest film Commitment to Life.

The GED Magazine Team is committed to bringing you the best in LGBTQ entertainment, nightlife, travel, and lifestyles, and GED continues to bring you new events and new excitement, including Issue Release parties across California, monthly BINGO with Ethylina Canne the second Sunday of each month at The Roost Lounge in Cathedral City, and more upcoming events!

Visit us on the web at GEDmag.com and sign up for our monthly insider newsletter. Insiders will also be entered into future drawings for trips, event tickets, dinners and more. And for all the updates on social media, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @GEDmagazine and tag us in your photos to be featured… #GEDmag. GED MAGAZINE is here for YOUR entertainment!

ON STAGE with

23; Fresno Saroyan

BEETLEJUICE: Yep, the Michael Keaton movie is now a musical and it’s coming to California. With song titles like “The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing,” “Say My Name,” and “Creepy Old Guy,” you quickly realize that nothing is off limits for this hilarious show. True to its source material, it’s loud, it’s cheeky, and it’s all about excess. The set is a fun house with ghouls and goblins and giant snakes popping out of the walls, and Beetlejuice himself never misses a chance to “break the 4th wall” when he addresses the audience directly. Come prepared to laugh! Hollywood Pantages 7/11 - 30; San Jose Center for the Performing Arts 8/1 - 6; and San Diego Civic 8/15 – 20.

PASSENGERS: I live a couple of hours from San Diego, but I keep returning there for shows because they produce some damned fine theatre. This time, a company called 7 Fingers, French Canadian neighbors of Cirque du Soleil in Montreal, are bringing a show which has circus stripped down to its essential elements. Passengers will be playing all month at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego’s Balboa Park. With Passengers, the company blends acrobatics, theatre, music, and dance in a truly magical performance about strangers in transit. Rather than sit in silence, the passengers on this train express their dreams and visions through the exuberance of their bodies, telling human stories with superhuman skills. With The Old Globe, I always warn you to arrive early – parking is a challenge. And once again I warn you to make sure you are visiting the theatre’s actual website. Ticket re-sellers are very crafty about website titles, and they are very greedy in pricing their tickets.

LES MISERABLES: And on a more serious note, Les Miserables, a musical set during the French Revolution, was first produced in French in 1980. It made its English language premier in 1985 in London’s West End where it ran until 2019, playing over 13,000 performances. The Broadway production opened in 1997 and ran continuously through 2003, closing after 6,680 performances. In short, there’s something compelling about the story of a man who was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family. The story unfolds over several decades and with numerous memorable characters, but for me the greatest impact is putting human faces on the warriors fighting the revolution – and sometimes dying onstage. If you have somehow missed it all these years, now’s your time to correct that. I have probably seen it six times and am counting the days until I can lose myself in that world – and that music -- again. The tour is hitting some out-of-the-way venues, including a full week in Palm Desert’s McCallum Theatre. San Francisco Orpheum 7/7-

7/23-30; Hollywood Pantages 8/1 - 9/10; Costa Mesa Segerstrom 9/19 - 10/1; San Diego Civic 10/3 - 15; San Jose Center 10/17 – 22; Sacramento SAFE 10/24 - 29; and Palm Desert McCallum 11/28 - 12/3.

STAN JENSON

Photo by Kevin Berne

Photo by Kevin Berne

Photo courtesy of Lockhart Brownlie

LOCKHART BROWNLIE A Proud Australian at Heart

By Alexander Rodriguez

Bro-lesque has been popping up all over SoCal. Bringing glitz and glamour with artistry and hot boys, it is a call back to the classic burlesque shows with enough modern flair to making it unique in the market. Bro-lesque’s creator and front man Lockhart Brownlie is no stranger to stages.

Lockhart started training in dance at an early age when he would sit in the back of his sister’s dance classes. After being one of the most sought after choreographers in Australia, he would start his international career by working with Katy Perry on her two world tours, performing at Super Bowl Half Time, presidential campaign shows, films, and multiple televised award shows around the world. He also worked with Taylor Swift on her tour, collaborated with Britney Spears on her Domination Vegas residency, JLO’s tour, also in Wicked on Broadway, and has been featured on Glee, True Blood, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Minx on HBO, and Magic Mike Live for Britain’s Got Talent and more. He has also choreographed for many lifestyle brands, hair companies, and even collaborated with Sir Elton John for his Oscar nominated song I’m Gonna Love Me Again. Not bad for the new kid on the block.

Entertainment has always been a family affair and with his family’s support, he was able to get through a bout of being bullied.

I grew up in Tasmania, which is the separate island of Australia. It’s small, it’s small minded, and I was like one of the only guys dancing during my whole childhood. Especially when I kind of got into like doing ballet dancing and having to wear the tights and dancing around the girls with the tutus, it kind of switched into a whole other form of bullying because then it really turned into like, oh, you’re just the sissy, you’re the little ballerina boy. I’m not even sure sometimes how I kind of got through it because there were moments that I just didn’t want to leave the dance studio because there were kids outside harassing me. The kids were vicious. There was one time where there was a group of like kids circling on their bikes around the dance studio that I was in by myself. And I was terrified.

My mom and dad have been so supportive. Actually, my whole family, we’ve always done amateur musicals together, even my dad. He was like the last one still doing these amateur musicals and would walk up to work with eyeliner and mascara on and make a thing to say, oh yeah, I’m just, you know, performing in the local musical of Oliver or Hello, Dolly. I’ve always had that really supportive family,

which honestly, I think was what got me through those awful years.

Taking part in amateur theatre would give him the tools of the industry, so when he was ready for his first professional gig, Wicked, he was more than ready. While most of his peers stayed with the show for a number of years, that being a pinnacle, Lockhart was ready for the next challenge, part of what makes him such a diverse performer. He left the comfort of working a long-lasting contract to head to LA.

I like to achieve. I like that sense of success and I’m always thinking about my next goal. I think that is what my addiction is, is kind of that like the chase, that excitement of the accolades or what it feels like to get people going, oh yeah, you did that. Okay, cool, well now what else can I do? I’m 33 and I’m already kind of chasing my next kind of dance journey that’s off the stage, you know? And that’s kind of where I’m now kind of aiming my goals at. And that gets me really excited.

While visiting Los Angeles, he happened to see a chance audition at the now defunct Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios for McDonald Selznick Associates. Wanting to see if dance auditions in the US were like what was shown in the movies, he joined a line of hundreds of dancers and did his thing. He was one of 12 chosen to join the agency. From there, he had to make the choice – to become a Broadway NY dancer or an LA show dancer. He moved to LA where his quickly growing career would unfold. His first big gig? With none other than Katy Perry, with whom he would develop a long-lasting partnership.

That was a huge call of probably 300 to 400 of just boys though this time. They were looking for four guys for the European Music Awards. I booked the job and it was really surreal. That was obviously my first job working with an international pop star. We did the European Music Awards in Madrid, they built this separate stage in the city around this gorgeous monument. And it was a free concert for the city so there were maybe 30,000 people. It was the first time that you just felt that energy come over you. “Firework” was huge at the time, and we had a giant big firework show at the end, and it was just like, what is this life? And that’s when it kind of became real.

Working with Katy Perry would give Lockhart his best career memory to date.

Photo courtesy of Lockhart Brownlie

Photo courtesy of Lockhart Brownlie

I was with Katie’s California Dreams Tour, and we went to Australia and we were in Melbourne. All my family came and watched and doing “Firework” and being in Australia and knowing that your family’s there, and we did this one move where we put our hands up into the skylight like fireworks and I got so emotional, I was tearing up. I took the risk. I like left this contract in Melbourne. I went to America, was dealing with lawyers and visas and but I was living my dream, I got that dream job and to be back in Australia was incredible.

Between TV, awards shows, and stints with Taylor Swift and Britney, he was in constant demand. What is it about his talent that he thinks the industry responds so well too?

That’s a hard one. I think it’s all about timing, and I talk about that a lot now with my mentoring and teaching. Obviously, I’ve got all the training and the skillset behind me, but there is that little sense of timing that happened where I guess just in demand in the industry. I kept on going from job to job to job and that just doesn’t happen. I know who I am as a dancer and I know my talent, and I am fully confident walking into those audition rooms. I know what I’m going to present and serve.

Lockhart’s latest project Bro-lesque is a celebration of dance and also of the male form in staged, gay erotica. It’s not a stripper act, it’s not a go-go boy act. We know our community is under attack with an obsession of our sexuality and the content we are putting out three. Was Brownlie ever afraid of focusing branding on the gay side of that? It’s one thing being sexy on

stage with JLo, it’s another to be in such a pointedly gay show.

Bro-lesque is a celebration of dance as an art form, including burlesque. It should be appreciated and celebrated regardless of the type of costume or the degree of revealing outfits. It’s important to note that there are straight versions of burlesque dance shows that often wear even less than my performers. The negative attention from conservatives is driven by their tendency to label anything they perceive as ‘left field’ and draw unwarranted criticism.

My mission for Bro-lesque was to create something that celebrates the male body while showcasing and highlighting queer dancers. It’s a unique blend where art meets sexuality. I envision Bro-lesque as a fusion of Magic Mike and Broadway Bares, where sensuality and creativity come together. The next step for us is to create a theatre show.

Always a proud Australian at heart, Lockhart is co-owner of The Tasmanian Dance Expo with Renee Ritchie, an organization very near his heart. He mentors dancers around the world and continues to share his message of owning yourself.

During this Pride season, my message to the LGBTQ community is simple: be your authentic self and let it shine bright. Embrace who you are with pride and confidence, knowing that your uniqueness is a beautiful gift. Remember to be kind to one another, for our community is built on love, acceptance, and support. Take the time to connect and get to know your community, as we are stronger together. And when the time is right, don’t be afraid to use your voice to make a change.

Photos courtesy of Lockhart Brownlie

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Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Shine in Commitment to Life

By Kevin Perry

Time can be a cruel gift. No matter how much of it we have, we always want more. Millions of our LGBTQ+ family had time ripped away from them in the prime of their lives, leaving scars in our community that may never heal. All we can do is memorialize them, love them, and promise them that we will do better.

It’s a promise that echoes through Commitment to Life, a brilliant and bracing account of how AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) rushed to help when nobody else would.

Great cinema manages to balance the intimate with the epic. Filmmakers can punch in for quiet human stories and then pull back to reveal how these tales weave together to form the fabric of the big picture. This is the mystifying magic trick of Commitment to Life. We spoke to the documentary’s director, Jeffrey Schwarz, and executive producer, Ron Sylvester, to learn how they brought the past into sharp focus and how Outfest helps pave their way to a shimmering future.

RON SYLVESTER: Many stories have been done about the New York fight against AIDS and what happened in San Francisco, but no one had really told the LA story. What was LA doing? How did Hollywood and celebrity play into the whole thing?

JEFFREY SCHWARZ: This is really the story of a city and the story of a community within the city. And within that city, there’s all these different aspects of different folks that were affected by this. You’ve got the white guys in West Hollywood. You’ve got the communities of color in other parts of town. You’ve got the celebrity and Hollywood quotient, and you’ve got the medical community. You’ve got the activists. So, there’s a lot going on here.

How did you balance the star-studded, glitzy elements of the film with the fact that you never lose the wounded humanity of what you’re telling? How did you strike that delicate balance?

RS: I have to really credit Jeffrey for that. Because I was always about this film being about as much star power as possible, and about Hollywood and the entertainment community. And it wasn’t until I saw the first or second cut

that I really appreciated what he did… You feel a connection to these individuals who were on the front line, who, in two cases, were early contractors of AIDS and are still alive today and they tell their story. You really understand the heart that goes along with it. And, at that point, I realized, okay, it’s crucial that we weave those two stories together. Because I think the Hollywood story, alone, would’ve been interesting, but it would not have been as touching.

JS: It definitely was a challenge to try to foreground the right stories. So we tried to pick representative voices from each of these groups of folks. Michael Gottlieb was an obvious person to talk about the medical side of things. Phil Wilson was an obvious person to talk about communities of color, as was Jewel Case Williams. These stories are amazing. Everybody is incredible. We’re so lucky to have this cast of characters.

It truly is a treasure trove of talent, from luminaries like Tom Cruise, Sharon Stone, and Tom Hanks, to quirky character actors who spoke up when the world was smothering us with silence. Could you discuss some of the best pop culture gems you mined during your creative process?

JS: I was familiar with people like Alison Arngrim. I knew about her involvement, but I didn’t know just how deep it went. And I didn’t know about her co-star in Little House on the Prairie, who she was very close friends with and who was gay and one of the earliest people that she knew who got sick. She took it upon herself to step up. I was really happy to talk to her and have her tell her story, because I think she needs to be acknowledged and she needs to be celebrated. And Zelda Rubinstein, I mean, I think growing up in the ‘80s, of course we all loved Zelda Rubinstein from Poltergeist. And I’m really happy people are going to get to know the role that she played, appearing in APLA’s earliest public service announcements about safe sex and that she was such a friend to the community.

RS: Being one of the first AIDS organizations in Los Angeles, we really felt like we could tell our story… Like, wow, we have hours and hours of A-List stars. We realized we had something... We had a bigger story to tell. And we had a

good piece of that story to tell through Commitment to Life and APLA’s interaction with Hollywood and celebrity. So we made the decision to really go for it.

Speaking of the title, could you discuss its origins and significance?

JS: I became aware of the name of the annual fundraisers that APLA had, which was called Commitment to Life. And that idea came very early on, and Elizabeth Taylor was involved in the first Commitment to Life, and it just kind of stuck as a title for their fundraiser. And it really did sum up the mission of APLA and the mission of everyone who was trying to help people with HIV and AIDS at that time. And that title just sort of was a working title. And then it just stuck for us too. We never came up with anything better. And it always seemed like, well, this is really what the movie’s about.

RS: So many people have forgotten the trauma, and the fight that went on to be seen, to be heard, to invite other people to the fight to help solve this issue. I mean, when we recap the Reagan era, which was a disaster. I mean, this is a guy who wouldn’t even say the word until eight years into his presidency. And I think the only reason he did it is because Elizabeth Taylor beat the hell out of him. God bless Elizabeth Taylor.

The Oscar-winning icon triumphs in archival footage that showcases her humor and rage. In one poignantly irreverent moment, Ms. Taylor openly voices her inner dialogue and exclaims, “Do something, bitch!” It’s a mantra that desperately needed to be heard back then as well as in the queer-and-now.

RS: I strongly believe that our history is dying every day. Not only that, they don’t teach this in schools anymore. And in most states in the country, they are actively legislating not to teach this in school, which just kind of blows my mind.

JS: Our primary mission was to make sure that the story isn’t forgotten, and also to try to make a movie that was engaging. I wanted you to experience the gut punch on those early years and the horror of those early years. But also, the sense that people coming together can basically do anything.

RS: You have to understand that we did win the fight. Maybe we didn’t cross the absolute finish line, but we most certainly showed people what we’re capable of. For the younger generation, it’s a must watch. I think if you’re a young member of the LGBT community, you have to understand your history. You have to understand where the older generation came from. And you’ve got to watch the movie, and you have to understand what we went through.

JS: These are just average people. Some of them were famous and some of them were not. And they all had a common interest to help their friends when the government wasn’t doing its job. And to sort of combat misinformation and to combat homophobia and transphobia. These are all issues, obviously, that are on the front page every day today. I think it’s a hopeful film, and I think that ideally it will inspire young people to get into the fight and just to be more more aware of on whose shoulders we stand.

Due to the urgent and passionate aesthetic of the film, promoting the film feels less like an advertisement and more like a celebration. How has the reception been thus far?

JS: We had a private screening a few months ago in West Hollywood that APLA health organized. And a lot of the folks that we interviewed got to see the movie for the first time and also got to see each other for the first time in a long time. And these were people that were intimately involved in each other’s lives for a very intense period of time. Those relationships have sort of changed over the years, as the epidemic has changed. So, for me, just as a filmmaker, I had experience interviewing these folks one-on-one, but to get to see them kind of reunite with each other and to get to see their heroism reflected back at them from that big screen was really one of the most amazing moving experiences I’ve ever had.

Looking forward, what are your expectations for Outfest and beyond?

RS: We have a screening on July 15th at the DGA main theater, which holds about 600 people. I would like to see it filled.

JS: It’s an incredible experience to get to see your film with such a loving, supportive community on that big Director’s Guild screen. And I’m counting the days until our screening. I really can’t wait. I think if anyone’s going to see this movie, the best possible way to see it is on that big screen.

RS: I want to talk about the movie as much as possible. I want people to know about the movie. And, ultimately, our goal is a streaming deal for the movie so that people all over the country, if not the world, can see this movie, and learn, and educate, and remember.

Commitment to Life is a euphoric eulogy that exhumes the spectres of the past and elevates them into celestial celluloid status. To ascend with them, be sure to attend Outfest and share the love, loss, laughter and legacy.

Hey Gurl! It’s Jordan Jayro

By Alexander Rodriguez

Photo courtesy of Jordan Jayro

There’s a sassy girl in town who has been taking SoCal by storm…next stop? World domination. Jordan Jayro has become a regular fixture in the Los Angeles area whether it be from doing interviews at DragCon, hosting drag bingo at every venue imaginable, delighting (and shocking) audiences with her comedy on stages all over, or from the latest episode of her popular podcast, Hey Gurl! where she chats with drag queens, comedians, artists, and performers about hot topics, drag, and more drag.

She has a look and style all her own, and her comedy is reminiscent of a young Joan Rivers with the bite of a Bianca Del Rio. She can adjust to any type of audience or venue, and her boy persona on social media is just as entertaining as her drag one. She is a self-made queen, not only establishing her look on her own but she also films and edits her own content and acts as her own manager. You never know where she will pop up, but you always know it will be a fun time. Keep your eye out for this one, she’s a feisty star on the rise. We caught up with Ms Jayro in between sessions of spilling tea.

What was your first exposure to drag?

The drag gods have been summoning me my whole life. Growing up I was obsessed with Madea and Mrs. Doubtfire. I remember doing community theatre as a teen and people asking me if I had seen  RuPaul’s Drag Race.  At the time the show had just started but I hadn’t watched it yet. Finally, in college, I was sick in bed and decided to binge-watch Drag Race and fell in love. Then I started going out to see local drag. At the time I was in school studying theatre and finally decided to give it a shot.

What made you decide to go professional?

I kept talking myself out of doing drag professionally! I felt like people wouldn’t take me seriously as an actor, musician, or comedian. And I felt like men wouldn’t want to date me. Once I got over my own issues and insecurities, I ran out of reasons not to do it. I quickly figured out that drag allows me to act, make music, do comedy, and so much more! It’s the only art form that truly fulfills me, and being able to turn it into a living is so cool!

What was your first professional drag gig like?

I consider my first professional gig to be the first time I was paid to do drag. It happened in 2017 at Flaming Saddles in West Hollywood. I had won a weekly drag competition hosted by Pickle, where the prize was a paid booking at Flaming Saddles. I remember wanting the booking so badly that I kept signing up for the competition over and over again until I won. Sometimes I joke that Pickle only let me win so I would stop showing up.

What is your hometown?

Perth Amboy, NJ.

How did you come up with your drag name?

Jordan is my legal first name. Jayro is my legal first and last name combined.

What do you love about living in LA the most?

The weather! I love the sun and the light breeze.

What is your coming out story?

I started coming out to friends when I was in the 8th grade living in Puerto Rico. When I moved back to the States at the end of that year, a classmate unfortunately outed me. I had just moved to Georgia and was adjusting to my new school. A girl I had befriended wrote me a note in class asking to be my girlfriend (poor thing). I responded that I was gay, so naturally, she passed it around the room for each person to read. The teacher confiscated the note and threatened to read it in front of the whole class. I begged him not to, and for some reason, he didn’t. That was the most humiliating time of my life, and those kids were so horrible to me. It motivated me to become an overachiever in high school. I took AP classes and was in every club. I wanted to be so involved at school that they had no choice but to like me.

Favorite part about doing drag?

Taking it off!

Least favorite part about doing drag?

The pain!

Craziest drag story?

A WeHo queen saying I only do comedy mixes because I’m a bad performer… Then later asking me to make her a comedy mix.

Your strangest hobby or talent?

I love lifting weights.

What makes Hey Gurl! Podcast different than other drag queen pods?

I chose to believe that I was the first local girl to start their own podcast. I’m sure I’m not the first, but this is my world and that’s my truth! It took a very long time to figure out, but I was such an avid listener of podcasts, and I knew one day I would have my own. Since starting Hey Gurl! in 2019, I’ve met and interviewed some of my favorite queens, artists, and comedians. I still can’t believe that I’m swiftly approaching my 100th episode! I wonder what I should do!

What has been one of your favorite episodes of Hey Gurl! ?

Oh my gosh, there are so many! I couldn’t possibly choose one. I’ve done episodes where I met someone for the first time on the pod. I’ve done episodes where I’ve addressed drama between the guest and myself. There are even guests who no longer speak to me! People have said the

Photo by David Martinez

most outrageous things that I’ve had to remove from the episode! And I have to say, as much gossip gets spilled on the pod, you should hear the things we talk about off the air! There are so many things I’ve been told that I will be taking to my grave.

What celebrity most needs a drag makeover?

Marjorie Taylor Green! Oh wait, you said a celebrity!

Favorite LA hotspot?

Is Chili’s an LA hotspot?!

Favorite LA non-profit?

The San Gabriel Valley LGBT Center. I live in that area and love the work they do for my community.

Do you think drag has become too commercial?

Not at all! I am a huge proponent of drag in the mainstream. Drag and queer culture has influenced secular culture for decades. And drag queens as well as trans people have always been martyrs for the LGBT+ community. There’s so much work to be done, and we now have the platform to do it. So, I want more visibility! I want drag queens hosting TV shows, I want them walking red carpets, and I want to see drag queens winning Oscars and Grammys!

What is the best way we can support the drag community?

It’s been said so many times, but it bears repeating - support local drag. It all starts in your neighborhood. That means going out to shows or even just sharing their content online. And it also means that venues need to invest in drag more. It means paying queens their worth! If I am performing at your bar and people come to see me, they will also be buying drinks. If I know your bar is making four figures a night and you say you can’t pay me, there’s a problem. If your boss asked you to come in to work, but said they weren’t going to pay you, would you still show up to work and do a good job? Exactly.

What would the name of your biography be?

Internationally Ignored, Locally Tolerated

Favorite song to perform to?

I love an elaborate comedy mix filled with memes.

What is your after-drag ritual?

Food! And a hot shower.

What’s your favorite pickup line?

“Hello. Would you like to engage in consensual adult LGBT activities?”

What is your message to the drag community this Pride season?

My message to the drag community this Pride season is one of hope! As we become increasingly visible, a lot of good will come. But a lot of bad will come as well. And we’re already seeing how ugly the opposition can be towards us. But that is why Pride is so important. We have to be out, loud, and proud to show people that we are here to stay. It can be overwhelming seeing all the headlines and hearing about the horrible laws being written to target our community. We must stay hopeful and visible and VOTE!

Where can we find and follow you?

I am @jordanjayro everywhere! Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, all the things. I’m taking a break from my mental health to focus on my social media so please follow me!

Catch Hey Gurl! Podcast weekly, wherever you get your pods!

Photo courtesy of Jordan Jayro

Photo courtesy of Hotel Californian

Photo courtesy of Foley Estate

Santa Barbara is the American Riviera

By Mark A Thompson

Before Hollywood became Hollywood, there was Santa Barbara. Home to the world’s largest film studio during the silent film era, the Pacific Coast city became known as “the American Riviera” for its temperate Mediterranean climate—and its appeal to film stars and directors.

Nestled between the Santa Ynez foothills and the Pacific Ocean, and less than 100 miles from LA, Santa Barbara looks the part; you can’t ignore its dramatic coastal beauty as you fly in from wherever. It’s a town ready for its close-up, the sort of place that begs for gimlet-eyed commentary by Eve Babitz while sipping a full-bodied California blend from one of the county’s 200 wineries. Wine is to Santa Barbara what tequila was to Babitz.

Fortunately, I was reading Babitz’s Slow Days, Fast Company as we hit the tarmac and disembarked into one of those picture-perfect California days that momentarily stuns those of us from the East. In a complement to Santa Barbara’s weather, often touted as the nation’s best, the entire city initially appears to be a film set on the backlot of Paramount Studios: an amalgam of Spanish Colonial Revival, with a smattering of Mediterranean Revival and Mission Revival. Seated in the back of a black Cadillac Escalade, it’s easy to feel as if the cameras are ready to roll as you pull up in front of Hotel Californian, one of those block-long exemplars of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

Originally built in 1925, Hotel Californian had the misfortune of opening one week before the historic earthquake of 1925 (6.8 on the Richter scale) which destroyed much of the city center. But unlike its equally majestic neighbor the Arlington Hotel (now home to the Arlington Theatre), Hotel Californian rose from the rubble like a phoenix to become an icon of downtown Santa Barbara. A sort of stepsister to LA’s Chateau Marmont, the hotel was home to Rocky Galenti’s, a live music dive beloved by locals for its Whisky a Go Go vibe.

Following a multi-million dollar transformation in 2018, Hotel Californian reopened as a five-star luxury property situated at the entrance to the city’s bougie-bohemian Funk Zone. The waterfront neighborhood is notable for its restaurants, art galleries, cafés, surf shops—and a large segment of Santa Barbara’s renowned Urban Wine Trail. Comprised of five neighborhoods, the Urban Wine Trail is a self-guided tour

of more than 30 tasting rooms, many of which are adjacent to the beach, and more than a few of which are focused on female wine producers. Bear in mind, the Santa Ynez Valley is where the protagonists of the film Sideways went off in search of the perfect pinot noir.

For those seeking to follow in the footsteps of Miles and Jack, consider a day trip into the Santa Rita Hills for a visit to Foley Estates followed by a tasting at Firestone Vineyard. Established in 1972 as the first estate vineyard in Santa Barbara County, Firestone has become a 325-acre sustainable winery, as notable for their Bordeaux and Rhone Valley blends as for its barrel room cameo in Sideways. After an afternoon of tasting flights, it’s easy to understand why Wine Enthusiast designated Santa Barbara as 2021’s Wine Region of the Year. Caveat emptor, in vino veritas.

Fortunately, Hotel Californian has its own grand cru tasting room on property known as The Society: State & Mason. Oenophiles and connoisseurs converge on the corner of State Street and Mason Avenue for tasting experiences paired with culinary treats from Executive Chef Travis Watson who helms the kitchen at Blackbird.

In a nod to Santa Barbara’s cinematic history, Blackbird pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock with an avian-themed blackand-red dining room dotted with blackbird imagery. Unlike the cast in Hitchcock’s The Birds, however, patrons are gently seduced, especially by the room’s supper club vibe and Watson’s coastal California cuisine. The Michelin-listed restaurant is one of thirteen Michelin Guide restaurants in Santa Barbara, as is the Spanish-influenced Loquita. Located a few blocks from Hotel Californian, Loquita honors its Spanish provenance with an El Bulli liquid olive served alongside toothsome paella, all beautifully plated on a patio bursting with bougainvillea. The lively restaurant and youthful crowd perfectly captures the laidback vibe that defines Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.

A nightcap at Djinn and its adjacent Library Bar offers an opportunity to curl up with a signature cocktail while the Funk Zone catwalk parades along the hotel’s lushly landscaped paseo. During a full moon, the Moroccan-themed Djinn hosts its monthly Howl party, complete with lunar cocktails, board games, and a Tarot card reader.

Photos courtesy of Hotel Californian

Visitors to Santa Barbara bring in more than $1 billion in revenue at annual events such as Pacific Pride Festival in August where free same-sex weddings are officiated along the waterfront. Equally cinematic is the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January which attracts more than 50,000 cinephiles to the neighboring Arlington Theatre, while theatre aficionados head to the Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic on the corner of State and Chapala.

For years, surfing has been an integral part of Santa Barbara’s outdoor culture, thanks in part to local documentarian Bruce Brown whose Endless Summer films fueled interest in the sport. Founded in 1969 in a factory along the beach, Channel Island Surfboards has worked with numerous local surfing legends including Kelly Slater and Tom Curren, and today, the Funk Zone remains the nexus of surf culture with various surfing outposts.

For those seeking a more mellow form of well-being, Hotel Californian offers custom bicycles, as well as a rooftop pool with panoramic vistas of the Pacific and the surrounding mountains. The hotel’s Majorelle Saturday Sessions group fitness class, led by instructor Victoria Popoff, provides a perfect excuse for a post-workout spa treatment at the hotel’s Majorelle spa. Named for the artist behind Majorelle Garden in Marrakech, the spa is a soothing cerulean oasis of serenity staffed by therapists with thumbs of steel. At which point,

you might begin to entertain fantasies of a Santa Barbara life—and which family jewels you need to hock to make it happen.

Early one morning, I stood on the balcony of my room at Hotel Californian. Just to be clear, the hotel’s rooms and suites are designed in full-stop mid-century glam by Martyn Lawrence Bullard (think Cher and Château Gütsch and Million Dollar Decorators), complete with custom cocktail bars stocked with full-size bottles of top-shelf spirits, as well as cocktail shakers and rocks glasses. Hardly anyone was about as the sun began to rise and I called home to the East Coast. Just then, the whistle of the train cut through the morning light and my husband heard it across the wires. “Is that the train?” he asked.

Located just a few blocks from Hotel Californian, the Santa Barbara train station was built in 1902 in the Spanish Mission Revival style. Some days when walking State Street, it’s necessary to stop at the crossing as the train pulls into the station, either the Pacific Surfliner from San Diego to San Luis Obispo or the Coast Starlight which runs between Seattle and LA. Hopefuls still arriving to this day, ready for their close-up.

“Yes, dear, the train,” I responded, ice tinkling in my glass. “Just another day in paradise on the American Riviera.”

Photo courtesy of Hotel Californian

Byron Lane Invites us to a Big Gay Wedding

By Alexander Rodriguez

Byron Lane’s love affair with words is far from languishing. Winning two regional Emmy Awards for his time as a TV journalist, he went on to write for and appear on the stage and screen. Remember the odd but highly successful stage piece Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist? That was from his mind. Three years ago, he made the leap into novel writing with A Star is Bored, a fictional homage to his time working for Carrie Fisher, a master of words herself. The book barely hit the shelves as it was scooped up by critics and readers alike. It was a smashing success. It made the top book lists for People, Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar, Parade Magazine, New York Times Review, USA Today, and the NY Post, with the list going on and on - not to mention that social media frenzy it stirred with celebs from the LGBTQ world and beyond touting his book. We had the honor of chatting with him as his debut novel was released. That’s when we fell in love with the man behind the keyboard. Unas-

suming and soft-spoken, he is a force of optimistic and infectious energy. He is what his books promote – sincere love and affection. He somehow turns the conversation around, asking how you are and what you are going through to the point you don’t know if the conversation will result in laughs or tears with it most times having a bit of both.

This summer, he’s back with his sophomore novel, Big Gay Wedding: A Novel. It has been said in the literary world that a follow-up book is a bigger test for a writer than the first. There are deadlines, there are economic pressures set by the first book, and there are expectations set by readers and critics. Can a successful debut novelist recapture lighting in a bottle? List after list of media outlets and critics have touted Big Gay Wedding as one of the most anticipated and best reads of 2023. Having read an advance copy, I can enthusiastically say this is what you

Photo courtesy of Byron Lane

loved about A Star Is Bored and even more. With more pathos than his first book, he weaves emotion, humor, and gayness into a masterfully told story that is both charming and important. Basically put, the book deals with the homecoming of the hero Barnett to a small Louisiana farm town to announce to his mother that he is getting married … to a man. Though his mother knew he was gay, it was never such a definite issue and she certainly has her reservations. As the story unfolds, Barnett’s fiancé and family invade the farm and it is decided the wedding will take place on the farm. Hilarity ensues as mother and town must adjust to all the gayness being thrust upon them. Was Lane nervous in writing this follow-up? How did he choose this story?

The process of writing anything for me always has been scary from the plays and the web series stuff, the first book, and then the second book. I was lucky that I had an editor who was very encouraging. My partner, Steven Rowley, and I had just gotten married and we had a very small gay wedding. I remember talking to my editor, James Melia, about what should the next book be. We tossed around some ideas and he pointed out, you know, you just had a little gay wedding and do you have any ideas for a book about maybe a BIG gay wedding? And I thought, all right, well, what would that look like in the world and what would

that look like in my world of this guy from Louisiana? I’m a Southern guy, conservative background, religious background, so what would’ve happened if I would’ve brought the big gay marriage to the South? That’s where the idea came from.

On a more serious note, the book does deal with homophobia, hate crimes, forgiveness towards those who rally against our community, and the real definition of unconditional love. With so much political and social hate directed towards our community, did he think titling the book Big Gay Wedding would be limiting its off-the-shelf appeal?

I think it is not just wise, but important. I hope people think that it’s brave in some way. And now is the time to be brave. Now is the time to refuse to be eradicated from public life and public space. If Pride ever meant anything, it must mean EVERYTHING now; now really is the time for Pride. I’m going to be 45 soon and, for me, Pride has always been evolving. It really started for me way back in 2008 with gay marriage stuff and Prop 8 [CA amendment to ban same-sex marriage] very early on. Now, at this age, I look around and I see the horrible things that are happening with our trans brothers and sisters and our non-binary friends. It really is time to be proud to show our pride and to be loud. And if

Photos courtesy of Byron Lane

having a title, Big Gay Wedding with a couple of guys holding hands on the cover in a bookstore can be any kind of flag for that, I’m here for it.

Big Gay Wedding has the substance and sincerity of Byron’s first novel, but, being told in the third person rather than first, the characters have evolved. Lane has this talent of connecting with a character so the reader knows in an instant who this person is, how they feel, and how they think.

We go into the minds of all (these) characters. I hope it shows some growth on my part in an ability to round out these stories - a mother who is desperate to connect with her son and who has to experience her own sort of coming out as being supportive of a gay son; the gay son who has to wrangle his maybe impatience and frustration with a mom who’s moving a little bit too slow and coming to acceptance; and a grandfather who in the book is named Paw-Paw (in real life, I did have a Paw-Paw and Maw-Maw) who lives in a nursing home and forced to watch Glee and has had his own evolution on what gay life means and that it’s acceptable and loving and who cares? You’ve got all these rich characters and I’m grateful that I’m able to explore each one so in-depth.

Being gay has helped me with characters because, growing up, I’ve had to protect myself constantly. And so sometimes I feel like I’m a little bit of a scared puppy or something where you have to just be on alert and know like, okay, these are some bad vibes, this person doesn’t have my best interest in heart. Even growing up with strict parents, I didn’t want to step on dad’s toes. And I think a lot of gay people can relate to that. Is my teacher making fun of me, or is she being supportive? Riding the bus to school the guys in the back would shoot spitballs at me and I remem-

ber so vividly looking at the driver, I could see him in the rearview mirror, he had dark sunglasses on. I never knew if he was really looking back and wondering why doesn’t he help me? Why doesn’t he protect me? So, I think some of what I can bring to writing is a little bit of that hypersensitivity and an ability to kind of craft these people because I’ve met these people.

Byron’s characters in Big Gay Wedding each go through their own evolution with unconditional love. Unconditional love has been a journey for Byron in real life. He has found his soul mate with his husband, acclaimed writer Stephen Rowley. The two live in Palm Springs, sharing the squabbles of married life and unmade beds but also sharing the successes that have come their way. As gay men, not everyone finds their mate, and not everyone experiences that unconditional love from their family.

It really breaks my heart and it reminds me of growing up. My dad was really strict and I always wanted to please him. I sometimes think of that hypothetical where you go back and tell your younger self something, I would go back and tell my younger self, hey, you will never make him happy. This thing they call unconditional love, you will never get from him. So just put that on the back burner and live your life. Do your best, and be a good person. When I think about what that would’ve given younger Byron, I think it would’ve given him a little bit more freedom. Sometimes that’s just part of it. There are people who just aren’t going to love, and it sucks and it’s awful. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel here. We can look at the cliches - it gets better. That’s true. It WILL get better. Love yourself.

Big Gay Wedding is available everywhere. You can follow Byron on IG: @ByronLaneDotCom

Photo courtesy of Byron Lane

Puerto Vallarta in July? Definitely! Guadalajara Too!

By Paco Ojeda

Here’s a funny situation: while some of us Vallartenses are brainstorming ideas to escape the heat, you’re contemplating whether to visit Puerto Vallarta in the Summer or not. A lot has been said about the heat, rain, and humidity during these months, but here’s the bottom line: Summer in Puerto Vallarta is awesome if you don’t mind the heat. However, for those of us who live here year-round, this is the time when we plan weekend getaways to cooler places whenever possible.

The two closest options are still appealing, but with a few improvements. San Sebastián del Oeste, a charming former mining town just 70 minutes away from Puerto Vallarta in the Sierra Madre mountains, is a perfect retreat for those seeking peace, tranquility, and a close connection with nature. El Tuito, a small town 60 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta, is also nestled in the mountains and has been evolving with more lodging options and a small but diverse Farmers’ Market on Sundays. Plus, there’s an awesome, gay-owned restaurant right in the heart of town, or two, depending on who you ask!

Now, what about Guadalajara, our capital city? It’s both a cosmopolitan destination and a colonial city, attracting more visitors every year who are discovering what many Mexicans already know: Guadalajara is an amazing city to explore for LGBTQ+ folks. In fact, by the time you read this, the city will have already hosted not one, but two separate gay pride parades! And with the upcoming Gay Games 2023 in November, you might want to consider a visit. Whether it’s a complement to your Puerto Vallarta trip or a standalone adventure, here are some things to consider.

Guadalajara’s International Airport welcomes direct flights from many US cities. You can also fly from Puerto Vallarta, but some people prefer the comfort of the first-class ETN bus, which has only three seats per aisle instead of the usual four, even when travel time is approximately 4.5 hrs.

The city offers a vibrant and diverse nightlife scene, concentrated in two areas: the “Zona Rosa,” centered around the inter-

section of Avenida Chapultepec and Calle López Cotilla, where you’ll find a variety of gay-friendly bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops. The Historic Downtown Area is another spot where you’ll find gay-friendly hotels and guesthouses. Getting around Guadalajara is easy and affordable thanks to the abundance of Uber drivers.

As Mexico’s third-largest metropolitan area, Guadalajara boasts amazing cuisine to suit every budget. You can indulge in traditional dishes like birria and tortas ahogadas or treat yourself to haute cuisine restaurants. For a truly Mexican experience, a visit to Tlaquepaque, a neighboring town southeast of the city, is a must. There, you’ll find colorful streets, art galleries, and numerous shops showcasing traditional arts and crafts. Don’t miss the San Juan de Dios market, the largest indoor traditional mercado, located in downtown Guadalajara.

If you’re interested in cultural sites, some may catch the attention of LGBTQ+ travelers. For instance, The Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Gráficas (Journalism and Graphic Arts Museum) features an exhibit dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and the struggle for equality. At the MUSA Museo de las Artes Universidad de Guadalajara (MUSA Museum of the Arts, University of Guadalajara), there’s a first-ever exhibition of letters and personal belongings owned by the renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, on display until August 6.

As diverse and exciting as Guadalajara is, there are a couple of things to keep in mind for your first visit. The city is not as English-friendly as Puerto Vallarta, so it might be a good idea to bring along a local friend or make some new ones. Also, while it’s one of the best places in Mexico for LGBTQ+ people to live, it’s still a relatively conservative city. So, it’s best to be mindful of local laws, customs, and safety precautions while traveling.

Catch up with Paco Ojeda live Monday - Saturday at 10:30 am local time, on his talk show, “Coffee & Headlines,” where he shares headlines and stories for Puerto Vallarta’s local English-speaking community. facebook.com/pacoojedalive

Photos Paco Ojeda

LOS ANGELES DIRECTORY

BARS & CLUBS

AKBAR

4356 W. Sunset Blvd Silverlake, CA 90029

323.665.6810

akbarsilverlake.com

BEACHES WEHO

8928 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.360.0395

beachesweho.com

FIESTA CANTINA

88565 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.652.8865

fiestacantina.net

FUBAR

7994 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046

323.654.0396

fubarla.com

GYM Sportsbar

8919 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069 424.313.8202

gymsportsbar.com

HAMBURGER MARY’S

8288 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

323.654.3800

hamburgermarys.com

Heart Weho

8911 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069

heartweho.com

HI TOPS

8933 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

hitopsbar.com

MICKYS

8857 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.657.1176

mickys.com

ROCCO’S

8900 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069 424.343.0123

roccosweho.com

SAINT FELIX

8945 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.275.4428

saintfelix.net

THE ABBEY

692 N Robertson Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.289.8410

theabbeyweho.com

THE CHAPEL 692 N Robertson Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.289.8410

theabbeyweho.com

THE EAGLE

4219 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029 323.669.9472

eaglela.com

REVOLVER VIDEO BAR

8851 SANTA MONICA BLVD. WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069 424.382.1108

REVOLVERWEHO.COM

STACHE 8941 SANTA MONICA BLVD

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069

310.402.0770

STACHEWEHO.COM

THE BAYOU

8939 SANTA MONICA BLVD

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069

310.273.3303

THEBAYOUWEHO.COM

TRUNKS

8809 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.652.1015

west.hollywood.trunksbar.com

CLOTHING & LEATHER

665 Leather & Fetish 20810 Lassen St

Chatsworth, CA 91311

818.678.9193

665leather.com

BRICK & MORTAR

8713 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.652.6605

shopatbrick.com

CHI CHI LARUE’S

8861 Santa Monica Blvd and 8230 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069 323.337.9555

circusofbooks.com

ROUNDERBUM

802 N San Vicente Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

844.284.2968

rounderbum.com

ROUGH TRADE LEATHER 3915 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90029

323.660.7956

roughtradegear.com

THE PLEASURE CHEST

7733 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046 323.650.1022

thepleasurechest.com

HAIR SALONS BLADES

801 N. Larrabee St, Ste #1

West Hollywood

310 659-6693

LOS ANGELES DIRECTORY

SHORTY’S BARBER SHOP

755 N Fairfax Ave

West Hollywood

323 297-0554

shortysbarbershop.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES HEALTH/COUNSELING

AID FOR AIDS AFA

8235 Santa Monica Blvd #200 West Hollywood, CA 90046

323 656-1107 aidforaids.net

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION/MENS

WELLNESS CENTER

• 6255 W Sunset Blvd, 21st Fl Los Angeles, CA 90028

888 AIDS CARE

• 1300 N Vermont Ave, Ste 407 Los Angeles, CA 90027

866 339-2525

800 367-2437 inspotla.org

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION PHARMACY

8212 Santa Monica Blvd

The David Geffen Center West Hollywood, CA 90046

323 654-0907 ahfpharmacy.org

APLA HEALTH

CLIENT & COMMUNITY SERVICES

The David Geffen Center

• 611 South Kingsley Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90005

213.201.1600

213 201-WALK (9255)

• 3743 S. La Brea Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90016

323.329.9900

• 5901 W. Olympic Blcd. #310

Los Angeles, CA 90036

• 1043 Elm Avenue #302

Long Beach, CA 90813

562.247.7740 apla.org aidswalk.net

AIDS RESEARCH ALLIANCE

1400 S Grand Ave Ste 701 Los Angeles, CA 90015 310 358-2429

www.hopetakesaction.org aidsresearch.org

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

3333 Wilshire Blvd #900 Los Angeles, CA 90010 800 227-2345 cancer.org

BEING ALIVE PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS ACTION COALITION

621 N San Vincente Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 289-2551 beingalivela.org

GAY & LESBIAN CENTER

Orange County

1605 N Spurgeon St Santa Ana, CA 92701 714 953-5428 thecenteroc.org

HOLY FAMILY SERVICES, ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE

840 Echo Park Ave Los Angeles, CA 90026 213 202-3900 hfs.org

LA FREE CLINIC

• 5205 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038 323 653-1990 – appts 323 653-8622 – admin lafreeclinic.org

• 6043 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028

• 8405 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90048 LA Public Health reallycheckyourself.org

OUT OF THE CLOSET

THRIFT SHOPS

• 8224 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046

323 848-9760

• 3500 East Pacific Coast Hwy

Long Beach, CA 90804

562 494-0340

• 1726 East Colorado Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91106

626 440-1719

• 360 North Fairfax Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90036

323 934-1956

PROJECT ANGEL FOOD

922 Vine St

Los Angeles, CA 90038

323 845-1800

angelfood.org

THE TREVOR PROJECT

9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310 271-8845

thetrevorproject.org

VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE

6801 Coldwater Canyon Ave

North Hollywood, CA 91605

818 301-6314 - HIV testing

818 301-6390 - Medical Services

smarthealthla.com

LEGAL

LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND INC.

Western Regional Office

3325 Wilshire Blvd #1300

Los Angeles, CA 90010

213 382-7600

lambdalegal.org

NATIONAL G & L TASK FORCE

5455 Wilshire Blvd #1505

Los Angeles, CA 90036

323 954-9597

thetaskforce.org

PALM SPRINGS DIRECTORY

ATTRACTIONS

THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS

47900 Portola Ave

Palm Desert, CA 92260 760 346-5694 livingdesert.org

PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM

745 N Gene Autry Trail Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 778-6262 palmspringsairmuseum.org

PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM

101 Museum Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 322-4800 psmuseum.org

PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY

1 Tram Way Palm Springs, CA 92262

888 515-8726 pstramway.com

BARS & CLUBS

BLACKBOOK

315 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.832.8497 blackbookbar.com

CHILL BAR

217 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.1079 chillbarpalmsprings.com

DICK’S ON ARENAS

301 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.0753 eagle501bar.com

HUNTERS

302 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0700 hunterspalmsprings.com

ONE ELEVEN BAR

67555 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.537.3111 oneelevenbar.com

OSCAR’S

125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 108 Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.1188 oscarspalmsprings.com

QUADZ

200 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.4326 Spurline.com

STREET BAR

224 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1266 psstreetbar.com

THE BARRACKS

67-625 E. Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.321.9688

REFORMA

333 S Palm Canyon Dr Unit 2, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-902-6630 reformaps.com

THE ROOST LOUNGE

68718 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.507.8495 theroostcc.com

TOOL SHED

600 E. Sunny Dunes Rd. Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.320.3299 pstoolshed.com

TOUCANS TIKI LOUNGE

2100 N. Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.7584 toucanstikilounge.com

CLOTHING OPTIONAL RESORTS BEARFOOT INN

888 N. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA. 92262

760.699.7641 bearfootinn.com

DESCANSO

288 E. Camino Monte Vista Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.320.1928 descansoresort.com

DESERT PARADISE

615 S. Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.320.5650 desertparadise.com

EL MIRASOL VILLAS

525 Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.327.5913

elmirasol.com

INNDULGE PALM SPRINGS

601 Grenfall Rd

Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.327.1408

inndulge.com

SANTIAGO RESORT

650 San Lorenzo Road

Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.322.1300

santiagoresort.com

THE HACIENDA

586 S. Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.327.8111

thehacienda.com

TRIANGLE INN PALM SPRINGS

555 San Lorenzo Rd. Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.322.7993

triangle-inn.com

TWIN PALMS

1930 S. Camino Real Palm Springs, CA

760-841-1455

twinpalmsresort.com

VISTA GRANDE RESORT

574 S. Warm Sands Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.322.2404

vistagranderesort.com

CLOTHING & LEATHER GAYMART

305 E. Arenas Rd

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.416.6436

GEAR LEATHER & FETISH

650 E Sunny Dunes Rd #1

Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.322.3363

gearleather.com

ROUGH TRADE LEATHER

321 E. Arenas Rd

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.699.7524

roughtradegear.com

GIFTS

DESTINATION PSP

170 North Palm Canyon

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 354-9154

destinationpsp.com

GREETINGS PALM SPRINGS

301 N Palm Canyon Dr # 102

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 322-5049

greetingspalmsprings.com

PALM SPRINGS DIRECTORY

JUST FABULOUS

515 N Palm Canyon Dr

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 864-1300 bjustfabulous.com

MISCHIEF CARDS & GIFTS

226 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 322-8555 mischiefcardsandgifts.com

PEEPA’S

120 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 318-3553 peepasps.com

PS HOMEBOYS

108 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.318.7388 pshomeboys.com

Q TRADING COMPANY

606 E Sunny Dunes Rd Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-416-7150

HAIR SALONS

CUT BARBER

1109 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 322-2999 cutbarber.com

DADDY’S BARBERSHOP

192 S Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 760 537-1311 daddysbarbershop.com

MEN’S GROOMING SPOT

68487 E Palm Canyon Dr Suite 43 Cathedral City, CA 92234 760 992-0028 mensgroomingspot.com

PALM SPRINGS FINE MEN’S SALON

750 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3 Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.904.0434 psfinemenssalon.com

REALTORS

3 BEARS REALTY

2905 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-699-6175 3bearsrealty.com

PALM SPRINGS HOME TEAM

Conrad Miller (DRE #01973983)

760.464.9559

Brandon Holland (DRE # 01986968)

760.413.1220

Palmspringshometeam.com

RESTAURANTS

1501 UPTOWN GASTROPUB

1501 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, 92262 760-507-1644 1501uptown.com

BLACKBOOK

315 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.8497 blackbookbar.com

BOOZEHOUNDS PALM SPRINGS 2080 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.656-0067 boozehoundsps.com

EIGHT4NINE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE

849 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.8490 eight4nine.com

FARM

6 La Plaza Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.322.2724 farmspalmsprings.com

JOHANNES

196 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.778.0017

johannespalmsprings.com

NICOLINO’S CATHEDRAL CITY

35325 Date Palm Drive, Unit 111, Cathedral City, CA 92234

760-324-041 nicolinos.com

RICK’S DESERT GRILL

1596 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.325.2127 ricksdesertgrill.com

SAMMY’S PLACE

69034 E Palm Canyon Drive Cathedral City, CA 92234

760.770.4030

originalsammysplace.com

SHAME ON THE MOON

69950 Frank Sinatra Dr Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

760.324.5515 shameonthemoon.com

SHERMAN’S DELI

401 E Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.325.1199 shermansdeli.com

TRILUSSA

68-718 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234

760.328.2300

trilussarestaurant.com

TRIO RESTAURANT

707 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA. 92262

760.854.8746

triopalmsprings.com

WILMA & FRIEDA’S

155 S Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.992.5080

wilmafrieda.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

DAP HEALTH

1695 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 323-2118

daphealth.org

DESERT CARE NETWORK 760 561-7373 desertcarenetwork.com

DESERT OASIS HEALTHCARE

275 North El Cielo Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 325-DOHC (3642) mydohc.com

EISENHOWER HEALTH

39000 Bob Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

760 340-3911 eisenhowerhealth.org

MICHAEL’S HOUSE

1910 S Camino Real Palm Springs, CA 92262

844 768-0633 michaelshouse.com

PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER

4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92264

760 416-5718 psanimalshelter.org

PALM SPRINGS FRONT RUNNERS & WALKERS frontrunners.clubexpress.com

STONEWALL GARDENS

2150 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 548-0970

stonewallgardens.com

LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE DESERT

1301 North Palm Canyon Dr, 3rd Floor Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 416-7790

thecentercv.org

Sonoma & beyond...

"Bringing together wine lovers and LGBTQ+ friendly wineries, restaurants, hotels and others for a community experience."