FROM THE EDITOR
A MONTH FILLED WITH LOVE
We hope you are healthy and happy, and everyone at GED MAGAZINE wishes you a month filled with LOVE. Whether it is a romantic dinner, exchanging gifts, or simply enjoying quality time together with your loved ones, Valentines Day is simply a reminder to appreciate those closest to you and express it. We hope you enjoy this issue with our exclusive interviews with Michael Orland, Elliott with two Ts, along with what’s new On Stage, and some events for Black History Month.
SOME FEBRUARY EVENTS TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR INCLUDE:
• Modernism Week, where GED and METROSOURCE are the presenting media sponsors for a one-of-a-kind 60s Party at The Vibe House, an exclusive first time look inside the famous Deepwell Estate originally owned by the “plumber to the stars” Jack Stephan. This Palm Springs time capsule home is meticulously maintained as it was when Stephan hosted infamous celebrity gatherings.
Tickets may still available at https://tinyurl.com/3ky6w9b2.
• Bow Wow Bingo presented by Boozehounds and GED Magazine the last
Wednesday of each beginning February 26th. This is a charity bingo like no other hosted by Ethylina Canne and her pooch Joey. Bring your doggie pals, enjoy half off select bottles of wine, delicious food offerings, and help raise funds for local charities. This month’s beneficiary is the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Tickets are available at gedmag.com and boozehoundsps.com.
Stay tuned for some exciting NEW events, NEW columns, and NEW excitement as 2025 progresses. As always, the GED Magazine Team is committed to bringing you the best in LGBTQ entertainment, travel, and lifestyles.
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, Twitter, and TikTok @GEDmagazine and tag us in your photos - #GEDmag
GED MAGAZINE is here for YOUR entertainment!
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WE ARE CONTINUOUS: San Diego – San Diego’s Diversionary Theatre is the third-oldest LGBTQ theatre in the USA and in addition to an incredible schedule of community outreach activities, they produce a half dozen or so mainstage productions per year which are some of the finest gay theatre I have seen. This month brings We Are Continuous, a 2023 play by Harrison David Rivers.The son. The mother. The husband. Can they ever really know each other—or will there always be a chasm between them? When a crisis forces a gay Black man, his white lover, and his estranged mother to come together in the face of the devout patriarch and insidious ideology that threatens to tear them apart, will the delicate foundations of their relationships begin to show cracks? Or will their personal bonds strengthen in the face of adversity? This uncompromising, intelligent, and lyrical play is a frank and profound exploration of family, self-discovery, and acceptance. Playing 2/13 – 3/9. diversionary.org
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD: Hollywood
-- Set 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, J. K. Rowling refers to this as “The eighth Harry Potter story,” but instead of centering around Harry, Ron and Hermione, it’s the next generation. The play follows Harry, who is now Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and his younger son, Albus Severus Potter. When Albus is sent to Hogwarts he meets Scorpio Malfoy, son of Harry’s nemesis Draco Malfoy. The two sons develop a tight bond which is explicitly romantic. When I saw the show on Broadway it confused the hell out of me. I strongly recommend that you look up the plot on Wikipedia before seeing it on stage. However, without clearly understanding the plot, the stage magic is still worth the effort. There are plenty of illusions, big and small.
On Broadway there are giant Dementers (or perhaps some other spooky beings) who fly around the ceiling of the theatre over the audience, and numerous trap doors. This production is only touring to Chicago, D.C. and Los Angeles so it’s likely that the auditorium effects will duplicate those in the Broadway production. Note, when this show originally opened on Broadway, it was in two halves. Audiences had to come on two consecutive nights, or a matinee and an evening on a single day. It has had 90 minutes trimmed and now appears in one 3.5-hour-long play. A long time to sit, but still better than booking two expensive tickets on consecutive nights. The show is scheduled for over four months at the Hollywood Pantages so there must be plenty of Potter fans in the southland.Playing at the Hollywood Pantages 2/15 – 6/22. BroadwayInHollywood.com
CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND: Los Angeles – I love to share with you theatrical experiences you might not otherwise know about. For instance, were you aware that East West Players, a theatre company formed to enable Asian actors to hone their craft, has been operating continuously since 1965? They are now opening their 60th Season with a production called Cambodian Rock Band. Part-play, part-rock concert, the Los Angeles Premiere of Lauren Yee’s Cambodian Rock Band, directed by Chay Yew and featuring music by Dengue Fever, explores the story of a Khmer Rouge survivor as he returns to Cambodia after 30 long years. As his daughter prepares to prosecute one of the regime’s most notorious war criminals, the ghosts of their shared past begin to stir. This deeply moving story weaves back and forth through time as father and daughter confront history, turning to music as a path towards healing. The music is by Los Angeles band Dengue Fever. The play has been presented across the country, but this is its first production in Los Angeles County, home to the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia. Playing 2/13 – 3/9. eastwestplayers.org
THE SHOW EXPLORES THE STORY OF A KHMER ROUGE SURVIVOR AS HE RETURNS TO CAMBODIA AFTER 30 LONG YEARS. AS HIS DAUGHTER PREPARES TO PROSECUTE ONE OF THE REGIME’S MOST NOTORIOUS WAR CRIMINALS, THE GHOSTS OF THEIR SHARED PAST BEGIN TO STIR.
FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT: Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Music Center is a collection of three theatres: The elegant Dorothy Chandler Pavillion is used primarily for opera and ballet. The more austere Ahmanson Theatre houses touring musicals. Between the two large theatres is a round building which houses the Mark Taper Forum, a thrust stage with about 700 seats wrapping around three sides of the stage. It has housed some well-produced productions of edgier plays, usually with stunning set designs and occasionally with recognizable Hollywood stars. Alas, this theatre had to close in June 2023 as it was deemed no longer financially viable.
I don’t know the “How” of it, but I’m delighted to see that it is re-opening, at least for the World Premier of Fake it Until You Make It by Larissa FastHorse, a member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, and author of the Broadway comedy, The Thanksgiving Play.
Meet Wynona, the Native American proprietor of N.O.B.U.S.H., and River, her white counterpart at Indigenous Nations Soaring. Their escalating rivalry ensnares colleagues and bystanders, leading to the unraveling of secrets that highlight the absurdities of ambition and authenticity. The comedy takes an absurd look at what defines who we are, and the lengths some people will go through to change it.
Playing 1/29 – 3/9. CenterTheatreGroup.org
THE COMEDY TAKES AN ABSURD LOOK AT WHAT DEFINES WHO WE ARE, AND THE LENGTHS SOME PEOPLE WILL GO THROUGH TO CHANGE IT.
2024 NIGHTLIFE SPOTS
SPILLING A DOUBLE DOSE OF T
ELLIOTT WITH 2 Ts
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
Elliott with 2 Ts is hot off her Drag Race anniversary. She made a splash on the show’s 13th season and quickly became a fan favorite. Glamming it up in Vegas, she ends up popping into Palm Springs and Los Angeles quite often. For those who have had the privilege to meet her off the clock, she is charming, down to earth, and always adorable, she is our twunk fantasy. She hails from Ennis, Texas, and maintains that mid-West charm and manners. She hasn’t slowed down since her time on Drag Race and continues the hustle. She is not just a maven of drag, but also a professional ballet dancer. She worked as a dance teacher at a studio that Alyssa Edwards owns. She is also a worldly queen, having lived in Canada and England, expanding the boundaries of her drag. To close out 2024, she made her Sydney, Australia debut. She is often asked about her signature stance in her promo pic for Drag Race, with her one leg up. Simply put, she is obsessed with flamingos and was paying homage. We caught up with Elliott in between gigs and are excited to feature her as this month’s Drag Spotlight.
How did growing up on a farm in Texas best prepare you for life?
It made me appreciate what I have. I’m not afraid of hard work and getting in the dirt, so living in shiny Vegas feels like a dream.
What was your first exposure to drag?
When I was little, my mom knew I was gay. So, one night, after we went to see a show at the local theater, she drove me to the only 24/7 cafe outside where all the gay bars were, so I could see the gay couples and drag queens and see people like me living normal lives. That, and a worn-out VHS of The Birdcage.
What is it about doing drag that inspires you so much?
I love the ability to transform into something bigger than myself. That way we can put on a massive costume and move people. It’s a powerful thing!!!
What was your first professional drag gig?
I was 15 years old, and it was with a local LGBT+ youth center, performing at a Gay-La Prom for local youth. I performed “Bad Romance” with backup dancers and everything. I never felt more like a rock star in my life.
Favorite part about doing drag?
The fashion!
Least favorite part about doing drag?
The cost of everything.
Craziest drag story?
I think performing at a wake fits that bill.
Your strangest hobby or talent outside of drag?
Hobbies? I don’t have time or energy for hobbies! [Laughs]
What sets your drag apart from other queens?
My professionalism. I feel like drag queens are known to be late and act like divas, and I’m trying to change that perception. I attend a lot of charity events and galas, and I like to go in drag, so more people see I’m just a regular person. Regular, but FABULOUS.
How has drag changed your life?
Drag has given me the opportunity to design my own destiny. It has taken me places I never thought I’d go to and has given me star power I never knew I had.
What celebrity most needs a drag makeover?
Everyone in DC.
Favorite hotspot?
The Phoenix in Las Vegas.
Favorite non-profit?
HRC (Human Rights Campaign).
Favorite cocktail?
I’m sober but love a cute ginger beer!
DRAG HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN MY OWN DESTINY. IT HAS TAKEN ME PLACES I NEVER THOUGHT I’D GO TO AND HAS GIVEN ME STAR POWER I NEVER KNEW I HAD.
What did getting through your season on Drag Race teach you most about yourself?
Getting through the season taught me that not everyone is your friend, and not everyone wants the best for you. Not everyone will give to you the way you would give to others. Keep your circle tight and small, and you’ll be happier in the end.
What are some of the biggest challenges queens who have been on Drag Race face after leaving the show?
I think a lot of girls don’t know how to run their own business, and it’s not their fault. We are thrown out into the world as celebs once our season airs and we have no training or resources to navigate it. It’s incredibly difficult. Sometimes you must struggle and hustle the best you can.
No doubt the drag community is going to be under a lot of pressure under this current political administration, how can the queer community best support the drag community?
Support us by coming to our shows, keeping our lights on. If you continue to make drag happen, venues won’t close, and we will continue to thrive. And don’t vote for people who act as if under the wigs and makeup, we aren’t regular people.
How do you balance personal and drag life, maintaining your mental health?
I stay off social media as much as possible. People are just mean. It is draining. I spend a lot of time at home with the dogs. My mental health took a HUGE hit during my season, and I felt completely alone. But in the end, I keep moving forward.
What can we expect from you in the upcoming year?
Lots of cruises, Japan, Fashion Weeks, possibly a TV show I’m producing, and the gigs the gigs the gigs!!!
Favorite song to perform?
“Make Me Feel” by Janel Monae.
What is your after-drag ritual?
Laying down and not moving. [Laughs]
What’s your favorite pickup line?
Hey daddy!
What is your message to your fans?
Thank you for the love, and for seeing who I truly am. Every time I meet someone who has watched me is special.
FEB 2025
WEDNESDAYS
Brian Scott
THURSDAYS
6-9P
Keisha D
SATURDAYS
6-9P Gennine Jackson 16 7:30-9P Marisa Corvo 23 Hootenanny! Hootenanny!
6-9P 6-9P
“I LOVE WHAT I DO. I LITERALLY SIT AT A PIANO ALL DAY AND NIGHT. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? IT’S THE FRICKING GREATEST JOB EVER.”
hat started as one day of work turned into 16 seasons as the pianist, arranger, vocal coach, and Associate Musical Director for American Idol. Not only has he had a hand in the success of the leading names from Idol, he has also worked with a Rolodex of names that includes Kristen Bell, Sabrina Carpenter, Lynda Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana Grande, Tony-Winner Debbie Gravitte, Marilu Henner, Jennifer Holliday, Roslyn Kind, Barry Manilow, Maureen McGovern, Idina Menzel, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, Ann Miller, and the legendary Kaye Ballard, just to name a few. Even though he has been front and center on stage and on television, he remains humble, always in awe of the power of music. This month, he released his debut piano solo album, In My Life, a celebration of piano covers of songs that have played a key role in his life.
Growing up in a full household, the piano was his voice and his constant companion from an early age.
I was an introvert. I didn’t go out and play with all the kids at school like all my siblings did. I stayed inside and just listened to music and played the piano all day and night. My mom had to literally make me leave the piano to go do my homework because I was just obsessed and all I wanted to do was play.
I started playing just by ear when I went to see Mary Poppins. And then my mom took me to a piano teacher in my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. I was four years old. The woman said, “Oh, no, no, we don’t start kids this young, I’m sorry.” And my mother said, “Sit down.” I played for her and she’s like, “Okay, we’re starting today.” The thing I loved about Mrs. Siegel (she was my piano teacher from age four till I graduated high school) is that she would only do classical music with me. I used to bring in my Barry Manilow, Billy Joel, and Elton John songbooks and my scores to Guys and Dolls and Fiddler on the Roof. And I’d ask, “Can we play these?” “Nope. You do that on your own time.” And I so appreciate that. Now, especially for piano, art forms
MICHAEL ORLAND THE MASTER BEHIND THE KEYBOARD
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
like dance and everything are so based on classical. So, I’m glad that she was like that with me. So then, of course, on my own time, I was making believe I was Barry Manilow in my bedroom. That’s what my piano was when we were growing up. I always loved it. I didn’t care about socializing. My social activity was sitting at the piano by myself.
His parents were extremely supportive of his love of music, but when it came time for college, they encouraged him to keep music on the side and study accounting. He attended school for two years until one day he had enough and threw his textbook in the trash and moved to New York without telling his family. He came to NYC with just $300 in his pocket. It was a move that would prove successful.
I just had to do it. That’s why I tell kids all the time today, if you are so passionate about it, it doesn’t matter what you do, if you have to do this, then do it. A lot of times, we have to
have a straight job to pay the bills but all I wanted to do was play piano and I didn’t care what I had to do. I happened to get lucky. I literally was in New York less than three months, and I was working six nights a week in a piano bar by accident. I tell kids today, it’s all who you know and being at the right place at the right time because we all have talented friends who are so talented and just never got a chance or never got the break. I was at the right place at the right time. I’ve been lucky because it hasn’t really stopped, and I feel really blessed to be still working in my sixties.
Michael’s work took him to a cruise ship where he met entertainer Wayland Flowers, the comedian who created the puppet Madame. Wayland convinced Orland to move to Los Angeles to serve as his musical director. He eventually would meet his idol, Barry Manilow. Not only would they meet, but Orland would serve as Manilow’s rehearsal pianist. Not bad for that young boy pretending to be
Manilow in his bedroom. Also working with Manilow was the musical team for season one of a new show called American Idol. Again, Michael was there in the right place at the right time. Michael was brought in for the finale of season one of Idol, Kelly Clarkson vs Justin Guarini. The show was a hit. So much so that the producers decided to put together a TV special in Vegas with the top 32 contestants from the season. It was there that Orland would become an instrumental part of the show.
We were teaching medleys to the kids and the security guard came down and told us that Nigel (Lythgoe) and Ken (Warwick), who are my bosses, the geniuses behind that show, wanted me to take my keyboard to their suite. They wanted me to put a new medley together. This was the old days when people would fax music. All those old, little pieces of paper would come through the machine, way before a PDF. They said, “We’re going to send the kids up one at a time, but we just have to wait for music because we don’t have music yet.” I said, “Well, what songs are in the medley?” And they’re like, “This one, this one, and this one.” They named six songs. I said, “I know that one, and I know that one. Just let me hear this one and I’ll figure it out.” Before we even got any music, we put this medley together. I said, “That was the most fun 16-hour workday I’ve ever had in my whole life.” They said, “Well, we hope you know it just got you a permanent job on this show.” I started at the beginning of season two, it was amazing. It was the greatest experience. And to work with all those amazing, talented kids, I loved every single one of them like they were my own kids. The ones that still are around today, that still make a living at what they do, are all the ones that had an amazing, great work ethic. That’s the only difference between them and the rest.
Working with legendary names and contemporary stars, does Orland ever ever get starstruck?
I do all the time. Then I have to just remember they’re all like so
normal and straight-up fun people like Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, all these amazing people that I work with now. But I totally get starstruck. When Oprah Winfrey came to American Idol and did a couple of shows with us, I was completely starstruck. And also, when Burt Bacharach and all those mentors came on Idol. I sat on the piano bench with Elton John during season three, while all the kids who didn’t know that he wrote anything besides Lion King were singing his songs. I had to change my underwear!
You can ask everyone who has worked with Michael, he is nothing short of amazing as both a person and as a musician. And even with all of the divas he’s worked with, he says it is impossible to share a bad celebrity experience. He is nothing but positive and thankful for his career. So much so that he still relishes doing open mic nights in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Orland moves his popular Palm Springs open mic night to PS Underground this month.
I’ve never had an issue with one person. First of all, I love what I do. I literally sit at a piano all day and night. What is wrong with that? It’s the fricking greatest job ever. And my mom always says to me, “My son doesn’t work for a living, he plays for a living.” It’s so true. Even at the heaviest days of American Idol, we would get up with the kids at 7:00 AM and we’d work till two, three in the morning. I couldn’t wait to get back and do it the next day. I couldn’t wait. I feel so blessed that I get to do what I get to do. I just love it so much and I love everybody I work with.
When I started doing my open mic nights a few years ago, that was everything. To me, it’s like doing an audition call. You get three minutes with every person. Maybe I know the song, maybe I don’t know the song. Maybe you’re going to screw it up. Maybe I’m just going to follow wherever you go. I just love the spontaneity of it. That’s why I just fell into loving doing this open mic night thing and now I’m doing it in so many places.
His solo album, In My Life, is named after The Beatles song. The album covers a wide variety of music, expressed through
Orland’s signature style, with each song telling a unique story. It was recorded on a piano owned by Ray Charles.
Every song has a story about my life, that’s why we decided to call it that. I did a song, “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” from Guys and Dolls because that show was the first musical and the first album I ever owned. I did a little medley from Mary Poppins, and then just to represent my 16 years on Idol, I did a piano cover of “A Moment Like This” which was Kelly’s first single, what we were working on the first time I started on the show. There’s even Billie Eilish’s song from Barbie (“What Was I Made For?”), only because when I was recording the album, every one of my young students was coming and going, “Do you know the song?” I ended up falling in love with the song and it just means a lot to me. Of course, I had to do a Barry Manilow song because my life changed because of knowing Barry.
Of all the songs on Orland’s album, which one best describes where he is right here, right now?
I did a piano version of “For Good” (from Wicked) because I used to perform the song with Kristin all the time. My favorite thing in her show was she’d always say to the audience, “Does anybody know this song?” And somebody would come up unrehearsed, some of them were amazing, and some were not as amazing, but it was always this magical moment and Kristin made them feel so special. So that song has always been near and dear to me. I also think of so many people who are gone, so many mentors of mine, and the lyric “Just because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” I think that is such an amazing message. That song never grows tired for me, so I think I have to say out of all of them, that’s probably my favorite song on the album. All of these are like perfect songs, and I just liked putting my own little spin on it. We’ll see what happens.
It is truly possible to talk to Michael for hours. No matter what story he is telling or what celebrity he is talking about, he is full of appreciation and sincerity, not so typical for someone of his clout in the entertainment industry.
I just went to this crazy salon at Kathy Griffin’s house and sat around playing piano for Sia and my dear friend of over 30 years, Jenifer Lewis. And I’m like, who am I? What is happening? What is this? And it was like fricking ridiculous. But every experience I’ve had has led me to who I am today. It’s from meeting so many people in this business, I’ve just gotten to be in so many places and it’s just remarkable and I’m so blessed and I feel so full of gratitude for everything along the way, even for my parents making me go to school to be an accountant because it made me want it even more. It made me say, “I’m gonna show you!” I promised my mother and father that if I ever didn’t get a job because I didn’t have a college diploma, then I would go back to school. But it never happened.
And his message to his fans?
Do I have any fans? It’s mostly my mother and my sisters and brother. [Laughs] I just appreciate all the love and the support and the people who come to my open mic night and the people who are so supportive. My favorite thing ever is my students who come to me, and they have a supportive parent who brings them and schleps them all over the place and pays for their lessons. I’m so appreciative of that and I literally will stop and say to somebody, “I love that you are schlepping your kid all over the place for dance lessons, for singing lessons, for coaching, and putting them in camp and theater camp, and all this stuff because it means everything.” I grew up with that, I still have the most supportive family ever, ever, ever.
I’m so appreciative of all the people out there and that I get to do what I do and share with them what I do. We can make the world a better place. We’re not talking about politics, we’re not talking about the mortgage rates, we’re talking about people escaping their problems and singing and just escaping all of it. And if I can be a little part of that with somebody, playing for somebody and supporting them, then it’s everything I could ever ask for.
“THAT’S WHY I TELL KIDS ALL THE TIME TODAY, IF YOU ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IF YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, THEN DO IT.”
Follow everything Michael Orland on IG: @MichaelOrland
Join Michael Orland’s Open Mic monthly at El Portal in Los Angeles, and PS Underground in Palm Springs
THE POWER OF AUTHENTICITY BROTHERS OF THE DESERT SIXTH ANNUAL WELLNESS SUMMIT
B
rothers of the Desert is currently planning their sixth annual Wellness Summit focusing on Black gay men and allies in the Coachella Valley on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, at the new Riviera Resort Hotel and Spa in Palm Springs from 8:30am to 4:30pm. This is a unique opportunity to learn from a diverse group of health and wellness experts.
The one-day event will feature inspiring keynote presentations and innovative workshops on a range of topics, such as relationships, mental health, aging considerations, racism, physical health, spirituality and religion, and creative expression as a means of healing. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Keynote speakers include:
• New York Times best-selling author of All Boys Aren’t Blue, George M. Johnson (they/them). An Emmy nominated, awardwinning, and bestselling Black nonbinary author and activist, they have written on race, gender, sex, and culture for Essence, the Advocate, BuzzFeed News, Teen Vogue, and more than 40 other national publications. George has appeared on BuzzFeed’s AM2DM as well as on MSNBC. They are also a proud HBCU alum twice over and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Their debut memoir, All Boys Aren’t Blue, was a New York Times bestseller and garnered many accolades. It was the second-most banned book of 2022 in the United States, according to the American Library Association. For their work fighting book bans and challenges, the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) honored George with its Free Speech Defender Award, and TIME Magazine named them one of the “100 Next Most Influential People in the World.” While writing their memoir, George used he/him pronouns. Originally from Plainfield, New Jersey, they now live in Los Angeles, California.
• Nationally renowned public health expert, David Malebranche, MD, MPH Dr. Malebranche currently serves as Senior Director, Global HIV Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences. He is a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 25 years of clinical experience in sexual health and the prevention/treatment of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, as well as men’s health, correctional health, student health, racial inequities in medicine, and LGBTQ health. Passionate about community engagement, outreach and activism, Dr Malebranche has appeared in the video series #AskTheHIVDoc, as well as the YouTube series Revolutionary Health with the Counter Narrative Project. He has a long history of conducting qualitative HIV behavioral prevention research among Black same-gender-loving men and has published more than 50 articles in medical and public health journals. He has held several academic faculty appointments, most recently as Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Student and Employee Health at Morehouse School of Medicine. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Religious trailblazer, Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen, III. Bishop Allen is an author, human rights advocate, an international and community leader, and entrepreneur. Bishop Allen is the Senior Pastor and Founder of The Vision Cathedral of Atlanta known as “The Vision Church”. The Vision Church has four campuses - Vision Church of Atlanta, Vision Church of Raleigh, Vision Church of Los Angeles, and Vision Church of Nashville. He is the founder and Presiding Bishop of the United Progressive Pentecostal Fellowship of Churches (UPPC), a progressive Christian and inclusive religious organization which oversees senior pastors, ministers, churches and faith-based organizations throughout the United States and abroad. He also is a Commissioner on the Atlanta Human Rights Commission. In 2015, Bishop Allen was appointed by President Barak Obama to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). In 2016, he was appointed the Southeastern Chair of the DNC-LGBT Advisory Board and a co-chair of the DNC LGBTQ Policy Group. He has served as the National Ambassador and consultant for the NAACP – Black Church/ HIV Initiative. Bishop Allen also serves as Faith Consultant for the CoPN Covid and Vaccine Network. He is also the Executive Director of Vision Community Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization created to address socioeconomic and health gaps in the greater Atlanta community.
Film director Nathan Hale-Williams returns as the event host and moderator.
Space is limited, and registration is required. A donation of $25 is suggested (which includes lunch), but any amount given will be appreciated. To register, visit www. brothersofthedesert.org/wellness-summit.
This February, Palm Springs Art Museum proudly presents Black History Month at the Museum, a month-long celebration honoring the 2025 National Theme: African Americans and Labor. Join in inspiring events that showcase Black culture, history, and contributions to our society. Here’s a look:
• Feb. 6 | Black History Month Kick-Off | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Celebrate the start of Black History Month with a performance by the Palm Springs High School Choir, the Healing Rhythms West African Drum Circle, and a special Black History Month mural by Allen Maldonado. Explore the museum’s exhibitions and connect with the vibrant Black community.
• Feb. 13 | In Conversation: A House Is Not A Home | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Engage in a thought-provoking discussion, In Conversation: A House Is Not A Home, featuring Jerald Cooper of Hood Century, Dieter Crawford of Urban Palm Springs, and LaVera Hoyes, a Section 14 survivor.
• Feb. 16 | Family+ | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Enjoy Family+, our monthly creative hub for all ages. This month, workshops focus on the national Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor.
• Feb. 20 | Black Business Showcase | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Support and celebrate the contributions of Black-owned businesses and community organizations with a showcase of their impactful work.
• Feb. 29 | Black History Month Closing Celebration | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Close out the month with a lively Block Party featuring music, food, performances, games, and BIPOC vendors. Join the Palm Springs Art Museum in celebrating the rich heritage and lasting contributions of the Black community throughout February!
For event details and locations, visit PSMuseum.org
EMERGENCY RESOURCES LA WILDFIRES
The recent wildfires that swept through Los Angeles County have upended lives, leaving many without homes, belongings, or a sense of stability. This disaster has touched all Californians to come to the aid their neighbors. In times like these, access to information and support is critical. Thanks to our friends at the LA LGBT Center, this guide provides essential resources to help individuals and families recover, rebuild, and find the assistance they need to help navigate this challenging time.
• California Department of Social Services Disaster Help Center: Provides assistance with food, housing, and financial recovery for individuals and families affected by disasters. cdss.ca.gov/disaster-help-center
• A centralized hub providing resources and mutual aid for communities affected by emergencies and disasters. fireaid.info
EMERGENCY SHELTERS
• Shelters for Communities Impacted by Wildfires in Los Angeles County. A comprehensive list of shelters is available through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). news.caloes.ca.gov
PET RESOURCES
• Emergency Animal Shelter Information: Los Angeles County Fires – Animal Care and Control. animalcare.lacounty.gov
TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES
• LA Metro Free Rides: Metro has suspended fare collection on all buses and trains to support individuals affected by wildfires
• For live updates on service impacts due to wind and wildfires, visit metro.net for live updates.
• Big Blue Bus Free Rides: Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus is offering free rides on all routes to assist evacuees.
FOOD, CLOTHING AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES
• FOOD ASSISTANCE
o Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Provides free groceries and meals to individuals and families in need. Visit lafoodbank.org to find a food distribution location near you.
o CalFresh Program: Offers monthly food benefits to eligible households. Apply online at getcalfresh.org or visit a local office for assistance.
o Food & Nutrition: COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES: Offers food resources specifically for older adults, including meal delivery and nutrition programs. Visit lacounty.gov.
o LA County AD Wildfire Resource Flyer: A comprehensive guide to food and other essential resources available to those impacted by wildfires is at ad.lacounty.gov.
• YMCA Support Services: The YMCA is offering no-cost support to the impacted community across LA, including providing free access to showers, meals, water, and essential supplies.
• Pick up Location for N95 Masks:
o 320 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
o Email ECRC@ceo.lacounty.gov to schedule a time to pick up N95
• FREE CHARGING STATIONS FOR PHONES AND MOBILE DEVICES
o Tiara Street Park: 11480 Tiara St., North Hollywood, CA
o Verizon Charging Stations: Visit Verizon’s Southern California Wildfire Response News Release at verizon.com for a list of free charging station locations.
o AT&T Charging Stations:
Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
Pasadena Convention Center: 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Arcadia Community Center: 375 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91006 (also offers free public WiFi)
For the latest updates, visit about.att.com.
• FREE STORAGE FOR 30 DAYS
o U-Haul is offering 30 days free selfstorage and U-Box® container disaster relief program to help evacuees and affected families.
Visit tinyurl.com/4b53mf2a for a full list of participating locations.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
• County Department of Mental Health Help Line: Call (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741 to find immediate help or access local mental health services. This 24/7 multilingual LA County hotline also enables disaster victims to receive screening, assessment, referrals and crisis counseling over the telephone.
• Disaster Distress Helpline for Immediate Crisis Counseling | SAMHSA: 24/7, free, confidential national helpline that connects you to immediate crisis counseling if you are experiencing emotional distress related to a disaster. This includes survivors of the disaster, loved ones of victims, first responders, rescue and recovery workers, faith leaders, local leaders, and parents and caregivers. Call
for yourself or for someone else. Call or text “talk” to 1-800-985-5990 and press “1”. Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL: Connect directly with an agent in American Sign by calling 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone.
• CalHOPE Digital Mental Health Resources: 833-317-4673.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
• FEMA Disaster Assistance available atdisasterassistance.gov.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
• Legal Help After a Disaster
– California State Bar
o Provides free legal information and resources for individuals and families affected by disasters. Services include assistance with insurance claims, landlordtenant disputes, FEMA appeals, and more. Visit calbar.ca.gov.
• Disaster Legal Services (DLS)
o Offers free legal advice for disaster survivors on issues such as housing, employment, and consumer rights. Call 1-800-310-7029
INFORMATION
• Fire & Evacuation Maps:
o Watch Duty – Wildfire Maps & Alert
- app.watchduty.org
o Incidents | CAL FIRE
- fire.ca.gov/Incidents.
• Power Outages:
o Pasadena: pwp.cityofpasadena.net/outage-map.
o LA: ladwp.com/outages/power-outage-map.
(Information in this guide is subject to change, so please visit the specific resources to verify information and availability.)
BY LORENZO TAYLOR
ANYTHING BUT COLORBLIND
HOW RACE, RACISM, AND DISCRIMINATION LEAD TO POORER HEALTH OUTCOMES IN PEOPLE OF COLOR.
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman.” “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman.”
The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. made the above call to action against racial disparities in health care nearly six decades ago. While progress has been made since the days of underfunded segregated hospitals and forced medical experimentation, this is one of his dreams that remains elusive.
Life expectancy for a Black baby born today, regardless of income, is only 67.4 years, while a White baby has a life expectancy of 77.5 years. This racial gap is even greater than it was during the 1970s, when Black life expectancy trailed by six years. Race should not
determine one’s ability to live a long and healthy life, regardless of whether one’s ancestors came to this country on the Mayflower, a slave ship, wading across a river, or aboard a 747 aircraft.
Experts attribute persistent health care inequities to systemic racism, poverty, distrust of the health care system, lack of insurance, language barriers, overreliance on emergency room care, subconscious bias, and other social drivers of health.
These factors contribute to higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV disease, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. Black and Latina women suffer from inadequate maternal
health care and face elevated rates of unwanted pregnancies and pregnancyrelated complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm births, and maternal mortality.
DAP Health Associate Chief Medical Officer Dr. Silas Gyimah notes that a significant percentage of the nonprofit’s clients, primarily Latinos, live below the poverty line and have limited experience with primary care.
When he arrived from Ghana at age 14, Gyimah was struck by a system of health care where race and language determine health care outcomes. “When I saw what was happening, I realized that it was not coincidental; it was structural
and based on the history of this country,” he says. “We can slowly chip away at it one step at a time, but we need to be aware that inequities exist.”
Studies show that Black and Latino patients have better health outcomes when treated by a physician of their own race. Unfortunately, only 5.4% of all U.S. physicians identify as Black or African American, and less than 6% identify as Latino or Hispanic.
One of the rare Black female physicians in the area is Dr. Ebony King of DAP Health’s Centro Medico Oasis in Thermal. She points to the medical education reforms in the 1910 Flexner Report as a major turning point in Black underrepresentation in medicine. It resulted in the closing of many Black medical schools, which had been a pipeline for physicians serving in then-segregated hospitals and clinics.
King and Gyimah are keenly aware that Black patients’ ailments are often minimized by White primary care physicians, leading to distrust of the motives of health professionals and underreporting of symptoms. The perception of higher tolerance of pain has historical roots in Dr. J. Marion Sims’ brutal gynecological experimentation on enslaved Black women (1845-1853) and the Tuskegee syphilis experiments on Black men (1930-1972).
Researchers have long tried to prove theories that people of African descent had larger kidneys, smaller lungs, and bigger heads to justify scientifically unsound race-based adjustments that have led to misdiagnosis and undertreatment of diseases in Black patients.
Nurse Practitioner Emma Bermudez of DAP Health’s Centro Medico Cathedral City links Latino health disparities to a lack of recognition of differing attitudes toward Western medicine, common among her patients and stemming from her own Mexican-American upbringing.
She notes a “culture of acceptance” where patients may agree to treatment plans without understanding or intending to follow them, particularly in preventive care for conditions like diabetes. When interpreters are absent, patients’ children are often tasked with explaining
complex medical terms that are beyond their comprehension.
In Riverside County, Blacks and Latinos are overrepresented in HIV cases relative to their population size, mainly due to stigma and homophobia. According to the CDC, Black and Latino gay and bisexual men are less likely to receive an HIV diagnosis, use PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) as prevention, or to be virally suppressed compared to White counterparts.
Tony Bradford, a Black, HIV-positive DAP Health Community Health specialist, notes, “Palm Springs has been successful in almost eliminating HIV fatality in White gay males by creating a welcoming environment in STD clinics that celebrates gay male culture. However, those spaces may alienate non-gay, sexually active young Urban males.”
Despite these challenges, progress is being made. Many DAP Health sites have frontline staff who speak the language
or share the culture of the community being served. Some clinics have Black and Latino artwork that signals patients are in welcoming places. Brothers of the Desert recently initiated a peer-led “Barbershop” discussion group for Black men, and Amigos Coachella Valley convenes weekly to address HIV and various health-related topics among Latino men.
Racism, both overt and implicit, perpetuates health disparities. Seriously bridging the gaps requires more robust policy and programmatic changes, such as expansion of insurance coverage, supporting diversity initiatives, meaningfully engaging people of color in the design of services and spaces, referring patients to nonclinical community health promotion programs, and promoting patient self-advocacy.
To address the minority provider shortage, King recommends dramatically increasing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education for people of color, aggressive recruitment and mentoring, and integrating historic racism in health care into medical school curricula.
Bermudez advises investing in more language interpreters and adjusting clinic hours to be convenient for working adults. She also recommends culturally appropriate, intergenerational group classes on diet, injection practice, and physical exercise to educate patients on health maintenance in family-friendly settings.
Gyimah stresses the importance of in-service unconscious bias training and patient feedback when they feel their issues are not being addressed. “Even if they know the system, they don’t trust the system will lead to better outcomes,” he says. “This culture must change in order to rebuild trust and increase quality of care for all.”
Another quote from MLK expresses the urgency of devoting resources to improving health outcomes for people of color: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
To become a patient at one of DAP Health’s 25 fixed locations throughout Riverside and San Diego counties, please visit daphealth.org/health-services/become-a-patient/
Dr. Ebony King
Dr. Silas Gyimah
KEEP IT COMING
THE GLOVES ARE OFF IN THIS PODCAST ABOUT LIFE IN LA
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
In a world where everyone is launching their own podcast, dynamic (and sometimes dangerous) duo Shayan Siren and Anthony Saldana launched season 2 of Keep It Coming podcast this month. The filmed podcast, hosted by real-life best friends, is an unfiltered deep dive into all aspects of living the LA Dream. Sexuality, queerness, love and dating, current events, trends, life highs and lows, it’s all up for grabs. Presented in a comedic format, the show often crosses into emotional territory as the two present their conversations as unedited true slices of life. All bets are off when they welcome guests with topics ranging from trans life, mental health, stereotypes, and more. The show is a rollercoaster, buckle up for an interesting ride. Season 1 has already gone viral, with over a million impressions across the show’s platforms and Season 2 promises a bevy of celebs and more hot topics that keep us coming back for more. What makes this show endearing is, at the heart of it all, it really is about friendship – the good, the bad, and the oh myyyyy.
How did you meet?
Shayan: Anthony and I met at Micky’s West Hollywood through a shady go-go dancer who was twotiming Anthony and me by dating both of us. I eventually put two and two together and went up to Anthony at the bar and told him the truth. He said that he admired my integrity and could tell I was an extremely loyal person. We’ve been friends for over eight years now.
What is the mission/purpose of Keep It Coming?
Shayan: Our mission is to take everyone out of this super black-andwhite world we live in and add a whole lot of color!
Anthony: To make people feel comfortable not having a filter and teach people that honesty will always prevail, and loyalty is always rewarded.
The show has become a viral hit, why do you think audiences respond so well to it?
Shayan: We try to keep everything
super raw and real! NO POLITICS! We find light and comedy even through the most traumatic stories we share.
Anthony: I think we are a hit because we do everything in our power to be authentic! We don’t do many cuts or edits on our show, we are unapologetically real!
What sets you apart from other podcasts out there?
Shayan: Different strokes for different folks. I personally love podcasts and watch a ton of them. Each one scratches a certain part of my brain in different ways. You just have to tune in to find out!
As advice for other beginning podcasters out there, what were your biggest challenges in producing your first few episodes? What took you by surprise?
Shayan: The biggest challenge we faced in the first few episodes was realizing that talking with your best friend for an hour straight with high energy and being super engaging is harder than you think! We even fought in the first episode, and I cried.
Anthony: As for challenges and advice to new podcasters, I would say collaborating with your best friend becomes difficult. We never realized that I’m a question asker and Shayan is an answerer. She had a tough time throwing the question back and I had a hard time answering some of her questions. Like many relationships communication is key!
You talk openly about sexuality on the show, why is it so important to talk about all aspects of our sexuality and sexual life?
Shayan: I think all our lives as members of the LGBTQIALMNOP community, many of us are taught to carry shame around all things sexual and queer love stories. Owning it and bringing power back to it is super important. Plus, people love to talk about sex baby!
You both don’t always agree on everything, any advice on how we can build bridges with other points of view, especially as we enter a new political era?
Shayan: My advice is to always find parallels between you and the life of
someone you don’t exactly agree with. We as humans all share emotions, so understanding that they have experienced the same emotions as you by sharing your personal stories and experiences will open your minds to finding empathy in one another. However, don’t make space for someone who has a poor moral compass. You can have different views, but some people just suck and you have to cut them off.
Anthony: We definitely do not agree on everything. As for advice on how to build a bridge I always say there are three points of view - yours, mine, and the reality. More than one thing can be true and what fun is it if you surround yourself with the same points of view!? I need some spice!
What is an episode that sticks out, a moment from a show, or a guest you’ve interviewed, from season 1 that made a deep impression?
Shayan: My favorite guest would have to be when we interviewed Gracie Jane. Gracie had been featured on other egotistical podcasts that went out of their way to humiliate her and make her feel uncomfortable. I was happy that people got to see the side of Gracie who is smart, kind, and really talented.
“OUR MISSION IS TO TAKE EVERYONE OUT OF THIS SUPER BLACK-ANDWHITE WORLD WE LIVE IN AND ADD A WHOLE LOT OF COLOR!”
What have you learned most about life from your co-host since starting the pod?
Shayan: Anthony has taught me a lot about being a more thoughtful person and taking accountability. I used to only prioritize my own life and my own time, and I always failed to put in effort in my friendships because I always just expected people to “stick around.” False! Friends deserve the same amount of commitment and love that you would give to family, a significant other, or a business partner. Make them priorities in your life and take that extra step to make them feel special.
Anthony: Shayan has always taught me to just go for it. She is the best at just walking up to random strangers.
What do you want audiences to walk away with from season 2 the most?
Shayan: Hopefully not an STD! Just kidding- I definitely want the audience to walk away feeling like they deserve to make space for themselves at any table regardless of whoever is trying to bring them down or tell them no.
How have you personally changed the most since beginning the podcast?
Shayan: My overall confidence has gone up because I am starting to really see that I have this amazing opportunity to be able to make people feel better just by laughter.
Anthony: Since the beginning of the podcast, I’ve changed most by being more attentive to what’s going on in the world, receptive to changes that may need to be made regarding the pod and seeing how others build success.
What advice do you have for someone thinking about starting their own podcast?
Shayan: Consistency is key! Set a date and time once a week every week to film an episode! Plan your entire life and schedule around it! Rain or shine show up and film that day no matter what! If you’re sad, guess what? That’s relatable… film it! You can read a million books and watch a bunch of how-to videos, but the truth is you are never going to truly learn until you get up and do it!
Anthony: If someone wants to start their own podcast, they need to stop and ask themselves if they are open to
another full-time job. BE AWARE that 99% of podcasts don’t make it past episode 10!
What is your New Year’s resolution?
Shayan: My New Year’s resolution is to stop dating rockstars, land a big brand deal with the podcast, become a full-time content creator, get back into acting, and make extra efforts to become a more thoughtful friend!
What is your message to your fans?
Shayan: I hate the word fans. It sounds way too egotistical! These people are my supporters and give me purpose. Without them, I would still be wandering aimlessly around this earth trying to find fulfillment.
Anthony: My message to fans is to please, please interact! Ask us questions, call us out, compliment us on what you like, and criticize what you don’t! We read EVERYTHING!
Keep It Coming podcast is available on YouTube and wherever you listen to your pods!
Follow Keep It Coming on IG: @KeepItComingPod
Creating vibrant community by helping LGBTQ+ people along their way.
PRINCE JOSHUA THE CROWN PRINCE OF NIGHTLIFE
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
One of Southern California’s most recognizable nightlife personalities is Prince Joshua. Making his move from Phoenix to Los Angeles a handful of years ago, he had high aspirations of becoming a thriving part of the queer community. He had no clue how quickly he would be embraced by the nightlife and socialite family. He is an artist of all trades. He has a fashion background and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Fashion Marketing and Management from The Art Institute of Phoenix and has created his own brand of clothing, celebrating themes of royalty and majesty. As a model, he’s appeared in campaigns for many queer brands and as a dancer, has appeared at events alongside Ava Max, The Boulet Brothers, Lil Nas, Trinity the Tuck, Trixie Mattel, Kim Petras, and more, as well as checking off spotlighted performances at Weho Pride, Summertramp, Vegas Pride, Phoenix Pride, and the list goes on. He continued to charm on OUTtv’s For The Love Of DILFS and Iconic Justice. As a go-go dancer, he is prominently featured at just about every top club in Los Angeles. Always challenging himself as an artist, he is now pursuing his music career and dropped his debut EP CROWNED to welcome in 2025. At first glance, CROWNED is a fun collection of bops that are both sexy and catchy. But each song has a purpose and celebrates sexuality, individuality, and diversity. Being able to express your queer self fully is one of Prince Joshua’s main life tenements. Always a total sweetheart, we had the opportunity to catch up with him in between dancing sets.
What inspired you to get into releasing music?
I’ve always had a love for music but never thought I’d be releasing my own music. The truth is I hate my voice, but I love poetry and hip hop, and when my friend Tokeyo pushed me to use those passions to create my own music, I began falling in love with the process of creating something of my own.
Many people from nightlife start releasing music, what sets you apart as an artist?
The beauty of so many people in nightlife making music is that there is room in the sky for every star to shine brightly. My music comes from my experience as a gay Hispanic man born in a small town who is now chasing his dreams in Hollywood. I combine my love for fashion, music, and dancing when making music videos and it brings me so much joy to style, direct, and produce all of what I envision.
What is the mission of your EP?
What do you want listeners to walk away with?
My mission is to give queer people music that they can relate to, and shake their ass to! So much music is hard for the average queer person to relate to when it comes to the lyrics, and that’s something I want more of as well as wanting to provide some of my own! I really just want to encourage others not to take themselves so seriously and to be proud of being genuinely themselves. My EP CROWNED is just me having fun and creating something authentically queer and of its own.
The title of your EP is CROWNED, your name is Prince Joshua, and you have a single titled “Royal Tease,” what is the meaning behind the royal energy of your brand?
I’ve always had a love for fairytales and fantasies, so I decided to make that my brand. Royalty can be a mindset you embody when you know your worth, are true to yourself, and carry yourself in a way that demands respect. When you live with this kind of mindset, you can authentically be yourself without worrying about what those who may oppose you think.
Why is it so important for the queer community to openly embrace our sexuality?
Representation matters! I grew up with a very religious and sheltered background, if I had known some people who were queer while growing up, it would’ve helped me figure out who I am quicker than I did. It would also allow me to understand that I am allowed to be myself and believe something different than I was taught. What are the biggest assumptions
people make about the go-go boy community?
So many people believe that being a go-go boy or exotic dancer means you are a porn star, but that is not always the case.
You address being cat-called in your video “BAR-KING.” It is a bit of a double-edged sword to make your body available while dancing but also expecting people to respect your boundaries. Can you address that dichotomy?
My job is to entertain the public, while my body is on display, I should still receive the same level of respect as any other profession. When alcohol and lust combine, people tend to forget that consent is crucial for safe interactions, and that every person’s boundaries are different.
“BAR-KING” also celebrates the pup community. What have you learned most from that community?
What I love most about the pup community is how accepting it is. There is not just one way to be a pup and that’s the beauty about it. Everyone is welcome to be themselves and express themselves genuinely in their own way.
Loved you on OutTV’s For the Love of DILFS. What do you think the younger queer community can learn from our elders? What can our elders learn from the young community?
I am constantly learning so much from my queer elders, whether it be financial, romantic, or personal, it is important to learn from other people’s experiences to enhance your own. Something the older generation is so obsessed with is labels. The younger generation is more accepting of the fact that sexuality is a spectrum. Straight, gay, bi, top, vers, bottom, people cannot be put in boxes so simply when we are in a continuous state of evolving.
How has nightlife changed the most over the last couple of years?
While I think drag queens are an incredible source of entertainment, I really feel like nightlife is going to allow for male performers to be more visible. There are so many famous drag queens, and so few gay music
artists celebrated without any wigs on. I believe now is the time to start supporting those in our community and allowing them to get platforms like any other artist.
What do you think the future of queer nightlife looks like?
I think the future of queerer nightlife will have a combination of male performers, drag queens, trans performers, and drag kings! I believe it is time to start uplifting all different types of performers within our community and allow for more than just
drag queens to be spotlighted. What does love and dating look like for you? Is it hard to date while working in nightlife?
My love life is very sad, unfortunately. I feel as if I have to put so much energy into chasing my dreams that it’s hard for me to be in spaces where I can find someone who is looking to be with me for who I am and not what I have to offer.
You are very popular on social media. With social media getting more and more right-wing, how will that change
how you interact with social media?
Something I have, unfortunately, had to do recently is to start posting with more caution on certain platforms. I continue to provide thirst traps and queer content. But I have become selective for what types of content I put on Instagram versus X. I think the only thing we can do is continue to post, continue to be ourselves, and find ways to continue to be seen without being censored.
How can the queer community utilize social media to keep our voices heard?
Following queer publications, sharing queer educational content and resources, and supporting those in our own community by following them, commenting on their posts, and sharing them. I also think opening up a little and being vulnerable by sharing our own stories and voices will help others see that there is no gay or straight. We are all just human.
You are also an advocate for queer and trans rights. In your opinion, what does our community need to do to get through this next presidential administration?
Some of the biggest things we can do to help get through these next few years is to use our voices whether it be online or in person to stand up for our community. Showing up and voting is another crucial way we can make change. Most of all we need to show love to one another, and to those who oppose us. There is too much division between our country and within our community. If we are able to show one another grace and allow others to live authentically to themselves a domino effect can begin changing one person at a time.
“MY MISSION IS TO GIVE QUEER PEOPLE MUSIC THAT THEY CAN RELATE TO, AND SHAKE THEIR ASS TO!”
What are you most excited about for yourself in 2025?
I’m excited to continue my journey in music from performing to creating music videos I can’t wait to see what my 2025 Wrapped looks like, since my 2024 Wrapped had me on so many stages, doing so many toe touches, and entertaining so many different crowds.
What is your message to your fans?
My message is to be genuinely and authentically yourself. Know you’re worth and know that you are completely original and unlike any other, use that to your advantage by shining and being the best version of yourself you can be.
CROWNED is streaming on all major platforms.
Follow Prince Joshua on IG: @thePrinceJoshua
RENE PORTER
IS SLAYING THE CANVAS
BY ETHYLINA CANNE
Rene Porter
You never know who you are going to meet in the world and what magic can happen when you do. I was hired to do bingo at Phoenix Pride in the VIP area of the festival in 2023. It was the first time I had been to Phoenix, other than the airport for a plane change, and I fell in love with the city. There was mid-century architecture, great food, and the festival and LGBTQ+IA community were thriving.
During my bingo, a lovely woman won one of the games, and you can say “the rest is HERstory!” After the bingo, I personally gave her a t-shirt and a friendship was formed. Little did I know that she was an amazing artist, and our friendship has blossomed into something truly special.
I am beyond honored to be her first model for her new series “Slay the Canvas” and I am thrilled that she had time to answer some questions for the readers of GED Magazine.
When did you start painting? Was this creative outlet one that just came naturally or were you professionally trained/ schooled?
I’ve been drawn to art since I was a young child. My dad would sketch cartoon characters and clowns for my youngest brother and I often in the evenings after dinner. We sat around him gazing in amazement as if he created something from nothing. I thought his sketches were magical. I sketched pictures in junior high and high school and began to take more of an interest in my junior year of high school. I knew I wanted to be either a gym teacher or a graphic artist after I graduated college. With encouragement (and guidance) from my mother who was a professional seamstress and my neighbor who was a formally trained artist from the UK, I submitted a portfolio and won a first term scholarship to Columbus College of Art & Design. At CCAD, I built my foundation in fine art, illustration, and design, majoring in illustration with a minor in advertising design. Just as a successful painting needs a strong drawing underneath, my art education at CCAD gave me a solid foundation to build upon throughout my art career. Regarding this current project, what was
the inspiration for it, and have you always had a love for the art of drag?
I have always had a love of the art of drag. It is one of the highest forms of art—a stunning collaboration of so many incredibly talented artists coming together to create something extraordinarily unique. The glamorous makeup, vibrant and expertly sculpted wigs, extravagant costumes, sky-high heels, and, of course, the sparkly, ornate jewelry— every detail comes together to complete the dazzling and vibrant persona. Drag to me is the epitome of beauty. Nobody does it better than drag artists. Big, bold, and beautiful. I can’t think of a more inspiring subject to paint than drag, especially now that I’ve started this project. All the drag artists I have painted to date have brought so much inspiration and joy to this project already. I can’t say enough about them and the wonderful friendships we’ve built. Priceless.
You have created a new persona for this project. Tell us more about who this person is and why you chose not to paint under your birth name.
My fine art series of drag artists “Slay the Canvas” is a celebration of drag and to truly celebrate these talented drag artists, I decided to blend my visual art with my very own drag expression. My drag persona, Michaela Angelo, is who I will be dressing as for all my gallery showings for this series. Since I am a cis-gender female and my drag persona is female, I would be referred to as a faux queen. I was born on Michaelangelo’s birthday, so when researching a drag persona name, it seemed fitting to become Michaela Angelo. Separate from my René Porter website, I have a new website specifically dedicated to this new series under my drag name. You can find it at www. michaelaangelo.com.
How long have you been a fan of drag entertainers and what are your thoughts on the current attack on drag and the LGBTQ+IA community?
I’ve always been a huge fan of drag performers. While working at The Trevor Project, I got to dive deeper into their incredible history in the LGBTQ+IA community. From the underground speakeasy acts of the 1920s to the trailblazers of the gay liberation movement in the
‘60s and ‘70s, drag has always played such a vital role in shaping and fighting for our rights. And no one is more relatable, comical, or entertaining than drag performers.
Of the portraits you have painted so far in the exhibit, what is your favorite thing about doing them?
Great question. I love making these bold beauties seem as though they are staring right back at the viewer and ready to reach out and touch them. Creating such intricate detail invites the viewer in for a more intimate experience than a photo would. I want my paintings to draw people in so they can see the beauty I see, free of judgment, and just take in the pure magic of drag. Painting those big fun wigs is the most challenging part of the painting. Getting the delicate details and exact color/value transitions to make it look like a real wig can take up to a week or more. I think my favorite part of painting these portraits is the face and the eyes. The paintings are life size so I can get a lot of detail on the face. When I am painting the costumes and fabrics, I can’t help but think of my mother and her incredible talent for sewing and designing costumes and bridal gowns. She pursued her craft with such passion, right up until the end of her life shortly after my senior year of art school.
What is the end goal of this project and where do you see your body of work being displayed?
Throughout creating this drag artist series, I’d love to have ongoing shows at LGBTQ galleries to share the journey and celebrate the art with the community. My end goal for this series is to have it included in a queer art collection at a respected museum that celebrates and amplifies LGBTQ+IA stories. I want these paintings to highlight the artistry of drag and its cultural significance while helping to bring more queer narratives into major art spaces. It’s so important for reputable museums to support and display queer art.
Please take a moment to follow reneporterfineart on Instagram where she will be posting the creation and finished portraits of some of your favorite drag artists. Joyfully, Ethyl
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