SMALL Business Spotlight
Opens on the Drive
by Scott Holland Indelible Art And Tattoo, owned by Richard and Antonio (who are also a couple), is a premier tattoo studio and local art gallery, which recently opened its doors at 2416 Wilton Drive, next to Sidelines Sports Bar and directly across the Street from Rosie's. They offer personal consultations, free of charge, and feature all styles of custom, high quality, innovative tattoos, black and gray or full color, created just for you. Antonio, is originally from the east coast of Italy and has been an international tattoo artist for more than 20 years. He is accomplished in all design styles including American traditional, lettering (artisanal fonts), Japanese style, Maori, tribal, realistic portraits, and old and new school style. The Art Gallery will feature local artists from Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, and all of Broward & Dade counties. I first sat down with Richard, as Antonio was
working on a customer, but was in ear shot of our interview.
When and why did you open Indelible Art And Tattoo? Originally Antonio was looking at working at an already existing Tattoo studio, but he felt none were a fit, so we decided to start looking to open our own. This location became available and the landlord was a pleasure to deal with. We opened on September 1, which was two months earlier than we expected. It was really great to work with the city of Wilton Manors; everything went smoothly.
When will you have the grand opening? We are waiting for Covid 19 to be over before we have a grand opening and art receptions.
How much do you charge? Each tattoo is different. The cost will depend on the time involved in design and implementation, however, the minimum charge is $70. Once you agree to the fee, a 25% nonrefundable deposit will be required. We accept all forms of payment.
Carlos Lopez How did you and Antonio meet and how long have you been together? We met at a New Year's Day party, when Antonio was in visiting from Italy. We have been together three years and officially married one year.
Why did you decide to include an Art Gallery? I knew a lot of artists, so we decided to combine the two. They fit so well together, as they are both forms of art.
How did you choose Carlos Lopez to be the first Artist? Carlos has been a friend for a while now, and we both love his art. The plans are for Carlos to have a permanent area of the Gallery and rotate other artists with local exhibits.
After Antonio was finished with his customer, I asked him a few questions: Is tattooing safe during Covid? Yes. We are taking all necessary precautions to ensure your safety. Masks must be worn at all times. Hand sanitizer is provided. Each tattoo is created with sterilized single use needles. I wear disposable gloves, and the customer's temperature will be taken with a digital, touchless thermometer before their session begins.
How do people prepare for their tattoo session? I recommend you eat well before you come in, and remember to stay hydrated. If you start to feel woozy, have a soda or a glass of juice. Make sure you are well rested. Best not to party the night before, alcohol can increase bleeding for up to 24 hours. Make sure to plan for healing time of the tattoo when scheduling your tattoo session.
Why should a customer choose Indelible Art And Tattoo as opposed to other Tattoo studios? I am dedicated to tattooing with passion and superior technique—all performed in a friendly, relaxed, and personal atmosphere—enabling the ultimate tattoo experience. I will accompany you through every step of your tattoo journey—from choosing and implementing your initial design idea to providing specific instruction in aftercare— to ensure your unique piece lasts a lifetime.
Richard and Antonio
u For more information on Indelible Art And Tattoo, you can call them at 954-383-8933 or e-mail Antonio at Antonitattoo1977@gmail.com. You can also visit their website at Indelibleartandtattoo.com. For more information on artist Carlos Lopez visit his website at carloslopezphotography.com
Guy Scheiman Leading International DJ/Remixer Keeps Churning the Dance oor Hits
“Too many DJ/producers have gone underground, stopped making music and chosen to wait out this horrible year,” says Guy Scheiman from his home studio in Tel Aviv. “I think it's important that we all keep doing the things we love, especially artists who need to maintain their artistry, even if there isn't much hope of an income for the foreseeable future.” This month, Guy Scheiman is out with “Disco Dance,” the 79th single release from his record label, Guy Scheiman Music. It's a celebratory track that urges listeners to have fun and forget all the mess brought on by the
pandemic. “My goal from the beginning of my career has always been to make people happy through the power of arm-raising music. That hasn't changed because of the virus.” Guy Scheiman is one of the most successful young DJs and producers on today's international club scene. He has produced of icial remixes for some of the world's biggest stars, including Cher, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga. Before COVID, his club bookings spanned the globe (with gigs earlier this year in Moscow and China) where he ignited dance loors with his euphoric experiences.
Guy Scheiman photos by Or Danon. Hair, makeup and styling by Shimon Shoshan
Disco Dances Through the Pandemic
Guy Scheiman was irst introduced to dance music ifteen years ago in Tel Aviv through a DJ friend. “He taught me the art of spinning on turntables,” he recalls. “I practiced every day for hours on end.” He began Djing friends' parties, and that led to gigs at city bars and clubs where he made a name for himself with a unique high-energy sound that combined progressive, tribal and tech house with strong melodies and memorable vocals. Fifteen years later, his live sets still feature strong grooves and powerful bass-lines. “Music has become food for my soul,” he explains. “It's a wonderful getaway from daily life. It somehow makes everything brighter.” He has played some of the biggest parties in Europe, including Salvation, HustlaBall, and Scream in Paris. He has headlined New Year's Eve in Beijing and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. He has also performed the world's biggest pride festivals, including New York, Madrid, Amsterdam, Chicago and Tel Aviv, as well as Jeffrey Sanker's White Party Palm Springs.
When playing the same beats and sounds all the other DJs were playing grew to be stale, Guy started remixing his own music. It launched a second career for him. His remixes have been commissioned by some of the world's biggest and most reputable record labels including Universal, Interscope, Sony, Capitol, Atlantic and TommyBoy.
Through the pandemic, Guy Scheiman has kept busy producing mixes for his own label, as well as remixes for major label artists including Kygo's “Like It Is,” Katy Perry's “Never Worn White,” and Taylor Swift's “The Man.” He also regularly produces live stream shows. “If anything positive has come from all this, it is that the connection between the DJ and audiences has gotten way closer,” Scheiman says. It's true. DJs are able to interact with fans much easier during their streams. Some DJs even collect emails from fans so they can update them on their upcoming live shows.
“The type of music we play has changed,” Scheiman continues. “People are home and sober so the music is much lighter and more pop.” He points out that DJs have always had to adapt
their sounds to the situation and he views the pandemic as an opportunity to explore and modulate his repertoire. His last project, “Let's Get Along,” with Marcos Adam, had a very Pop/Classic House vibe.
“I'll save the hard, progressive house beats for the virtual circuit weekends,” he laughs. It's good to be able to laugh even with the serious uncertainty of today's world. The club music industry that Scheiman loves is suffering and he is urging fans to support their favorite artists and venue owners. “Buy drinks-to-go at your favorite bar and tip your DJs when they go live,” he says. “Share and support their streams. Let them know you appreciate what they do.” For additional information on Guy Scheiman, visit his website at http://guy-scheiman.com
You Can Count on
Sharon Stone Screen icon on how Basic Instinct in uenced her LGBTQ activism, acting with Ellen and what her dad meant to her gay friends
That scene. You know the one: the one in Basic Instinct where Sharon Stone's legs are open. It's been talked about and talked about, and talked about some more. It's been talked about so much in the years since it shook the world in 1992 that it has diminished the other non-crotch facets of Sharon Stone. What nobody talks about anymore is her heart, her courage and her activism. As Stone pushed through the male-dominating Hollywood sphere of the 1990s to reach toptier cinematic heights through her work in 1990's Total Recall and then Basic Instinct, an
Oscar nomination for Casino solidifying her in luential screen presence, she was giving a voice to the voiceless. She was speaking up for marginalized women. She was speaking up for the LGBTQ community. She was speaking up for herself. And to this day, she still does. Stone's enduring af inity with the LGBTQ community might explain why working for the irst time with Ryan Murphy, known for bringing actresses over 50 (Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and now Stone) into his lavishly stylized queerverse of prestige TV, was so special. In
Photos: Net ix
By Chris Azzopardi
and full of style and full of the immense tenderness that happens when we confront abuse. And because of the nature of what it is to live a queer life, I think all of that will be very moving.
“
Because my mother always said, “It doesn't matter who you love, it matters that you love.”
Murphy's dark dramedy Ratched for Net lix, an origins story of Nurse Ratched of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the 62-year-old actress portrays the deliciously insane Lenore Osgood, a rich, twicewidowed mother who'd rather spend time with her Capuchin monkey than her queer son (played by openly gay actor Brandon Flynn). The series also stars out actresses Sarah Paulson, as nurse Mildred Ratched, and Sex and the City star and political activist Cynthia Nixon, who portrays Gwendolyn Briggs, the press secretary for the Governor of California. When I spoke with Stone recently by phone, she did talk about the show's queerness. But it was the touching story of her late father, Joe, who took her gay friends under his wing that you won't forget.
Where do you think your role as Lenore Osgood will rate on the “Things Queer People Love That I've Done” scale? Right? (Laughs.) I have to say that it's full of beauty
While watching Ratched, I was re lecting on your LGBTQ roles. There's been some that are blatantly queer, and others that are more nuanced in their queerness. Catwoman with Halle Berry came to mind because I really do think it's part of the queer canon. (Laughs.) I think because the character was so intriguing – and so catty, also! And I think because the character was really based in an intense beauty-centric world, maybe. I just feel like my characters are all based in a “for everybody” kind of world, but I really believe there's something when you work for people who are gay-friendly and people who hire gay people on the set, where costumes and sets and things have an opportunity to grow and become even more lavish. We shot (Catwoman) in Tony Duquette's estate house (Duquette was an artist who specialized in fantastical set designs for stage and ilm); he was a very good friend of mine and, you know, he said to me when he met me, “I haven't seen any of your pictures, darling.” But truly he was engaged in the (Canadian-American ilm actress and Duquette's wife) Mary Pickford and (silent ilm actor) Douglas Fairbanks universe and swashbuckler ilms and all of these extremely lavish and beautiful ilmmaking experiences. One was not allowed to have a homosexual identity in those periods, so people had partners and the partnerships were agreements, and they were often very artistic agreements. In this case, very beautiful artistic agreements, very accomplished artistic agreements. And this was a way to love, be loved, be safe, be protective and work in the industry.
You've worked with straight directors as well as gay and queer directors. Ryan Murphy now among them. And when I think of him and the gay men I know, I think of the reverence and respect we have for women. Based on your experiences, what is different for you working with straight male directors
versus gay or queer male directors and their treatment of the women that you've played? (Laughs tellingly, as if she has a lot to say about this.) That's a beautiful question. Well, it doesn't just break down to gay and straight; it breaks down to people who have self-respect and people who do not. And our business was very much dominated by straight men – and a lot of straight men who felt that self-respect for
them meant that there wasn't any for women. Now that we are opening the business to a more sincere and honest appraisal of reality, women, men, gays and straights get to participate in the business with a treatment of white male abuse, which is starting to calm down but not completely. And as we can see from our worldview here and certainly from our national view, the resistance to the end of it, it's so violent; the resistance to the end of white male supremacy is so violent, and the women who have thrived on being victims and being victimized are unsure of what to do too because being a victim is an identity and having that situation where you call your husband or wife “mommy and daddy” is also part of that system. There's a whole mindset that goes with that system that's leaving, and as that leaves we have to start addressing all the other things, the underbelly of that, like child abuse and pedophilia. When it comes to Ratched and working with someone like Ryan Murphy, who loves
women differently than a straight man might, do you notice a difference in the way the character is being treated? For instance, was your experience different on, say, the set of Basic Instinct? Well, I was protected on Basic Instinct because I had a European director (Paul Verhoeven). I had a very intelligent European director, so I was protected. I was not abused at all, or I could never have been able to play that part. We made agreements even prior to shooting that if we had disagreements we would take them off the set and into a private place and talk so that it wouldn't tear down the authority of the character.
When Basic Instinct was released, it agitated LGBTQ activists who were taken aback by your character being a bisexual psychopath. Seeing as though you were passionate about LGBTQ issues and you are an activist for the community, how did you process their concerns at the time? At the time we had all kinds of problems, not just LGBTQ people feeling like they were going to be abused and not knowing what was going to happen and showing great concern. But there were just people acting out all over the place over this movie. People blowing horns, trying to destroy the sets. So (co-star) Michael Douglas and Sherry Lansing, the head of Paramount Pictures, and I sat down and we talked about it. I said that I would be very happy to become the person who talked about these LGBTQ issues and to discuss that what we were trying to do was put LGBTQ characters in a major motion picture from Paramount and that we were trying to, for the irst time ever, do this. That we were trying to give the LGBTQ community a platform. And that I would take on the
position of being the voice of that platform if this community would trust me.
And you did. And I did. And Micheal and Sherry were like, “You're willing to do this?” And I'm like, “I'm absolutely willing to do this, and there's nothing about me that would cause people to distrust that that's what I'm going to do.”
Would you say that was the moment in your life when LGBTQ issues became especially important to you? I was already working for amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research, which Stone began working for in 1995, as Global Campaign Chair) at that time, so no. And I had already begun working for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation because my neighbor had funded it. So I was already heavily working on that with our pediatrician Dr. Peter S. Waldstein and his wife. I was into the pediatric aspect of it, and then I went to the Dominican Republic as a guest of the president because they were beginning to have extreme AIDS issues. This was a really long time ago. This was even before amfAR. Then amfAR asked me if I would work for them.
right now, but let's not forget all of the incredible things she took on her own shoulders and her own back, and the pressure she took. I mean, when we did that, my parents were like, “Why are you doing this? And what are you doing?” And when I really explained it to them, my dad was like, “So you mean those two uncles that lived together down the road were queer? And those old ladies were queer?” And I'm like, “Yeah, dad.” And he's like, “Well, isn't that nice. So they weren't lonely and Getting back to ilm, I'm curious about your alone.” And I'm like, “Yeah, dad; they weren't role in the 2000 HBO ilm If These Walls Could lonely and alone.” And he goes, “Well, that's so Talk 2. You must still get stopped by lesbians good.” everywhere you go for being a part of that movie. That's a beautiful response. Well, I just think it was really great that we Right? So he started to have this revelation had this opportunity for Anne Heche to direct about all these old men or old women that he'd Ellen (DeGeneres) and I. Ellen was so brave and known all his life that lived together that so cool to come out and use her platform to get weren't alone and lonely. He started inviting so much good work done. Vermont changed their my gay friends up to the hunting cabin, laws after we did that ilm (the year the ilm was including my friend whose father had kind of released, Vermont became the irst U.S. state to dismissed him as not being masculine enough pass same-sex civil union legislation). The to do anything. My dad would take them out Vermont senator (James Merrill Jeffords) then on the boat and teach them how to shoot and changed from being a Republican to a Democrat, ish and drive the boat and walk in the woods. and I went to visit him at the Senate in These were my 40 and 50 year old friends who Washington and there was a lot more action. were standing up and saying, “I had a dad but I know everybody wants to be mad at Ellen
I'm getting a mental image of me, a gay man, learning to walk in the woods from your father and what that experience might have been like. At my dad's memorial, one of my friends stood up and he said, “I don't suppose you would recognize why I'm such a fashion plate in these lannel shirts, but these were Joe Stone's shirts and he treated me like I was his son.”
Did your dad ever see If These Wall Could Talk 2 then? Of course. He saw everything. He died 10 years ago, and he really became a very Zenlike dude who actually talked to a lot of my friends about a lot of big things in their lives. He used to do this thing where he'd go, “I'm gonna go out to the hardware store,” and he wouldn't come back for seven or eight hours. He'd go to the hardware store and he'd go to the little shops and he'd go sit in the park and he'd literally wait for a person who needed to talk to him and help people with their life traumas. I can't tell you how many people – giant businessmen, rock stars, political igures – that have come to me saying, “I knew your dad and I was having such a terrible time and I sat with your father and he helped me. Your
father changed my life.” It was just all these walks that he went on, and all these walks to the hardware store. Photo: Gage Skidmore - Wikimedia.org
my real dad was Joe Stone because this is what he did for me. He taught me how to shoot a bow and arrow.” All of these things that their dads wouldn't spend the time doing with them because they were mad at them for being gay.
Do you think you've been in luenced by him in regards to the work that you do for the LGBTQ community but also how vocal you are about other causes that matter to you? Yes, by both my mother and my father. Because my mother always said, “It doesn't matter who you love, it matters that you love.”
I couldn't end this interview without mentioning the fact that you performed with Kylie Minogue in Cannes for AIDS research, and then you gave the gays an iconic moment with Mariah Carey on the red carpet at the 2018 Golden Globes and said you were going to trade diamonds with her. Did you realize the gay magic you were creating in both of those moments with two of our biggest gay icons? No, but I can tell you that both of those women have been through their own personal major dif iculties and giant triumphs. I admire both of them for being able to live in the public life and continue to be so generous.
I admire that about you because you have also been that person. I'm so happy we have your voice and that it's been heard. Thank you. One-hundred percent, you can count on me.
As editor of Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.
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WHAT’S HOT
By Scott Holland
What’s HOT OCTOBER 1-14
Last Saturday, September 26, Roosters organized a Voter Registration event that was held in the Compass Parking Lot, and starred Randy Fenoli and chewy form “Say Yes To the Dress.” This included a celebrity meet and greet with
social distance selfies and community outreach. The event was held all outside, and masks and social distancing were practiced. Also on Saturday, Latinos Salud invited everyone to come meet their Homestead staff at Harris Field Park from 3 to 8pm. While their attendees were invited to take their survey and 3 lucky people won a $50 gift certificate. While there you were also offered a free HIV test and the opportunity to meet one of their Latino nurses and learn about how you could get a same day Prep prescription.
uFRIDAY OCT 02 The Pub Wilton Manors presents TGIF Electra,
better late than never. You can't stop this showgirl as she celebrates 62 with a birthday of pandemic proportions at 8:30pm. uSUNDAY OCT 04
National Vodka Day - Toast Distillers, Inc., best-known for its ultra-premium vodka, Toast Vodka, the world's first ultra-premium, unflavored vodka made with coconut water is celebrating National Vodka day on October 4. Their vodka is 100% corn based, six
times distilled, gluten-free and non-GMO. Toast Distillers, Inc., has recently launched its ecommerce website at Toastvodka. com. The site makes it easy to purchase Toast Vodka™ from anywhere in the U.S. In honor of National Vodka Day they are sharing with us:
The Perfect Dirty Martini: (Ingredients: 2 oz. Toast vodka, .5 oz. dry vermouth, .5 oz. olive brine, and Olives to garnish) · Stir all of the ingredients in a mixing glass, but even a pint glass will work in a pinch. First, add 2 oz. of Toast vodka to the mixing glass. · Next, add .5 oz. of dry vermouth and olive brine to the glass.
· Add just enough ice to cover the liquid. When you start stirring, you'll the ice drop below the liquid line and the glass will get nice and cold. As soon as this happens, strain the liquid into a previously frozen coupe or martini glass. Make sure to quickly strain the liquid so that you do not over dilute the cocktail. · Garnish the martini with an olive skewer, and sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. New Single for fab, The Duo Fab The Duo, biracial glam pop-rock duo and real-life couple, released their brand
new single,”Party For Two.” The perfectly-timed quarantine bop is a celebration of staying in and bringing down the house with your dance partner of choice when you've got “nothing to do.” Buy/stream the song: https://distrokid.com/hyperf ollow/fabtheduo/
Initiative which kicks into Starry Nights high gear in October, NSU Art are now Sunny Museum is proud to offer Days at NSU Art FREE Admission to all Museum Fort frontline healthcare workers Lauderdale. on Saturday October 3. For Starting October additional information, please 1, the Museum visit nsuartmuseum.org or (One East Las call 954-525-5500. Connect Olas, Blvd., Fort with the Museum on social Lauderdale) will media @nsuartmuseum. offer free admission to all visitors on the first Thursday Dolly Parton Releases Holly of each month from 11 AM to Dolly Christmas on 5 PM during Free First October 2 Thursday Sunny Days GRAMMY Award-winning presented by AutoNation. entertainment and Sunny Days replaces NSU Art international icon Dolly Museum's Free First Parton releases her Christmas Thursday Starry Nights album, A Holly Dolly evening programming, which Christmas, available has been discontinued at this everywhere on October 2. time. The Museum's new Releasing on Butterfly health and safety guidelines Records in partnership with that include reduced capacity 12Tone Music, A Holly Dolly (25 percent capacity limit), Christmas is Dolly's first required wearing of facial holiday album in 30 years and coverings and physical includes some of the timeless distancing can be found at Christmas songs we all know nsuartmuseum.org. All of the and love, as well as a few Museum's exhibitions have original tracks. Five of the 12 reopened to the public, tracks were written solely by including Happy!, which has Dolly with one additional cobeen extended through October 11. Other exhibitions currently on view are: I Paint My Reality: Surrealism in Latin America; Transitions and Transformation s; and William J. Glackens from Pencil to Paint. In support of AutoNation's DRV PNK
write with Kent Wells. Duet partners and featured artists on the album are some of Dolly's dearest friends including Michael Bublé , Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson, plus a special song with her brother, Randy Parton. To purchase a A Holly Dolly Christmas, go to Dollyparton.com. Recently, Dolly also announced her partnership with Chronicle Books to release Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. The visual memoir and annotated songbook will give an intimate look at Dolly's enduring career as a songwriter, musician, and Country legend. Fans will have access to the stories behind the lyrics in Dolly's own words with never-before-seen photographs and memorabilia, bringing them closer to her work than ever before. The Recorded Books audiobook form and CD of Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics will be available on November 17, 2020 and is currently available for preorder at Dolly.ChronicleBooks.com.
The War With Grandpa Sixth-grader Peter (Oakes Fegley) is pretty much your average kid-he likes gaming, hanging with his friends and his beloved pair of Air Jordans. But when his recently widowed grandfather Ed (Robert De Niro) moves in with Peter's family, the boy is forced to give up his most prized possession of all, his bedroom. Unwilling to let
such an injustice stand, Peter devises a series of increasingly elaborate pranks to drive out the interloper, but Grandpa Ed won't go without a fight. Soon, the friendly combatants are engaged in an all-out war with side-splitting consequences. Based on the award-winning book by Robert Kimmel Smith, The War with Grandpa is a hilarious family comedy releasing in theaters on October 9, featuring an allstar supporting cast: Christopher Walken, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Cheech Marin, Laura Marano and Jane Seymour.
Song Explorer Releases on Netflix October 2 Based on the acclaimed podcast of the same name, and from host Hrishikesh Hirway and Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, each episode of Song Exploder features some of the world's greatest musicians as they reveal how they brought one of their songs to life. The
series weaves together indepth interviews, archival footage, and raw recordings as each artist breaks down their song, layer by layer, sharing intimate insight into the personal inspiration behind the music and lyrics. Featured artists include 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer Alicia Keys, who breaks down “3 Hour Drive” from her 2020 album, ALICIA; Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Awardwinning composer, lyricist, and actor Lin-Manuel
Miranda, who delves into the creation of “Wait for It” from the musical phenomenon “Hamilton”; Rock & Roll Hall of Famers R.E.M. who open up about the influences behind the life-changing track “Losing My Religion”; and Grammynominated singer, songwriter, and producer Ty Dolla $ign who discusses the inspiration behind “LA,” the deeply personal opening track from his gold-certified major label debut album, FREE TC. For
uEmail WhatsHot@HotspotsMedia.com to have your items considered for What’s Hot
more information, go to: Netflix.com/SongExploder.
The Forty-Year-Old Version Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate
for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she's left with no choice but to reinvent herself as rapper RadhaMUSPrime. The Forty-Year-Old Version follows Radha as she vacillates between the worlds of Hip Hop and theater on a quest to find her true voice. Winner of the Directing Prize at The 2020 Sundance Film Festival, The Forty-Year-Old Version is a hilariously candid and deeply personal debut from writer/director Radha Blank. A fresh addition to the New York City slice-of-life canon shot in lush black and white 35mm, Blank's film is an ode to the unfulfilled, and those whose adversity gives them a one-of-a-kind story to tell. Premieres on Netflix on October 9. Queen + Adam Lambert to
release first LIVE album Since their first appearance together in 2009 when Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor appeared as guests on the finale of the eighth season of American Idol on which Adam Lambert was a contestant, the combination of Queen + Adam Lambert has gone from strength to strength becoming one of the world's biggest drawing touring bands. Their most recent tour of Oceania saw them selling out to massive audiences, with a single show at Sydney's ANZ stadium drawing a record crowd of over 60,000. To date the band has played to a worldwide audience approaching 4 million.
However the arrival of COVID19 forced their imminent UK
and European summer tour to be postponed until next year. With this in mind, Queen + Adam Lambert looked to other ways to console the almost half a million disappointed fans already holding tickets. Queen + Adam Lambert have now confirmed they will release their firstever live album Queen + Adam Live Around the World. The release comes worldwide October 2nd in CD, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray and Vinyl formats. To purchase go to: Queenonline.com
Absolute Queen, A Tribute band Speaking of Queen, Stage 954, the live entertainment venue inside The Casino @ Dania Beach has been issued its reopening certificate and the venue's first live concert since the start of the coronavirus shutdown, Absolute Queen, is set for Saturday, October 3 doors open at 7pm and the concert begins at 8pm. Absolute Queen has spent hundreds of hours in the studio studying Queen's many layered harmony vocals and instrumentation to deliver the most authentic sounding
Absolute Queen, A Tribute band
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Queen experience. Seating inside Stage 954 is limited to 226, including seven VIP tables. VIP Tables are $30 per seat for tables of four. Tier 1 tickets are $10. Tier 2 tickets are $8. For more information or to purchase tickets go to: CasinoDaniaBeach.com.
Yellow Rose Premieres in Theaters October 9th Yellow Rose is the timely story of a Filipina teen from a small Texas town who fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while having to decide between staying with her family or leaving the only home she has known. The film stars Grammy-winner and two-time Tony Award®
nominee Eva Noblezada (Broadway's Hadestown and Miss Saigon) in her feature film debut, award-winning country music artist Dale Watson, Princess Punzalan (Mula sa puso) and Tony Award®-winner and Grammy®-nominee Lea Salonga (Mulan, Aladdin).
The Doorman Premiering on Digital and On Demand on October 9 In this punishing action-thriller starring Ruby Rose (John Wick: Chapter 2), a former Marine
turned doorman at a luxury New York City high-rise must outsmart and battle a group of art thieves and their ruthless leader (Jean Reno, Léon: The Professional) - while struggling to protect her sister's family. As the thieves become increasingly desperate and violent, the doorman calls upon her deadly fighting skills to end the showdown. Also starring: Aksel Hennie, Rupert Evans, Julian Feder, Louis Mandylor, Dan Southworth, Hideaki Itô , David Sakurai, and Kila Lord Cassidy.
Hubie Halloween Stars and Produced by Adam Sandler Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler) thanklessly spends every Halloween making sure the residents of his hometown, Salem, celebrate safely and play by the rules. But this year, an escaped criminal and a mysterious new neighbor have Hubie on high alert. When people start disappearing, it's up to Hubie to convince the police (Kevin James, Kenan Thompson) and townsfolk that the monsters are real, and only he can stop them. Hubie Halloween is a hilarious family film about an unlikely hero with an all-star cast including Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Noah Schnapp, Steve Buscemi and Maya Rudolph. Hubie Halloween drops on Netflix October 7.
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The Human Rights Campaign Opposes Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court “The last four years have been an assault on the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people across the country, led by Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell's prioritization of power over people,” said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “While people are suffering across the country, instead of offering aid, Trump and McConnell are rushing through a Supreme Court justice – a justice who could deal a fatal blow to people maintaining their basic health care in the middle of a pandemic. The President has dramatically altered the judiciary to try to dismantle hard-fought rights and progress secured over decades – LGBTQ rights, voting rights, reproductive rights and more. Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell has sycophantically installed Trump's extreme judicial nominees and is now seeking to push the balance of the Supreme Court even further to the fringes. If she is con irmed, Coney Barrett would work to dismantle all that Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for during her extraordinary career. An appointment of this magnitude must be made by the president inaugurated in January. The Human Rights Campaign fervently opposes Coney Barrett's nomination, and this sham process.” Barrett currently serves as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and earlier in her career was a law clerk and proté gé to Antonin Scalia, one of the most steadfast opponents of LGBTQ rights. Coney Barrett has demonstrated hostility toward LGBTQ rights in her words and rulings. She defended the Supreme Court's dissenters on the landmark marriage equality case of Obergefell v. Hodges, questioning the role of the
court in deciding the case. She said Title IX protections do not extend to transgender Americans, claiming it's a “strain on the text” to reach that interpretation. She misgendered transgender people, referring to a transgender women as “physiological males,” while casting doubt on transgender rights. Coney Barrett has also consistently demonstrated opposition to reproductive rights, calling Roe v. Wade an “erroneous decision.” She also refused to rehear a racial segregation case, raising signi icant concerns about her approach to Civil Rights law. The day after Election Day, the Court will hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which considers whether governments must allow taxpayer-funded organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ people when providing critical services. A ruling hostile to equality in this case could have staggering consequences for American social safety net programs including services for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, runaway youth, refugees, and those needing emergency shelters and services. Her hostility towards many of society's most marginalized, victimized and vulnerable groups raises serious concerns about her ability to be impartial and fairly consider the rights of all who come before the Court, including LGBTQ people; therefore, the Human Rights Campaign opposes her nomination in the strongest terms and will work steadfastly against it. The, HRC is launching a “We Dissent" campaign, with an ask to members and supporters to sign a pledge to "dissent" to this process and to Coney Barrett.
Photo: rachelmalehorn.smugmug.com- wikimedia.org
by Nick Morrow
Equality Florida Action, Inc. Makes First-Ever Federal Endorsement, Backs
Photo: Michael Stokes - wikimedia.org
JOE BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT
“Our endorsement of a Biden-Harris ticket is a testament to the grave stakes of this election,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Action, Inc. Executive Director. “The Trump-Pence Administration has been catastrophic for LGBTQ Americans, an onslaught of the brand of bigotry that Pence has become synonymous with. Giving them another four years in the Oval Of ice would put the most marginalized among us in danger and decimate the progress we've earned. The time is now to mobilize our community, turn out in record numbers, and elect a President who will shepherd the ight for full equality instead of wage war on it. The time is now to elect Joe Biden and we are ready to deliver him a win in Florida.” The historic endorsement comes as polls tighten in the state and focus intensi ies on voting demographics that will determine the outcome on November 3. In June, Equality Florida Action, Inc. launched its largest voter mobilization program in organization history,
targeting 500,000 pro-equality voters at risk of not casting a ballot. Via a sweeping digital campaign and grassroots Days of Action, Equality Florida Action, Inc. will look to draw a clear contrast for those voters between a Trump Administration that has assaulted LGBTQ equality and a Biden-Harris ticket that has committed to expanding protections for the community and would be the most proLGBTQ in history. In a state whose election outcomes live on a razor's edge, LGBTQ voters in Florida and their allies will determine the results on election night - and the country's course for generations to come. “The choice could not be clearer or the election more consequential,” explained Smith. “The country cannot withstand another four years of hate, bigotry, and an assault on the rights of all Americans to live authentically without fear of violence. In November, proequality voters in Florida will chart the path forward from this nightmare.”
Photo: https://eqfl.org/nadine-smith
Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Action, Inc. Executive Director.
Johnsons
Photos: JR Davis
In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month. Gay and Lesbian History Month was endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association and other national organizations. In 2006 Equality Forum assumed responsibility for providing content, promotion and resources for LGBT History Month. LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured. Here at Hotspots, we will feature 2 an Issue, but to see one every day you can go to: Lgbthistorymonth.com.
HISTORY MONTH KATE McKINNON
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT LGBTHISTORYMONTH.COM
(b. January 6, 1984)
Photo: Courtesy of LGBTHistoryMonth.com
SNL COMEDIAN “One of my favorite things is to try and make an unlikable person endearing.” Kate McKinnon is an American comedian, writer and Emmy Award-winning actress. She is best known for her work on the sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). McKinnon grew up on Long Island, New York. A self-professed “theater kid,” she showed a knack for mimicry and impersonations as early as fifth grade, when she convincingly imitated a British accent while auditioning to play the “queen of reading week.” After high school, McKinnon studied theater at Columbia University. In her senior year, she beat thousands of competitors for a spot on Rosie O'Donnell's television series “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” McKinnon joined the cast in 2006, where she remained for the run of the program. In 2008 McKinnon began regularly performing live sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens' Brigade Theater. When “SNL” called her to audition, she realized a longtime dream. McKinnon joined “SNL” as a featured player in April 2012. She became the show's first openly gay cast member and the second known gay cast member since Danitra Vance. On “SNL” McKinnon quickly became a breakout star with her off-the-wall yet eerily accurate
impressions of celebrities and politicians, such as Justin Bieber, Ellen DeGeneres, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jeff Sessions and Hillary Clinton. She has created a host of iconic characters. McKinnon's uncanny ability to make unlikable characters relatable won the hearts of viewers. Since she joined “SNL,” McKinnon has appeared in a number of screen productions. She starred in the all-female reboot of “Ghostbusters” and in “Office Christmas Party” (both in 2016) and in “Rough Night” (2017) and “The Spy Who Dumped Me” (2018). Among other comedy awards, McKinnon received two consecutive Emmys (2016 and 2017) for her work on “SNL.” She delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech thanking fellow lesbian comedian Ellen DeGeneres for “making it less scary to be gay” and for encouraging her to pursue her dreams. McKinnon has credited her gay identity for informing her unique comedic voice. “As minorities, we're on the fringe,” she said, “and there's just something so wonderful about that perspective, something so inspiring.”
HISTORY MONTH
ANGELICA ROSS
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT LGBTHISTORYMONTH.COM
(b. November 28, 1980)
Angelica Ross is a television actress and the founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, an organization that helps transgender people find work in the technology industry. Born male, Ross grew up in Racine, Wisconsin. Perceived as feminine by the eighth grade, she came out as gay at age 17. Her evangelical Christian mother responded so negatively, Ross attempted suicide. Ross entered the University of WisconsinParkside but dropped out after one semester and joined the U.S. Navy to qualify for the G.I. Bill. After six months of service and harassment, Ross requested and received a discharge under the “Don't Ask Don't Tell” policy. At age 19, Ross transitioned to female. Her mother and stepfather rejected her gender identity. Ross eventually went to live with her biological father in Roanoke, Virginia, where she waitressed so she could attend cosmetology school. After facing discrimination in Roanoke, she moved to Hollywood, Florida, where she overhauled a website for her employer and taught herself computer code. She used the experience to start her own web design and consulting firm, while she studied acting. Ross later found a position as the employment coordinator at the Trans Life Center in Chicago, helping transgender people secure jobs and health care. In 2014 she launched her own nonprofit, TransTech Social Enterprises, to train transgender
workers in technical computer skills and help them find employment. In 2015 she participated in the White House LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit as a featured speaker. In 2016 Ross landed a role in “Her Story,” a web series about transgender women in Los Angeles. The same year, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama. Ross also served as executive producer and star of the short film “Missed Connections,” a black transgender love story. “Missed Connections” was an official selection at the 2017 Outflix and Outfest film festivals. In 2018 Ross joined the cast of the critically acclaimed television series “Pose,” about New York City's underground black and Latinx LGBT ballroom culture of the 1980s. The following year she starred as a psychologist in the FX television network series “American Horror Story.” In 2018 the Financial Times named Ross a top 10 LGBT executive. In 2019 she served as a celebrity ambassador of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Late in 2019, she became the first transgender person to host a national presidential candidate forum, when she hosted the official discussion of LGBTQ+ issues with the 2020 Democratic candidates. In January 2020, the luxury brand Louis Vuitton featured Ross in its ad campaign.
Photo: Miss Ross, Inc. - Wikimedia.org
ACTRESS & TRANSGENDER RIGHTS ADVOCATE
10/31/2020
Step Into The World Of Horrorland Enjoy Halloween at an Incredibly Fearful and Immersive Drive Thru Experience
You're in a car and about to take the ride of your life. A HORROR ride that is! This is no ordinary fright road you will travel. It will take you deep into the darkness where creatures of the night such as monsters, vampires, ghosts, zombies and more eagerly await your doomed arrival. Welcome to The Horrorland, the irst drive thru haunted house attraction in South Florida and Florida, located at Miramar Regional Park (16801 Miramar Parkway) in Miramar, FL from Thursday, October 1 through Saturday, October 31 on select calendar dates and is open from 7pm to 11pm. If you love chills and thrills, thank the creative horror mind of Francisco Santos, CEO and Director of Live305 Entertainment. The Cirque du Soleil veteran, with more than 20 years' experience in the experimental entertainment business, and his talented AI team have developed a one-of-a-kind
concept thrill fest experience unlike any other. “The beauty of this immersive experience is that participants are protagonists in a horror movie that's happening around them in real time—and it's all done from the safely of their cars,” said Santos. Over the course of 35 chilling minutes, the fully immersive attraction takes people into a fantasy world complete with ghoulish characters and unexpected bursts of “unusual” activities. Participants travel through six differently themed passages and experience the dreaded terrors associated with the Halloween season. “The Horrorland attraction is completely without contact and observes all safety and precaution measures, but to enjoy this thrilling experience be sure the car doors remain closed,” said Santos. This attraction is a family event, but not recommended for children under 13 years of the age. “In this era of COVID-19 we believe people need some relief from the anxiety of the real world,” adds Santos. “We put people into a fantasy world where they leave their troubles behind and can focus on having a good time. Instead of going to a traditional haunted house, they can now enjoy an entertaining drive thru
experience where social distancing is never a problem. It's an alternative way to have fun in the 'new normal' society.” Be prepared for a fright as there are seven different Haunted House themes at The Horrorland: · Alice in Horrorland · Christmas Nightmare · Creepy Carnival · Zombie Apocalypse · Farm of Horrors · Asylum of Darkness · Scream's Cemetery Tickets are priced at $48.99 per car and group rates are available. Due to safety regulations, tickets must be purchased online prior to entering Horrorland. Each car must have a Drive Thru ticket to enter. Visit www.thehorrorland.com/faq for more information. For inquiries on the Grand Opening, group tours, or reservations, visit thehorrorland.com. For any questions regarding tickets, call 1-800-383-6119 or email info@thehorrorland.com.
HOT BODIES
by Tom Bonanti
Sharpen Your Focus, Improve Your Workout, D and Take That Body to a Higher Level!
id you know that it takes a solid 2-3 weeks to develop a new habit like working out? On the flip side, it only takes a few missed workouts for you to throw in the towel altogether! Why not make a regular exercise routine and a sound nutritional program a permanent part of your life right now? You can do this if you put your mind to it! Your fitness lifestyle requires you to be mentally present and in the moment every time you hit the gym. Here are 5 pointers to help you sharpen your mental focus to take that body to a higher level of greatness. First, leave your troubles outside! Whether
you're working out at home or in a commercial gym, clear your mind and focus upon the work at hand. Holding on to cares and worries can diminish your performance and even cause you to cut your exercise sessions short. Working out can actually help you blow off steam. Take out your frustrations on the weights and put that nervous energy to good use on your favorite cardio machine. Second, let music take you to a higher level. Most gyms provide high energy background music to inspire patrons. Your workouts can get an even bigger boost if you are more selective about your music. Choose high energy tunes with a positive message, songs
zone out while doing cardio. But if you really want to make gains, focus upon what you are doing- how well your body is working, how hard your heart is beating, how efficiently you are breathing. Know your target heart rate (220 minus your age) and work in that zone for at least 15 or 20 minutes each session. Fifth, don't skip stretching. The protocol for stretching is that you do it extensively before a bout of cardio and between sets when you are weight training. Stretching can eliminate soreness since it allows tired muscles to get fresh blood and oxygen to fibers. Make sure to stretch safely and hold each stretch for 15 seconds. Flexibility is an important component of fitness and one that can show gains with just a few minutes of work each day. The time you spend in the gym is vital to your health and longevity. Don't let todays distractions rob you of wonderful gains. Stick to your plan, sharpen your mental focus and full speed ahead!
that rev you up, music that will light a fire under your cardio, and make you pump that iron extra hard! Third, when you are lifting, form is everything. You have all the rest of your life to lift more and heavier weights. If you're sloppy and careless with your form, you're risking injuries that could put you out of commission for weeks, months, or even permanently! Fourth, don't be haphazard about cardiovascular training. It's great sometimes to just
Tom Bonanti is a certified personal trainer and massage therapist (MA#40288) with his own one on one facility Pumpnincgym.com in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact trainertomb@aol.com with questions or to make an appointment today!
Film Chronicles 9 LGBTQ+ Activists' Trip to an Anti-Gun Rally and Differences Among Them By Vic Gerami Narrated by the iconic actor Harvey Fierstein, the film seeks to create awareness about gun violence against the LGBTQ+ community following the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando that took 49 lives as the impetus
About four years ago, an unprecedented violence, 2nd Amendment, gun safety, and massacre targeting the LGBTQ+ community LGBTQ+ rights, the ilm is very entertaining added another mass shooting to countless and has many light-hearted moments. It others and brie ly put gun reform on the front conveys the diversity within the queer burner again. A gunman opened ire at the Pulse community, including cast members who are Nightclub in Orlando, killing not completely pro-gun control. 49 people, and wounding At times, confrontations break another 50. This was another out as each one shares their wake-up call for America and thoughts and experiences with a call to action for hairdresser gun violence, identity issues, and wig designer Jason Hayes and being LGBTQ+. and ilmmaker Julianna Julianna Brudek's journey to Brudek. make the ilm started after the Hayes who lives in New Pulse Nightclub shooting the Jersey got into action and night before LA Pride. The planned a national rally following morning, a gunman against gun violence and gunwas arrested in Los Angeles control advocacy in who allegedly had planned to Washington DC. Learning open ire on LA Pride about the rally, Brudek participants. Feeling powerless, Lady Gaga decided to gather nine diverse Brudek got into action. LGBTQ+ activists and “I wanted to bring awareness chronicle their journey in a documentary ilm as to how disproportionately gun violence has they travel cross-country from Los Angeles to affected the less privileged members of our Washington DC to attend the rally. This was a community. Two weeks before Matthew crusade to demand LGBTQ+ equal rights, ight Shepard was brutally murdered, Rita Hester, a the NRA, and challenge America's obsession trans woman of color, was murdered, and the with gun violence. media buried the story. Forgotten forever,” The documentary follows the cross-country said Julianna Brudek. She added, “I did not trip of the activists from Los Angeles to want that to happen to the Hispanic LGBTQs Washington DC on an RV, visiting important that lost their lives at Pulse Nightclub. As a places along the way. But despite the community, we must remember the hate seriousness of the subjects tackled, gun crimes, and work together to stop the violence
Black Americans are 10 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than white Americans. Being a woman and trans exacerbates those odds.” She continued, “Disarm Hate,” focuses on the discriminatory culture within America that informs the violence marginalized communities face. If we are ever to eradicate gun violence, we must interrogate the attitudes and beliefs that fan the lames of hate. Our journey was not about taking away people's guns, it was about removing the barriers that obstruct their ability to recognize our humanity.” The documentary successfully probes the emotional journeys of the activists, who squabble, laugh, cry, and even fall in love Harvey Fierstein throughout their trip. It also examines opposing views and counterpoints to their perpetrated on each one of us.” calls for gun reform from a pro-gun Beginning as a road trip, the journey turned perspective, as they visit a shooting range into so much more than anyone could and engage with a member of the have expected. Exploring their Pink Pistols, a pro-gun LGBTQ+ similarities and differences, the group. group develops a lifeHarvey Fierstein, changing bond as they visit summed it up with, prominent sites of gun “Never be bullied into violence that have silence. Never allow affected LGBTQ+ people yourself to be made a nationwide. This victim. Accept no one's common ground opens definition of your life; discussions between the define yourself.” travelers and the people Disarm Hate is they meet along the way, available on multiple that look to alleviate these streaming platforms horrific hate crimes and Ashlee Marie Preston including Amazon Prime bring a better understanding Video, FandangoNOW, Google for all. Play/You Tube Rentals, InDemand The renowned trans activist and (Comcast & Cox), Microsoft Store, and Vudu. media personality Ashlee Marie Preston who is a For more information follow on Social cast member and an executive producer said, media: facebook.com/DOC2DISARMHATE; “The threat of gun violence is intersectional. Twitter.com/DISARMHATE; and When someone's identity overlaps with multiple Instagram.com/DOC2DISARMHATE marginalized groups, their risk is compounded. Vic Gerami is a noted journalist, a columnist, and also a radio show host and media contributor who is also publisher and editor of The Blunt Post. Gerami is the host and producer of his prime-time radio show, The Blunt Post with Vic on Independent Radio KPFK 90.7 FM (Paci ica Network). Following national breaking and headlines news, analysis and commentary, Gerami interviews a member of Congress and other high-pro ile public igures. For the second time, Gerami was selected as a inalist in the Los Angeles Press Club's National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards “Columnist of the Year” category in 2019, having irst made the inal round of consideration in 2017. His celebrity Q&A column, '10 Questions with Vic'is internationally syndicated. In July 2020, the Los Angeles Press Club announced that Gerami is a Finalist in record seven (7) categories for the 62nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards.
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deep inside HOLLYWOOD By Romeo San Vicente
getting a November U.S. theatrical/streaming date through indie veteran Strand Releasing. In other words, it'll be a dreamy escape from whatever happens after the election. Set your timers.
Photo: Kathclick
Star Trek's first trans and non-binary characters
Dominique Jackson, Alec Mapa, Fortune Feimster get into a Chick Fight Whether you know him as the very good-looking romantic lead in Crazy Rich Asians or the very goodlooking Ghost of Christmas Heart Transplant Surgery Past in Last Christmas, you now know Henry Golding and what a movie star he is. And now queer audiences will get to swoon over him in the gay romantic drama Monsoon, from filmmaker Hong Khaou (director of the Ben Whishaw-
starring indie drama Lilting). Golding plays a young British Vietnamese man who returns to his birth country after the death of his parents. There he meets his estranged family, as well as a man (Parker Sawyers, who played young Barack Obama in Southside With You) with whom he might find love. This one's been moving its way through the film festival circuit and will now be
The CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery will continue to fulfill the franchise's progressive ideals and for the upcoming third season include the show's first transgender and non-binary characters. Queer characters already existed in the ST:D universe, played by Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz, so the addition of the two new characters will be a welcome expansion of the ranks. Ian Alexander, a trans actor most known for his role on Netflix's The OA, will play a trans Trill named Gray (Non-Trekker? A Trill is a species of humanoid from the planet Trill. And now you know.) and UK actor Blu del Barrio, who is also nonbinary, will play the non-binary character Adira. This will be del Barrio's first major acting
role, and they have told the press that they realized that “non-binary” was the best way to describe their gender nonconformity after seeing Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's non-binary cast member, Lachlan Watson. In other words, we see ourselves in the media for the first time and it sometimes makes things a little more clear, gives us the words to describe ourselves, and, to adapt a Trek cliché , go boldly and get our life.
no traditional archival material available. Picked up for distribution by Radiant Films, keep an eye out for a
streaming/theatrical release of this fascinating story, one finally properly told by queer people.
Billy Tipton was a successful touring jazz musician from the 1930s until the 1970s. Billy Tipton was also a trans man. His story is remarkable for many reasons, but in the hands of non-queer, cisgenderdominated media, his story is also almost never told with respect or understanding. The late musician is routinely misgendered, treated as a kind of gender double agent, and discussed in terms of deception and secrecy, as “a woman pretending to be a man.” No Ordinary Man, co-directed by Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt, a film that premiered this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, seeks to change all that. It's a documentary of sorts, written by Amos Mac (co-founder of the trans magazine Original Plumbing), telling the story of Tipton's life, elements of which are recreated by actors and trans artists because there was
Photo: Eva Rinaldi - Wikimedia.org
Trans musician Billy Tipton's story told right in No Ordinary Man
Good Joe Bell walks the walk A pro-queer film starring Mark Wahlberg? Well, we were a little surprised ourselves to be honest, but there's a first time for everything (being a Calvin Klein underwear model doesn't count). And that's why we're pleased to see that Wahlberg will be giving a world some good vibrations in Good Joe Bell. Based on a true story and also coproduced by Wahlberg, the plot follows Oregon dad Joe Bell, who walks across the United States with his gay son Jadin (Play by Play) as they try to raise awareness about the bullying and abuse of LGBTQ kids. Co-starring
Connie Britton, and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men), it also boasts a script from Academy Award-winning Brokeback Mountain team Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana (and that's about the gold standard of screenwriting cred when it comes to straight writers). The film has its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, no doubt with some award season hope on its mind. Look for it to pop up on screens (big or small) later this year. Romeo San Vicente is regularly described as a sweet sensation.
10th Anniversary Untiy Coalition|Coalició n Unida is South Florida's organization for Latinx|Hispanic LGBTQ communities since 2002, and is proud to produce the annual Celebrate Orgullo Festival, South Florida's irst Hispanic & Indigenous LGBT Pride festival since 2011. The festival enters its 10th successful year with Unity In Diversity|Diversidad En Unidad - an International Artists Showcase; Diva Masks juried exhibit; ArtDiva Bus Tours; Movie Nights; Spoken Word events, and much more… Across South Florida. LINE UP FOR 2020
Unity in Diversity Virtual Forum is on Thursday, Oct. 1st, 11am-1pm. This is a Community Forum and Q&A with expert panelists, discussing the effects of this pandemic, and how we move on and reinvent our lives & interaction. Night of 1,000 (ish) Virtual Stars is on Friday, Oct 2nd, 7-10pm. Singers, Dancers, Artistas, Performers, Musicos, Writers - all for Charity. Scheduled to perform – Ballet Folclorico Jalisco es Diverso, performer Tony Enos, singer EnVee, musician Rego, Mailyn Soulfree, writer Benjamin Garcia, opera baritone Angel Refuse, harpist Matthew Tutsky, singer Arias Maertin, World Famous 801 Girls, Latin Grammy winner Robbie Elias, performer Rene Rodriguez, illusionists Adora, Patent Pending & CC Glitzer, Ensamble
Folclorico Colibri, Miami Gay Men's Chorus, the Voice' Karina Iglesiaas, singer Raven O, dancer Liony Garcia, dancer Ryan DeAlexandre, writer Richard Blanco, and many more.
Exploring Our Ancestors Land with Houston Cypress is on Sunday, Oct 4th, 9am1pm with a virtual tour of Everglades & Miccosukee sacred land. BlackOUT Performances, Maskbook Exhibit & Celebrity Masks for Charity is on Tuesday, Oct 6th, at 7pm. Orgullo exclusive - choreographer Randolph Ward produces Me Gritan Negra (originally by Peruvian author Victoria Santa Cruz), with gender luid Brazilian performer Natanael Leal, exploring society's challenge of femininity and skin color. Leal ultimately uses it as motivation to live beautiful, bold, & unapologetic.
Reading by Author Terry Dyer, Maskbook Global Exhibit & Celebrity Masks Auction bene iting the MicroGiving LGBT Hospitality Workers & Artists Fund and the Okra Project: wear your most creative (and protective) mask, and join us for some appropriately distant dancing, drinking and partying.
Spoken & Eats is on Thursday, Oct 8th, 710pm, and the cost is $40. Enjoy great food for 2 delivered to your home - then sit back and enjoy authors Richard Blanco, Benjamin Garcia, Jesus Chairez and Mils Ocampo. Live Jazz by Von Henry... then the virtual Maskbook Art Gallery!
Discovering Our Roots Tour is on Saturday, Oct 10th, from 2-4pm, where you will learn about the rich Culture of Colombia, Mexico and the Muxes. Also featuring dance, music & food.
The Making of a Dance Video with John Buckley on Sunday, Oct 11th, from 2-4pm. See
how music videos are made, styled choreographed, and ilmed... and learn some dance steps, too!
Orgullo Drive-In Movie Night at Dezerland is on Wednesday, Oct 14th, at 7pm. The cost is $40 per car 100% of All Pro its from this year's Celebrate Orgullo Festival will directly bene it their MicroGiving Fund for our LGBTQ Community and year round UC|CU Programming & the OKRA Project.
UC|CU's MicroGiving Fund is about Community Building, (Re) Start Up Support and Hope – not Handouts. Providing Funds and Mentorship for Business Start Ups, Continued Education and Life's Unexpected Emergencies‌their program has successfully given back to the community over $80,000 since its inception. The OKRA Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally speci ic meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them. Along with combating food insecurity in the black transgender community, the OKRA Project has launched two mental health recovery funds to provide black trans men and women sessions with a licensed black therapist, free of cost. Sponsorship of the 10th annual Celebrate Orgullo Festival, is still available by calling Herb Sosa at 786-271-6982 or at herb@unitycoalition.org.
S
ince 1967, COLT Studio Group has shared with the world its unique vision of the masculine man through photographic, ilm, video and a wide variety of all-male products. Early on with the conception of the COLT, Buckshot and Olympus lines, COLT Studio Group immediately became the catalyst of a movement to liberalize the male nude igure by presenting men in an entirely new style. With a careful eye on body expressions, poses, lighting and composition the COLT Studio Group content celebrates the erotic appeal of masculinity. That being said‌ No other all-male erotic studio has produced high-quality imagery and products for longer and more consistently. For more information or to order these calendars (which are $15.95 each) or any of their other merchandise, go to: COLTstudiostore.com
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A
Bright Light
Out musician Rod Thomas centers LGBTQ culture with his disco-laden third album By Chris Azzopardi
Photos: Warren Piece
The name Rod Thomas might not be instantly recognizable, but it's likely you've come across the one he uses on stage. As Bright Light Bright Light, Thomas has been a staple of the international LGBTQ music scene for the last 10 years, performing for Cher on the European leg of her 2019 tour and collaborating on a song with Elton John. The independent Welsh singersongwriter's latest album, Fun City, is awash in the queer make-up of disco culture, ittingly corralling a roster of LGBTQ notables including Andy Bell of Erasure, Jake Shears, Justin Vivian Bond and Sam Sparro.
in the
Dark
Leading up to its release, what's been the day-to-day of getting this album out? It's been trying to rethink the whole presentation of it because it's very LGBTQ+ focused. What I've been working on with my agent this last year-and-a-half is touring with other queer artists and going to smaller spaces in different cities and working with LGBTQ+ local artists and drag performers. We wanted to make it like “Soul Train circus comes to town” and also highlight local LGBTQ+ businesses, organizations and charities and really use it to expand on the story of the record, which is respect for queer culture. Not being able to do that this year has been kind of depressing because it really was meant to be much more than this album, like before it was hip to be fucking amplifying people's voices. The whole point of this record was to shine a light on artists that people overlook or local talent that people don't really get a chance to hear about. Not really being able to do that properly felt just a bit sad. Hopefully next year I can take that on the road and do it then, if any of these venues are still open.
Have you thought about a way to recon igure your plan for a virtual audience? I don't think it's very effective. I really don't think it is. I think people are so exhausted by online presence and online events that I just don't think it's going to have any impact, so I really do think it needs to happen when there's people in a room. Online there's just so much white noise that you can't really cut through, especially if you don't have the budget of a Dua Lipa or Miley Cyrus – who I love. But the minute they put out a song then that kind of dominates the gay male focus.
Your song with Justin Vivian Bond, “Saying Goodbye Is Exhausting,” is really touching. What can you say about that song? I feel like a big part of gay life is losing people too young, and that's about a friend. I don't often write that kind of lyric about personal loss, but that is about a friend who died two years ago and was 33, 34 years old. Throughout time people have been murdered
by homophobes, but also with the AIDS crisis and everything that LGBTQ+ people have gone through, it has been watching their contemporaries or their friends or their family die too young. Even during the last three weeks we've seen Black person after Black person murdered, trans woman after trans woman murdered. Saying goodbye and watching these people disappear is absolutely exhausting when people have the power to stop it and literally nobody that it doesn't affect gives a fuck and it's just unforgivable. I don't understand where the compassion in society has gone. Even if you were the shittiest white person living, how do you not understand that watching person after person die is exhausting? I remember reading that you're a mood board person. What did your mood boards look like for this album? Oh, fucking mental. (Laughs.) It was really mental. Let me see if I can ind it. I think I have it. I still keep printouts of everything. You should. Yeah, I do. My apartment is a lunatic asylum.
Well, you're an artist. Let's go with that, yeah. (Laughs.) One of the boards is: Eyes of Laura Mars. Body Double. The Stepford Wives. Escape from New York. Party Girl. Silence=Death and the pink triangle. Showgirls. And Sylvester's live album cover. I wanted it to feel like it sort of spoke to or about different parts of queer culture that I've really learned a lot from or was really inspired by through the years, so I kind of hope it does that in some loose way. Also, on a lighter note: Big Trouble in Little China. After Hours. Cat People. Blade Runner. Sweet Charity, with Shirley MacLaine. How does Showgirls it into the vibe of the album? Delusion. (Laughs.)
Do you usually reference a lot of ilms when you're making music? Yes, it's mostly ilm that I reference, honestly. Looking at references makes me want to make a song that sounds like those images, and I ind that much more inspiring than a playlist of songs
because ilm speaks to me a little bit more and teases images out in my brain.
While we're on the topic of ilm, what made Gremlins so special to you that you named yourself after the Gizmo line “bright light, bright light”? (Laughs.) I honestly don't know. I don't think I named myself after that because it was a particularly special ilm. When I was thinking about what to call myself with my manager at the time that is the irst thing that came into my head. I thought, “God, that's pretty shit,” but then I couldn't think of anything better, and it kind of stuck. I liked that it alluded to dance loors and nightlife and electricity and electronic music. It just seemed to work. And I'm a huge fan of the Gremlins franchise, so that de initely works for me too.
And I read that the title was inspired by a comment made by former NYC mayor John V. Lindsay on his irst day in of ice in 1966, amidst a crippling transit strike. Is that right? Yeah, it was. Basically when he took over on his irst day of of ice the whole city fell to shit and it was a disaster. There was a transit strike and the lights went out and everyone just lost their minds and one of his adversaries was like, “Oh, so you're still happy to be the mayor?” And he was like, “I still think it's a fun city.” So I kind of took the idea of this very lawed paradise and applied that to how queer people have had to live the whole time. It's like, you move to LA, New York, Atlanta, whatever is your city, to escape the suburbia you're not safe in. But then you get to the city, which has things like other gay people,
nightlife, sex, glamour, jobs. It has everything. But you also have the prejudice and the danger and the need to keep both eyes open all the time whilst remembering to celebrate yourself and have fun. So Fun City, for me, is like this place that you aspire to live in. But it's also a double-edged sword because it could be your downfall.
Did you personally experience this? Yeah. Where I grew up is absolutely not tolerant of gay people. When I was young I grew up in the middle of nowhere, in like an old coal mining valley in South Wales, which was homophobic. So, for me, it was going to London and then moving from London to New York; it's like chasing the best version of yourself and inding a place that allows you to be the best version of yourself with the people you want to be surrounded by.
Has disco and dance music been a catharsis for you? Dance, yeah. The whole ethos of disco from my understanding is: dancing through pain, or singing through turmoil, or celebrating through adversity. So referencing that in relation to what I wanted to talk about with the record felt kind of right to me. A lot of gay culture was born and bred from the love of disco music, and the joy and togetherness it inspired is still very much at the heart of LGBTQ+ culture.
As editor of Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.
Be seen. Be safe. Be well. This isn’t our first pandemic. In fact, Jackson was founded during the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918. And even back then, our doctors and nurses took extraordinary measures to protect and care for the people of this community. Just like we’re taking extraordinary measures to protect and care for you now. So rest assured that there is no reason to delay care for you or your loved ones due to safety concerns. We’re here for you — as we’ve always been — committed to keeping you safe.
Jackson Health System is proud to be recognized as an “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.