Hotspots! June 22, 2023 (Issue 3813)

38th Year

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Coco Alarcon | Dale Stine | Dennis Dean | Robert Hadley

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Shawn Palacious (“Kitty Meow”)

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Joshua Duke — (754) 200-1581 Dale Stine — (754) 333-0849

By Chris Azzopardi

Listening to his new album, you wouldn't know Jake Shears went through a pandemic breakup. After all, he doesn't process his personal hardships through his music, Shears admitted to me during our recent interview.

And so “Last Man Dancing,” his second solo release after his 2018 self-titled album, is a “party album through and through,” he says. This, then, is a Shears LP down to its deeply disco-heavy core, rooted in the glittery glam-pop sounds of the Scissor Sisters (which, by the way, haven't totally disbanded, though they are on a very long indefinite hiatus — Shears spoke on that in our interview, too).

The Scissor Sisters made Shears, the band's frontman, a gay icon almost 20 years ago when the quartet's self-titled 2004 debut embraced the kind of unabashed queerness, we've now come to expect from LGBTQ+ artists.

Shears, whose look has gone from twink to daddy (is there a 44-year-old gay man who can't relate?), tells me he watches upand-coming queer artists with great admiration. But without Shears, it's hard to imagine what their careers might look like — could they be as freely expressive if he wasn't leading the way in feather-adorned leather pants or that bare-chested suspenders look he favored? Even for a generation of LGBTQ+ people who aren't musicians (including yours truly), Shears made celebrating ourselves easier, by always outwardly celebrating himself.

The publicity notes for the new album call it a “reminder to keep moving through whatever life throws at you.” So while he may not have created a breakup album or one that speaks directly to this current climate of Republican-charged anti-queer expression, Shears' message of defiance through joy, dance and self-celebration profoundly resonates. It's an exultant Pride proclamation to get us through the night.

When we last spoke in 2018, I felt like you were just getting settled into New Orleans. You had just maybe moved, is that right?

Yeah, I'd been there for a little while and I had my apartment. I bought my house after. I have a house there now; you're like, what are you doing in London now?

That was my follow-up question, actually. New Orleans is always my wind-down spot, you know what I mean? It was always a place for me to go be creative and feel free. And I love it so much. I can't be there year 'round. I started getting a little twitchy. So, I wanted to come to London because I knew I could just get all my work done here; I could get loads of stuff done. It's been super busy this last year, so it's been good. It's just kept me on my toes. With “Last Man Dancing,” I always appreciate when you have a new album out because so much of my experience is rooted in your music. Thank you. I get excited about it too. And this is cool because it's an all-out party. I was like, where are the Jake ballads? And it kept playing and I'm like, OK, I guess I'm just supposed to dance the whole time.

Yeah, they don't come. It was an idea that I had when I had half of the songs written for this and the album was taking shape, and then I was like, “What if it just doesn't stop?” And there's a halfway point to the record, so I put it in two parts — but what if it just keeps going and literally the second half doesn't stop; there's no stops between the tracks. It's definitely a party record with a lot of different influences going on.

I imagine you created it during the thick of Covid.

Some of it. There are a few songs before, some during and some after. So not wholly. “I Used To Be In Love” and “Devil Came Down the Dance Floor” [featuring Amber Martin] were made totally remotely. Me and [producer Michael] Cheever made them a world apart and made a really cool ballet of studio monitors, iPads,

iPhones, headphones, earbuds, all on top of each other to mute. If you've got your monitors going and you've got your mics going, and it's echoing and reverbing… it was just a load of muting; we'd have to get each other's attention on the screen and wave “turn things off.” Yeah, it was complicated. I read that a lot of the vibe of the album was influenced by your parties, specifically ones you've had in New Orleans, which made me feel like I had missed out on a lot of good Jake Shears parties. Oh god, they're still going to go on and on. My house there is very special and it's very central. It's a couple blocks out of the [French] Quarter. It's really nice. It's not fancy, but it's super cozy and vibe-y and there's loads of books and there's record players everywhere and great art and, yeah, there's a place to dance. Collaboration has been a significant aspect of your career. What do you value most about collaborative experiences and how do they influence your creative process? I don't make anything by myself. I get seeds of ideas. I'll do some writing. I'll get concepts, but the joy of making music is the joy of hanging out with somebody else that you like and doing something with them. Cheever, Boys Noize, Vaughn Oliver and Ryland Blackinton — we all are just great friends. We just love working together. So, there's fun happening while we're making music and geeking out on stuff. It's a great hang and it's super fun. You build something together and there's payoffs. Cheever and I wrote “Diamonds Don't Burn.” I was literally doing vocals in his 3-year-old's nursery when she was at school.

What was going on in your life when you wrote these songs?

It's kind of all over the place. There was nothing too personal, although my boyfriend and I broke up in the summer of 2020. I was absolutely devastated, and it took me two years to get over it. I've never been so heartbroken, but I

had no desire to put that into the music. I wanted to put the good times into it and the joy and the fun that I was having, especially when stuff started opening back up, when New Orleans sort of came alive again and we could all get together. That was what I wanted to infuse into it; the fun that I was having as well. But yeah, that was a super rough moment. A breakup in the middle of lockdown is just not fun. So many artists write best when they're heartbroken, and so the fact that you didn't take advantage of that musically and went in the opposite direction is really interesting — maybe making a dance album was, for you, the catharsis?

It is, and also, I'm just the opposite. If I'm having a bad day and if I'm not feeling good and if I'm feeling depressed, I don't want to write, I don't make myself write, I don't feel like working on creative stuff. I really only like to work creatively if I'm feeling good, if I'm feeling healthy, if my brain feels good. I'm not one of those people that makes lemons into lemonade, necessarily. Even now, you're still addressing themes of self-acceptance, love and empowerment. How do you think your work from Scissor Sisters and beyond has contributed to the broader conversation surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and representation?

It was a funny, old world in 2003, and it is in 2023. I do think that we are in a better spot in so many ways. It's such a big conversation. I feel like it was such a different world then; we didn't have social media and we weren't communicating the same way that we are now. I would never want to go through what I did then, now. Just having that spotlight, everybody can so easily just get amplified unwillingly in one moment, and I liked that world better. I hope that I opened up some doors and pathways as I feel like people did for me who came before me, and it's nice to see queerness being celebrated in mainstream culture and risks still being taken. I also find some of it to be… I'm really going to have a really hard time getting to my point. I think there's been a

lot of inauthentic allyship. Look at the Dodgers right now.

Do you see that same kind of inauthentic allyship in music?

Not necessarily. No. I see a wide breadth of artists being listened to and adored and these artists taking risks. Just seeing Anohni put out a record or announce an album was really exciting. But then there's the new kids I've become friends with, like Jake Wesley Rogers, who I love so much. It's just been really amazing watching him blossom. It's also really interesting because he has a completely different experience in what he is doing. I mean, he's on TikTok all day long. It's so strange. To me, I just think it's weird. I think it's unnatural, and I don't ever really want to do that. But if the kids want to do it, then have at it. So, listen, I can feel like an absolute grumpy old man, but I also don't feel like an old man yet. So, I don't know. I'm going to be 45 this year, which is just crazy. I don't know how I'm going to feel at 45. I'm so proud of everything I've done, and so I feel so lucky and fortunate with my career, and I've been able to do all this stuff and then at the same time I'm like, “Am I going to have a family? Who's going to look after me when I start losing my marbles?”

Do you have any nieces or nephews who dote on you?

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are two of my best friends. I pull their kids aside all the time and I tell Lola, I'm just like, "You are going fucking to take care of me. I know you are going to take care of me."

I plan on living on a “Golden Girls”style compound with all of my queer friends, and we will just all take care of each other. We're going to help each other keep our marbles. It's what's happened in New Orleans. All my best friends have moved down there. When I'm down there now, it's just loads of family around. Although the other day I held a baby and burst into tears, so I'm just like, “What?”

Maybe you’remeant to be a real daddy.

I don't know, though. I just feel like it's a new phase of life. I definitely want to just keep working. Now, another musician

friend of mine who's putting out a record next month, we had about an hour on FaceTime last week, and he's going to be 50, and he was just like, "We can't do this forever." It's like, “We got to do it now,” and I agree. Next year is the 20th anniversary of Scissor Sisters' debut album. I know you get this question all the time about a reunion, and based on what I've read, you're very open to it. So, if you're very open to it, why hasn't it happened yet?

I don't know. I think I want everybody to be down and ready and stoked if that was ever to happen. I definitely don't want to be twisting anybody's arm. Not that that's happening, but yeah, it would be nice. I think it would be really fun, and I think it would be great. So yeah, you never know. Stranger things have happened.

I think people want you to be the ringleader here and get the troop together, but I guess everyone must be in on that too. Everyone's got their own lives and stuff, you know what I mean? All I can do is just keep moving forward and doing what I love to do, and I'm so happy about just getting to put this album out. I feel like this record's got some Scissor spirit to it in a lot of ways. It's all one. I l ook at it as one body of work.

Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. He 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.

Photos:Photos:KeansLlamera.com Coco Alarcon

1 Word with Mary

5 “Oliver Button Is a ___”

10 Features of Liberace's teeth

14 Edison's middle name

15 St. Teresa's town

16 Photographer Catherine

17 Swallow alternative

18 Cotton compressor

19 Horne of “The Wiz”

20 Groundbreaking play by Robert Patrick (1937-2023)

HOT PUZZLE Remembering Robert

4 It can cut your pole

5 “The Jungle Book” star

6 Sergei of _The Opposite of Sex_

7 Russian River deposit

8 Hibernate with the bears

9 Statistic in David Kopay's sport

10 Douglas Fairbanks, by birth

11 They're not homo sapiens

12 Pub offering

13 Place for a cruising sailor

21 Hit the ground

22 Shakespearean prince

26 Miner concern

27 Not remain straight

28 Paid for a hand

30 "___ now our gay apparel..."

31 Come as far as

32 Affirm orally

33 Animal groups cruising with Noah 34 Do damage to 35 It comes before sum 36 Ophidian opening?

>>>>>> To see answers, visit hotspotsmagazine.com/crossword

GayDays Orlando Weekend 2023

Photos:Photos:KeansLlamera.com Coco Alarcon

Last year when we were in our editorial meeting thinking about how we would pick Hotspots' hottest bodies in South Florida it dawned on us that some of the hottest guys have been on the covers of Hotspots, so now each year we will let the readers vote on who you think is the hottest. We have narrowed it down to the top 10 for you, so begin voting now at Hotspotsmagazine.com/Vote.

You can vote for as many guys as you want but you can only vote once from each device. The voting will be open from now until July 22 (one month), and we will announce your favorite in our August 3rd edition.

The winner will receive a free cruise on our 39th anniversary cruise in December and all voters are entered into a pool where one lucky person will win 2 VIP tickets to Pridefete 2023, so...Start voting now!

By Scott Holand

By Dennis Dean & Dale Stine

27 | Aries Q/Banebang23

Photos

Amone Bane

daniel montoya

Sergio Cabrera

30 | Taurus | Colombia

Q/Serge_snob

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitor Bureau Welcomes the Return of Miami Hotel Months

With returning favorites and new additions, The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) welcomes the return of Miami Hotel Months. From now until September 30, the four-month-long program features a host of more than 80 offers on stays at top hotels and resorts, including generous packages,

complimentary add-ons and BOGO hotel nights. A complete list of offerings and program details are available at MiamiTemptations.com.

Take advantage of special packages, earn resort credits, enjoy luxury amenities, complimentary meals, and more. Whether you're looking for beachfront or boutique accommodations, all-inclusive resorts or cozy rooms, locals and visitors can book a well-deserved getaway or staycation at one of Greater Miami and Miami Beach's top hotels and resorts. With a range of exclusive deals, including special offers on rooms, extra nights, and added amenities and services, the program encourages families, couples, and solo travelers to explore all this vibrant destination has to offer. This year's program includes several new participants, including Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove, Urbanica Euclid Hotel, and citizenM Miami World Center.

“There is no better time to enjoy the respite of staying in a hotel than during Miami Hotel Months,” says David Whitaker, president & CEO of the GMCVB. “Whether you enjoy the quaintness of a boutique hotel, the extravagant amenities of a luxury resort, or the family travel offerings in one of our many world-renowned properties, the time is now to book your high-value experience in Greater Miami and Miami Beach.”

Miami Hotel Months is one of eight programs within the Miami Temptations Program established by the GMCVB. The series of themed months are designed to cultivate awareness and appreciation of the many assets within the vibrant destination by curating special programming and discounts for visitors and locals to explore. The program is also home to Miami Spa Months, Miami Spice Restaurant Months, Miami Health & Wellness Months, Miami Arts, Culture & Heritage Months, Miami-Dade Farmers Month, Miami Attraction & Museum Months and Miami Entertainment Months.

For a complete list of special offers available from the GMCVB's Miami Temptations Program, visit www.MiamiTemptations.com.

Task Force Gala

Kick-Off Party at R House

Photos: Dale Stine

Walking the Fur Ball Fierce Lewks for Dogs

By Larry Olsen

RuPawl has been lighting up Instagram, wearing replicas of the gowns seen on RuPaul's Drag Race. Created by their owner, José Lizárraga, some of the most iconic lewks include Ginger Minj's Pop Art look from All Stars 6, a stunningly accurate rendering of Maddy Morphosis's Rain Clowd gown, and Willow Pill's blue strawberry gown reimagined with blue Kong chew toys.

Now the Doggie Drag queen is launching a collection of clothing and accessories for other fierce canines. Dubbed Doggie Drag, the line features an array of stunning and flamboyant pieces that capture the essence of drag culture. From bright feather boas to sparkling

Lady Camden

Daya Betty

Angeria Paris Van Michaels

Sasha Colby

sequined dog tags; there's even a fluffy blonde wig, honey!

Dogs can rule the racetrack in a hot pink and checkered jumpsuit inspired by Mama Ru, or they can sashay away in the Mutha of the Runway gown, an opulent tulle explosion that includes glistening silver embellishments.

"Our collection is about celebrating individuality and self-expression," founder and CEO of Doggie Drag, José Lizárraga, says. "Four-legged divas deserve the opportunity to express their resplendence, nerve, and talent, and now they can shine as bright as the queens on the show.” We spoke with him from his home in Boulder, Colorado.

How did you launch the Doggie Drag collection?

We began the process with research, research, research. We scoured archives for some of the most iconic drag lewks out there, from past to present. We want our looks to be recognizably fabulous and drag! What is the story you are telling through this collection — and how does it fit into the overarching narrative of the brand?

We want to communicate that the artistry of drag is not just for humans, but for pets as well. This initial collection is about setting a tone of making our brand distinguishably drag, and not just doggie clothes. That's why the themes of this initial collection seem familiar and are influenced by the mainstream themes we see on tv. What is your favorite piece in the collection?

We are extremely proud of the "Start Your Engines" jumpsuit. Fans are loving it! It is made with high quality materials and just looks fabulous.

Which fabrics work best for canines?

Lightweight fabrics with a slight stretch because when it comes to pets, it's about maximum mobility and comfort. What colors dominate in the collection?

Hot pink, purples, and shine! You know the colors of glamour!

If you could have one queen from RuPaul's Drag Race as a guest designer for Doggie Drag, who would you choose?

Goodness. This is a hard question! But Sasha Velour's style is something we hope to explore sometime soon. She is so unique, yet so glamorous.

Of the RuPaul's Drag Race lewks from the show that you have recreated for RuPawl, which have been your favorites?

Our recent recreation of Jimbo's promo lewk for All Stars 8 is definitely up there. Loved playing with the proportions and with our favorite color, pink. We also loved recreating so many lewks of Sasha Colby's this season. One of our top faves was her "Tie Dye to Die For" lewk which we hand painted.

Why release Doggie Drag now?

The collection is the next natural progression for the work RuPawl and I have been doing with our lewk recreations on Instagram. We want other pooches to wear doggie drag and feel just as fabulous as our Lil Ru feels. We also look forward to growing the brand and collaborating with other artists who share our belief that drag is love, drag is life, and drag is not a crime.

Luxx Noir London

Sasha Colby

By Maria Espinal

Seafood Bar

1 S. County Rd. • Palm Beach, FL 33480-4023

561.659.8488 • thebreakers.com/dining/seafood-bar

Sun – Thu 11am 10pm • Fri – Sat 11am – 11pm

With a stunning backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, seafood bar is located at The Beakers Hotel, decorated with nautical details, beautiful aquariums. Menu highlights: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Filet Mignon Sliders and their Coconut Shrimp with delicious Sweet Chili Aioli (appetizers); Seafood Linguine, Fried Seafood Platter (Shrimp, Scallops, Calamari, Grouper, Fries, Tartar Sauce) & of course, filet mignon. Lovely side orders: Blue Crab Fried Rice and lobster coleslaw. See menu and prices before going.

Limonada

825 Washington Ave. • Miami Beach, FL 33139 305.800.0201 • limonadasouthbeach.com • Daily 8am – 11pm

I totally love their name, their logo and overall atmosphere. Limonada Breakfast Bar + Brunch, is the ultimate South Beach dining experience featuring classic cocktails and an all-day menu from breakfast to dinner with live music. Next to the Clinton Hotel in South Beach, Limonada's menu represents a modern interpretation of traditional American and Mexican fare with a tempting twist. With breakfast, brunch and happy hour menu, prices are reasonable for a South Beach venue. Private events can be hosted at Limonada. Love it!

Laspada's Hoagies

1495 SE 17th St Ste D. • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 954.522.3483 • laspadashoagies.com

Mon – Sat 10am – 8pm • Sun 11am – 11pm

I love this place for a quick bite & a good quality 8” or 12” deli sandwich while staying within budget. Choose from any of their deli sandwiches, any signature original hoagies, salad platter or deli salads, you will not be disappointed, everything is so good. With five locations in Broward County, Laspada's is also a great option to cater your next event. Vegetarian & Vegan options ava ilable.

Spanky's Cheesesteak & Wings Factory

309 N. State Road 7 • Margate, FL 33063 • 954.973.2170 spankysmargate.com • Mon - Sat 11am - 10pm • Sun Noon - 9pm

Spanky's Cheesesteak Factory is highly acclaimed for the Philly Cheesesteak aficionado, serving its patrons for over 20 years. With a welcoming atmosphere, they definitely have an extensive menu to choose from; some of the highlights are: Cheese tater tots, their signature philly cheesesteak, sausage & chicken philly (you can also get mini versions). Also available are juicy burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, salads, beer & wine. Gift cards available.

Beef Empanadas

Recipes

By Andreus Quinones

1lb of ground meat

1 tablespoon of cumin

1 tablespoon of onion powder

1 tablespoon of garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon of paprika

1/2 teaspoon of turmeric

1 teaspoon of adobo con pimienta

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1/2 cup of tomato sauce

3/4 cups of spanish olives chopped

3/4 cup of raisins

4 big tablespoons of sofrito

Let everything cook down together. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Get some Goya empanada discs and thaw them. Stuff them with the picadillo (meat) and fold over, press the edges together with a fork. To make sure it stays sealed you can use a little beaten egg like glue. Fry them in canola oil, about 4-5 minutes or until golden.

Hannah

Gadsby Thinks You Deserve a Break

The Genderqueer Lesbian Comic is Back with a Feel-Good Netflix Special

By Sarah Bricker Hunt

A lot has changed since Hannah Gadsby first took audiences on the unexpected journey that was “Nanette,” their 2018 career-making Netflix special. Yes, there was that whole Trump presidency situation and, oh, that global pandemic hiccup, but also, Gadsby got new glasses, an additional dog, created two more specials, put out a New York Times bestselling memoir (“Ten Steps to Nanette”), opened an art show in Brooklyn focused on Picasso's alleged misogyny (“It's Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby”), and picked up a new descriptor along the way: beloved wife.

It's that latter detail that Gadsby explores in depth in their latest Netflix endeavor, “Something Special.” Spoiler alert: A wild rabbit pays the ultimate price for Gadsby's wedded bliss, but it's totally not the rabbit's fault. It's just that, sometimes, the journey is exactly the opposite of what you're expecting, and maybe that's the point of, well, everything.

The newly released special is a departure from Gadsby's work on stage so far, which has focused on topics like neurodivergency (Gadsby is autistic), family dysfunction, mental health and other heavy topics. The comedian teases the audience that all the chatter about how this special would be more lighthearted than “Nanette” and “Douglas,” released in 2020, could be an elaborate ruse. Is existentialism and social reckoning right around the corner? Nah. Gadsby, as they remind us in example after example, is not a good liar.

This special, like the others, is about where Gadsby is at this moment in time. And, happily, this moment is a good one.

“I didn't expect to get married,” Gadsby tells us in a recent Zoom interview. “So, I thought that was an interesting enough place to begin. Also, I believe my audience has invested in me. I shared my pain and my trauma and my difficulties, and I think it would be weird to hide my current state of joy. That would feel like a disingenuous approach. So, I really wanted to share that.”

Gadsby's marriage to producer Jenney Shamash, who the comedian calls “Jenno,” has been surprising in one way, the comedian says. “Being surrounded by straight, unhappy married people my whole life, I'm mostly surprised that it's not so miserable. Like, you hear comedians talk about it: 'My wife's this, My wife's that.' Why did you marry that horrible person you keep complaining about?” they joke.

Gadsby says that as they toured with the new material, audiences responded in a way that made it clear this was a show they wanted and, in many ways, needed. “It's going to be a feel-good show because I believe I owe you one,” they say in the special. “I have dragged you through a bit of my shit over the years, and you've stuck with me. Much obliged! But it's time for some payoff.”

Still, Gadsby is happy to dig into the heavy

stuff during our time together, acknowledging the deeply disturbing culture wars happening in the U.S. with the LGBTQ+ community at the center — especially LGBTQ+ kids and young adults. “I was a young person during a very similar time, but without the internet — so it wasn't that similar,” Gadsby says. “But the anti-gay rhetoric that I grew up with — the discourse surrounding me when I was growing up — was frighteningly similar to that which we're experiencing now.”

Coming of age in tiny Tasmania, an Australian island state some 150 miles south of the mainland, Gadsby said they felt isolated, a struggle in and of itself. But today's younger generation is experiencing an anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment “everywhere all at once.”

“So, it's incredibly difficult, particularly, to be a young queer person in this moment,” they add. “And I can't speak to that experience. I'm not queer… That is a joke. I'm not young. But I wanted to lead with the fact that I've overcome the trauma of this kind of environment.”

Gadsby is frustrated that the world is experiencing a new wave of anti-queer sentiment. “Part of the rage in 'Nanette' was the fact that we don't learn,” they say.

“Why aren't we learning? Why can't we learn? And I still have that rage. There's still a fight to be fought, but there'll be time for that. I just felt like we need a break also

“The newly released special is a departure from Gadsby's work on stage so far, which has focused on topics like neurodivergency (Gadsby is autistic), family dysfunction, mental health and other heavy topics.”

because we're fighting for our right to exist.”

Gadsby notes that people trying to oppress the queer community don't actually have skin in the game. “They're not going home and wondering if they'll be safe. They're already safe. That's what we have to remember as a community. It's like we have to look after ourselves and each other, on a very personal level.”

Looking after each other can be challenging for people experiencing trauma — the tendency can be to retreat into isolation. “Yeah, that's what trauma does,” Gadsby says. “And what's going on at the moment is incredibly traumatic. We're in a new place, and it's frightening, but I think it's horrible to think that I'm an 'elder' and

me here. I think I'm… close. I'm always close, but just always fall short. But I think that's where comedy lives, so it's not a problem.”

Neurodiversity has been a central topic in all three Netflix specials. “And I'm really keen not to tell autism, and rather to show it. That's what this show really is. It's showing autism.”

At one point in “Something Special,” Gadsby recounts two separate stories involving awkward encounters with Jodie Foster. In one, Gadsby crumples up a bit of cardboard where Foster had written down her phone number, right in front of Foster (one of Gadsby's sensory issues relates to feeling “very irritated” when they have to hold small and irregular-shaped objects against their palms). In another, Gadsby responds to a birthday gift from Foster by saying “I've already got Bananagrams!” and then chucks the present to the side. The stories are universal on one hand — virtually everyone can conjure up encounters they'd like to do over — but resonate strongly with the neurodiverse community.

Foster, Gadsby says, was gracious about the incidents. “She was there with a wife, and they just kept on being amazing, kind, generous people,” they remember.

“She's very competitive at charades, though. I will give her that,” Gadsby adds.

I'm only 45, but we have to do our bit to help relieve the pressure.”

In many ways, Gadsby's presence on stage is a billboard for intersectionality. They are frank about their identity as a genderqueer lesbian and their 2017 autism diagnosis, aspects of Gadsby's personhood that has made it challenging for the entertainment world to figure out where they belong.

“Before I even began my career, I was difficult to categorize my entire life, and not for a lack of trying,” Gadsby says. “But I think that's where my comedy begins — it's me trying to be what people would prefer I be, and my persistent failure is what has gotten

Throughout the special, Gadsby stresses how important it has been to have Jenno by their side as both their romantic partner and producer of their shows, describing their relationship like the sport of curling. “I'm the giant puck,” they say in the show. “And every morning, we have a little team meeting and go, 'This is where you need to go, this is how fast you're gonna go there, this is the line you're gonna take,' and then we send me out, and there's not a fucking thing I can do about it.”

Perhaps neurodiversity is Gadsby's secret superpower? “Maybe. Although we've just told everyone, so, rats!”

“But no. You've always got to keep trying to make connections. That's what we are as humans, and it's a particularly difficult time to do that. All I can say is hang in there, and it's not your fault.”

Girls in Wonderland

Black & White Masquerade Ball

Photos: Coco Alarcon

By Romeo San Vicente

filmmaker Kelly Reichardt (“Showing Up,” “First Cow”). This one will take a while, as it's not set to start shooting until at least early 2024. But the creators are already determined that it will be as adult and NC-17-rated as possible, and that' s a welcome bit of news for filmgoers who're tired of timid arthouse films. More nudity now!

'Somebody Somewhere' refuses to go nowhere

Todd Haynes & Joaquin Phoenix Aim for NC-17

Filmmaker Todd Haynes is no stranger to retro queer romance. His Cate Blanchettstarring “Carol” is already considered a classic of LGBTQ+ cinema, and “Far From Heaven” before that perfectly evoked the Douglas Sirk 1950s. And he recently announced an untitled project in the works with actor Joaquin Phoenix

that will be a gay love story set in 1930s Los Angeles — an era Haynes explored in his HBO adaptation of “Mildred Pierce.” The project has a script in development from Phoenix, Haynes and acclaimed novelistscreenwriter Jon Raymond, a consistent collaborator with indie

It's one of the best shows on TV right now, but it's still flying below the radar with most people. And so the good TV news in the middle of the current writer's strike is that HBO' s “Somebody Somewhere,” created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, is getting a third season. Inspired by comedian and singer Bridget Everett's life, the small-town-Kansas-set series

Photo: mistershowbiz.com

mines gentle, intelligent comedy from its unassuming setting. It's also very, very queer with series regulars Jeff Hiller, Tim Bagley and transgender comedian Murray Hill rounding out the ensemble and telling very specific rural LGBTQ+ stories. The episode run of the first two seasons have been short and sweet, making for a quick binge you'll want to return to again, and it' s guaranteed to whet your appetite for the next batch, already in production.

'The Wiz' revival gets a cast… almost A fact of life that never goes away is that anything related to “The Wizard of Oz” is automatically gay. We didn't invent this rule; it's just a rule that will always be a rule. So here here comes “The Wiz,”

talk show MVP Amber Ruffin, and cool new cast featuring “A Strange Loop” star Kyle Ramar Freeman as the always queer-coded Cowardly Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson from the Apple+ series “Sharper” as the Tin Man and former “Voice” contestant Avery Wilson as Scarecrow. As for Dorothy… no word yet. But we expect to be wowed by whoever plans to step into shoes created by original Broadway star Stephanie Mills. Pre-Broadway tour gets rolling this fall.

The Roaring Queer 20s lived at 'Eldorado'

For Pride Month, Netflix delivers some queer history you might not have known about. A century ago, the Berlin night club Eldorado was a hub of the German city's queer life, and people from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum gathered there

returning to Broadway in a new revival. The Tony Awardwinning all-Black iteration of “The Wizard of Oz” has given generations of theater kids an audition song (“Home”) to keep in their back pocket, and an endearing movie version with its own linoleum company merch tie-in (Google it). The new stage version will have fresh book material written by late night

alongside celebrities of the era like Marlene Dietrich and Charlie Chaplin. But as Adolf Hitler rose to power, oppression crept back in and the club became an official target, closed by the Nazis in 1932. In the decade to come the city's queer community was persecuted, imprisoned, and killed. A documentary covering the club and the era called “Eldorado” drops June 28 on the streaming service, combining interviews, archival footage, and reenactments of historical incidents. When you're finished partying at the Pride parade, settle in and learn a little bit more about the troubled road earlier generations traveled. Learn from the past so it doesn't happen again.

Romeo San Vicente is deeply invested in the pansexual dating show “Love Allways”

Photo: imkylefreeman

Photo: netflix

Photos: Coco Alarcon

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By Andreus Quinones

Dear Andreus,

My boyfriend and my best friend want to go into business together. They both have been in the restaurant industry for a long time and are talking about doing a joint venture on some type of food venue. I definitely want both of them to be successful, but I don't want them doing it together. My best friend has a huge crush on my boyfriend. He has even told me indirectly in so many ways. I am afraid that them working together could turn into something else. At the same time, I don't want my boyfriend to feel like I am holding him back from his dreams, if I say I don't agree. What do I do?

Sincerely,

Alvaro S.

Dear Alvaro,

Your boyfriend and your best friend are adults. In this scenario, you must allow them to make decisions for themselves. Being afraid that

something could happen and trying to block them from doing business together, does not stop anything from happening if they both want it to. Here is where you have to ask yourself how much you trust them both. If you are unsure about that, then what kind of relationship do you have with your best friend and with your boyfriend. Everything happens for a reason; you just must decide how you respond when it does or does not happen. Good luck!

Dear Andreus,

I am overweight, and it is a struggle I have had for most of my life. My boyfriend's mother calls me fat quite often, just in general conversation. She is always making jokes about my weight or saying this like – “I would invite you guys over for dinner, but you look like you don't need any food.” I have told my boyfriend that it is hurtful, but he just says that she doesn't mean anything or that she is just joking. I want to say something to her, but I don't want to upset my boyfriend. I really can't take much more. What would you do?

Sincerely, Christian

P.

Dear Christian,

Well, if it were me, I would say something. It is not alright for anyone to body shame or make jokes. However, it comes out, it is hurtful. This may be just the way she is, but it is not okay. If you have told your boyfriend, and he is not addressing the situation, then maybe you have to. Respectfully confront her, and just tell her that it is hurtful, and you prefer that she not reference your weight anymore. It is perfectly okay to speak up for yourself whenever you feel hurt, shamed, or disrespected. That's just my take on it. I hope this helps you gain some perspective, and I hope that she stops, and you all can move forward.

“It is perfectly okay to speak up for yourself whenever you feel hurt, shamed, or disrespected.”