RAGE MONTHLY LGBTQ MAGAZINE

SHOWCASING DIVERSITY IN CINEMA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 2021

PALM SPRINGS

PRIDE

35TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

TIME TO GET

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN HAUNTS ARE HERE

CATCHING UP WITH

Margaret Cho LIFESTYLE

EVENTS

FASHION

ENTERTAINMENT

NIGHTLIFE

COMMUNITY

EVERYONE PLAYS A PART

Pacific Symphony Pops

Underwritten by the Sharon and Tom Malloy Family

Nov.

5-6

8 p.m.

An Intimate Evening with

David Foster

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Richard Kaufman, conductor Back by popular demand, 16-time Grammy Award winner David Foster returns to Pacific Symphony to perform songs from his unparalleled catalog. Popular hits—written for artists including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand and many others — include “You’re the Inspiration,” “The Prayer,” “The Glory of Love” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

PacificSymphony.org (714) 755-5799

Official TV Station

Official Hotel

Official Pops Radio Station

PUBLISHER Jay S. Jones jay@ragemonthly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Brad L. Hart brad@ragemonthly.com EDITOR editor@ragemonthly.com ART CONSULTANT art@ragemonthly.com COPY EDITOR Ken Williams DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bill Biss, Chris Carpenter, Brad Hart, Steven Ing, Scott Leonard, Lisa Lipsey, Tim Parks, Kevin Perry, Tony Reverditto, Cutter Slagle, Andrew J. Stillman Cover Photo by Sergio Garcia SUBSCRIPTIONS – One year (12 issues): $40.00 Direct all editorial and subscription orders to our office or website.

Rage Magazine dba The Rage Monthly. The Rage Monthly is a registered trademark. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or staff. Reproduction of any article, photo, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in The Rage Monthly are supportive of the gay community. Mentions or photographs of any person, business, or organization are not a reflection of their sexual orientation. The Rage Monthly is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

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rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

lgbtq community

by scott leonard

YOU ARE INCLUDED: PALM SPRINGS PRIDE 2021 Coachella Valley always comes alive during the annual Greater Palm Springs Pride celebration.

Rainbow flags will once again fill the streets during the week long celebration taking place from Monday, November 1 through Sunday, November 7.

Beautiful downtown Palm Springs will serve as the gathering spot for locals and visitors from around the world to celebrate the diversity and unity of the LGBTQ community. Enjoy beverages and food with friends while exploring a wide array of artists and entertainers. Add all that to great shops, restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues located along Palm Canyon Drive, and the result is a Pride celebration unlike any other. Thousands of spectators are expected to gather along palm-lined streets to cheer and support local organizations, activists and themed floats during the Pride Parade on Sunday.

Six recipients will receive the 2021 Palm Springs Pride Honors Awards. The prestigious awards honor individuals for their work advancing the causes of LGBTQ individuals and their allies.

Entrepreneur and chef Betty C. Berrysmith is the Spirit of Stonewall Volunteer of the Year. An accomplished artist, a feminist and a groundbreaker, Nancy Worthington receives a Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2021 Friend of Pride is Keisha D, a champion for the LGBTQ community, humanitarian, singer-activist and advocate for performing arts in education. Motivated by gay trailblazers to stand up and not be afraid to tell his own story, Jim Hollenbeck is the Spirit of Pride Award recipient. The Spirit of Stonewall Community Service Award recipient is a faithful socially minded business owner, Cliff Young.

“Learning of the honorees and of the many ways they give back is inspiring. They each have lived their life helping others, and our community is better because of their leadership,” said Ron deHarte, president of Palm Springs Pride. “As in years past, the honorees are not people who seek attention or accolades for what they do. They quietly serve, and we are grateful for the profound impact they have had and continue to have in our community.” pspride.org

Galas galore this month in SoCal! First up is Oceanside, and the North County LGBTQ Resource Center’s 10-year anniversary on Sunday, October 10 at El Corazon Senior Center. Come celebrate change and help them plan for the next decade. The past 10 years have allowed the resource center to fill many needs in our community. Their challenge now is to secure the funding needed to continue to meet existing needs while preparing to take on the challenges of tomorrow.

Accept that challenge and join them for this momentous milestone. Event organizers will require attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be accepted in-person only, by physical card or a photo copy. ncresourcecenter.org/2021-gala

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www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

Stepping Stone of San Diego is coming out, wants the world to know, and got to let it show on Friday, October 22. The Living Out Loud fundraiser is known as an exciting night of love and celebration honoring the organization and its 45 years of drug and alcohol treatment services focusing on the LGBTQ community.

Living Out Loud 2021 will be a hybrid event celebrating the return of “coming out” and seeing each other in person after a long year and a half of isolation. The onsite event will take place at The Prado at Balboa Park and will include a one-hour broadcast event for individuals and groups to tune into to be part of the celebration, allowing more people than ever to participate and share in the fun. Remote guests will get a party pack shipped to them to help be part of the celebration.

Stepping Stone has been the cornerstone of the LGBTQ recovery community for more than four decades. The evidenced-based treatment strategies they employ have helped thousands of people in San Diego recover from the disease of addiction. Your support of Living Out Loud will ensure that Stepping Stone continues to provide life-saving/changing services to those in need during these challenging times. steppingstonesd.org

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HILTY

Back by popular demand, the Tony Award®-nominated star of stage and screen returns for Cabaret concerts filled with her signature sweetness, humor and magnificent singing.

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OCTOBER 2021 | @theragemonthly

9

lgbtq community

by scott leonard

TRANS PRIDE OC

Join the LGBTQ Center OC and Trans Committee in celebrating the transgender community’s resilience on Saturday, October 9 at the Center on 4th in Santa Ana. A free lunch will be provided along with drag performances, a glam closet, an interactive virtual resource fair, workshops and community panels. Trans Pride Orange County 2021 is a free, in-person event and requires guests show proof of vaccination (or a 72-hour COVID-19 negative test). Plus, face masks must be worn. lgbtqcenteroc.org The LGBTQ Center Orange County’s Trans*itions Health and Wellness is the only trans-specific health and wellness program in Orange County. Trans*itions exists to help guide the trans community, and their families, throughout their transition, along with providing education and resources to allied businesses and community members. The next monthly orientation will be on Saturday, October 16. Sign up at antonio.viramontes@lgbtcenteroc.org.

PALM SPRINGS LEATHER PRIDE Leather lovers, get ready to eat, drink and slay at XXVI Unlocked: Full Release. Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert will present the return of Palm Springs Leather Pride from Thursday, October 28 through Sunday, October 31.

All your favorite events will be back, including the Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2021 Contest, the Formal Leather Dinner, the popular clothing-optional pool parties, a hosted Cigar Social, as well as an evening cruise party and vendor mart at Tool Shed. Plus, put on your dancing shoes (or boots) for a new addition to this year’s festivities. Hocker Productions will host a hot dance event featuring performances, go-go boys and renowned DJs. Two ticket packages are available this year. The VIP package will include all official events and formal dinner, as well as an official event T-shirt. A second package will feature all official events except for the formal dinner. palmspringsleatherpride.org

Pull your resort-chic looks together and join The LGBTQ Community Center of The Desert to celebrate 20 years of The Center and to honor the team of volunteers who help LGBTQ people along their way each day. For Center Stage 2021, organizers will move away from a traditional indoor ballroom setting to provide guests a more comfortable open-air experience at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

The 20th anniversary affair will include outdoor cocktails, a seated dinner, a live auction and entertainment featuring The Fabus Four, a staple in the Los Angeles jazz and swing scene.

2021 also marks the opening of the new LGBTQ Center space in Coachella and the expansion of the Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic in Palm Springs. With over 2,800 square feet of renovated space, the clinic will offer 10 individual-counseling spaces, two group rooms and a family therapy room.

“We are thrilled to grow our capacity to serve more people, and to have created the kind of welcoming, well-appointed space our community deserves, all with your generous help,” staff said.

Proof of a COVID-19 vaccination will be required to attend Center Stage on Friday, October 22 at the Palm Springs Air Museum. thecenterps.org

DAP HEALTH DESERT AIDS WALK Coachella Valley’s largest gathering of advocates and humanitarians will come together on Saturday, October 30 to walk toward ending the HIV and AIDS epidemics. The 2021 Desert AIDS Walk, presented by Desert Care Network, will be an in-person event beginning at Ruth Hardy Park and following a route through downtown Palm Springs. This family- and pet-friendly event will include the Health and Wellness Festival presented by Walgreens.

Whether you start a team or walk as an individual, every step and dollar raised will make an impact in the lives of people living with HIV. Every year, Desert AIDS Walk participants raise significant money and awareness for the End the Epidemic movement, while celebrating survivors and honoring lives lost to AIDS. “We remain committed to ending the epidemic and caring for people living with HIV. That work includes the vital services we offer, including HIV prevention and specialty care, STI screening and treatment, housing support, benefits navigation, medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare,” DAP Health CEO David Brinkman said. daphealth.org

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www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

halloween happenings

by rage staff

TEMECULA TERROR All Month

The Inland Empire will be home (or should we say a haunted home) to an all-new, hair-raising, terrifying haunt. Temecula Terror takes thrillseekers to a creepy village, off a back road in the Temecula Valley, for a Halloween Harvest Carnival . . . with a sinister intention. temeculaterror.com

OC BOO HA HA

Friday and Saturday, October 29 and 30 Presented by Brew Ha Ha Craft Beer Festivals, Boo Ha Ha will feature three terrorific hours of unlimited beer tastings from some of the nation’s top breweries, with a focus on Oktoberfest and German-style lagers. The event at the OC Fair & Event Center will also include live music from LIT, Mest and Handsome Devil. Costumes are strongly encouraged. theboohaha.com

THE HAUNTED HOTEL: DISTURBANCE All Month

THE HAUNTED TRAIL All Month

Who’s ready for a stroll through the park that you’ll never forget. Located in San Diego’s Balboa Park, The Haunted Trail features two haunts. The eXperiment Maze will have you screaming your way through 3,500 square feet of horror only to be sent through the mile-long trail, next. Watch your back as you make your way through the twisted grove of pines and gnarled oaks, as terror lurks in the dark. hauntedtrail.net

San Diego’s Haunted Hotel is back and features three of the creepiest haunts you’ve ever imagined. But this year, The Haunted Hotel is bringing the party to your ghostly experience with roaming characters, light shows, virtual-reality areas, ax throwing, glow wear, spirited libations, live entertainment and DJs. hauntedhotel.com

NIGHTMARE ON NORMAL STREET Friday, October 29 Eat, drink and be scary. Hillcrest’s haunted Halloween dance party and costume competition is back to take over Pride Flag Plaza. This community fundraising event benefiting the San Diego LGBT Community Center and the Hillcrest Business Association features late-night live entertainment, a costume competition runway, outdoor bars, and the best people-watching in San Diego. fabuloushillcrest.com

THE GREAT PUMPKIN BEER FESTIVAL Saturday, October 30

SILENT DISCO: HALLOWEEN

San Diego is tappin’ gourd times with 40 pumpkin-themed brews, live entertainment, costume contest, twisted experientials, squashbased foodie creations, hidden surprises and so much more. The streets of the Gaslamp Quarter will be transformed into a gourd-geous mecca of all things nonsensical as misfits unite to celebrate brews, boos and beats. greatpumpkinbeerfestsd.com

Saturday, October 30

DÍIA’ DE LOS MUERTOS FUNDRAISER Monday, November 1

Kick off your spooktacular Halloweekend with silent disco, the delightfully frightful edition!

Grab your favorite costume or most ghoulish glow-in-the-dark gear and meet on Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center Plaza for a night of good times and great tunes spun by the Silent DJs. Whether you love Halloween classics or EDM, these DJs have something for everyone. scfta.org

Calling all souls. Show your support for VIDA at this fundraiser at MO’s Bar & Grill in Hillcrest.

Festivities include performances by Mariachi Continental de San Diego and a Día De Los Muertos Painted Face Contest. All money raised will provide scholarships for next year, more HIV test kits and outreach to the community. vida.community

OCTOBER 2021 | @theragemonthly

13

spotlight

by lisa lipsey

CATCHING UP WITH

o h C t e r a g r a M

COMEDY, PETS AND TRANSCENDING LABELS

E

ek! It’s October, the month to conquer our fears.

The RAGE Monthly constantly challenges me to conquer mine. I get nervous before interviews, worried I will get star-struck and tongue-tied, or ask a dumb question. I am sure I have. Since The RAGE Monthly’s inception, and hundreds of interviews later, I can say there are just two people whom I forgot to be nervous around. Both are comedians, actors, musicians, entrepreneurs and staunch LGBTQ advocates. The first was Lily Tomlin. The second is Margaret Cho. I recently caught up with her at home and look forward to catching her on stage this month at La Mirada Theatre on Saturday, October 23.

Yes, that smart, creative Cho, who broke out onto the comedy stage in her teens. Who grew up in the ‘70s on Polk Street in San Francisco, where her parents owned a bookstore in the heart of The Castro gayborhood. She knows all the places that writer Armistead Maupin described with a deep and abiding love. Cho even got to know him from book signings at the family’s bookstore.

Our girl has been honored by GLAAD, American Women in Radio and Television, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), PFLAG and LA Pride, which gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award for leaving a lasting imprint on the LGBT community.

In our pre-COVID world, Cho was doing several stand-up shows per week as well as fun things like The Masked Singer (2019) and voicing Auntie Ling in Netflix’s first major animated film, Over the Moon (2020), which was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. During the pandemic shutdown, she also appeared as a ruthless Hollywood movie studio exec in Faith Based, and as Fairy Gay Mother 1 in Friendsgiving.

What’s she up to now? “I’m back on tour with shows every week,” Cho said. “It’s been so strange, a weird time for comedians. Once I was on the stage with an audience, I realized how much I had missed this. It felt like a celebration, but I am cautiously optimistic. I am asking theatres to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.”

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www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

This past year, Cho continued to expand her television and film career, including the new Netflix comedy Good on Paper. “Film is something I have always wanted to do, and now is a great time because there are so many more Asian-American production companies and stars. I recently got to spend two months on Fire Island, New York filming a project. It was an awesome experience,” she said.

Cho is also the proud recipient of the 2021 She Rocks Dreaming Out Loud Award. They honored her for being “an accomplished performer in all formats. Margaret Cho could be called the ‘Queen of all Media’ having conquered the worlds of film, television, books, music and theatre. Throughout her career, Cho has received five Grammy Award nominations (including two for her most recent albums, Cho Dependent and American Myth) …”

Her comedy has always included advocacy. Sometimes it is hard to know what us “average people” can do, those without a microphone. As a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ and the Asian-American communities, Cho said to “tell your story too, help bring the world together. It’s cool to see how young people in our LGBTQIA community are connecting, creating unity, purpose, and a sense of community online and through TikTok. It’s beautiful to see our trans and LGBTQIA youth out, proud and gender-fluid. Living without labels. It’s really vitally important to share your stories. We are still underrepresented.”

“Vote, of course. Trump might be gone, but there are still longterm effects, like the Supreme Court. They’re Trump in motion. Look at Roe v. Wade. We are losing the right to choose in huge states like Texas.

There are monstrous new laws that affect the rights of people. But I do believe there is still time to reverse the discrimination and bias, and there is still time to reverse global warming,” Cho said, with passion flowing through her words.

Cho, like most of us, spends a chunk of her day scrolling social media and has fell in love with TikTok. She follows and gives a shout-out to fellow comedians. “I’m inspired by Ali Wong, Jenny Yang, Daniel Web,” she said. “Robin Tran is one of my favorite comedians, out of Little Saigon, LA, well really Orange County, but I say LA because I really want to claim her.”

“

Comedy is a noble art. It is like a yoga. Comedy is an unexpected thought and laughter is an unexpected breath. When you laugh, you change your breath, and you open your heart.

It’s very cool.

”

photo by Sergio Garcia

Above all, Cho, who has been taking her comedy act on the road for 35 years, knows well the sacred space that comedy can create: “Comedy is a noble art. It is like a yoga. Comedy is an unexpected thought and laughter is an unexpected breath. When you laugh, you change your breath, and you open your heart. It’s very cool.”

Follow Cho on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. Her podcast The Margaret Cho is coming back, and will continue to be both funny and relevant, speaking against Asian-American violence and stereotypes, something she has spoken about since her very first appearance on the stage. “Historically speaking, every time there is a crisis in America, part of White Americaness is to respond with fear and blame and violence against people of color,” she said.

Cho is equally glad to chat about her furry four-legged children. Lucia, her Chihuahua, travels with her on the road, while her cats Sacre Coeur and Sarang are taking over the house. She recently adopted a third kitty. “I am new to being a cat person. I’ve always had dogs. But I am loving it. I have a Japanese-style Cat Kyoto house with posts, red rope (for the red fence), a pagoda and carpet. There is now a whole cat food theatre on my dining room table. It’s like a cat food casino. There are slot machines and 10 food puzzles. I have a cat treadmill; it looks like a giant hamster wheel. It’s a cat paradise. They get to go sit on the ‘catio.’ (It’s a screened-in patio so the cats can’t get out or be eaten by coyotes, bears or bobcats out in the canyons.) There’s Scandinavian mid-century-style wooden slats and hummingbird feeders hanging on the other side so they can watch their cat TV.” “I want to change the perception of the Crazy Cat Lady. Seriously, the reason Lucia was barking earlier was because there is a film crew here to film my ‘catio’ and cat casino. I want to change and uplift the clothing and design aesthetic around pets. Most of the pet furniture and clothing designs are paw-print or ugly. Cat ladies need better stuff.

Cats need better clothes. We need cat kimonos and cat Irish cable knit sweaters. This has been stupid fun for me,” Cho said, laughing.

Margaret Cho is performing her latest comedy tour, Fresh Off the Bloat, at La Mirada Theatre on Saturday, October 23. 714.994.6310 or lamiradatheatre.com

OCTOBER 2021 | @theragemonthly

15

film

by chris carpenter

W

e might have cooler temperatures, pumpkin lattes and Halloween celebrations on our minds, but don’t forget that there are major film festivals still happening in Southern California. And there is plenty of LGBTQ content featured at two of this month’s most prominent events!

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Power of the Dog

Flee

Spencer

Now celebrating its 20th year, the San Diego International Film Festival (SDIFF) is the region’s premier film festival and one of the leading stops on the film fest circuit. This year’s lineup includes at least 155 films: 24 Narrative Competition films, 14 Documentary Competition films and 117 short films.

Produced by the San Diego Film Foundation, SDIFF will run from Thursday, October 14 through Sunday, October 24. Attendees can enjoy a hybrid of in-person and virtual events. In-person events and screenings will take place in some of the city’s most beautiful locations including Balboa Park’s Museum of Photographic Arts, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa on Mission Bay, and even on board the USS Midway. Patrons can also access over 150 films on demand in the festival’s Virtual Village as well as Q&A sessions with filmmakers from around the world.

C’mon C’mon, the opening night film, stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann and Woody Norman. The latest from writer-director Mike Mills (who previously made 2010’s, gay-themed film Beginners) is a deeply moving meditation on the connections between adults and children and the importance of family.

SDIFF 2021 will close with actress Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial feature debut The Lost Daughter, a psychological drama based on the novel of the same name.

Presented in between these will be two major gay-interest Spotlight features. The Power of the Dog is the first film in 12 years by acclaimed writer-director Jane Campion

(The Piano, The Portrait of a Lady, In the Cut).

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as a sadistic 19th-century rancher struggling with repressed sexual yearnings. The actor is already receiving Oscar buzz for his performance. Meanwhile, the unique animated documentary Flee follows Amin, a gay man on the verge of marrying his husband, as he shares his story for the first time about his hidden past of fleeing his country as a refugee. Flee won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Documentary section at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Other Spotlight features will include Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as the late Princess Diana; Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical Belfast; uber-quirky filmmaker Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch; and Stephen Karam’s The Humans, adapted from his award-winning Broadway play.

“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, I have really reflected on the great strides that have been made within the film industry. There has been a significant increase in female filmmakers as well as a larger examination of global social topics. We are thrilled to provide a platform to showcase that change,” said Tonya Mantooth, CEO/artistic director of SDIFF. “This year, the festival received over 3,000 film submissions representing over 65 countries. We are excited to curate one of the strongest film lineups in our 20-year history including both independent films and studio premieres.”

Passes for live screenings at multiple locations throughout San Diego or Virtual Fest Passes can be purchased at sdfilmfest.com

SHOWCASING DIVE 16

www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL Then there is the 22nd annual Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF), to be held Thursday, October 21 through Thursday, October 28 at various Orange County locations. Tickets are now on sale at newportbeachfilmfest.com. Several LGBTQ feature films as well as short films will be screened.

Among these are My Father Mary Anne (Min pappa Marianne). After breaking up with her boyfriend, 28-year-old Hanna returns to her hometown for a temporary position at the local news station. Her world is soon turned even more upside down when her beloved father, the local priest with the big beard, reveals that his greatest desire is to be Mary Anne.

From this point on, there is no going back for Father Mary Anne, who insists on being her true self. It’s a tumultuous journey for Hanna, who didn’t know herself or her father as well as she thought she did.

Pieces of Us is an intimate look at the personal journeys of LGBTQ hate-crime survivors who, by choosing to take their recovery public, inspire the survivor in all of us.

The film juxtaposes the inspirational stories of recovery each of its subjects (including transgender activist and Stonewall Riots survivor Victoria Cruz, and Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India) have experienced with the powerful connections their public actions have produced. Their stories take us to New York City, Denver and India to witness how intersectionality and speaking one’s truth can build a supportive community and even spark global change.

Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story (narrated by Zachary Quinto) tells the story of the openly gay software pioneer who found early wealth as the second employee at Microsoft in 1975. He was an integral and valued part of their early successes and

helped shape the company into what it is today. Ric retired at 35 to quiet nagging doubts and to create impactful and meaningful change in the world around him. His generosity and influence helped shape modern HIV/AIDS research, marriage equality, and legal protections for LGBTQ employees at some of the biggest names in the business. Through this documentary and the personal diaries Ric left behind, we gain a clearer picture of the beloved, talented yet troubled man he was.

Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams’ feature documentary, Someone Like Me, takes a verité approach to the generous and roughedged nuances of what it means to sponsor an asylum seeker. Leaving everything he knows behind, Drake, a vibrant 22-year-old gay man from Uganda, aspires to the universal freedoms everyone deserves: to be whom he is and love whomever he chooses without fear of discrimination, persecution or violence. Tasked with a year-long commitment as Drake’s primary support network, a group of strangers from Vancouver’s queer community unite under the banner of Rainbow Refugee, a nonprofit that connects LGBTQ asylum claimants with sponsors. Chronicling the complexities of the journey taken by Drake and his sponsors, the filmmakers illuminate how survival itself becomes a victory in a world where one must constantly fight for the right to exist.

Several LGBTQ short films will also be screened under the program title “Short, Sweet and Queer.” These will include Adrift in Sunset, Falling In, ITCH, Liminal, Satan’s Tears, That Girl, Peugeot and The Lonely Prince.

My Father Mary Anne

Pieces of Us

Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story

Tickets, passes and more information can be found at newportbeachfilmfest.com

Someone Like Me

ERSITY IN CINEMA OCTOBER 2021 | @theragemonthly

17

rage recommends

by bill biss

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. THIS! R&B in DC 1940-1960

This phenomenal collection is a big-budget production of music that initially began quite inexpensively in the 1940s with some Black high-school students who collected bottles to save enough money to record a 78-disc showcasing their singing talents. This singular effort morphed into a movement of rhythm-and-blues music with a razor-sharp focus on this history from 1940 to 1960, now released by Bear Family Records. It took research, knowledge and a large group effort to provide a stunning and fascinating musical look at the many facets of Black talent in the segregated city of Washington, D.C. during this time period.

Are you ready to be schooled? This box of music includes 16 CDs and an LP-sized book with an immense amount of musical knowledge packed artistically into 252 pages. It’s a retrospective of not the names you think you know but the ones you probably don’t. Learning their stories and truly listening to the music paves the way for our musical R&B culture today.

Billboard acknowledged the special niche for African-American acts in 1949 in editorial, while the RCA Victor label did the previous year. This helped to advance the recording industry’s coverage of many of these artists. It must be noted that there was no guarantee that their music would go from a regional awareness to a national one in those days. Hence, many of the recordings presented in R&B in DC 1940-1960 were located by collectors and presented here for the first time since their origin. It’s remarkable to get into the groove again for a definitive “time travel” back to those years.

Putting out this collection was years in the creation. Musicologist and radio host Jay Bruder took his passion, love and knowledge to create this monumental package of music. In doing so, he honors the people, the disc jockeys, the record companies, nightclubs and theatres that added to the luster of the shine to these sounds. Bruder and countless others got this historical set of music and facts as flawless as can be, and they should be applauded for their efforts. The names, the faces, the people, the places are all found within and most importantly . . . the rhythm and blues, doo-wop and rock ‘n’ roll.

What makes a hit record? One thing is very sure and that is the shift in music styles. I was listening one afternoon, around Disc 9, when I said to myself, “What is this shift? It’s so wild and so invigorating to hear.” That was the onslaught of a little thing called rock ‘n’ roll. You could hear a variation of this earlier in the collection as whether it was a ballad or a band, the saxophone reigns supreme. Yet rock ‘n’ roll was on the go and as passed down the decades, the black musicians created the fire that lit the way and set the known artists of the time ablaze as well. There is a definite recognition of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll starting in 1955 and it creates a marker of prevalence and relevance. Great balls of fire!

Yes, cats and kittens, I listened to all 16 CDs and checked the textbook of history off my list. It’s a schoolbook to reference whenever it seems fitting. Came out of class with a couple of favorite musicians, too. Here are two that are “too cool” for school. They are dual trumpeter, songwriter and leader of the band Frank Motley and a cat known as T.N.T. Tribble. Dig the last name of that dynamite drummer, bandleader and singer. That’s a wrap, and music edumacating is a many splendored thing. Available now at bear-family.com.

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www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

T.N.T. Tribble

rage recommends

by bill biss

Once had an editor (who shall be nameless) who every time I pitched a CD to review, he would say, “Is he gay?” Always thought that was odd as being a homosexual doesn’t necessarily make you a musical artist worth listening to. In the case of Wrabel, I fought the urge to like him. But Wrabel won me over with his voice, which is a blend of Paul Simon, Jackson Browne (think “Doctor My Eyes”) and a male singer with the ability to go all “falsetto” on the notes. Pardon me, but if I had a dime for every male singer who sings at times in a falsetto . . . So, “Wrabels wobble but they don’t fall down.” This man also is a heck of a songwriter. Wrabel is perfect for two young lovers or an old married man like me about to turn 60. Let’s just face it. You can be gay and real good . . . just ask Sam Smith, huh?

“Nothing But the Love” is the song that hooked me in and “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” left me signed, sealed and delivered on his talents. No tricks, pure treat.

Available now

THESE WORDS ARE ALL FOR YOU Wrabel

CLOCKWISE ON FIRE (EXPLICIT) Clockwise On Fire

These two guys who comprise Clockwise On Fire are too much! In a frenetic and outlandish way, they offer up all styles and struts. “If you want you can dig a grave on my love” is taken from the opening song “Dig. ” The guitars completely rip it out into a Brazilian funk of wild abandon. Hold on tight listening as you might be transported to Alice Cooper land of the early 1970s on several other tracks. It’s a “tight” tightrope of sound. Creators of this wild ride of harmony, frenetic energy and jungle fever are Tim Arnold and Brian Lynch (who plays a fierce guitar and trips out the vocals). Arnold handles all the other instruments in succession successfully. At times, it’s like Frank Zappa possessed on a psychedelic escapade. Never tried LSD but it sure sounds like Clockwise On Fire. Trip out. Available now

DANDELION

The Greeting Committee Addie Sartino is the voice of The Greeting Committee, and her true story is emotionally in the lyrics she wrote on Dandelion. The sound and stylings bubble up in memory of the hypnotic spin of The Cardigans or Edie Brickell of the alternative rock category. The vibe is as eternal as time. That is . . . picking yourself up after a break-up and in doing so, experiencing the experience all over again but with your chin up. This emotionally charged journey of the sadder but wiser girl rings true with the opener “Can I Leave Me Too?” Through it all, laughter always rings the bell and The Greeting Committee takes a break from the angst with “Make Out.” The song has an attitude and pacing that’s radio ready. This “Dandelion” won’t blow away but if it does . . . it glimmers in the journey. Available now

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www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

theatre spotlight

by andrew j stillman

DIVERSIONARY HOSTS WEST COAST PREMIERE OF ONE IN TWO DONJA R. LOVE’S GROUNDBREAKING PLAY IS ABOUT BEING BLACK, QUEER AND HIV+

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newly remodeled Diversionary Theatre is all set to reopen with the West Coast premiere of Donja R. Love’s One in Two. Opening night is Saturday, October 2. The production runs through Sunday, October 24.

The show — the theatre’s first since COVID-19 — focuses on three men telling stories about the HIV epidemic’s impact on the Black community. The communal theme is a perfect fit with the theatre’s new remodel, which pays homage to the gay bars and spaces that were pivotal for our community’s growth.

As for actor Kevane La’Marr Coleman, who’s making his return to Diversionary Theatre to play Person on Right, the focus on the community coming together to talk about why HIV is affecting the Black community at a disproportionate rate is part of what drew him to audition in the first place.

“I was initially shocked at the statistic that one in two Black gay or bisexual men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime, as opposed to 1 in 11 for White men and 1 in 4 for Latinos,” he said. “Then I started dissecting why this was the first time I had ever heard that. I wanted to audition for this play after reading it because I realized the power that these words have in the context of the play — these words, this play, will save more than one person’s life.”

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www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

Coleman, who is himself HIV-positive, said he knew going into rehearsals that he’d have to face some deeply personal issues head on.

“Many times as actors, we study and train to be able to transform into a character for a role, but nothing could prepare me for the enormous undertaking of processing my own personal issues surrounding being diagnosed with HIV and dealing with the unexpected side effects,” he said.

Taking on the various characters has helped Coleman not only come to terms with the status of his own diagnosis, but also with the realization that his story matters. Since the actors have to oscillate between eight different characters throughout the show, he noted that personal relationships with friends and family act as a resource to help him.

“My portrayal of Mom in the show is drawn from my own mother mixed with all of the other Black mothers that I know,” he said.

“Since this is a Black story, my goal as an actor is to make all of the characters specifically Black through my acting. None of the characters are caricatures of Black people. They are actually modeled after Black people who I know and love dearly.”

Personal events like his own attempted suicide and a feeling of being trapped in a haze after his diagnosis also helped Coleman mold

his way through the different characters to make them all truly realistic.

As far as the character changes go, he said, “Unlike any other show that I am aware of, in this play, the three actors have to learn the entire script word for word. Every single character. Those three actors do not find out what roles they will play until the show starts and the audience has cast their vote for who they want as character No. 1.”

Despite the challenges that Coleman has faced in crafting these believable characters, he thinks the most rewarding part of it all is knowing that they’re creating an awareness around HIV within the Black community and becoming pioneers of change.

“We are making a difference by saying these words out loud,” he said. “I am deeply humbled by having the opportunity to touch many lives by being a part of this show. We, as the actors in the show, have the power to truly save someone’s life and provide them hope when they are at the end of their rope.”

Coleman joins actors Durwood Murray as Person on Left and Carter Piggee as Person in Middle in telling these stories. He hopes people continue educating themselves and fighting to keep the one in two statistic at the forefront of their conversations. diversionary.org

pictured from left to right: Carter Piggee, Kevane La’Marr Coleman and Durwood Murray photo by Simpatika

on stage

by scott leonard

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER Enjoy a star-studded concert with celebrated 16-time Grammy Award winner David Foster. One of the most successful record producers in history, Foster has created albums that have collectively sold in the hundreds of millions. He has created hit songs and award-winning gold and platinum albums for a diverse array of artists including Earth, Wind & Fire, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal, Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Chicago, Hall & Oates, Brandy, ’NSYNC, Boz Scaggs and Gloria Estefan.

Back by popular demand, Foster returns to Orange County’s Pacific Symphony to perform some of the songs from his unparalleled catalog including “You’re the Inspiration,” “The Prayer,” “The Glory of Love” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

Performances will be on Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6 at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. pacificsymphony.org

photo by jason niedle

CLUE

It’s game night at La Mirada Theatre. It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget. Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing who did it, where, and with what, until the final twist.

La Mirada Theatre for The Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the first show of their 2021-22 season, the West Coast premiere of the madcap murder mystery. Clue will run through Sunday, October 17. There will be an open-captioned performance on Saturday, October 9 at 2 p.m. Talkbacks with the cast and creative team will be on Thursday, October 14. lamiradatheatre.com

ANGELS IN AMERICA:

MILLENNIUM APPROACHES

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is Tony Kushner’s two-part, seven-hour epic. The drama opened on Broadway in 1993 and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning four including Best Play. Performances of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, the first part, will be held from Saturday, October 2 through Saturday, October 30 at The Studio at Long Beach Playhouse.

At the height of the AIDS epidemic in mid1980s New York, a group of charismatic but lost characters tackle politics, sex, religion and a way forward. This has been called one of the most important plays of the last 30 years, and it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Long Beach Playhouse shares that “after experiencing Part One: Millennium Approaches this season, you’ll be counting the days before returning to next season’s opener, Part Two: Perestroika. This moving, funny, gut-wrenching masterpiece will fill you with emotional highs and lows, draw you in and trap you in its web of global and timeless issues.” lbplayhouse.org

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www.rage.lgbt | OCTOBER 2021

The 14th season for award-winning Palm Springs theatre company Dezart Performs will open with their first-ever musical production.

Girlfriend will play from Wednesday, October 27 through Saturday, October 30 outside at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater. A catered dinner by Lulu Catering & Events is included.

This offering for four or six guests per table is comprised of three courses, a glass of wine, and an up-close experience of the smash-hit rock musical. General admission tickets for the show only are also being sold.

Girlfriend is a vibrant and tender comingof-age musical duet from when flannel was the height of fashion and mix tapes were the language of love. Set in Nebraska in the 1990s, Will, a bit of a social outcast, and Mike, the popular football player, figure out that there is more to life than what high school has taught them. Days after graduation, they explore their relationship and begin to ask themselves where their lives begin. dezartperforms.org

on stage

by scott leonard

SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE PRESENTS RENT La vie boheme! San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) presents its pre-professional show of the 2021 abbreviated season. Performances will take place from Friday, October 1 through Sunday, October 17 at their new theater: SDMT Stage, located at 4650 Mercury Street.

Set in the gritty East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of four Tony Awards including Best Musical and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama the same year, Jonathan Larson’s iconic Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme opera, Rent follows an unforgettable year in the lives of seven impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to follow their dreams without selling out all while trying to survive in New York’s Lower East Side, living in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel.

Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.

“Every generation struggles with an epic crisis, be it consumption in the 19th century, the AIDS crisis in ‘80’s or the COVID pandemic of today, humans still fall in love, fall out of love, make mistakes, celebrate victories, dance with joy, create, destroy, rebuild, and ultimately, the human race survives,” said Courtney Corey, SDMT’s Rent director/choreographer. “Rent’s message of ‘No Day But Today’ resonates with themes of hope and faith throughout this rock-based operetta.”

Rent’s inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear is a timeless celebration of friendship and creativity that reminds us to measure our lives with the only thing that truly matters – love. sdmt.org

MEGAN HILTY

Expect to be dazzled, delighted and thoroughly entertained at these Segerstrom Center Cabaret performances Thursday, October 21 through Saturday, October 23.

While she might be best known for starring as triple-threat Ivy Lynn in NBC’s musical drama Smash, Megan Hilty has triumphed on Broadway, earning Tony and Drama Desk nominations for her performance in the hilarious comedy, Noises Off. She originated the role of Doralee in Broadway’s 9 to 5 and has been an acclaimed Glinda in WICKED, both in New York and on national tour. scfta.org

OCTOBER 2021 | @theragemonthly

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include

ember 1-7, 2021 wntown Palm Springs

val and Parade

YOU ARE INCLUDED Friday Nov 5

Saturday Nov 6

Sunday Nov 7

FLOCK OF SEAGULLS Two-Day PRIDE

JODY WATLEY THE PERRY TWINS

Festival THE ROBYN PARTY

JEANIE TRACY The Power Cha Cha Heels I’m Your Jeanie

A’keria Chanel Davenport Mariah Paris Balenciaga Jasmine Masters Delta Work Jessica Wilde

November 6 & 7 Downtown Palm Springs

Palm Springs PRIDE

Parade

HOSTS

November 7 10am - 12:30pm

SHANNON Let the Music Play Bella da Ball

pspride.org

Shann Carr

Scott Nevins

Jason Stuart

November 1-7, 2021

Barbara Barrett Attorney

MEDIA SPONSORS

George Zander Candlelight Hate Crime

Vigil & March

COMING OUT

Celebration

PrEP UP VAX UP THE COVID-19 VACCINE IS FREE EVERYONE 12 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER IS NOW ELIGIBLE TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINATION. INSURANCE IS NOT REQUIRED APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL

PrEp up and Vax up Orange County! Everyone 12 years of age and older is now eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Visit othena.com or call 714-834-2000 to schedule your vaccine appointment, same-day appointments are now available.

Radiant Health Centers is no strangers to the health issues caused by viruses. Protect yourself and others from HIV. For testing and treatment call 949-809-8764.