ION Arizona #267

Happy Pride Month

WExplore your Pride and Arizona ION JUST JACK

hen a was a young, closeted boy in Michigan, I hated myself. I hated my life. I hated being gay. I was not proud. In fact, I was suicidal. Then I moved to Arizona and came out. Best decision of my life! I left my conservative past behind and started my new adventure and created ION Arizona as my own personal coming out story. Today I’ve never been happier, prouder of myself, ION Arizona and our community. I’m proud to be a part of it. And most importantly, I’m proud to be my real self.

While Phoenix celebrates Pride Festival in October, June is the official National Pride Month. This month we celebrate our pride by traveling north for Flagstaff Pride and southeast of Bisbee Pride both the weekend of June 15th. Then the following week we’ll journey back to Bisbee for Mineshaft weekend. There are also many events celebrating our Pride all month long inside this issue. These are all great unique events that offer a safe, judgement free environment to be yourself and celebrate with friends new and old.

Last month we lost a member of our community at Bartlett Beach Bash. Richie Josef passed away last month and will be missed by many. When you are exploring Arizona, please be careful. While our state is beautiful, it can be dangerous even fatal. RIP Richie!

What does Pride mean to you? What’s your coming out story? What can you do to make yourself and your community better?

Enjoy this issue! Explore Arizona, play safe, be good to each other and have fun throughout your adventures in the Grand Canyon State!

Jack Tesorero Proud Arizonan

CREATIVE

Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 PHOTOGRAPHERS: LeakedGlass Production Rafalogie Studio Fernando Hernandez RSVP Photography

WEB: Zachary Cross / Custom Resumes APP: Steve Sovacki / Biz Burst Mobile

1995-2024: 29 Years of Design and Creative Excellence

All original artwork and photography for ION Arizona Magazine remain property of JMT Designs, Inc, and cannot be reproduced, altered, or sold without authorization and compensation. Limited usage rights can be purchased for a small fee.

NOTE: The views expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the views of ION Arizona, its staff, or that of its parent company.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization within ION Arizona is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organization. To our knowledge, all people photographed and published in ION Arizona are over the age of 18. Some photos were submitted by our readers. To our knowledge, they own the copyrights, and they have given us permission to reproduce them. If you see a picture that you own, please call us immediately and we will remove it from future publications. All copy, text, display, photos, and illustrations in the ads are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized, have secured proper written consent for the use of names, pictures, and testimonials of any living person, and that ION Arizona is not responsible for unlawful use of such content.

PHX ATTRACTIONS

Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Season 5 Tour

If you’re looking for pretty pageant queens in feathers and sequins, keep movin’. These ghoulie girls bring screams and dreams to The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St. For more info & tickets go to ObsessedWith.co or call 800-653-8000. 21+

Tuesday, June 11 at 8 PM

Arizona D’backs Pride Night

Our boys take on the White Sox for the 7th annual Pride Night. The package includes your ticket, a reversible bucket hat and a pre-game Rainbow sashay around Chase Field. Who doesn’t love some hot balls? 401 E. Jefferson St. Ticketmaster.com or call 800-653-8000

Friday, June 14 at 4:30 p.m.

Bisbee Pride 20th Anniversary

Get a little freaky and lot funky at Bisbee Pride – it’s “Mayberry on Acid.” There’s a parade, karaoke, a street dance, a lingerie bar crawl, Twisted Sister Bingo, plus all kinds of wild and crazy good times in Arizona’s most magical town. Find out more at BisbeePrideAZ.com

June 14-16

Flagstaff Pride in the Pines

Head up to the mountains for some super-cool Pride, Lumberjack style! Lots of entertainment including drag queens (surprise!) It all happens at Thorpe Park, 191 Thorpe Rd. More info at FlagstaffPride.org

Saturday, June 15 from 12 noon - 10 p.m.

BOULET BROTHERS’ DRAGULA

Mineshaft Weekend in Bisbee

Imagine yourself hot & sweaty, exploring a deep, dark, wet, bottomless pit, Then imagine yourself in a mine. For more information about this wild weekend and tickets go to MineshaftWeekend.com

June 20-24

AZ Regional Entertainer of the Year

A night of glitz, glamour, and unforgettable performances. Whether you’re a seasoned pageant enthusiast or a newcomer, you won’t want to miss this. Produced by Edward Michael, who else? Visit YourBigBreakInc.org for more information. Kobalt, 3110 N. Central Ave.

Sunday, June 23 at 5 p.m.

GayC/DC

Join in the head-banging fun with this LGBTQ+ tribute to the legendary heavy metal band adding a healthy dose of pageantry and humor creating “an authentic but queer retelling of AC/DC’s music.” The Rebel Lounge, 2303 E. Indian School Rd. Tickets at TheRebelLounge.com

Friday, June 28 at 8 p.m.

TayTay Dance Party

Shake it off! This dance party hosted by DJ SWIFTIE™ comes crafted around everyone’s favorite Taylor songs. You and other Swifties will dance the night away (for two hours anyway) singing along to every song Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St. in Phoenix.

Saturday, June 29 at 7 p.m.

The Wave

Arizona! Where do you start? Where do you go? Where do you finish? Can you ever finish? So much to see and do. There’s something for everyone. Relax near a creek, boat in one of the lakes, tube down a river. Arizona has sun-dappled forests, old mining towns gone bust and rediscovered, hidden hot mineral water springs, buttes, mesas, ravines, and a canyon that’s pretty grand, if we say so ourselves.

The Wave Cave in the Superstition Wilderness

This year we made a trip just about an hour east of Phoenix to the Wave Cave. A little over three miles, it’s not too difficult for those who’ve hiked before. About 900 ft elevation gain from parking lot to the cave. You do need to know to go through the fence to be on the right trail. Go early to beat the heat and crowd of other hikers.

The Wave Cave Trail begins at the Carney Springs trailhead off Peralta Road. Carney Springs is on Arizona State Trust Land and requires a permit to park. Permits are $15 per person and not per vehicle. These are available from the Arizona State Land Department.

We want to remind you to LEAVE NO TRACE while hiking anywhere you go in Arizona or the rest of the United States. Please remember to stay on trail, pack out all trash, and be prepared! And please don’t carve into any rocks. It’s illegal and just plain tacky. We’re better than that!

Wave Cave

Photography by: LeakedGlass

Models: Rafael Santana and Travis Thomas

2 16 9 23 30 4 18 11 25 2 3 17 10 24 1

Stacy’s @ Melrose Trey Cabaret (W)

Walter Studios Weekend Brunch (W)

Phx Center for the Arts LGBTQsical

Charlie’s Sunday Funday (W)

Kobalt Bar AZ EOY Pageant

Historic Bisbee, AZ Mineshaft Weekend

Thunderbird Lounge Happy Hour Specials (W)

Karaoke (W) 8pm

Sazerac Karaoke (W) 8pm

Stacy’s @ Melrose Karaoke (W)

Charlie’s Undie Mundies (W)

Charlie’s Sunday Funday (W)

Sazerac Karaoke (W)

Sazerac

Charlie’s Blackout Bingo / Karaoke (W)

Thunderbird Lounge Trivia (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Rising Star Drag Show (W)

Charlie’s Blackout Bingo / Karaoke (W)

The Van Buren Boulet Brothers Dragula

Charlie’s WTF! Wednesdays (W)

Sazerac Whiskey Flights / Cigars (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Communion Goth Night (W)

WEDNESDAY 5 19 12 26 3

Thunderbird Lounge Loteria (W)

Sazerac Whiskey Flights / Cigars (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Communion Goth Night (W) THURSDAY

Sazerac Weekly DJ’s (W)

Thunderbird Lounge Loteria (W)

Sazerac / Roosevelt Row First Friday (M)

Phx Cnt for the Arts LGBTQsical

Walter Studios Circuit Overload

Flex Spa’s Phoenix Blackout Night (W)

Chase Field D Backs Pride Night

Charlie’s Pipin’ Hot Friday’s (W)

Historic Bisbee, AZ Mineshaft Weekend

Sazerac Weekly DJ’s (W)

Parson’s Center Pride in your Health

Sazerac Weekly DJ’s (W)

Flex Spa’s Phoenix Blackout Night (W)

Charlie’s Pipin’ Hot Friday’s (W)

Sazerac / Roosevelt Row First Friday (M)

Thorpe Park Flagstaff Pride

Bisbee, AZ Bisbee Pride

Stacy’s @ Melrose Dance Party (W)

Historic Bisbee, AZ Mineshaft Weekend

Stacy’s @ Melrose Dance Party (W)

Charlie’s Wonderland Rainbow Bash

Walter Studios Weekend Brunch (W)

ION STREAMING

Doctor Who, season 14

The charming Ncuti Gatwa (from the Netflix series Sex Education) stars as the fifteenth Doctor Who. Gatwa’s take as the first Black gay doctor sets an important precedent considering what a fixture Doctor Who has been in the television landscape, but it’s the Gatwa’s charismatic performance that matters most. Look for Jinkx Monsoon in a surprise role. New episodes weekly thru’ June 21

Queer Planet

This groundbreaking documentary explores the rich diversity of sexuality in the animal kingdom featuring flamboyant flamingos, sex-changing clownfish, and more. Extraordinary behaviors challenge traditional concepts of sex and gender in the natural world, thanks to Non-Binary, Gender Neutral Parental Unit Nature, formerly known as “Mother.” Andrew Rannells narrates.

June 6

Becoming Karl Lagerfeld

The six-episode series charts eccentric, pony-tailed, cat loving, Teutonic haute couturier Lagerfeld’s rise to fame in the 1970s as well as his rivalry with fellow couturier Yves Saint Laurent. Lagerfeld’s romance with French socialite Jacques de Bascher, who would briefly become a lover of Saint Laurent’s, is explored. French, subbed and dubbed.

June 7

DOCTOR WHO

Life of Pi

After a shipwreck, Pi, a teenager, survives on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a tiger. Told with jaw-dropping visuals, world class puppetry and exquisite stagecraft, experience a breathtaking journey that will leave you filled with awe and joy. ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave. in Tempe. Get your tickets at ASUGammage.com or call 480-965-3434

June 17 - 22

ION ARTS

Hamilton

He’s the hottie on the $10 bill. But just in case you’re one of the few that hasn’t seen this hip-hoppy, rappy Broadway juggernaut or if you’re a Founding Father groupie of good ol’ Alex, the musical hits the stage at ASU Gammage again. 1200 S. Forest Ave. in Tempe. Get your tickets at ASUGammage.com or call 480-965-3434

June 25 - July 8

Tom’s Elton Tribute

Missed Sir Elton John’s farewell tour? Well, you can see the world’s number one Elton John tribute performer, Tom Cridland, a close friend of the poprock legend, live, on stage! So say “Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road” and “Hello, Scottsdale!” Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St. Get your tickets at ScottsdalePerformingArts.org or call 480-499-8587 Thursday, June 27 7 p.m.

The Ultimate ION Arizona great outdoors all in one piece Ah, Wilderness!

By Deon Brown

Ready to explore Arizona? Maybe just a day trip? Or longer? ION Arizona has a quick guide for a few essentials to help prepare you for a trip in the wilderness. Remember, you don’t have to be a flaming queen to know that only you can prevent forest fires, darling. So leave your matches at home. Whether you’re gone for a few hours or a few days, always let someone know where you are. Even your mother.

Footwear

Kricely Walking/Hiking/Running Shoes

This high quality, flashy, splashy rainbow-theme footwear is perfect for taking a tramp in the woods – but ask the tramp for permission first – as it is for going to Barbra Seville’s Saturday night show at Yumbar. Exquisite craftsmanship and total comfort.

Only $44 at Amazon.com

Pink Floral Loafer

Non-binary, Cisgender Female, Parental Figure formerly known as “Mother Nature” rolled her eyes when she saw these. We did. These are great for camping – if you’re Liberace. Better save these for a fancy, queer cocktail party. AmadeoExclusive.com for only $99.

Arizona guide to surviving the piece and in style. Sort of. Wilderness!

Bear Spray vs. Cologne

Counter-Assault Ultra Bear Deterrant

This super-concentrated, turbocharged pepper spray shoots bear repellant about 40 feet keeping Yogi Bear far away from your pic-a-nic basket. And you. Works on ordinary bears and ultra-bears. Don’t get any on yourself or you’ll be sorry. About $50 at Walmart

“Fucking Fabulous”

by Tom Ford

You’re out in the middle of fucking nowhere. There’s nobody around to impress with the base notes of leather, tonka bean, and amber, or the top notes of lavender and clary sage. Grizzlies don’t fucking care that you spent $350 on a fucking bottle of fucking cologne. You’re in the fucking woods –Not Saks Fifth Avenue, Mary.

When Nature Calls …

Does a bear shit in the woods? ION Arizona investigated, and, yes. They do. Everybody poops. We know you don’t like to admit it, but you do, too, unless you’re a bottom who prepped before a Grindr hook-up. We have a suggestion: camping commodes-to-go can be basic – like a plastic bucket – or fancy. (Sort of.)

TikTok in peace. If you have cell service, that is.

GO anywhere portable toilet

With the GO anywhere portable toilet the PETT® complete toilet system it’s possible to have a standard-size portable toilet wherever you go. Because when you gotta go, you gotta go.

$83 at BioRelief.com This

Do-It-Yourself Potty

“Hillbilly style.” Bucket: $5. Pool Noodle: 3 for $1 at Target. Bath Tissue: Charmin is more better than Marathon. Get the Charmin. Scratchy, biodegradable TP is also available.

Multiple Choice Quiz

Night falls. You’re ready to go to sleep. What did you bring?

A. Hammock — All you need are a couple of trees or a stand. Bring two. One for you and one for the hottie (you’re on your your own with that.)

B. Sleeping bag — Choose from a wide selection at a variety of price points. Get a bag that sleeps two. .

C. Sensory Deprivation Suit — For the freaky. Like, really freaky. But remember, it’s camping — not the Folsom Street Fair.

D. Four-Poster Canopy Bed — Honey, even if you’re roughing it, you’re not a savage. We’re civilized, for crying out loud. There’s a big, fancy queen in all of us, after all. This is the obvious choice.

A variety of prices

Fortnum & Mason Picnic Hamper for Two

Go glamping Downton Abbey style! All the way from jolly olde England, this is the Cadillac of picnic hampers with no faffing around. Made from wicker with leather fasteners, it has bone china serving pieces, salt & pepper grinders, wine glasses, a thermos, and more. Plenty of room for crumpets, tea, watercress sandwiches, a bottle of poppers & lube. Hey, you never know what’ll happen out in the wild. Bring your own blanket. £365 (about $475) at FortnumAndMason.com

This should give you a few ideas. Remember to bring an old school road map, candy, and some battery powered lanterns in case you get lost. Plus, extra underwear never hurts, either. Happy camping, girls, gays, and theys!

ION FALLOUT PARTY

HYDRATION

PHOENIX FRIDAY SATURDAY

DRINK & EVENT GUIDE

NAVIGATION

Use the ION ARIZONA APP for Google Maps turn-by-turn directions with links to UBER & LYFT! DON’T DRINK & DRIVE!

fezoncentral.com

flexspas.com

ftrooftop.com

hulasmoderntiki.com

karambanightclub.com

kingpingrill.com

kobaltbarphoenix.com

mipatioaz.com

nutownebar.com

ozbarphx.com rewinedphx.square therockdmphoenix

sazeracphoenix.com

ION FABULANCE

Be prepared for the possibility of stress on Friday, June 14, when the sun in Gemini forms a conjunction with Mercury. This alignment can intensify your thoughts, possibly leading to paranoia – but someone really might be watching you. ¶ Thursday, June 20 launches the Summer Solstice at 1:50 p.m. in Phoenix. It also marks the beginning of Cancer season emphasizing compassion and emotional sensitivity. Celebrate the longest day of the year with others. Do yoga in the sun. In the nude. (Use sunscreen.) Make a new list of positive intentions if you messed up your New Year’s Resolutions. Have a root beer float. (The stars just made that one up. They like root beer floats.) The point is: celebrate! After all, it’s National Pride Month! The Cosmos love a good party!

ION HOMOSCOPES

ARIES Mar. 21 - Apr. 20

All this extra daylight keeps you busy. It’s high time you come up with some solutions to problems. Collect yourself. If things seem out of whack, are the stars the ones who are really causing the problem?

TAURUS April. 21 - May 20

Lots of changes coming your way. Maybe a promotion. Maybe a new relationship. A few calculated risks bring rewards. Maybe an ice cream cone, maybe even S-E-X! Take a chance! It’ll be worth it. Definitely.

GEMINI May 21 - June 21

You’ve got a rollercoaster of feelings going on. Quick thinking and ability to adapt helps. If it’s your birthday focus on love and affection – both, giving and receiving. Practice kissing for starters.

CANCER June 22 - July 22

Take a dive! Deep into the Ocean of Harmony off of the Island of Desire. The tides of spiritual growth have you ready for the Emotional Olympics. Crabby got a birthday? Welcome change and intimacy with open arms. And legs.

LEO July 23 - Aug. 22

Pay attention to what’s setting you back. Is it someone else? Money? Your attitude? Diligence is the key to paving the road to success. See? You’re not paying attention, are you?

VIRGO Aug. 23 - Sep. 22

Expect cosmological momentum to help you get what you ask for. The Full Moon may bring anxiety, but the Cosmos recommend an orgasm. Lots of them. They’re like mental Xanax.

LIBRA Sep. 23 - Oct. 22

Who flipped on your “Charm” switch? You’ve got so much ‘rizz (as the cosmos and young kids say) that you’re irresistible. Your natural diplomacy shines (even with an Aries).

SCORPIO Oct. 23 - Nov.23

Everything about you points towards Transformative Energy. Your Love Language is changing – except without so much cussing. Conversation and information reach a climax.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 - Dec. 23

You’ve got choices. Lots of them! Now to make some decisions. This is a big chance for you to align closer to your true self. Not Taylor Swift. You’ve evolved. This was bound to happen.

CAPRICORN Dec. 23 - Jan. 20

Make meaningful connections with others. Adapting to change brings emotional well-being. Act on instinct with confidence. You’ll feel horny from June 25-July 2 all thanks to our friends Venus and Mars.

AQUARIUS Jan. 21 - Feb. 19

A mixture of challenges and opportunities await you. Watch out for tricky obstacles. Get plenty of rest; a reward lands in your lap. Is it only a corn dog? Or money?

PISCES Feb. 20 - Mar. 20

Look deep inside. What do you see? The stars see transformation and personal growth. Introspection leads to success. Everybody envies you. Well, most of us do. Except for one Virgo.