Interview with actor D.K. Uzoukwu shines light on new role
Uzoukwu chatted about his family, career, self-discovery journey and joining the Norman Lear legacy
By ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
Uzoukwu is enjoying his time in the spotlight, holding his own alongside Laverne Cox and comedy great, George Wallace in Norman Lear’s last comedy. Clean Slate centers on Desiree (Cox), a proud trans woman who is finding her footing in life as she returns to her small hometown and tries to re-build a relationship with her father (Wallace) as his now-daughter.
The show is a comedy with many touching moments and comes at a time when trans representation is so needed. Uzoukwu shines as Desiree’s best friend Louis a closeted gay man who serves as the local church’s choir director. Together the two find their way.
Uzoukwu is also a 2021 Acting Fellow of the Hillman Grad Mentorship Program, led by Lena Waithe. He is also a writer and co-wrote two seasons of Issa Rae’s audio drama “Fruit,” and has been Reader-Endorsed on The Black List for his award-winning spec pilot “Kinfolk.”
We chatted with Uzoukwu about his family, career, self-discovery journey and joining the Norman Lear legacy.
He credits a strong family foundation for teaching him the tools for life as a proud son of immigrant parents.
“I was raised first generation by very proud Nigerian parents, who definitely had their sights set on me being a doctor or a pharmacist. Those are very stable jobs, especially in a country that doesn’t really give you a lot of breaks as an immigrant, even more. They just wanted something that was stable for me. My parents have shown me just what it takes to live in this country as an immigrant. The tenacity, the persistence, the strive to be better. They instilled all of those attributes in me.”
Despite Uzoukwu’s parents wanting him to work in a stable profession, they came to support his dream to become an actor. He ended up graduating cum laude from Temple University, with a Bachelors in Film and Theatre.
“They chose to support my dreams instead of admonishing me for them and it takes a very open and honest heart to say, ‘I want my child to be the best they can be in whatever they choose to do in this life, because it’s their life and not mine.’ That isn’t always easy for parents, but especially more so for immigrant parents, especially Nigerian parents, that’s just something that we did not grow up with. So beyond the tenacity and the perseverance, they also taught me unconditional love and support and those are attributes that I carry with me to this day. They were with me at the [ Clean Slate ] premier and it was just great to have my father and mom there by my side. It’s a dream come true.”
In typical Norman Lear style, Clean Slate pushes the
envelope and makes current hot topics part of the norm. The show deals with trans and queer community narratives, deals with self-acceptance in the face of bigotry, faith v. religion struggles and questions what exactly a family looks like in today’s age. The show, which focuses on a Black family, is part of the current boom in queer storylines in minority-driven programming.
Uzoukwu explains the increase in representation:
“I just think we are more aware of what’s out there. We have so much more access to other people’s lives at our fingertips. Social media has been a very huge plus in that respect. In a way, it has normalized the idea of having queer people in our lives. We always have, we just weren’t allowed to really be public about it. But now it is normalized and hopefully even more so going forward. I think there is a little bit of a pushback. People talk about a pendulum swing right now, but I think that it forces us to be even more brave and adamant about staking our place in society. We have a right to be here. We all have a right to exist and pursue lives of love and freedom, our God-given rights. I think the more we press forward and continue to live our lives, the more that presence and existence will be seen in our media because we are what we see.”
Uzoukwu nailed his audition for Clean Slate . Reading the sides, he resonated at once with the character of Louis. He sent in his audition tape – which also required singing and two and a half weeks later – he did his screen test. Then BOOM, it was booked. As a queer actor, did Uzoukwu have any trepidation about taking this role for fear of being pigeon-holed?
“There’s always going to be fears about only being seen as one thing. I’m not going to lie, I did kind of have that fear. But I get that anytime I do a bigger project
that kind of feels like something that could establish me as a performer in other people’s eyes. You watch a great performance of somebody and you’re like, wow, I could only see them as that. That is something that happens a lot. So there’s always that fear, but I don’t know if it’s something that I necessarily have to worry about. My team is very aware of my talent and what I can do, so my goal is to just go out and try to play as many parts as I can. I just want to keep looking forward and see what else is next, hopefully a season two. Fingers crossed!”
With Norman Lear’s recent passing, being part of the legacy that created All in the Family , One Day at a Time , Maude , The Jeffersons , and so many others, is an actor’s dream. Especially for someone as young as Uzoukwu.
“I definitely still have to pinch myself sometimes when I think about that aspect. I never really saw myself being a comedy actor when I first started out. I thought I was just so much better at drama. So for me to land my first big role in a comedy is kind of like, ‘Oh, you thought you knew what you were about? You thought you knew what you could do, but God had a different story for you.’ You just don’t know what the world, what life will bring. So to be a part of a comedy like this, but also one that is connected to that legacy is a huge deal.
I definitely don’t take it for granted. It means the world to me. When we talked about the show and sort of leading the charge on telling stories of other people and how we can all coexist, he was that person for generations. To be a part of his last comedy is truly a gift. You never could have had me predict that for my future.”
Uzoukwu hopes his personal journey serves as an example for other actors. His message to the community is also his message to himself.
“I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what kind of person I wanted to be in this industry, whether or not I was going to be comfortable enough to come out and be an out gay actor in Hollywood. I didn’t know if it was the smart choice or the right choice.
I realized that in order for me to really tell the stories the way they needed to be told, I had to commit to an identity for myself. I had to choose to be comfortable with myself. That’s something I hope future generations don’t have to sort of battle with or try to figure out for themselves that they can just be and that’s okay. It wasn’t always the case. I am glad that I took this circuitous journey to choose myself. I hope that the community continues to choose themselves and that they don’t feel that they have to decide between safety and freedom, that we can have both. Because we deserve both.”
Clean Slate is now streaming on Prime.
(Photo courtesy of Prime)
Pose’s Dyllón Burnside takes on most ambitious role yet in latest film
In this Blade exclusive, actor Dyllón Burnside gives us a candid look at his latest role
By ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
Actor Dyllón Burnside made an impressionable splash by playing Ricky Evangelista in FX’s Pose. Not only was he able to infuse sincerity and pathos into his role, but he has used his platform to speak against toxic masculinity, advocate for LGBTQ safe spaces and inspire activism.
ecently he has a tne ed w th o the lm Fighting To Be Me, playing perhaps his most ambitious role to date. Dyllón plays Dwen Curry in a new biopic where he plays a celebrity stylist known for working with big names like Missy Elliott, DMX, Mariah Carey and more.
Leading a double life in many ways, Dwen also spearheaded a multi-million dollar fraud ring that came to be known as he ay angste s. he lm s a t t e c me a t ollywood glam and all sto ytell ng. he lm s about family, identity, survival and self-acceptance as Dwen transitions from a gay man, to a proud transgender woman.
he lm comes at a c c al t me whe e the nat on s e e enc ng c t acks n I n t at es that a e a ect ng oth the Black and the queer community. Fighting To Be Me is the latest n ’s e o ts to h ghl ght sto es om the ee community.
Representing both the Black and queer communities in th s lm t was essent al o yll n to o t ay wen n a way that was both truthful and sincere.
e chatted w th yll n ahead o the lm’s em e e about his experience.
“It’s unlike any other project that I’ve been a part of. I have my processes and the things that I do as an actor to prepare that are my baseline. It’s rooted in my background in the theater and the things that I learned from my teachers in d ama school and the d e ent d ecto s that I’ e wo ked with.”
t th s ocess wh le those th ngs de n tely hel ed Dyllón, there was so much of that, that Dyllón couldn’t pull from. He says he had to really stretch himself to immerse himself in Dwen’s story and world.
“I had a lot of conversations with her. It required me to be more curious than I think I’ve ever been in a role. I’m a seeker in that way, and I think that’s what I really love about working as an actor is really that process of discovery and gett ng c o s and nd ng connect ons and do ng the e sea ch. I lo e that k nd o st .
yll n was not am l a w th wen’s sto y at st. te reading the script, he was compelled to tell her story, but it was imperative that he received the blessing from Dwen herself.
“I needed to have a conversation with her to make sure
that she wanted me to play her. I wanted to be clear that this person, this trans person wants me to play them and they feel like I am the right person to portray them in this story. We had a beautiful conversation and it was that talk, just getting to look her in her eyes and understand her heart that made me decide I want to be a part of this project.”
Fighting To Be Me comes at a time when the nation is divided. Dyllón’s involvement as both the star and as one of the lm’s e ec t e od ce s s a testament to h s el e that now is the time for this story to be shared.
“When we look at the times that we’re living in, when trans people are being attacked daily by the current administration, it is really troubling. The dehumanization of trans folks has gotten out of hand. I think we need to all have the opportunity to sit with the fact that my lived reality is not the same as someone else’s reality, but that doesn’t make their lived reality any less human or any less important or any less true.”
“I think that one of the beautiful things about this story is that it’s unlike any other story that I’ve ever heard or told. Yes, there’s the trans element, but it’s a full life story. It’s important to talk about trans issues as a means of advocacy. I’m also really interested in talking about Dwen Curry as a human being. What are the circumstances that conspired to create the situations that forced Dwen Curry to make the decisions that Dwen Curry made? We’re talking about the socioeconomic climate of the eighties. We’re talking about the politics of the eighties. We’re talking about HIV and AIDS. We’re talking about the stigma around being queer. We’re talking about poverty. All of these issues conspire to create a situation where the wind has to make certain decisions in order to survive and thrive.”
According to Dyllón, the story directly relates to what is happening right now. He elaborates:
o many o s nd o sel es n that os t on ght now whe e the e a e all o these d e ent systems and nst t tions that seem to be closing in around us and putting us etween a ock and a ha d lace. e ha e to g e o t how to stay true to ourselves. How do we protect ourselves? How do we eat? How do we stay safe from the cops shooting us down in the streets or from some person who hates us because of the color of our skin, or our gender or sexual identity? All of these things create a situation for people that drives them to make really hard decisions. And I think I’m more critical of those systems than I am the individual who is forced to exist in those systems.”
BET+’s inclusion of queer stories is a milestone. Typically, minority programming was resistant to talking about queer
people. As part of that representation with Pose and now w th th s lm yll n has h s take on the g ow ng t end o inclusion.
“I may not say that minorities don’t celebrate folks, but I will say that historically we’ve seen that the media companies across the board have not supported stories. I think folks see we’re able to recognize the cultural impact as well as the scal ene ts o tell ng mo e ncl s e and e ans e stories about who we are, who we get to be. I hope that continues. I hope we continue to see that in spite of all of the e o ts to oll ack I and that med a com an es w ll stand m n the comm tment and des e to tell sto es real authentic stories about real authentic people.”
Totally giving himself over to the portrayal of Dwen on her journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Dyllón has started to look at his own relationship with identity and being true to himself. It is the message he has for himself, it is the message he has to his fans.
“One of the things that I’m really striving for in my life is integration, this idea that I don’t have to be a separate human being with my family that I am with my friends, that I am at work on set, that I am on stage, performing my music, that I am in the recording studio, that I am when I give a speech somewhere as the advocate in a political space. I don’t have to compartmentalize myself in those ways and I get to bring all of myself to every space that I’m in, even if that means I’m o e whelmed o I’m t ed o I’m st essed or I’m afraid.
The conversation that I’m having with myself in this moment, and by extension having with my audience, is this message a o nd nteg at on. nd stand ng mly toes down in the truth of who I am and allowing that to be messy and allowing that to be uncertain and weird and to be unapologetic about the messiness and the weirdness and the lack of clarity.
st show as yo ll sel whe e e yo nd yo sel and trust that your spirit will lead you and guide you in the way that you should go. Unplug from social media and get outside.”
Fighting to Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story is now available on BET+.
(Photo courtesy BET)
Queer Mercado taking steps to right their wrongs
As part of that action plan, the Mercado released a survey to the community to gain a better understanding of community needs going forward
By GISSELLE PALOMERA
Earlier this year, the organization expressed transphobic remarks on social media through the Queer Mercado Instagram account. The co-founder Diana Díaz, says she trusted the wrong person to run that account and represent the Queer Mercado and also says that the person who made the comment didn’t realize they were commenting through the brand’s acco nt.
Díaz says she believes that she is now making better decis ons to ene t ee e cado and cont n e n t ng t so t can continue growing. She is open to conversations regarding the event and how to make it a safer space for the communit es n ol ed.
In an interview with Díaz, she said she was inspired to create this space because as a school counselor for K-12 public school ed cat on n oyle e ghts she was the st e son that a ents would go to when their child would come out as queer. Her students trusted her as an ally to go to when they felt like they needed s o t as ee and t ans ch ld en.
“I worked at all the local school districts as a school counselor and I got to see how the family would react to their child coming out and it was very painful and very personal to me eca se I lo e these k ds sa d a .
She said that she couldn’t understand why so many of those parents reacted the way they did, knowing that these children were perfectly healthy and only looking for safety and support d ng a d c lt and con s ng t me.
Although Díaz admits that she is not part of the LGBTQ+ community, she has strong ties to the community as an ally for children who have to not only deal with coming out and coming to terms with their identities, but who also have to deal with the extra burden of coming out within the Latinx community, which often reinforces misogyny, homophobia and transphoa.
nde th s a t c la ly host le adm n st at on t s a e to nd an ally like Díaz, who not only stands up for the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community, but who also tirelessly works to make spaces like Queer Mercado, where the families of those children can feel welcome to explore these identities and this community in a way that is inclusive of all ages. Díaz says she made this space for the Latinx families and parents o ch ld en n an e o t to ld st onge elat onsh s.
“I recruited artists and other volunteers to help me start the market,” said Díaz. “I didn’t see a problem with an ally doing it because there is no other free public space for queer families l ke ee e cado .
She also notes that this is the only space designated for art and comm n ty s ec cally cate ed to the at n comm n ty in a city with one of the largest demographics of queer and t ans at n eo le.
“I know not every grandma is going to be able to go to The Abbey, you know in West Hollywood, or Precinct. Some of us l ke to go to ed ea ly.
a was st the o nde o oddess e cado and says that when she started it, one of her students asked her about creating a space for LGBTQ+ families and this is when she thought of creating the Queer Mercado. She saw the need for this space and realized she could be the person to bring the e esentat on that was needed.
Díaz comes from a family who made their living as vendors at swapmeets and other community spaces, so a space like this o he s dee ly e sonal.
ChiChi LaPinga, multi-hyphanated activist and community leade n ee and t ans s aces was ecently h ed as ec tor of Outreach for the Queer Mercado. They are now in charge of facilitating ideas about how to better the Mercado and make the s ace as sa e as oss le o e e yone who dent es as a mem e o the ee and t ans comm n t es.
Earlier this year when the Queer Mercado was caught up in this issue, many community members, vendors and attendees who avidly supported the event, said they no longer wanted to support it, if Díaz didn’t step down. Díaz founded the event and continues to believe that she can do more to bridge the gap between hostile families and their queer and trans children, by cont n ng he e o ts as o nde .
What she now says, is that she needs to take steps to gain community trust back by bringing in people who are willing and able to learn, grow, evolve and make the space better than e e .
As part of that action plan, the Mercado released a survey to the community in February to gain a better understanding of comm n ty needs go ng o wa d.
“I think that this [incident] is a perfect example of why there needs to be queer people in positions of leadership – so that people who aren’t part of the queer community like Diana, are g ded th o gh the ocess sa d h h a nga.
ChiChi LaPinga is a Mexican, trans and nonbinary community leader and activist in Los Angeles who has built a reputation throughout years, working and representing the queer, trans and at n comm n t es.
They say that people like Díaz should be putting people who are queer, who are part of the community, in these positions o n ence and owe and th s nc dent o es why that s so m o tant and c c al to a s ace l ke th s.
“It was a very unfortunate situation. It was an error made by ignorance and something that I personally do not condone, right me as a transgender, non binary person, as a decent basic, you know, as a decent human being,” said ChiChi La Pinga. “I am also not the expert on all things, and I rely on my community to educate me on those things, and that is what all allies should do.”
Starting in March, and going forward, ChiChi LaPinga said they have pushed for there to be more panel discussions incorporated into the events where they can discuss issues that a ect the comm n ty om d e ent e s ect es.
“One of the changes that I’ve always wanted to see at the Queer Mercado was to have panel discussions on stage, which is something that I introduced last month and am continuing th s month sa d h h a nga.
In our candid conversation, ChiChi LaPinga opened up about their own identity and struggles with embracing their identities within a culture that is misogynistic, homophobic and transho c. hey say they nde stand the comm n ty es onse and push-back for change in leadership, because Queer Mercado should be run by people who are inclusive and accepting of all identities within the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
However, Díaz says she founded the mercado, which is why she hopes to continue leading it, but in a new way that incorporates new voices into conversations about how to move forward.
She saw a need for a space like this and made it happen for her students and their families. She says she hopes that the conversations can continue to help her make better decisions going forward.
Ultimately, ChiChi LaPinga advices the community to make the decision to return to Queer Mercado on their own and only if they feel ready to do so.
“If you do not feel safe in certain spaces, make the decision that is best for you, because I would do the same,” said ChiChi LaPinga.
Former GOP Sen. Alan Simpson dies at 93
o me . . en. lan m son o yom ng a e l can who long cham oned ghts d ed on day at age . te se ng n the en ate om to ncl d ng a st nt as the wh om to m son cont n ed to ma nta n an act e ole n me can ol t cs o decades. ch o h s wo k on ehal o ss es came th o gh h s a o ntment as hono a y cha o the e l can n ty oal t on gay st a ght all ance g o w th n the a ty sta t ng n .
he o me lawmake s oke w th the ash ngton lade’s o h a o . o an nte ew n a o t how he was a le to econc le h s wo k n e l can ol t cs w th h s s o t o e and ng ghts and otect ons o eo le.
ll I know s we ha e made g eat st des o gays and les ans and t ans est tes he sa d when asked he tho ght on g ess wo ld soon a o e the m loyment on sc m na
Judge blocks Trump’s trans military ban
ede al dge n ash ngton . . on esday locked es dent m ’s an on t ansgende se ce mem e s wh ch was sched led to take e ect on day.
. . st ct dge na eyes ss ed the el m na y n nc t on say ng the ol cy olates the onst t t on.
Indeed the c el ony s that tho sands o t ansgende se ce mem e s ha e sac ced some sk ng the l es to ens e o othe s the e y e al otect on ghts the l ta y an seeks to deny them eyes w ote.
he legal challenge to m ’s t ansgende m l ta y an e ec t e al ott . m was o ght y g o s aw and .
dge eyes w ote that tho sands o t ansgende se cemem e s ha e sac ced some sk ng the l es to ens e o othe s the e y e al otect on ghts the l ta y an seeks to deny them.
dge eyes o nd that the an olates e al otec t on eca se t d sc m nates ased on t ansgende stat s and se and eca se t s soaked n an m s not ng that ts lang age s na ashedly demean ng ts ol cy st gmat es t ansgende e sons as nhe ently n t and ts concl s ons ea no elat on to act.
he lead atto neys n the case a e aw en o ec to o ansgende and ee ghts enn e e and egal ecto hannon nte .
oday’s dec s e l ng s eaks ol mes sa d e . he co t’s nam g o s act al nd ngs lay a e how th s an s ec cally ta gets and nde m nes o co ageo s se ce mem e s who ha e comm tted themsel es to de end ng o nat on. en the co t’s clea eyed assessment we a e con dent th s l ng w ll stand st ong on a eal. FROM STAFF REPORTS
t on ct o a ll call ng o ann ng o d sc m nat on aga nst eo le.
he leg slat on d d not lt mately ass t at the t me m son sa d he was ho e l the e o t wo ld o e come o st c t on om some co ne s o the e l can con e ence eca se othe eo le know these eo le and they lo e them.
nd I’m e y leased the o me senato added. Anyone who s on the s de o st ce and eedom and ca ng a o t el low h man e ngs s leased a o t what’s go ng on.
m son e la ned that h s a oach to ghts was n o med y h s comm tment to a ness and e al ty o e e y one tell ng the lade that he sha es these con ct ons w th h s w e o then yea s nn ch oll m son who s es h m. he co le had come to know gay eo le o e the yea s he said. I had a gay co s n who was a wa he o n o ld a II a wonde l man.
sked whethe he has ece ed ak om some ellow e l cans and othe s o e h s s o t o ghts and same se ma age m son sa d e yth ng I’ e done has had ak. I’m now and I’ e e ect ely ssed o e e yone n me ca. o yeah t I st say we’ e all od’s ch ld en. e’ e all h man e ngs.
te lea ng the enate m son’s ad ocacy o eo le ncl ded hel ng to con nce o me es dent e ald
o d to o n a gay ghts o gan at on a st o a . . es dent s gn ng on to am c s e s led w th the . . eme o t n s o t cases that that led to the o e t n ng o state sod omy laws and esta l shed ma age e al ty as the law o the land s o t ng the mo ement to o e t n the d sc m nato y on’t sk on’t Tell law w t ng to the late o me e . ed hel s n o ect on to h s otests o gay e ents ncl d ng ne als o gay eo le and s o t ng c eat e wo ks a o t the ant gay ad ocacy o the late o me . . en. ose h c a thy and the hate c me aga nst m de ed gay college st dent at thew Shepard.
n o t a y l shed day n he ew o k mes notes m son’s wo k on ehal o mm g at on e o m and e o d ct e ghts ncl d ng a o t on n add t on to h s stances on ss es ncl d ng h s longt me s o t o same se ma age.
m son n l shed an o n on ece n the a e o ect ng to e o ts y nge ght g o s and ag ng e t em sts to con nce es dent onald m to s gn an e ec t e o de that wo ld allow d sc m nat on aga nst gays women and e l g o s m no t es.
In he was awa ded the es dent al edal o eedom y then es dent oe den.
CHRISTOPHER KANE
House Republican misgenders
Sarah McBride
U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) deliberately and repeatedly sed the hono c . o . . e . a ah c de el. the st t ansgende mem e o ong ess s a k ng a con ontat on that de a led a o se s comm ttee hea ng last esday.
te el who leads the o se o e gn a s omm t tee’s o e comm ttee m sgende ed the cong ess woman om elawa e she e l ed hank yo adam ha .
he to emoc at n the oom assach setts on g essman ll eat ng then s oke to e est that the cha e eat h s nt od ct on wh ch he d d aga n e e ng to c de as .
o a e o t o o de . . ha man eat ng sa d a s ng h s o ce. a e yo no decency I mean I ha e come to know yo a l ttle t t th s s not decent.
el then sta ted to ad o n the hea ng tell ng col leag es we w ll cont n e th s e o e he was nte ted y the ank ng mem e who told h m o w ll not con t n e t w th me nless yo nt od ce a d ly elected e e sentat e the ght way.
c de add essed the matte n a ost on w t ng o matte how I’m t eated y some colleag es noth ng d m n shes my awe and g at t de at gett ng to e esent elawa e n ong ess. It s t ly the hono and lege o a l et me. I s m ly want to se e and to t y to make th s wo ld a ette lace.
el do led down aga n w t ng on soc al med a t s the ol cy o the n ted tates to ecogn e two se es male and emale c t ng es dent onald m ’s day one e ec t e o de mandat ng that the ede al go e n
ment t eat gende as a na y that cannot and does not de ate om one’s th se .
he ol cy s o t o ste w th ma nst eam sc ence and med c ne wh ch ecogn es that h man ology s com le and one’s gende dent ty s o ten t not always l nked to one’s se at th. t cs o the o de ha e also noted that ts na ow de n t ons o se and gende e cl de eo le who a e o n nte se w th a com nat on o male and e male olog cal t a ts gen tals ch omosomes ho mones. CHRISTOPHER KANE
U.S. Rep. SARAH MCBRIDE (D-Del.) attends the joint session of Congress on March 4. (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Former U.S. Sen. ALAN K. SIMPSON urged President Trump to reject an anti-LGBT executive order. la e file oto y i ael ey
CHARLES FRANCIS
president of the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., served for 10 years as a Trustee of the Bufalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyo.
lan im son e li an rom
anot er o ntry
93-year-old conservative rode with us when no one else would
The senator from Wyoming was authenticity itself — a Western force coming at you like a bobcat with a crooked smile. Indeed, the name of his ranch outside of Cody is the “Bobcat.” It was at the Bobcat near Yellowstone Park, where my friend Sen. Alan K. Simpson (1931-2025) did some of his best thinking a o t h sto y ol t cs and how eo le l e and ght.
When he came to Washington, Al Simpson was steeped in this uniquely Western Bobcat Ranch heritage — from his g and athe who e esented . . alo ll ody and prosecuted Butch Cassidy to his mother, a founder of the alo ll sto cal ente that today d s lays a nt ngs y homas o an and nn e akley’s es. e was an old school live-and-let-live conservative Republican, but one with a Western twist — one part sneer, one part laugh-out-loud funny. It was that twist, I believe, that made him unique.
Sen. Simpson stood with his friend Congressman Barney Frank in 1998 on the Capitol steps at the candlelight vigil after the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie. Shaken by the barbarity of what happened, Simpson denounced Shepard’s killing as an “ugly, ugly butchering. The people of my state and the University of Wyoming want you to know this is not who we are.” Then came a wave of boos and the heckling of Al as a e l can om yom ng. e told me he ne e o got that oo ng and esol ed to cont n e ght ng w th s o o e al ity in the years to come. On this, he was good to his word. o ston gay comm n ty e o t challenged and a ealed the sodomy charge of John Lawrence and Tyron Garner in Texas. We believed our organization, a gay-straight alliance, the Republican Unity Coalition (RUC) had a role to play. Alan Simpson stepped forward to serve as our chairman, signing our amicus brief in support of Lawrence and Garner to strike down the e as sodomy law. e then eached o t to h s end e y o d o me es dent e ald o d to o n o e o t. o d d d so ecom ng the st and only es dent to o n an LGBTQ advocacy group. In 2003, on the day the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Lawrence case, Al wrote in an o ed l shed y the all t eet o nal omose al ty should be a non-issue for the GOP… sodomy laws are contrary to American values protecting personal liberty and opposing discrimination.” Al was thrilled when the Court voted 6-3 in favor of Lawrence ending the criminalization of homosexuality. When Al came out in support of same-sex marriage in assach setts the e . ed hel s od ates ags de nounced Al as a “senile old fag lover.” Al responded with grace and hilarity in the style of one of his heroes, cowboy humorist Will Rogers. “Dear Rev. Phelps, I just want to alert you to the
fact that some dizzy son of a bitch is sending out mailings and emails using your name! I know you are a god fearing, Christ an e son lled to the m w th o ea ance tole ance and love…and this other goofy homophobe nut must be something opposite.” Al did not pull back from his support for same-sex ma age. e o osed es dent eo ge . sh on h s o posal to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Al wrote in the Washington Post, “Several Senate members want to create more anguish by pushing a proposal to amend the Constitution … but a federal marriage amendment would do nothing to strengthen families, just the opposite.”
Former U.S. Sen. ALAN K. SIMPSON urged President Trump to reject an anti-LGBT executive order. la e file oto y ael ey
For the rest of his long life, Al remained supportive of the LGBTQ community and our families. We disbanded the old Republican Unity Coalition, a delusion we once shared to make “homosexuality a non-issue for the Republican Party.” There are no more Alan Simpson Republicans. They are from another country. I happily left the party and married my “pard” as they call partners in Cody. We were married with a reception in Washington, made all the brighter with Al’s attendance and his w e nn’s less ngs. ate they ga e o son h s st st e. lan m son’s many o t a es and t tes e y ment on his support of “gay rights” without elaboration. We should all a se to e ect on st how a th s yea old e l can rode with us when no one else would.
VOLUME 09 ISSUE 06
PHONE 310-230-5266
E-MAIL arodriguez@losangelesblade.com
INTERNET losangelesblade.com
PUBLISHED BY Los Angeles Blade, LLC
PUBLISHER
ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
arodriguez@losangelesblade.com, 310-230-2077 x8080
EDITORIAL
EDITOR
GISSELLE PALOMERA
gpalomera@losangelesblade.com, 310-230-5266 x 9460
NATIONAL EDITOR
KEVIN NAFF
kna @washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x8088
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
KAREN OCAMB
karenocamb@losangelesblade.com
CONTRIBUTORS
MICHAEL K. LAVERS, TINASHE CHINGARANDE, ERNESTO VALLE, YARIEL VALDÉS GONZALEZ, PARKER PURIFOY, CHRISTOPHER KANE, AUSTIN MENDOZA, JOHN PAUL KING, JOEY DIGUGLIELMO, CHRIS JOHNSON, LOU CHIBBARO JR., REBEKAH SAGER, JON DAVIDSON, SUSAN HORNIK, CHANNING SARGENT, SAMSON AMORE, CHRISTOPHER CAPPIELLO, MICHAEL JORTNER, DAN ALLEN, SEAN SHEALY, SCOTT STIFFLER, RHEA LITRÉ
SALES & ADMINISTRATION
SALES EXECUTIVE
SHANA WONG SOLARES
swong@losangelesblade.com, 808-386-0872
MARKETING DIRECTOR
STEPHEN RUTGERS
srutgers@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x8077
NATIONAL ADVERTISING
RIVENDELL MEDIA
sales@rivendellmedia.com, 212-242-6863
ADMINISTRATION
PHILLIP G. ROCKSTROH
prockstroh@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x8092
CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION
AZERCREATIVE.COM
DISTRIBUTION
CHRISTOPHER JACKSON, 562-826-6602
from the Los Angeles Blade ofce only. Call for rates. If you cannot reach a convenient free distribution point, you may receive a 26-week mailed subscription for $125 per year or $5.00 per single issue. Checks can be sent to Phil Rockstroh at prockstroh@washblade.com.
ISAAC AMEND
is a writer based in the D.C. area. He is a transgender man and was featured in National Geographic’s “Gender Revolution” documentary. He serves on the board of the LGBT Democrats of ir inia. Conta t hi at isaa .a end ail. o or on nsta ra at literati a i.
Elon Musk’s mistakes
A capable businessman compromised by transphobia
In two previous articles for the Blade, I enumerated how Elon Musk is a rampant transphobe and a danger to society. My position on Musk, since then, is nuanced. In one of these articles, I mildly applauded his brilliance, as I will enumerate now that he was able to create a payment company (PayPal), a car company (Tesla), and a rocket company (SpaceX), all with extreme success. Musk, in this regard, is a Renaissance man of sorts, able to use his Wharton accolades and other courses in physics, math, and coding to his will, and revamping companies to earn billions of dollars in profits. Nowadays, it’s a common brag among best friends to own a “Tessie” - slang for a Tesla - and to ride around for fun. “Tessies” have seeped into popular culture. And on the streets of LA, from the suburbs of D.C., to the outskirts and roads of Manhattan, Teslas are a common phenomenon, and are skyrocketing in sales. And PayPal, to Musk’s credit, is also still a platform that millions use regularly to send money to friends or other businesses. Meanwhile, SpaceX is preparing for the future, creating an infrastructure for space exploration. Musk is undeniably successful. Yet two things should counter his fame and cause serious alarm. As I have spoken about in the past, Musk’s relationship with his transgender daughter is nonexistent, as Vivian Wilson, the daughter, states that he was an absent parent who harassed her as a child. Musk’s transphobia has been on full display: he banned the word “cisgender” from X.com, which led many LGBTQ rights groups away from the platform. I was no stranger to this word ban: a conservative journalist covering my stories had to use c*isgender in asterisks to avoid having her post deleted. Word bans were and are common symptoms of fascist regimes. Hitler and the Nazis infamously banned words and books from the public realm, and Musk is doing the same thing.
The second cause for alarm in Musk’s rise to power is his heading of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. At first, hiring Musk as the leader of DOGE seemed like a good idea, even with someone who harbors transphobic complaints about him. As the richest man in the world, and as a man who has led multiple companies with billions of dollars in revenue, it would seem that a private sector tycoon like Musk would have the merits to lead DOGE.
Yet almost immediately, such merits came into question. In early February of 2025, Musk essentially axed USAID, the State Department’s aid wing, an organization tasked with giving funds to needy countries and doing other life-saving work like vaccine promotion. The axing of USAID spoke right away to Musk’s sheer ignorance of USAID and the good it has done for decades across the world. In effect, he created,
almost overnight, a dystopia in American international aid development. Without USAID, the United States can’t fund foreign countries to engage in beneficial mutual partnerships with us.
The axing of USAID from U.S. foreign policy will surely not be the only toxic decision that Musk makes. Down the line, and even already, we can expect a significant reduction, or just outright banning, of DEI initiatives. DEI initiatives are important for marginalized communities to have a voice and funding through government. For instance, studies that analyze the wellbeing of LGBTQ youth would presumably be axed. More studies analyzing racial discrimination in the workplace could be axed as well.
Overall, Musk shows a demonstrated brilliance in almost every endeavor he touches, with the exception of DOGE and Trump-related decisions. And the rampant transphobia that he has shown toward his child has painted his character in murky colors.
Margaret Cho returns to music with ‘Lucky Gift’
Collection of pop tunes includes tribute to non-binary people
By ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
It has been eight years since Margaret Cho released her Grammy-nominated “American Myth” album. She’s back to the music scene with her new album, “Lucky Gift,” an 11-track collection of anthems and pop tunes, a tribute to Robin Williams, and a shout-out to non-binary and gender non-conforming people.
The album captures the whirlwind that is Margaret and all of the different facets of her talents that have made her a powerhouse in entertainment and a leader in activism. In “Lucky Gift,” she’s getting her point across while having fun and getting glam. We caught up with the activist and artist to chat about her music, our political climate, and the power of pop divas.
Known for her comedy, acting, and activism, she felt it was long overdue to get her music back out there too.
“I make music often. It’s a part of my daily life, it’s a big part of my social life, and it’s just something that I just love to do for my own relaxation and fun. I had enough for an album and I wanted to finally put them out. I was just really proud of how it all sounded together,” shares Cho.
“It’s a power pop record. For me, the songs are really meaningful. They’re all in their own way love songs. I’m a big fan of my own music (laughs), I really like the way that I sound and it’s really special to do. People know me as a comedian, and I have also made music for a long time, but it’s sort of a side project, and so it was time to put more out again.”
Her album also includes a touching tribute to Robin Williams. The entertainment community is finally more comfortable talking about mental health more openly. When relating mental health to her own life, Margaret, in true Margaret form, quickly turned the conversation to reflect today’s political climate.
“I have to maintain a level of peace and quiet and sometimes maybe get away from the news, although that’s tough because I am obsessed. I want to know what is hapen ng. I’m eally wo ed o o comm n ty es ec ally the t ans comm n ty. I’m worried that this administration is trying to separate T and the Q from the LGBTQIA, and it’s really frightening.”
As an elder, Cho says she has to also remember that we’ve been through this before and it’s actually been much worse. As a community, we’ve been through a similar situation, and we were facing down a pandemic, which was killing us by the millions. So at least now we don’t have to fight AIDS as well as this onslaught of homophobia.
“We have fought for our rights, and we still have them, but we may not have them for long. So our mental health is very important to preserve now because we have to fight. The one thing to remember is they can’t do everything at once. They can’t take away trans rights, queer rights, gay rights, gay marriage, anti-depressants —ha — at the same time. So what we can do is just try to remain as calm as possible and fight as strongly as we can. But yeah, mental health is really vitally important right now.”
Margaret’s long history of queer activism stands for itself. She does not shy away from current issues, she uses her platforms to incite, educate, and question. For Margaret, there is no time off from being an activist. She was born into it, so to s eak e ng a sed n an anc sco n the s he a ents the owne s o a gay ooksto e and the em loyees ollowe s o a ey lk.
“My activism is that I don’t have a choice. I’m going to be an activist no matter what. We’re doing this together, we’re going through this together. I will always be political.
It’s just disheartening to see the ignorance of people and the lies that are being told that are believed.”
Margaret’s “Lucky Gift” comes at a perfect time when the queer community can come together over music. Cho looks at her album as a tool to empower an underdog community through the power of music.
“ It’s the triumph of pop above all. We need to look to our pop divas above all. So now I’m more than ever, leaning on Madonna. [Thank God for Lady Gaga’s] “Abracadabra” because I think that things like that boost our community so much. When you can just get together and have a “brat summer,” that boosts our community so much in this togetherness, this explosion of excitement. I think Chappell Roan really ignited the pop capacity for healing. I love ‘Lucky Gift’ because it is my stepping into a pop diva moment. Pop divas should not be discounted for how important they are to our society and how much they lift us up.”
In addition to releasing her new album, Cho will continue to hit the road this year with her “Live and LIVID! Tour,” celebrating more than four decades of live stand-up shows. On this tour, she promises to rage about homophobia, sexism, racism, and the fight to stay alive. The five-time Grammy and Emmy-nominated performer is not holding back. According to her, the nation is not divided, just a little lost.
“We’re not divided. Everybody hates this. We all hate this. The fact is, the majority of the country does not want this. Unfortunately, a lot of people just didn’t vote because they just didn’t want to participate. That’s why we’re in the situation that we’re in. So to be on the road is a pleasure. And I rarely come against opposition. Every once in a while there’s something, but it’s something that we all handle. I think we all need a voice, a strong voice of reason to combat all of the hysteria.”
And her message to her fans?
“We’ll get through this. We’ll get through this with pop divas. ‘Abracadabra,’ learn the choreography, you do it sitting down. At least we have pop music, I have my hat in the ring here. But at least we have each other and we’re going to be OK. It’s going to be a ride, it’s going to be intense, but we can do this. We’ve been through this before and we are going to be fine.”
“Lucky Gift”is now available on all major streaming platforms.
MARGARET CHO is back with a new album, ‘Lucky Gift.’ (Photo credit Nick Spanos)
Stellar cast makes for campy fun in ‘The Parenting’
ew ho o comedy a cle e sa cy ece o ente ta nment
By JOHN PAUL KING
I yo ’ e e e headed o o a d eam getaway that t ned o t to e an n n ghtma e nstead yo m ght e n the ta get a d ence o he a ent ng and yo also ha en to e n a ee elat onsh and ha e had the e e ence o meet ng the a ents then t was essent ally made st o yo .
ow st eam ng on a whe e t em e ed on a ch and helmed y ete an ook ng n and lm he keleton w ns le t angelo e d ecto a g ohnson om a sc een lay y o me w te t lette t’s a e y gay ho o comedy n wh ch a yo ng co le goes th o gh oth o those e c c at ngly elata le e e ences at once. nd o those who m ght e a t s eam sh a o t the ho o elements we can ass e yo w tho t s o le s that the em has s s de n tely on the comedy s de o th s e at on.
et n state ew o k t cente s on a yo ng gay cole osh andon lynn and ohan k odan who a e ha ly and o o sly n lo e and they a e o d dogg e dadd es to o e t. In act they a e so m ch n lo e that ohan has ooked a co nt ys de ho se s eccally to o ose ma age w th the ete t o assem l ng oth sets o the a ents so that each o them can meet the othe ’s am ly o the e y st t me. hey a e at the st c ental st n t me o an enco nte w th the ky t am s ng host a ke osey whose h nts that the ho se may ha e a t o l ng h sto y lea e them sn cke ng.
hen the es ect e am l es a e th ngs go ed cta ly aw y. ohan’s ado ted a ents d e alco an o a e s ccess l so h st cated and aloo osh’s olks sa d ow ean o s a e down to ea th n etent o s and g ega o s to make th ngs e en mo e awkwa d the co le’s gal al a a an ang shows n nted wo ed that ohan’s sec et engagement lan w ll go s ectac la ly w ong nde the n ed cta le c c mstances. hose h cc s and wo se eg n to ay osh and ohan’s elat onsh at the edges e eal ng e o sly nseen s des o each othe that make them do t the tness as a co le t they’ e noth ng com a ed to what ha ens when they d sco e that they’ e also sha ng the ho se w th a yea old a ano mal ent ty who has g lans o ts own o the weekend a te e ng t a ed the e alone o decades. o s e and to sa e the ma age
e o e t e en ha ens they m st n te w th each othe and the est o the e d ng g ests to de eat t e o e t ses them to esca e and w eak ts e l w ll on the wo ld. aw ng om a long t ad t on o ha nted ho se t o es he a ent ng takes to hea t ts he tage n th s cam est o all ho o sett ngs om the gathe ng o antagon st c st ange s that come togethe to con ont ts occ lt sec ets to the maca e a s d ty o ts h mo m ch o wh ch s ach e ed y ta os ng the a cane w th the anal as t lte s ts s e nat al cl ch s th o gh the am l a t a ngs o e e yday mode n l e sec et s ells can e o nd n asswo ds nstead o anc ent sc olls the no sy d st ances o a olte ge st can e m staken o n s ally lo d se n the ne t oom and the shock ng oscen t es s ewed om the mo th o a male olent s ect e can seem as m ndane as the homo ho c chatte o yo oome ncle at the last am ly gathe ng.
t the same t me t’s a mo e that t eats ts hook the n ed cta le clash o e sonal t es that th eatens to ma any st t me meet ng w th the am ly o ends o a new a tne so common an e e ence as to wa ant a sea ate s gen e o mo es n tsel as someth ng mo e than st an e c se to ng th s a t c la g o o chaacte s togethe . he nte e sonal ol t cs and st ll de elo ng dynam cs etween each o the th ee co les cente ed y the lot a e a g a ly mo e s gn cant to the lm’s ose than the goo y deta ls o ts acksto y and t s only y na gat ng those t eache o s wate s that e the o the o ect es com n ng am l es and con e ng e l can e met e en a a who e esents the chosen am ly al eady sha ed y the mo e’s two wo ld e g ooms has he lace n the negot at ons nde l n ng the e ha s aleady o o s a allels that can e d awn om a sto y a o t dg ng o d e ences and s ng a o e o egos to wo k togethe o the good o all. co se most ho o mo es ncl d ng the comed c ones o e ate w th a s m la el ance on s te t se ng to g e them at least the s ggest on o allego cal ntent a o nd some eal wo ld ss e o e e ence t one
o the key takeaways om he a ent ng s how m ch mo e sat s y ngly s ch na at e o m las can lay when the mo e n est on assem les a cast o ade acto s to ng them to l e and th s one wh ch ngs togethe ete an scene steale s alco d ow o o s and es gent t g l osey add ng anothe kooky cha acteat on to a es me ll o them lays that as ts w nn ng ca d. hey’ e hel ed y lett’s st ntell gent eno gh sc t o co se wh ch ene ts om a e sal to take tsel too se o sly and del e s lenty o cy o o t nt es o each o ts acto s to st t the st ncl d ng the h la o s ang t t’s the h gh octane sk lls that ng t to l e w th st the ght m o a c cal ca cat e and edeem ng h man ty. ead ng the ack as the mo e’s ma n co le the e ce t onal talent and chem st y o odan and lynn hel them hold the own among the seasoned ensem le and make t easy o s to e n ested eno gh n the co lehood to oot o them all the way th o gh. s o the ho o tho gh ohnson’s mo e lays mostly o la ghs t does g e ts othe wo ldly add e a ce ta n deg ee o d gn ty e en tho gh h s menace s mostly catoon sh. Indeed at t mes the lm s almost em n scent o an edg e e s on o coo y oo wh ch s a t o ts goo y cha m t ts sca e moments ha e eno gh te to lea e easona le do t a o t the oss l ty o a ha y end ng. en so he a ent ng l kes ts shocks to ed c lo s t’s close to eetle ce than to he h n ng n tone and anyone look ng o a t ly te y ng ho o lm won’t nd t he e. hat they w ll nd s a sk cle e sa cy and yes cam y ece o ente ta nment that w ll kee yo sm l ng almost all the way th o gh ts ho and a hal nt me w th the m ch a ec ated on s o an endea ng ee omance and a e esh ngly aty cal one at that at ts hea t. nd watch ng t n o c ent ol t cal cl mate e okes yet anothe allego y n the m a o t the esgence o an anc ent hate d ng a gay co le’s d o acce tance om the am l es well may e that’s whe e the ho o comes n.
The cast of ‘The Parenting.’ (Image courtesy Max New Line Productions)
I want to leave my perfect boyfriend Good-looking,
caring partner is smothering me
By MICHAEL RADKOWSKY
Hi Michael,
I’m in a relationship I think I don’t want to be in.
Ed is very sweet and that’s part of the problem. He is always solicitous of me, caring, kind, agreeable. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, which I certainly would do if I dump him.
We’ve gotten into what is now a serious relationship because of h m not me. e ke t ask ng me out on one date after another, and I ke t say ng yes. e oposed being exclusive, and I said yes.
I was lonely, Ed’s cute and a nice guy, and it felt good to be ca ed a o t.
Ed is great at planning a fun life. Dinners, vacations, socializing. My life is way more exciting than it used to be. Ed takes the initiative on everything and he’s very good at it.
But I feel smothered, like I don’t have a say in how I live and what I do. We spend all our time together. And my friends are now “our” friends because he always joins me when I get together with them.
I’ve gotten into what is now a serious relationship because of him, not me.
I can’t talk about this with him because I don’t think he can handle it. If he sees the least sign of me being upset, he says, “What’s wrong? Are you mad at me?” with this vulnerable tone in his voice. He’s told me he’s afraid of losing me when I’ve shown any nha ness.
I’m no longer attracted to him. I don’t know why, he’s as cute as ever. Sometimes I wonder what’s wrong with me. I have a good-looking, caring boyfriend. So many guys want this. I should be happy. But I’m not.
On the other hand, I’m afraid that if I break up with Ed I will be lonely all over again and maybe never find such a caring person.
Any guidance you have would be appreciated in how to think about this and sort it out.
Michael replies:
This relationship is giving you all sorts of opportunities to become a more solid person.
First point to consider: If you can’t set boundaries, you will spend your life twisting yourself into a pretzel to accommodate others. That’s what is happening now with Ed.
When we are struggling to succeed at an important life skill, as you are here, it’s helpful to think how our personal history may be contributing to our being stuck. Some possibilities for you to consider: What example did your parents model? Perhaps they had trouble setting boundaries in their relationships, so you didn’t learn how to do so. Or perhaps when you were growing up, you didn’t have much say about what you could or couldn’t do, so you didn’t learn you could speak up about what is important to you.
I’m painting with a broad brush here, just to inspire your own thinking. While our
lives aren’t rigidly determined by our pasts, the ways that we learned to relate as we grew up do have a powerful influence on how we live in the present. Having some sense of what has shaped our operating system can help us loosen up and try new ways of behaving.
Second (and related) point: You cannot go through life without ever disappointing anyone or you will (as noted above) start to resemble a pretzel. Yes, you’ll likely upset Ed when you tell him that you’re unhappy in the relationship. But if Ed is going to address his clingy and needy behavior, he needs to hear this. At their best, relationships challenge us to grow. This relationship is pushing you to tolerate disappointing someone you care about, in the service of saying what you need to say. And guess what? Your letting Ed know where you stand will challenge him to work on his own relational wobbliness. Very cool.
Third point: Why are you not stepping forward with your own ideas about what you want to do and how you want to live? You are letting Ed do all the work. What is up with that?
One obvious explanation: Your difficulty setting a boundary is stopping you from asserting what you want. In other words, your inability to say “no” is leading you to feel stifled in this relationship. Good news: you have the power to change this.
Another possibility: Maybe you don’t actually have much in the way of interests or ideas for what you would like to do, and Ed is merely filling the void so that the two of you have some kind of life together.
If so, I encourage you to start thinking about what is meaningful to you. Developing a self—figuring out what is important to you, what you care about—is one of the great tasks and great joys of being alive. If you just keep doing what others around you want—boyfriends, friends, family—you may keep feeling resentful and will squander your life.
I don’t know if you would actually enjoy being with Ed if you do the work to become a solid person who speaks up about what is important and brings his own agenda to the relationship. While it’s your decision to do so or not, I urge you not to decide based on fear of stepping outside your comfort zone.
And please consider that this work would help you in any future relationship, if you end things with Ed.
One more point: It’s no surprise that you’ve lost interest in having sex with Ed. Being enmeshed with someone as tightly as you describe your fusion with Ed is a des e k lle . e ha s th s wo ld change yo g e yo sel some oom to eathe.
(Michael Radkowsky, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who works with couples and individuals in D.C. He can be found online at michaelradkowsky.com. All identifying information has been changed for reasons of confidentiality. Have a question? Send it to michael@michaelradkowsky.com.)
The 2025 Queerties nominated the best in LGBTQ+ entertainment
By GISSELLE PALOMERA
he th ann al ee t es h t o th s year at the biggest venue yet, honoring the best in queer culture and media ac oss the nte net odcast ng lm s o ts m s c and ente ta nment.
Over 2.5 million votes were cast to nominate and award the best in LGBTQ+ ente ta nment.
he awa ds ce emony h t o n ollywood, bringing together the LGBTQ+ comm n ty om ac oss and eyond. ono ees and nom nees om a d
Archuleta to Marissa Bode and a pletho a o a l’s ag ace eens came together to make this year’s awards ceremony n o getta le.
Glee star, Chris Colfer presented this year’s Groundbreaker award to Marissa Bode, who made history by playing Nessa ose h o n the o o ce h t Wicked.
Colfer gleefully presented the award to Bode, while expressing his own personal experience of having a sibling who uses a wheelcha . e s nce ely thanked he for the valid representation she brought on screen as he presented her with the award.
Bode accepted the award for her historic representation as Elphaba’s sister on Wicked. She used her acceptance speech as an opportunity to thank the marginal-
ized communities that she represents as a ee own d sa led e son.
The next award was presented to legenda y d ag k ng ay ll y ee actor Tim Bagley, who is the co-star in Somebody Somewhere, alongs de ll.
The one and only and absolutely legenda y ll acce ted the a l la e Award for paving the way as a historic ag ng who has o c ally and nally brought the much-needed drag king representation to mainstream audiences.
ll s a onee n ente ta nment and s hot o a est oast m n to s ann ng through LA, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. After 30 years, he continues to blaze the
trails to showbiz for the next generation of queer and trans comedians, drag pero me s and ente ta ne s. s acce tance s eech o ed why ll has ga ned and ma nta ned h s etation as a comedy king in a career that s ans decades. e lay lly a ed at the young generation of queers, poked fun at the presenters and reminded us what it means to be a true icon in the queer and t ans comm n ty.
LA Blade was on the scene at the red carpet and had a chance to catch up with ll am dst all h s sy endea o s.
“I personally think it’s my duty to get that weedwacker and forge a path, go through it and have the kids go right behind you,” sa d ll on the ed ca et. hat’s what t means to e a t a l la e n my o n on. e asked ll what ad ce he had o the next generations of queer and trans k ds.
ck em sa d ll. nd the othe thing is, don’t let anybody – [politicians], administration, neighbors – take away yo ee oy o tell yo that yo a e not al a le. e gotta tell o sel es that we are worthy, we deserve equality, and eve yone else can go ck o .
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 winner and most recently, a contestant on The Traitors, o the ag een hosted the awards ceremony, holding the audience ca t e w th he ck s and a la Sofía Gascón drags. Proving once again that she is a force to be reckoned with, Bob brought the host vibes we needed to get us through the next four years under the c ent adm n st at on.
Actor and comedian John Early presented the Icon Award to his good friend and collaborator Cole Escola, who is best known for his undeniable impact on queer comedy and massive success on Oh, Mary!
Bentley Robles and Madison Rose closed out the night with an electrifying performance of their nominated track lt a gh e o e t n ng the en e nto a ll lown dance a ty.
The Queerties will premiere worldwide on a ch th o gh ow esents l s.
For the full list of nominees, awards and winners, visit the Queerty site.
Hollywood, CA - The 13th annual Queerties Awards nominated the best in LGBTQ+ media and culture at The Avalon on Tuesday, March 11. (Photo courtesy of Gisselle Palomera)
ANNOUNCEMENT
CONSUMER CELLULAR the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20 per month. For more information, call 1-844-908-0605
AUTOS WANTED
DONATE YOUR VEHICLE to fund the SEARCH FOR MISSING CHILDREN. FAST FREE PICKUP. 24 hour response. Running or not. Maximum Tax Deduction and No Emission Test Required! Call 24/7: 1-877-434-6852.
GOT AN UNWANTED CAR??? DONATE IT TO PATRIOTIC HEARTS. Fast free pick up. All 50 States. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans fnd work or start their own business. Call 24/7: 1-855-408-6546.
Please use Blade advertisers & tell ‘em “I saw your ad in the Blade!”
Get a break on your taxes! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-844-491-2884 today!
Tiene un vehiculo no deseado? Donelo a Patriotic Hearts! Recogida rapida y gratuita en los 50 estados. Patriotic Hearts ofrece programas para ayudar a los veteranos a encontrar trabajo o iniciar su propio negocio. Llama ahora: 1-855-408-7368 24/7
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Struggling with debt? If you have over $10,000 in debt we help you be debt free in as little as 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll.
Call Now: 1-877-435-4860.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
BATH & SHOWER
UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 mos. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military discount. 1-877-252-9868
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-424-7581
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. (Offer ends 03/20/24). Call 1-833-985-4766
Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-888-989-5749
Don’t pay for covered Home Repairs Again! Our home warranty covers ALL Major Systems and Appliances. We stand by our service and if we can’t fx it, we’ll replace it! Pick the plan that fts your budget! Call 1-855-411-1731
HEALTH/MEDICAL
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-2032677 www.dental50plus. com/calnews #6258
LOANS
RETIRED COUPLE $$$$ for business purpose Real Estate loans. Credit unimportant. V.I.P. Trust Deed Company www.viploan.com Call 1-818-248-0000. Broker-principal DRE 01041073.
SERVICES
WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP & RESTORATION: A small amount of water can lead to major damage. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your home’s value. Call 24/7 1-888-248-0815
MISCELLANEOUS
Want Residual Income? Turnkey Established Vending Massage Chair single location or Route for Sale! Asking Price: From $2,500 to $29,000 per location. Text only: (949) 381-9899
DID YOU KNOW Newspaper-generated content is so valuable it’s taken and repeated, condensed, broadcast, tweeted, discussed, posted, copied, edited, and emailed countless times throughout the day by others? Discover the Power of Newspaper Advertising. For MORE INFORMATION call 916-288-6011 or email cecelia@cnpa.com
