IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).
Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you
have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.
ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: dofetilide rifampin any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:
These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.
Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,
including hepatitis infection. Have any other health problems. Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-
counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.
BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.
Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
Get HIV support by downloading a free app at
MyDailyCharge.com
GET MORE INFORMATION This is only a brief summary of important information
about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.
Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 If you need help paying for your medicine,
visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP CREATING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0197 03/20
CHAD LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT
KEEP CREATING.
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.
BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. See Chad’s story at BIKTARVY.com. Featured patient compensated by Gilead.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.
PRIDE LIVES IN US ALL A GLOBAL MOVEMENT EVEN IN THE FACE OF NEW AND UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES PRIDE 2020 CERTAINLY HAS A DIFFERENT LOOK THAN USUAL, due to in-person celebrations having been cancelled or postponed, but with this year being the 50th anniversary of Pride parades in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, the spirt of our community shines through. The LGBTQ+ community has had to confront repeated adversary, but our collective strength, unity, and perseverance, has made us stronger for it. Pride is something that resides in each of us every day, and something to, likewise, be celebrated every day. Festivities celebrating Pride month will continue virtually across the country, including the first virtual Global Pride. NYC Pride has announced a special broadcast event on WABC Channel 7 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Pride March held in 1970, on Sunday, June 28th from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. NYC Pride will be saluting the front-line workers alongside several leaders in the community being honored as Grand Marshals: Dan Levy, The Ali Forney Center, Yanzi Peng, and Victoria Cruz. Visit nycpride.org for all the details.
EDITOR’S LETTER
SF Pride is taking place Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28, 2020, with festivities including live performances, speeches from LGBTQ+ elected officials and thought leaders, highlights of the accomplishments of Pride’s 2020 Community Grand Marshals and Honorees, conversations, and reflections on 50 years of
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Steve Gottfried Desiree Guerrero Jeffrey James Keyes Debrorah L. Martin Eric Rosen Megan Venzin Michael Westman
the Pride movement, in a weekend-long tribute to LGBTQ+ solidarity. Visit sfpride.org for updates and more information. LA Pride is also working on new and exciting initiatives that will be hosted on various digital platforms to create celebrations and appreciation for the community. Visit lapride.org for ongoing event information. Including those mentioned above, Pride organizations around the world have come together to organize a ‘Global Pride’ event on Saturday, June 27, 2020. Global Pride will use online platforms to deliver a live-
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stream Pride in which everyone can participate, wherever they are in the world, and will include festival
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favorites -- musical performances, speeches, and key messages from human rights activists. This Global Pride event has been organized by InterPride and the European Pride Organizers Association - the world’s biggest international Pride networks. Together they are working with national organizations in Canada, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with other regional networks in southern Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America, to bring communities and Pride organizations together for this Global Pride event. You can read more about Global Pride and see photos from past Pride events in this issue of Metrosource. With this 50th Anniversary of various Pride parades, and while we are celebrating our pride, we need to acknowledge and continue the work toward equality. Today, the LGTBQ population in the United States is
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divided almost evenly – about half within states having made significant progress toward LGBTQ equality in many policy areas, including nondiscrimination, LGBTQ youth, and health care; and the other half in states lacking in these areas, some having discriminatory policies in employment, housing and those targeting transgender people. Changes over the last 10 years show progress, especially at the local level. But, while local ordinances are an important part of the larger picture, state and federal legislators must enact LGBTQ-inclusive protections to ensure that all citizens have equal rights and benefits. So, while we all show our pride in being who we are, let us not forget the critical nature of continuing the fight for equality in all our cities, counties, states, and the country. A symbol of that fight for equality and our community was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978, when he created the original rainbow flag. When the rainbow pride flag was unveiled, its colors were hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo and violet. The best-known, six-stripe version of the rainbow pride flag was established in 1979, and still assigns a meaning to each color: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony and purple for spirit. The meanings behind the rainbow are as significant now, as they were when Baker conceived them over 40 years ago. So much so, that rainbows have been displayed in windows around the world to symbolize hope in fighting the global pandemic.
Subscriptions: One year (6 issues): $19.95; 12 issues: $34.95. Reproduction of any article, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in Metrosource are supportive of the gay community. Mention of any person, business or organization is not a reflection of their sexual orientation. ©2020 Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Advertisers in Metrosource acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for same as advertised. Metrosource assumes no responsibility or liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. The appearance of any person, model, business or organization in this publication, by name, advertisement or photograph is not an indication of sexual orientation. Advertisers and their agencies assume all responsibility and legal liability for the content of their advertisements in Metrosource. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials. Metrosource reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content. All contents are copyright Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved. Content may only be reproduced with written permission from Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Metrosource assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserve the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.
It is with that sense of pride, hope, and commitment, that everyone at Metrosource wishes you a very happy Pride season. Metrosource has served the LGBTQ community for 30 years, and our official 30th anniversary issue is coming this August/September, in which we will have a look back on our history as a
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publication and a community. Be sure to follow us on social media platforms: Facebook: metrosource Ins-
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tagram: metrosource and Twitter: @MetrosourceMag. Happy Pride!
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CONTENTS
June/July 2020 | VOLUME 31, NO. 3
24 THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF LESLIE JORDAN • BETTY BY ERINSHALL • NYC PRIDE BY RIGHT FRAME PHOTO VIDEO
20 TEN QUEER FILM FESTIVALS
30
BRINGING THE COMMUNITY together through
entertaining, sophisticated films and filmmaking
24 BETTY THE UNOFFICIAL MUSIC OF PRIDE
35
30 LESLIE JORDAN PRIDE COMES IN ALL SIZES
35 PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD THE WORLD COMES TOGETHER for the first ever virtual
Global Pride
41 HEALTH WHEN LIFE GETS TOO LOUD, these yoga poses provide a
pleasant escape
ON THE COVER: Leslie Jordan courtesy photo METROSOURCE.COM
JUNE/JULY 2020
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DEPARTMENTS
June/July 2020 | VOLUME 31, NO. 3
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CULTURE
7 THE SCOPE Enjoy a Mediterranen lifetyle this summer with Faros Linen
10 HOME Your home office has suddenly become the important room in the house
14 BOOK
45
A Chat with author Byron Lane about his debut novel A Star Is Bored
17 BOOK Books to celebrate our PRIDE
19 SCREEN TV Birng back her all stars... RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
19 FINANCE Tips for charitable giving
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BODY
EXCLUSIVELY NY
40 METRO HIV
50 NY SOCPE
Yes, you can be an HIV ally
45 HEALTH Six serums for summer
48 WEDDING Make your wedding memorable with DIY
VIEWS
4 EDITOR’S LETTER
Pride Lives in us all 74 LAST CALL Reid Ewing Growing up in a Modern Family
Pride & Cocktails
54 IN MEMORIUM Fawless Nashom
58 CULTURE Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art provides a queer cultural hub in New York City
62 HOTSHOPS Village Apothecary provides unprecedented care
63 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Businesses that cater to the LGBT community.
71 COMMUNITY RESOURCES Organizations and resources for NYC’s LGBTs.
THIS PAGE: NASHOM BY AARON COBBETT• COURTESY OF BYRON LANE • PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAWPIXEL.COM
54 48
THESCOPE
CULTURE
THESCOPE
CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
WEAR IT
FAROS LINEN
ENJOY A MEDITERRANEN LIFETYLE THIS SUMMER
SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE, AND YOU’RE PROBABLY WONDERING HOW TO SPEND
THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAROS LINEN
YOUR EXTRA TIME. While you may not know what to do this season, you
should know what to wear, and that’s“simply the best summer shirt.“ Faros Linen is here to keep you cool as temperatures are set to rise everywhere. Fine linen has a natural cooling effect and antibacterial properties. Therefore, there are no sweat stains or odor, and if you’re looking to increase the natural cooling effect, wear a larger size when it gets really hot. Elegant, yet casual, linen is known as a European super fiber and has proven itself as the oldest textile fibre of mankind. Even the ancient Egyptians valued linen for its purity. This fine material was reserved for people of high social status and was even used as a currency. For the ancient Greeks and Romans, the material was the most popular choice and used for beautiful draperies. Shortly after its launch in 2019, the first Faros Linen collection was completely sold out by boutiques in Los Angeles, California. For summer
2020, the shirts are available in different summer colors with a buttondown collar, and soon available with a Mao collar. “Once you wear our linen shirts in summer, that’s all you ever want and need. The real all rounder works for almost any occasion, is cooling and airy even at high temperatures. Many think linen shirts are hard to care for and need to be ironed all the time: No, that is not at all the case. Our shirts are worn without ironing. Fine linen creases nobly, and that is what makes it so naturally classy. That’s why we show them wrinkled in our online shop. Wrinkled shirts are not for every man, and require some confidence to wear“, says Felix Israel, co-founder of Faros Linen. So, all you’ll need to do is “Wash it, hang it, wear it“ and you’re set for online meetings and chats, and hopefully soon again for restaurants, beach clubs, beaches, festivals, boats and everything else we look forward to every summer. Available online at faroslinen.com. METROSOURCE.COM
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STREAM IT
BECOMING
AN INTIMATE LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA
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personally but for the country she and her husband served over eight impactful years in the White House, BECOMING offers a rare and up-close look at former First Lady Michelle Obama’s life, taking viewers behind the scenes as she embarks on a 34-city tour that highlights the power of community to bridge our divides and the spirit of connection that comes when we openly and honestly share our stories. “Those months I spent traveling — meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe — drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep and real and can’t be messed with. In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories, filling those spaces with our joys, worries, and dreams. We processed the past and imagined a better future. In talking about the idea of ‘becoming,’ many of us dared to say our hopes out loud,” said Mrs. Obama. Director Nadia Hallgren captures not just Mrs. Obama’s personal experience, but the experience of the communities and people she spent time with. “It’s easy to see how Mrs. Obama is able to stay grounded and down to earth,” says Hallgren.“It’s the same spirit and humor that she brought to rapt audiences in packed arenas and intimate spaces alike, reconnecting with people in a way she hadn’t been able to in years. That is what BECOMING is at its core: understanding that when you share the same fears, doubts, and joys as someone like Michelle Obama, all of our stories have equal power.” Executive Producers Priya Swaminathan and Tonia Davis serve as co-heads of Higher Ground Productions, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, in partnership with Netflix. President and Mrs. Obama formed Higher Ground to produce powerful stories to entertain, inform and inspire, and to lift up new, diverse voices in the entertainment industry. The company’s slate of upcoming projects includes a wide range of fiction and non-fiction signature productions for all audiences including scripted, unscripted, and documentary series, as well as full-length features and documentaries. Sundance Award winning documentary Crip Camp and Academy Award winning documentary American Factory are the first two titles from the company’s slate to premiere on the streaming service. BECOMING is available on Netflix. JUNE/JULY 2020
METROSOURCE.COM
THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF NETFLIX
CULTURE
THESCOPE
DURING A MOMENT OF PROFOUND CHANGE, not only for her
SNACK IT
BUBBA’S FINE FOODS POTATO CHIPS PREPARE TO MEET YOUR MAKER: BUBBA’S CLASSIC SEA SALT ‘NANA CHIPS
PALEO SNACK BRAND BUBBA’S FINE FOODS ANNOUNCED THEY WILL BE LAUNCHING A NEW FLAVOR IN THEIR OATFREE AND GRAIN-FREE UNGRANOLA LINE. Bubba’s, whose
SIP IT
SIP AND SAVOR
PAIRS BEST WITH DIVERSITY LGBTQ PRIDE CELEBRATIONS WILL BE TAKING A UNIQUE APPROACH FOR 2020 WITH EVERYONE
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF HOUSE WINE • PHOTO COURTESY OF BUBBA’S FINE FOODS
SOCIAL DISTANCING ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
However, that will not stop our vibrant community from expressing Pride from home. All over, we are adapting to the “new normal” by attending classes, meetings, birthdays, and parties virtually. June is Pride Month, and instead of cancelling celebrating our history and fabulousness, we’ll just have to get a little more creative than we already are.You may have the perfect rainbow attire already tucked away in your closets, but do you have the bubbles and chocolate to accompany your celebration? House Wine and Seattle Chocolate Co have partnered to bring you wine and chocolates in their PRIDE Rainbow Rosé Bubbles and Truffles Bag. Pop open a can of bright, fruity, and flavorful Rosé Bubbles, and pair with assorted colorful rainbow truffles. Your mouth will be buzzing especially with the Champagne Truffle - you’ll know what we mean after you try it – but here is a hint… it’s delicious! Enjoy your House Wine Rainbow Rosé Bubbles and Seattle Chocolate’s Pride Truffle Bag knowing that your purchase is also contributing to the Human Rights Campaign and GSBA
Scholarship Fund. House Wines will be giving a portion of each package sold to HRC. Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equity. Since 1980, they have been fighting for a better future for LGBTQ Americans. With a grassroots force of more than 3 million members and supporters nationwide, the HRC is working every day to counter attacks on the LGBTQ community and work toward full equality. Seattle Chocolate Co is donating a percentage of sales from the Pride Truffle Bag to the GSBA Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to LGBTQ and allied students who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities, and are actively involved in their schools and community.
WHAT YOU GET: • Seattle Chocolate’s Pride Truffle Bag (12 oz bag of assorted truffles); and • Four House Wine Rainbow Pride Rosé Bubbles Cans (the equivalent of two bottles of wine). Order online through July 2020, at www.orginalhousewine.com.
claim to fame is their use of prebiotic-packed green Saba bananas that give that perfect crispy crunch without the banana flavor, is fully giving in to the allure of the classic yellow fruit with their new Bananas Foster UnGranola. This fresh breakfast and on-the-go snack option is Bubba’s first to feature nutrient-rich walnuts and will get that decadent Bananas Foster flavor from pureed bananas, smooth vanilla extract, and a dash of rum. Packed with vitamins and minerals your body will be thanking you with every tasty crunch. Not only will your taste buds soar, but you’ll be fueling up with protein rich almonds, cashews, pecan, sunflower seeds, and walnuts. And if Paleo is your thing, Bubba’s Bananas Foster is just for you. If savory is more in line with what you like, then you’ll love their Classic Sea Salt ‘Nana Chips. But you’ll have to wait until they hit the shelves in October. “The data was all there at our fingertips: people love sea salt!”explained Bubba’s CEO and co-founder Jeff Schmidgal. “Our preference for big, bold flavors prevented us from even contemplating a ‘sea salt’ flavor, but the sales numbers have shown something far different. All of our retailers are going to want to add this one to their lineup.” Bubba’s new flavor is created with only four real food ingredients. Nutrientrich green Saba bananas are cooked crisp and crunchy in coconut oil, to deliver that addictive potato chip crunch without the guilt. The crisps are then polished to perfection with apple cider vinegar and a dash of sea salt, creating Bubba’s Classic Sea Salt ‘Nana Chips. Available for purchase at bubbasfoods.com, Amazon, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, Fresh Market, King Soopers, and select retailers nationwide. Follow @bubbasfoods on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. METROSOURCE.COM
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HOMEWORK Your home office has suddenly become the most important room in the house
AT HOME
BY DEBORAH L. MARTIN
BODY
Humanscale’s Float table and Trea chair are perfect for a small office space. humanscale.com
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO
The cordless Setago desk lamp is designed to go anywhere. ameico.com
BE ABLE TO DO OUR JOBS REMOTELY, holding
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The Melt desk by Roche Bobois has fluid, elegant lines. roche-bobois.com
off at the end of the day can help make it easier to create a sustainable work/life balance. Once you have settled on a space, it is time to think about your decor. Color is a great way to add some pizzazz. Choose a color that complements the rest of your home, especially if your office is part of a larger room. Just because it is work doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Paint or paper one wall as a focal point or feature wall. Or, add color by painting the interior of your bookshelves.
Choosing furniture is important to making a comfortable and productive space. A desk or table should be sturdy and functional, but it doesn’t have to be utilitarian. The Melt desk by Roche Bobois has elegant lines that float, making it a modern and luxurious statement. HBF’s OEO Simple writing desk and Essens chair evoke Danish design and have slim profiles and clean lines. If you are tired of sitting, convert your surface to a standing desk with Humanscale’s Quickstand Eco, which is compatible
THIS PAGE: COURTESY IMAGES
Zoom meetings and doing paperwork on the bed doesn’t cut it anymore. A dedicated space, even if it is just a corner of the bedroom or an unused hallway, can be the difference between a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of desperation. Besides Wi-Fi, the basic needs - a desk, seating, lighting, and storage - are the main features of a successful office. And since you are going to be spending a lot of time at “work/home,” why not make your space both chic and comfortable by adding personal touches like color, pattern, and personal style. Ideally, the space you choose should have a door to keep distractions at bay. But if that isn’t possible, consider hanging a curtain to divide the space. When the curtain is closed, everyone understands that office hours are in session. Work/life balance is harder to maintain when you work from home, household demands can get in the way of the work responsibilities, and the workday can stretch into the evening hours before you know it. Having a dedicated space with a way to close it
The Primordial bookshelf by Roche Bobois adds visual interest with its organic shape. roche-bobois.com
HBF’s Simple writing desk and Essen chair are designed by OEO Studio and evoke Danish design. HBF.com
Germany’s Midgard is celebrating 100 years by reissuing some of their most successful designs, like the Bauhaus TYP 113 lamp. midgard.com
Humanscale is renowned for their ergonomic and eco-conscious designs. The Quickstand Eco expands to make any surface a standing desk. humanscale.com
with both laptops and single or dual monitors. The brand’s Trea chair is inspired by simple, natural forms. Its contoured shell, inspired by the exoskeleton of a lobster, encourages healthy posture and it seamlessly adapts to the body’s movement. When it comes to lighting, have multiple, adjustable sources to avoid eyestrain. Overhead lights, desktop task lighting, and diffused light are all important in your office environment. German lighting company Midgard has been making task
lighting for 100 years. The inventor of the articulated scissor arm light, the brand’s designs were popular with architects and designers such as Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. To mark the company’s 100th year, they are reissuing the iconic Bauhaus TYP 113 whip lamp, that combines elegant style with industrial functionality. For a different look, the Setago desk lamp by AMEICO is tiny but mighty. The best part is that it is cordless and can be recharged by plugging in to a USB port, so you don’t have to use
valuable wall plugs to light your space. Designed by Jaime Hayon, the mushroom-shaped lamp is designed to go anywhere you need to shed a little light. Storage in your home office is key. A messy desk may be the sign of a brilliant mind, but it really isn’t the way to go when you must combine daily life with work life. A bookshelf with space for file baskets can be functional and beautiful at the same time and can be customized with paint or wallpaper. If you have the luxury of a little space, the Primordial bookshelf from Roche Bobois, designed by Raphael Navot, and made of molded polyurethane adds an organic, space-age dose of style. If working from home is the wave of the future, making sure that your space is functional and beautiful will be key to keeping your work life satisfying and productive. ■ METROSOURCE.COM
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WARNING: Cigar smoking can cause lung cancer and heart disease.
WARNING: Cigar smoking can cause lung cancer and heart disease. © John Middleton Co. 2020
NB270-B2
BOOKS CULTURE
BYRON LANE
Author, Playwright, Screenwriter… and Princess Leia’s Assistant THE REAL LIFE OF BYRON LANE READS LIKE SOME FANTASTICAL,
hard to imagine book so it’s more than fitting that he pays homage to his own life with his debut novel A Star Is Bored, that could also have been titled A Reader is Never Bored. I read my advance copy in one sitting. Geared toward the same fans of The Devil Wears Prada and a prior generation’s Postcards from the Edge, this book is the perfect quarantine companion with delicious celebrity name dropping, stuck up personal assistants, self-realization, daddy issues, gay dating gone wrong, witty comebacks, and even cameos by Debbie Reynolds - I mean a classic Hollywood diva. At the center of it all is our protagonist, Charlie Beeson, who, after a completely absurd interview, lands a job working as a personal assistant for an eccentric, Sci-Fi Princess of yesterday with an addiction to coke – Coke Zero that is. Allegedly. What you get is a love story of sorts, between a writer and an actress, two lonely people obsessed with film life and obsessed with the need to be loved. It’s a story of friendship and despite the diva
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spin to it all, there is a lot of heart in this book. When you finish it, you feel a little sad, a little hopeful, and a little sassy. We also get to see the underbelly of the personal assistant world, fraught with depression, smoke and mirrors, and self-giving with a sense of worth and loyalty – you would do anything for your boss from getting them water from the highest mountain spring or bury a body in the backyard – without question. Lane worked for Carrie Fisher for several years and lovingly thanks her for the inspiration for this book as well as her friendship. I am a huge Carrie Fisher fan and an even bigger Debbie Reynolds aficionado, so it was almost impossible to read A Star Is Bored without thinking of anyone else but Fisher as the book’s galaxy princess Kathi Kannon. The Hollywood scene is merely a backdrop to tell the story of how these two people needed each other for this part of their life’s journey. This is not a tell-all though, it is fiction, and there are no dirty Hollywood secrets being exploited. The only deep dark secrets
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF BYRON LANE
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
come from the protagonist. Knowing Bryon’s real-life history, I had to put the book down and fire off some questions to Byron directly. Did you have any trepidation with being so open with the character’s personal issues, such as suicidal thoughts, depression, and a wonky father relationship? I like being open. I’m learning that being too guarded seems to hold me back from really connecting with myself and others. Honesty seems to serve me, and it seems to serve others, too. The truth is we all have bad days or tough decades, and I find that whenever I talk about my struggles, people are like “ME TOO!”And that kind of connection - to know we are all in it together - is really a treasure. The opposite, closing down and hiding, kind of robs me (and maybe others) of that treasure. The older I get, the less I try to be at war with reality. I saw a quote spray-painted on the sidewalk in LA and I love it: “Live THIS life.”And I take that to mean living honestly and openly with the life we have, and not dwelling on the life we wish we had. What was your creative process for writing the book? Working for Carrie Fisher saved my life. She was a star in every sense of the word, a bright force in the life of everyone who knew her. And when she died, it just felt like a profound loss. My creative process was fueled by a desire to keep her alive, even if just in my heart, even if just in shadows of a character in a novel. Our experiences together were just too important to me, too magical and otherworldly to not share some version of our friendship. I felt like I had to do it. And the book poured out of that. How did you change the most, personally, from day one of writing the book? It was very healing and joyful to write about experiences inspired by my time with Carrie. It helped me with grieving her death. She was the first major death of someone who was close to me. And I think that changes a person. But she used to say,“Take your broken heart and make art.” So, I did. And I did it with a full heart. What was your first thought when you held your first copy of your debut novel in your hand? By the time I held the book, I had already had my fits of crying from happiness - when my agent signed me, when my editor came on board, and especially when the first industry reviews were loving. So, by the time I held it, my first thought was actually,“Oh, thank god this is a normal size!” [Laughs] I wish it were something more profound! But because of coronavirus, mailing me a copy was delayed, and other book industry people were getting their copies of my book before me and I kept seeing them post pictures and for some reason, I thought my book looked HUGE in their hands. Like, it was oversized or something. Maybe they just had tiny hands LOL. I don’t know. Anyway, what a relief when I finally got a copy and it wasn’t the size of a coffee table! The book is full of delicious tidbits of Hollywood royalty and name dropping. Do you ever get star struck at this point? Has working in Hollywood tarnished that a bit? Oh, for sure. My ability to be starstruck is definitely dulled. I think my last
big celebrity moment was meeting Lily Tomlin many years ago. I’m a huge fan of hers and used to watch and re-watch the film Big Business as a kid. I was in Beverly Hills crossing a street and talking on my cell phone and she was coming towards me and I instantly hung up my call and said to her,“Excuse me, I love you! I loved you in Big Business!”And she was so lovely, and she did the signature“You can’t out-snake me”wrist shake thing from the film and I died. [Laughs] I think it was so special because she was part of my childhood and she was one of the first celebs I met when I moved to Los Angeles. Nowadays, my being starstruck is limited to simply being impressed when a big celebrity is even nominally kind. Describe three things that working with Carrie taught you about life. 1) Don’t take life too seriously. Everything with Carrie was an absolute blast. Even the boring stuff was typically good for a laugh or two. 2) Everything is funny eventually. Humor is the best drug. Sometimes things happen that suck. But time and a good attitude can go a long way to healing with humor. 3) Wear your favorite sweater to the gym. I grew up in a lower-income family, so the idea of wearing a $300 sweater (or any clothing of any real value) to the gym was unheard of. But Carrie didn’t think twice about it. If it was there and she loved it and felt like wearing it, she did. She lived life at full force. Why not wear your favorite sweater or sneakers or eyeglasses today? Enjoy this life, now. What if there is no tomorrow? Plus, I’ve had sweaters I loved and didn’t wear because I waited for a special occasion, and when one finally came it was too small or had moth holes in it. Do not waste a moment of feeling - or wearing - some happiness. Life is too short. Where were you when you first heard Carrie had passed? How did you work through that grief, mentally and creatively? I had taken another personal assistant job and was at work when I found out. She had already been in the hospital by this point and I knew it wasn’t looking good. My phone started with texts and emails. And that is how I found out. I was washing dishes for my new employer at the time and had to leave. I don’t think I have ever cried like that, where the tears just felt pushed out of me. I am lucky that I had a great support system in my boyfriend and goods friends and many tools to cope with such things from years of therapy. It was such a shitty time. That night I took a bath and typed out a little tribute in the notes app on my phone and put it on Facebook. I just wanted the world to know a little about the real her. And it helped to know I was not grieving alone. From working as Princess Leia’s assistant, Bryon has carved out his own success in Hollywood and beyond. He’s a regional Emmy Award winner for his work as a TV news journalist (pre-Carrie), and his oddly premised show Tilda Swinton Answers An Ad On Craigslist has been a megahit internationally with Hollywood biggies praising it left and right – yes, the show is literally about Tilda answering Craigslist ads. He also wrote and co-starred in the film Herpes Boy, starring Octavia Spencer, and winning a Comic Con award for Best Comedy. Once again using his real life as an inspiration, his web series Last METROSOURCE.COM
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THE TRUTH IS WE ALL HAVE BAD DAYS OR TOUGH DECADES, AND I FIND THAT WHENEVER I TALK ABOUT MY STRUGGLES, PEOPLE ARE LIKE “ME TOO!” AND THAT KIND OF CONNECTION - TO KNOW WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER - IS REALLY A TREASURE.
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Will & Testicle details his testicular cancer diagnosis which Cosmopolitan Magazine called “fearless”. His cancer has since come back. In today’s current social, political, and health environment, do you think you would be able to go back to work as a TV News journalist? I cannot imagine doing it again. Current news reporters out there are doing a lot with truly little. There’s low pay, high demand, high stress, horrible hours. It is thankless and the institution is under constant assault - big conservative companies buying up all the local stations and forcing an agenda, for example. I think the future of news is going to be hyper-local, like a version of journalism born out of apps like NextDoor. There’s demand for local-locallocal news and no one is really delivering. But leave me out of it! I don’t want to do it! [Laughs] When I first read about a play called Tilda Swinton Answers An Ad On Craigslist, I first thought, “what the hell?” This has become a phenomenon unto itself. You named your dog, Tilda, now this play. Why Tilda? Why are you so obsessed with her? Does she need to get a restraining order? I am less obsessed with the real Tilda Swinton and more enchanted by the idea of her. Her public persona is very ethereal and mysterious, and I love things that warp reality. Naming my dog Tilda came first. My boyfriend and I were adopting from the Lange Foundation and we found a terrier who was blonde and beautiful in a high-fashion way and my boyfriend suggested we name her after Tilda, and it was so perfect. And then I wondered what life would be like living with the real Tilda Swinton and the play was born from that. You worked with Octavia Spencer in a film you wrote, Herpes Boy. Do you know if she is looking for a personal assistant? Asking for a friend. From working with Octavia, what is the craziest thing you think she would ask her assistant to do? [Laughing] I don’t know if she’s looking, but she is so busy, I hope she has one or two assistants helping. I can tell you from my time with her that she is a joyous, kind, beautiful person. She is generous in every way, talented on every level, and brings absolute brilliance to everything she touches. I can’t imagine her making any crazy requests. I bet she is a blast to work for! Hell, it’s a blast just to be in the same room with her! Ok, let’s talk Last Will & Testicle. Getting a cancer diagnosis at such an early age is not something that is normal to deal with. How did this change your way of thinking about life? Well, I had my first testicular cancer diagnosis 5 years ago and now it’s back. I’m in chemo infusion right now. A recent routine test showed the cancer
came back in some lymph nodes. It’s a drag but the prognosis is great, chemo hasn’t been too horrible yet, and I’m in good spirits. This kind of thing forces you to focus on what is important in life. I am thankful for the wisdom. I wish I could have found such clarity without cancer and chemo but it’s okay. This is what life looks like. The first time I was diagnosed I made the Last Will & Testicle web series. I’m not sure yet which form of art this new round of treatment might bring. Where do you go from here? I am writing more books and I would love to maybe write another play, or maybe a mockumentarystyle sitcom with my castmates from Tilda Swinton Answers An Ad On Craigslist. Those guys are brilliant and crazy-talented and we’ve had so many adventures doing the show around the world - from the five of us sharing a tiny flat in London to the five of us performing the show for one rich lady in her mansion to try to get her to invest in us. I think the world would love to see the crazy places we performed and the idiotic mishaps on stage. And I would do anything to have those actors as my co-workers every day! As a super fan of Debbie Reynolds (I’m the only one who requests to sing Tammy at karaoke), I must know, what is the one memory that sticks out from meeting her? She was the best! We all called her Miss Debbie. My favorite memory of her was getting to see her perform. I think it was one of her last shows and she had requested Carrie attend, so I went along, too. I think it was a small auditorium in Phoenix or something. She still did small shows - performing was her passion, no matter the venue. She was a STAR. Hilarious and charming. I sat behind the curtain, on the floor backstage with Carrie, who told me that when she was a girl, that was how she watched her mother’s shows-sitting on the floor, from the wings. It was sweet. Debbie didn’t miss a beat on stage and wore fancy, heavy beaded gowns the whole time. She could have worn more modern, light-weight stuff but she wanted the real deal. Nothing about her was fake--not even the wardrobe. She always thought her fans deserved the absolute best. During intermission, it was clear the performance was taking a toll. But, swollen feet and exhausted, she got right back up when it was time to go back into the lights. And no one in the audience was any wiser. I am so lucky I got to see that. You would have loved her. Everyone did. A Star is Bored hits shelves in July, grab your copy, and grab a Coke Zero. ■
FIND EVERYTHING BYRON LANE AT WWW.BYRONLANE.COM INSTAGRAM: @BYRONLANEDOTCOM TWITTER: @BYRONLANE
LOVE WINS THE LOVERS AND LAWYERS WHO FOUGHT THE LANDMARK CASE FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Written by Debbie Cenziper and Jim Obergefell
QUEER X DESIGN 50 YEARS OF SIGNS, SYMBOLS, BANNERS, LOGOS, AND GRAPHIC ART OF LGBTQ
Written by Andy Campbell with Laura Davis-Chanin
THE FIRST-EVER ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE
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ICONIC DESIGNS, SYMBOLS, and graphic art
representing more than five decades of LGBTQ pride and activism. Beginning with preliberation and the years before the Stonewall uprising, spanning across the 1970s and 1980s and through to the new millennium, Queer X Design celebrates the inventive and subversive designs that have powered the resilient and ever-evolving LGBTQ movement. The diversity and inclusivity of these pages is as inspiring as it is important, both in terms of the objects represented as well as in the array of creators; from buttons worn to protest Anita Bryant, to the original ‘The Future is Female’ and ‘Lavender Menace’ t-shirt; from the logos of Pleasure Chest and GLAAD, to the poster for
Cheryl Dunye’s queer classic The Watermelon Woman; from Gilbert Baker’s iconic rainbow flag, to the quite laments of the AIDS quilt and the impassioned rage conveyed in ACT-UP and Gran Fury ephemera. More than just an accessible history book, Queer X Design tells the story of queerness as something intangible, uplifting, and indestructible. Found among these pages is sorrow, loss, and struggle; an affective selection that queer designers and artists harnessed to bring about political and societal change. But here is also: joy, hope, love, and the enduring fight for free expression and representation. Queer X Design is the potent, inspiring, and colorful visual history of activism and pride. (Available on Amazon.com)
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of the lovers, lawyers, judges and activists behind the groundbreaking Supreme Court case that led to one of the most important, national civil rights victories in decades— the legalization of same-sex marriage. In June 2015, the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage the law in all fifty states in a decision as groundbreaking as Roe v Wade and Brown v Board of Education. Through insider accounts and access to key players, this definitive account reveals the dramatic and previously unreported events behind Obergefell v Hodges and the lives at its center. This is a story of law and love—and a promise made to a dying man who wanted to know how he would be remembered. Twenty years ago, Jim Obergefell and John Arthur fell in love in Cincinnati, Ohio, a place where gays were routinely picked up by police and fired from their jobs. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had to provide married gay couples all the benefits offered to straight couples. Jim and John—who was dying from ALS—flew to Maryland, where same-sex marriage was legal. But back home, Ohio refused to recognize their union, or even list Jim’s name on John’s death certificate. Then they met Al Gerhardstein, a courageous attorney who had spent nearly three decades advocating for civil rights and who now saw an opening for the cause that few others had before him. This forceful and deeply affecting narrative—Part Erin Brockovich, part Milk, part Still Alice—chronicles how this grieving man and his lawyer, against overwhelming odds, introduced the most important gay rights case in U.S. history. It is an urgent and unforgettable account that will inspire readers for many years to come. (Available on Amazon.com)
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TASTY PRIDE 75 RECIPES AND STORIES FROM THE QUEER FOOD COMMUNITY
Written by Jesse Szewczyk and Tasty
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BE PROUD, BE LOUD, BE FLAVORFUL. From the beloved, fiercely inclusive BuzzFeed cooking brand comes 75 innovative recipes and inspiring stories from prominent LGBTQ+ cooks and foodies. Tasty has always been the place to turn for good eats. Now, it’s also the place to turn for a community. Here, stories of love, pride, and acceptance—and the important role that food can play in that journey— accompany the innovative yet totally doable recipes you know to expect from Tasty. Compiled by food writer Jesse Szewczyk and contributed by 75 cooks and celebrities from across the queer community such as Ted Allen, Anita Lo, and Rick Martinez, these recipes are not only delicious, but also meaningful. These folks bring you the dishes they love most, from Taco Potatoes with Spicy Ground Turkey to Everything Bagel Beignets, and from Beer-Steamed Crabs with Spicy Vinegar Dipping Sauce and Corn Salad to Fudgy Miso Brownies. Pull up a chair and take your seat at the table with Tasty Pride. (Available on Amazon.com)
WE ARE EVERYWHERE PROTEST, POWER, AND PRIDE IN THE HISTORY OF QUEER LIBERATION
Written by Leighton Brown
HAVE PRIDE IN HISTORY. A RICH AND SWEEPING PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY
the massively popular Instagram account @lgbt_history, was released in time for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Through the lenses of protest, power, and pride, We Are Everywhere is an essential and empowering introduction to the history of the fight for queer liberation. Combining exhaustively researched narrative with meticulously curated photographs, the book traces queer activism from its roots in late-nineteenth-century Europe--long before the pivotal Stonewall Riots of 1969--to the gender warriors leading the charge today. Featuring more than 300 images from more than seventy photographers and twenty archives, this inclusive and intersectional book enables us to truly see queer history unlike anything before, with glimpses of activism in the decades preceding and following Stonewall, family life, marches, protests, celebrations, mourning, and Pride. By challenging many of the assumptions that dominate mainstream LGBTQ+ history, We Are Everywhere shows readers how they can--and must--honor the queer past in order to shape our liberated future. (Available at rizzolibookstore.com.)
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OF THE QUEER Liberation Movement, from the creators and curators of
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE ALL STARS
ACT, SING, DANCE, SEW, AND LIP SYNC FOR THEIR LEGACY. The last queen standing will waltz away
with the “All Stars” crown, a spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame” and a cash prize of $100,000. “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” will premiere Friday, June 5th at 8PM ET/PT on VH1. “For All Stars 5, we’ve come up with a new twist that is so twisted it’s guaranteed to twist your twisted minds,” said four-time Emmy® Award-winning host and executive producer RuPaul.
5 to prove she is stronger than yesterday! She is ready to display the full spectrum of her drag and snatch her spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame.” INDIA FERRAH (SEASON 3)
Twitter: @IndiaFerrah, Instagram: @IndiaFerrah
The 10 queens returning to the runway to compete for a spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame” are:
India came into season three with over-the-top glam looks, but was critiqued for having an underthe-radar personality. She’s gone down in herstory for being picked up by another queen during a lip sync for her life. On “All Stars” 5, this high-kicking queen is ready to pick up where she left off and remind everyone that Drag is not a contact sport!
ALEXIS MATEO (SEASON 3, ALL STARS 1)
JUJUBEE (SEASON 2, ALL STARS 1)
Twitter: @AlexisMateo79, Instagram: @Miss_Alexis_Mateo
Twitter: @Jujuboston, Instagram: @Jujubeeonline
BAM! Alexis Mateo came to season three and made it to the top three before being eliminated. She got her second chance competing in a team on “All Stars” 1, but again fell short of the crown. Now the jig is up! Alexis is back for “All Stars” 5 to secure her spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame!” Sickening, no?
Jujubee first dazzled the world with her humor, heart and beauty on season two and then again on All Stars season one. But despite her efforts, Jujubee has never made it to the top. What about her?! What about Jujubee?! Is “All Stars” 5 her chance to prove the third time really is the charm?
“Drag Race” party on season 10! She started strong, winning the very first challenge, but a peck of pickle problem put her in the bottom, and she sashayed away too soon. Now this L.A. favorite is back to stake her claim on the Hall of Fame. Is it finally Miller time? MIZ CRACKER (SEASON 10)
Twitter: @Miz_Cracker, Instagram: @Miz_Cracker “Okay, it’s time for Cracker!” Season 10’s selfdescribed Jewish Barbie brought smarts and sass to the game – even as she struggled to get out of her head. Now this blonde, beloved New Yorker is back to take a crack at the “All Stars” crown!
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VIEWERS WILL GET A CHANCE TO SEE THEIR FAVORITES
SCREEN TV
VH1 “ru-veals” the queens sashaying back to the runway to compete in the fifth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars”
ONGINA (SEASON 1)
Twitter: @Ongina, Instagram: @Ongina On season one, Ongina captured the hearts of millions with her charisma, uniqueness, nerve, talent and beautiful bald head! Now this high energy Queen is back for “All Stars” 5! Will she make up for lost time and take her spot in the “Drag Race Hall of Fame?”
MARIAH PARIS BALENCIAGA (SEASON 3) BLAIR ST. CLAIR (SEASON 10)
Twitter: @BlairStClair, Instagram: @Blairst.Clair
Twitter: @MUG4DAYZ, Instagram: @MUG4DAYZ
DERRICK BARRY (SEASON 8)
On season three, Mariah, aka Mariah Paris Balenciaga, aka Mariah Successful, was known for her beauty, grace, and mug 4 dayz! She was eliminated after underperforming in Snatch Game, but now Mariah is back on “All Stars” 5 to show the world that this versatile ball queen is ready to take the grand prize!
Twitter: @DerrickBarry, Instagram: @DerrickBarry
MAYHEM MILLER (SEASON 10)
She do declare! It’s Blair St. Clair! Since season 10, this young queen has really grown and “glownup,” and now she’s ready to be your star! Will she shine bright enough to take the “All Stars” crown?
It’s Derrick, B*tch! On season eight, Derrick Barry struggled to show she’s more than just a Britney Spears impersonator. Derrick is back on “All Stars”
SHEA COULEÉ (SEASON 9)
Twitter: @SheaCoulee, Instagram: @SheaCoulee Chicago in the house! Shea Couleé came to season nine to SLAY not PLAY! And “slay” she did, snatching four wins on her way to the Grand Finale, before a shocking shower of rose petals sent her packin’. Equal parts bougie and banjie, this polished powerhouse now has her eyes on the “All Stars” prize! ■
Twitter: @TheOnlyMayhem, Instagram: @TheOnlyMayhem
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE ALL STARS”
The drama is here! Mayhem Miller crashed the
AND UP-TO-DATE NEWS, VISIT WWW.VH1.COM.
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TEN QUEER FILM FESTIVALS BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
THROUGH ENTERTAINING, SOPHISTICATED FILMS AND FILMMAKING
BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES CINEPHILES AND FILMMAKERS ALIKE CANNOT WAIT TO GET BACK TO THE MOVIE THEATRES AFTER BEING ISOLATED FOR MUCH OF THE SPRING. While film fes-
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tivals from the first half of 2020 have either postponed or moved to online streaming platforms, there are still many to look forward to in 2020. Ever year more queer film festivals pop up, and crowds come out of the woodwork to take in what might be the next Kinky Boots, Eastsiders, or Call Me By Your Name. Here are ten LGBTQIA+ Film Festivals to get excited about.
OUTFEST JUNE 16-26, 2020 Outfest.org The Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival is an 11-day lineup of world-class films, panels, and parties celebrating the queer experience. Join in the celebration of over 200 feature and short films. Outfest, founded in 1982, has screened over 6,500 international films for audiences of well over half a million people. Often considered the preeminent LGBTQ film festival in the world, the festival is the largest and oldest film festival in Los Angeles. Last year’s lineup included Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts, Circus of Books, Before You Know It, and Gay Chorus Deep South.
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QFLIX PHILADELPHIA JULY 12-19, 2020 qflixphilly.com qFLIX Philadelphia, a production of qFLIX USA, Inc., was founded in 2014. This year’s lineup will include an opening night showing of Straight Up, written, directed, and starring James Sweeney. The opening night will follow with the Black & Pink Gala, kicking off a lineup of films like Tu Me Manques, Sell By, and Disclosure direct from Sundance. Festival awards will include the Marsha P. Johnson Inspiration Award to Laverne Cox, the festival’s Rising Star Award to Ben Bauer, and the Artistic Achievement in Acting Award to Haaz Sleiman. The festival will close with the East Coast premiere of Breaking Fast.
OUTSOUTH QUEER FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 23-16, 2020 carolinatheatre.org/
HONOLULU RAINBOW FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 13-16, 2020 hglcf.org Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival (HRFF), one of the longest-running queer film festivals in the country, will celebrate its 31st anniversary this year. Known as a bridge from Hawaii, the Pacific Islands and Asia to mainland USA, HRFF is a member of the Asia Pacific Queer Film Festival Alliance. HRFF uses the power of film to raise awareness, engage, energize, and instill a sense of pride and respect in Hawaii’s thriving lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and Māhū community. Presented annually by the Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Cultural Foundation, filmmakers are welcomed to the festival with the friendly spirit of aloha. Screenings are held at the buzzing Doris Duke Theater, and last year’s red carpet brought stars like Shangela and Gia Gunn from RuPaul’s Drag Race to the islands. You never know who might show up and turn it out at this year’s HRFF!
The North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF: 1996-2019) was renamed as the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival. The inaugural event is scheduled for August 13-16, 2020. The OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival is the second largest queer, lesbian, gay and transgender film festival in the Southeast, attracting thousands of patrons to downtown Durham every August. Since beginning in 1995, as QFest and running from 1996-2019 as the North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival, this event has always featured a diverse array of shorts, documentaries, and feature films. Discover Durham named this festival a Signature Event for Durham, the highest honor bestowed on a cultural event or attraction by the organization. OUTSOUTH celebrates a worldwide glimpse of today’s queer, lesbian, gay and transgender life, helps bring the community together and features entertaining and sophisticated films and filmmaking.
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CINEMA DIVERSE: THE PALM SPRINGS LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 17 - 20, 2020 psculturalcenter.org/filmfest The desert is calling, and the cinephiles always come out of the woodwork for Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival. The festival, dedicated to advancing and further strengthening our diverse gay community through the establishment of a world-class forum that presents lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cinema from around the world. The 2019 festival featured films like Last Ferry, Del Shores Six Characters in Search of a Play, and Scream Queen: My Nightmare on Elm Street. This year will mark its 13th year, and Cinema Diverse will bring together film artists, film lovers and industry professionals in a celebration of motion pictures that reflect, inform, enrich, and often transform lives.
REELING: THE CHICAGO LGBTQ+ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 24 -OCTOBER 4, 2020 reelingfilmfestival.org
OUT ON FILM, ATLANTA’S LGBT FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 3, 2020 outonfilm.org Out on Film, Atlanta’s LGBT Film Festival, will hold their 33rd annual festival this fall, showcasing 75-100 films including narratives, documentaries, and short films. The festival, which started as part of IMAGE Film and Video and later the Atlanta Film Festival broke off on its own in 2008, becoming an 11-day celebration of LGBTQ stories and artists. The festival, an Oscar qualifying film festival, received the 2018 Beacon Award for Community Engagement from the Arts ATL Luminary Awards.
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Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is the second longest-running LGBTQ+ film festival of its kind. The festival aims to showcase award-winning international feature films, social documentaries, and experimental shorts. The first Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival took place in April 1981 in Chicago Filmmakers’ screening room. The festival sold out almost every screening, leaving audiences ready for more. Last year’s festival included films like: Where We Go From Here, The Blonde One, and Sid & Judy.The mission of Reeling is to recognize the important artistic contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender filmmakers have made to our culture; to educate the general population and sensitize them to lesbian, gay and transgender issues; to investigate the history of LGBTQ+ film, including the stereotyping that has been a major part of this history; and to counteract this stereotyping with valid, meaningful and diverse LGBTQ+ stories. This year will be the 38th year of the festival.
FRAMELINE44, THE SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 17 - DECEMBER 21, 2020 frameline.org The 44th installment of Frameline, the San Francisco LGBTQ+ Film Festival has been postponed until the fall. Frameline’s mission is to change the world through the power of queer cinema. The festival pays tribute to LGBTQ+ experiences through documentaries, features, shorts, classics, and more. As a media art non-profit, Frameline’s programs connect filmmakers and audiences in San Francisco and around the world. Founded in 1977, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival is the longest-running, largest, and most widely recognized queer film exhibition event in the world. With an annual attendance over 63,000, the festival is the most prominent and well-attended LGBTQ+ arts program in the Bay Area. Last year’s festival included films like Vita & Virginia, Gay Chorus Deep South, and the world premiere of Sid & Judy.
INSIDE OUT TORONTO LGBT FILM FESTIVAL OCTOBER 1-11, 2020 Insideout.ca Inside Out has shifted the kickoff of its 30th annual film festival to this October. The festival has brought Toronto’s LGBTQ community together in celebration of the best queer films from Canada and around the world. Through the annual festivals in Toronto and Ottawa, filmmaker initiatives, a youth engagement and year-round events and screenings, Inside Out is engaged every day in challenging attitudes and changing lives. The festival takes place over 11 days, drawing crowds of over 35,000 to screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties that highlight roughly 150 films from Canada and around the world.
WICKED QUEER, THE BOSTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL (TBD) wickedqueer.org Wicked Queer, The Boston LGBT Film Festival is the fourth oldest LGBT film festival in North America and the largest LGBT media event in New England. This year’s festival, the 36th annual festival, will be postponed to a later day in 2020. The festival, founded in 1984 by film programmer George Mansour, has been hosted by the Museum of Fine Arts since 1992, and branched out across the greater Boston area since 2012, including screenings at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, Cambridge, the Fenway Health Center, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. In 2019, the festival screened over 160 films in 49 programs across 11 days.
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THE UNOFFICIAL MUSIC OF BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY COLLECTIVELY HEAVES A SIGH OF GLOBAL DISAPPOINTMENT
at the cancellation of events during 2020 Pride season – no parades, no festivals, no booze, no fellowship, no Pride romances, and no mainstages with our favorite headliners. Without the pageantry of Pride, what is a gay to do? While a major upset politically, socially, and economically, it’s a moment that we can use to reflect on the history of Pride before the pop stars, the corporate sponsors, and the high ticket prices – back to the grassroots where it all began. Three women – two lesbians and one straight – took the stage in the early ’80s in Washington DC to make their voices heard, and they’ve never looked back since. How did they get the gig? Easy, no other bands would perform - it was considered career suicide. With friends dying of AIDS and closeted politicians deaf to equal rights, these women stood front and center and quite literally amped it up, and Pride has never been the same. Meet BETTY - and you better capitalize it as bandmember Elizabeth Ziff told me,“Queen, BETTY is all capitals. Always. That’s how it’s trademarked.” They are not politically correct, they do not have background dancers, they do not care that they aren’t under a record label, and they do not care what you think – they DO care about equality. Made up of sisters Elizabeth & Amy Ziff and Alyson Palmer, they have performed at practically every Pride and have ridden the waves of change and continue to make their own tsunamis. Remember the theme song from Showtimes’ The L Word? Yeah, that’s theirs. And TV Guide called it out saying it was the most shockingly in poor taste theme song EVER for including the word “f*cking.” BETTY couldn’t have been prouder. METROSOURCE.COM
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What was it like hearing your song as the L Word theme for the first time? You are part of LGBT TV history! Alyson: What is especially magical about that time was that we wrote and recorded that theme song while we were in Chicago touring our Off-Broadway hit “BETTY Rules,” I was nursing my new baby Ruby, and got pneumonia. So, it was all a blurry fever dream to me while it was happening. BETTY’s been a band for so long and we have such a wonderful fan family who have been on the journey with us every step of the way, that the most exciting part was
their reaction. They went ape. Does working with your sister have its challenges? Elizabeth: Gurl, please. You can only imagine…but we have worked it out over the years. We still have huge screaming fights when creating. It is Amy’s fault mostly… Amy: HELL YES! What is your creative and collaborative process when writing a new song? Alyson: It changes from time to time, but generally someone will have an idea and
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We know that BETTY must be capitalized, or Elizabeth will kick our ass, but what does BETTY refer to? Amy: BETTY means all that is beautiful and bountiful and bodacious and best and brave and bold and bright and bedazzled and beguiling and beloved. How did you come to meet Alyson and decide to form BETTY? Elizabeth: My sister Amy and I were still living at home. We were basically prepubescent. We decided to start a band because Amy had a friend that played guitar, and I had a friend that played drums. We put an ad on the radio in DC at the time for a female bass player for our all-girl punk band and Alyson was the second person to come over to audition. We hit it off immediately and she could really play bass. But when the three of us sang harmony together, that’s when we knew it was magic. We formed that band Quiver in 1983. When that band imploded, the three of us stayed together and formed another band called On Beyond Zebra with 2 dudes and then we started our own group as a threesome in 1986 and called it BETTY. Alyson, what have you learned most from the LGBT community as an ally from your time with BETTY? Alyson: Lord, isn’t it obvious? The LGBTQ community is so much more colorful, more fun, more irreverent, and more artistic.You can let your hair down and relax, say and do more edgy things and find easy companions in the fight against what is most oppressive and repressive in our society. Plus, my dear, the accessories! You chose to perform at some of the earliest Prides when other bands would not. Did you ever think that this would be damaging to your musical career or pigeon-hole you as “the gay band”? Elizabeth: We lived in Washington D.C. at the time which was teeming with gays. Many were “undercover” and worked for the government, so being out was not an option. Our first pride was in DC in 1984, hidden away on P Street Beach. People were afraid to even go because if they were seen they could lose their jobs. No one would perform, but we were totally into performing. The band all three of us were in at that time was On Beyond Zebra. We made the guys play even though they were straight. We didn’t give a shit if it pigeonholed us or blacklisted us, which in many ways it did. Our friends were dying from AIDS and we were going to perform for our community… besides, it was fabulous. What is your take on mainstream, straight musical acts headline Prides when they weren’t there to make a statement at the start of Pride history? Should headliners be strictly LGBTQ? Amy: I think Prides should never forget the history/herstory of our struggles and celebrations AND the LGBTQ and ally artists who have supported from the beginnings. I would like to see all artists performing at Prides who have made contributions to our community. I think that is important.
bring it to one or both of the others. Sometimes it’s just one hooky line - for instance, Elizabeth had been walking down the street singing to herself about one of all of our favorite desserts, “sticky sticky rice sticky rice and mango…” and told us about it as a joke. Amy and I lit up and we wrote the whole song that afternoon! I have a tendency that drives the two of them nuts. I don’t think a song is ever actually finished. I love to keep tweaking and changing and trying new things to keep it interesting for myself. That used to be a source of friction but the great thing about collaborating with anyone for over 30 years is you begin to finally recognize what makes people tick.
How has the music industry changed the most from your early days? Elizabeth: Well, for one, it died. Or basically, committed suicide. So, a new and independently oriented one has taken its place. When we started out, women (independent women/girls) did not get signed a lot or pushed on radio etc. and the LGBTQ population wasn’t supported. It was catered to, but if you were queer, you stayed in the closet. That is why artists like Sylvester and The Communards were so important! Times have changed, but not easily. We all fought for those changes! BTW I have never been in the closet. Except to get more sparkly tops to wear on stage.
How have Prides changed the most from your first performance? Amy: Much bigger. Much more commercial. New York has been majorly affected by the pandemic, how did you get through it mentally and creatively? Elizabeth: New York is incredibly lucky to have Cuomo and such amazing front line workers. We love New York. Creatively we have made it work even though we have been separated. Alyson has been editing and directed new videos we have done in shelter. (You MUST binge-watch their YouTube channel.) Alyson: I cannot stop creating. It is like I am suddenly in a cauldron of bubbling ideas and I can’t capture them fast enough. I think it is finally being focused within my four walls, even with my kids and partner here. NYC is so glorious, enticing and ridiculously distracting, that all the energy you spend going to see this fabulous new play or that incredible new show or even to taste the amazing dish you’ve been hearing about, all of that energy is just pinging around you from the minute your eyes fly open until you drop back into your big ol’ bed. Being so present and not thinking about the future has been a glorious indulgence. I guess that all boils down to denial. But Honey, it works! Amy: It is challenging. Especially with a little baby. What do your fans tell you the most? Elizabeth: That they love us and support us. Alyson: Hands down, my favorite comment ever is the one I hear the most, and that is how inspired people feel after our concerts. It’s magic that never gets old. Amy: Mostly, I find, people always want to thank us for all the years we have been performing and the commitment to our art that we have maintained. Your onstage energy is infectious. What is your backstage ritual to ramp up for a show? Alyson: Thanks! It’s playing dress-up. Every aspect of the clothes, the hair, the makeup, the jewelry selection, the three of us chat and tell stories. Then one of us remembers that we probably should warm up, so we do some vocal exercises and then make sure we have one conscious, connected moment together before we hit the stage. The more relaxed and content we are slapping on the greasepaint, the more we play around on stage, egging each other on to make each other laugh and digging more deeply into the passion of the songs. Those are the best shows. They all boil down to a comfy dressing METROSOURCE.COM
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room with great snacks, lights, and mirrors. I will never understand why venues do not understand how powerful it can be to provide that one simple thing. What is your after-show ritual? Elizabeth: well…it used to be booze and drugs and sex. Now it is only the occasional drug and sex. Alyson: Meet and greet! I love it so. Hugging certain folks, someone bringing me a dry vodka martini straight up with five fat olives and then a late bite with my gal pals. That, my friend, is a life well-lived. Amy: I like to have a drink and take some time to regroup and of course reapply before talking to friends and fans.
RAPID FIRE
Most overdone song during Pride? Elizabeth: BETTY’s happy pride song: https://youtu.be/ qp30XBXtbss. Alyson: There is none. They all mean so much and need to be sung again and again. AMY: “It’s Raining Men”, but I love the song. Who would play you in the movie version of BETTY? Elizabeth: Gal Gadot. Alyson: RuPaul. Amy: Gal Gadot. We’ve talked about it. She has been studying me for the role. Biggest onstage mishap? Elizabeth: Doing a stage dive at San Diego pride and the audience parted and I landed flat on my face. Alyson: Running to the front of the stage after an incredible final song to take a bow, I slammed my bass into its stand, twirled back around, tripped over my monitor, and landed flat on my hands and knees. I crawled to take a bow. Amy: Going too far. And I must leave it at that. Having shared the stage with them at Palm Springs Pride, I can personally attest to their strength both backstage and onstage, these girls kick ass and they are not finished. BETTY has a place in Pride history and a place in our hearts. ■ YOU CAN HEAR MORE STORIES AND OPINIONS FROM BETTY ON THEIR PODCAST, BETTY: GIRLBAND, THAT IS CERTAINLY BINGEWORTHY. INSTAGRAM: @BETTYRULES TWITTER: @BETTYMUSIC FACEBOOK: @BETTYVERSE YOUTUBE: BETTYVERSE
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THIS PAGE: 2015 BETTY, PRAGUE • BETTY BY ERINSHALL • 2010 BETTY BY LANA YANOVSKA
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Dream celebrity musical collaboration? Elizabeth: Gal Gadot and us doing anything. Alyson: Pink. Amy: Babs.
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PRIDE COMES IN ALL SIZES
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ THIS PANDEMIC HAS DONE ODD THINGS TO THE INFLUENCER AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY. Influencers who snapped selfie after selfie are blending
into the background, and stay at home orders have given us hour after hour to do nothing but saturate content, and with social and political unrest, mindless Instagram content just doesn’t do it for us anymore. An unlikely hero has emerged at 4’ 11” and 65 years old, with a growing social platform that would make a millennial sweat the competition. Leslie Jordan’s secret? Don’t try, just be. A great message for us all, especially during Pride.
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YOU MOVED TO LOS ANGELES IN 1982. WHAT WERE YOUR BIGGEST CULTURE SHOCKS? In retrospect, I have to say I wasn’t looking to get into the entertainment industry. What I really came to LA for was for having to grow up in a repressed, Southern Baptist upbringing. I had heard of West Hollywood and that there were queers hanging from the tress, and I literally dropped anchor. People say, oh I’m going to give it five years to make it in Hollywood. It didn’t matter to me - I had nowhere else to go, I was home. It was wonderful. 982 was a rough time – it was a city in crisis. I think the biggest shock was getting here in the early ages of the AIDS epidemic. Realizing that, as a community, we were going to get no help, we had to do it ourselves. We started cooking out of the church at Fairfax and Fountain, that became Project Angel Food. We started gathering and having meetings, I was in the forefront. Of course, we were still partying, that was the weird thing. It was like the sinking of the Titanic – it was last call, honey. I had a tiny crystal meth problem, so I was very energetic. I got a lot done. They told me they were going to start this organization, Project Nightlight, where you sit up all night with people that are scared and I thought oh this is perfect, I’m up all night anyway! It was a wonderful time, but it’s weird to look back and think of all the sadness. In the 80’s and early 90’s we basically went to memorial services. I buried an entire directory of people, and I’m not even exaggerating.
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WHAT KIND OF CHILD WERE YOU GROWING UP? WERE YOU THE CLASS CLOWN? I was the class clown because I had to keep the bullies at bay. During dodgeball they would yell “Smear that queer!” and I would have to tap dance or get creamed. So, I was always somewhat the class clown because of that. That is my defense mechanism… if I can make you laugh, then you don’t get too close. Sometimes I have to say to myself ok, turn it off, turn it off. But I was extremely popular in school. I wasn’t good at sports and stuff, most of my friends were girls. I ran with the girls.
I didn’t early on. People think I did. You’d go out at night and see every casting director in town and half the producers dancing at the gay bars, but during the day it was very wink wink. I had a gay agent that would literally call me and say listen honey, keep your feet on the ground, keep your hands at your side, put your voice in your lower register. They would tell me to butch it up for certain parts. We had these words like “fay”, used if they want a momma’s boy, but they would never say “gay.” So, people think that I was just running around queening it up – no way! There was a lot of internal
PHOTOS ON 31 & 32 COURTESY OF LESLIE JORDAN
A stage and screen actor, writer, and comedian, Leslie Jordan has made a big splash in both the entertainment and the LGBT world. With a history of bigger than life characters, such as Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace, multiple characters in American Horror Story, and of course, Brother Boy in Sordid Lives, this Emmy Award winner has survived a Southern Baptist childhood, the AIDS crisis, a shared jail cell with Robert Downey Jr., drug and alcohol addiction, and show cancellations as well as show successes. His recent quarantine Instagram stories have made him a household name with appearances on major network outlets as well as a follower base of 3.7 million and counting. His stories are indeed colorful, his signature drawl adorable, but the person behind the persona might surprise you.
YOU WERE AN OUT AND PROUD ACTOR BEFORE OUR RECENT BOOM IN LGBT VISIBILITY ON SCREEN. WAS IT A DIFFICULT DECISION TO EMBRACE YOUR PERSONALITY AND SEXUALITY IN YOUR CAREER?
The first time Leslie Jordan started his mainstream visibility was for his Emmy winning role of Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace. What was supposed to have been a one-time guest role played by a woman (Joan Collins, no less) became one of the most loved recurring characters of the show.
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WHAT HIT YOUR MIND WHEN YOU WENT UP TO ACCEPT YOUR EMMY?
homophobia within me too, with the way that I was raised. I remember thinking this last year on The Cool Kids and thinking, this is so easy, the acting part. Even when I play Beverly Leslie I’m acting. But when I played my part on The Cool Kids it was so gut wrenching, I was just being me for the first time and for someone who had struggled in the past. I had gotten out here and developed a drug and alcohol problem, not getting sober till 1997 - so you’re talking years of just craziness. When I got sober in 1997, I could ask for a gay character, but early on they wanted Niles from Frasier – he wasn’t even gay! They wanted urbane, witty, and ‘hello darling’ and you know, I don’t do that. I went in and read for Sex and the City and a straight guy ended up getting the part. Aaron Sorkin kept saying can you do this, can you do that, and I remember finally saying,“you know there are lovable cocksuckers. There is such a thing… we are lovable, we don’t all have to be kind of bitchy and queeny. We can still be nelly and lovable.” It was a journey and thank god I did get sober and started going to recovery because my journey into sobriety became my journey into my queerdom. I could say to you right now that I am 100 percent comfortable in who I am, what I am and that has not always been. I may be able to have acted it, that’s what you saw on the screen. I wasn’t 100 percent comfortable and my mother would call me and say “gay gay gay, why do you always have to play gay?” That’s like somebody saying“black black black why do you always have to play black?” It’s the same, it’s what I am! She’s proud now. I tell her now after she asks why I always must play effeminate –“it bought you a condo!”
WHAT WAS THE DEFINING MOMENT THAT STARTED YOUR JOURNEY IN SOBRIETY? Jail! I went to jail! The last year of my drinking I went to jail five times. It would always start at Marix in West Hollywood. I would always say oh great, happy hour I’ll have a few drinks then go home. Then it would be 2 am and I didn’t know how that happened. But I got arrested for the 5th time and was sentenced to 120 days and I did about 15. I got out because they didn’t have any place to put Robert Downey Jr. I’m not making that up! They put him in with me for one night – that’s my big claim to fame. It was Dec 11th, 1997. We worked together years later, on Ally McBeal, and I thought oh god I was in prison with him, I wonder if he’ll remember. He did immediately. That was it right there. I had hit bottom. Some people have an emotional bottom where they’re sitting at home thinking, I can’t do this anymore. Or I’m sick and tired all the time. Not me, honey I had a bottom – a jail cell. I was working on the worst TV show in the world, called Pacific Blue with Mario Lopez in bicycle shorts. I was the crazy man in the alley. That was the only way I could get out of there; I called my agent. And I said, “please come get me I have to work tomorrow.” I called my friend (actress) Beth Grant, she said just leave him, because you are going to end up dead in a ditch. I said look, I have to do number two and there’s no walls and there’s no paper and you have got to come get me because I’m about to shit my pants. I held it for eight hours, they finally came and got me. That was the worst part. And then I had to go to court for my sentencing. Well, I’m 22 years sober now.
I remember I had planned a speech in case. But it just flooded out. My only regret was that my win wasn’t at the Emmys, it was the Creative Arts Emmys which is the week before. No one got to see my speech and it was so heartfelt. said there are two ways to combat homophobia – one was through humor, which I’ve learned, and the second was by putting a face on it. These characters on Will & Grace were probably the first gay people that many people in American let in their homes. Characters that we laughed with and loved and there was a lot of progress made. Because I think when it’s all said and done people will look back and say Will & Grace was when the tide turned. Right there. I really do think it’s that important. When I first started working on that show, people would stop me and say, aren’t “you on TV?” “I’m on Will & Grace!”and it would be a straight guy and immediately they’d say, “my wife watches that” or “my girlfriend watches that.”And by the end of the show, I’d be walking by a construction site and the workers would be yelling “hey, I loved you on that show, you’re funny!” I thought, you know, that’s progress right there. Leslie Jordan has appeared in every form of media – plays, web series, stand up, one man shows, and his popular cruise appearances. He is a prolific writer in addition to his acting and his autobiographical shows have played offBroadway and on national tours to critical and audience acclaim. His one man shows have a charm to them, he gives off the sense that he is just telling stories that come to his mind. But there is a beautiful process at play, hitting the comedy, the drama, the highs and lows of his life.
HOW IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS DIFFERENT FOR STAGE VERSES FILM? With stage you must play to the back seat. It’s kind of a heighted reality. It drives me crazy when I see people on stage mumbling and I METROSOURCE.COM
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Leslie’s recent spotlighted success represents years of hitting the pavement as well as disappointments. For every Will & Grace and American Horror Story, there are failed pilots, short lived series on the CW, gay themed comedy shows that never made it, and cancellations on projects that should have worked.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE UPS AND DOWNS IN THE INDUSTRY? YOUR LAST SHOW, THE COOL KIDS (WITH VICKI LAWRENCE, MARTIN MULL, AND DAVID ALAN GRIER), WAS HILARIOUS BUT WAS CANCELLED. I’ve gotten so good at it that sometimes I even mask it with myself. I was gutted, I was really gutted. I didn’t see it coming. Charlie Day had talked to us two days before and we had our flights scheduled to go to New York to go to the upfronts. And then the phone rang, and Charlie said it’s not going to happen, the series is cancelled. I said “cancelled?” I was so gutted. I don’t cry anymore… I used to cry and carry on, oh poor me. I was just kind of gutted. Then what happens? The phone immediately rang, and it was the Will & Grace people saying their loss is our gain, we want to pin him for a couple of episodes. It was another bump in the road. You move on.
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In his performance and even in his Instagram appearances, Leslie seems grounded, intimate, and real. What you see is what you get. He doesn’t know what’s going to come out of his mouth any more than you do, but you know it’s going to be hilarious. He did make some headlines when he threw his Starbucks drink at someone shouting gay slurs – to clarify it wasn’t hot coffee but rather sweet tea, totally acceptable. Reality is a big part of Leslie’s life, but it didn’t work out for him for Celebrity Big Brother UK, not even the big paycheck could quiet his distaste of the experience.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT APPEARING ON CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER UK? No favorite part. Seriously. None. The only fun part was that they hired me so quickly. I had three days to get ready and it was booked so quickly. That’s a huge show, the biggest show in all of Europe. From the moment my foot stepped off the plane it was a nightmare. It’s horrible.You don’t have a watch, a newspaper. Time is boring and never ending. Oh god. They would punish me by taking my food away. I got rice and beans for five days. If I don’t get my food I’m mean as a snake. You know I spit on Gary Busey? I spit right on him!
HOW IS LESLIE JORDAN AS A PERSON THE MOST DIFFERENT FROM LESLIE JORDAN THE PERSONA? I am such a recluse. I read a lot. I have not left the house after 6 pm without a paycheck in about five years. I don’t go out at night. I’m in my pajamas. I don’t know when that happened. I was raised with identical twin sisters, and they always had their own thing together, so I just spent a lot of time in my room. I don’t know how to turn it off even if there’s just one other person. I will be talking/performing, but I’m not good at small talk. spend a lot of time alone and I love it. I love it, I love it, I love it.
HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED HE MOST FROM YOUR FIRST ACTING GIG? Comfort with myself. The hardest lesson I’ve learned is that there is no shame in being effeminate. And that is such a big deal right now. I’ve been dealing with it my whole life and now it’s finally out there for people to be who they are and not feel shame. I’m not the biggest queen in the room, but I’m certainly not the butchest queen in the room. And I’ve just learned that I can go there like that. I will glance up at myself up on TV and I’ll say, ‘oh girl, you got to butch it up.’ I’m so hard on myself. Then I got on the Ellen DeGeneres show early, right after she came out and I thought oh God this is it. Playing a straight man, Joely Fisher’s boss, and I had to make an entrance with two Playboy models and every time I turned, I ran their titties in my face, and that was the joke. So, I really thought that I had butched it up enough, and I was pulling it off and I called my friend after it aired to ask how I had done? He said “oh girl, I have these friends who don’t even know who you are and the minute you walked up they said get a load of her. Get a load of her!”That was me being the butchest I could possibly be. They didn’t have me back, needless to say. With Pride festivals cancelled around the world, Pride has a quiet, more intense energy this year. No flashy headliners, no parades, no after parties, but a chance to reflect on how far we have come, with social and political pioneers of Pride paving the way for the future. Pride comes in packages of all sizes, whether knowingly or without realizing it. I seriously could have talked to Leslie for hours and hours, there’s a lot of life that has been lived and learned. He is a personal hero, making gays in the entertainment industry a group to contend with – he is my pioneer in Pride. If you have the opportunity to see his one man shows, do it. Meantime, you can get a load of her on Facebook at facebook.com/thelesliejordan and on Instagram: @TheLeslieJordan. ■
THIS PAGE: IMAGE BY COURESY OF GEDMAG.COM
want to say save it for the camera, we got to hear you! I’m all for that Marlon Brando mumbling but speak up! It was always the opposite for me. I had done stage with Sordid Lives as a stage play and Southern Baptist Sissies, and then we shot it, so you have to pull it down a bit. That was always the challenge. To take it down. Jimmy Borrows who directs me in Will & Grace always said to me, “you know Leslie you are really funny when you don’t try to be.” And I get that. Sometimes you’re being big and broad and look at me, how funny I am and you’re funnier when you take it in a film direction. I worked on American Horror Story with David Lynch’s daughter and she would just holler,“take the air out of it,”in front of everyone, I wanted to tell her there are Academy Award winning actors here, honey. I love what I do with my one man show, that’s what I love. When I can stand up and tell stories about my life and just talk to you like I’m talking to you right now and garner a laugh. The whole acting thing has gotten exhausting to me.
PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD THE WORLD COMES PRIDE
TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST EVER VIRTUAL GLOBAL PRIDE
THIS PAGE: AMSTERDAM PRIDE BY ANJO KAN
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BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
THIS PRIDE SEASON THE WORLD COMES TOGETHER for the first ever ‘Global Pride’ virtual event on Saturday, June 27, 2020. InterPride and the European Pride Organizers Association have joined forces along with many other national and regional organizations to celebrate pride month in response to the global crisis. Details are still emerging, so visit interpride.org for all the updates. “Annual Pride events in the United States engage and unite 20 million people who gather to celebrate the strength and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and to raise awareness for social justice and equal rights of all individuals,” said Ron deHarte, Co-President of the United States Association of Prides. “Through the pain and disruption caused by the novel coronavirus, we will deliver a virtual message of hope, comfort, love and we will have an opportunity to show our appreciation to first responders everywhere.”
“We need community and connection more than ever,” said J. Andrew Baker, Co-President of InterPride.“This gives us an opportunity to both connect and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community’s resilience in the face of this pandemic and the true spirit of Pride,” continued Baker.“Pride 2020 represents a milestone for Pride events, with many honoring the 50th anniversary of their first gatherings and marches, such as New York to the first Gandhinagar Pride this year and we would not let that pass without recognition and celebration.” Kristine Garina, President of the European Pride Organizers Association and Chair of Baltic Pride in Riga, Latvia, said: “The unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 mean that most Prides will not take place as planned in 2020, but we’re determined that this won’t stop us from coming together as a united, strong community to celebrate who we are and what we stand for. Global Pride will show the LGBTQIA+ movement for the absolute best it can be, showing solidarity at a time when so many of us are mourning and strength when so
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many of us are feeling isolated and lonely. Above all, we will show our resilience and determination that Pride will be back bigger and stronger than ever before. For millions of people around the globe, Pride is their one opportunity each year to come together and feel a part of a community, to feel loved, connected and to know they aren’t alone. It’s essential this year that as Pride organizers, we ensure there is still the opportunity to connect, even if we are connecting from home.” Uwe Hörner, a board member of CSD Deutschland [German Pride network], said: “Especially in these difficult times full of uncertainty and insecurity, we need to show visibility. Social distancing must not lead to the disappearance of diversity. We are happy to demonstrate with “Global Pride” to be part of a large community, and we want to send out a strong sign of solidarity and human rights.” Jenny Dewsnap, Co-Chair of the UK Pride Organizers Network, said:“We are enormously proud that UK Prides will be a part of this global event. Our communities and our pride organizers now have something to look forward to this summer and a chance to be a part of this unique demonstration of worldwide solidarity and unity.” Maria Jern, Vice-Chair of Svenska Pride [Swedish Pride network], said: “In these times, it is even more important that we can demonstrate the power and strength of a joint Pride celebration around the world. Let the rainbow flag light up the world.”
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THIS PAGE (top to bottom): WASHINGTON DC PRIDE BY JOHNNY SILVERCLOUD • MADRID PRIDE BY GERMAN GONZALES • CANADA PRIDE BY DAVID TRAN
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Dana Marsh, President of Fierté Canada Pride, said: “It’s easy to feel isolated right now, especially with so many of our local Pride celebrations announcing cancellations or new dates. Pride celebrations bring our communities together in a show of solidarity and unity. Now, more than ever, we need to be loud and proud! Pride is not just a celebration, but a homage to our origins, the defiance and resistance against all systems of oppression. We acknowledge the intersections that join us in the global fight against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, gender discrimination, racism, sexism, classism, and colonialism. We must show that our global movement will persist, even when faced with new and unexpected challenges. Prides across Canada look forward to connecting with Two-Spirit/Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ communities from around the globe. Pride lives in us all.” “For OLA (Orgullo Latinoamericano), the Regional Network of Latin American Pride organizers, this project, in particular, has encouraged us to work closer and join efforts from all over the Latino diaspora with the Global Pride Movement to deliver hope and solidarity for the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Emmanuel Temores, Co-Chair of OLA. Indeed, the world has come together to celebrate Pride month. Stay loud, stay proud! For more information and updates, visit www.interpride.org.
TIPS FOR CHARITABLE GIVING GAIN POSITIVITY THROUGH GIVING TO OTHERS over the world. The past few months have, at times, left us feeling hopeless and isolated. Perhaps by giving to others in need, we can gain some positivity. So, here is some advice on charitable giving, and to spark some ideas, I’ve also included several Community Sponsors of the New York WorldPride parade that are in need of donations. Beyond the sometimes-vague concept of giving back, figuring out the details of charitable donations can be a challenge. How should you choose a charity? How much should you donate? There’s no hard-andfast rule, but there are some tips that can help you figure out the right answers for you and your family. • ARE CHARITABLE DONATIONS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE? Yes, charitable giving is tax-deductible, but you’ll need some records. Ask for an itemized receipt for any donation of money or goods, even if it amounts to less than the IRS’s $250 threshold. If your noncash donation is worth more than $500, you must complete IRS Form 8283; worth more than $5,000 requires an appraisal. • CHOOSING A CHARITY. Choosing a charity should be something close to your heart and beliefs. Think of people or organizations that you most want to help and I’m sure you will find a charity to suit your needs. Also, think of local charities to help closer to home. The list at the end of this article has suggestions of several LGBTQ charities that would love your time and/or money.
factored into your budget. If you can afford it, make charitable giving about 10 percent of your budget. And get in the habit of donating once a month rather than at the end of the year. If a cash donation is a stretch, ask the organization if you can donate time or skills instead; you might do IT work for the website or organize a food drive. Remember, too, that you can give goods instead of money - bring tools to Habitat for Humanity, or personal-care products to a shelter. • SHOULD YOU DONATE TO A BIG CHARITY OR A SMALL ONE? Go with what you think will have the most impact. Some people might give to their local food pantry to directly benefit the people in their area. For other folks, it might make more sense to donate to a national charity working to improve public policies surrounding LGBTQ issues.
CULTURE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, PRIDE EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED all
FINANCE
BY JENNIFER DAY
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how charitable contributions work and you have sorted out a budget. Below is a list of Community Partners for the 2020 New York WorldPride parade. If you don’t have your list of charities ready maybe these will give you some ideas: Ali Forney Center - Protects LGBTQ youth from homelessness. GLAAD - Protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where
STOCK PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK
everyone can live the life they love.
• BE SURE YOU’RE GIVING TO A REPUTABLE ORGANIZATION. We’ve all heard the scam stories—the phony appeals for homeless vets, the woman who faked cancer. The best way to avoid being had is to know: (a) the person who started the campaign, and (b) exactly what the donation will pay for. As a rule, never give money via phone or email, even if the cause sounds legit. And keep in mind that contributions are not tax-deductible unless a qualified nonprofit has organized the fundraising. Use the IRS’s Tax-Exempt Organization Search to confirm that a charity is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
GMHC - Provides HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy. Human Rights Campaign - the largest national LGBTQ civil rights organization. Family Equality - Advances legal and equality issues for LGBTQ families. It Gets Better - Uplifts, empowers, and connects LGBTQ youth around the globe. LGBTQ Victory Fund - Works to change the face and voice of American politics and achieve equality. The Center - Offers the LGBTQ communities of NYC, advocacy, health, and wellness programs; arts, entertainment, and cultural events; recovery, parenthood, and family support services.
• DECIDE HOW MUCH TO GIVE. Just like housing, car insurance, and groceries, donations should be
The Trevor Project - Leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. METROSOURCE.COM
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POSITIVE THOUGHTS: YES, YOU CAN BE AN HIV ALLY We all need to do our part to end HIV stigma
BODY
METROHIV
WHEN BELOVED QUEER EYE STAR JONATHAN VAN NESS REVEALED
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(in their bestselling memoir Over the Top: A Raw Journey to SelfLove) that they were living with HIV, they became one of the most famous HIV-positive people in the world. And they joined the legions of others who bravely share their statuses with the world in order to bring awareness and combat stigma around the virus – but is this something that we should only rely on HIV-positive people to do? The answer is no. The fact that some courageous folks living with HIV who feel safe and secure enough in their lives to come out with their status does not relinquish the rest of us from responsibility. If we want a truly HIV-free world, we all must roll-up our sleeves and get involved. My journey to become an ally and advocate to people living with HIV didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it has been a lifelong learning process that continues to evolve. As a child growing up in the 1980s, I first learned about HIV like we all did — through tragedy. First, we lost my best friend’s uncle, a young, handsome artist who I harbored a secret crush for. I was devastated. Then, a few years later, more bad news. A beloved uncle also became ill and soon after died from the then-deadly affliction. That era also birthed some of the epidemic’s early allies, like Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, and Princess Diana, whom I greatly admired. When the media went crazy after the princess was photographed shaking the hand of a young man in the advanced stages of the virus, I admired her even more. But somewhere over the next couple of decades things changed. Once antiretrovirals were developed, HIV was no longer a death sentence. As we saw people like Magic Johnson continue to live happy, healthy lives, HIV and AIDS seemed to slowly disappear from the national conversation. Then around 2005, a close friend chose to share his status with me. Recalling the tragedies, I witnessed in my youth, I started to become emotional. As my friend saw the tears welling up in my eyes, he embraced me and said,“It’s OK. I take two pills every morning and I’m going to be fine.” It was a powerful moment for me. I realized that my ignorance on JUNE/JULY 2020
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the facts had put my friend in a position to comfort me in this delicate moment of his vulnerability. I realized that to be a true ally I just needed to treat my friend as I always had, and not like an unfortunate victim. And above all, I realized it was my responsibility to educate myself on HIV — not the responsibility of those living with it. Today I am proud to say I am an educated advocate and ally for people living with HIV, and happily accept my role as an educator to those around me, in my own community. And you can be one too — it is easier than you think! Start by learning the basics. Think about it. How can we end this epidemic unless both HIV-negative and HIV-positive know how the virus is transmitted and treated? Here’s a few facts to get you started: HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Condoms are still a good prevention method (about 90 to 95 percent effective when used properly) but there are newer even more effective methods like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which is up to 99 percent effective in preventing HIV transmission. Another important scientific fact to know is that — and this is a biggie, so pay attention — when a person living with HIV gets on treatment and achieves a suppressed viral load (also called being “undetectable”), they are no longer able to transmit the virus to others. Not only has this information been life-changing for those living with the virus, it is key in preventing new transmissions. So, besides learning the facts, how else can you Desiree Guerrero be a better ally? Well, there are lots of ways. Open your heart to those living with HIV and treat them like you would anyone else — and treat HIV like any other treatable chronic condition, such as diabetes. Get involved. Participate in an AIDSWalk or other HIV-related event and share it on your social media. Support friends and loved ones, or anyone in your community living with HIV. Show others by your example that living with HIV — and loving and dating and supporting them — is nothing to be ashamed of. We must remove these lingering bits of stigma, and we must do it together. You can be someone who contributes to a happier, healthier future for all. You can be an ally. ■
THIS PAGE: DESIREE GUERRERO, COURTESY PHOTO • IMAGE BY RAWPIZEL.COM
BY DESIREE GUERRERO
HEALTH BODY
GET STRETCHED OUT NOT STRESSED OUT WHEN LIFE GETS TOO LOUD, THESE YOGA POSES PROVIDE A PLEASANT ESCAPE BY MEGAN VENZIN THIS SPRING FELT DIFFERENT. APRIL SHOWERS BROUGHT MAY FLOWERS,
but most of us were too distracted to genuinely appreciate their beauty. Let’s face it... social distancing measures, while completely necessary, have added unfamiliar pressures to our lives. Home and work balance became blurred as soon as our kitchen tables were converted into “shared” office spaces. Employed parents involuntarily added the new position of “schoolteacher” to their resumes after classrooms closed at the top of the year. Americans residing in metropolitan areas like New York City will attest that the walls feel like they are closing in a little tighter each day. Emotions are running high. It is just… A LOT. One of the best ways to tackle stress is by engaging in physical activity, but many may be asking the question, “how can I be active when
I’m constantly being reminded to stay home?”Yogis already know the secret, and now Metrosource readers will too. A yoga teacher said something in a class several years ago that stuck with me - “The borders of your mat will provide all of the space that you need.”A standard yoga mat measures 68 inches long and 24 inches wide. Within that rectangle, one can begin to balance their body, mind, and soul. And if that sounds too “crunchy,” the space between can at least provide enough room to enjoy a deep satisfying stretch. Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted? You are not alone. These stress-busting yoga poses are here whenever you require a reset button. As we are all forced to adopt a very“one day at a time”mindset, so will these postures help reinforce that notion. METROSOURCE.COM
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HEALTH BODY
SUKHASANA (EASY POSE WITH FORWARD BEND) Sukhasana is a strong base for meditation or for simply taking a moment to reconnect with your breath. Take a cross legged position and sit with a tall spine, allowing the crown of the head to reach toward the ceiling. For a deeper hip and side body stretch, lift the arms up and overhead and then bow the torso over the legs, sending the fingertips toward the front of the mat. If the head is hanging, place a pillow or block underneath for support. Breathe here for eight to 10 breaths. When finished, walk the hands back toward the legs and roll up slowly until the skull floats above the spinal column.
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ANJANEYASANA (LOW LUNGE) This pose has it all! From a forward bend position, place your fingertips on the mat and send your left foot toward the back of the mat. Drop the left knee. The right foot will remain in between the hands with the knee stacked on top. Press through your right sole of your foot and the top of your left foot, zip the thighs together and bring the hands to rest on top of your right thigh. Use two or three breaths to create a firm base. Then lift the arms up and incorporate a backbend from the center of the spine, allowing the head and neck to drop back in space. Breathe here for three to five breaths. Release the hands to frame your right foot, and then step the left foot up to meet the right at the top of your mat, returning to a forward fold. Repeat on the opposite side.
UTTANASANA (STANDING FORWARD BEND) This gentle inversion is the perfect midday “pick me up.� Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart. Draw the arms up and overhead, and then take a gentle swan dive motion to send the torso over the hips and forward for all the head, neck, arms, and upper back to dangle. Reach for opposite elbows and sway back and forth for eight long inhalations and exhalations. Then release the arms and gradually come to a standing position by rolling up one vertebra at a time. You should feel alert, focused, and ready to revisit the tasks ahead. METROSOURCE.COM
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HEALTH
VRKSASANA (TREE POSE)
BODY
There are few yoga postures more grounding than Vrksasana, also known as tree pose. By challenging the body’s ability to balance on one leg, yogis can become more centered, focused, and confident. Stand with the feet together and arms to the side. Pick a drishti (yogic gaze) point on which to focus. This should be a stationary object that does not move. Next, externally rotate the right hip so the toes face out to the right side of the mat (think like a ballerina here). Slide the right heel above the ankle with the ball of the foot on the ground. Stay here or continue to slide the foot up the calf or place the foot on the thigh above the knee (and never directly on the knee). Wherever the foot lands, continue to press the sole firmly into the opposite leg. This traction will help open the hip. Next, let your tree grow by lifting the arms up and overhead. Reach for opposite elbows to create extra space in the heart and upper back. Continue to focus on your drishti point, breathing in through the nostrils and out for at least eight breaths. Repeat on the opposite side.
This inversion calms the nerves, balances the brain, and can be achieved starting from a position on your back. Begin by lying flat on the mat. Bring the arms alongside the body with the palms facing down. Draw the knees in toward the forehead and then send the toes overhead, so they tap the floor. (It is okay if they hover. Stacking pillows behind the head can bring the ground closer to you.) Keep the gaze at the belly button throughout this pose to support the neck. Begin to roll the shoulders underneath the body to find a sturdy foundation at the top of the back. Be aware, this pose is not ideal for people with prior neck or back injuries. An alternative would be to lie on the back, draw the knees in, and then send the heels toward the ceiling, with the toes flexed down toward the face. The hands can come to the back of the thighs to provide added support. Spend up to 15 deep breaths in either posture. To release, roll out slowly using your hands as brakes. Take a few minutes lying flat on your back in Shavansana (corpse pose) after this one to absorb the benefits of this posture. â–
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STOCK PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PHOTO BY RAWPIXEL.COM
HALASANA (PLOW POSE)
SIX SERUMS FOR SUMMER AGING IS NO REASON TO LET GO OF BEAUTY BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES
$42.95 (devitaskincare.com) Created by Cherylanne DeVita, The DeVita collection offers a natural line of skincare products formulated with real ingredients that are naturally sourced, and good-for-your-skin. Their Luxe C17 Serum is a stable, oil-soluble, high potency (17%) Vitamin C serum that encourages bright, radiant looking skin. The formula is completely versatile (seriously), offering nourishment for all kinds of skin types. Why does it feel so good? The blend of Jojoba Seed Oil, Aloe, Orange Peel Oil, Meadowfoam, Watermelon, Pumpkin Seed Oil, and Lemon Peel Oil, work together with a variety of other natural ingredients to soothe, calm, and condition the skin.
HEALTH
DEVITA SKIN CARE C17 SERUM
BODY
GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN YOU COULD JUST LATHER UP YOUR FACE with a little soap, rinse, and go out into the world. Between the sun’s harsh rays, pollution, stress, lack of sleep, and each passing year, those subtle wrinkles and blemishes can grow more susceptible to expanding and deepening. The saying may be “age before beauty,” but there is no reason to let go of beauty just because one starts to age. Serums are a skincare product that not only helps to reduce the signs of aging, but also allows the skin to continually feel smoother, tighter, and more youthful. How do they do it? Often serums contain healthy antioxidants like vitamin C or grape seed extract to target and combat sun damage and prevent free radicals from wrecking your overall complexion. They additionally work with anti-inflammatories and hydrators to neutralize and refresh your face and other targeted areas. There are plenty of different types of serums on the market, each offering different ways to bridge the gap between cleansing and moisturizing. Try incorporating one or more into your skincare routine and see if you notice a difference. We have identified six serums to check out this summer and added a moisturizer with SPF for you to lather on before heading out into the sun.
EMINENCE STONE CROP SERUM $110.00 (emstore.com) Eminence Organics has been providing quality results-oriented skin care for over 60 years. The company utilizes herbal craftsmanship, Hungarian skin rejuvenation techniques, and handpicked ingredients from the Eminence Certified Organic Farm in the Hungarian countryside. The Eminence Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum is a fast-absorbing, advanced serum for all skin types. Kale, spinach, and broccoli sprouts work in harmony with Vitamin C sourced from lemon and grapefruit, as well as avocado, potato juice, rhubarb, and other natural ingredients to boost collagen formation so the skin looks and feels firm. The serum decreases inflammation, redness, as well as visible signs of aging. Eminence also does right by the earth, for every retail product sold the company plants a tree as part of The Forests for the Future initiative. They have already planted over fifteen million trees.
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LEOVARD ORGANIC HYALURONIC ACID MULTI-USE SERUM F OR SENSITIVE SKIN
BODY
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$16 (amazon.com/Leovard) Founded in 2017, Leovard is a young and budding luxury brand at an affordable price. Sick of nicks and razor bumps? Leovard has created a gentle product that is perfect for after shaving. Reduce inflammation and most irritation issues related to shaving by lathering a healthy layer after each shave. Made with green tea and Aloe Vera, this chemical free product doubles as a natural moisturizer alleviating dryness while repairing skin damage. The line was founded by a plastic surgeon and perfected by a molecular biologist, Dr. Sheg Aranmolate, who spent years perfecting the formulas for two products, a tonic and this serum, specially formulated and clinically tested to fight blackheads, ease razor bumps and burns, while soothing and moisturizing dry skin.
NEOGEN O2 ENERGY POWER SERUM SPRAY $19 (neogenlab.us) Don’t have time to go to the spa for a double oxygen blast facial? Neogenlab has come out with an O2 Energy Power Serum Spray, enriched with 80% oxygen water that clarifies and vitalizes dead and stressed out skin while moisturizing and lifting the skin for a tighter look. Use after cleansing and toning by holding the mist a bit away from the skin and spray directly toward your face, or anywhere that needs a little lift. Try the Neogen Real Ferment Micro Serum ($38) if you have extremely sensitive skin, it will soothe any redness and irritation and help you get ready for the day.
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WHISH REPAIRING EYE SERUM $60 (whishbody.com) If eyes are the windows to the soul, who wants to deal with heavy bags? In Whish Repairing Eye Serum, Bakuchiol (a substitute for Retinol), Cucumber Extract, Rosehip Oil, Organic Oil, and green tea work together to reduce puffiness and those pesky dark circles while reviving elasticity and firmness to give you that bright, firm glow around your handsome eyes.
EMMA BEAUTY INTENSIVE REJUVENATING HAND SERUM $25 (Emmabeauty.com) Rough hands? That can change! Don’t let ladies be the only ones with smooth, moisturized hands. Emma Beauty’s intensive rejuvenating hand serum does the heavy lifting while you sleep. Use a few drops before heading to bed and wake up to smooth and renewed hands. Aloe Barbadensis leaf works with Locust Bean Gum, Sunflower Seed Oil, Date Seed Extract, Clover Leaf Oil, Myrrh Oil, Orange Oil and more, to soften and even reduce discoloration. You expose your hands to the elements every day of the year, why not take a little time this summer to nourish those hard wrinkles and allow your hands to be as young as you feel.
BONUS! A MOISTURIZER WITH SPF
JACK BLACK DOUBLE DUTY FACE MOISTURIZER SPF 20 $28 (getjackblack.com) Be sure to use a quality moisturizer after applying a serum. You’ll need additional protection from the sun if you are going outside, so why not opt for a moisturizer with sunscreen. Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20 is a lightweight moisturizer that visibly improves skin’s overall appearance and provides lasting hydration without oiliness or heaviness. In the formula, Blue Algae Extract, a rich source of Vitamin E works closely with Sea Parsley (a combination of naturally occurring Vitamins A and C and minerals that soothe the skin’s appearance). Give yourself a good 15 minutes before going out into the sun after applying.
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DIY WEDDINGS MAKE YOUR WEDDING MEMORABLE AND ROMANTIC NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES GOING ROGUE AND PLANNING YOUR WEDDING WITHOUT A PLANNER CAN SEEM LIKE AN ENORMOUS TASK, but it doesn’t have to be.
Especially in today’s climate there are plenty of things that, with a little time and organization, you can execute easily. Challenges are bound to come up, but if you, your partner, and anyone helping, continues to communicate - working together will pay off with achieving the wed-
CULTURE
WEDDINGS
ding of your dreams.
START EARLY If you have time and space before the big day there are so many things you can take care of early on. Designate a space in your home where you can start gathering and storing items and get to work! Why wait until the last minute when you can begin ordering wedding necessities. The last thing you need to do is run around looking for two male cake toppers the day before your wedding.
Put those administrative tools to use and create a spreadsheet to get organized and identify everything that needs to be taken care of and give each task a deadline. The Knot, Zola, and a variety of other websites have free tools and resources that can be helpful to use directly or help you identify what needs to be taken care of as well as a rough timeline of what needs to be completed by when. Pay careful attention to dates and details like applying for your marriage license in your county, and the current rules and laws in place. Things aren’t necessarily done as they used to be, so even if you think you know the answer, research it.
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PHOTOS 48-49 BY ADOBE STOCK
CREATE A SPREADSHEET TO ORGANIZE AND TRACK EVERYTHING
FIND YOUR PROFESSIONALS Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Identify the important tasks that need your attention and are worth spending time on - the food, the decor, entertainment, or something else? Prioritize this in your budget and plan accordingly. Check in with friends and family for their recommendations for anyone you will need to hire and reach out to these vendors as early as possible. And again, you will have to take inconsideration your location’s various social distancing guidelines and orders, so everyone stays safe and has a good time.
TAKE THE TIME TO BRAINSTORM Take some time to properly brainstorm. Scour the
ways to bring the DIY spirit to your wedding. Be
web, sift through magazines, books, stalk Pinterest
clever with signature drinks and create recipe cards
and Instagram accounts, bookmark, highlight, and
so guests can choose their own signature cocktail or
take notes. Search for #DIYWedding on all your social
even dessert. This can help you to save on staffing
media accounts and screenshot what you like. Then
costs and builds in a lighthearted activity for guests
explore the internet and see what you might discover.
to do during the reception.
A fun backdrop for social media or video conferencto commemorate your day that you can mail out
START THANK YOU NOTES IN ADVANCE
to family, flowers and other décor, the possibilities
Writing out thank you letters can be a pain, especial-
are endless.
ly when you want the honeymoon to continue but
ing for those not physically in attendance, some gifts
ENLIST YOUR SQUAD TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER
you’re already back to work. Order thank you cards
Know who you can count on to be a part
SPEAK WITH YOUR VENUE
of your wedding planning and execution
If you are looking to have your wedding at a venue,
addresses on everything, so you don’t have to hand
team and ask for their help. If you’re at
other than at your own home, explore the options
write everything. Have your stamps and everything
a total loss and don’t know where to be-
your venue might offer. Opt for a venue that of-
ready to go so you can divide and conquer on person-
gin, one friend can help with researching
fers built in packages, so you don’t have rent tables,
alizing each note for your wedding guests. Try to do
invitations, another with flowers, cake,
chairs, and other furniture from separate vendors.
this within a month of your wedding, if possible, so
outfits, and so forth. It takes a village, and
This will save you time, energy, and expenses. Porta in
you’re not scrambling to finish this before your first
your friends can help you with what might
Asbury Park, for instance, offers affordable packages.
anniversary.
initially seem like a mountain of work. Be what can be done and what you will need
INCORPORATE DIY INTO YOUR WEDDING
to budget for.
The planning doesn’t have to just be DIY, there are
realistic with your expectations and assess
when ordering your invites and have the vendor print
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PRIDE
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BY JEFF SIMMONS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE JOINING TOGETHER WHILE STAYING APART – that’s the vision
of the organizers of the largest LGBTQ Pride Month celebrations across the United States. COVID-19 has prompted nearly all of the largest Pride parades and marches to cancel their events this June (though some envision postponing to the fall) and yet still reimagine ways to embrace the spirit of the season. Worldwide, over 120 major events have been cancelled. “It’s a completely different shift in the way that we think from producing live events to producing in a virtual platform,” says David A. Correa, Interim Executive Director of Heritage of Pride. Inc., the group behind New York City’s annual pride march.“It may not be millions of people gathering in streets of New York City, but there, is now potential to reach a larger global audience that may not have had the opportunity to be with us before.” Pride is about community, but social distancing norms require that the festivals, rallies, 5Ks and myriad other activities – celebrated from New York City to Los Angeles and San Francisco – shift from the streets to our screens. And as organizers lament the loss of in-person contact – and in many cases, fundraising dollars – they nevertheless plan to digitally showcase inclusivity and diversity and champion equality. NYC Pride has announced a special broadcast event on WABC Channel 7 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Pride March held in 1970, on Sunday, June 28th from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. NYC Pride will be saluting the front-line workers alongside several leaders in the community being honored as Grand Marshals: Dan Levy, The Ali Forney Center, Yanzi Peng, and Victoria Cruz. While it may be a different type of celebration, the tradition of commemorating the LGBTQIA+ movement will continue, along with special performances by Janelle Monáe, Deborah Cox, Billy Porter, Luísa Sonza and others. Expect to see appearances by Wilson Cruz, Miss Richfield 1981, Margaret Cho and others, as WABC’s very own Ken Rosato and Lauren Glassberg will be joined by special guest co-host Carson Kressley, along with correspondents Sam Champion and Kemberly Richardson, for this special event. Visit nycpride.org for updates and more information. Regardless of a physical experience this year, the LGBTQ+ community will once again look adversity directly in the face and rise up together in solidarity and celebration. JUNE/JULY 2020
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THIS PAGE (top to bottom) : NYC PRIDE MARCH PHOTO BY ROMMEL DEMANO • NYC PRIDE MARCH BY MADISON VOELKEL • NYC PRIDE MARCH PHOTO BY JULIAN MACKLER - BFA
NEW YORK
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A GLOBAL PLATFORM OF DIVERSITY
COCKTAIL HOUR
Pre-batched cocktail services from local Manhattan and Brooklyn establishments NEW YORKERS WHO ARE STAYING AT HOME but want to
continue supporting their favorite restaurants/bars can order pre-batched cocktails straight to their door from Maison Premiere, Izzy Rose, Roberta’s Pizza, Forrest Point, Maison Pickle, Fiddlesticks, Dante, and Las Lap. Here are some tasty cocktail ideas and details about each bar’s delivery services.
RESTAURANT/BAR: IZZY ROSE COCKTAIL: Essential Snake Oil (St-Germain, Gin, black tea, grenadine, and lemon.) SERVING SIZE: Half gallon PRICE: Minimum order $40, no delivery fee. LOCATION: 214 Greene Ave Brooklyn, NY 11238 DELIVERY INFO: Order by phone (929) 314-4431. FUN FACT: This cocktail is part of the bar’s new menu of drinks specifically based on Governor Cuomo’s stayhome order, tailored to what the bar had in stock and what people like to drink in spring.
RESTAURANT/BAR: LAS’ LAP
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF ST-GERMAIN • PHOTO COURTESY OF FORREST POINT • PHOTO COURTESY OF LAS’ LAP NYC • PHOTO COURTESY OF DANTE
COCKTAIL: La Caribena (St-Germain, chinola, Aromatic Bitters, and Prosecco.) SERVING SIZE: Serves 1 (in a flask!) PRICE: $13 LOCATION: 74 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002 DELIVERY INFO: Order online through GrubHub.
RESTAURANT/BAR: DANTE RESTAURANT/BAR: FORREST POINT COCKTAIL: Forrest Fire (Tequila, St-Germain, watermelon, grapefruit, chili, and lime.) SERVING SIZE: Serves 3-4 PRICE: $14 LOCATION: 257 Moore St Brooklyn, NY 11206 DELIVERY INFO: Order by phone (718) 366-2742.
COCKTAIL: Olivette Martini Service (Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, St-Germain, and Noilly Prat.) SERVING SIZE: Serves 10 PRICE: $85 LOCATION: 79-81 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012 DELIVERY INFO: Order online through their website at dante-nyc. com or by phone (212) 982-5275.
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RESTAURANT/BAR: ROBERTA’S PIZZA COCKTAIL: Sour Times (Whiskey, St-Germain, and lemon.) SERVING SIZE: 1 quart/32 oz. PRICE: $35 LOCATION: 257 Moore St Brooklyn, NY 11206 DELIVERY INFO: Order online through Seamless, GrubHub, Caviar, Postmates or by phone (718) 417-1118.
RESTAURANT/BAR: MAISON PICKLE
NEW YORK
NY SCOPE
COCKTAIL: The Razzle (Vodka, St-Germain, lemon juice, and fresh berries.) SERVING SIZE: Serves 1 PRICE: $15 LOCATION: 2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024 DELIVERY INFO: Order online through their website at maisonpickle.com or by phone (212) 496-9100.
COCKTAIL: Shining Path (StGermain, Aveze Gentian, Salers, and lemon.) SERVING SIZE: Serves 2 PRICE: $19 LOCATION: 298 Bedford Ave Brooklyn, NY 11249 DELIVERY INFO: Sold out of pickup window, Order online through their website at maisonpremiereaway.com.
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RESTAURANT/BAR: FIDDLESTICKS COCKTAIL: Workin’ on a Dream (High West Rye, Havana Club Anejo, St-Germain, and Campari.) SERVING SIZE: Serves 1 PRICE: $11 LOCATION: 56 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011 DELIVERY INFO: Order online through GrubHub or by phone (212) 463-0516.
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FLAWLESS
NASHOM THERE IS NO OTHER COLLABORATIVELY BY PAUL AND JOJO OF THE ONES, PEACE BISQUIT AND POPULAR PUBLICITY DOWNTOWN STAR, EAST VILLAGE FIXTURE, WRITER,
NEW YORK
IN MEMORIUM
POP SINGER, FASHIONISTA, AND PERFORMER, NASHOM
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BENJAMIN WOODEN, born October 9, 1969, died at the
age of 50 on March 23, 2020, of the COVID-19 virus. If one were to take a snapshot of all that was fierce about Downtown NYC nightlife over the last three decades, caught in the flash, giving face and body, would be Nashom Wooden. Like many who have since ascended to the East Village pantheon, Nashom was unique, talented, a sweetheart and a presence. Tall, muscular, and handsome, Nashom was a former high school athlete with a love of superheroes, strong women, pop culture and camp. From Grace Jones to Sylvester, Thierry Mugler to Rick Owens,“Sunset Boulevard”to“Paris is Burning,”Quentin Crisp to Katherine Helmond, Nashom mixed and served his own brand of attitude and humor. Though born in Brooklyn and hanging out at Manhattan’s Tunnel nightclub at 15, it wasn’t until Nashom turned 18 that he moved into the City. He found work at Zoot on Waverly and later at cult boutique Charivari, before eventually landing at the Eighth Street“fashion bazaar”owned by future “Sex in the City”and“Devil Wears Prada”designer, Patricia Field. Co-workers at Pat Field included best friends and future collaborators, designer JoJo Americo and writer and director Paul E. Alexander, also known as the former master of ceremonies at Johnny Dynell and Chi Chi Valenti’s legendary Tuesday night Meatpacking District party, Jackie 60 (1991-1999). It was at Zoot in 1989, that Nashom met Nikki Nicole (Nicholas Carter), the first black Miss Boy Bar, who dared him to do a lip-sync number on the Boy Bar stage. A lover of lip-synch, craving attention, and in need of a few coins, Nashom took the dare. The audience loved him, and, though “the girls weren’t all that welcoming at first,” he was eventually embraced by the Boy Bar Beauties, JUNE/JULY 2020
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THIS PAGE: NASHOM BY AARON COBBETT • MONA BY SANTIAGO FELIPE (GETTY IMAGES)
which included Miss Guy, Connie Girl, Princess Diandra and Raven—people he considered the cream of the crop of East Village performance artists. Nashom, named his newfound stage persona, “Mona,” after Katherine Helmond’s hilarious man crazed character on the 80’s sitcom, “Who’s the Boss.”“Foot”was tacked one night by Boy Bar talent booker Matthew Kasten, as he introduced Mona to the stage, and “Mona Foot” was born. A strapping six and a half feet tall, in a painfully tight corset, wig and heels, Mona’s Tina Turner/Wonder Woman-on-steroids drag, in costumes designed by David Dalrymple for House of Field, was at once intimidating and exhilarating. Her arch banter, sassy repartee, and instantly legendary take on Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman,”quickly made her a superstar on the Downtown scene. Fame brought nonstop gigs at Boy Bar, The Pyramid Club, Crowbar, The Cock, the annual drag festival, Wigstock and Barracuda, where she hosted the popular “Mona Foot’s Star Search” talent show. In 1999, it also brought Nashom roles in an OffBroadway play with RuPaul (“My Pet Homo”), on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (S1, E4 “Hysteria”), and as the in and out of drag character “Amazing Grace” in the Joel Schumacher’s film, “Flawless,” starring Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Though by this time he had tired of being known as Mona Foot (“That’s not my name. My name is Nashom”), when Schumacher said he could submit songs for the soundtrack, he saw an opportunity to do something new. Together with friend Paul E Alexander, he wrote a song for the film called, “Flawless,” the music for which was written and produced by A Touch of Class (Scissor Sisters) and remixed to perfection for the charts and clubs by Italoduo Phunk Investigation.
To perform the song, Nashom, Paul E Alexander and JoJo Americo became THE ONES. The three had met working at Patricia Field and had previously performed as a trio at the underground punk/drag party Squeezebox. Though the original slinky, catwalk version of “Flawless” didn’t make it into the movie, the 2001 remix by Phunk Investigation made the song the hit of the season in Ibiza, which propelled the single to #7 on the UK Top 10 and number 1 on International Dance Charts.“Flawless” was featured in a 2002 Revlon commercial and cemented THE ONES international pop stardom. In an instant, the trio was jetting to London to perform the song on“Top of the Pops”,“Pepsi Chart Show”and major clubs like Ministry of Sound, G.A.Y. as well as many gigs across Europe. In 2004, George Michael faithfully reworked the song as his own hit,“Flawless (Go to the City),”which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Three albums—”The Ones” (2007), “NYC Jungle” (2008) and “Blast From the Past”(2010)—and nearly a dozen singles followed of flawlessly produced dance music, reflecting the trio’s various musical influences—a mix of electro, house, new wave, rock and pop. Album covers featured JoJo, Paul and Nashom, all Mona Lisa smiles and gazing eyes in runway ready superhero couture by David Dalrymple (House of Field). The final single,“Let’s Celebrate” by THE ONES featuring Nomi Ruiz, was a Top 10 Billboard Dance Club Chart hit. The accompanying videos, particularly“When We Get Together,”“Face and Body,” and “Let’s Celebrate” were nothing less than roll calls for a who’s who of the Downtown glitterati, featuring fellow club, music, and fashion stars, from Amanda Lepore, Cazwell, Susanne Bartsch and Jody Watley, to Debbie Harry, Jake Shears, Connie METROSOURCE.COM
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“No one, not one person made me laugh harder longer and more furiously than Nashom Wooden. There are people put on this planet that exist in Magic. When you were in Nashom’s vortex he understood you and you were captivated in his spell of lyrical wit. Then she would READ you for filth, but it was because he could sense the strength of your heart and if you could take it, you were lucky enough to be bonded forever. That was his hug, his gift. I will miss my magnificent friend forever.”– Frankie Sharp
Girl and Miss Guy, to supermodels Pat Cleveland and daughter, Anna to Frankie Sharp and the legendary group godmother, Codie Leone. Fourteen years later, after crisscrossing the globe for gigs from San Francisco Pride, Sydney Mardi Gras, to Russia (where they were surprisingly popular), and opening for Lady Gaga, the trio remained friends, but decided to stop performing together as THE ONES. Nashom continued to work at The Cock where he’d been a bartender (his favorite position), doorman and DJ since 1997. And though no longer performing as THE ONES. Nashom remained a glamorous regular on the Downtown art and fashion scene, often seen at movie premieres, fashion shows, or running around the East Village looking fierce in Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Dirk Bikkembergs and David Dalrymple for House of Field. From all accounts, Nashom left us in his prime: Fit, fly, and fabulous. He’d just finished writing a television show treatment, was a regular at numerous gyms (and it showed) and if you bumped into him on the street, he was just as sly and witty as ever. Nashom Benjamin Wooded is survived by his mother, Maraline Brooks. A fittingly fierce memorial will celebrate Nashom once we are able. Get your look together!
Nashom. Absolutely flawless. 56
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TRIBUTES: “Just like perfection, superstar Nashom came into our lives one night at our first club house Boy Bar on St. Mark’s Place sometime in the late 80’s. Cut to the end of the 90’s. We wrote a song and THE ONES were born with the worldwide hit, “Flawless”. Fourteen years later, we decided to stop performing together as THE ONES but remained friends. With heavy heart we must say there can never be another Nashom. He was a once in a lifetime encounter.”– Paul & Jojo “NYC drag queens are known for many things. One is their unique personas which rely less on celebrity impersonation than becoming their own celeb. Mona Foot, also a friend and roommate, did this NYC tradition proud. She was originally groomed by Matthew Kasten at the Boybar to lip-synch classic Aretha Franklin tunes, in bold print house dresses, short blonde wigs and garish make-up. The look was clown-y, but as she matured, Mona ditched the matronly drag in favor of longer, glamorous wigs, corsets, more flattering make-up, and fetish heels, often with a super-hero vibe. Lip-synching to Chaka’s “I’m Every Woman” dressed as Wonder Woman, this muscular black guy became a symbol of the gay East Village. “Her bulging physique gave her drag a gender-fuck quality without the beard. So beloved, that sometimes ‘Did you see what Mona Foot was wearing?’ was often the most asked question after any Wigstock--even if her wig fell off mid-number.
“I was fortunate enough to share a loft with Nashom for a decade. We found our best common ground was music, and within that Earth Wind & Fire and Funkadelic was the soundtrack to our lives. Nashom had a remarkable range from Sylvester to Isaac Hayes- he could sing anything. ... in fact, he could sing every part. Some of my favorite memories are him singing “ You scared the Lovin’ out of me” by funkadelic while contorting his face into the most primitive gravelly rubbery deep funk vocals and then jumping into the highest sweet gospel falsetto without missing a word. He loved that he had this gift and we would laugh in delight. This laughter defined this decade to me. Nashom literally oozed talent. He was a hilarious comedian, great singer, and had an amazing eye for design, His face with its broad Hollywood smile and giant eyes was so expressive he could entertain a large club or small group with the ease of a great star. because he was.”– Scott Ewalt “What I remember most about Nashom was his smile. Whether it was on the streets of New York City, or the boardwalks of Cherry Grove (his summer home), Nashom’s smile was a sight to behold. I’m sad for New York City nightlife and our friends at the Cock who worked with him nightly, as we’ve lost a mainstay.”– Daniel Nardicio
THIS PAGE: THE ONES[HPTP BY AARON COBBETT
NEW YORK
IN MEMORIUM
As it often did. Whether it was jetting around the world as part of THE ONES, or bartending at The Cock for many years, Mona lived. Her drag character was so popular that she literally could not retire, which led to many comebacks. I’m delighted to have shared so many laughs, drinks, and good times with this queen, who cleaned up her act in later years with regards to all the partying. But she always kept that wardrobe and her wicked sense of humor!” – Lady Bunny
“Nashom/Mona was a drag warrior, a surreally hot musical presence, and a beloved friend and icon to all on the nightlife scene. In a word, he was flawless.”– Michael Musto “Nashom had style, wit, talent and generosity of spirit. He was a gentleman and a class act.” – Aaron Cobbett “I first met Mona in 1992, the year I moved to NYC and started performing in drag. Over 28 years, even if we only saw each a few times a year, those moments were spent cackling and laughing. She ALWAYS greeted me with, “Sherry Vine, you are a man!” – Sherry Vine
“Mona left an indelible impression on anyone she encountered. Nashom was one of the friendliest scenesters in New York. It was a thrill to have her perform in PETA’s first “Fur Is A Drag” show at the Palladium. Miss Foot, you are terribly missed!”– Dan Mathews, Senior VP, PETA “Nashom was family and sadly and suddenly we lost one of our own.”– Patricia Field
“I don’t know how to put it into words exactly. I don’t know if words can really define the power, grace, and beauty of a soul like Nashom. This loss is so tremendous for all of us who were incredibly blessed to know him. He was pure energy, love, and light. He was a force of nature simple as that! And though we are all bewildered and heartbroken we must believe the soul never dies: Nashom’s spirit continues.” – Ultra Naté
“I’d seen Nashom around the Downtown scene for many years, often performing as Mona Foot. In or out or drag, Nashom was fierce. And I was intimidated. But, when I got to know THE ONES, first through A Touch of Class, which produced “Flawless,” and later through Peace Biscuit Productions, as the publicist for the“NYC Jungle” album, I was swept up by Nashom’s superstar smile and wicked humor. The four of us (JoJo, Paul, Nashom) even appeared on an episode of “Cash Cab.” We got one phone call to ask for help with a question, and of course, called Lady Bunny. We were crying. We lost miserably, but it was a cackle. Since then I’d run into Nashom around the neighborhood, often rocking some serious Rick Ownens fashion as I did just a month ago, and we always had a cute little sidewalk kiki.” – Andy Reynolds “Nashom as Mona projected a laissez- far attitude during his lipsticks and it served so well to set him apart from everyone else. As Mona his performance of Pink Floyd’s “Great Gig in the Sky”is legendary and set the bar extremely high for all other queens. Nashom brought a spirt of joy and mischief and it was always welcomed by any audience.”– Matthew Kasten “Nashom was an unapologetically black, queer, NYC icon superstar with a sharp wit, great taste, fierce style and cool demeanor. We’ve admired him as a performer and a person since our club days in the late ’80’s when there weren’t many heroes worth holding out for. His star power and charisma were seemingly effortless. His indelible legacy will live on through all of us– his friends and fans. A legend never dies.”– Bill Coleman, Peace Bisquit
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A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
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BY DEBORAH L. MARTIN LAURA RAICOVICH HAS SPENT HER CAREER AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART, COMMUNITY, and social justice, so her appointment as Interim Director of
the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, the nation’s first museum dedicated to queer art, makes perfect sense. She succeeds Gonzalo Casals, who was recently appointed New York City’s Cultural Affairs Commissioner. Raicovich was formerly the president and executive director of the Queens Museum, and for the last 18 months she has been working on a book about museums and cultural institutions and the “myth of neutrality.” “Gonzalo and I are good friends, and he called me and said,‘Would you consider this?’ It was right around the time everything got locked down,” says Raicovich. “I was obviously paying a lot of attention to how [the pandemic] was going to affect cultural institutions particularly because that’s my world, and I was already thinking about how we were going to respond to this.”Raicovich says her role as Interim Director is to “steer the organization through a period of transition with some stability, and basically hand it off to the permanent director, at least in as good a place as I received it.” Current world events have made that even more of a challenge than it would normally be. The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art was created by Charles Leslie and Laura Raicovich Fritz Lohman, New Yorkers who held an exhibit of gay artists in their SoHo loft in 1969. The pair continued to collect, and exhibit works throughout the 1970s, and during the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s they began to rescue the work of dying artists whose families were going to destroy it. In 1987, they formed the Leslie-Lohman JUNE/JULY 2020
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THIS PAGE: TLAURA RAICOVICH BY MICHAEL ANGELO
NEW YORK
CULTURE
LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF ART PROVIDES A QUEER CULTURAL HUB IN NEW YORK CITY
Gay Art Foundation, and the organization was accredited as a museum in 2016. The museum has a collection of over 30,000 objects and hosts six major exhibitions annually, maintains a research library of over 3,000 volumes, and acts as a cultural hub for the LGBTQAI+ community. The idea of a cultural hub has been a particular challenge for the museum, as it has been for so many cultural institutions during the pandemic. Says Raicovich, “For a place that’s as community-oriented as Leslie-Lohman, that has functioned as a hub for queer folks from all over the city and even outside of the city, this is a very real challenge. [The Museum] has been very, very essential in that sense, and it needs to continue to be that for folks.” She continues, “The challenge is to go from existing in real space to virtual space, and especially since one of our big focuses is on access, to think about how people will get access who don’t necessarily have broadband, and who aren’t able to do Zoom or the like. Almost everybody has phones now, but not all those phones are the same, nor do they necessarily have the kind of data that is needed.” Raicovich’s mission is to make sure that the community stays connected. “How do we make sure we’re not cutting people out who are already marginalized? That has been a major focus of thinking through what our programming will be while we’re kind of not able to open our doors.” To that end, she has been reworking the museum’s website, making sure that current exhibitions are all available online, and coming up with creative webinars that can be accessed by the public. As an example, in May the museum launched a webinar about Alt-Text.“I met this really great artist named Shannon Finnegan, who does a lot of disability activist work, and she had been working on an Alt-Text project. Alt-Text is the way that people who have low vision can see the internet. And so, she does these workshops to teach people how to use Alt-Text which most arts organizations don’t even do.” Raicovich worked with Eyebeam, where Finnegan was in residency, to bring the webinar to the public. “We were just going to do it for the staff because I think our website should have rich Alt-Text content but then I thought, why not make this public? So many people are taking this moment to revisit their websites, us included, because they are suddenly essential.” The Alt-Text Project webinar brought together queer writers and artists, and the video can be viewed on the museum’s website. “Shannon is really amazing, she thinks of Alt-Text as a place for art and poetry, and that what we do there doesn’t have to be so literal. It’s a visual place to begin with because it’s a way to allow people with low vision to be able to ‘see’ the internet.” Raicovich believes that programs like this are going to be important going forward, for all cultural institutions. “One of the things that this crisis puts in remarkably high relief is the inequities of the society in which we live, and I think there are all kinds of ways that those inequities can be addressed. There can be very subtle ways that we take on those challenges, like fixing Alt-Text. I think the METROSOURCE.COM
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CULTURE 60
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PAGE 59 & 60: LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF ART FACADE COURTESY PHOTO
NEW YORK
(c) Kristine Eudey, 2019, JEB (Joan E. Biren), BEING SEEN MAKES A MOVEMENT POSSIBLE, Facade Commission, Leslie-Lohman Museum.
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Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is one of the few museums that has an Alt-Text policy. I think it should be something that everybody does, just like when museums started digitizing collections. We need to make Alt-Text a standard so that more people can receive the work that we do.” Raicovich’s philosophy about museums is that they are, or should be, democratic spaces that function as a place not only to view art but to come together as a community. Her work at the Queens Museum included massive and extensive community outreach in one of the most diverse boroughs in New York. Her forthcoming book also examines the biases of cultural institutions both large and small.“What I try to do in my book is to look back at the history of museums and cultural institutions in the United States in order to understand where some of these biases come from.” She continues, “Of course, most museums and cultural institutions in the United States came from the donation of artwork that was owned by very wealthy people. Excellence has come to be defined, in some ways, by certain types of taste. What I’m really interested in is the way that public libraries and museums came out of similar places, started by the wealthiest Americans like Andrew Carnegie, but libraries somehow feel more public and more democratic. Perhaps that’s because they have that word,‘public’ but I believe there is also something else. I think there’s a lot that museums can potentially learn from libraries.” Raicovich is charged with shepherding Leslie-Lohman through an especially difficult period in history, and she sees that as part of a larger conversation about how museums like hers should function.“The history of this institution is all about the relationship between what a museum and what culture is for communities that have been marginalized. We are more akin to the Queens Museum than to, say, MoMA, not that there’s anything wrong with MoMA, but it’s a different kind of space, it’s a different kind of cultural experience. What makes New York special is this great diversity that we have with cultural spaces, but what concerns me is the precarity with which so many of our great, great institutions like Leslie-Lohman and the Tenement Museum, for example, function and how we weather the storm.” Besides protecting the public face of the museum, her role is to also care for the staff, and to that end she continues to work on funding and creative ways to continue programming. “For me, a great priority is centering care for the
people who make the museum. Institutions aren’t buildings and at the end of the day, they are not even collections. Those are the assets of the institution in the financial sense, but the people make the institution what it is and without the people you just have storehouses. Yes, the art might be great, but if you don’t have people to open the doors and to clean the bathrooms and to interpret the work, what are we talking about? So, I’ve been really trying to figure out a way to help the Leslie-Lohman
Museum during this moment do things a little bit differently. Especially during a pandemic when we have a health system that’s linked to employment, I would like to do everything in my power to ensure that we make all decisions from a place of care about the people who make this an incredibly special place.” TO LEARN MORE AND TO DONATE TO THE LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF ART, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE LESLIELOHMAN.ORG
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ONE INDEPENDENT PHARMACY ALWAYS PROVIDES UNPRECEDENTED CARE BY MEGAN VENZIN
MANY GREENWICH VILLAGE STOREFRONTS REMAIN SHUTTERED AS THE CORONAVIRUS WREAKS HAVOC ON NEW YORK CITY, an epicenter of the
deadly pandemic. But at Village Apothecary, the lights are still switched on. Delivery staff exit the front doors in a flurry before running prescriptions and critical medical supplies to people all over the city. Business is booming for the neighborhood stalwart, but it’s a bittersweet fact. “We are going to great lengths to obtain items in high demand and short supply such as face masks, latex gloves, thermometers, hand sanitizer and certain medications,” says Director of Pharmacy Services, John Kaliabakos. “It is our policy to give our customers complimentary face masks if they do not have any. As hundreds of our clients are immunocompromised, the pharmacy has been inundated with phone calls involving questions and concerns.” This is not the first time Village Apothecary has provided expert care during a life-altering outbreak. Founded by Michael Konnon, a pharmacist, businessman and community leader, the store was invaluable when the AIDS epidemic struck New York in the early 1980s. At a time when few pharmacies were carrying rare treatments for people with an HIV positive status, Village Apothecary’s shelves were stocked. Many patients who considered the store a safe haven during that turbulent period are still loyal customers today. The shop’s frontline responses to crises and corruption have not gone unnoticed externally over the years either.“Village Apothecary was honored to receive a proclamation from the Manhattan Borough President’s Office which honored us for our contribution to the healthcare field through 30 years of service,”Kaliabakos shares with pride.“Additionally, Village Apothecary joined other independent pharmacies and pharmacy organizations in petitioning the governor of NY to end the unfair insurance policies which JUNE/JULY 2020
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allowed Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) to steal millions of dollars from NY State pharmacy patients and forced many independent pharmacies out of business. After many protests at City Hall and Albany, we were finally able to convince Governor Cuomo to end these unjust practices.” These victories (both of which occurred in the past 12 months) have enabled Village Apothecary to further cement its reputation of fighting on behalf of the people of New York. In their mission to provide compassionate and exceptional care, the dedicated staffers never fall short either. “We strive to offer a variety of products both locally produced and from around the world, all of the highest quality,” Kaliabakos adds.“If a patient requests an item that we do not carry we make our best effort to find it and order it.” As an incentive for people to stay home, Village Apothecary will deliver or ship these hard-to-find items free of charge. In 2019, Village Apothecary was a proud sponsor of the 2019 LGBTQ Pride Month Reception in partnership with the NY City Mayor’s office. This year’s Pride celebrations have been cancelled to promote social distancing practices, but the store’s support for the LGBTQ+ community is strong and felt nonetheless. It’s hard to say what news tomorrow will bring, but one thing is for certain: New Yorkers can sit tight and stay safe knowing that Village Apothecary’s lights will continue to shine bright, even during dark and uncertain times.
VILLAGE APOTHECARY 346 BLEECKER ST. NEW YORK, NY 10014 212-807-7566 WWW.VILLAGEAPOTHECARY.COM
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ACUPUNCTURE
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FLAWLESS NASHOM WOODEN THERE IS NO OTHER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF ART NYC QUEER CULTURAL HUB
LESLIE JORDAN PRIDE COMES IN ALL SIZES
44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������� 212 495-0317 www.sciaccalaw.com
ABS Design & Construction NYC ��������������������������������������������212 731-0642 www.abs-construction-nyc.com
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COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY – DENTISTS
COUNSELING/PSYCHOTHERAPY Angers, Marc E., M.A. Oxon, L.C.S.W./L.P.
Licensed Psychoanalyst, NCPsyA NYC ��������������������������������������������917 678-7929
1133 Broadway #913 NYC �������������������������������������������212 470-9024 www.nychangemanagement.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)
Barneson, Jeff, LCSW
Schwartz, Alan, M.D., Psychiatrist
Blatter, Andrew, LCSW
51 Fifth Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 645-5795 http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/33692
119 Washington Place NYC ��������������������������������������������212 252-2314 www.jeffbarneson.com NYC �������������������������������������������917 442-5213 www.andrewblatter.com (SEE AD THIS PAGE)
Bloom Psychotherapy NYC
West Village/Chelsea NYC ��������������������������������������������212 727-0923
Tallent, Marc, Ph.D.
COUNSELING/SUBURBAN
19 W 34th St, PH NYC. �������������������������������������������347 921-0431 www.nycbloomtherapy.com
Kingan, Peter L., Ph.D.
Campbell, Robert D., LCSW Psychotherapy for Individuals & Couples NYC ������������������������������������646 783-8155 www.robertdcampbell.com
DATING SERVICES
Davies, Ann Conant, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
740 West End Ave, Ste 1 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 923-2257
Dicker, Phyllis D., L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., B.C.D.
NYC ��������������������������������������������718 855-5171
Factor, Rhonda J., PhD
31 Oak St Patchogue, NY ����������������������������631 447-6425
SEE ALSO INTRODUCTION SERVICES
ManMate
NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www.manmate.com
ManMate Dinners For 8
NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www.manmate.com
Wheaton, Grant
Dating Coach NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025
85 5th Ave, Ste 912 NYC ��������������������������������������������347 834-6057 www.rhondafactorphd.com
DENTISTS
Jarratt, Kent, L.C.S.W.
525 West End Ave #1G, NYC ���������212 874-2880 www.manhattanoasisdentistry.com
19 W 34th St, NYC ������� 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ �����������������������������917 686-6179 www.kentjarratt.com
Johnson, Thomas E., L.C.S.W.
Chelsea ���������������������������������������212 645-3952
Kingan, Peter L., Ph.D.
99 University Pl, 4th Fl NYC ������������������������������������������������917 428-2431
Koetting, Michael E., L.C.S.W.
NYC ��������������������������������������������212 741-2606 www.koettingpsychotherapy.com
McFadden, Stephen, LCSW SEP
435 W 23rd St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 627-8419 www.smcfadden.com
Nelson, Joshua, Ph.D. 71 W 23rd St, Ste 1115 NYC ������������������������������������646 512-0043 www.jnelsonphd.com Rayhill, Daniel, Ph.D. 276 Fifth Ave #1101
NYC ��������������������������������������������212 683-2454
Ross, Steven, LSCW
Union Square ������������������������������917 406-7900 www.stevenrosstherapy.com
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Schuetz, Volker, PsyD
JUNE/JULY 2020
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Babushkin, Howard, D.D.S., L.L.C.
Cassidy, J.R., D.D.S.
West 10th Dental P.C. 45 W 10th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 982-5883 www.west10thdental.com
NYC ��������������������������������������������212 982-5883 www.west10thdental.com
West 10th Dental P.C. 45 W 10th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 982-5883 www.west10thdental.com
De Bonis, William B., D.D.S.
World Wide Plaza Dental Associates 370 W 50th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 333-2650 www.wwpdental.com
Lew, Spencer, D.D.S.
30 E 40th St #706 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 286-1717 www.nycdental.com
LuxDen Dental Center
DENTISTS/PERIODONTISTS Bizzell, Steven J., D.M.D., D.A.B.P. 50-02 5th St Ste B, Long Island City ��������������������������718 530-6539 www.licdentalassociates.com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
2579 E 17th St, Ste 11 Brooklyn �������������������������������������718 382-3444 www.luxden.com
Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
Rosa, John D., D.D.S., P.C. 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ ��������������������� 201 626-2700
DENTISTS/SUBURBAN
Sengos, Demetrios, D.D.S.
Rosa, John D., D.D.S., P.C. 40 Newport Parkway, Ste P-1 Jersey City, NJ ���������������������201 626-2700
West 10th Dental P.C. 45 W 10th St
DERMATOLOGY – HOTELS
DERMATOLOGY SEE ALSO PHYSICIANS
Advanced Dermatology Associates
200 Central Park South #107 NYC �������������������������������������������212 262-2500 NYC �������������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
Arora, Navin, DO, FAAD
Arora Dermatology 115 Broadway, Ste 1800 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 244-1252 www.aroraderm.com
Goldman, Barry D., M.D.
The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr. NYC ��������������������������������������������212 870-6762 www.trcnyc.com Yachts for All Seasons NYC ��������������������������������������������212 534-6380 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 864-7670 www.y4as.com
EVENT SERVICES Big Apple Event Audio Visual
519 8th Ave, Ste 815 NYC �������������������������������������������212 518-3175 www.avnycrentals.com
150 Broadway #111 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 962-1115
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Juva Skin & Laser Center
Lance R. Kash, Financial Advisor, CFP® 122 E 42nd St #2215 NYC ����������� 646 964-9400
60 E 56th St #2 NYC ������������������������������������������� 212 421-9501 www.juvaskin.com
Lumos Dermatology
Peter Chien, MD, PhD 37 E 28th St, Ste 304 NYC ��������������������������������������������646 820-1716 www.lumosdermatology.com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
Ameriprise Financial Services
Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC
44 Wall St, 12th Fl, NYC �������������212 495-0317 www.sciaccalaw.com
New York Life/NYLIFE Securities
Marlon J. Altoe 420 Lexington Ave, 15th Fl NYC ������������������������������������������� 646 227-8605 Cell �������������������������������������������� 646 761-4372 www.newyorklife.com/agent/maltoe Peloso-Barnes, Julia A., CFP, CPM, CRPC Purchase, NY ������������������������������914 225-6391 www.advisor.morganstanley.com/the-pelosobarnes-group
EMPLOYMENT Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)
FITNESS/GYMS/PERSONAL TRAINERS
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
550 W 54th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 265-1111 www.themercedesclub.com
1700 Stadium Way LA �����������������������������������������������213 847-LAFD www.joinlafd.org 700 E Temple St, B-38 LA �����������������������������������������������866 444-LAPD www.joinlapd.com
EVENT PLANNING & EVENT SPACE/RENTALS SEE ALSO CATERING, WEDDING SERVICES
Elite Private Yachts NYC ��������������������������������������������866 862-7245 www.eliteprivateyachts.com www.entertainmentcruises.com/new-york Hornblower Cruises & Events Pier 40, NYC �������������������������������646 832-2805 www.hornblowerny.com/metrosource Houston Hall 222 W. Houston St NYC ������������������������������������������� 212 582-2057 Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn �������������������������������������718 307-7133 www.patinaevents.com
Mercedes Club
FLORISTS la Fleur d’Harlem
203 W 144th St NYC �������������������������������������������646 850-5973 www.lafleurnyc.com
FRAMING
GUEST HOUSES/B&B’S Chelsea Pines Inn
317 W 14th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 929-1023
Colonial House Inn
318 W 22nd St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 243-9669
Incentra Village House
32 8th Ave @ W 12th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 206-0007 www.incentravillage.com
MisterBandB
www.misterbandb.com
HAIR REMOVAL Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC ������������������������������������ 212 262-2500 NYC ������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
HAIR REPLACEMENT/REPLICATION OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
Stoller, Roy B., D.O. 515 Madison Ave, Ste 1205 NYC ������������������������������������212 920-4499 www.hairdoctornyc.com
HOTELS The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Atlantic City, NJ ��������������������������609 317-1000 www.outatborgata.com
Foxwoods Resort & Casino www.foxwoods.com
14th Street Framing Gallery
The Graham & Co
225 W 14th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 691-8156
Phoenicia, NY �����������������������������845 688-7871 www.thegrahamandco.com
GIFTS
Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave - Chelsea
Li-Lac Chocolates West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC ��������������������������������������������212 924-2280 www.li-lacchocolates.com
125 W 26th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 430-8500 www.hi-nyc.com
Hotel Hayden
127 W 28th St NYC ��������������������������������������������844 423-6004 www.hotelhaydennyc.com METROSOURCE.COM
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HOTELS (CONTINUED) – PHYSICAL THERAPY Hotel Henri
37 W 24th St NYC ��������������������������������������������844 277-9123 www.hotelhenrinyc.com
Opus Hotel Vancouver
322 Davie St, Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 642-6787 www.opushotel.com
Sandman Suites on Davie
1160 Davie St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 681-7263 www.sandmanhotels.com
Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel
1088 Burrard St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 331-1000 www.sheratonvancouver.com
Sunset Marquis
1200 Alta Loma Rd West Hollywood CA ����������������������������������������������800 858-9758 www.sunsetmarquis.com
VIVE Hotel Waikiki
2426 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, Hawaii ������������������������808 687-2000 www.vivehotelwaikiki.com
INSURANCE HealthSherpa
Toll Free ��������������������������������������844 346-9476 www.metrosource.healthsherpa.com
INTRODUCTION SERVICES SEE ALSO DATING SERVICES
MARKETING SERVICES Brand2Fly San Jose �������������������������������������� 408 763-7924 www.brand2fly.com
GayVan.com Travel Marketing www.gayvan.com
NYC ��������������������������������������������212 564-4025 www.manmate.com
LASER VISION CORRECTION SEE ALSO OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Chelsea Specialty Pharmacy
Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
OPTOMETRISTS Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S. Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St, NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com
OMNI Aesthetic MD Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
10 Sheridan Square NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 242-6592 www.eyecarenyc.com
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Bizzell, Steven J., D.M.D., D.A.B.P.
50 E 69th St, NYC �����������������������212 317-1188 Denville, NJ ���������������������������������973 377-8950 www.askdrm.com
OMNI Aesthetic MD JUNE/JULY 2020
METROSOURCE.COM
Apthorp Pharmacy 2201 Broadway, NYC ������������������212 877-3480
7 2nd Ave, NYC ��������������������������212 260-3131
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Marfuggi, Richard M.D., D.M.H, F.A.C.S.
446 6th Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 477-0762 www.ansoniapharmacy.com
Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S. Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com
Samuelson, Stefan T., MD
LIPOSUCTION
Ansonia Pharmacy
OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S. Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC ������������������������������������212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
PHARMACIES/DRUGS
Arrow Pharmacy 883 Ninth Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 245-8469 www.arrowpharmacy.com
West Village Eyecare Associates
ManMate
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Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St, NYC ����������������������� 212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 993-8573 NYC �������������������������������������������� 212 594-1600
PERIODONTISTS Periodontist 50-02 5th St Ste B Long Island City ��������������������������718-530-6539 www.licdentalassociates.com
PET SUPPLIES Nulo Pet Foods nulo.com/love
Avalon Chemists Bigelow Chemists 414 Sixth Ave, NYC ��������������������212 533-2700 171 Seventh Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 255-9900
CVS Specialty 126 8th Ave NYC �������������������������������������������212 807-8798 (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
Mayfair Chemists 21 Seventh Ave, NYC ���������� 212 242-1444 New London Pharmacy 246 Eighth Ave, NYC ������������������212 243-4987
New York Chemists 77 Christopher St, NYC ���������������212 255-2525 www.newyorkchemists.com
Thompson Chemists & Thompson Alchemists 137 Thompson St 449 West Broadway NYC ��������������������������������������������212 598-9790 www.thompsonchemists.com
Village Apothecary 346 Bleecker St NYC �������������������������������������������212 807-7566 www.villageapothecary.com (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
PHYSICAL THERAPY Galán, Antonio, PT, DPT, MBA, CHC RestoreRehab Physical Therapy 664 10th Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 245-5259 www.restorerehabpt.com
Symbio Physio Therapy 214 W 29th St, Ste 901 NYC ��������������������������������������������917 338-6268 www.symbiopt.com
PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES
PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES Advanced Dermatology Associates 200 Central Park South #107 NYC ������������������������������������ 212 262-2500 NYC ������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.adv-derm.com Amida Care NYC ������������������������������������855 462-6432 www.amidacareny.org Astor Medical Group
w
Coad, Christopher T., M.D., F.A.C.S. Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology 157 W 19th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 220-0066 www.chelseaeyeophthalmology.com
Goldberg, Edward S., M.D.
Dillon, Stephen, M.D.
154 W 14th St, 4th Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������212 627-7560
Int. Med., Inf. Dis. 314 W 14th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 620-0144
Dormer, Anita L., M.D., F.A.C.C.P.
67 Irving Place, 5th Fl @ E 18th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 253-2968 www.astormedical.com
22 E 72nd St, 5th Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������212 535-5905
Central Park Medical Associates
Fonville, T.W., Int. Med.
200 Central Park South #107 NYC �������������������������������������������212 262-2500 NYC �������������������������������������������212 246-0800 www.centralparkmedicalassociates.com
29 Fifth Ave @ 10th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 674-1020
VILL AGE APOTHECARY
Int. Med., Gastr. 121 E 60th St, 3rd Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������212 980-8800
Hsu, Ricky K., M.D.
Icochea, Rosendo S., M.D. 117 E 18th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 387-9199
Jaeger, Lawrence D., D.O. 200 Central Park South #107 NYC ������������������������������������212 246-0800 NYC ������������������������������������ 212 262-2500 www.adv-derm.com Jarratt, Kent, L.C.S.W. 19 W 34th St, Penthouse Ste NYC ������������������������������ 212 947-7111, ext 119 Oceanport, NJ �����������������������������917 686-6179 www.kentjarratt.com
Leach, Eric G., N.P. 154 W 14th St, 4th Fl, NYC ��������212 627-7560
Lexington Plastic Surgeons 113 E 39th St NYC ��������������������������������������������646 374-2410 www.try.lexingtonplasticsurgeons.com/ metrosource
T H E C O M M U N I T Y P H A R M AC Y T H AT C A R E S Mandell, William, M.D.
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Infectious Diseases 31 Washington Sq West NYC ��������������������������������������������212 475-8833
Marfuggi, Richard A., M.D., D.M.H., F.A.C.S. 50 E 69th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 317-1188 Denville, NJ ���������������������������������973 377-8950 www.askdrm.com
Maze Sexual & Reproductive Health
Maze Men’s Health Maze Women’s Health Maze Labs Maze Cord Blood 633 Third Ave, Ste 9B NYC �������������������������������������������646 585-8980 www.mazehealth.com (SEE AD IN THIS ISSUE)
Midtown Integrative Medicine Aziz, Michael, M.D., FRSM 509 Madison Ave @ 53rd St, Ste 1111 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 906-9111 www.michaelazizmd.com
346 Bleecker St • Greenwich VillaGe, nY 10014 • VillaGeapothecarY.com
2 1 2 . 8 0 7. 7 5 6 6 METROSOURCE.COM
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PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES (CONTINUED) – SCHOOLS Namdar, Isaac, M.D.
Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist 425 W 59th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 262-4444 1090 Amsterdam Ave NYC ��������������������������������������������212 663-2210 www.newyorkentspecialist.com www.namdarmd.com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St, NYC �����������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
Pearl, Alan, M.D., Psychiatrist
135 W 70th St, NYC �������������������212 724-5188
Samuelson, Stefan T., MD
44 E 12th St, Ste MD1 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 993-8573 NYC ��������������������������������������������212 594-1600
PLASTIC SURGERY Dr. WW Med Spa and Laser Clinic
85-16 Queens Blvd, 2F, Elmhurst, NY 139 Centre St #224, NYC �����������718 457-0707 www.drwwmedspa.com
Lexington Plastic Surgeons
113 E 39th St NYC ��������������������������������������������646 374-2410 www.try.lexingtonplasticsurgeons.com/ metrosource
Marfuggi, Richard A., M.D., D.M.H F.A.C.S.
50 E 69th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 317-1188 Denville NJ �����������������������������������������������973 377-8950 www.askdrm.com
OMNI Aesthetic MD
Eviatar, Joseph, M.D., F.A.C.S. 5 W 19th St, NYC �����������������������212 257-0007 www.omniaestheticmd.com
Sexual Health Men
290 Madison Ave 6th Fl, NYC �����973 493-7607 www.sexualhealthmen.com
Skintology
Cosmetical Aesthetics 157 E 57th St, NYC 181 7th Ave, NYC �����������������������212 989-6555 www.skintologyny.com
PODIATRISTS Ciment, Ethan J., D.P.M.
Collins, Michael, D.P.M. Chelsea Foot & Ankle Center 37 W 20th St, Ste 308, NYC �������646 929-4149 www.chelseafootandankle.com
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REAL ESTATE
RETAIL
Bonavita, David Compass NYC ������������������������������������ 212 501-8281 www.davidbonavita.com
Eva’s Supplements
Chroughan, Judy
SCHOOLS
Julie B. Fee Sotherby’s 49 Purchase St Rye, NY ��������������������������������������914 262-5323
Coldwell Bank Residential Brokerage
JC Waterfront – Team Francesco Robert G. Harris 1 2nd St, Ste 1 & 4 Jersey City, NJ �����������������������������201 604-4200 Cell ���������������������������������������������646 334-0559
Enzo Morabito Team
Douglas Elliman Real Estate Bridgehampton �������������������������� 631 537-6519 Cell ���������������������������������������������516 695-3433 www.theenzomorabitoteam.elliman.com
Hendler, Lisa E.
Berkshire Hathaway Blake Realtors Kinderhook, NY ��������������������������518 929-4519
McGrotty, Amy, JD
Castelli Luxury Real Estate Services Fort Lauderdale, FL ����������������������954 347-1732 www.amy.castellihomes.com
Powell, DeWayne A.
Town Residential NYC ��������������������������������������������917 748-5100 www.townresidential.com
Prince, Keith A.
Brown Harris Stevens NYC ��������������������������������������������917 826-3451 www.brownharrisstevens.com
TF Cornerstone www.tfc.com
Wright, Daniel Compass NYC ��������������������������������������������917 304-4270
REAL ESTATE/SUBURBAN Habeeb-Clark, Deborah
Keller Williams Hudson Valley, NY �����������������������845 800-5413
Perasso, Matt Prominent Properties/Sotheby’s International Realty 2 Main St, Edgewater, NJ ������������201 840-8898 Cell ���������������������������������������������917 834-0454 www.goldcoastcribs.com
11 W 8th St (bet 5th & 6th Aves) NYC ������������������������������������������� 212 982-2500 www.evassupplements.com
Brooklyn Heights Montessori School
185 Court St, Brooklyn ���������������718 858-5100 www.bhmsny.org
Advanced Dermatology Associates Proudly Serving the Community for Over Twenty Years MEDICAL, COSMETIC & SURGICAL DERMATOLOGY
All Skin, Hair & Nail Disorders. All Skin Growths On-Site HIV & STD Screening, Immediate Results
Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Board Certified. University Affiliated. Confidential Treatment of All STD’s
www.adv-derm.com 200 Central Park South, Suite 107
212-262-2500 Day, Evening, Weekend and Same Day Appoitments Available. All Major Credit Cards and Insurance Plans Accepted.
The Genital Wart Treatment Center A private medical facility specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of genital warts and all STD’s in a caring, supportive and confidential environment. Board Certified Specialists • Diagnosis and Treatment of ALL Sexually Transmitted Diseases Painless Treatment with the Latest & Most Effective Therapies Available • On-Site HIV Antibody Testing • Immediate Results • Specializing in the Successful Treatment of Recurrent Genital Warts
www.CentralParkMedicalAssociates.com Central Park Medical Associates 200 Central Park South, Suite 107
212-246-0800
COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL
Day, Evening and Weekend Appointments Available. All Major Credit Cards and Insurance Plans Accepted. 77 METROSOURCE.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 METROSOURCE.COM
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SCHOOLS (CONTINUED) – WINE & SPIRITS Rudolf Steiner School
15 E 79th St NYC ��������������������������������������������212 535-2130 www.steiner.edu
TRAVEL Bucks County Pennsylvania www.visitbuckscounty.com
Kennedy Travel 130 W 42nd St #401 NYC ������������������������������������212 398-0999 Toll Free ������������������������������ 800 237-7433 www.kennedytravel.com Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce 36 Main St Ogunquit, ME ���������������������207 646-2939 www.visitogunquit.org
WEDDING SERVICES Bespoke Matchmaking
1180 Avenue of the Americas, 8th Fl NYC ��������������������������������������������888 422-6464 www.bespokematchmaking.com Elite Private Yachts NYC ��������������������������������������������866 862-7245 www.eliteprivateyachts.com www.entertainmentcruises.com/new-york
Feinstein’s/54 Below
254 W 54th St, Cellar NYC ����������������������������������� 212 302-5559 x114 www.54below.com
Gatherings Floral Design
www.gatheringsfloraldesign.com
Hornblower Cruises & Events
Sullivan Catskills Catskills, NY ���������������������� 800 882-CATS www.sullivancatskills.com
Pier 40, NYC �������������������������������646 832-2805 www.hornblowerny.com/metrosource
TRAVEL/GETAWAYS
222 W. Houston St, NYC ����������� 212 582-2057
Foxwoods Resort & Casino www.foxwoods.com
Visit Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA ��������������������������215 599-0776 www.visitphilly.com
Houston Hall
Li-Lac Chocolates West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC ������������������������������������ 212 924-2280 www.li-lacchocolates.com
Make My Cake
NYC �����������������������������������������212 234-2344
www.makemycake.com
Manhattan Penthouse
NYC �����������������������������������������212 627-8838 www.manhattanpenthouse.com
New York Zoos and Aquarium
NYC �����������������������������������������718 741-3836
www.nyzooevents.com
Oheka Castle
135 West Gate Dr Huntington, NY �����������������������631 659-1400 www.oheka.com
Our Wedding Officiant NYC
Peter Boruchowitz NYC �����������������������������������������917 523-1438 www.nyc-gay-weddings.com Patina Events - Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn ����������������������������������718 307-7133 www.patinaevents.com Paul Evans Catering 20 W 20th St NYC �����������������������������������������212 321-1822 NYC �����������������������������������������212 243-4494 www.paulevanscatering.com Proposition Love www.propositionlove.com The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr. NYC �����������������������������������������212 870-6762 www.trcnyc.com Yachts for All Seasons NYC �����������������������������������������212 534-6380 Cell ������������������������������������������917 864-7670 www.y4as.com
WILLS Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca, PLLC
44 Wall St, 12th Fl NYC �����������������������������������������212 495-0317 www.sciaccalaw.com
WINE & SPIRITS Cork Wines & Spirits
1450 Washington St Hoboken NJ ��������������������������������������������201 942-9964 www.corkwines.net
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FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE FIRE ISLAND PINES – CHERRY GROVE
BARS
Horizon Beach House
Blue Whale
Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6278 NYC��������������������������������������������212 689-2699 www�horizonbeachhouse�com
Cherry’s
Cherry Grove ������������������������������917 763-9029
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�bluewhalefireisland�com Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6820
Cultured Elephant
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�thepinesfireisland�com
Harbor Club
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�thepinesfireisland�com
Sip n Twirl
36 Fire Island Boulevard Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3599
The Pavilion
SeaBreeze Rentals
GYM
Pines Hardware & Sundries
Bay Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6237
LANDSCAPING/FLORAL
CLOTHING/GIFTS
LIQUORS/WINES
Summer Solstice
Beachscapes
The Pines Liquor Shop
Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6442
Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-4200
POOL MAINTENANCE
CONTRACTING
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7748
Walter Boss, Custom Builder
REAL ESTATE
Pines and Pools
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6262
Main & Bayview Cherry Grove ������������������������������������ 631 597-6140
Pines Propane
D� Katen Fire Island Properties, LTD
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6262
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-9191
GROCERIES Grove Market
Main Walk Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6239
The Pines Pantry
Harbor Walk Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6200
GUEST HOUSES/HOTELS Belvedere Guest House
Bay View Walk, Cherry Grove������631 597-6448 www�belvederefireisland�com
Carousel Guesthouse
Dependable Pools
A Summer Place
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7000 www�fireislandpines�com
Pines Harbor Realty
36 Fire Island Blvd Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-7575
RESTAURANTS Blue Whale
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�bluewhalefireisland�com
Cultured Elephant
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�thepinesfireisland�com
Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6766
Pines Bistro & Pizza
Cherry Grove Beach Hotel
TRANSPORTATION
Dune Point
Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6261
APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE BIGBIG APPLE SOFTBALL LEAGUE West 208208 West 13th13th St St New York, 10011 New York, NY NY 10011 212212 696-7482 696-7482
CHEER NY NY CHEERLEADING CHEER CHEERLEADING Felipe Hernandez Felipe Hernandez 888888 671-7312 671-7312 www.cheerny.org www.cheerny.org
CITY CRUISERS MC MC CITY CRUISERS Old Chelsea Station Old Chelsea Station PO Box 1614 PO Box 1614 New York, NY 10011 New York, NY 10011 www.citycruisers.com www.citycruisers.com (gay men’s motorcycle club)
EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING EZRYDERS SNOWBOARDING W 46th St #4D 445445 W 46th St #4D New York, NY 10036 New York, NY 10036 www.ezryders@ondbdx.com www.ezryders@ondbdx.com
FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING FAST AND FABULOUS CYCLING 23008, Ansonia P.O.P.O. BoxBox 23008, Ansonia Sta Sta New York, NY NY 10023 New York, 10023 212212 567-7160 567-7160
FRONT RUNNERS NY NY FRONT RUNNERS P.O.P.O. BoxBox 87 87 Ansonia Sta Ansonia Sta NY 10023 New York, New York, NY 10023 212 799-8781 212www.frny.org 799-8781 www.frny.org
GARDEN STATE GAY
GARDEN STATE GAY BOWLING LEAGUE BOWLING LEAGUE www.gsgbo.com www.gsgbo.com
GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL GOTHAM VOLLEYBALL P.O.P.O. BoxBox 961961 New York, 10034 New York, NY NY 10034 388-8208 212212 388-8208 info@gothamvolleyball.org info@gothamvolleyball.org
KNIGHTS WRESTLING KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUBCLUB P.O.P.O. BoxBox 720161 720161 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718718 815-3244 815-3244
JERSEY G&L BOWLERS NORTH NORTH JERSEY G&L BOWLERS Belle Aire Lanes Belle Aire Lanes West Caldwell, NJ West Caldwell, NJ 201 823-2250 201 823-2250
GAYLEAGUE POOL LEAGUE NY GAYNY POOL PO Box PO 1502 Ansonia Sta Box 1502 Ansonia Sta New York, NYYork, 10023 New NY 10023 212 496-4585 212 496-4585
NY RAMBLER’S SOCCER SOCCER NY RAMBLER’S CLUB, INC. CLUB, INC. 917 767-9789 917 767-9789 www.nyramblers.com www.nyramblers.com
NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE NYC GAY BASKETBALL LEAGUE www.nycgaybasketball.org
www.nycgaybasketball.org
OUT OF BOUNDS OUT OF BOUNDS NYC & TEAM NYC & TEAM NEW YORK NEW YORK 372, PO Box PO 372,Box Times SqTimes StationSq Station New NY 10108 New York, NYYork, 10108 www.oobnyc.org www.oobnyc.org
PINKNY PONG NY PINK PONG Sunnyside, Sunnyside, Queens Queens 718 623-2926 718 623-2926 www.pinkpongfoundation.org www.pinkpongfoundation.org
SUN/MON/TUE SUN/MON/TUE NIGHT TEAMS NIGHT TEAMS c/o Chelsea Piers AMF Bowl c/o Chelsea AMFYork, Bowl NY 10011 Pier Piers 60, New Pier 60, 212 New835-2691 York, NY 10011 212 835-2691
SUNDANCE OUTDOOR
SUNDANCE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SOCIETY ADVENTURE SOCIETY www.sundanceoutdoor.org www.sundanceoutdoor.org sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com sundanceoutdoor@yahoo.com
TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS TEAM NEW YORK AQUATICS 212 691-3440 212 691-3440 (hotline) (hotline)
CULTURAL, CULTURAL, ETHNIC & & ETHNIC SOCIAL SOCIAL
Grove Pizza & Restaurant
185 Holly Walk Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6612 Cherry Grove ������������������������������631 597-6600
ATHLETIC ATHLETIC
HARDWARE
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3746
Pines �������������������������������������������646 262-1910
Metrosource is committed to helping
Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in ongoing their ongoing non-profit organizations in their efforts to serve our diverse community. efforts to serve our diverse community.
Steel Gym
Pines www�steelgym�com
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-6500 www�pavilionfireisland�com
Gostoso
NEW YORK NEW YORK COMMUNITY COMMUNITY RESOURCES RESOURCES
Pines �������������������������������������������631 597-3597
Sayville Ferry
River Rd NYC��������������������������������������������631 589-0810
DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 METROSOURCE.COM 8080FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 METROSOURCE.COM
LONG ISLAND LONG ISLAND RAVENS MCMC CLUB RAVENS CLUB c/oc/o Long Island Eagle Long Island Eagle 94 94 Clinton AveAve Clinton Bayshore, NY NY 11706 Bayshore, 11706 631631 968-2750 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org www.liravensmc.org
MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY MONDAY NIGHT FOURPLAY BOWLING LEAGUE BOWLING Syosset Bowl LEAGUE Syosset Bowl 631 842-5166
631 842-5166
APICHAAPICHA 400 Broadway 400 Broadway New York, NYYork, 10013 New NY 10013 212 334-6029 212 334-6029 www.apicha.org www.apicha.org
BEST FRIENDS BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY ANIMAL SOCIETY 5001 Angel Canyon Rd 5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
ADVERTISECALL CALL 800-818-0480 212 691-5127 TOTO ADVERTISE
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JUNE/JULY 2020
71
NEW YORK COMMUNITY RESOURCES Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.
BIG GAY MEN OF NEW YORK 9111 Liberty Ave #662 Ozone Park, NY 11417 631 780-2807 www.convergence.nyc
LESBIAN HERSTORY ARCHIVES PO Box 1258 New York, NY 10116 718 768-3953
QUEENS L&G PRIDE COMMITTEE PO Box 580445 Flushing, NY 11358 718 460-4064
EMPIRE CITY MEN’S CHORUS P.O. Box 1017 New York, NY 10185 empirecitymenschorus.org
LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF GAY AND LESBIAN ART 26 Wooster St New York, NY 10013 www.leslielohman.org
QUEENS PRIDE HOUSE 76-11 37th Ave Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718 429-5309
GAY & BI FATHERS FORUM OF GREATER NY PO Box 1321, Midtown Sta New York, NY 10018 212 721-4216 (recording) 718 728-0476
THE LOFT-LOWER HUDSON VALLEY LGBT CENTER 252 Bryant Ave White Plains, NY 10605 914 948-2932 www.loftgaycenter.org
GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION (GLAAD) 150 West 26th St New York, NY 10001 212 807-1700 www.glaad.org
THE L.I. GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL ORG P.O. Box 360 East Northport, NY 11731 www.liglff.org
GAY FATHERS OF NY 245 Eighth Ave #897 New York, NY 10011 212 388-2618 GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org GAY MEN OF THE BRONX PO Box 511, Bronx, NY 10451 www.gmob.org IMPERIAL QUEENS & KINGS OF NY 70-A Greenwich Ave #120 New York, NY 10011 212 229-5900 x3655 IN OUR OWN WRITE 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 x305 (monthly readings)
JERSEY CITY LESBIAN & GAY OUTREACH (JCLGO) 113 Pavonia Ave #247 Jersey City, NJ 07302 201 333-5725 LATINOS & LATINAS DE AMBIENTE/NY (LLANY) 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 367-1092 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014 212 620-7310 www.gaycenter.org LESBIAN & GAY NATURAL HISTORY GROUP OF NY 80 Garfield Pl Brooklyn, NY 11215 718 965-0013
JUNE/JULY 2020
LONG ISLAND GAY & LESBIAN YOUTH 34 Park Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 665-2300 www.ligaly.org LONG ISLAND RAVENS M.C. c/o The Long Island Eagle 94 North Clinton Ave Bay Shore, NY 11706 631 968-2750 www.liravensmc.org MALES AU NATUREL (MAN) MEN’S NUDIST GROUP 347 704-0704 www.males.org MEN OF ALL COLORS TOGETHER NEW YORK PO Box 1518 Ansonia Station, NY 10023
IN THE LIFE 30 West 26th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 255-6012
72
LIVE OUT LOUD 45 West 36th Street, 6th Fl New York, NY 10018 212 378-4095 www.liveoutloud.info
NYC GAY MEN’S CHORUS 561 Seventh Ave, Ste 803 New York, NY 10018 212 344-1777 www.nycgmc.org NYC PRIDE 154 Christopher St, Suite 1D New York, NY 10014 212 807-7433 www.nycpride.org PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS (P-FLAG) PO Box 553 New York, NY 10021 212 463-0629 THE POINT FOUNDATION 5757 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 370 LA, CA 90036 866 33-Point www.pointfoundation.org PRIME TIMERS c/o Don Hargus 208 Anderson St, Suite 8DS Hackensack, NJ 07601 201 488-4839
METROSOURCE.COM
QUEENS RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER 30-74 Steinway St, 2nd Fl Astoria, NY 11105 718 204-5955 SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR GLBT ELDERS (SAGE) 305 Seventh Ave New York, NY 10001 212 741-2247 www.sageusa.org SOUTHERNERS/L&G MEN IN NY PO Box 881 New York, NY 10008-0881 STONEWALL CHORALE Box 920, Old Chelsea Sta New York, NY 10011 212 971-5813 STONEWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 119 West 24th St, 7th Fl New York, NY 10011 212 367-1155 www.stonewallfoundation.org TRI STATE LG&B STUDENT COALITION 208 West 13th St New York, NY 10014
HEALTH/ COUNSELING AIDS CENTER OF QUEENS COUNTY 97-45 Queens Blvd #1220 Rego Park, NY 11374 718 896-2500 AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP) 800 542-2437 AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION 475 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 637-2970 888 AIDS-CARE www.ahfpharmacy.org AIDS HOTLINE/NYC DEPT OF HEALTH 311 Broadway, 4th Fl New York, NY 10007 800 TALK-HIV
THE ALLIANCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE 64 West 35th Street, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10001 212.645-0875 www.alliance.nyc (SEE AD PREVIOUS PAGE) AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH 120 Wall St New York, NY 10005 212 806-1600 ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT 240 West 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 714-1184 212 714-1141 (Hotline) BAILEY HOLT HOUSE 180 Christopher St New York, NY 10014 212 337-3000 BAILEY HOUSE 275 Seventh Ave, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 633-2500 BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER AIDS CLINICAL TRIAL UNIT DIV OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 350 East 17th St, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10003 212 420-4519
GAY MEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT 44 Court St, 10th Fl, Ste 1000 Brooklyn, NY 10201 718 222-6300 www.gmad.org GAY MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS 446 West 33rd St New York, NY 10001 212 367-1273 212 367-1489 800 243-7692 www.gmhc.org GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER 166 Ave of the Americas New York, NY 10013 212 294-8142 212 294-8100 www.godslovewedeliver.org www.racetodeliver.org GREENWICH HOUSE 80 Fifth Ave New York, NY 10011 212 691-2900 HEALTH EDUCATION AIDS LIAISON PO Box 1103 New York, NY 10113 212 873-0780 HETRICK MARTIN INSTITUTE 212 674-2400 www.hmi.org
NAMES PROJECT NYC 75 Varick St #1404 New York, NY 10013-1917 212 226-2292 NYC DEPT OF HEALTH OFFICE OF G&L HEALTH 125 Worth St, Suite CN67 New York, NY 10013 212 442-6944 PROJECT ACHIEVE New York, 212 305-2201 Project ACHIEVE (Union Square) New York, 212 388-0008 www.nycvaccine.org www.hopetakesaction.org THE SAMARITANS OF NEW YORK SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE PO Box 1259 New York, NY 10159 212 673-3000 (24 Hours) TALK SAFE + PLUSES 203 West St #408 New York, NY 212 604-1500 TREVOR PROJECT 9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100 West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 271-8845 VILLAGE NURSING HOME DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM 133 West 20th St, Ground Fl New York, NY 10011 212 633-1616
BODY POSITIVE OF NY 19 Fulton St Suite 308B New York, NY 10038 212 566-7333 800 566-6599
HEALTHSHERPA 844 346-9476 www.metrosource. healthsherpa.com
BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS 165 West 46th St #1300 New York, NY 10036 212 840-0770
HISPANIC AIDS FORUM, INC. 213 W 35th St, 12th Fl New York, NY 10001 212 868-6230 www.hafnyc.org
LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND 120 Wall St #1500 New York, NY 10005 212 809-8585
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is so low. Even with the Modern Family gig, I had too many hours in the day and not enough work. So, I left Hollywood and gave some other jobs a try and nothing was a perfect fit. That’s when Modern Family called and signed me up as a semi-regular character. You have been a part of Modern Family since day one. How have you changed the most during your years on the show? Acting is now a lot easier than when I started. I used to be self-conscious in front of the camera and now I’m not as much. That’s the hardest part about acting for a lot of young people. I may have changed as a person, but my rapport with the Modern Family people has always been the same. Sometimes people bring out a different side of you and I like the person I am when I’m on set. The media went crazy went you “came out” of the closet. But you didn’t really come out, you just were never in. How did having your sexuality discussed in the media affect your personal life? Nobody really cares about my personal life. At least I haven’t really noticed anyone caring. Being gay is just a fact, and I guess I just do not feel insecure about it. Do you think its limiting to be an openly out actor? Being me is pretty limiting too. [Laughs] But every actor is limited in some
VIEWS
LAST CALL
way. If people want to hire me, that’s what matters. You have openly talked about your battle with body dysmorphia and your relationship with plastic surgery. How have you worked through your struggle? Is this still something you battle with today?
REID EWING GROWING UP IN A MODERN FAMILY BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
Well, I am going to get some fillers to try to cover up some questionable work so, yea, I guess I do deal with it. I don’t think I’ll ever do any crazy procedures anymore though. As I always want to say, don’t do it unless it’s a last resort. What is your advice for someone starting out in the industry? Well if they can live their dream, then do it. But they have to be living their dream whether or not they can get jobs because that can be a problem. I guess, make your own jobs. I sorta do. Try to find like-minded people - easier said than done. You are big fan of anime. What was your first exposure to the genre? What about anime interests you so much?
REID EWING WAS ON THE SHOW MODERN FAMILY SINCE THE FIRST EPISODE.
My friend Zak Burnside aka Octophonix really showed me a lot about it.
Raised in Florida and performing in theater there, he studied at the Dreyfoos
I like it because it is a fascinating tradition. The anime world seems more fun
School of the Arts in West Palm Beach and the School for Film and Television
than the real world. I can just keep digging into the subject and always find
in New York before moving to Los Angeles. He moved to LA at 17 and booked
something new and interesting. Also, there are character types that you see
the lead in a pilot, where he was cast as a redneck monster truck driver. He
throughout many anime. I like these weird character types that are popular in
even got a tattoo of the logo of the show, which he now regrets – where is that
anime, it never gets old. I could keep going on the subject forever.
■
tattoo, I wanna know? He also appeared in the films Fright Night (with Colin Farrell and Dave Franco) and 10 Rules for Sleeping Around. He has also been an advocate for mental health awareness and has been open about his struggle and banjo. He wrote the song“In the Moonlight (Do Me)”which became a cult
RAPID FIRE:
favorite, which his character performed on Modern Family. After he tweeted
Celebrity Crush?
about his attraction to a guy, the media made a big deal about the fact that he had come out. It wasn’t his intention to make a major coming out statement because he never hid it, it was just part of who he is. Reid recently moved back
Yuzuru Hanyu. Worst regular job you’ve had to work? A landscaper in Florida in the summer. Hell.
to Los Angeles and we had the opportunity to have a cocktail and a chat:
Biggest pet peeve?
You did theater in your youth but weren’t really sure acting was for
Guilty pleasure?
Being called “man” as if they are affirming my fragile masculinity. you. What was the defining moment you realized this is what you want to do?
Weed. Most embarrassing song on your playlist?
I wanted to do it as a kid. I probably just started because I wanted the
“Down in New Orleans” from the Princess and the Frog.
attention, but then I saw it came pretty naturally to me. At some point in my mid-twenties, I was going to drop out because the success ratio in Hollywood
74
JUNE/JULY 2020
METROSOURCE.COM
YOU CAN FOLLOW REID ON INSTAGRAM AT MEDIA_REID
THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY PHIL STAFFORD
with body dysmorphia. In addition to acting, Ewing plays the piano, guitar,
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