March 4, 2020 :: News + Culture

CO LO R A D O'S LG B TQ M AGA ZINE | F R E E

CONTENTS MARCH 4, 2020 VOL43 NO23

Art by Rene Cordero

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SERVING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS SINCE 1976

6 ALONZO CLEMONS THE GENIUS SCULPTOR 8 ICRME: REIGNING ROYALTY 10 ALISON COOMBS IS PAINTING AURORA RAINBOW 12 AMERICAN QUEER LIFE: TIPS FOR BAKING , ER, PIE 14 COCKTAILS AND CELEBRITY TEA WITH ROSS MATHEWS 16 A WHOLE NEW WORLD: U.S. QUEER LIFE THROUGH NEW EYES 18 YOU HAVE A VOICE WITH CHUN 21 ONE WOMAN WEIGHS IN ON PLUS-SIZE FASHION SUBSCRIPTION BOXES 24 PUP PLAY: PUSHING FOR SELF EXPRESSION, COMMUNITY, AND ACCEPTANCE 32 QUEEN OF STANDUP: FRANQI FRENCH 34 PERSONAL REFLECTION: WORK IS WORK 36 RINO'S MISE EN SCÉNE: BARCELONA WINE BAR

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O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 5

THE GENIUS SCULPTOR

Alonzo CLEMONS

by Rylee Thomas Photo by Mary-Louise Wang 6 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

A

lonzo Clemons starts every sculpture with a baked potato.

Not a real one—that’s what he calls his beginning lump of clay. He makes expert, deliberate pinches and hand movements that transform his “baked potato” into exact replicas of any animal he chooses. After he’s masterfully sculpted every detail, he’ll get it cast in bronze—well, not every sculpture, as that process is typically very expensive, and Clemons doesn’t want to part with all of his creations.

Some of these bronze sculptures currently line the walls of Access Gallery, where he performed a live demonstration of his sculpting for a group of visitors, myself included. Before our very eyes, he created an exact likeness of a thoroughbred horse out of a simple 'baked potato.' However, this talent is not the product of rigorous, formal training, but Clemons' savant syndrome, meaning he has both a developmental disability and genius-level skill in one specific area. In his case, the area is sculpting.

In his work, Clemons focuses on sculpting horses, bulls, rams, and other strong animals. “I think his tendency to focus on these powerful animals comes from the lack of power he experienced growing up with savant syndrome,” his representative, Nancy Mason, mentioned during his demonstration.

Clemons grew up in a time with little patience or understanding for disabilities, where his gift for sculpture wasn’t actively encouraged. However, he always sought material he could easily manipulate and mold with his hands. “He would sculpt animals out of lard,” Mason told us with a smile. His skill was persistent, and eventually, he would discover sculpting with clay.

Clemons worked in relative obscurity for years, until the 1988 film Rain Man was released featuring Dustin Hoffman as a man with savant syndrome. Media attention then turned toward individuals with savant syndrome, and Clemons was featured on several TV programs. This newfound recognition helped him gain worldwide acclaim for his incredible works of art.

After receiving 80-plus requests for his sculptures, Clemons and his team partnered with Access Gallery for assistance in completing orders and commissions. This collaboration made sense for both parties, specifically because Access’s primary mission is to engage the Denver community and provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Clemons' presence in Access has immeasurable potential to inspire other artists through his demonstrations and body of work alone as a disabled artist.

Access provides the opportunity for disabled individuals to benefit from the arts, where most institutions do not. Spaces such as this make room for more artists like Clemons, whose gifts might not be nurtured in the same way as others. The impact is invaluable; at his demonstration, one of the artists of Access came up to Clemons and Mason to show off her ceramic piece she had just finished.

Mason told me of another time when Clemons performed a demonstration for a special-ed class, and the instructor told them she “had never seen her class respond with such rapt attention.” Clemons' performance at Access sets the stage for a more inclusive Denver community that will engage all its residents to be creative.

#Where AthleteMeet sArt

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O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 7

Reigning Royalty

by Anissa Lujan

Photos provided by David Duffield

This story is part of a series on the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire (ICRME).

T

aking the term “queens” to the next level, the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire have given some of the most empowering looks since 1973, along with some of the strongest activism.

The ICRME is one of the oldest LGBTQ organizations in Colorado and has helped create a campy, fun community here since it broke off from its parent court system based in San Francisco. The ICRME has helped broaden the definition of what it means to be a community but also what it means to give back to it.

An Interview with the Imperial Court's Empress 34 Janelle St. Christopher We were able to talk to one of the empresses of the much-beloved Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire, Janelle St. Christopher, about life, drag, and giving back.

What was your experience with the Imperial Court?

My journey to becoming the 34th Empress began when I was still a teenager, attending the Reign 15 PR Ball. The courts were definitely the center of the GLBT events, crowns, gown, wigs, and lashes, from Reign 3 to Reign 15. A lot of pomp and circumstance has evolved, from policy and procedures to annual fundraising events.

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Why do you think people get involved with the Imperial Court?

I think we all began with an idea of how we’ll serve our larger community, but we quickly found that meeting our personal goals may not match our communities ever-changing way of life.

As an example, the ICRME raised much-needed funds for start-up charities, but later on, as funding became accessible through federal grants, the question became, ‘How do we continue to serve our communities?’ From this question, the White Rose Scholarship foundation arose to meet the goal by creating outreach for higher educational needs and raising money for annual scholarships.

Why do you think the court has thrived for so long?

Very good question! Change is not always easy, but as we enter our 47th year, we can reflect on 47 different ways we have changed.

To thrive, you must be open to that change. The Court has seen its fair share of changes, such as laws that prohibited wearing certain articles of clothing based on your gender, but now culture is relearning that gender is beyond how you are born and is more who you are recognized as.

elected time. What is similar, we all have annual elections and have a coronation ball to recognize the outgoing elected officials, give honor to our past, and crown a new era of change with our elected monarchs.

Is there anything in particular that the Colorado Court has done to give back to the community that you'd like to talk about?

The White Rose Scholarship Foundation gives to all communities with the purpose to help with higher education through our annual scholarships

What do you think attracts people to the Court?

When I began, it was the idea of being regal, entering that fantasy world where you heard these titles and walked, and you were cheered on. As time changes, I believe it becomes more about each charity fundraiser, knowing that a single dollar is helping make a change in our communities and world.

Is there anything particular about the Colorado Court that you think people should know about?

The ICRME Board of Directors reviewed where we are currently as a culture and are looking for a way to recognize non-gender-conforming folks to express their titles. For example, an empress may choose to be recognized as emprex.

What separates the different courts from one another? What is similar?

Each court is rich in their own history.

As an example, we do not re-elect an emperor or empress who has previously been elected and served their annual reign's

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 9

Alison

Coombs is Painting Aurora Rainbow

by Grant Stringer

A

lison Coombs is noticed more these days.

On a recent Friday, a congressional staffer stopped to introduce himself to Coombs at a local cafe. Standing tall, with a pin announcing her title as an Aurora city council member, Coombs is hard to miss—especially if you’re one of the scores of Denverites and Aurorans now packing into council meetings.

At 36 years old, Coombs is relatively young for a political career. But, it’s her sexual orientation that’s made her seat on the city council a historic one: Coombs is bisexual, married to a transgender woman, and she’s the first out, LGBTQ, city council woman in Aurora history.

Coombs, who was also raised as a Buddhist, squeaked out a victory to represent South-Central Aurora at a time when controversies over deaths of residents at the hands of police are galvanizing sometimes-raucous protests inside city hall chambers. One now-infamous protester in November baked outgoing mayor Bob LeGare a cake scrawled with “Bye, Mayor F-boy” in icing.

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Photo provided by Alison Coombs

Although focused on issues like wage gains and affordable housing, Coombs herself relates to the raised voices in stuffy government chambers. That’s because Coombs herself is the product of city council activism—although she wasn’t baking any cakes.

“I’ve been an activist my whole life, and I have challenged politicians,” Coombs told OUT FRONT. “I never thought of myself as a politician."

The Colorado native first flocked to Aurora City Council meetings with opponents of a divisive 2017 plan to subsidize a gargantuan NASCAR racetrack on the city’s eastern edge.

Led by progressives, democratic socialists, and backers of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential bid, the effort against the racetrack often involved standing alone at a podium to speak across a lonely stretch of carpet at mostly conservative council members.

Activists including Coombs helped kill the racetrack development plan. Still, the organization grew into a bonafide activist committee with policy gains of its own,

namely, the destruction of closed-door, decision-making activists that benefited wealthier residents.

From 2017 on, attendees of city council meetings could reliably count on Coombs and others to raise their voices.

It was only a matter of time before the group started to back its own candidates for city council. In the 2018 and 2019 elections, liberals took over the usually conservative, decision-making board.

Coombs now represents an insurgent, progressive politics steadily gaining ground in Aurora government.

It’s a position she never thought she would be in.

Coombs thought that if she ever did hold office, she’d probably struggle to play by the rules and maintain the status quo.

That’s a throwback to her political development marching in anti-war protests as a teenager, she said. Back then, she identified more with anarchism than the Democratic party.

Coombs jumped into the fray in 2019 to challenge incumbent Bob Roth.

Sitting on city council since 2010, Roth worked in the construction industry and was scrutinized for touting his influence in government when launching a personal consulting business in 2018.

The two disagreed widely on policy, including raising the minimum wage.

Roth opposed the plan, while Coombs supported raising the minimum to $17 in Aurora.

While campaigning, Coombs kept her focus on the issues but didn’t hide her sexual orientation. She never got any overt pushback for her identity, she said.

“Really, nobody discouraged me from running. When I was younger, that was certainly a consideration,” Coombs reflected. “When I was this passionate teenager, and people were like, ‘You could run for something.’ I was like, ‘Not really. There aren’t any gay politicians in Colorado. That’s not a thing.’”

No longer.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is now the nation’s first openly gay man to lead a state government. Brianna Titone is the state’s first transgender representative, now voting for the people of Arvada under the Gold Dome. Pete Buttigeig, a gay man, is running for president.

Coombs doesn’t shy away from who she is. She also said she struggles with depression and anxiety, a refreshing admission from a citizen suddenly thrust into the limelight.

Now a few months into the new year, Coombs is settling into her role on a liberal-dominated city council. Aside from flashpoint votes on immigration and protesting in neighborhoods— inspired by a chaotic protest outside the home of a private prison warden—the work of the city council has continued as usual. Most nights so far have been concerned with wonky permitting and zoning changes.

But, Coombs said making Aurorans feel heard is a priority for her. After all, in her words, she is the product of city councillors stone-walling her voice.

“It's part of what continues to be important to me about governing at the local level—which is, you really should listen to people.”

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O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 1 1

Tips

for

American Queer Life:

Baking , er, Pie

Pie, pie, me oh my Nothing tastes sweet, wet, salty, and dry all at once, oh well it's pie!

The Pie Song, from the movie Michael (1996)

by Rick Kitzman

N

ational Pie Day, January 23, has passed. The “holiday” was created in the 70s by Boulder nuclear engineer Charlie Papazian, to celebrate his birthday. So, I’m sharing my pie-making tips in time for its homonymic counterpart: National (Pi) Day.

Guess what my password is.

Pi, a Greek letter symbolizing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, is celebrated March 14, or 3/14, which mirrors the ratio’s simplest calculation of 3.14. It’s a limitless calculation. In 2019, Japanese computer scientist Emma Haruka Iwao’s record breaking computation included 31.4 trillion digits with no end in sight. Which, of course, calls for a math joke.

Baking—pies and popovers, cookies and cakes—is my edible therapy, my yummy yoga poses. This self-remedy began in the early 90s when AIDS was killing my friends, and I awaited my own demise.

After years of depression and paralysis, I started to bake. And baked and baked and baked. Even if existential crises remained unresolved, at least I had a sweet treat to

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No idea.

The last six digits of pi.

STEM labs should prepare for unbridled merriment on campuses nationwide, but for now, on to edible pie.

snarf down. Assailed by uncontrollable worldcatastrophes and fatigued by a flagitious president yapping incessantly, lately, I’ve been baking a lot.

Basic Recipe On the web and YouTube, you will find gobs of recipes and techniques. I offer my tips and suggestions with this motto: K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple Sweetie- .

For decades, I’ve used this recipe from Mom’s Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook of the 50s. Start with glass or ceramic pie plates; metal plates bake too hot, yielding burnt crusts. Choose your fat. I recommend shortening (Crisco) for ease and flakier layers. I’ve tried lard. Blech! Butter is more

difficult to work with but is more flavorful. Butter-flavored Crisco?

Blech!

• • • •

2 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup Crisco ½ teaspoon salt About 8 tablespoons ice water

Mixing A blender is the modern way to mix dough but removes the tactile connection to the creative process. Invest in a pastry cutter, which, when combined with a fork, creates the potential for a Zen-like focus.

After combining the dry ingredients, add the Crisco, and use the pastry cutter to blend it with the flour mixture until consistent, pea-sized chunks form.

Create a small pocket of mixture and add one tablespoon of ice water. Use a fork to mash the ingredients until all water is absorbed.

Create another pocket, and repeat until mixture is moistened throughout.

Mold the pastry into a soft ball. This is the trickiest part because the consistency calls for a “feel.” Do not knead or over-mix, as this makes a tough crust. The dough should hold together. If it falls apart, add a few drops of water to seal. If it feels too wet or sticky rub pinches of flour to dry out. Think Goldilocks: not too sticky, not too dry, but just right.

Wrap the ball in plastic and press firmly, refrigerating for about 30 minutes. As my mom said, cooling the dough allows it to “rest,” meaning the gluten relaxes. Successful pastry needs a nap, and nobody likes tense gluten. OK, seriously, time allows the ingredients to react for best results.

Filling If you’re a novice, start with fruit pies. Pudding pies—chocolate, coconut, banana, lemon—require finesse because pudding is boiled thickener (tapioca, flour, cornstarch), milk, sugar, and eggs. It can easily curdle, and anyone who says they’d eat chocolate in any concoction has never tasted chocolate scrambled eggs. Blech!

An apple pie is a simple, delicious pie. Avoid the filling in the baking aisle of your grocery store. It’s nothing but over-sugared goop and mush. Blech!

• • • • • •

Use a hamburger turner to ease the pastry off a sticky surface; fold in fourths. Place the right angle in the center of the plate; unfold, then press onto the sides and bottom of the pie plate. Leaving about a quarter-inch hanging over the lip (the edge will shrink), trim the excess with a knife. If your pastry is not cooperating, roll it thin, scoop it up, and just smash it on the plate. You’re having fun; you’re not Martha Stewart, and it’ll still taste delicious.

Whip the egg white, and using a pastry brush (or cheaper, new one-inch paint brush), paint the bottom crust. This creates a barrier, so the juices of the fruit won’t yield a mushy crust. Pour your filling into the pie plate, spreading to the edge and creating a hill. Repeat rolling for the top crust, and place on top.

Because the edge of your pie will burn without unwieldy foil or silicon (the best) shields, here’s an easy trick: Press and seal your pastry along the edge of the pie plate, but roll it away from the edge, creating a sort of circular dam. Cut venting slits on the top crust. I make mine as guides to slice the pie.

Or, don’t use the top crust. Simply fold the excess pastry away from the edge, again making a barrier-like dam. You’ve created a crostata, an Italian, rustic, free-form pie, and you have pastry to make another pie.

Paint the egg white on the top crust, which seals the top layer and creates a nicely browned crust.

Baking Place the pie on the middle rack; bake for 50 minutes at 375°. Unlike cakes, pies are forgiving; they won’t fall or dry out. You pretty much know when a pie is done: golden crust, bubbling fruit juices, fruity aroma. After removing the pie, let it cool for about two hours; the filling needs to solidify.

What to do with leftover dough? Raised during the Great Depression, my mom never wasted anything. She would press the leftovers together, placing them into a pie plate, then crimp them into strips like wavy ribbon, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, and bake for about 20 minutes. Delicious!

Any time is yummy time because it’s 3:14 somewhere. Hopefully, these tips have encouraged you so baking a pie will become as easy as, well, ... I mean pie.

It’s our differences that make us great.

6 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, diced 3 tablespoons tapioca or cornstarch ¾ cup sugar 3 tablespoons lemon juice (to keep apples from browning) 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 egg white

Combine the dry ingredients and mix with apples. Add vanilla and lemon juice; mix well again. The egg white will be used later to coat the pastry.

Rolling the Pastry Cut your soft ball in half. Dust your countertop with flour, and press your pastry until it’s a flat disc. Flour your rolling pin and the pastry whenever they get sticky, then roll until it’s about a quarter inch or less thick. Hold the pie plate upside down over the pastry to make sure the bottom layer is large enough.

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O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 1 3

Photo by Ricky Middlesworth

Cocktails and

Celebrity Tea with

Ross Mathews

misses an opportunity to name drop celebrities.

Many of his stories can be found in his new book, Name Drop, and he is touring the country with his new show by the same name. People within the Denver area will be able to see Mathews lives at the Boulder Theatre on Saturday, March 28, and OUT FRONT had the opportunity to catch up with him and talk more about the book, tour, and his overall fabulous life. Get ready for some sharp wit and juicy tales.

Ross, thank you so much for chatting with me! Let’s begin by talking more about the Name Drop Tour. What can audiences expect?

by Denny Patterson

R

oss Mathews has never been afraid to be himself—openly gay, proud, and gut-bustingly funny. Launching his career as Ross the Intern on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Mathews went on to make weekly guest appearances on Chelsea Lately, joined the E! Network’s red carpet team, was the host of an interactive talk show called Hello Ross, and is a current judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

As one of Hollywood’s most recognized TV personalities, Mathews never 1 4 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

I wrote this book called Name Drop, and I am obsessed with it.

It’s the good celebrity stories I usually tell at happy hour.

So, what I am going to do on stage is, I am going to bring that book to life.

I’m going to do stand up; I’m going to play a game with the audience, and then I go into the audience, and they can ask me anything. Nothing is off limits. It feels like it’s 90 minutes of nonstop LOLs.

which story I’m going to tell, but then there are a bunch of other names I drop, but I do read a little bit of the book as well.

What has been your craziest celebrity encounter?

Oh my gosh, the craziest one of all time I talk about in my first book, Man Up, which, by the way, is still available everywhere. I talked about meeting Gwyneth Paltrow, and I asked her to be my best friend, and she said yes, and now we have been best friends for, like, 18 years.

That’s the craziest, but there’s so many of them. I talk about Rosie O’Donnell in this book and how we became great friends. I used to watch her as a little kid, and just in my gut I knew that somehow, I would be friends with her. You know, I feel like everyone else had that same thought, but I just sort of look at them like, ‘Yeah, right, but I mean it.’

In addition to the Name Drop Tour, you also host the Dragtastic Bubbly Brunch. Can you tell us more about that?

Without giving too much away, which celebrities do you talk about that have the juiciest stories?

Yes! What happened is, I went to a drag brunch with my best friend CJay, and I said, ‘Oh my god, what a shit show.’ I thought it was so terrible, and I started saying how I would do a drag brunch, and he said, ‘Well, get off your ass and do it!’ So, he helped me, and now we have 16 cities across the U.S. and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

In the book, there’s so many celebrity stories from Beyonce to Liza Minnelli, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, and more. So, at the show, I kind of decide, like, what day of

The podcast started when the talk show went away. When you do something on television, there are so

How has your podcast, Straight Talk with Ross Mathews, been going?

many focus groups and so many people who think they are smarter than you. They study minute-by-minute ratings, and I was on phone calls when they were discussing how distracting my belly was, so what can we build to put in front of it?

There were so many conversations where I wanted to scream at people who had jobs who shouldn’t have had jobs. They didn’t know what they were doing, and if I could just communicate with the audience, it would work. So, what I wanted to do is create something that had zero filter or opinion between me and the audience.

I started the podcast five years ago, and I did it just for me. I don’t even promote it; I don’t talk about it on my social media.

I just do it for me, and I didn’t expect to gain this ginormous, loyal audience who have embraced me for all my oddities.

The podcast is like my diary. I say things on there that really, if I was advising anybody else, I would tell them not to say, but that’s why people like it. It’s completely unfiltered. It’s just me and my friends, people that I think are interesting, and nothing’s off limits.

Now, I cannot do this interview without asking you a couple questions about RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Of course!

You were a fan of the show before becoming a judge, right?

I was not a fan of the show; I was a super fan of the show. I would sit in front of the TV and yell my opinion. They asked me to come on Season 3, and I got to give my opinion, and they asked me back, and then they kind of just said, ‘Do you want to stick around?’

Who? No, God, are you kidding me? I’m not telling you [laughs]. I have opinions, and I sit on that judges’ panel, and I argue my opinion. At the end of the day, Ru takes it. Ru’s right; he knows what he’s looking for. It’s not that I question Ru; it’s just that sometimes, I’m in somebody’s camp that goes home, and it’s heartbreaking, but I have never disagreed with someone who should have won.

Which celebrity would you love to see participate in the upcoming RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race?

I want every celebrity to participate! I want Liza Minnelli;I want Cher; I want Madonna, and I think there’s no reason why we couldn’t. I mean, we have had incredible icons and legends come through on that show and lend their support to us.

What’s next for you? Any other, upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?

The one thing I haven’t done yet, which I really want to do, is host a game show. That’s on my bucket list, but right now, I’m just touring these 30 cities, and I want to go out there and meet people. I want to hug people and tell them, ‘Thank you for buying the book; thank you for paying attention for all these years,’ and invite everybody to stay with me on the journey.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bouldertheatre.com. To stay up-to-date with Mathews, visit helloross.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

For the full version of this interview, go to outfrontmagazine.com.

I remember at the time being like, ‘Yeah!’ I mean, there were no negotiations; there wasn’t, like, a big meeting, no agents involved. Like yes, I want to! Then I joined Season 7, and then it went to VH1 during Season 9, and it exploded. It was big in our community and for people who were in the know, but then we watched it go from a show that people we passionate about to a show that everybody was watching.

Creating a safe space and intentional programming for our LGBTQIA+ community.

It was so fun to see, and it was humbling. It was also fun to watch SNL talking about us and being nominated for Emmys.

It’s amazing because the show has not changed. The show has maintained exactly what it was from Season 1. It’s grown, but in terms of the essence, it’s the same thing. I just feel the world and the culture caught up to it.

What is the best and hardest part about being a judge?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The best part is being a part of something that I think is funny and shifting the culture. That’s the best part. The hardest part is two things. One, you get invested in the queens, and you see people standing on that stage who just want to be loved, but somebody’s got to go, and somebody’s got to win.

DRAG BINGO

Then the other part is, I want to be good. I want to make Ru, Michelle, and Carson laugh. I want to make the audience laugh.

I want to be at my potential every day on that set.

Temple Emanuel

Have you ever disagreed with one of Ru’s decisions on who should go home?

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Yes. O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 1 5

A whole world

new

U.S. Queer Life Through New Eyes

by Chané Neqi

W

as Aladdin talking about the princess seeing her own country through new eyes, or was he talking about a 21-year-old girl from South Africa being dropped smack-dab in the middle of Denver’s queer scene?

My name is Chane van der Westhuizen—I know, not a household name, now is it? My last name, or as we call it in my country, “surname,” is Afrikaans, and my name is French. I myself am an Afrikaans girl who came all this way to Aupair. Many people ask me what I expected when coming to the U.S., things like driving in cars, on roads! What a terrifying thought!

Before you get worried, yes, we do have cars and roads in my country; we don’t, however, all have lions as pets. To be honest, everything is really similar, just with different logos on all of it.

I did get shocked by two things. Number one, as previously expressed, people have a lot of misconceptions of my country: how we look, who we are, and how we live. Number two

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is the LGBTQ community in the U.S. and the openness surrounding it, which is really what this article is about. It’s about the absolute culture shock that I experienced in my first queer bar!

Halloween, 2019. It was a dark and ... OK, maybe not going to start it like that! It was on Halloween, however. I was rocking my red locks from Target and doing my very best Cheryl Blossom for my first Halloween ever. I posted on a Facebook group that I was looking for a LGBTQ-friendly place to show off my serpent jacket. Someone commented that a local bar was having a drag show and a costume contest. Naturally, I headed Downtown to get my gay on.

First of all, when I heard “drag show,” I was expecting some queens walking out on stage with some cheeky banter and amazing dance moves. I did not expect to see kings, queens, and in-betweens! I had never even heard of a drag king before, and the only exposure I’ve ever had to drag was a super-exaggerated image portrayed in mocking movies and bad press.

This, however, was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen! People of all different races and faces expressing themselves in the most authentic way imaginable. For the first time, I saw people binding and taping their breasts; I saw people “packing,” people doing some of the best makeup, people with transition scars, and women with beards. I met a man who overcame ovarian cancer, a bisexual person who is nonbinary and performs as a drag king, and people who do drag in the gender they identify with. Suddenly, being a lesbian didn’t seem as exciting! There were so many things I’ve never even heard of.

Most people who live away from the cities live in the closet for as long as they can for their own safety. There are tons of cases in which we can see that the country isn’t being as queer-friendly as Google tells tourists it is. In general, if you are a tourist doing PDA, you’ll probably be OK, but in our culture, it is a whole other can of worms.

I won’t bore you any further with the stats of my country; you probably have Google. The point I’m trying to make is the differences between where I came from and where I am right now are most evident in the queer scenes of both countries. I love the U.S. and all the openness and acceptance regarding self expression, body empowerment, self love, gender, and sexual orientation. The diversity of the U.S. is something I think many countries should strive for.

The entire world still has a really long way to go, but I think if we reflect back on this year, we should reflect on how far we as a community have come, how we’ve grown.

Unconditional love is something I’ve never seen as clearly as within the LGBTQ community; loving someone regardless of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, or physical apperance is something I see at every drag show, in every bar, and at every queer event I’ve been to in Denver.

In South Africa, we have really good laws protecting the queer community, laws that have been there longer than most countries’ LGBTQ laws. We were the fifth country to legalize gay marrige and the first country to have a constitution protect members of the community from discrimination; we were the only African country to have marrige equality for quite a long period of time.

If you Google search safest countries to travel for LGBTQ members, we make the cut.

Does any of this mean it is safe to be openly queer in South Africa? The short answer, it depends on where you live and who you tell. One of South Africa’s major cities, Cape Town, is a very LGBTQ-friendly zone, but as in most parts of the States, the further you get from a city and the smaller the town, the more secretive you have to be.

Within families, being a part of the LGBTQ community can be dangerous and sometimes even deadly. The term “corrective rape” originated from South Africa after many reported and unreported cases. Corrective rape is when someone, usually a man, rapes either a lesbian or transgender woman to prove they can make them straight.

Whether your Prince Charming is a strong queen in shiny armor or your dream girl is a hunk in stilettos, or whether you are one surgery away from being the man or woman you’ve always dreamed of being, be who you are and love who you love because if there’s one thing this crazy world needs, it’s love.

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There have been numerous, gender-based murders and hate crimes in my country.

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You Have a Voice with CHUN

by Judy Wolf

Images provided by CHUN

O

ut of 78 neighborhoods in Denver, there are 278 registered organizations that currently exist as a means of representing them. I don't know about you, but when I hear the words “committee” or “organization,” I think about the few making decisions for the many. However, I recently sat down with Travis Leiker, president of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN), one of Denver's largest Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNO). I thought I would just type out what he had to say; then I decided to tell him how I felt. He was much more interested in speaking to me and addressing my concerns than “selling” me on anything to do with a bureaucratic organization. He really had me open up, and if walls could talk,... well, here's what we came up with.

In my research, I found that some RNOs are against any kind of homelessness advocacy or group housing (Denver's Zoning Code Rules for "group living" being debated by a “committee”). Leiker, however, isn't one of them. Leiker was a candidate for Denver City Council a few years ago and currently works for the University of Colorado. He is a gay man in the community who volunteers his time at CHUN. With his background and demeanor, he has philanthropy running through his veins. He was very interested in this hearing, but he worried we were getting off track and wanted to stick to CHUN and its present projects in the works.

I spoke to Leiker as a Colorado native, blue collar renter in Denver, and how I feel invisible when it comes to having a voice for any change in my neighborhood. I happen to live near where the East Area Central Plan will take effect where more than 1000 people gave their concerns at various neighborhood meetings regarding traffic, development and crime, among others. I also love Capitol Hill. I work in and frequent the businesses in this community, and I have a love for the art, Denver history, and creativity Cap Hill brings to the city.

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Capitol Hill is in Denver driving home ownership into the millions, and the population of Capitol Hill being mostly white-collar workers with median incomes of over $70,000 a year definitely does not reflect me. How can anyone outside of the mold weigh in? Leiker had a lot to say to people who want to be heard and, more specifically, how CHUN weighs in in the neighborhoodscope of things.

"You have just as much of a voice and a say as a homeowner does. The challenge between renters and homeowners is that renters are more mobile. You may choose to live in another area.

My advice to you, however, is to get active and get engaged in wherever you live, because you are just as deserving and just as important at shaping the future of our city as anyone else is."

Leiker also added that work hours and meetings of RNOs often conflict with those who may work evenings, and CHUN is trying to open up times and activities for weekend hours by having board meetings with more open availability to create an inclusive balance.

"At every meeting, we now have between 32 to 38 people. More than we've ever had. We have a lot of financial discussions. This month's meeting, we will have featured speakers. We wanted to fund interesting projects that were small and inclusive, diverse, visible, and tangible for the world and the city to see.” He shared that the board now contains about 50/50 owners to renters.

At a recent neighborhood awards ceremony, The Harm Reduction Action Center was awarded grant money to help support the supplies needed for activities surrounding neighborhood clean-ups.

Regarding the work the Harm Reduction Action Center does, Leiker said,"It is not an 'us versus them’; it is a ‘WE.’ Whether you live on 7th Avenue and are struggling with addiction, or you

are homeless struggling with addiction, the problem is not where you live, or what your identity is, or what your resources are; the challenge is, how do we help you not be addicted to a substance.

I think what is important is to recognize the humanity that is present in all of us, that addiction knows no socio-economic bounds, race, etc."

With CHUN and this property in the heart of Capitol Hill, which has been the historic, LGBTQ population epicenter of Denver for decades, he added, "We embrace that history here. So, how do we preserve the historic value of our community, both with historic eventsand historic properties, etc., but to more deeply understand we are moving forward, and how do we do that wisely?"

In addition to helping those facing addiction, CHUN prioritizes the queer community. "All of these organizations awarded recently, in some way, shape, or form, touch the LGBTQ+ community. Thinking about Blue Bench, for instance, sexual assault doesn't know any gender bounds, but it is as present in a historically gay bar as it is a bar that caters to the broader community... With respect to supporting diversity, sometimes you can't be what you can't see. So, why not foster the arts, inclusivity, and a coming-togetherness within a community?"

Being told you matter is what is important to Leiker and to CHUN. You have a voice, he assured me, and to be heard in a much-loved neighborhood, look into becoming a member. If you love grabbing a coffee, or you work as a server, or you live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, know that anyone can join CHUN at chundenver.org/membership.

Since 2017, and in this last year, CHUN has turned around and shifted culturally from a board perspective to a staff perspective.

Leiker explained, "We are ready to go out and do good work, and that means getting engaged in public policy discussions, working with city leaders, and convening neighbors when appropriate if some sort of controversial issue arises." He added that the organization's main goal is, "Putting financial resources out where [they are] needed the most and investing in things and projects and programs that are aligned with our values that gave birth to this program."

"Meetings and other community events are open to members, external stakeholders, and the public at large. All are welcomed to attend, and we want to be sure as many voices, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, are heard and elevated through the invaluable work of CHUN and its influence throughout Capitol Hill and Denver."

Be loud and be proud.

The organization is now the proud owners of the historic TearsMcFarlane House. "We own a 125-year-old property now; we're a small non profit; we are essentially always one electrical issue away from a major issue." By working with city investors to revitalize the property, Leiker said, "We'd like to turn this into a community space in the truest sense of the word but also provide us with the financial resources we need in order to continue to do good work."

Leiker shared the old newspaper articles and archives from past events at the Tears McFarlane House and how there used to be a coffee shop on the grounds, a perfect perch for the Pride parade!

Planners are hoping to bring this aspect back to the grounds.

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 1 9

one Woman Weighs in on

Plus-Size

Fashion Subscription Boxes

by Angie Walker

N

ot all fashion is created equal when it comes to inclusive sizing.

In spite of social initiatives such as the Health at Every Size and Body Positivity movements, the fashion industry and even plus-size consumers still fall victim to stigma instead of inclusivity.

This can be proven by my quest to find the most mainstream fashion subscription box services that couple trendy tops with inclusive sizing. It was difficult to even find subscription services for plus-size people that still offer cute clothes.

After reaching out to a plethora of fashion subscription boxes for research with minimal response, I was left to my own devices and reached out Lexi Holtzer—a theater stage manager, seasoned fashion subscriber, and a woman proud of all her curves.

One of the first things that Holtzer was quick to point out was that she wasted zero time on mainstream subscription boxes, or even Instagram fashion ambassadors who don’t share her personal style or philosophy.

“I tend to not even look at things that do not represent plus-size (or at least curvy) people. My Instagram is mostly plus-size models, and I do not follow straight-size clothing brands,” Holtzer said.

In fact, Holtzer admitted she is so comfortable in her own skin as a curvy woman that it’s become a part of her identity and is just as important as sexual identity or career choice. Like many millennial women her age and size, Holtzer seeks out plus-sized services and still feels a bit disappointed in available

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 1

options of clothing that represents her as an individual.

“I don't feel the need to follow straight-size clothing brands and then wonder if I can find things in my size. I feel like I have seen a lot of these boxes that do cater to plus-size people, but I think that is because we are often at a loss for what to wear, if fashion isn't your thing.“ Holtzer described her style as crossed between “pastel goth" and "utilitarian femme" because of her affinity for wearing lots of black with a dash of pastel colors. She admitted that it’s challenging to find a box that fits her specific aesthetic.

She gave high praise to plus-size boxes like Dia & Co but feels that the style is too highbrow and used the term, “bank clothes” due to the expense and lack of practicality for her day-to-day tasks.

“I am a 27-year-old stage manager and administrative assistant, and since no one comes in my office, I kinda wear whatever I want, which is usually dresses, but I can't count out the possibility that I will end up on a ladder or on my hands and knees painting a set last-minute.”

Another common complaint for Holtzer, and plus-sized women in general, is that the fashion industry thinks plus-size equals a tall woman, or that all plus-sized women share the same measurements of models like Ashley Graham.

In spite of these common issues, there are still some up sides to buying into subscription boxes.

For one,theyopen up plus-sized women to brands and options they would not have heard of otherwise, Holtzer added.

“When and if a subscription box service comes up with something cheaper, with a younger, less basic-bitch vibe, I will throw all my money at them.”

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O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 3

PupPlay Pushing for Self Expression, Community, and Acceptance

by Keegan Williams Photos by Jacob Higgins

P

icture this: You’re out at your favorite queer bar. It’s Friday night; the music is bumping, and your friend drags you outside for a cigarette break. Chatting on the patio, you see a cute puppy and their handler. Locking eyes, the pup perks up and starts wagging their tail.

The only thing is, this isn’t a domesticated pet—it’s a person, clad in finger-restricting mitts and a leather hood with ears.

Pup play is a growing kink stemming from power dynamics explored in BDSM. Pups shed their human persona and attachments to instead embrace the simple pleasure principles dogs enjoy on a day-to-day basis. Pup play can involve sex, but it is not inherently sexual, and is embraced as a form of expression and community building.

As Denver continues to grow into its own LGBTQ hub, it opens the door for subcultures like pup play to thrive. OUT FRONT sat down with four, queer, local pups to discuss what pup play is really all about, and why it’s something to be celebrated and embraced.

An initial question someone might pose about pup play is a simple one with many answers: Why? A crucial element of pup play is the pup headspace. Have you ever looked at your pet with feelings of jealousy, their body splayed across the ground without care, as you leave the house for a busy work shift? That is the base concept behind pup headspace, escaping from the burdens of being human in today’s world.

“I think that being in a different headspace really helps people disassociate from their issues,” Pup Pistol said. “It’s really easy to just say, ‘Good dog, good dog,’ all the time; it’s really affectionate. Whereas, in human form, you’re just kind of 2 4 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

unsure if somebody likes you or not, or if you’re doing a good job. It kind of brings it to a more simple place.”

The way people interact with pups is also different. Just like the hypothetical Friday night at the bar patio, approaching a puppy can be easier than approaching a human stranger. A quick belly rub or affirmation is a warm interaction from a person who may not even notice the same pup in the same bar sporting their everyday garb.

However, releasing your human mindset in favor of simple, primal pleasure principles isn’t easy and takes time.

“For me, headspace was super difficult,” Pup Rascal said. “I didn’t actually get into headspace until I got my first hood. It’s definitely a sense of armor, and it’s pretty cool because I can walk into any bar in Denver, and half the people aren’t going to know who I am, despite, you know, I may frequent that bar. For some people, it’s really easy to get into headspace, but I tend to be very grounded, so trying to let go of everything that’s going on around me is definitely a big deal.”

Pup Arrow added, ”I still don’t get into the headspace when we go out to bars.

The only time I get into headspace is

actually when it’s sexual. That’s the only way I can get into headspace is when I’m being, like, a submissive dog.”

By no means is it required, but the pups agreed gear is helpful to attain the pup headspace. The inability to move your fingers in mitts, or talk in a muzzle, helps many pups set aside their human obligations. As more leather and kink retailers appeal to the pup market, pup play is also becoming more accessible to curious newcomers.

“You have kitten play, and pony play, and all these different types of pet play, but pup play is definitely the most visible,” O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 5

Pup Hades said. “It’s sometimes the most accessible, when we see how easy it is for people to get gear and to meet other puppies through events.”

Pup play can be a little less daunting than some other master/slave dynamics, with the community leaning more toward the playful side of BDSM. “I think it’s a lot more light-hearted,” Pistol said. “Pup play just seems more accessible mentally for people to get into, rather than, like, hardcore submitting to somebody, you know?”

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Generally, in pup play, there is the handler (the person taking on the role of the human counterpart) and the pup. Pups in a pack can be alphas, betas, omegas, and more. That being said, the pups emphasized the openness with the different roles and the lack of set rules. That lack of rigid boundaries allows pups to explore their identities, not feeling tied down to one role within the community.

“I wouldn’t even call it a hierarchy,” Hades said. He entered the pup

“It felt like, between the handlers and pups, everybody’s there for each other’s wellbeing,” Pistol said. “Just like if you were at a dog park—you’re petting all the dogs and giving them treats—it’s kind of the same situation; it gives you a way to meet people and have something in common. The pup energy is just awesome.”

"“

You have kitten play, and pony play, and all these different types of pet play, but pup play is definitely the most visible.

community more of a sub, but learning more about being an alpha within the pack, he started to explore that mentality and a dom approach. Hades said he wouldn’t have been able to explore those happy in-betweens if it weren’t for pup play.

“Each puppy’s headspace is completely different than another’s, and that’s the beauty of it, too,” Rascal said. “While you have the community at large, you also have these smaller groups who definitely come together and take care of each other and really foster headspace, the

"

mentality of consent, exploration, body positivity, defying gender boundaries.

They create a sense of belonging, and it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

Pup play is whatever a person makes of it, and while it can be inherently sexual or not, loose or very rigid; it is an alternate form of expression and community. The headspace may push human burdens to the back burner, but pup play actually allows people to embrace more genuine interactions among one another.

Queer spaces are becoming more welcoming to the pup community, with local spots like Charlie’s and Trade holding pup-centric events. Online communities were crucial in elevating pup play to where it is now over the past several decades and continue to unite pups in Denver and beyond.

“In Denver, and many areas, there are pup, or pet, and handlers groups that run local events, socials, moshes, where people can go to these spaces and interact, and there’s a lot of online, social, chat groups, in which puppies can meet and engage with each other,” Hades said. “There is a big sense of community, whether that’s online or through local groups.”

Pup play can shed certain boundaries, leading to a deeper understanding of a person’s identity and the potential for their expression. Exploring their identities in pup headspace allowed these pups to branch out in ways they otherwise wouldn’t as their everyday, human selves.

“If I was going to a bar, I wouldn’t really show skin or anything. I was too bodyashamed,” Arrow said. “If I have my hood on, then I’m OK to just go in a jock.”

The core concepts of self expression and exploration are often misunderstood by people outside of the community. Pup play falls under the kink umbrella, and as a relatively new form of expression in the mainstream, it’s still met with its share of judgment.

“The thing with people and humanity in general is that we fear what we don’t understand, and it’s easier to choose fear as opposed to understanding because that would mean stepping outside of your comfort zone,” Rascal said.

Over time, as a pup, Rascal opened up to his coworkers and friends, and while they had to work to understand it, they came to accept it once they learned more O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 7

about what it really entails. Telling his father about being a pup was not quite met with the same response.

“It was definitely an interesting conversation. He didn’t take very kindly to it at first, and he still doesn’t feel very great about it. He feels like I’m being oversexualized, that I’m being dominated by someone day-in and dayout, and I’m like, ‘No, that’s not what this is.’ This is just a form of self-expression, like somebody doing drag, or somebody who wears a fursuit, or even somebody who’s going to Comic Con dressing up as their favorite comic character.”

Arrow started out doing cosplay and said it was the roleplay mentality that introduced him to pup play. As he explored pup play and saw society’s lack of understanding, he said that the most backlash he noticed is within the pup community itself.

“Overall I’m told there’s no rules, but then there’s people who are like, ‘You can’t do that. That goes against this,’” Arrow said. “It’s not everyone. It’s very specific, certain scenarios of people who have this idea of how it’s supposed to be, and that is where I get the most pushback.”

Hades added, “It definitely comes from within the community. Being a community within a community, you’re always going to be told, ‘This is not the correct way. This is how things have been historically done.’ Outside the community, there’s just really a lack of understanding.”

The pups also said their community is often lumped in with beastality, a frustrating and false association which couldn’t be further from the truth.

“That isn’t pushback; it’s just a blatant display of ignorance,” Hades said. “But, I think we’re growing as a community to where we’re starting to accept there are different ways to do this kink, you know?”

As pup play grows in popularity, and more people explore this expression, the pups hope that the community continues to open up and lower any oppressive boundaries already in place. As she entered the community, Pistol noticed these obstacles firsthand because of her gender.

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"“

I definitely support breaking down the heteronormativity complex that a lot of heterosexual people have, regarding kinks, polyamory, whatever it may be.

"

“Even myself, I thought that all pups were men, gay men, in the leather community, so when I was first introduced to it, whenever I started going to pup moshes, it was at a leather bar, and they weren’t super friendly, so I didn’t get to go as much as I’d liked to,” she said. “[In the future] I see it being a lot more friendly and open to other genders.”

All the pups nodded in agreement.

Hades added, “I would like to see pup events in less maledominated spaces, or less sexualized spaces, and just be able to be a gateway to start expressing themselves, whether it’s finding out who they are as a person through kink or just finding other kinks through pup play.”

Encouraging inclusive expression within the pup community is an important, ongoing next step, but pup play is also widely considered inherently queer. Along with the kink community in general, pup play presents a challenge of openness and expression to non-LGBTQ communities and in time could push more varied expression to the mainstream.

“I definitely support breaking down the heteronormativity complex that a lot of heterosexual people have regarding kinks, polyamory, whatever it may be,” Rascal said. “I would like to see them enjoy this as a form of self expression just because

that would help us to bridge some of the gaps between us, the LGBTQ community, and the heterosexual community. I think getting that exposure and education out there can definitely create a stronger foundation.”

The conversation, radiating with warmth and good intent, ended with ear-to-ear grins, the four pups giddily howling with one another and reinforcing pup play’s core values of community, openness, and self expression.

However you identify, and whoever you are, no one is excluded from pup play, and keeping that community a safe, open place for all people to explore is imperative to all the pups.

For anyone outside of the pup community who is curious to learn more but hesitant? Ask! “Feel free to approach us,” Rascal said. “We don’t want to be stigmatized, and I think asking questions to gain a better understanding, and promoting that safe space, is something that is really important. Ask pups about pup play.

If we promote a culture of openness and transparency, I think that will definitely spread our message a lot better.”

And who knows? The next Friday you are out on the town, you might just run into one of these playful pups—just don’t forget to offer a little ear scratch and “Good dog!” before you go on your way.

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 2 9

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QueenofStandup

Franqi French Photos by Nicholas Karlin

I

n January, NBC crowned comedians Franqi French and Rene Vaca as the winners of the 16th annual StandUp NBC competition, the network’s nationwide search for comedians of diverse backgrounds.

Marking the first time ever where two winners were chosen, both French and Vaca were awarded a talent-holding deal with NBC Universal and headlined the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) annual convention, where they performed for nationwide talent bookers. They will also split the responsibility of headlining the regional semifinalist showcases in five cities across the country at next year’s StandUP NBC. OUT FRONT had the opportunity to chat more with French about the competition, winning, and her passion for comedy.

An award-winning talent, she regularly performs coast-to-coast and has shared the stage with the likes of Donnell Rawlings, Fortune Feimster, Todd Glass, D.L. Hughley, and Nicole Byer.

French has made guest appearances on WeTV, TVOne’s The Roland Martins' Show, and she has headlined the Bentzen Ball as well as the Black Women in Comedy Festival.

Tell us everything. What was the competition like, your experience, etc.?

The competition was amazing. I auditioned in 2014, 15, 16, and 17, and didn’t pass through, obviously [laughs]. I didn’t show up in 2018, and then 2019 came around, and I just so happened to be in the area for something else. A friend of mine was planning to audition, and she asked me to come with her.

Another close friend of mine back in D.C. had passed away, and my plan was to go up to New York, attend that funeral, and go back the next day to deal with her family. I said ‘OK, well, I’ll just go with you if you want me to go, and I’ll go up, do my audition, and I can just take the bus back afterwards because I doubt I’ll go through, so let’s just do it.’

Then I passed, and I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ So, I did the second round and passed again, and oh, wow. Then I did the semifinals, and I was like, OK, wait a minute; this might be a thing.

Then, a few weeks later, I found out that I was in the finals.

Oh my God, this is a real thing!

3 2 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

by Denny Patterson

Everyone associated with the program is absolutely amazing and so welcoming. They do everything to set you up for maximum success, which was very exciting for me because the first time really being around the industry is very nervewracking. You work so for it, a whole career. Then, when it happens, it’s like, oh my God, this is important. I don’t want to screw it up. Your nerves are on edge, and I don’t audition well because I get so nervous. But, for whatever reason, I had an angel on my shoulder that helped me. It’s been amazing.

And how does it feel to share the winning status with Rene Vaca?

Fantastic! And you know, based on that very last performance, I kind of knew it was down to the two of us just from audience response. We performed basically at the same level, and I didn’t know what was going to happen. It’s been great, and I don’t mind sharing the spotlight. I’m not a spotlight whore.

She’s wonderful and deserves all the accolades. If I was a judge looking at everything, I wouldn’t have been able to decide.

You mentioned auditioning for this competition several years in a row. Why were you so determined to compete?

So, this might sound a bit weird, but the first time I heard about the competition, I just had this feeling that it was for me, and it was going to help me. Not like they created it for me, but at some point, that was going to be the avenue that I would be able to go down. So, I just persisted with it.

Where did your passion for comedy come from, and how did it all begin?

I loved comedy ever since I was a kid. When I was a little, little kid, I would be left home alone a lot, and my grandmother would have old Richard Pryor records, George Carlin records, Eddie Murphy records. I would put them on and listen to them in my headphones and just giggle my butt off. Like, how are they saying these things? This is amazing!

Fast forward to me being an adult, I was a singer for a long time, and then I had to quit that because I had my daughter, and my sister called me up one day and she’s like, ‘Hey, I’m doing these acting classes, and they want me to spread my

wings and do stand up.’ I was like, ‘OK, weird, but sure. You’re not funny, but OK.’ She wanted me to take this comedy class with her, and I was like sure; why not? I’m not doing anything creative, and I would love to start doing something creative again. So, sure, and $250 later, she does not sign up. Now, I’m stuck in these classes, but the first time I hit the stage, I exploded the audience.

That feeling, I couldn’t let it go. I just went back and back and back and back.

Can you tell us more about your aesthetic? What kind of comedy do you tend to gravitate towards?

I like comedy that speaks to who I am as a human, how that interacts with the world, and I try to send out messages that I feel like people can relate to. I try to find some levity and solace in their personal misery or kind of, like, elevate the joy that’s in someone’s life. I think the best way I can describe my comedy is, I’m more of a storyteller.

I do some punch, punch, bang jokes, but I prefer stories that have a little bit of myself in them. Something that’s obviously funny and then also have something that you can take away and think about later. I talk a little bit about race and talk a lot about family and being a mom, and just kind of different observations that I have seen in the world.

Being a bisexual woman of color, have you encountered any challenges within this field of work?

Not specifically related to my sexuality, but definitely being a black woman in the world. I feel like in any industry, women are kind of pushed to the side, and then as you add different issues, that separation becomes greater. I’m a woman, so I’m over here. I’m black, so I’m scooched over a little more, and I’m a queer woman, so then I’m, like, pushed over a little bit more.

In a lot of ways, I ignore it. Not in the sense of allowing people to be offensive or do negative things as it relates to those issues, but when some people say you can’t do that because you’re black, or you’re a women, or you’re this, that’s when I’m like, ‘Well, why don’t you take a seat and just watch for a minute, and I bet that I can do it.’ My grandmother always said that I am so headstrong that it’s ridiculous. That’s just always been the kind of person I am.

Do you believe there are some topics that should never be joked about?

No, I don’t. I think that, especially my life experience, my mom

passed away from AIDS years ago. She was a survivor of incest and sexual assault. My backstory is bananas. We really sat down and dug into it, and it’s absolutely crazy. If I wasn’t allowed to talk about those things, that’s limiting me telling my story, and I don’t think anyone has the right to do that to anyone else.

If that’s a part of you, and you have a perspective that isn’t with the intent of hurting other people, then you should be able to. There are a lot of people that experience and go through those types of things, but they don’t talk about it. They don’t share it with people, and then they harbor that and hold on to it. Their souls and spirits are beaten down because they can’t let that out and release it.

So, being able to tell those stories and talk about those topics, even if they are considered taboo, definitely helps. It’s going to help somebody. You’re going to be like, ‘Thank God somebody said that. I can come out of this depression and get the power and motivation to maybe go talk to someone and get help. Let me share this with them, and maybe that will open the door to help them.’ So, no, I don’t think any topic should be off limits. Make sure it’s funny, and then make sure it’s appropriate.

Do you think some entertainers and comedians are too afraid to talk about taboo subjects because of today’s PC culture?

Absolutely. A lot of comics are scared. I wouldn’t count myself in that number; I kind of say what I feel needs to be said, or what’s on my mind, or what’s on my heart. You know, what moves me and inspires me. But yes, absolutely, a lot of comedians and entertainers just in general, they won’t take a stance, which is sad because they have these large platforms but won’t say something because they are afraid of damaging their reputation. In my opinion, in reality, getting this information out and reaching a multitude of people is more important than your personal thing.

What’s next? Are there any other upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?

Yes! I had my first general meeting with the network, and they have a lot of ideas and plans for me that I really can’t talk about just yet, but I think you’ll definitely see me on TV in the next 12 months or sooner. My personal goals, I would love to have my own standup special, and I would love to do late-night, but my ultimate goal, I would love to create and produce my own TV show.

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 3 3

WORK

IS

WORK

by BBDB

D

uring my last few weeks of bartending in Denver, after I had already put in my notice to leave, a patron started talking to me.”

“Are you easily offended?”

“I don’t think so,” I said, “why?”

“I’ll talk to you later.”

Later happened. I was eating the other half of a turkey club I had saved to get me through the shift.

“What did you want to talk to me about that you thought I could maybe be offended by?”

“My friend told me you were a rent boy,” he said.

“Oh, haha, no. Not me. This d*ck is philanthropic, honey. Though, I will concede that some of those hook-ups were so bad that I should’ve been compensated.”

The funny thing is that, during my time in Denver, I only ever shelled out clams having sex, via Lyfts, Ubers, and lube. I lost money. The only currencies I was paid with were gonorrhea and chlamydia. Some of them were antiboitic-resistent.

“Oh, well, you’re cute enough to be an escort.”

In his backpedaling, he was trying to frame it as a compliment. Look, nothing against sex workers, but you do not have to be cute to be one. You simply have

3 4 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

to be willing to be one, and you will find clients. Or, clients will find you.

A day later, I was hanging out with my friend at his house, and I incredulously mentioned this rumor.

“Oh, yeah, I heard that about you,” he said.

“No!”

People have no problem employing sex workers to satisfy whatever kink or fetish they may otherwise feel (or anticipate feeling and therefore hide from) public shame.

The clients of sex workers are just as much responsible for perpetuating the stigma against those they gainfully employ.

You better feel me. This one is free, babe.

“Yeah, girl.”

“OK. When you heard that about me, did you think it was true?”

“Honestly, I did. No shade. I mean, I used to do that.”

There will always be city rumors. How many rumors have you heard, in your time in the city, that were positive? Aside from the “so-and-so has a big d*ck” ones, how many? I am willing to venture 95 percent are negative. Rumors are invented and circulated to hurt their subjects, not uplift them.

The thing is, this rumor about me was negative. Why was a rumor that I was a sex worker negative?

Can you feel it? Where am I rhetorically going with this?

The reason why the rumor about me being a sex worker was negative was because being a sex worker is still viewed negatively, as an inferior occupation, as invalid, as lesser-than.

You feel me, though?

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 3 5

R i N o's Mise en Scéne

barcelona Wine Bar

by Veronica L. Holyfield

T

he recent snowfall has brought with it a disagreeable, dreary coldness which beckons us all to early evenings of hibernation at home. It truly must take the promise of a special experience to drag out the down jackets and winter wool boots. For the River North neighborhood, however, the delicate balance of traditionally crafted cuisine, hipster travel aesthetic, and authentic commingling at Barcelona Wine Bar is enough to get patrons out of the house and into their favorite wine spot.

Drawing from a genuine architecture of group dining, Barcelona Wine Bar has become a safe haven for folks who adore the honest delivery of tapas-style feasting.

3 6 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

Photos by Heather Smith

Sourcing dishes that are divinely fresh and veritable to the region, the Spanish influence is there, just with a Denver twist.

The marriage is Mile High magic.

The unassuming, brick storefront situated on the corner of Larimer Street and 29th creates a unique combination of intimacy and allure with no indication that the space is luxury meets a capacious coziness. Upon entering, a veil is lifted, as the warmth of the precisely curated environment invites conversations in close quarters over spruced-up cocktails and shared plates.

Tapas is designed for intimate connection, a designated time to feast

while sharing bites among stories.

Barcelona Wine Bar delivers an elegant set of aromatic and robust dishes to compliment the heartyness of the Spanish cuisine.

You’ll need to bring a group for sharing as you dive in fork -first to their signature recipe of Paella Mariscos, which features an impeccable array of spiced shrimp, mussels, clams, and squid on a beautiful bed of saffron rice.

Perhaps a fresh plate of greens tossed in a crisp, light dressing is more your style. If so, don’t pass on the Ensalata Mix, which brings a slight variation to the Spanish cuisine as it introduces a

delicately placed, tossed romaine lettuce with olives, onions, and tomatoes.

The magic here is the primely pure olive oil which is used as a base for the dressing but is also served in a dish made for dipping the crusted sourdough bread, which is delivered daily from a local bakery.

While the aesthetic and food are reason enough to return to Barcelona Wine Bar, the signature cocktails are more than enough of an allure to arrive in the first place. If you embibe, whether wine or cocktails are your poison, make sure to save room for more than just desert.

While Barcelona is part of a larger restaurant group which started out of Connecticut more than 20 years ago, each location is so unique and plugged into the local offerings that there is nothing reminiscent of a chain restaurant. Each of their 18 locations is different from the other, as they clutch onto what makes each and every city dynamic in its own right. “We care a lot about our community; we care a lot about what our neighbors think. We’re hyper-local, and we really only want to participate in community events that affect RiNo,� said James Baetke, general manager of Barcelona.

Baetke said that the original goal of Barcelona was to strip down the pretension of New York City fine dining while maintaining the integrity of highquality hospitality. The original concept was to be a creative bar dining experience that featured fresh and limited items that were available for a single evening, and when an item on the menu sells out, that is considered a success.

Each location is granted an immense amount of freedom to be independent in the menu offerings to remain ecologically supportive of every neighborhood they thrive in.

Barcelona is particular, not only about the experience they provide their guests, but about the dishes they create, ensuring that each plate is primed with a local zest and paired with an approachable ease.

Delicacy and comfort mingle in the space, as the combinations of flavors from the fresh ingredients swirl with textures that perfectly toe the line between fine dining and home cooking.

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 3 7

HeinzeSight

Protection and Healing from Toxic People

by Brent Heinze

I

n a beautiful world full of wonderful people, there is also, unfortunately, a dark side, including some unsavory characters who take advantage of others for their own personal gains.

Thankfully, the vast majority of people have an honest heart and personal integrity, but it is important to know how to defend ourselves against those who do not have benevolent intentions towards us.

Abusive and manipulative people often have a type of radar that can seemingly pinpoint those parts of our personality most likely to be susceptible to their advances. They may target people who are nurturing, compassionate, hardworking, and thoughtful, but they may also be able to identify areas of insecurity that can make someone emotionally vulnerable.

Sometimes, they work to bolster someone’s self-image, either in the way they look physically or offer gushing praise for their accomplishments or talents. Although their words and actions can build someone up emotionally, it is inevitable that this praise will be pulled out from under them like a Jenga block, leaving a teetering tower which might come crashing down.

The most powerful tool in protecting yourself from a powerful foe is to know how to effectively block their attacks. We are aware of some common methods of fighting off movie monsters, like wooden stakes, silver bullets, or garlic.

Unfortunately, it can be challenging to develop a single technique that is effective in protecting ourselves from these people’s devious attacks on us, since they often have multiple ways of getting what they want. They attempt to gain control over others by any means necessary, like being charming; creating sob stories; using aggression; making false accusations; or through using guilt-trips, threats, or blaming.

They may be charming or try to pull at your heartstrings, but rest assured, it is just further manipulation to gain what they want. Stop trying to help or support them. Put your energy into keeping yourself safe and healing the damage done during your relationship. Remind yourself these individuals are deeply flawed and are unlikely to change, regardless of what you do for them.

You don’t blame a duck for quacking. By the same token, this is just what these types of abusive people do. They play out the same dysfunctional patterns over time and will likely continue to do so until they run out of available victims, or develop such a poor reputation that they are pushed out of communities. Many times, it is safer to simply assume these people will remain inauthentic and continue to disappoint you if your goal is to have an honest, caring relationship with them.

Knowledge about someone’s abusive patterns is extremely important. No matter how nice or caring these people may appear, it is important to understand this facade is likely to fade if you 3 8 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

challenge them, go contrary to what they want, or do not give into their desires or demands. Relationships with such emotionally unstable individuals are often one-sided. It is recommended that you strongly consider ending the relationship, since it is likely their behaviors will not change, and you will be wasting time and energy which could be spent on more fulfilling endeavors.

Many times, the victim may feel pushed to their emotional limits.

The term “gaslighting” describes abusive patterns of brainwashing where abusers can use lies, denial, personal information, ego strokes, accusations, or dishonesty to wear someone down. They may make someone feel crazy, work to cut them off from friends, and convince them that no one else should be trusted except for them.

It is important to have a strong support network, since this level of manipulation may be really confusing and destructive. It is not unusual for victims to lose confidence in their ability to identify quality people or make healthy choices. They may even start to question their own reality or sanity when it comes to their emotions.

Many people struggle with learning how to trust their own instincts after having these types of intense experiences. This is why many find it beneficial to meet with a mental health professional to explore their own feelings of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-esteem. Developing confidence in your own judgment may take some time, but it is important to gain. Trust in what you are actually experiencing. Don’t focus on their potential to be a good person or what they tell you their intentions are. Believe in people’s actions, not their promises.

There are many times when our inner voice warns us something may not be what it appears and that red flags exist. We might choose to ignore those indications because we either want to give someone a chance, think they could change, or they may offer something we want. Someone attractive or successful on our arm could give a huge self-esteem boost, but be careful in figuring out the cost. Also, keep in mind: if something sounds too good to be true, it may actually be.

Sometimes, relationships with an abuser parallels experiences with drug addiction. Initially it is fun, but as reliance on it and unpleasant side effects emerge, it can become miserable quickly.

Without the relationship, it can feel like there is a missing piece from your life. Experiencing grief is also common from losing someone who was once extremely important and vital to one’s life.

Like any other abusive relationship, victims can be made to feel they are at least partially to blame for the problems they experience. It is also not usual for some victims to defend their attacker, even standing up for them in situations where they are rightfully being confronted for their actions. The concern of an aggressive backlash keeps many victims from confronting their abusers, fearing threats of destroying their social standing or other friendships.

Selecting quality people to be included in your life is crucial. There should not be a single person who is a foundational pillar for your stability but who doesn’t truly have your best interests in mind.

Use your awesome support network to process your emotions or to blow off steam. It is important to have opportunities to talk about feeling hurt without fear of judgment or ridicule from friends, but don’t be surprised when people who care about you dish out a healthy helping of tough love in their attempts to support you.

It is frustrating and painful for them to see good people being hurt. Have conversations with people who will also be brutally honest with you and advocate for you when you are feeling weak or beaten down.

Although you can surround yourself with supportive people who have your best interests in mind, don’t count on others to be your protectors. It is important to act as your own advocate when it comes to guarding yourself. If you are not in an emotionally strong place to choose a healthy individual for a relationship, your energy may be better spent on working to heal those parts of your personality that make you more vulnerable to abusive individuals.

Empower yourself to gain confidence that you are a worthwhile person who deserves a healthy relationship full of love, compassion, understanding, and a high potential for success.

Be careful about waging a war against these vicious individuals, even if this is your first instinct. It is natural to feel like defending yourself by attacking them, but many times in these types of situations, it will simply add fuel to the fire and will likely not solve any of the hurt feelings that have developed through the course of the relationship. Knowing they are continuing to cause disruption in your life often brings them some twisted sense of power. Don’t give them the satisfaction.

Feel free to express your feelings relating to how they have hurt, disappointed, or enraged you, but realize your comments will likely fall on deaf ears if directed at them. These will likely have no impact on the way they see themselves and might be twisted around to be thrown back at you. Sometimes the most realistic and efficient way to deal with an abusive person is to simply remove them from your day-to-day existence. It may be helpful to remember that “The best revenge is living a good life.”

Set your boundaries about when and how you want to communicate, including if you even want to continue having these people in your life. Aggression from them may be done verbally, electronically through messages, or behind your back with other people. Feel free to block these individuals where possible. Be aware of feeling anxious about potentially running into them in public. Although it may feel uncomfortable to see them, focus on more positive interactions with healthier people.

Abusive people often gain strength by hurting others. Efforts need to be made to stop the feeding frenzy of these toxic individuals by cutting off their food supply. The more their manipulative patterns are known in communities, the less likely they will be able to take advantage of others. It is important for victims, survivors, and supportive allies to speak out and confront these people. It can be extremely helpful to network with other people who have fallen prey to these people’s abuse. Letting others know of their manipulative and self-serving patterns can also help to protect someone else from getting hurt.

It is important that members of our society become aware these types of dangerous personalities exist and share stories about their experiences including what has worked for them to better identify these abusers and fend off their attacks. Although some people have been hurt by these manipulators, be careful not to become jaded or distrustful of people in general. Thankfully, the vast majority of people are kind and trustworthy.

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 3 9

SEED OF THE SORCERER, WOMB OF THE WITCH MOE'S ORIGINAL BBQ

Photo by Addison Herron-Wheeler

PINEGROVE GOTHIC THEATRE

Photo by Adrianna Balderrama 4 0 \\ M A R C H 4 , 2 0 2 0

JOAN

GLOBE HALL

Photos by Veronica L. Holyfield

RALPH

GLOBE HALL O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 4 1

Photo by Veronica L. Holyfield

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by The Cycle Sluts Photo provided

by The Cycle Sluts

Dear Denver Cycle Sluts,

Dear Denver Cycle Sluts,

I was shopping and found a fabulous outfit in white, but we are before Memorial Day. Do I dare wear it, even out of season?

Kay: I would not be caught dead in white; it is so not slimming.

Mae: What? My concern is not about Memorial Day—why the hell would you wear white when you could spill your red wine on it?

Zoey: Is it summer white or winter white? Do you have beige shoes? What accessories do you have? What would Miss Manners think?

Cookie: Rules? There are rules? Why did nobody tell me about this?

OMG! ... Meh, who cares!

You do you.

My new girlfriend has a box of sex toys and some look well-loved, if you get my meaning. How do I make sure that she has cleaned them before we get too involved?

Cookie: Those are hers and should stay hers. Go buy new toys that only the two of you will use with each other. The more you know.

Mae: You could just take a big sniff at each toy to make sure it smells like soap instead of tuna.

Kay: Buy her fresh new toys with toy cleaner—just like taking a shower together to clean the bits that are about to go in your mouth.

Dear Denver Cycle Sluts,

My new boyfriend of three months just told me he is bi. That is not an issue, but what do I say if I meet one of his ex-girlfriends?

Zoey: Run them through the dishwasher.

If you are still not sure, then run them through the oven set on broil.

Mae: I guess that depends. Did they part ways on good terms? Maybe suggest a threesome?

Cookie: Were you the top or the bottom in the relationship?

Zoey: One woman’s trash is one man’s treasure, and I love plundering the booty.

Kay: Hi, do you have any STDs I should know about?

O U T F R O N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M // 4 3

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