June 2014 by The Vital Voice Magazine

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June 2014

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June 2014

Advertisers at a glance Publisher/Editor in Chief

Darin Slyman

dsly@thevitalvoice.com

Associate Publisher/Director of Marketing Jimmy Lesch jimmy@thevitalvoice.com

Art Director Andrea Piamonte andrea@thevitalvoice.com

Content Manager Brent peterson brent@thevitalvoice.com

Communications Assistant Sam sanchez sam@thevitalvoice.com

Staff Photographer Mikey Berner mikey@thevitalvoice.com

Staff Writer Hanna botney hanna@thevitalvoice.com

Staff Writer Denny patterson denny@thevitalvoice.com

Contributors

Photography: Annie Leibovitz, Jonathan Barbe, Mikey Berner, Darin Slyman,

Andrea Piamonte, Joseph Cultice, Envision Photography (Springfield, Mo.) and Scott Lokitz Photography Writing: Corey Stulce, Diane Balogh, Darin Slyman, Brent Peterson, Hanna Botney and Denny Patterson

Advisory Board

William A. Donius, Thom Halter, Jay Perez, Pam Scheider, Kellie Trivers and Sharon Tucci

Online

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Contact

Vital VOICE Magazine

4579 Laclede Ave #268 St. Louis, MO 63108 VitalVOICEmag@gmail.com St. Louis: 314.256.1196

Advertising

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Pinnacle (River City) 2 Pearl Vodka 3 Just John 4-5 Rehab/CJ’s On the Hill 6-7 ALIVE Magazine 8-9 Macy’s 10 Opera Theatre of St. Louis 12-13 Hamburger Mary’s (STL) 14 The Hilton Downtown St. Louis 14 Second Presbyterian Church 14 Kansas City Convention & Visitors 15 Jilly’s Cupcake Barw 16 Quest Diagnostics 18 Glazers/Bacardi 20 The Muny 21 Stevens—The Institute of B&A 22 Curbed KC Real Estate 28 Metro Design 28-29 Missouri History Museum 29 Forsythe Dental Group 29 St. Louis CVC 32 City of Maplewood 33 Bistro 303 38 Hilton President KC 38 Clear Channel 39 Amazing Travel Unlimited 44 W.E. Fit 44 Hiro Asian Kitchen 44 Stages St. Louis 46 Talent Plus 46 The Sanctuary 46 Coldwell Banker—Pam Schneider 47 St. Louis Science Center 47 Immerse by Atlas 48 Fabulous Fox Theatre 48 Hyatt Downtown St. Louis 52 The Silver Lady 52 The Pasta House Company 52 Social (Kansas City) 56 St. Louis Cabaret 56 Wells Fargo—Trish Busch 56 Ethical Society of St. Louis 56 Cheap TRX 57 Duffe Nuernberger Realty 57 Body Brite 57 Big Red Events 60 UPS Store 60 Front Door Realty 61 Washington Univ. Dept of Health 61 Rivendale 66 Lumiere Place Hotel & Casino 67 Planned Parenthood 68

20K Issues Printed Monthly 400+ Points of Distribution throughout the St. Louis and Kansas City area Vital VOICE is your premier LGBT publication and reaches a diverse readership from thoughtful leaders and young thinkers to trendsetters in culture, entertainment and beyond.

June 2014

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THE PERFECT PLACE TO START YOUR MINI UMBRELLA COLLECTION. Celebrate Pride month in June with Hilton St. Louis Downtown at the Arch! Come and visit the NEWLY renovated 400 Olive Restaurant & Bar during the month of June and Buy One Drink & the Second is on us! Please reference VitalVoice ad at the time of ordering. Limit one per person.

and proclaim God’s love for all people! www.secondchurch.net

June 2014

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June 2014

June 2014 | Volume 15 | Issue 6

Table of

Contents 11. advertisers at a glance 19. publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter 23. ACLU: The fight for Marriage Equality

30. Pride survival guide with Cheap trx

34. pride schedules 40. STL Pridefest headliner: MKTO

42. StL Pridefest headliner: betty who

45. stl pridefest headliner: Cazwell

49. cyndi lauper 54. Trends with the fashion queens

58. Orange is the new Blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lea delaria

62. scene in StL 64. scene in Kc Stay Connected with us

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No matter who you are, we have tests that match your needs At Quest Diagnostics, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud to support improved health in the LGBT community. Quest Diagnostics is pleased to be a Sponsor of Kansas City Pridefest, June 21-22, 2014 and a Sponsor of Pride St. Louis, June 28-29, 2014. Please visit us in Sponsor Row to learn how our innovative diagnostic testing can help you and your loved ones.

June 2014

publisher’s Letter

Evolve your

PRIDE Welcome to our annual Pride issue of Vital VOICE magazine. This is always such a special issue for Vital VOICE each year. National Pride Month always reminds me how far we have come in the five short years I’ve been involved with this publication. Traditionally, we celebrate Pride as a memorial to the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City. Of course, things have dramatically changed since then, and now Pride has evolved into a time to celebrate in a festive, integrated and out manner. This year, Vital VOICE is proud to sponsor three major Pride festivals throughout the bi-state area including: MetroEast Pride, Kansas City Pride and Pride St. Louis. In this issue, you’ll find the schedules of all three festivals. I encourage you to fill your hearts and support our vibrant and diverse community by attending any Pride festival that you can. This year alone we have a lot to be proud of and much to celebrate. In February 2014, The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Missouri filed a

lawsuit in state court on behalf of eight same-sex couples that are seeking recognition for their legal out-of-state marriages. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed an executive order that would allow gay and lesbian couples who were legally married in other states to file joint tax returns In Missouri — the first steps in achieving full equality within our state. It was also announced this year that the 2016 international

OutGames will be held in St. Louis. It is very progressive and modern that both the St. Louis Convention and Visitor Commission and the Kansas City Convention and Visitor Association have taken initiative to promote our state and our two largest cities as gay-friendly destinations to live, laugh and love. I cannot continue without pointing out how excited and proud I am of the St. Louis Rams for drafting defensive end Michael Sam as the first ever openly gay NFL rookie. It’s truly brilliant and courageous that the Rams have stepped up to select such a trailblazer based on talent, not sexual orientation, who also attended the University of Missouri — Columbia. On a more local note, I congratulate John Oberkramer and Jeromy Rout who are celebrating their five-year anniversary with Just John Nightclub. This year also marks the second anniversary of Jim Weckmann and Chad Fox’s establishment of Rehab Bar and Grill. Both of these St. Louis LGBT establishments have been the anchors in St. Louis’ Grove neighborhood. Michael Mahler of Cheap TRX in St. Louis has also been an LGBT retail establishment for over 22 years on South Grand Ave. This year they will be changing their digs and have a new location starting July 1. Be sure and see them for all your Pride gear. Finally, I’m proud of my brilliant, modern and young Vital VOICE staff. After 30+ years serving the St. Louis Market, Vital VOICE magazine proudly launched into Kansas City, as well as other markets like Columbia, Rolla and Springfield, making Vital VOICE magazine your premier Missouri LGBT life+style media company. I could not have taken this risk without the support of this talented and passionate team. They are forever seeking innovation and evolution in LGBT media. They share my vision of an integrated LGBT community into mass society. They are never scared to evolve as our society changes and becomes more the norm than a segregated and isolated community. We are one community and one society on the path to full equality. I wish you a happy and safe Pride Month!

Darin Slyman Publisher/CEO thevitalVOICE.com

June 2014

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Fashion Merchandising Business Administration Tourism & Hospitality Management Interior Design Paralegal Studies

June 2014

Will Missouri be next to abandon its discriminatory laws? Written by Diane Balogh (Communications Director for American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri) The freedom to marry movement received a power boost last June. That’s when the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act provision that denied federal benefits to same-sex married couples and Edie Windsor became the matron saint of marriage equality. “It was thrilling to learn that Edie’s $363,000 estate tax bill was zeroed out,” says Jeffrey A. Mittman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri. “Even better was the outpouring of love, joy and hope that radiated across the nation because the government stopped treating Edie as a complete stranger and recognized her marriage to Thea Spyer.”

Along with the good cheer came a flood of legislative and legal activity to further chip away at discriminatory barriers. “We barely had time to celebrate our Windsor victory before another volley of lawsuits was launched,” Mittman says. “The ACLU is currently involved in 15 lawsuits and one is right here in Missouri.” Days before Valentine’s Day, the ACLU of Missouri filed its court case in Kansas City on behalf of eight couples. This lawsuit does not seek a repeal of Missouri’s 2004 ban on marriage for same-sex couples. “Instead, we are asking Missouri to recognize each couple’s legal out-of-state marriage,” explains Tony Rothert, the ACLU of Missouri’s legal director. “It is as if they are handed involuntary divorces every time they set foot in a state that ignores their marriages. No other right evaporates and reappears depending on the state you are in.”

“Because of the many benefits of marriage, Missouri has traditionally recognized lawful marriages performed in other states, even when the couples would never have been allowed to marry in Missouri,” Mittman says. “We know that the people of Missouri are fair-minded and did not intend to harm the estimated 5,445 couples in same-sex marriages currently living in Missouri. But our current laws do harm them.” Some of the harms are life-threatening, like the denial of health benefits to a spouse. Others create additional paperwork and stress. All violate the Constitution’s mandate of equality. The following eight couples, plaintiffs in the ACLU’s lawsuit, have bravely stepped up to show the Show-Me state exactly why it should recognize all legal marriages.

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Sher Schild & Jan Barrier Married: May 1, 2009, in Iowa City, IA Together for: More than 30 years Location: St. Louis County Occupations: Jan is a retired St. Louis Area Director for the U.S. Dept. of Labor and Sher is a retired teacher and homemaker. Jan Barrier and Sher Schild of St. Louis have already experienced extreme hardship due to the state’s failure to recognize their marriage. Barrier was forced to accept a demotion in order to take time off to care for Schild when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. Five years later, Schild was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had to stop working. Barrier was unable to add her to her medical insurance. In 2012, Barrier herself was diagnosed with cancer.

“We have both sacrificed our finances and our livelihoods in order to care for each other,” Barrier says. “Our life savings have gone to paying medical bills. We are scared to death about what would happen if both of our cancers recur, or if one of us needs care in a nursing home and we’re denied the right to care for each other in privacy because the state views us as legal strangers. We just want the peace of mind of knowing we will always be able to look after each other.”

(Photo by Andrea Piamonte)

Alan Ziegler & LeRoy Fitzwater Married: November 1, 2008 in Stanford, Calif. Together for: 13 years Location: St. Louis Occupations: Alan is a physical therapist and LeRoy is an engineer.

(Photo by Darin Slyman)

June 2014

Alan Ziegler and LeRoy Fitzwater had a taste of what it’s like to live in a state that recognizes marriage. They were the first same-sex couple to have a legal wedding performed at Memorial Church on the Stanford University campus in California. They moved to Missouri because of Fitzwater’s job transfer.

of this changes the way Alan and I feel about each other, or our commitment to care and support one another, but we lose the rights, responsibilities and protections to do that in many states. We ought not to be relegated to legal strangers just for crossing political borders within the United States.”

While they are not confused about the status of their marriage, various states are. “If we are in California, we are married; if we are in Missouri, we are not married; if we are in Illinois we are married; if we are visiting my sister in Pennsylvania or my aunt and uncle in Ohio, we are not married,” Fitzwater explains. “None

“The biggest advantage of marriage is the sense of safety and contentment, a commitment of mutual love, respect and support,” Fitzwater concludes. “Alan will be there for me, and I will be there for him. Whatever life decides to throw at us, good or bad, we will be in it together.”

Beth Drouant & Julikka LaChe Married: March 12, 2010 in Iowa City, IA Together for: 10 years Location: University City Occupations: Beth is a teacher and Julikka is a sign-language interpreter. Beth Drouant and Julikka LaChe married to celebrate their love and commitment for each other. “Marriage is the next logical commitment you can make to your partner in our culture,” Drouant says. “It is a rite of passage into a realm of adulthood as well as a more binding and concrete level of dedication within your relationship.”

(Photo by Andrea Piamonte)

What they didn’t anticipate was the stronger bond and deeper level of commitment. “Our friends and family took our relationship more seriously and started to see us as equal and deeply dedicated partners,” she adds.

Even so, Drouant and LaChe have noticed the negative effects of living in a state that doesn’t recognize their union. “As much as you try not to let it affect your life, it does,” LaChe says. “We worry about visitation in the hospital, major health and financial decisions, taxes, insurance, joint property, starting a family and the rights of our children, survivor benefits, retirement, and family leave. We feel an immense burden and stress associated with the lack of benefits and our future financial and overall stability.”

Andy Schuerman & Jim MacDonald Married: July 25, 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Together for: 12 years Location: Kansas City, Mo. Occupations: Jim is a non-profit professional and Andy is a school counselor. The couple has a three year-old daughter. Marriage was a romantic and sentimental expression of Jim MacDonald and Andy Schuerman’s love. “It’s a recognized institution that affords us some rights that don’t require explanation or onerous paperwork to validate,” MacDonald explains. Now that they have a threeyear-old daughter, a recognized marriage has become even more important. Schuerman is Grace’s biological father. Unlike members in of an opposite-sex marriage, MacDonald did not benefit from

the legal presumption that a child born to a married couple is the child of both spouses. He had to adopt Grace to be her second parent. Although MacDonald and Schuerman are eligible for family health insurance coverage through their employers, it is more expensive than it is for opposite-sex married couples because the men are treated as domestic partners, not spouses; coverage for a domestic partner is considered taxable income.

(Photo by Jonathan Barbe)

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Arlene Zarembka & Zuleyma Tang-Martinez Married: July 18, 2005, in Golden, British Columbia, Canada and on July 10, 2008 in Woodland, California Together Since: Feb. 7, 1983 and had a commitment ceremony on May 26, 1985 in St. Louis Location: University City Occupations: Arlene is an attorney and Zuleyma is a university professor. Arlene Zarembka and Zuleyma “I never imagined that this would Tang-Martinez have supported each happen in my lifetime. It’s amazingly other through the good times and wonderful!” bad, including Alzheimer diagnoses Missouri’s recognition of their of both Tang-Martinez’s father marriage is important to the couple and Zarembka’s mother. They’ve shared their lives’ joys and sorrows, not just because opposite-sex married couples receive automatic finances, home, automobiles, yet Arlene does not have Social Security benefits, like the right to make endspousal benefits because this benefit of-life decisions for one another. depends on whether or not your state recognizes your marriage. Marriage recognition is important, “because it would mean that Missouri When asked how she feels about would stop treating us as secondthe federal government recognizing class citizens and acting as if our their marriage, Tang-Martinez says, marriage is meaningless and invalid.”

(Photo by Andrea Piamonte)

JoDe & Lisa Layton-Brinker Married: July 17, 2010, in Des Moines, IA Together For: Six years Location: Jefferson City Occupations: Lisa is a mid-Missouri career firefighter and JoDe is a homemaker. The couple has two sons and a daughter ranging from 17 to 22 years old. JoDe and Lisa LaytonBrinker rented a house with a beautiful backyard for their intimate wedding of 25, which included close friends and family. To include their children in the ceremony, “we poured different colored sand into a glass vase to represent individuality and becoming one family,” JoDe LaytonBrinker says. When asked why it is important for Missouri to recognize their marriage, she replies, “We live our lives

(Photo Courtesy of Layton-Brinker)

June 2014

just like everyone else; we shouldn’t have to fight for the things that opposite-sex couples get automatically with a $40 license.” To get similar benefits, the couple registered in Boone County as domestic partners and had their attorney prepare wills, a trust, and documents they might need in emergencies. “We have had to bring them to the hospital on several occasions to be copied and put on file,” Lisa LaytonBrinker explains.

Ashley & Kate Quinn Married: May 24, 2009, in Springfield, Mo. Legally Married: January 12, 2010, in Boston, Mass. Together For: Eight years Location: Springfield Occupations: Ashley is a commercial real estate agent and Kate is a licensed massage therapist. One of the unexpected benefits of the couple’s marriage was an extended family. “We are all very different people, and we don’t always like each other or get along perfectly,” Kate Quinn says. “In fact, we challenge each other at almost every level, but at this point we share a history and a common goal of being successful and happy, so we come together and support each other, especially when life is difficult.”

(Photo Courtesy of Envision Photography, Springfield, Mo.)

Both Springfield natives, the two spent a few years in Boulder, CO — a city and state with much friendlier LGBT laws — before returning to Springfield in 2013,

mainly to be closer to family. “Our choice was to live far from our family, where our marriage is recognized, and our future children would be indisputably our children, and I can’t be fired from my lowpaying job just for being queer,” Ashley Quinn explains. “Or, move back to our hometown, close to our families, and where we have to fight to be treated with basic human decency on issues like marriage equality, MONA and safe-schools legislation?” she concludes. “It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but being a part of this lawsuit makes it feel like a little bit more of the right choice.”

Patricia & Adria Webb Married: March 12, 2010, in Iowa City, IA Together For: Six years Location: St. Louis City Occupations: Adria is an artist/musician and Patricia is a pharmaceutical product inspector. The couple is raising a 14-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter (who think it’s really cool that they have a bonus mom!) Patricia and Adria Webb agreed early in their relationship that marriage was the most faithful of commitments and that it would be the only natural progression for two people who love each other as much as they did. “I feel a deep sense of sorrow at

the injustice of being ignored and forgotten for something so much a part of who I am as a citizen of Missouri,” Patricia Webb says. “I want to spread the great news that I found someone to love for the rest of my life. Welcome us with our equal share of respect and responsibilities.”

(Photo by Andrea Piamonte)

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Celebrating diversity, independence and the opportunity to be your personal and professional best. That’s PRIDE; that’s METRO DESIGN. Call Lise 314.983.0444 • www.metrodesignstl.com

June 2014

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Survival

GUIDE

Get the most out of your PrideFest with these hot items from Cheap TRX Photography by Andrea

Piamonte

Rainbow Disco Ball

After the festivities wrap up, keep the party going in your hotel room with your own private pride dance party! We recommend the RuPaul station on Pandora.

6 7

Rainbow Pride Flag Shades

PrideFest is going to be hotter than ever – in more ways than one. Shield your eyes from the sun and have free reign to check out everyone walking by without looking super creepy.

Party penis pint

Rainbow Sock Monkey

You didn’t find happiness at the bottom of the glass, but hey, at least there’s something else you like down there. Bottoms up, boys!

Everyone wants to take someone home, but it’s always a good idea to have a back-up plan. You can snuggle with this little guy, and he won’t even judge you for being shitfaced while you do it.

“Thank you” Card

Rainbow Koozie

Rainbow Luggage Tag

Whether you want to go for round two or just want to be the most considerate one-night stand in town, say it with this “Thank You” card. Lesbians, you paid a whole dollar for that PBR, don’t let it go warm.

You have arrived, and the spotlight is on YOU! From the moment you touch down at the airport, let them know you’re here for PrideFest with this fabulous luggage tag.

June 2014

Rainbow Flag

“Gay Bar” Soap

It’s a Pride staple. They come in all sizes, from small ones to wave while you march in a parade or large ones to fly in front of your home year round!

PrideFest is notoriously hot, and it’s sticky... and not in the good way. Scrub with pride and don’t be the smelly kid. Seriously.

10 “Your Future Called… and it was all happy and shit“ Fruit Gum

After you’ve been drinking all day and munching on fried goods from the food truck you might want to check that breath coming out ya mouth. There’s nothing worse than cock-blocking yourself with your own breath.

11 Rainbow Bandana

The rainbow bandana is perfect for a bearish biker or for holding up the local liquor store in fabulous style. Also, in accordance to the Hankey Code, it tells people you’re into everything.

12 Rainbow Dog Leash

People who make their dogs wear clothes are ridiculous, but you can still show your puppy pride with this awesome leash!

13 Cheap TRX Bumper Sticker

When people ask you where you got all this amazing PrideFest swag, point at your bumper to let them know, “Hey. I went to Cheap TRX. I also use my car to take a stand on political issues.”

14 Grizzly Bear Paw

Masturbating Cream

14 15

You can use this before you head the festival if you don’t want to seem too anxious, or afterwards if you make a few new friends! Even if you don’t make new friends... Well, you know, it’s a jar full of win-win.

15 PRIDE Bracelet

If you’re looking for a more subtle way to showcase your pride, wear a bracelet! Looking for a less subtle way to showcase your pride? Wear ten on each arm. V thevitalVOICE.com

are a girl's best friend

Bring your partner to the ballpark for some pitching, catching and people watching at beautiful Busch Stadium. After the game, check out the action in Soulard, the Grove and the CWE. And raise a glass to the ‘Lou -- the city that The Advocate called “…the LGBT beacon of the Midwest.” Check out our impressive packages at explorestlouis.com/LGBT

June 2014

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Written by Denny

June 2014

Patterson

Saturday & Sunday June 28-29, 2014

Soldier’s Memorial Downtown St. louis, Mo

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Sunday, June 29, 2014

12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

LGBT Military Presentation

Lady Bunny: Zander Mander: Steps of Soldiers Memorial Jen Norman Duo: 11 a.m. Hurricane Ruth: Bud Light Entertainment Stage

11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

3:40 p.m. 4:05 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

Red Bull MXT Truck

Dance to Emcees: LIVE DJ’s: 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Sampson McCormick: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.  Athletes Village Team St. Pride Idol Winners: 12:45 p.m. Louis Cycling Charis: 1:10 p.m. Gateway Mens Chorus: 1:45 p.m. St. Louis Fringe: 2:25 p.m. Anti-Gravity: 3 p.m. Teacup Circus: 3:20 p.m. St. Louis Fringe: 4:30 p.m.  God Des & She: 5 p.m. Manila Luzon: 6:15 p.m. Eric Himan Band: 6:40 p.m. Ariana & the Rose: 8 p.m. Alex Newell: 8:50 p.m. Monsanto Entertainment Stage Emcees: Lady Bunny: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Zander Mander: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. St. Louis Fringe: 1:20 p.m. Shelia Shahpari Duo: 2 p.m. Bella + Lilly: 2:50 p.m.

Pride Ride, Bike Ride: 7 a.m. Team St. Louis Grass Volleyball Tournament: 10 a.m. Rock Wall: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Parade Wells Fargo Advisers Grand Pride Parade: Market Street and 8th Street-18th Street: 11 a.m. Bud Light Entertainment StagE Emcees: Michelle McCausland: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Fortune Feimster: 3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

City Hall Rotunda

St. Louis City, County and State of Missouri Dignitaries: 1:35 p.m. St. Louis Fringe Presents: 2 p.m. Michelle McCausland: 2:15 p.m. Wells Fargo Advisers Grand Pride Parade Awards: 2:40 p.m. St. Louis Drag Review: 3:05 p.m. St. Louis Fringe: 3:30 p.m. Cazwell: 4 p.m. Fortune Feimster: 4:45 p.m. Betty Who: 5:15 p.m. MKTO: 6:30 p.m.

Pride St. Louis Commitment Ceremony: 3 p.m.

Monsanto Entertainment Stage

Children’s Area Arts & Crafts: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Bounce House and Water Slide: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Face Painting, Balloon Artist & Caricature Artist: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Circus Kaput: (Various times) 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

St. Louis Fringe: 1:25 p.m. The Rhythm Imperials: 1:45 p.m. Anti-Gravity: 2:40 p.m. The TakeDown: 3 p.m. Kim Massie: 4 p.m. Summer Osborne: 5 p.m. Red Bull MXT DJ Truck Dance to LIVE DJ’s: Various DJ Performances: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Athletes Village St. Louis Frontrunners Pride 5K Run: 7 a.m. Rock Wall: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Children’s Area Arts & Crafts: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Bounce House and Water Slide: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Face Painting, Balloon Artist & Caricature Artist: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Circus Kaput Presents: Various (Various times) 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Metro Art in Transit Metro Bus Mural Painting: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Emcees: Trish Busch: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Summer Osborn: 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. thevitalVOICE.com

Saturday, June 21, 2014 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

West Main Street Belleville, Ill.

Festival Hostesses: Dieta Pepsi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12 p.m. 6 p.m. Michelle McCausland â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 p.m. 10 p.m Blessing by Father Marek Bozek

12 p.m.

Gateway Mens Chorus

12 p.m.

Charis Womens Chorus

12:30 p.m.

Dieta Pepsi

1 p.m.

Speech by Illinois State Representative Jay Hoffman, followed by remarks from Belleville City Attorney Garrett Hoerner 1:30 p.m. First ever legal LGBT wedding ceremony on the Main Stage and being officiated by Father Marek Bozek of Saint Stanislaus Polish Catholic Church 2 p.m. Wedding reception in front of the Main Stage. Includes dancing, cutting of the cake and champagne toasts 3 p.m. Brenda Crisson and Dixie Ruliffson Community Service Award and the Doug Bernier Spirit of Pride Award 6 p.m. Michelle McCausland

6:30 p.m.

Festival Drag Show

7 p.m.

Summer Osborne

8:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks by Metro East Pride Board President Allen Irby 9:30 p.m.

June 2014

Friday, Saturday & Sunday June 20-22, 2014

West Bottoms Kansas City, MO

Tuesday, June 17

Official Kick Off party at UMKC Symposium on issues that affect the LGBT community

DJ Remix DJ Aaron Fries Daniel Weaver DJ Sophia Lin

Wednesday, June 18, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 21, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Interfaith Service at Unity on the Plaza

Thursday, June 19, 7 p.m.

Screening of The Case Against Prop 8 @ The Tivoli Theater

Friday, June 20, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. DJ Chad Slater

Many local, regional and national acts Big Bad Gina Several DJs from the region and country

Sunday, June 22, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Battle of the Bars Local entertainment from KCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier entertainers, groups and artists

A personalized touch and attention to every detail.

Events (314) 352-7575 | www.wkf.com thevitalVOICE.com

June 2014

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The “Classic” pop duo hits STL Written by Denny Patterson Photography by Joseph Cultice

June 2014

pride headliner It’s the month of June and we all know what that means – Pridefest St. Louis! The largest LGBT festival in Missouri is approaching fast and this year’s entertainment lineup will surely please the crowds. Headlining at the Bud Light Entertainment Stage on June 29 at 6:30 p.m. will be none other than the popular musical duo MKTO, who are conquering the airwaves with their hit song “Classic.” Malcolm Kelley (MK) and Tony Oller (TO) will be performing around the country this summer in their American Dream Tour. Vital VOICE chatted with Kelley and Oller. We touched a bit on their music and performing at Pridefest. Will they consider to be St. Louis a classic?

On Music Tell us a little bit about how you two met and how long you’ve known each other. MK: We’ve known each other about three or four years now after meeting on the set of a show that was on Teen Nick called Gigantic. We were best friends on the show and we’ve remained best friends ever since. It’s been a pretty crazy ride.

What made you two decide to form MKTO? Why not stick with acting? TO: We saw the opportunity to pursue other interests. A door kind of opened and we took a shot at it. I firmly believe that you should take any possible opportunity that comes along. Would you compare your music to any other well-known artists? MK: We first started basing our music

to visit again. St. Louis is a beautiful spot and we haven’t been there in awhile. I’m excited to come back and have a good time; possibly grab a beer somewhere.

Pride is a big outdoor festival. What is the best thing about summer concerts and being with so many other headliners? MK: One of the best things about

performing with other great bands we look up to is hearing their music as well. Sometimes we all go off and hang out and it really brings us closer together. We have the chance to make friends with everybody, which will result in a great concert at the end of the day.

On Personal Life You two seem very laid back and fun. In a few words, describe your personalities.

off B.o.B’s “Airplanes.” We wanted that smooth rap mix with a pop melody. Then the team assembled to help us put everything together.

TO: Both of us are driven, hard-working individuals. We can be sarcastic at times. We can be funny, at least I hope I am. [Laughs] I like to bring a smile to people’s faces.

On St. Louis Pridefest

Besides acting and singing, do you have any other hidden talents?

Will this be your first time performing at a Pridefest? TO: Yes, and it definitely will not be our last. I firmly believe that love is love and it doesn’t matter whoever you are or whatever the situation is. Why did you accept the offer to headline for St. Louis Pridefest? TO: I’m a firm believer in love. It doesn’t matter about race, age or gender, and it’s such a shame that the world sometimes looks at it that way. Love whoever you love. We’re also excited to play some music and look at it like any other show, except we’re standing up for love. It’s going to be a fun and good time. What does the LGBT community personally mean to you?  MK: It’s nice to know that by performing at Pridefest, we are supporting LGBT rights at the end of the day. We are playing for a cause and we know we have a voice to move and stand for something while getting to play music at the same time.

What do you look forward to the most about coming to St. Louis? TO: Man, I grew up watching the Cardinals and Mark McGuire as a kid. I’m so excited

TO: I don’t really know if this would be considered a talent – hopefully it will become one eventually – but we both really love to golf. It’s really fun and relaxing. Boring to watch, but it’s a good bonding thing. MK: I love to swim. Would that count? Some people don’t swim. I won’t swim in the ocean though. Afraid of sharks. Your current hit song is “Classic.” Tell me, what makes a person you are pursuing really “so classic”? TO: I would say when someone is generally attracted to a woman who isn’t superficial about things in life. She loves her as an individual, doesn’t need makeup and goes against the norm. Girls, and everyone in general, are caught up with what the media tells you to do. Classic is what you can be. V

MKTO will take the Bud Light Entertainment Stage Sunday, June 29 at 6:30 p.m. Don’t miss the day of festivities and see what makes these guys ‘so classic.’

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The Australian pop star spreads her love for Pride Written by Hanna

June 2014

Botney

pride headliner She is the woman behind the music for the famous Home Depot proposal video. Her song “Somebody Loves You” plays as a flash mob of the couples’ friends and family performs during the proposal. Who? Betty Who! Betty Who is a 22-year-old with an infectious smile and a subtle Australian accent that flares up at the most adorable moments. She has several EPs available on iTunes and has plans to create a full album in the near future. She is an avid supporter of the LGBTQ community by verbally supporting equal rights, participating in proposals, and performing at Prides all over the country. St. Louis PrideFest is fortunate to be on Betty Who’s list of shows.

Have you ever been to St. Louis before? This is going to be my first time, actually. I am very excited.

Do you have anything you’re going to check out while you’re here? The way the tour is scheduled is that we are kind of in one place for one day. I don’t know how much time we will actually have. “Meet Me in St. Louis” is a classic so I would love to kind of run around and see everything.

I guess you won’t have time to hang around PrideFest then? I hope I can. We are playing so many PrideFests over the course of June so I imagine we are on the road pretty quickly. If I am in St. Louis more than one day, you’ll know where I am.

What is one thing you have to have with you at Pride? Probably lots of water and Advil because I imagine that there will be a lot of times where we will be driving and very hungover and trying to make it to the next destination.

Why are Pride celebrations so important to you? I love the fact that Pride is about exactly that, it is about coming together and yelling about who they are to the whole world and not having them be judged. It is about being proud of who you are and it is about being proud of who you want

to love. It is something that I wish people felt every day but even if they don’t feel it every day, at least they have a time for them to feel that.

What are you looking forward to the most about performing at all of the different Prides? I think my favorite shows are always the ones that are in the cities that have a really big gay community. They are always the ones that are kind of the rowdiest and the most fun. I think playing Pride festivals specifically is going to be insane because it is going to be like a bunch of people who are incredibly excited to be at the show as well as probably a little drunk and just happy to be alive. That is kind of my favorite crowd. Plus, at one of the Prides we are on the bill with Jennifer Hudson and I got very excited when I saw that. She is incredible. I am really, really hoping that I will walk past her and be like, “JHud, I love you!”

I love the fact that Pride is about exactly that, it is about coming together and yelling about who they are to the whole world and not having them be judged.

Betty Who What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at one of your shows? In Boston during the last tour, I helped this man propose to his boyfriend. I pulled him and his boyfriend up on stage and pretended like it was just to dance. And then one of them ran over and put on a tux jacket, gave his boyfriend a rose and then got down on one knee and proposed to his boyfriend. It was very emotional, I was trying not to cry.

It seems like you are involved in a quite a few proposals. I know! I guess my songs just make people want to get married.

What was your first reaction when you saw the Home Depot proposal video? I was definitely very overwhelmed and I cried a lot. Every time it plays, I still cry. In fact, just couple of days ago as I was introduced, they played the video and as it was happening I was losing my mind. So I had to go out and be like, “Sorry, I just get so emotional!” But it is definitely such a beautiful thing to watch and be around.

What a cool thing to be a part of someone’s big moment! Oh my gosh, absolutely! They’re bigger celebrities than I am!

Where did the inspiration for “Somebody Loves You” come from? I actually wrote it as a break-up song, which is funny. It was about me being in love with this man and him not really paying attention to how much I cared about him and me feeling really under appreciated. So I wrote the song where I was like, “I am here for you literally all the time. And you keep thinking your life is so hard and it is really not. Please love me for who I am.” And then when people heard it they thought it was a love song. But it kind of is I guess.

It is a love song in that you’re expressing your love and hoping that they will love you the way that you love them. Exactly.

Besides all of these Pride performances, what are your future plans? I am making an album right now. I finished writing it and now we are working on getting the rest of it together. That is definitely something that is on the horizon. Hopefully it is going to be really, really great. V

Make sure you check out Betty Who’s music and get ready for her arrival. Who knows, maybe you and yours can be the next Betty Who proposal. She’ll be hitting the Budlight Entertainment Stage Sunday, June 29 at 5:15 p.m. thevitalVOICE.com

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June 2014

pride headliner

Not too Hard 2 B Fresh

Written by Brent Peterson Photography by Marco Ovando

Between visits to the ice cream truck and meals of rice and beans, openly gay rapper Cazwell finds time to make his music and perform (usually sans shirt). Hailing from New York City, Cazwell has made a career out of sexual innuendo-laden lyrics, drag collaborations and videos with hot guys. Lately though, he’s moved away from the days of the “Ice Cream Truck” and “Rice and Beans” videos and is proving that he’s got talent as a rapper, above and beyond using hot guys to dance in his music videos. As he says, he’s not a one-trick pony. In 2012, St. Louis gay bar Just John and its staff recorded their own tribute video to Cazwell’s “Ice Cream Truck” to promote PrideFest in that year. Cazwell’s new album Hard 2 B Fresh will be dropping this summer. The album will feature 17 songs, and he hopes to create a music video for each song on the album. Helen Keller’s definitely a darker subject matter. I went through a breakup and I definitely had some lyrical therapy moments. That song was one of them. There are some songs I drop where I think, “People are really gonna like this,” or, “This is gonna be a hit.” Helen Keller wasn’t a song like that for me. It’s definitely more lyric-based. Manila [Luzon] wanted to do a song, and I wanted her to rap. His new single, Helen Keller:

The video is cute! [Laughs] You guys got graphic! It definitely feels good watching people do parodies and stuff of the song. I didn’t think there was going to be such a connection between ice cream trucks and gay guys, you know? This video’s cute! The butt shots are cute. I also liked the popsicle blowjob. The hottest guy in the video? I would say Dieta Pepsi.

On Just John’s video:

I haven’t performed at St. Louis Pride before, but I can’t wait! I always get a warm reception in the south. Every pride has its own individual dose of craziness, that’s for sure. When I played in Argentina, I literally had to perform while fighting to hold my clothes on because they kept trying to pull my shorts off of me. I appreciate my fans and I definitely appreciate a passionate audience, but I wasn’t expecting that! [Laughs]

Thoughts on PrideFest? The album [Hard 2 B Fresh] is just about done. It’s all about just getting the timing right and getting the right PR team and everything together. Right now I’m working on a video for my song called “Dance Like You Got Good Credit.” We’re gonna be dropping that soon, and that’ll be a single. I’m going to start a Kickstarter campaign because I’d like to get a video for every song album. Look out for it this summer!

What’s in the future?

June 2014

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Cyndi

Lauperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Usual

Unusual Written by Corey Stulce Photography by Annie Leibovitz

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The Unusual Tour will be making a visit to Kansas City on May 31 and St. Louis on June 4. 50

June 2014

She’s so inspiring. She’s so prolific. She’s so fashionable. She’s so hilarious, and yes, after more than 30 years, she’s still so unusual.

can’t make up. I actually had a clock that was given to me as a present. My boyfriend dropped it and broke it and got another that ticked so loud that we had to put it in the bathroom and close the door. And you could still hear it.

For many of us, the cover of Cyndi Lauper’s solo debut, She’s So Unusual, was reason enough to make the purchase. We wanted to know this wild child who was frolicking down the street in stocking feet, her abandon gone with the breeze.

Lauper’s boyfriend and manager at the time, David Wolff, was a huge pro wrestling fan and thought she could find crossover appeal by appearing ringside with muscle-bound dudes like “Hulk” Hogan and Mr. T. Wrestling manager Capt. Lou Albano became a friend and mentor to her, and Lauper cast him as her grouchy pop in the video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

“I really wanted to grab people’s eyes when they were shopping for records (ya have to remember there were still record stores in 1984), and I decided to do that with color on the album cover, and, of course, I love color and the use of color,” Lauper says. “So when I was taking that shot, really all the color we were using was fun to me. I still color my hair when I want to improve my mood.” A special edition of the album was recently released with new remixes and vintage outtakes and demos from the Unusual recording sessions, and after joining Cher on tour more than a decade ago, the duo is hitting the road together again. The Kansas City date is Saturday, May 31 at the Sprint Center, and they will arrive at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Wednesday, June 4 — another reason to get pumped about LGBT Pride month. “That’s right where Cher and I belong,” Lauper says. “Both of us have had so much love and support from the community, and we both really appreciate it. And, you know me; I’m always up for a party! We had a great time together on the road. “When she asked me again to do this tour, I couldn’t say no,” Lauper continues. “She’s a good egg, and I’m really excited. Her shows are real extravaganzas — the clothes alone!” Last year, Lauper treated fans to a tour performing She’s So Unusual from top to bottom, peppering it with rambling stories of recording classic tracks and what her roller coaster life was like at the brink of stardom. Of the seven singles released from the album, “Time After Time” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” not only are two of the biggest hits of the ’80s but also have remained standards ‘til this day. Lauper co-wrote “Time After Time,” and it’s been covered by everyone from P!nk to Miles Davis. “I wanted success on my own terms,” Lauper explains. “I just want to be able to write a great song that stays a long time. That’s what I aspire to. I look at people like Cher, and that’s what I want. I want to sing for my whole life. ”Each song has a spirit,” she continues. “This one was very gentle. I wrote the story. It was actually a story, something you

“That’s why the line came out, ‘Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you.’”

“There are many funny days with Lou,” Lauper recalls. “One of my best memories had to do with a press conference. Lou decided he was gonna be my spiritual adviser, right then and there. My favorite thing was when he said, ‘I’m gonna take her from No. 10 to No. 5 to No. 1 to minus 10 and back up to No. 1 again. I looked out into the audience and said, ‘Yeah, he really knows what he’s doin’.’ “The funniest thing was when people actually thought we were serious,” she says. “I would get phone calls from my friends, saying, ‘Cyn, I saw you turn over a table. You have to control your temper.’” Lauper said it’s been fun to go back and examine who she was musically and emotionally at the time of She’s So Unusual. One of her trademarks from those early days on the road has remained. She loves to get off the stage, dance into the crowd and belt out tunes like “She Bop” side-by-side with her fans. “I get so much energy from them, and after I get back on stage, I want to deliver the best show I can,” Lauper says. Aside from performing hits from Unusual on the current tour, Lauper is including the cut “Sex is in the Heel” from the musical Kinky Boots. Lauper wrote the music and lyrics for the Tony Award-winning show, which is coming to St. Louis in Spring 2015. “I think the reason that Kinky Boots is so successful is because you walk out feeling good. It has a huge heart,” Lauper says. “It’s a story I think everyone can relate to. It’s a story of accepting someone for who they are and how that not only empowers the person they accept, but it empowers the person doing the accepting, too.” Kinky Boots is an adaptation of a film from 2005, but if it gets remade as a musical for the screen and Lauper writes a new song for it, she could be part of the elite few who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. “Wouldn’t that be cool?” Lauper says with a laugh. “I really want that EGOT!” V

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June 2014

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Fashion

Queens

Trends that’ll make you “GAG & GRIND”

Written by Darin Slyman Photography by NBC Universal

The breakaway Bravo hit Fashion Queens has been serving up style, sass and shade since March of last year. Developed out of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Derek J and Miss Lawrence comment weekly on everything from runway fashion shows, trends to celebrity style. These queens are no strangers to fashion. They have become a fixture in the chic Atlanta style scene and are mostly known for their gender-bending style and their affinity for high heels. Miss Lawrence first rose to fame as the confidant and hairstylist for Sheree Whitfield on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Now the proud owner of his own self-titled salon in Buckhead, Georgia, Lawrence’s celebrity clientele includes Jennifer Holliday, Ciara and Serena Williams. Derek J first also entered the television landscape on Bravo’s RHOA. Since then, he has been featured in Chris Rock’s film Good Hair and Oxygen’s Hair Battle Spectacular. Derek is currently the owner of one of Atlanta’s premiere styling emporiums, The J Spot.

Derek J

These two are also trailblazers, adding new fashion terms to the landscape of America. They lovingly call their segments on their show things like “Giving me Wife,” “The Reading Room,” and of course, the most famed “Gag Award” for the absolute best style of the week.

I recently ran into them and had to find out their thoughts on a few questionable trends that have been hitting the streets nationwide. These “gals” are never at a loss of words or snarky commentary. Here are a few “hits and misses” for the summer.

Check out Fashion Queens Sunday nights on Bravo at 11:30/10:30c. 54

June 2014

Missnce Lawre

With Derek J: Manscaping I think that men, gay or straight, need to maintain and cut back their bushes sometime. You shouldn’t just wear that wild and free, there should be some maintenance going on down there.

Hipster Beards The beard is just a moment that is going to always be there, because everyone is not ready to come true with who they are, and they’re not ready to come true in public with who they are. So the beard is going to always be there, you know. Until the country as a whole becomes more accepting and they wont need to have that illusion, it’s going to always stay.

The Lesbian Hair Cut

Men’s Accessories

It’s about being softer now with lesbians, especially the butch ones. They try so hard to be hard, and they make their look hard, so it just translates hard all the way around. You could still be a soft hard lesbian, just soften up your look a little bit. I think the look is more butch when they start to come out, and they have a role model to look up to, as far as their looks. Right now, what do they have? Ellen, and Rosie, and that’s about it.

You know what, with accessories for men, you need to keep it simple. Last season, a lot of people were doing way too much. I always say, “When you look in the mirror, take one thing off, not put one thing on.” I think that with men should have a good watch, a bracelet, or a necklace. A scarf if needed but you know that over-accessorizing should go out the door.

With Miss Lawrence

Mixing Various Prints in One Outfit Oh, hell NO! Keep it simple and not too busy. You don’t want to be looking like a psycho clown, or worse yet, some overdressed bad couch.

High-Waist Shorts on Ladies

Gladiator Sandals on Guys

I love a high-waisted short on ladies. It’ll always make your waistline look smaller than it actually is.

These sandals can only be pulled off if a man has some nice feet and a fresh pedicure.

Meggings (Men’s Leggings) Now I personally love them; however, you have to have rocking legs and a nice tight booty to pull them off. Don’t be stuffing your fat butt in these if you can’t rock them. Oh, and make sure your package is appropriately placed. thevitalVOICE.com

June 2014

thevitalVOICE.com

Have Screwdriver, Will Travel Orange is the New Black star on what makes Big Boo tick Written by

Corey Stulce

June 2014

All will be revealed on Friday, June 6, but for this interview, Belleville, Illinois native Lea DeLaria couldn’t say much about season two of Netflix’s smash women-in-the-slammer comedy Orange is the New Black. In fact, she hadn’t yet seen any completed footage from the new episodes, in which she returns as the butch Carrie “Big Boo” Black, but DeLaria had it on good authority the cast was again making compelling television. “We were pretty far along in the season, and there was a blizzard which shut down the shooting,” DeLaria recalls. “We were waiting for the cars to take us home, and some person came in the door and was all covered in snow, and you could just see her eyes, like she was wearing a burka. Her eyes brightened, and she waved really big, and I waved back and turned and said, ‘Who the fuck is that?’ She turned and took her scarf off, and it was Jodie Foster. “I was really excited,”

exploded in popularity and remains the most-watched show for the streaming service. The week following the show’s debut last summer, DeLaria couldn’t even walk down the street without getting called “Big Boo” at least 10 times.

there are so many to choose from.

“I went from doing my laundry on the corner here at the Laundromat, and the next day some woman came running out of the Ace Hardware store with a screwdriver for me to sign,” she says.

DeLaria may be getting recognized more these days thanks to the show, but she’s had some star power for three decades, since becoming the first out stand-up comic to appear on a late night talk show. She’s humble enough to call her Orange cast mates Jason Biggs and Lyonne the show’s funniest.

When a screwdriver went missing from the fix-it shop where the female prisoners worked, all signs pointed to a jilted “Boo” using it to shank her ex’s current flame. Instead, the episode capped with DeLaria turning the tool into a sex toy. “I really enjoy the whole idea of ‘MacGyver-ing’ the screwdriver into a dildo and masturbating for comedic effect to orgasm on camera,” she says. “It was the greatest acting thing I’ve ever been given. I jumped up and down like a little girl.”

“I think today, I’m going with [Laura] Prepon. Alex Vause. Yes, that’s the one she would f*ck. It’s tough, because ‘Big Boo’ wants to f*ck all the girls.”

“It’s me coming up a close third,” she adds. “It’s really horrifying to have to say that.” Her bravura carries into solid vocal chops on stage, and DeLaria is considering a jazzy, stripped-down cover of the Orange theme song, “You’ve Got Time,” originally performed by Regina Spektor. “Funny you say that, I could open my show with it,” DeLaria says.

I went from doing my laundry on the corner here at the Laundromat, and the next day some woman came running out of the Ace Hardware store with a screwdriver for me to sign. DeLaria continues.” She came up and she hugged me, and she told me how great I was in season one, which was really lovely. She directed me, and I had one line. “She said, ‘I’m halfway through the second season, and it’s great.’ She literally used the word great. I don’t think she’d blow smoke up our asses.” Orange is an adaptation of the book based on the real-life jail experience of Piper Kerman, who was convicted for trafficking drug money and is played by Taylor Schilling onscreen. A women’s prison ensemble comedy was bound to have a little buzz before it began airing, but with Netflix’s strategy of releasing all episodes of a season at one time, Orange

Now, DeLaria sells t-shirts at her live shows featuring two crossed orange screwdrivers, with the slogan, “Have screwdriver, will travel.” She’s called “Big Boo” because she’s been everyone’s boo in the joint. DeLaria even offered technical advice. “For the first episode, [Natasha Lyonne] said, ‘DeLaria, I gotta fist this girl. I don’t even know how to do that,’” DeLaria recalls. “I said, ‘OK, come here, and I have a little fisting class.’” Ask DeLaria to play the game Marry, Screw, Kill with her cast mates — with whom she feels very close — and she has a hard time drudging up names. But tell her it’s “Big Boo” playing… “I would kill ‘Pornstache’ [the prison guard, played by Paul Schreiber] in a second,” she offers. “‘Big Boo,’ not me. She despises ‘Pornstache.’ Marry? ‘Big Boo’ is so into Taystee (Danielle Brooks). And just one, big roundhouse f*ck? That’s hard;

With musical veterans like Annie Golden and Beth Fowler in the cast, and fresh voices like Brooks, perhaps a musical episode with songs like “There’s No Business Like Shoe Business” is in the cards? “Every time I say it, [Orange creator] Jenji Kohan just looks at me like, ‘Get out of here,’” DeLaria explains. “I think we’ve all thought a tour would be fun.” The first season of Orange was loaded with memorable quotes — so many that DeLaria had a tough time picking one “Big Boo” favorite. “Every time ‘Big Boo’ opened her mouth, they gave her something hilarious to say,” DeLaria concludes. ‘This is more depressing than a Tori Amos cover band.’ ‘You are dumber than your look, which is pretty f*cking dumb because you look like your people have been f*cking each other for generations.’ That one made me laugh so hard when I read it.” V thevitalVOICE.com

June 2014

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Scene in

St. Louis Photography by Scott

June 2014

Lokitz Photography

Scene in the STL

PRIDEfest

2013

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Scene Kansas

Photography by Timothy

June 2014

Gee

City

Scene in KC

Aids walk

2014

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