May 2014

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Advertisers at a glance Pinnacle (River City) 2 Just John 3 PrideFest STL 6 Opera Theatre of St. Louis 8 St. Louis Science Center 8 St. Louis Magazine 9 Hilton President KC 12 Bistro 303 12 ALIVE Magazine 16 Café Madeleine 16 Forsythe Dental Group 16 Empower/US Bank 17 Hamburger Mary’s STL 17 Gateway Men’s Chorus 22 The Muny 30 Missouri History Museum 30 Curbed KC Real Estate 30 Immerse by Atlas 30 Stages St. Louis 31 UPS Store 31 BodyBrite 31 Walter Knoll Florist 35 Clear Channel 50 Lumiere Place Hotel & Casino 51 Cortona 52

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.

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

Staff Photographer Mikey Berner mikey@thevitalvoice.com

Staff Writer Hanna botney hanna@thevitalvoice.com

Staff Writer Denny patterson denny@thevitalvoice.com

Contributors

Photography: Mikey Berner, Andrew Zaeh, Jonathan Barbe, Millennial League,

Brandon Sullivan Photography, GAME FACE Documentary, Tom Barnes, Steve Truesdell and Kate Romero Writing: Brent Peterson, Andrea Piamonte, Jimmy No Show, Hanna Botney, Mikey Berner and Denny Patterson Design: Andrea Piamonte, Julianna Bonk and Jorge El-Azar

Advisory Board

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

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4

May 2014

May 2014 | Volume 15 | Issue 5

26.

On the

Cover

Newly out Neon Trees frontman Tyler Glenn dishes on his look, his music and giving gaydar awards.

Table of

Contents

(Cover Photography

by Andrew Zaeh) Stay Connected with us

4. advertisers at a glance 32. lgbt sports guide 7. publisher’s letter 36. mtv’s faking it star: michael willett 10. lez be real — wbna’s brittney griner 41. mikey’s morsels — rainbow trout 13. josh minnis & the millennial league 42. STL playdates 18. preview of siam 44. KC playdates 23. MMA ROyalty: 46. scene in StL Fox fallon 48. scene in Kc thevitalVOICE.com

5

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6

May 2014

publisher’s Letter

&Thrive

Strive

Here at Vital VOICE, we always try to showcase a variety of people who happen to be members of our LGBT community.

Our goal is to bring you stories about places or things that may not have garnered the attention of the mass media; sometimes, we strive to bring insight into happenings that have not yet happened. This month is no different.

This past March, Neon Trees’ frontman Tyler Glenn came out as a gay man. Through the outreach of Associate Publisher and music aficionado Jimmy Lesch, Vital VOICE landed an interview with the new wave crooner about his music, life and coming out. Although Tyler felt that his life was an open book, he wasn’t completely open until now.

Fallon Fox, Toledo native and former Navy Operations Specialist, exposes her journey as the first openly out transgender MMA fighter. After college, Fallon researched everything it would take to live her life as she wanted. After successfully transitioning, she started training in Jiu Jitsu to get back in shape and to defend herself. It was through training that she found the empowerment of martial arts and thus started her rise to the top of the MMA circuit.

It’s been almost a year and Siam is almost set to open.

Located in the former Novak’s, Vital VOICE is excited this month to give a sneak peek and perhaps answer the many questions about the establishment. Will it be a bar? Will it be a restaurant? Will it be a nightclub? The time has come for new owner Steve Preston to show St. Louis what Siam will be all about. Whether it’s the Asian-inspired comfort food or the open floor concept, Siam is poised to be a new flagship for the ever-growing Grove neighborhood.

Lastly, I’d like to point out that Vital VOICE has made some updates to our website, www.thevitalvoice.com. Each year, we try to see what we can improve and make more accessible to our audience. The new, sleeker website still offers all the great content that you’ve come to love, but we will add a lot of new blog-style writers and components to our digital world. Dwight Carter from Rock Uniform Fashion will kick off the writing change with his monthly style column. Mr. Carter will be exploring new trends geared specifically for the LGBT community. We are in the process of gathering our new lineup of web contributors and I encourage you to check back often to see what’s new.

Indeed, spring has sprung and summer is on the horizon.

May your month of May transition you into a blissful season.

This is truly our time to Strive and Thrive.

Darin Slyman Publisher/CEO thevitalVOICE.com

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WNBA Superstar Brittney Griner Gives a Glimpse In Her Skin

10

May 2014

lez be real

Written by Hanna Botney PHotography by Brandon Sullivan Design by Julianna Bonk With an 86-inch wingspan,

Brittney Griner stands at a whopping 6’8”, weighs 199 pounds and wears a size 17 men’s shoe. She was born to play basketball. Now as a key player for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, she’s making a stand against bullying for the LGBT community.

Not only did Griner lead Baylor University to the national championships as a junior, she was also the number one overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft and the first collegiate player to participate in USA National Team’s European Tour.

Even more impressive, Griner did not start playing basketball until her freshman year of high school.

It is not only the WBNA rookie’s outstanding basketball career that draws people to her, but also the honest way that she lives her life.

Just last month, Griner released her book, titled In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court. She tells the story of how she found her strength to overcome bullies and embrace her true self. She speaks candidly about gender, sexuality, body image and self-esteem.

Griner talks openly about some of the most painful times in her life in hopes to show others that they are not alone.

“When I was growing up, I didn’t have anybody that I could look up to,” she says. “I didn’t want to wait until my career was coming to an end to write a book because there are kids going through some of the things that I went through.”

Griner’s sincerity comes through in the tone of her voice as she speaks of her desire to reach out to anybody who is struggling. She says that if she could take away other people’s pain, she would.

“I just want to help the youth get through whatever they’re going through,” she says. “I know there are definitely dark moments where it seems

Photography like everything is against you. I don’t want any kid to experience that alone.

I definitely want to be there to help.”

Helping is something Griner is definitely doing. She is reaching out to people through her book, but also through her activism. Just recently, she has partnered up to develop an app with the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit organization targeted towards helping LGBT youth. The app, “BG:BU,” is designed to be a supportive place where people can communicate what they’re going through.

Individuals can use it to get help or post videos for encouragement.

“If you’re in need of help or if you want to learn how to help, then you can do that all in this app,” she explains.

Griner says her overall goal is to tell people who are being bullied that they will be okay.

“I let it control me and hurt me to the core,” she explains. “So I tell people to reach out and get help. Talk to a parent, a principal, a counselor, or anybody that they’re comfortable with. It definitely can take a toll.”

Ever since coming out, Griner has lived her life out and proud.

As a result, the basketball star has received overwhelming encouragement from everyone around her.

“Everybody on my team has been very supportive,” she says. “The coaches and the whole Phoenix Mercury organization have been very warm and welcoming to me. I have had people thank me for just being true to myself. It lets me know that I’m doing the right thing.”

Griner encourages others to come out as well. “Just tell the truth,” she says.

“Just come out and tell them. Once you start telling them and saying it, you will see how easy it can be. It’s nice not to have to hide anymore.

Lez BE REAL Not everybody is going to agree, but just stress that, as long as they are respectful of you, you will be respectful of them,” she continues.

“Not everybody has to like it. As long as you’re happy and you feel like you did the right thing and everyone is respectful, then it will be okay.”

Griner tells her story not only in the pages of her new book, but also in the artwork all over her body. She has many tattoos that tell the story of who she is, but she admits that her favorite is her “lesbian tattoo.”

“I didn’t want to wait until my career was coming to an end to write a book because there are kids going through some of the things that I went through.”

“It is on my hip,” she explains. “It is the double female sign. It is tattooed on me to look like a brand. It’s a part of me. I wanted it actually branded, but I felt like that might hurt too much, so I cheated and tattooed it to look like a brand.”

With her determination, she would have excelled no matter what path Griner chose. Fortunately, basketball gives her the platform to affect real change in the lives of LGBT youth.

We definitely haven’t seen the last of Brittney Griner. She has released her book, started pushing for funding for her new app, and she has her sights set on the 2016 Olympics. If she wasn’t already, she is quickly becoming a household name. V thevitalVOICE.com

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Untitled - Page: 1

May 2014

2014-04-18 16:49:44 +0100

League of Our Own

Joshua Minnis & the Millennial League Written by Brent Peterson Photography by Jonathan location Bistro 303

Barbe

Promoting HIV and AIDS awareness in the millennial generation.

Milennial League is an affiliate of AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

One in five gay men living in major cities is HIV+. Almost half of them don’t know it.

1/3 of all new infections occur in people 29 years old or younger. If these statistics surprise you, you’re not alone.

Joshua Minnis and the Millennial League, based out of Kansas City, Mo. are determined to spread HIV awareness to a younger generation. As Minnis says, the eponymous millennial generation plays an important part in keeping awareness going.

“The Millennial generation is bringing HIV [awareness] back to the forefront,” he says. “Not that the threat went away, but our apathy has become a serious issue.”

The Millennial League was founded back in 2008, and the organization is primarily focused on spreading knowledge about HIV and AIDS among the younger generation. The group focuses on reaching the 18- to 30-year-old demographic,

and is a youth faction of AIDS Service Foundation.

Although the focus is on 18-30-year-olds, the group’s infrastructure takes on more of a mentorship form.

“We bring in people 18-30 years old to sit on the board,” Minnis explains. “We also have an advisory board comprised of previous members of the board or people from AIDS Service Foundation. They act as teachers to the younger people just getting involved in this cause.”

Minnis serves as the Executive Committee President. His role consists of reaching out to the community and raising money.

One major event that the Millennial League has a hand in each year is the AIDS Walk in Kansas City. This event, which is the primary fundraiser for the AIDS Service Foundation in KC, raises over $500,000

each year for HIV and AIDS awareness and treatment. Minnis says the AIDS Service Foundation is a shining example of what similar organizations can be in the U.S. “The AIDS Service Foundation in general can be seen as a beacon of what AIDS volunteerships can be across the country,” he says. “AIDS Walk is such a volunteerdriven event. Everyone is there for the community and the cause.”

While the AIDS Service Foundation has the AIDS Walk as its biggest fundraiser, Millennial League itself puts on its biggest fundraiser each month: Tea Dances at Bistro 303, a gay bar in Kansas City. The monthly Tea Dances, combined with other events, raised over $35,000 last year.

Minnis says that the Tea Dances have gotten much bigger over the years.

“For most of these parties, you’ll see maybe thevitalVOICE.com

13

14

May 2014

100-200 people through the door,” he explains. “Our Tea Dance on St. Patrick’s day had almost 600 people in and out.”

Usually there is some sort of drink special at the parties, and Bistro 303 opens at a time they’re not normally open.

The Tea Dances, Minnis explains, are a great place to try new things with educating the public about HIV and AIDS. “Once we get people in there, it’s our real testing ground for what we can do with education and how we can outreach,” he says.

According to Minnis, each Tea Dance has a different theme. “Christmas is a Drag,” for example, featured a drag show and the drag queens got up and spoke about the cause. Minnis explains that he’s always playing with themes and exposing the crowds to new ideas.

“We’re a teeny tiny organization,” he says.

“We’re limited with what we can do. I like to screen national campaigns there because

HIV

“That’s the number, kids,” Minnis continues. “This isn’t something that’s affecting some of us. It’s something we’re all dealing with.”

sometimes people don’t get to see that.”

One of Minnis’ new ideas is a liquor bust that will continue if someone in the crowd correctly answers an HIV trivia question.

“I’m kind of in love with the idea,” he reveals. “All-you-can-drink vodka and Miller Lite for $20. Then we stand up on the bar and ask an HIV trivia question each time we need to open a new bottle of vodka. The only way to keep the liquor bust going is for someone to give us the answer to the question.”

At its core, Millennial League’s goal is to bring HIV awareness to the forefront for the younger generation through fun events that are accessible. The statistics are scary, and as Minnis says, “our apathy has become a serious issue.”

“You wanna get some shocked-to-all-hell faces?” Minnis asks. “Stand up in the middle of a gay bar and say, ‘Hey, by the way, one in five gay men here is HIV+?’

Reaching out to the youth makes him proud to be working with AIDS Service Foundation, but Minnis describes one of his proudest moments as speaking with Missy Koonce, President of the AIDS Service Foundation in KC. “We got to talk together about the work we do and the money we raise,” he recalls.

“It just came into public view last year that our statistics in KC for connecting people to care, maintaining people in care and keeping people with an undetectable viral load were head and shoulders above the national average.

“The numbers are really high for us,” Minnis concludes. “We’re doing something right. I’m very happy to be a part of that.

It’s a testing game, and we just have to make people aware.” V

56,000

new infections occur each year.

Know it.

Live it.

Prevent it.

1/2 of all new infections are not covered by insurance.

(Infographics by Julianna Bonk)

is the monthly cost of care. Of that, 2/3 is spent on medication.

1 in 5 gay men in major cities are HIV+, almost half don’t know.

1/3 of all new infections occur in people 29 years or younger. thevitalVOICE.com

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17

Step Inside

Siam The Grove’s New Bar for Everybody

18

May 2014

Andrea Piamonte Photography by Steve Truesdell Written by

Spring has sprung in St. Louis and after a grueling winter, The Grove was left without an anchor establisment on 4121 Manchester Avenue. Rumors surfaced on what would fill the void; the only thing that was clear was it would be called Siam.

With Siam’s upcoming opening, everyone is buzzing about The Grove’s newest addition. Much of the speculated talk is leaving most stumped on what to think about the restaurant/bar replacing St. Louis’ lesbian landmark Novaks. What is Siam anyway? Is it a gay sushi bar? How do you even pronounce “Siam”? Well, we’re here to give you a sneak peek and — hopefully — answer those painstaking questions you’ve all been dying to ask.

An Alternative Bar to The Grove The grand opening is projected to happen sometime in May, but no official date has been set. Along with the fact of the opening date remaining debatable, there are still many misconceptions about Siam.

“People have heard for a long time that this place is going to be a ‘gay sushi bar,’” owner Steve Preston says. “Well the answer is, yes we are going to be serving sushi, but that’s not all that is on our menu.”

The Asian-inspired restaurant and bar will feature cuisine fused with American, Thai and Japanese, but Siam is certainly not married to strictly following these food styles. The restaurant’s non commitment to a stringent theme holds true to the meaning of Siam, “I am, who I am,” with the “S” standing for Steven.

Because of its prime location in The Grove and history of the space, it’s greatly and falsely assumed that Siam is a gay bar.

“Just to clarify, we are not a gay bar,” Preston says.

“It’s definitely in a gay friendly area,” general manager Kelly Washam adds. “So I think we are more interested in not labeling ourselves or limiting ourselves to just that audience. We want to make it just this broad space where everyone feels welcome.”

After some research, the owners found out that the name “Siam” actually reinforces their philosophy of being an alternative, inclusive bar.

“It goes behind the name of Siam, which also means ‘the kingdom where everybody comes together.’ And it really does — it was created because of that. It’s open to all,” Washam explains.

In addition to the approach of not limiting themselves to a certain audience, Siam is determined to create their own unique identity with renovated, modern furnishings and Asian-inspired cuisine.

“We’re not trying to take over the identity of what it was,” Washam says. “We have created our own identity and it just so happens to be in this space.” thevitalVOICE.com

19

1

3 2

4 Versatile Atmosphere Siam underwent a huge facelift to fulfill Siam’s desire for a different aesthetic and ambience. With Creative/Marketing Director Ron Bray spearheading the design, the space has been dramatically renovated to increase flow and functionality.

“We wanted to be able to open it up so that people can get around easier in the space,” Bray explains. “We tried to address all the issues that were previously a problem, like traffic flow.”

Walls and obstructions were demolished to create a more open concept. The existing front bar is refurbished with sleek metal and wood surrounding. The floors are sanded, stained and refinished throughout. Modern lighting décor is added to give an upscale feel.

The new design divides the space into sections that increase the utility of the 10,000-square-foot space.

“You can also breakaway if you don’t want to be around a large mass of people,” Washam says. “If you want to have a quiet, comfortable conversation with somebody in the back [lounge area], you will have that option.”

Siam has also added four stages that will feature live music

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May 2014

and entertainment, an expanded dance floor, several 60-inch flat screen displays targeted to attract the sport fanatics and a polished patio included with one of the stages. The owners emphasize that the new space will be focused around versatility.

“We put a lot of thought into the sound and lighting systems that we’re installing in there,” Bray says. “It’ll be very versatile, changeable. So you may walk down the street and it may look completely different when you come back in.”

The biggest change would be the spacious unisex bathroom complete with nine stalls, two enclosed urinals and two deep trough sinks. The owners wanted to make a bold statement with tiled charcoal walls and accent woods.

“The unisex bathroom kind of goes with the whole theme of the place,” Washam says. “Everybody will come together. There’s not a particular area that’s designated for one or different types of people. Everybody is welcome everywhere.”

Food/Drinks Through a collaboration of the owners, ma, and executive chef Tanya Brown, Siam strives to bring “sexy” food to The Grove.

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7 6

1. Lounge Seating 2. Renovated Front Bar 3. Unisex Bathroom 4. Deep Trough Sinks 5. Private Seating Areas 6. Owner Steve Preston 7. Tanya Brown, Kelly Washam, Steve Preston & Ron Bray 8. Modern Lighting Fixtures

8 “The food is sexy because when you bring good food, you bring that culture together of good energy and good people,” Preston says.

It’s Brown’s imaginative Asian-inspired cooking style that makes the collaboration come alive. She has the experience to prove it after previously working as sous chef at Tree House and head chef at Sub Zero Vodka Bar. However, most of her influence comes from the teachings from her Japanese grandmother. As for Siam, Tanya has high expectations for the cuisine.

“I’ve always wanted to infuse my knowledge of Asian food with my knowledge of comfort food — good American comfort food — but elevated to a level that you can’t just find it anywhere else,” Brown says. “Everyone has fried chicken, everyone has grilled cheese, but you want to take these foods to a different level. I like to call it, we’re ‘Siam-ing’ it.”

Siam will start out as a restaurant by day, and then as the evening progresses, the dining room collapses and converts into more of a nightclub. One of the goals of Siam is to transform the space to fit the needs of the early nesters and the late night drinkers.

There are big plans in store for the cuisine, including a staple and seasonal menu, soups of the day, hummus of the day, different

daily specials and healthier dish options.

“There’s no tying it down to one thing,” Brown explains. “That one dish could have a Japanese component, a Thai component, and ya know, mashed potatoes. You never know!”

Of course, there will be a vast cocktail and alcohol selection to pair with these inventive dishes, such as infused flavored sake that can be available hot or cold.

What’s Next The owners are working on the final touches and currently in the process of booking major talent (still hush-hush for now). Siam hopes to open its doors sometime in May and looks forward to hosting potential charity events, fashion shows and opportunities to give back to the community. After all, Siam’s philosophy involves being considerate to everyone.

“We were trying to put together a place where everybody, from all walks can come and feel comfortable,” Washam concludes.

“Everybody can have a great experience while they are here with great food, drinks and atmosphere.” V

thevitalVOICE.com

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May 2014

Written by Brent Peterson Photo by Tom Barnes

In a sport dominated heavily by men, being a woman is difficult; further, being a trans woman can be nearly impossible. Fallon Fox shatters that misconception, being a trans woman and a successful MMA fighter.

Fox, known as “The Queen of Swords” has endured scrutiny from others in her sport, including announcer Joe Rogan and opponent Ashlee Evans-Smith. The MMA community flies pretty under the radar, and while fighters who make homophobic or transphobic remarks do suffer the consequences, the mainstream at large rarely hears about it.

Fox chatted with us and opened up about her coming out, how she got her nickname and how the mainstream media has approached trans issues.

Q

Can you describe your coming out process?

I was hounded by an MMA reporter who had heard rumors that I was trans. In order to get ahead of him and attempt to control my outing, I outed myself to Sports Illustrated.

How long have you been fighting?

Q

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May 2014

I’ve been fighting professionally for about two years now. Prior to professional MMA, I fought amateur MMA, submission fighting tournaments and Jiu Jitsu tournaments.

It’s been a while, now that I sit and think about it. All together I’ve been studying martial arts since 2008.

Q

How’d the name “Queen of Swords” come about?

There was a trans woman I knew as a friend on Facebook. She was “read” as being trans and immediately made fun of by the people around her simply for who she was.

In her anguish and defiance, she dubbed herself “the queen of swords.” I had never heard of that name before and looked it up.

She was referring to a tarot card. And the description of the character “Queen of Swords” fit nicely with the type of woman I felt I wanted to embody. It described a powerful, intelligent, strong-willed woman.

Every time they call my name before I fight, I am reminded of that story and of who I am.

How did you get into MMA fighting?

Q

I originally began training to get in shape

and for self-protection. Over time, I became addicted to training, then addicted to competing in Jiu Jitsu, then MMA. My biggest inspiration has been all of the women fighters before me. Watching them perform is what really piqued my interest.

Q

How would you compare men’s MMA vs. women’s MMA? Do you think you ladies are more aggressive or strategic?

I would say for the most part, women’s MMA is not less aggressive. I would say that we are a tad bit more emotionally invested. I see more passion and determination from the women’s side of our sport. As far as strategy goes, we use the same strategies as the men do for the most part. Although, some moves are not as easy to pull off, given the limits of our biology.

The MMA community seems out of the spotlight compared to other sports. How are you treated by your peers and by fans?

Q

My peers have treated me well lately. I am referring to my training partners (both male and female). My last promoter, XFO, was totally respectful, which I appreciate. There

(Photo by GAME FACE Documentary)

hasn’t been much flak flying from MMA fighters in the Chicagoland area either; however, there are still some pockets of our sport that remain hostile to me.

Q

Do the same homophobia/ transphobia issues exist in MMA?

Yes, for the most part homophobia/ transphobia exist in my sport, but I don’t believe it is as widespread as many think. I believe the media plays on this a lot.

Q

Joe Rogan has said some pretty transphobic things in the past, while claiming he isn’t discriminatory.

How do you respond to that?

I have not responded to Joe Rogan directly in the past. I will do so in the future, if he decides that poking fun at a trans woman is something that he really feels is necessary and valuable to his career.

Ashlee Evans-Smith, your first loss, said that you shouldn’t fight men or women and should be in your own category. You wrote a very eloquent response, but do you often get comments or reactions like that one?

Q

I haven’t heard much of this talk from another fighter since my fight with Ashlee Evans-Smith. That shows promise and a little bit of maturity for my sport. Rarely, if ever, does someone step in front of my face to say anything of this nature. At the moment, those types of comments are more reserved for Internet trolls.

Q

What do you think of Laverne Cox’s responses to Katie Couric’s interview back in January?

I think she was dead on. We are people — just like anyone else you would meet. We are more than our current or former sexual organs, even if that’s where many in media tend to focus.

What would that do to someone’s psychology, to be outside of normal human interaction, and be reduced to a mental concept of genitalia in the minds of many?

Honestly, I have a hard time understanding how that concept fails to infiltrate some human beings’ minds.

Q

I feel that the media struggles with trans issues, and the T in LGBT falls by the wayside in the mainstream as a result. Why do you think it’s taking longer for the T to catch up?

This is complex and probably deserves

its own book, but I will try to explain my perspective in a few paragraphs: This is the same dynamic that repeats itself over and over throughout human history.

One minority group gets its foot in the door, then, most likely out of fear for slipping back outside, forgets the lessons learned with their own struggle. Now add to that the low numbers of the out trans community. We are silenced and cut off from each other by the closet many of us are in. Fortunately, we now have the power of the Internet, so we are becoming more visible.

Also, within the LGBT sphere, the T is often misunderstood. Some of the LGB conflate their own sexuality with some trans people’s gender. Meaning some feel that a straight male to female trans woman is a gay man. In this case, the LGB person actually has the scenario twisted, as he or she making the accusation is the one confused and does not fully understand himself/herself.

How do the leaders of a minority group educate their people about themselves?

What does it take to convince these leaders that educating their people is essential for the survival of all minority groups?

All of that I just mentioned bleeds over into the media. Some of them consider trans women some sort of crazy gay or straight man, some of them understand trans issues, but don’t really care in the end because they feel the exploitation sells. It’s tragic, and does not need to be that way. Some of them realize how fixated they may have made the general public on genitalia. They may feel that focusing on that is the only way that it will work. How do we expect the money hungry exploitive business of media, to treat trans people with human dignity, when the problems we have with education of our LGB community still exist?

The good news is that it’s getting better.

Q

What are you doing when you’re not fighting or training?

I’m consistently training, but when I have time off, I’m normally spending it with my partner Amy. We visit her family or visit amusement parks in the summer. Also, I like to play video games, mostly games with a female protagonist or option to play a female role.

Q

I normally do 1-2 hours of strength and conditioning in the mornings, then a few hours at night of actual sparring. This is 5-6 days a week. I try to get as much rest in between workouts as possible.

What’s your diet look like?

Q

Depends. Around fight time, I normally cut most carbs from my diet. I intake.

Minimal protein and maximize the amount of vegetables I eat. This tends to weaken the body during training exercises, and I only use this type of diet when I want to cut weight for my fight, or maintain it. When not cutting weight, I intake more carbs and protein and stay away from sugary foods.

Speaking of diets, everyone’s gotta cheat on a diet sometimes.

What’s your go-to “guilty pleasure” food if you’re going to be a little naughty with your diet?

Q

There’s a really great gourmet grilled cheese, egg and bacon sandwich that I eat at a local restaurant. Best sandwich I’ve ever eaten.

Summer’s closing in. You look great, but the rest of us may be trying to get motivated to get working out. What are some tips you can give to get your bod in swimsuit shape?

Q

There is no magic pill, no magic drink that is sold to the general public. The tool for getting and staying in shape is determination. The people walking around this planet that “look good” figured this out a long time ago. The main problem with Americans is that we are all working at jobs to gain money, but if one looks at a workout in the same way they look at a job, one may become very rich in health over time. I suggest one hour a day invested in the wealth of health.

Q

Finally, you mentioned you’ve got a partner, Amy. How’s life outside of the octagon?

My partner and I have been together for about a year now. Being a professional MMA fighter can be time consuming, but fortunately we find the time to be with each other whenever I’m not at the gym or fighting. My daughter will be out of town in college next year, so that will be a change, but I’m proud of her for what she is accomplishing. V

Describe your workout routine.

thevitalVOICE.com

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May 2014

The lead vocalist discusses coming out, his Mormon religion and his eccentric style Written by Denny Patterson Photography by Andrew Zaeh Graphic by Jorge El-Azar

For the past couple of years, Neon Trees has conquered the airwaves. With their hit songs such as “Everybody Talks” and “Animal,” this pop band is used to making headlines. Recently, headlines drifted away from the music and zeroed in on the group’s front man, Tyler Glenn.

Glenn, a Mormon-raised Utah native, opened up about his sexuality in the March 25 issue of Rolling Stone. He discussed the difficulties of keeping his sexuality a secret and urges not only his fans, but everyone to just be themselves.

Although many are praising Glenn for his decision to come out publicly, some are regarding this as a “duh” or “a-ha” moment. As Glenn says: “What do you want, a gaydar award?”

Nevertheless, get ready St. Louis! Glenn and the rest of Neon Trees will be in town on May 10 for Pointfest at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Vital VOICE had the pleasure to chat with Glenn more about his Mormon background and his coming out. thevitalVOICE.com

27

First off, congratulations on coming out. How have your family and friends been reacting to the news?

Thank you. I was able to tell my friends a while ago. I definitely didn’t want them to be the last to know since they are important to me. But my parents, it’s funny because they were the only ones who were shocked. I expected them to be glad that I was finally being honest and comfortable with myself, but they thought I was playing some sort of practical joke. It’s all good now.

Everyone that matters to me knows and it’s great.

And your band mates?

I sat down with each one of them and shared the news. We’re all Mormon and we are all on different levels with our faith, so how this affected them mattered to me. I also wanted them to know I was coming out publicly and they have been really amazing and supportive.

years old. I never saw anything wrong with it until I started going to school. Kids at school obviously make it seem that liking the same sex is not right.

Since you were raised Mormon, did you feel a lot of guilt and confliction?

Honestly I didn’t. Going to church and being told that all gays are wrong and burning in Hell, I never saw that. I can’t remember one Sunday where I was told that being gay was wrong. It wasn’t until in my 20s when I started to experiment where I felt like we were being shushed.

That was when Prop 8 started. My standing with the church started to conflict because I was being told I didn’t have these rights, even though I am someone who was so faithful to that point. I felt it was wrong for the church to get involved with politics.

When did you realize you were becoming interested in the same sex?

I was very young, probably around six

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May 2014

You’ve stated that your same-sex crushes weren’t overwhelming until your 20s. Why exactly were they so overwhelming?

The typical keeping it bottled up. I would date women, but never really be sexually active with them. It was an overwhelming fight.

On a lighter note, who was your first celebrity crush?

I can’t really remember the first, but I’m attracted to kind of those male classic types such as Steve Carell and Josh Groban.

So these are also your current crushes?

I would say so.

In addition to the classic male type, what are some physical and personality traits that you look for in a partner?

In today’s society, being gay doesn’t completely identify one’s self.

Outside of your homosexuality, what identifies you? Who is Tyler Glenn?

I’m a strange one I guess.

I’ve always been in love with music, so I sometimes let myself be defined by it. I thought I could always hide and disguise myself in music – same with my clothes. Since I was 12, I would dress up like my favorite band at the time. That was my form of expression and I never associated it with my sexual orientation. Just because I would put on a sequin blazer, that didn’t automatically mean I liked boys.

I wanted to feel like David Johansen or David Bowie. I don’t want to say I was an outcast, just kind of a loner in a way.

I’m not nervous, but intrigued. I feel like that would be a breakthrough moment if I were in fact excommunicated.

I like someone who is outgoing, someone who can understand where I came from, but doesn’t have to be all up in my face. I’m really attracted to physically masculine guys. Bears, I guess. I don’t know. [Laughs] I’ve never really talked about this out loud; it’s new to me.

Let’s touch a bit on your music. How did Neon Trees get its start and rise to fame?

So do you think the Book of Mormon is essentially telling your story?

[Laughs]. No, not at all. I read the book of Mormon when I was 18, and even though being out publicly is obviously new, I don’t know what road lies ahead with my faith and being gay. I’m not going to let one or the other define me. Until there is a moment where it has to, but I feel like being gay and being faithful to religion is okay. I have yet to hear from the church.

Chris and I met in California.

When he moved to Utah to go to school, I followed him in 2005 and that’s when we met the rest of the band.

We started locally and our first break came when we opened for The Killers.

They were at one of our really small shows and asked to us open for a couple of their shows. It was a huge surprise.

We always thought we wouldn’t tour in a long time. We wanted to build charisma.

But when the time came, it was really exciting.

Who would you say are some of your biggest music inspirations?

They have always been Michael Jackson, Morrissey and Bruce Springsteen. They’re all completely different, but have a deep impact on me.

With Pop Psychology, we heard that some of the songs deal with how you’ve hid your sexuality over the years. What are some of your favorite lines/excerpts from these songs?

“Teenager In Love” is definitely a song about me having feelings for my straight friend while dating a girl. To me, being a teen in love is kind of overly emotional.

You don’t know how to deal with the emotions you have. You don’t want to go out, just sit inside your bedroom and think of everything. When I was secretly in love with these guys, I would just sit and overevaluate everything. It’s a lot to do. My teen sister did the same and there was a connection between that. I didn’t have a gay teenage youth. Now that I’m out, I’m excited to be myself.

Out of all of your songs, which one is your absolute favorite?

“Close to You.” We’re finally playing it live on our next tour. I wrote it when I felt the loneliest ever in my life, and although it takes me to that place, I’m curious to see how we will perform it. That was a very low point in my life, but this song is an example of music being therapeutic. To convey emotions in a song, I really love that.

While not touring, what is a typical day for you?

When I’m at home, I’m probably making an omelette and sitting and chilling.

Simple and boring. [Laughs]

What is one of your most embarrassing moments?

I would definitely have to say back in the day when we set up our own equipment on stage. We were setting up in Las Vegas and I was doing some warm up stretches. I’m an active front man. Well, I did a high kick and ended up falling on my ass in front of the audience. Instead of looking like I was hurt, I did the splits, acting like that moment was totally planned. You have to convince [the audience] your band is cool.

Your fashion is eccentric like your music. Have you always tried to stand out and be different?

I think so. I’ve always used fashion as a way to express myself. To me, growing up Mormon, I didn’t do a lot of drinking or trying stuff until I was 18. I would dress differently as a teen to express myself instead of going to parties. I think I’m tamer and more refined now, if possible.

I always sought out an opportunity to dress up, and music is an excuse.

Do you think that is a reason as to why many people, more so critics, have responded to you coming out as “no big deal” or a “duh moment?”

That really bothered me. I never understood why people are so obsessed with the “I told you so” or “I think he’s gay” way of thinking. I think it’s really toxic and terrible and it’s like, “Great, but what do you do about it now? You want an award for great gaydar?” I never wanted me coming out to defend the fact that I wear glitter shoes. While putting on clothes, I don’t think about the guy I’m in love with or wanting to sleep with. I didn’t think coming out was supposed to be a surprising or salacious news story, it was a chance to feel whole and present. I was really excited to do that in a music magazine.

Neon Trees is coming to St. Louis on May 10 for Pointfest. What do you look forward to the most about this?

I think what’s awesome is that Pointfest is sort of this aggressive radio show and a lot of bands are way more hard rock meaning. I think for us, we’ve always felt ducky, some sort of pretty in pink. We’ll never get picked first by a girl, but we’re the cool fashion forward best friends.

We’ve always been the sort of band that sticks out. It’s exciting to have bands that are a little different in thinking, but we are a pop band in the end.

Lastly, now that you’ve come out, what’s next for Tyler Glenn? How do you think your life will be changed?

It has already changed so much. The messages I’ve received, and for the first time, I’m really letting a lot of love and happiness in. It’s been cool. Hopefully for the next little while, I’ll perform truly as myself. And find a boyfriend. It’s been really lonely. V

Vital VOICE’s

List of

Outlandish Celebrities

Written by

Brent Peterson

Freddie Mercury The flamboyant Queen frontman never shied away from anything outlandish on stage. When’s the last time you saw someone rock a black and white diamond print bodysuit? NEVER.

Ricky Martin Ricky Martin shook his bon bon and was livin’ la vida loca all through the 90s. His frosted tips and leather pants had us taking notice well before he came out in 2010 and he’s only gotten better with age.

Adam Lambert Eyeliner and purple, shiny blazers are just one part of Adam’s look. He actually just debuted white hair, which is… definitely something. He actually toured with the original members of Queen, so I guess he’s taking a page from Freddie’s book.

thevitalVOICE.com

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St. Louis Sabres stlouissabres.com

Franz Park Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Move over Crusaders, the Sabres are coming through. The Sabres are a women’s rugby club that has been in existence for over 30 years. Sorry, no boys allowed. Let’s face it: rugby is a sport that is becoming more and more popular.

The Sabres have worked long and hard to become a Women’s Division II Club, in addition to becoming members of the Missouri Rugby Union within the Western Territory.

The Sabres are constantly looking for new players and encourage those who are interested to fill out the contact form on their website.

St. Louis Frontrunners info@stlouisfrontrunner.org

Forest Park Visitor and Education Center Tuesdays, Thursdays at 6:15 p.m.

Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Run, run, as fast as you can! The St. Louis Frontrunners is a non-competitive club for LGBT people and their straightallied friends where membership is open to all – no gender requirements. Saturday meetings are followed by breakfast at a nearby restaurant. The Frontrunners are currently registering people for the Pride 5k which takes place at Soldiers Memorial on Sunday, June 29 at 7 a.m.

Big Crank Cycling powwow2@yahoo.com Meeting times vary

Written by Denny

Patterson

This is seriously a common stereotype about the LGBT community. Just because we’re more into fashion and theatre doesn’t mean some like to get down and dirty – although it’s usually for different reasons, but you catch my drift. Not only do sports allow you to remain active and physically fit, but they are also a great way to make new friends, in addition to being an outlet. It all depends on what you choose. Check out some of the numerous LGBT athletics teams located within the St. Louis and Kansas City area.

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May 2014

Do you enjoy biking through the city or park? If so, then Big Crank Cycling might be for you. Big Crank Cycling is St. Louis’ premiere LGBT cycling club. Full of cycling enthusiasts of various background and skill levels, this club welcomes all. Membership is free but you are requested to fill out a membership form which can be found on bigcrankcycling.com under the files section. Currently, Big Crank Cycling is looking for more ride leaders and event volunteers for the upcoming season. Make sure to check out their calendar on their Yahoo! group or Facebook page to see what can be in store for you.

Monday Moaners

Team St. Louis Cycling

St. Louis SLAM

Mondays at Tropicana Bowl at 7 p.m.

Co-ED

Co-ED

Females only

This group was founded in summer 2012 by two Team Saint Louis athletes that wanted to combine the passion for cycling and the Team Saint Louis organization.

SLAM is constantly looking for more players. They will be hosting a Boot Camp Fundraiser on August 24.

St. Louis’ Monday night bowling league

The league is sanctioned by USBC and the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO). The fall/winter league begins the Monday after Labor Day. Contact: mondaymoaners@gmail.com

Head-Pins

Sunday bowling league Co-ED Commencing in September and ending in April, this bowling league bowls on Sundays for 31 weeks. The league consists of 24 teams.

Contact: info@head-pins.com

Show Me St. Louis Classic Bowling tournament

Labor Day Weekend Co-ED An invitational tournament that is sanctioned by the U.S. Bowling Congress and International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) Contact: www.showmeclassic.com

St. Louis Equality Dance Same-sex ballroom dance

Thursdays in the Central West End (contact to request location) 7 p.m. for beginners and 8 p.m. for intermediate Co-ED

A St. Louis LGBT cycling group

Contact: cycling@teamsaintlouis.org

Darts Over the Arch

A St. Louis amateur dart tournament

Membership is open to climbers from expert to beginners. There is a $10 daily pass on Mondays for club members.

Contact: Tournament Director at George@ DartsOverTheArch.com Registration Info: dartsoverthearch.com

Just Darts STL Darts

Tuesdays, varying gay-friendly bars Co-ED Just Darts STL was founded in March 2008 with the intention to expressly draw the LGBT community closer together for spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Contact: justdartsstl.com

Arch Rivals Roller Girls (AARG) Women’s roller derby

Practices: Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Sun. Female only

Team Saint Louis Kickball League

Co-ED

Saturday in Tower Grove Park at Arsenal and Gustine from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Co-ED

Contact: Carol at str8bowler@charter.net or Ray at rmpho2@aol.com

Club for queer and ally rock climbers

A team consists of at least two LGBT players. Tournament directors encourage early bird registration.

Gateway Gay Rodeo Association (GWGRA)

GWGRA successfully produced the first gay rodeo in the St. Louis area on May 6-7, 2006.

St. Louis MO Climbers

Club meets on Mondays at Upper Limits Rock Climbing Gym, 8 p.m.

Co-ED

Contact: stlequalitydance@gmail.com

An organization with an enthusiasm of rodeo and the western lifestyle

Contact: slamfootball@hotmail.com

Columbus Day weekend Co-ED

St. Louis’ first and only Women’s Flat Track Derby Association certified all female flat track roller derby league. They placed sixth at North Central Regional Championships in September 2009 and ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation.

Join for weekly lessons, workshops and field trips while learning how to tango, jive and rumba — just to name a few.

Women’s tackle football team

Contact: info@archrivalrollergirls.com

St. Louis’ LGBT kickball

The league consists of two divisions: competitive and recreational. Spring sessions begin in April while fall sessions begin in September. Both run eight to nine weeks.

Contact: lennyramsey@gmail.com

Team Saint Louis Indoor Volleyball League

St. Louis’ LGBT indoor volleyball Tues. evenings at St. Louis community college Forest Park Co-ED Starting out with 15-20 players, this league has grown to 40 teams with 300+ players Contact: TSL-VB@teamsaintlouis.org

Rainbow Volleyball League Outdoor Sand Volleyball

Stratford Bar & Grill in Fenton, Mo Co-ED There are four divisions and teams that will be placed with the gaol of balancing divisions based on number of teams and skill level.

Contact: outdoorsandvb@gmail.com

St. Louis G.L.A.S.S

St. Louis Gay and Lesbian Athletic Softball Society Sundays (Summer) and Fridays (Fall) Aviation Field in Forest Park Co-ED St. Louis G.L.A.S.S is a member of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association and plays in tournaments throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Contact: www.stglass.org.

Contact: kickball@teamsaintlouis.org thevitalVOICE.com

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kc wave kcwave.org

Tuesdays from 7:45 – 9:00 p.m. @ Swinney Recreation Center at UMKC Time to put on your floaties. KC Wave is the premier gay and lesbian swim team in the Kansas City area. Members range between 20-40 swimmers of all ages and sexual orientations. KC Wave boasts about comfortable and challenging workouts regardless of age. Swimmers of all skill levels are welcomed. In addition, KC Wave is one of 40 teams belonging to the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics sharing the mission to promote participation in aquatic sports among the LGBT community and allies.

kc gay volleyball

kcgvolleyball@gmail.com Sundays from 1-3 p.m. @ Levo Gym

Bump, set, spike! If a good game of volleyball is more your thing, then it is highly suggested to check out KC Gay Volleyball. This is a group that is targeted toward gay men, but all are welcome. There is currently a $6.00 fee to cover rental costs. Interested players should wear athletic clothing along with appropriate gym floor shoes.

National Spotlight: North America outgames

2016NAOutGames@ teamsaintlouis.org May 27 – June 4 in St. Louis

Written by Denny

34

Patterson

May 2014

Get ready Missouri! The North American Outgames are coming to you in 2016! This is a multi-sport event that is held every three years by the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association for the LGBT athletes within North America. In addition, they are a regional derivation of the World Outgames. The 2016Outgames will include, but are not limited to: bowling, tennis, softball, darts, golf and billiards.

Heart of America Softball League (HASL) Kansas City LGBT softball Co-ED HASL is a non-profit organization with international membership in the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance and the Amateur Softball Alliance of North America Contact: Women’s Membership Coordinator Brandy Tillman at brandytillman12@hotmail.com and Open Membership Coordinator Chad Slater at c.s.slater@gmail.com.

Missouri Gay Rodeo Association (MGRA) Promoting the country-western lifestyle and produces gay rodeos throughout Kansas City and surrounding areas Co-ED MGRA has raised thousands of dollars for local charities and is a member of the International Gay Rodeo Association which has 31 associations across the U.S. and Canada.

Information: www.mgra.us

KC Storm Football

Women’s tackle football Women only KC Storm has been serving area women since 2004. The Storm plays an eight game season running from April through June. Games are played on Saturday nights, at 7:00pm, at North Kansas City High School.

This team isn’t lesbian-only, but they welcome all sexualities on their team.

Information: www.kcstormfootball.com/ index.html

KC Frontrunners

KC Carnivores

Kansas City’s Premier Gay Men’s Rugby Club Males only The Carnivores are looking for players of all ages (19+), shapes, sizes, athletic ability and experience. They also provide opportunities for learning and playing competitive rugby to communities traditionally underrepresented in the sport.

Contact: info@kccarnivores.org

Women’s Social Club

Meetup group that participates in various activities

Kansas City’s LGBT Running and Walking Club The group meets up twice a week on Wednesday night and Sunday morning Co-ED The group’s mission is to promote good health through running, walking and club events in a supportive, LGBT running/ walking community.

LGBT Americans If that number is accurate that would mean:

Information: Kansas City Frontrunners Facebook page

OutSpokin’KC Bicycle Club A Kansas City cycling group

Women only

Co-Ed

This group is for Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, and Lesbian-Friendly Women in the Kansas City area to meet for fun, casual activities, including sporting events.

OutSpokin’KC is Kansas City’s GLBT bicycle club since 2000. We enjoy a diversity of club bike rides that appeal to everyone -- from leisure to fitness riders all around the metro area.

Information: www.meetup.com/ lesbianadventureclub-kc/

There are

Contact: outspokinkc-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com

Remember Her Day Mother’s Day Is Sunday, May 11

Deliver Something Beautiful (314) 352-7575 · www.wkf.com/md thevitalVOICE.com

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May 2014

WRITTEN BY Jimmy No Show PHOTOGRAPHY BY Kate Romero

38

May 2014

On April 22, MTV rolled out its latest scripted teen drama Faking It, starring Michael Willett as Shane Harvey, the most popular boy in school – who happens to be openly gay. The series centers on Shane convincing two girls to fake being lesbians in order to win homecoming court and cash in on newfound popularity.

away but there is a guy that Shane meets called Pablo. He is a Christian, and super conservative, and supportive of charity – he is basically a good boy. Shane thinks he is super cute and doesn’t feel worthy to be with Pablo because he is so great, so you will see that Shane is not always so confident.

In case that wasn’t totally your experience in high school, I rang up Willett to see if this series was the real deal or just faking it.

And on the off chance that Shane and Pablo don’t work out, who would be your dream celebrity onscreen romance?

You’re at the center of MTV’s new show Faking It, which premiered in April. Tell us a bit about the show.

I really can’t think of anybody, this is terrible! I am so bad at these kinds of things. I don’t know. Who would you pick?

Who would you want to see me with?

Q

Faking It is a teen comedy about two girls who are trying to gain popularity in high school. My character, Shane, is in the popular group and tells people what causes to support and what is cool. He nominates these two girls as homecoming queens, but they aren’t actually lesbians so all hell breaks loose.

It’s an interesting concept of a young gay man being the most popular kid in high school and girls faking being lesbians so that they can be accepted.

Q

Yeah, we come from a high school that is super progressive. It is sort of from the future. It takes the outcasts and makes them cool. The more unique you are the cooler you are. So, these girls are trying to find their place in high school and gain popularity, and so they stumble upon being lesbians.

Q

Do you think it’s easier for girls to fake it or boys?

Being gay?

Q

Yeah!

I actually think girls do have more codependent relationships than guys do. They see each other’s insecurities and they create real, close bonds, and sometimes they don’t even need boyfriends because they have each other.

[Faking It] brings up a lot of those kinds of topics and it’s going to be really interesting and true to life – hopefully.

So the ladies obviously have each other. Does your character, Shane, have a love interest in the show?

Q

Yes, he does! I don’t want to give too much

Q

Q

I don’t know Shane well enough to pick!

Well, he is a lot like me, but cooler and more confident.

Q

In what ways is he like you?

You know, I actually got to talk to the writers and they encouraged me to be myself and be natural and I think that is important because when you seeing a character weekly. It has to be believable.

You [have to] know this character like they’re your friend. Shane is the cooler version of me; I was never this confident or outgoing in high school. I was much more insecure and sort of had social anxiety. It has taken many years to become Shane.

It’s great how the show portrays LGBT youth in such an acceptable way. Was it a goal of the show to encourage young people to live more openly and accepting?

Q

Absolutely! Because this school is sort of more progressive and open, it allows everyone to be themselves. It is not a conversation that is even talked about in the first few episodes. My best friend is a straight guy and its not even discussed on the show. I just think it will teach LGBTQ kids to be confident and how to deal with opposition and bigotry, just to be positive.

So the show is called Faking It. How good are you at telling when people are faking it?

Q

I would say like a 9 or 10. I’m pretty good at reading people — wait! I don’t mean like reading them! I’m not talking smack. I mean, like being able to read when people are lying or not... You know, faking it!

I understand, but thanks for clarifying! When was the last time you caught someone faking it?

Q

Oh, all the time! I have been watching Lindsay Lohan’s documentary on OWN....

Q

Don’t get me started!

Some of those interviews, I just feel like she’s faking it. I have to say it.

It’s got to be pretty exciting to be on MTV. Apart from your own show, what is your favorite MTV show, past of present?

Q

Well, my friend is on Awkward., so I’m going to say that.

Q

Shameless plug, ahoy!

Yes! Exactly.

Q

What’s your earliest memory of MTV?

I remember when they used to play music videos! [Laughs] I am so happy to be a part of the [MTV] family. It’s cool because it’s young and edgy!

Q

It has to be fun working with such a young cast.

The cast got along so well together. We have become really close, but I was sort of the trickster. They would be kissing on camera all the time and I would be in our trailers plotting. There was this one time – well, I did this twice – I was in Rita [Volk]’s trailer hiding, and I popped out and she started screaming. She got SO SCARED. So, I did it another time to Gregg [Sulkin].

It was amazing!

Q

Troublemaker!

Another time I switched everything in their trailers and they didn’t even say anything!

They just accepted it. They thought that their rooms had just been switched.

Q

Well that backfired! That’s what you get for faking it.

I guess so.

You can catch Michael on Faking It, Tuesdays on MTV at 9:30 p.m. CST, after Awkward. thevitalVOICE.com

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May 2014

food

Rainbow Trout

With Blood Orange, Lemon & Garlic Written & Photographed by Mikey

Berner

Prep time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 16 - 20 mins 2 servings

2 whole rainbow trouts, scaled and gutted 1 blood orange 1 large lemon, thinly sliced 4 whole garlic cloves cut in half 4 slices of prosciutto ham chopped up 1 tsp sea salt Freshly ground black pepper corns Splash of white wine 3 Tbsp of good quality extra virgin olive oil

directions

1. Pat dry trout and rub the whole fish with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

2. Place prosciutto ham, lemon slices and garlic halves into fish cavity.

3. Heat olive oil in large frying pan or grill pan. Once hot, gently place both whole trouts in it and fry for about 8 minutes.

4. Gently flip. Add a splash or two of white wine at this point if you have any extra garlic added to the pan. Fry/cook the fish for another 8 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed and the fish skin is nice and crispy. When done the fish should feel firm. *Cooking times may vary depending on weight of fish and size

thevitalVOICE.com

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may

STLPlaydates trees spotlight neon pointfest

5/10

verizon Wireless Amphitheater www.1057thepoint.com Catch Neon Trees at this year’s Pointfest at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater on Saturday, May 10. Pointfest brings you your annual dose of great summer music, and this year’s festival is sure to take you there!

Along with Neon Trees, catch The Offspring, Queens of the Stone Age, AFI (A Fire Inside), Blue October, Neon Trees, The Head and the Heart, Crosses †††, The Airborne Toxic Event, Band of Skulls, Morning Parade, The Orwells and more!

5/1

ozzie & friends: a concert to benefit PGA Reach at peabody opera house www.peabodyoperahouse.com (800) 745-3000

President of the Gateway PGA Foundation and MLB Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith invites you to join him for a night of music, comedy and community. Headlining the evening will be country music star Vince Gill. Also performing is America’s funniest female and St. Louis native, Kathleen Madigan and the very talented family member Nikko Smith will display the abilities that were seen across the country as a finalist in the 2005 Season of American Idol.

5/1 9/1

dinosaurs in motion exhibit at the st. louis science center www.slsc.org (314) 289-4400 or (800) 456-SLSC

This interactive dinosaur exhibition engages with art: sketch, draw and sculpt to explore your inner creativity; science: learn kinetics, biomechanics and robotics while moving the dinosaurs with pulleys, levers and remote controls; and innovation: observe and experiment with your own prehistoric, recycled creations.

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May 2014

Playdates STL

5/1 5/4

falling (dates vary) at fontbonne university black box theatre www.mustardseedtheatre.com (314) 719-8060

Fresh from its off-Broadway run, Falling returns with the original St. Louis cast. Although Falling explores hard truths within a family dealing specifically with autism, the story is really about loving someone who is hard to love.

Performance times are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.

5/1­ 5/11

joseph and the Amazing technicolor dreamcoat at the fabulous fox theatre http://www.fabulousfox.com (314) 534-1111

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the irresistible family musical that tells the tale of trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel’s favorite son. This is one for the whole family. Don’t miss it!

Performance times are Tuesday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.; Sunday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m.; and Thursday, May 8 at 1 p.m.

5/3

cinco de mayo

www.cincodemayostl.com (314) 632-6498

The festival features live entertainment on three stages with over 15 bands performing throughout the day. The U.S. Bank Main Stage at California and Cherokee will showcase traditional Latino music while the Gringo Stage at Nebraska and Cherokee and the Garduno’s State at Iowa and Cherokee feature a variety of local acts.

5/1­3 5/18

the wizard of oz at the fabulous fox theatre http://www.fabulousfox.com (314) 534-1111

Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their hearts’ desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys as you rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for all the family.

thevitalVOICE.com

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may

KC Playdates cher spotlight at the sprint center

5/31

www.sprintcenter.com/events (888) 929-7849

The one and only Cher herself is bringing the D2K Tour 2014 to Sprint Center in Kansas City on Saturday, May 31 with special guest Cyndi Lauper!

Cher’s previous tour “The Farewell Tour” later dubbed “The Never Can Say Goodbye Tour” was one of the most successful tours ever by a solo artist and played for a record-breaking 325 dates and seen by over 5.5 million people.

With every Cher ticket purchased online, you’ll receive a physical CD of Cher’s new release Closer To The Truth. Ticket purchasers will receive instructions via email on how to redeem their CD within 7-10 business days after their order.

5/1 5/11

a little more alive at the kc repertory theatre www.kcrep.org 816-235-2700

In this captivating new pop musical, two estranged brothers reunite at their mother’s funeral. An unexpected discovery upends every memory they have — and it becomes their mission to learn the truth about their family. But on the way, Nate and Jeremy find that no one is exempt from the grey area between right and wrong.

Acclaimed director Sheryl Kaller (Mothers and Sons, Next Fall) and a stellar cast ignite an energetic soundtrack of pulse-pounding grooves and lush ballads in this touching original story by one of America’s most exciting young playwrights.

5/1 5/18

school house rock live! at the coterie theatre www.thecoterie.org 816-474-6552

This award-winning musical teaches history, grammar, math, science, and government through clever, tuneful songs. It’s for this television classic to instruct a whole new generation to “Unpack Your Adjectives” and meet up at “Conjunction Junction” to add some “Interjections!”

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May 2014

Playdates KC

5/1 5/18

water by the spoonful at the unicorn theatre www.unicorntheatre.org 816-531-PLAY (7529)

A young Iraqi war veteran comes home to reconnect with his family and finds his mother running a chat room for recovering addicts. The boundaries of family and community are stretched from Philadelphia to Puerto Rico as birth families splinter and online families collide. One thing they all have in common- they’re all searching for a safe haven in a messed up world. Winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this playwright also wrote the 2008 Tony Award-winning book for the musical In the Heights.

5/13

queens of the stone age at the starlight theatre www.kcstarlight.com 816-363-7827

Queens Of The Stone Age is possibly the single most critically acclaimed hard rock band of the 2000s. The band first emerged with its 1998 self-titled debut then ascended the international major leagues with 2000’s Rated R. Queens Of The Stone Age’s popularity was cemented in 2002 with the Grammy nominated album Songs For The Deaf, featuring some of their best known songs – ”No One Knows,” “Go With The Flow” and “Feel Good Hit Of The Summer.”

5/16

the 5 browns at the kauffman center www.kauffmancenter.org (816) 994-7200

5 siblings, 5 pianos, and an exciting infusion of energy into the classical piano music repertoire. The 5 Browns – Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae – all attended New York’s prestigious Juilliard School. They became the first family of five siblings ever accepted simultaneously.

5/14­ 5/18

cirque du soleil: varekai at the sprint center www.sprintcenter.com/events 888-929-7849

Deep within a fores, at the summit of a volcan, exists an extraordinary world – a world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai that is coming to Sprint Center May 14-18.

This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.

thevitalVOICE.com

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Scene in

St. Louis Photography by Mikey

2.

Berner

3.

1.

at

Rehab Bar & Grill Just John

4.

1. Travis Wolfangel, Harrison Roberts and Tyler Wolfangel at Just John 2. Scottie J. Roth, Ashleigh Kennedy and Maxx Michael at Attitudes 3. David Ray, Chris Andoe and Timothy Murray at CJ’s On The Hill 4. Rehab Bar & Grill

Scene in the STL 5. Ramy Badie & Brian Hall at Hamburger Mary’s 6. Judge Evelyn Baker & John Otis at Club 34 7. Cjc John C and Roger Nathan Herin JR at Clementines 8. Benjamin Jacob Raupp & Brad Phillips at Just John 9. Alice and Davey from The Kiss & Tells at Blueberry Hill 10. Alexander Casey McClure, Stacy Reese and Blake Phelps at Rehab Bar and Grill

5.

6.

at

Hamburger Mary’s

7.

8.

9.

10.

at

Rehab Bar & Grill

Scene Kansas

in

Photography by Timothy

2.

City

Gee

3.

1.

4.

1. Jeff Brentano & Jallen Messersmith at Bistro 303 2. David Thill & James Moon at Bistro 303 3. Ryan McPheeters, Jon Nguyen, Anthony Xiong & Guy Baker at Planet Comicon hosted at Bartle Hall 4. Mark Patterson, Julia Schaefermeyer and Leigh Rysko @ AIDS Walk Charity Social

Scene in KC 5. Travis Fischer, Tim Faul, Justin Patrick, Benjamin Mendenhall & Alex Sachs at Bistro 303 6. Peng Her, Donny Lo &Thế Trần at the City Market 7. Brian Barnhill & Nathan K at Bistro 303 8. Dan Reynolds & Alex McCombs at Coal Vines 9. Kyle Piccola & Sam Burke at Bistro 303 10. Santiago Vasquez & Mitch Messner at Phillips Hotel

6.

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UPCOMING SHOWS AT LUMIÈRE THEATRE

KATIE ARMIGER

EDDIE MONEY

7 pm & 9:30 pm

7 pm & 9:30 pm

Saturday, May 3

Saturday, May 10

Reserved Seating $15 • $20 • $30

Reserved Seating $30 • $50

D.L. HUGHLEY

MACY GRAY

7 pm & 9:30 pm

7 pm & 9:30 pm

Reserved Seating $35 • $45

Reserved Seating $35 • $50

Saturday, May 24

Friday, June 6

Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, charged by phone at 800.745.3000 and at ETC inside Lumière Place.

Concert is subject to change or cancellation without notice. Invitation is non-transferable and only offered for one show. Valid ID required. Must be 21 years or older. See players club for details. Void for persons ineligible to game or who are excluded from Lumière Place Casino for any reason. Gambling problem? Call 1-888-BETSOFF. ©2014 Casino One Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Experience Cortona at Forest Park - a brand-new one and two-bedroom apartment community that keeps you at the center of everything.

High-speed internet and cable ready

Gated entrance and reserved parking

Gourmet kitchens with full-size appliances

Dog park and self-service pet spa

Huge walk-in closets

Free bike storage

Washer and dryer in every unit

Fully equipped fitness center with classes

Courtyard with three-tiered pool, grills and cabanas

Online rent payments