TheStandard_Vol8_Issue1.pdf

DESERT AIDS PROJECT

REMOVING ROADBLOCKS TO HUMAN POTENTIAL

STEVE CHASE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS INGÉNUE KRISTIN CHENOWETH HEADLINES

JANUARY 2020 | VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1 THESTANDARDPS.COM | @THESTANDARDPS

CONTENTS VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1

theStandardPS.com twitter.com/theStandardPS facebook.com/theStandardPS instagram.com/theStandardPS FEATURE SLAY MODEL MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES FIRST WORLDWIDE TRANSGENDER MODEL SEARCH PAGE 21

Volume 8 Issue 1 COVER DESERT AIDS PROJECT: REMOVING ROADBLOCKS TO HUMAN POTENTIAL COVER STEVE CHASE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS KRISTIN CHENOWETH HEADLINES GALA FEATURE FRIDA: STROKE OF PASSION FEATURE SLAY / TRANSGENDER MODEL AGENCY TRAVEL 24 HOUR GAYOVER GLASGOW

CECILIO ASUNCION WITH SLAY MODELS. PHOTO BY ALEXIS HUNLEY

MUSIC JACK TRACY / PART 2 OF “FOR YOU” TRILOGY

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COMMENTARY

The Standard Magazine PO Box 2074, Palm Springs, CA 92263 760.831.4869 Nino Eilets Publisher Luciano McNulty Editor Maya Kalabic Art Director PHOTOGRAPHER David A. Lee CONTRIBUTORS

Daniel Clemens, Jeff Dorta, Len Evans, Dann Foley, Richard Jones, Michael Khordoc, Jill Langham, Jacob Lopez, Jason Phillips, Christina Vronay Ruggles, Mike Sandoval, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Ethan Thorpe & Rob Woronoff

www.thestandardps.com EDITORIAL CREDITS :

BrandPoint, Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Project Publicity, MSN & Reuters The Standard Magazine is published monthly. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of the Standard or its staff, advertisers or readers with exception of editorials.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person, business or organization in articles or advertising in the Standard is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person, business or organization. The Standard disclaims any responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Advertising rates are subject to change without notice. The Standard reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any advertisement for any reason including, but not limited to poor taste. It is the policy of The Standard that we only publish letters to the editor that are signed by the author and verifiable by phone number. We can reserve the right of anonymity upon request. The letters need to be original, in good taste and free of libel as well as edited for clarity and grammar. Letters are subject to editing by The Standard that also reserves the right to decline print. Please forward your letters to: info@thestandardps.com The views

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COVER

DESERT AIDS PROJECT REMOVING ROADBLOCKS TO HUMAN POTENTIAL

BY STEVEN HENKE

Desert AIDS Project CEO, David Brinkman is expected to share DAP’s vision for the future during the event. “Desert AIDS Project’s story includes a long history of identifying and responding to epidemics,” he said. “We intend to pay forward what we’ve learned during our first 35 years by reaching more people and changing more lives. We have and continue to be a humanitarian organization which removes road-blocks to human potential.”

The last decade alone has seen DAP make substantial in-roads in addressing epidemics.

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2010 2.7 million people worldwide were newly infected with HIV in 2010. DAP begins the decade focused on ending the epidemic 2012 Annette Bloch donates $1 million to fund a cancer care center dedicated to specialized HIV-related cancer research, screenings, treatment and prevention.

2014 DAP launches Get Tested Coachella Valley as the nation’s first non-profit-led, region-wide HIV testing, prevention, education and linkage to care initiative.

2015 DAP launches The DOCK, a walk-in clinic that provides HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing, linkage to care and access to HIV preventative medication Pre-Exposure Prohylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

2016 The DAP Hepatitis Center of Excellence opens to deliver comprehensive state-of-the-art expertise to manage, support and cure those afflicted with Hepatitis C. 2017 DAP opens Transgender Health Program offering genderaffirming services and care.

2018 DAP kicks off Vision 2020, a capital campaign which will result in the agency more than doubling its ability to provide patientcentered primary, HIV Specialty, Dental and Behavioral Health care to our community.

2019 Desert AIDS Project celebrates 35 years of caring for our Community.

How Desert AIDS Project Removes Roadblocks to Human Potential: • Medical Care- 7,000 clients call DAP their patient centered medical home, and about half do not have HIV. In the earliest days of the AIDS crisis, DAP discovered health outcomes for our HIV positive clients increased when we provided health care to their life partners and family members who were acting as caregivers. Today, DAP offers leading HIV specialty care as well as primary care for our community members not living with HIV. Because there is enough love in this valley to help everyone thrive and also prevent new cases of HIV. • Transgender Care- DAP is guiding more and more transgender, intersex, and gender diverse clients on their gender journeys. In a little over a year, DAP has seen its client enrollment quadruple for these services. Too many transgender individuals in the Inland Empire assume they won’t ever access stigma-free and competent care. At DAP they never have to worry.

• Hepatitis Center of Excellence- 202 clients have been cured of Hepatitis C since 2017. DAP averages 9 weeks to cure clients, and never turns people away if they do not have insurance.

HCV is a silent killer, but DAP’s advocacy is a lot louder.

• Dental Care- Dental access is vital for good health, especially for people living with HIV. DAP’s dental clinic had 5,354 visits last year, and continues to add clients. A healthy mouth helps clients stay ahead of HIV, and everyone smile wider.

• The DOCK-- $25 STI screening and treatment. Free Confidential HIV and HCV testing. PrEP and PEP navigators to

onboard new clients and help access cost assistance. Because we won’t stop the spread of HIV and STIs in the Coachella Valley if we don’t make testing and treatment available to everyone.

• Behavioral HealthCare—Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Psychotherapists. Coping with HIV and life can be overwhelming.

DAP Behavioral Health clinicians help clients find hope. Because with the right support, we can get through almost any storm.

• Social Services –Case managers make accessing healthcare and support services a reality for DAP clients. Transportation, food, housing, and enrolling for federal, state and local resources to cover care. In a complex healthcare system, DAP takes the worry out of obtaining and keeping care.

• Housing - DAP helps clients into permanent residences, and is developing more opportunities. Housing assistance is part of our prescription. Because access to medication is not enough to treat HIV—it also requires a place to live.

•

Back to Work—DAP’s back to work program has assisted

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COVER

AMBASSADOR DEBORAH L BIRX over 200 clients re-enter the workforce when they were ready. This includes computer access, resume coaching, and job placement. DAP helps clients determine readiness for employment, and supports them throughout the process. Because having a job can be powerful medicine.

• Client Wellness—A range of services, classes and support groups make DAP a community hub. Chair massage, yoga, tai chi, acupuncture and reiki. Because the AIDS crisis taught us that holistic health works. Strength training, art, sculpting and sewing classes. Because curiosity is healthy. Aging with HIV, addiction and recovery advocacy, and many other support groups. Because DAP understands that when a few people get together to support each other, an entire humanitarian movement can be born.

2020 STEVE CHASE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS HONOREES: Hank Plante Arts & Activism Award Henry A. “Hank” Plante is an American television reporter and newspaper columnist. He is on-air at NBC Palm Springs and he is a member of the Editorial Board of Gannett’s Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs. Winner of the George Foster Peabody Award and multiple Emmys, he covered California for three decades for TV stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He now writes occasional columns for newspapers in California, usually focusing on politics or gay and lesbian issues. One of the first openly gay TV reporters in the United States, Plante is the recipient of various honors from LGBTQ rights advocacy organizations and trade groups. In addition, Plante was featured in the documentary “5B” 5B (film), which was honored at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The film is about the first AIDS ward in the nation, which Plante covered as a reporter. A native of Detroit, Plante worked in both radio and television journalism, including 25 years at KPIX-TV (CBS 5) in San Francisco, before retiring in April 2010. Before that, he worked in print journalism, including at The Washington Post. At KPIX-TV, he

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GARRY KIEF

HENRY A. “HANK” PLANTE

interviewed a range of national and state political figures, including five U.S. Presidents and numerous Governors, legislators and opinion makers from Richard Nixon to Al Gore, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Brown and Hillary Clinton.

His awards have included several local and national Emmys, as well as the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, in 1986, as part of CBS 5’s “AIDS Lifeline” reporting team. He has also been awarded the Pioneer Award at the GLAAD Media Awards, and the James R. Harrison Award from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Hank was inducted into the Emmy Silver Circle by the National Television Academy, which honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to broadcasting. In addition, The New York Times and other media have singled out his work for praise. Plante was inducted into the LGBTQ Journalists Hall of Fame in 2010.

Garry Kief Partners for Life Award Garry Kief is a former DAP Board Member and currently serves on the boards of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Palm Springs International Film Festival, McCallum Theatre, and the Annenberg Theatre Counsel. In addition, Kief has served as National President and Chairman of the Trustees of his national fraternity – Sigma Phi Epsilon, raising money for programs and scholarships to support undergraduate men. Kief is President/CEO at Stiletto Entertainment Group and President of Barry Manilow Productions. He has produced ‘A Gift of Love’ for four years raising millions of dollars for local charities. Kief also oversees the Manilow Music Project, which empowers underfunded school music programs to provide quality music education. By donating instruments and equipment and providing scholarships nationwide, it gives disadvantaged young people the opportunity to experience community, passion, and creativity through the gift of music.

Ambassador Deborah L Birx, M.D. Science & Medicine Award Ambassador-at-Large, Deborah L. Birx, M.D., is the Coordinator of the United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy.

Ambassador Birx is a world-renowned medical expert and leader in the field of HIV/AIDS. Her three-decade-long career has focused on HIV/AIDS immunology, vaccine research, and global health.

As the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Birx oversees the implementation of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history, as well as all U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Serving as the U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, she aligns the U.S. Government’s diplomacy with foreign assistance programs that address global health challenges and accelerate progress toward achieving an AIDS-free generation; ending preventable child and maternal deaths; and preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats.

“THE CHASE” The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Gala headline performer, Kristin Chenoweth is a passionate supporter of charities that dedicate their time and efforts to helping those in need. She formed a charity partnership with the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) Foundation in her home state of Oklahoma.

Chenoweth’s accomplishments were honored by her hometown with BAPAC naming “The Kristin Chenoweth Theatre. The Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voiceover and stage. In 2015, Chenoweth received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, she received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Pushing Daisies.” In 1999, she won a Tony Award for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and she was also nominated for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked” in 2004.

Chenoweth has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and for a People’s Choice Award for her role on “Glee.” Partnering with the BAPAC in a labor of love, Kristin launched an annual Broadway Bootcamp in 2015, providing young Broadway hopefuls with the opportunity to take classes, hold performances and learn from top mentors in the entertainment industry including Kristin herself.

In her lifelong mission to cultivate arts education across the globe, Chenoweth has also created “Places! The Kristin Chenoweth Tour Experience,” a unique educational program for young singers that puts them right next to her performing on stage. Each concert in Chenoweth’s ongoing tour will feature local participants from higher education conservatories, universities, and colleges for the immersive educational experience.

Chenoweth recently released her latest album “For The Girls,”

KRISTIN CHENOWETH debuting at #3 on the Current Pop Albums chart and #11 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. The album is a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history, particularly some of Kristin’s heroes and friends. Guest artists include Ariana Grande, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Hudson and Reba McEntire. The album includes Chenoweth’s personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton and more.

Visit www.desertaidsproject.org, www.thedockclinic.org, and www.gettestedcoachellavalley.org to learn more.

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COVER

THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 STEVE CHASE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS SPONSORS PRODUCING: Harold Matzner, Walgreens MAJOR: Elgart Aster & Paul Swerdlove, Desert Care Network, Desert Sun, Eisenhower Health, Grace Helen Spearman Foundation, Living Out, LULU California Bistro STAR: Mark Adams, Steven Anders/The Elizabeth Firth Wade Endowment, Annette Bloch, Desert Oasis Healthcare, NBC Palm Springs, Saks Fifth Avenue SUPPORTING: Blackbook, Jim Burba & Bob Hayes, Diageo, Lynn Hammond, Lauri & Charles Kibby, Neil Lane Jewelers, Renaissance

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Palm Springs Hotel, UC Riverside School of Medicine, Wells Fargo Foundation BENEFACTOR: Anthem Blue Cross, Carolyn & Daniel Caldwell, Colleen Crowley & Jack Martin, Coachella Valley Health Personnel, Diageo, Freehold Communities, Gilead Sciences, Annette Guzman, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Image360, Patrick Jordan, Kaiser Permanente Foundation, Frank Kurland, Laboratory Corporation of America, Perry McKay, Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, Revive Wellness, Ann Sheffer & Bill Scheffler, Sysco Riverside, White Cross Pharmacy MEDIA: CV Independent, Gay Desert Guide, LOCALE Magazine, Palm Springs Life, PromoHomo.TV, Rage Monthly, The Hollywood Times, The Standard Magazine.

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BOOK REVIEW

ALWAYS OVERBOOKED

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Any old stick would do.

When you were a child, that’s what it took to become a wizard: a stick became a makeshift wand, an old towel turned into a cape, and you were ready for spell-making. It worked for imaginations everywhere although, as you’ll see in “Ian McKellen: A Biography”

by Garry O’Connor, sometimes, reel magic helps, too.

On May 25, 1939, mere months before the beginning of World War II, Ian Murray McKellen made his debut into the world. The only son of parents who lived large, passionate lives, young McKellen grew up securely happy despite the War. Alas, that ended when his beloved mother died of cancer when McKellen was just twelve years old. As years passed, he always regretted that she never knew about him what he knew about himself: he received his “first gay kiss” at age nine and understood even then that he preferred boys to girls.

Though his original plan was to graduate school and work as a journalist, McKellen was denied the chance and instead opted to attend Cambridge. There, others noticed that he had a great aptitude for Shakespearean acting; it was nurtured and a “most extraordinary explosion of talent happened.” His time at Cambridge helped him sharpen his craft; it was also there that McKellen lost his virginity to another man.

O’Connor says that McKellen is “a slow-progress stickler” and never minded using “modest roles” as stepping-stones; every role he played led to bigger parts on better-known stages in larger venues.

In 1964, he landed a small part in a BBC-TV production as his first foray into television, and he continued to eye a career in film – a career that “still eluded [him] until the late 1990s.” At that time, he was able to transition from stage to screen, fast racking up a Tony, a Golden Globe, a SAG award, and an Oscar nomination.

And then a “quick perusal of the Marvel comics… caught his fancy.”

For readers who are wild about Shakespeare, “Ian McKellen: A Biography” will be a delight. Those who are not to be, however, may find this book quite tedious.

Author Garry O’Connor, who’s known McKellen for decades, explains in his first chapter how this book came about, in opening words that are carefully off-the-cuff. That chumminess feels as if you’re real-time eavesdropping on a semi-scripted conversation between two friends.

Get past the account of McKellen’s early life, though, and much of the rest of this book is uber-deep into theater, with the occasional

reminder of McKellen’s gayness in the narrative. Serious followers of British stage performances will find the former to be irresistible and the latter to make one feel like a close backstage insider. Those who prefer McKellen’s later work might find this all mildly interesting, but far too extra until toward the end.

And so there’s the break-down: Theater fan, yes. You’ll love “Ian McKellen: A Biography.” If you’re a fan of McKellen’s later movie career only, this book is okay if you can stick with it.

“Ian McKellen: A Biography” by Garry O’Connor c.2019, St. Martin’s Press $29.99 / $39.99 Canada / 356 pages

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MUST SEE

MERCE, THE HIV-POSITIVE MUSICAL COMEDY WEB SERIES, RETURNS FOR SECOND SEASON

The award-winning HIV+ musical comedy web series, MERCE, returns January 21 for its second hilarious season.

Beloved for its MGM classic film ethos mixed with its potty mouth flair, the second season of MERCE features eight new episodes, and each with its own elaborately choreographed original musical number. All of the series’ favorite characters are back, too, including the outrageous Southern Mama, the fabulous fairies and, of course, the loveable Merce who refuses to be defined by his HIV+ status.

While still rip-roaring funny, season 2 also touches on hot button topics impacting today’s HIV community including PrEP, slut shaming, and gay marriage.

Most importantly to fans (especially with

Valentine’s Day being right around the corner), Merce finds love!

The award-winning HIV-positive musical comedy web series, MERCE — beloved for its MGM classic film ethos mixed with potty mouth flair — returns in January for its second hilarious season.

Produced by Skipping Boyz Productions and made possible via a crowd funding campaign on Fractured Atlas that raised over $60,000 from fans, the second season of MERCE features eight new episodes, each with its own elaborately choreographed original musical number. All of the series favorite characters are back, too.

The outrageous Southern Mama played by Tyne Firmin shines along with the fabulous fairies and, of course, the loveable Merce played

by Charles Sanchez.

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MUST SEE Exciting new characters are introduced as well; among them are judgmental Aunt Bless, Lisa (with an S) Minnelli and a smattering of titillating Eye Candy Boys. The hijinks are raised to unprecedented heights in season two yet the series manages to dive into some hot button topics impacting today’s HIV community as well, including PrEP, slut shaming, and gay marriage. Additionally, and most particularly mahhvelous for fans of the series, Merce finds love in season 2! The second season of MERCE premieres in the USA on Vimeo and YouTube and in Europe on OUTtv on January 21.

“One of the things I love about Merce as a character is that he doesn’t apologize for any aspect of who he is,” says Charles Sanchez, who, in addition to starring as the show’s lead character, is the writer and producer of MERCE. “He not afraid of his own HIV and remains as audaciously gay as gay can be.”

Like the character he portrays, Sanchez is HIV positive. He sees MERCE as an opportunity to show the world a different side of the epidemic. “While living with HIV is no picnic, it’s not the drama that it used to be,” he explains. “No one that I know living with HIV walks around with a sad cloud above their head.”

Tyne Firmin, the show’s director and producer (who also plays Southern Mama) remembers videotaping people in Central Park in 2015, before filming of the series began. “We asked them one simple question, ‘Who is your favorite HIV-positive character on TV or in the movies?’ The answers were mostly ‘Ummm…’ A few mentioned a character from one of the historical films about the AIDS crisis but nothing current. We wanted to change that.”

He and Sanchez designed MERCE in bright, neon Technicolor, and they filled it with sassy one-liners. Instead of a tragic, lonely condition, they depict a world that’s joyful, funny, supportive, and where no one in his world treats Merce any differently because of his status.

They also sneak in some education for viewers. In season two, we learn about serodiscordant relationships (where one person in the relationship is living with HIV and one is not) and U equals U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable), a worldwide campaign that has shined a spotlight on recent scientific evidence that proves those with an undetectable viral load (meaning that the virus is not detected in lab tests) pose zero risk of transmitting HIV. The campaign has been a huge success worldwide but has been slow to be recognized in the USA.

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“I hope people come to realize that someone living with HIV is similar to a person living with diabetes or heart disease,” says Firmin. As an HIV-negative gay man, he acknowledges that the show has helped him to adjust his concept of people living with HIV and hopes it does the same for viewers. “If you take care of yourself, work with your healthcare professionals, and take your medications properly, life can be positive when you’re positive!”

And musical, as well! Original songs for the second season of MERCE are composed by Rob Hartmann and Adam J. Rineer, and include titles like “Click Delete!”, “Hurt Like a Bitch”, “Your Cure”, and “Bless Your Heart.” Musical numbers are staged by Garrett Caillouet and Charles Sanchez.

The fabulous fairies are played by Sean Griffin, Alex Tomas and Alex Lawrence. Bess Eckstein plays roommate Corvette and Randall Taylor stars as boyfriend Remington. The award-winning blogger Mark S. King (from MyFabulousDisease.com) joins the cast as Aunt Bless, Amanda Bruton plays Lisa (with an S) Minnelli and Sam Given is a scene stealer as cousin Todd.

MERCE, season 2 has been included in Canada’s Rainbow Reels Festival, America’s Rainbow Film Festival, and it was selected for the 2019 Kaleidoscope Film Festival. OUTtv has signed on to feature the second season in its programming throughout Europe, reaching audiences in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Sweden, Israel, and Spain.

For more information, a complete cast list, or to catch up on season one of MERCE, visit MerceTheSeries.com. Follow Merce The Series on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View the season 2 trailer now at: https://vimeo.com/269297393

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FEATURE

FRIDA: STROKE OF PASSION

BY MICHEL KHORDOC

The story that peels the cover up and reveals what or who killed Frida Kahlo, Mexico’s most controversial artist, and one of the world’s most famous painters. Award-winning playwright Odalys Nanin brings back by popular demand the critically acclaimed production of Frida: Stroke Of Passion. The renowned playwright and award-winning director Odalys Nanin returns to the stage this February 2020 starring again as controversial Mexican artist and painter Frida Kahlo in the EDDON Award-winning play for Best Performance & Production. The original play with features live music and iconic songs: Paloma Negra, La Llorona, Piensa en mi, Estas Son Las Mananitas, Maria Bonita and a Tango Song Una Cabeza.

Back by popular demand and with a grant from LA County Arts, DAC and CAC, Frida: Stroke of Passion opens in February 7,

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2020 at Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights for six shows during the month of love.

The play explores Kahlo’s mental, emotional and physical condition during the last week of her life - exposing her love affair with famous Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, Josephine Baker, Trotsky, a Cuban spy and her complex passionate love for Diego.

Frida Kahlo was born July 6, 1907 and died July 13, 1954. Her death certificate alleges cause of death as “pulmonary embolism” but no autopsy was allowed and she was immediately cremated.

While many movies, television dramas and stage productions have been made on Kahlo, none zoomed in on the last week of the woman’s life. Her death has been an open-ended and unanswered

question mark. In fact many believe that there was a cover up.

After considerable research, Nanin masterfully recaptures the days leading up to Kahlo’s death, and offers an answer to what has long been rumored.

“The Reason I wrote the play was because I wanted to show a part of Frida that no one knows about - her mental, emotional and physical state of mind the week before she dies. I explored her pain, fears, and lovers-her bisexuality, her fervor for Diego and her paintings. But most of all I explored and reveal the cover up behind her death “ comments Odalys Nanin.

A MUST-SEE performance that sheds light on the incredible life of one of the biggest Latina icon.

Kahlo lived in a chauvinistic male dominated society but learned how to navigate it by not following the norms of the times. Proud of her LatinX root, she not only wore it, she painted it. She was a crippled who knew how to conceal her imperfections under her Oaxaca outfits and crown braided hair.

She had bushy eyebrows and even a visible mustache, which

instead of hiding, she accentuated. She smoke cigars and drank tequila not a lady like style for her time.

Kahlo created her own image by defying fashion and protocol and as a result became a World Legend for it.

Frida: Stroke of Passion is a magical musical journey into the real Frida that no one knew!

Serving the LA Theater community for decades, Nanin is not only one of the most influential faces of Los Angeles Arts & Theater community but also one of the most singular voices in LGBTQ theater.

Nanin’s work is a very important contribution to both the LGBTQ+ and LatinX communities, A go- getter, who has been the author of her own destiny since the beginning– well before LGBTQ+ stories and characters were applauded by the mainstream, Nanin has made it her mission to tell authentic Lesbian stories for the female gaze with a feminist point of view.

Tickets available at: http://bit.ly/SupportMacha2020

JANUARY 2020 19

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FEATURE

SLAY MODEL MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES FIRST WORLDWIDE TRANSGENDER MODEL SEARCH

BY LEN EVANS

Slay Model Management, the world’s first Transgender exclusive model agency, has announced it will host its first ever Model Search on February 15, 2020 at One Culver in Los Angeles. “We are looking for star quality,” says Cecilio Asuncion, the founder and director of Slay Model Management. “It takes more than beauty to be a top model. It takes determination, a healthy outlook, and a visceral understanding that she is a model first, and a Trans woman second.”

Slay Model Management models have appeared in campaigns for Eva Mendes for NY and Co., Nikita Dragun cosmetics, Katy Perry Fragrance: Indi, Elle Magazine, Truvada and on TV in FX’s Pose, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Project Runway and Netflix’s upcoming show, Next in Fashion. Even the agency has gained notoriety. The Oxygen-TV series, Strut, executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg, was built around the agency and showcased the challenges its models faced in the fashion industry, fighting to overcome gender and beauty stereotypes.

Asuncion is careful to clarify: “Slay is not about selling Transness.

We are selling a young woman’s capability to represent a brand or a designer. Sure, it’s great to be booked during June for Pride month, but what we want is sustainability and opportunities year-round.”

He says unique opportunities are available to transgender models today. “Fashion is changing. Companies understand the need for representation, diversity and inclusion.” At some point in the near future, he contends that models will be hired for their beauty and not, specifically, because they are Trans. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that a Trans model has to be an activist. Frankly, I don’t believe they do. By polishing their craft and representing themselves as the best in the business, they will help future generations.”

To enter the model search, hopefuls are encouraged to visit the Slay Model Management website (www.slaymodels.com) and click on the “Get Scouted” tab. However, Natalie Chang, the head of

new faces at Slay Model Management cautions all women prepare themselves mentally as they will be competing against thousands of other young women for only three spots.

Twenty-five finalists will be selected from all entries received through the website. They will be invited to compete in the February 15, 2020 finale at One Culver in Los Angeles, hosted by supermodel and Slay Model Management talent, Arisce Wanzer and International Celebrity DJ and Slay Model Management talent Lina Bradford.

“My advice for all who are selected to compete is to concentrate their efforts on perfecting their stage presence and confidence,” says Asuncion. “To be a top model today, women must be able to deliver a great walk that connects with audiences and cameras.”

The model competition will be co-produced by celebrity event planner Jason Rhee of the Rheefined Company. A seasoned event designer, Jason has spent the last fifteen years producing events that are designed around experiences and inclusion. “It’s an honor to be a part of producing this event and my goal is to create an event that matches the beauty of each of the contestants.”

Prior to the competition night, all selected contestants will attend a Model Boot Camp where top photographers, stylists and editors will coach them. Industry professionals will judge the competition.

“As it often is in model competitions, the real challenge will be an internal one,” Asuncion predicts. “It used to be that women reshaped themselves to fit the industry standard; striving to match the idealized version of a Barbie doll. Today’s fashion industry wants to see the real, unfiltered woman beneath the lashes and lipstick.”

The Slay Model Management Model Search takes place Saturday, February 15, 2020 at One Culver in Los Angeles. For more information, visit Slaymodels.com

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INDESIGN REFRESH, REJUVENATE, REINVIGORATE

BY DANN FOLEY

I really enjoy sharing my thoughts and ideas about décor and what should be the celebration of our homes and lives. The new year is a perfect opportunity to get into what makes you happy about your home.

What I find more often than not are homes where the owners live more like squatters rather than stylish proud homeowners. We are not meant to live as tenants in our own homes and now is the perfect time to take stock in not only how we are living but, more importantly, how we want to live.

We are now officially two decades in to this century…what have you done to change the way you lived before? What choices and decisions have you made to live better, today? There is so much time spent in print and in digital media that tells you how to be fabulous but, how much of it are we really taking in?

I say to every one of my clients that the big changes don’t have to come from buying a new house or all new furniture, it’s in the choices we make. Every little detail of your life can be elevated in a way that does not have to overwhelm you but, can make your life more beautiful and enjoyable. Sometimes, knowing what you don’t want is just as important as finding out what you do want.

The trick is finding the joy in making the decisions. Realize that this isn’t work, it’s an opportunity! Every morning I choose to make my bed. I do so because it makes my life nicer. I come home to a tidy room and a bed that beckons me in to relax, luxuriate and sleep soundly. Every day I make the choice to exercise because I know it will make me feel and look my best. Every day I choose to eat well (even if that includes some chocolate) because it will also make me feel and look my best. These are not just decisions I make without thought, they are the way I choose to live my life to its fullest.

We all inspire each other. Most often, I am inspired by the people around me and the influences I am exposed to on TV and social media. I caution you to be realistic and not be overwhelmed by what others are claiming to do online. Though this may sound

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daunting, it really isn’t. Keep your choices small and meaningful.

And of course, I am going to offer you a few quick tips to get you started…

Choose to eat better and exercise. This one is probably the one piece of advice in abundance every day. What I want to offer is, be gentle with yourself. Don’t beat yourself up, know that every time you make a good choice, you are closer to a meaningful lifestyle change. This is not an all or nothing choice. Indulgence is a part of life and should be a choice.

Choose to treat people the way in which you want to be treated.

The golden rule is as important today as it has ever been. In an atmosphere where everyone wants to be right and everyone wants

to be outraged about how they are treated, take a deep breath. If you remind yourself to speak to others in the same way you would like them to speak to you, it will literally change your life. I am not asking you to be a doormat for anyone. What I am suggesting is that you will change your outlook, as well as, the world around you by practicing some common courtesy.

Choose to smile more. This is a huge one for me! I choose to smile at strangers on the street. I choose to greet people I meet or even make eye contact with during the day. I promise you won’t appear creepy. It will change your life and you will find that each day is better and better when you smile. It is truly that simple.

Choose to share yourself with authenticity. This word may actually be the most over used in our modern vocabulary. The truth is, as soon as I hear someone mention the word “authentic” I become skeptical. Being authentic is about being honest, being open and recognizing that we all have something to offer and share. Authenticity has everything to do with allowing yourself to be vulnerable and not about posing. In the social media in which we live this one may be the hardest to achieve. I recommend less time looking at your phone and more time talking to people in person… and smile!

you more than your home. Choose to live well and to share your home. This does not mean spending loads of money. This is about taking pride in how you live and sharing that with those that mean the most. Inviting people into your world says that you care. I invite friends and family to share my home because it is the most intimate way of sharing my life. It’s not about what you have, it’s about sharing who you are.

The easiest piece of advice I can offer going into the new year is, to be conscious. It is too easy to put ourselves and our lives on autopilot. We forget to connect to our true selves and to each other.

Our choices say more about us than anything else.

Project kindness, project confidence, project joy. They will all reflect into every corner of your life. You can change the world one person at a time and you can only begin with yourself.

I wish you all the happiest, healthiest and most joyful filled holiday season, a new year filled with health and laughter and ask you to be kind to yourself and others. Do it for you.

Live Well, Dann www.foleystinnette.com

Choose your home. You knew this one was coming! As your lifestyle designer in residence, I could not pass up the opportunity to talk about your home. Nothing that you can do or say represents

DesignerDann @ Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

JANUARY 2020 23

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relax - transform - evolve Mixing Sound, Vibration and Bodywork www.bodytune.studio 471 N Palm Canyon Dr - Palm Springs - 760-218-2346 - info@bodytunestudio JANUARY 2020 25

COMMUNITY

SANCTUARY PALM SPRINGS UPDATE

SANCTUARY’S SOLD OUT HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR WAS A HUGE SUCCESS This year’s Holiday Spectacular, which was held for the third consecutive year at Spencer’s Restaurant, included a knock-out performance by Broadways’ David Burnham with gay comedian/actor/ adoptive dad Alec Mapa as emcee and Sanctuary board member Bob Iles headed up our planning team for the event with support from our wonderfully dedicated staff and volunteers. The fabulous Matthew Stocker and Tom Oliver coordinated the auction portion of the event.

This year’s Holiday Spectacular also received more individual and corporate sponsorships than ever before, all of which contributed to making it Sanctuary’s most successful event to date by far!

about our program and apply to be a Sanctuary resident directly from the website. You may remember from our last newsletter that one of our residents came to us after his foster mother, who had made no plan for his smooth transition to another program as his 18th birthday approached, simply had him leave her home to fend for himself on the streets before he found his way to Sanctuary. Conversely, now that our website has become a source of information for and about LGBTQ foster youth, our newest resident, whose foster mother IS making a plan for her smooth transition to Non-Minor Dependent status, will move in with us on her 18th birthday next month. No child should ever spend one day on the streets so we are doing all we can to spread the word about our services so that LGBTQ youth who need us can find us.

SANCTUARY HAS A NEW LOOK! We have recently unveiled our new logo with a new tag line that describes exactly who we are: a transitional home for LGBTQ+ foster youth. Much thanks to Tim O’Bayley, Sanctuary’s board vice-chair and owner of O’Bayley Communications, who led our new logo’s design efforts. And as I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, our website now houses hundreds of resources for foster youth, their social workers and caregivers. We’ve posted new videos about Sanctuary on the website where viewers can hear directly from some of our residents and staff and take a peak into the beautiful home we provide for them. As a result of these resources and videos, youth are now able to learn more

WHAT’S NEW AT SANCTUARY PALM SPRINGS Our residents are staying with us longer, which helps them to become a part of our Palm Springs community and helps us to better prepare them for independence. They are all enrolled in classes and/or are employed. Our board of directors, led by our wise and wonderful chair, Barry McCabe, provides a strong foundation for the organization with members serving on a variety of committees that support our efforts. Our staff provides excellent care and support to our residents.

A list of Board members and staff, along with their photos and bios, can be found on our under the “ABOUT” tab on our website.

All of this contributed to Sanctuary receiving a clean bill of health

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after our end-of- the-year site visit from our licensing entity, California Community Care Licensing!

Sanctuary’s efforts extend well beyond the residents who live in our home. Over the course of the last year, I have provided LGBTQ training to more than 300 social workers and probation officers in several counties throughout the state. These trainings help to increase the capacity of social workers and probation officers to deal more equitably and competently with the LGBTQ youth on their caseloads.

They have contributed to the increase we’ve seen in referrals to our program. And best of all, they cost Sanctuary nothing as all costs are covered by the county receiving the training.

I often remind our supporters that the financial support we receive from the state in order to care for our residents amounts to approximately 40% of our true costs of running this agency—and we pride ourselves on keeping our costs and expenses very low. We are tasked with raising the remainder of our funding from our incredibly generous local community. Because so much of our funding comes from local donors and foundations we want to be as transparent as possible when it comes to our finances. Toward this end, all of Sanctuary’s tax returns and our audit report can also be viewed on our website here.

We have increased the number and amounts of foundation grants we receive. And our donor- and event-based fundraising efforts, led by the invaluable Ellen Wolf, have increased as well. A full list of the foundations, event sponsors, and local business that support us, as well as

all of the events we held or that were held on our behalf this year can be found under the “OUR DONORS” tab on our website.

I can’t I can’t sufficiently express my gratitude to every local business and every member of our Palm Springs community who continue to help us help our residents set out on their lives as young adults comforted in the knowledge that so many in our Palm Springs village are making an investment in their futures. I look forward to keeping you informed about our plans to expand our programming to a second house in 2020, as well as our new host home program, the goal of which is to ensure that every Sanctuary resident has an opportunity to develop life-long relationships with local families.

SHOPPING WITH A CAUSE Did You Know You Can Support Sanctuary with Every Purchase You Make?

Simply sign up with Amazon https://smile.amazon.com/ch/46-2867323 Participate in the Ralphs Community Rewards program. Visit https://www.ralphs.com. Once logged into your Ralphs account search for THE LGBT SANCTUARY PALM SPRINGS either by name or LN599 and then click Enroll.

Rob Woronoff, MS Executive Director, Sanctuary Palm Springs

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JANUARY 2020 29

AMAZON TRAIL

ALL I WANT FOR THE HOLIDAYS IS A LEFT EARBUD

BY LEE LYNCH

Not really. My greatest wishes would be for world peace, a year of pain-free good health for all my family, friends, and neighbors, and a brand-new president and Senate Majority Leader.

It would, however, be nice if I could figure out how to make my left wireless earbud work consistently. They were free and all, so I know I can’t expect perfection. A little technical expertise on my part would go a long way to making the New Year bright, as they say in the songs.

Songs I can only listen to with my right ear.

Speaking of technical prowess, I have a hint for those buying grandma or an older friend a special gift this, or any, season. I hope you did NOT give someone you love a cordless water flosser, no matter how excited you are about yours. Of course, if you get excited about items like water flossers, you’ve probably already given tutorials to any friend or relation who’d sit still.

I had lunch the other day with my friend the Handydyke, who is in her mid-eighties. I’m a dozen years younger, but we experience life in many similar ways. We were at a Japanese restaurant avoiding all things sushi, which may be another characteristic of aging Americans:

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stir-fry yes, raw fish and seaweed, emphatically no. Nor is wasabi, however delicious, compatible with elder guts. It’s so spicy it reminds me how getting high used to feel.

We were well into slurping up our safe bowls of yakisoba when the Handydyke mentioned her acquisition of a cordless water flosser.

“Water ends up everywhere!” she said. “It makes a mess of the whole bathroom!”

“Me too!” I agreed. “I can’t control mine. Last night I sprayed the ceiling.”

This is true. The cat’s afraid to be in the room with me. Where are the industrial designers when we need them? The power buttons on these things are impossible to find by feel, and my glasses are so quickly coated with a mix of water and mouthwash I can’t see the controls that were conveniently placed on the side facing away from the user. I don’t want to spew the foamy stuff all over myself, so I avoid swallowing while I fumble for the kill switch, certain I’m going to drown. The Handydyke and I choked on our noodles we laughed so hard at our ineptitude.

But getting back to the earbud, I should mention that the set didn’t come with a manual. I shouted into the void of the Internet for help with this. A few kind people responded that their earbuds had come with manuals. I feel kinda bad that I didn’t thank them or congratulate them or ask them if they were the reason Trump is president.

In the great scheme of things, I know my left earbud isn’t essential or important to some people. There are things even I want more. Like, I want our democracy back. I want to spend an enormous chunk of defense funds to halt global warming and make decent paying jobs available to all Americans, young to old. I want guns restricted at least at a slightly higher level than water flossers. I want to possess the loving graciousness to say yes when my sweetheart invites me to accompany her to the Tom Hanks movie “Mr. Rogers.” Without gagging.

But I just listened to my first podcasts and it would be terrific to enjoy them in stereo. Podcasts were scary for me. My first problem was: why podcasts? My second was, if you ever figure out their use, how do you listen to them? There was some sort of electronic trickery involved,

obviously, and if I can’t operate a water flosser, what hope was there for me to conquer podcasts?

Then my sweetheart presented me with wireless earbuds. I was relieved she didn’t hold my dislike of Tom Hanks and disinterest in Mr. Rogers against me, but it took quite a while for me to tackle the cute little gadgets. Once I did, though, it was full speed ahead. I now have all sorts of knowledge about the former mob in Providence, Rhode Island. About the theft of a rare water lily from an exhibit in the U.K. Why fruit flies aren’t always fruit flies. How senators are able to cite laws and such as if they actually know them.

I can’t wait to go for a long walk so I can learn how nail polishes are named and whether or not I’m living with a psychopath. Someday, I think I’ll be able to listen to the “Women and Words” podcasts by lesbian writers and readers, but right now, I’m sticking with what Google has on offer because I learned by trial and error how to use it.

In my right ear. And never when I’m gagging while immersed in a fracas with my unruly water flosser.

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PSP FOCUS NEW, RE-IMAGINED REVIVAL OF THE BROADWAY MUSICAL BALLROOM TO PREMIER AT CVREP!

The Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep) has announced it will debut a new, re-imagined version of the 1978 Broadway musical BALLROOM with book by Jerome Kass, music by Billy Goldenberg, and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. As CVRep’s second production of their 2019-20 season, BALLROOM will be directed by CVRep Artistic Director, Ron Celona, with Musical Direction by Scott Storr, Choreography

by Jose de la Cuesta and Sets by Jimmy Cuomo. Under the guidance of the authors and Concord Theatricals, the licensor and publisher of BALLROOM, CVRep’s revised, twenty-six-character version will include all the musical numbers from the original Broadway production, restore several songs originally written for the show, and three new songs by the Bergman’s and Mr. Goldenberg. In addition, adjustments were made to the book by Mr. Kass before he passed away in 2015, and a few songs originally performed as production numbers have been reassigned to specific characters in order to further develop their relationships with Bea, the central character.

“My goal is to put the heart of BALLROOM into the musical,” says Director, Ron Celona. “To accomplish this, we’ve made some major changes to the original 1978 Broadway version. The biggest change is the script, which now mirrors the 1975 Queen of the Stardust Ballroom teleplay, except for its more positive ending. The big musical numbers brilliantly choreographed by Michael Bennett in the original Broadway production were wonderful, but we’re focusing on story and character. Although BALLROOM has enjoyed revivals

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in both the US and the UK, our version centers on the emotional development of Bea and her relationships with Alfred, her ballroom friends, and family members.”

Based on Jerome Kass’s teleplay for the 1975 Emmy Awardwinning CBS television drama Queen of the Stardust Ballroom which starred Maureen Stapleton and Charles Durning, BALLROOM, the 1978 Broadway musical was directed and choreographed by legendary Tony Award winner Michael Bennett, and starred Dorothy Loudon. The musical tells the story of aging, lonely widow, Bea Asher, and her romantic involvement with Alfred Rossi, a mail carrier she meets at the local ballroom dance hall.

The Broadway production of BALLROOM was Michael Bennett’s first directorial project three years after A Chorus Line. BALLROOM was the winner of the 1979 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Choreography and was nominated for 8 Tony Awards and 7 Drama Desk Awards.

BALLROOM will be performed from January 29 through February 16, 2020 at the NEW CVRep Playhouse located at 68510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, CA 92234. Performances are scheduled for Tues., Wed, Thurs., Fri, and Sat at 7:30PM, Sat and Sun at 2:00PM, For more information, please call 760-296-2966 or visit the website at cvrep.org.

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Start with 3 fascinating days in Athens, where you will enjoy visits to the Parthenon, the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, and more, after meeting your fellow travelers at a delicious welcome dinner. Then it’s on to 2 of the most popular Greek islands—striking Mykonos, famous for its windmills, whitewashed buildings and domed churches; and Santorini, named by numerous publications as the world’s top island.

Return to Athens by ferry for your final night in Greece.

Discover Hawaii on this island-hopping cruise tour. Spend 7 nights aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s renovated Pride of America and enjoy freestyle cruising at its finest. Experience the lush Iao Valley on Maui, the beauty and charm of Hilo, Kona’s coffee-rich “Gold Coast,” and Kauai’s spectacular Na Pali coast and Waimea Canyon. Your land tour includes Pearl Harbor and Honolulu city tours, and time to relax on world-famous Waikiki Beach. Guided on Oahu by our friendly Tour Directors—your local experts.

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Prepare to be awed as you experience the stunningly red rocks of these 6 iconic southwestern national parks. Formed by the elements over countless centuries, these natural treasures are still grand enough to make our jaws drop. Experience several of the most popular National Parks in America, traveling through deserts, forests, mountains, and to the very edge of one of the natural wonders of the world.

Enjoy a cruise & tour between Seattle and Alaska including 7 nights aboard Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam and 4 nights on land.

You’ll cruise the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage—a sea lane teeming with marine wildlife, where you’ll pass glaciers, mountains, and lush forests, with stops in Ketchikan, Skagway and magnificent Glacier Bay. On land, you’ll go deep into Denali National Park, tour Anchorage, and see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

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JANUARY 33 Offers apply to new bookings only made by 12/31/19. Other terms & conditions may apply.

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PSP FOCUS NEW TRAVEL COMPANY SUPPORTS CHARITIES IN COACHELLA VALLEY

A new travel company debuted in Palm Springs that supports local charities with every trip booked. “This can be a great addition to our fundraising efforts for charities in the Coachella Valley, since so many of our residents travel extensively and are passionate about supporting charities that are close to their heart”, says David White, Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to help as many charities in the Coachella Valley reach their funding goals by offering a Travel Club to their members where a percentage of the commission on every trip booked goes to the charity while offering the best travel deals to their members”, said Sean Kearns President of GW Travel Enterprises.

15 to 20% of every commission goes to support the charity partner regardless if it is a cruise, a trip to Disney or ski trip, every trip booked supports the charity.

Every charity partner has a dedicated Travel Consultant that gets to know the charity and works with them to offer custom trips that match their members’ demographics. GW also offers every charity partner trips to use in auctions to raise additional funding.

Our auction trips help raise thousands of dollars for our charity partners at zero risk for them. Working with GW is no cost and no risk to our charity partners and that is what we are most proud of.

“People are taking trips and vacations all the time, now they can take the same trip save some money and support their charity, what could make you feel better while on vacation?”

“We are very excited to work with GW Travel and our members to support our local charities in Palm Springs”, David White Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is also a partner and our members can take advantage of GW’s Travel deals and support the Chambers efforts.

With a team of three dedicated Travel Consultants based in Palm Springs GW is reaching out to partner with local charities throughout the Coachella Valley. GW’s tag line is Travel for Charity.

Cruise for a Cause.

GW Travel and Cruise is a member or IATAN and Washington State Company and 501C3 not for profit. www.gwtravelandcruise.com If you would like more information about this topic please call Sean Kearns 425-736-3106 or email sean@gwtravelclub.org

JANUARY 2020 35

WELLNESS

THE LEGEND OF NARCISSUS

BY DANIEL CLEMENS, CMT

To many who may have heard this story or may have an understanding of the word “narcissist” as egocentric, the legend of Narcissus actually tells us the tragedy of the loss of the self. Yes Narcissus was in love with his idealized self, but it is only a reflection.

His true and complete self is hidden which makes it impossible for him to truly love every aspect of who he is.

In her book, The Drama of the Gifted Child, Alice Miller provides an excellent recanting of this timeless myth, as follows:

to death. This death is the logical consequence of the fixation on the false self. It is not only the “beautiful,” “good,” and pleasant feelings that make us really alive, deepen our existence, and give us crucial insight, but often precisely the unacceptable and unadapted ones from which we would prefer to escape: helplessness, shame, envy, jealousy, confusion, rage, and grief. When these feelings are understood, they open the door to our inner world that is much richer than the beautiful countenance!”

“Narcissus sees his reflection in the water and falls in love with his own beautiful face, of which his mother was surely proud. The nymph Echo answers the young man’s calls because she is in love with his beauty. Echo’s answering calls deceive Narcissus. His reflection deceives him as well, since it shows only his perfect, wonderful face and not his inner world, his pain, his history. His back view, for instance, and his shadow remain hidden from him; they do not belong to and are cut off from his beloved reflection. Narcissus wanted to be nothing but the beautiful youth; he totally denied his true self.

In trying to be at one with the beautiful picture, he gave himself up

In explaining this human condition, Miller’s book relies heavily upon the mother-child relationship. She explains how a mother who compliments and responds well to our achievements, while reprimanding or ignoring our very human faults and inabilities often creates a perfectionist child - the “good” boy or girl of the family. The one that she can count on to do the right thing. Her love is conditional. When we fail, in her eyes, scorn or punishment can follow. Even more insidious, she may ignore us or use a certain look or say a particular phrase that may seem innocent or even supportive, but the child learns the disapproving message that

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is really being conveyed. These subtle messages continue into adulthood and work to chip away at one’s self esteem. This becomes apparent when a conversation with mother leaves one feeling oddly supported, yet exhausted. Some internalize this control by identifying with the mother while at the same time idealizing her, becoming her best friend. They have learned very well that any challenge to this dynamic, be it external or even internal can result in a loss of love and attention. Any exploration into this type of damaging relationship will seem offensive, absurd or irrelevant. An examination of the mother’s true, dysfunctional motives cannot be tolerated. Others respond by rebelling. These are the “problem children”. They instinctively know the score and act out in defiance.

They may have a greater sense of self, but without the tools of understanding, they create a destructive world around themselves, often leading to depression and harm. Ideally, to better understand ourselves it is advised that we first stop idealizing our parents. It is important to see them as flawed people like everyone else. This may seem easy but it is often very painful to dismantle the ivory tower built around the uncomfortable memories of childhood. To fully ingest and metabolize the understanding that parental love

was or is conditional, along with the realization that this will never change, often times leaves one with a sense of abandonment, loss of control and deep sadness. The feelings that we held as children that were a disappointment or considered uncivilized to our parents can come flooding back into our consciousness. A battle begins between one’s true, authentic self (warts and all) and one’s projected, and perfected self constructed by our parents.

With help and a lot of deep introspection, we can learn to love many more aspects of ourselves, even those we’ve learned to despise.

A pebble is thrown into the water of Narcissus, the ripples breaking the spell of his gaze long enough to see nature’s wise imperfections.

In Japanese pottery making there is a technique called “kintsugi”.

Instead of just using glue, a cracked pot is delicately repaired with silver or gold. This repair becomes part of the pot’s history and gives it character. The flaw is not ignored; it is instead, honored.

Daniel Clemens, CMT Owner, BodyTune Studio President, Holistic Care Cooperative

JANUARY 2020 37

TRAVEL

24 HOUR GAYOVER GLASGOW

BY RAVI ROTH

In a city of grit and fearlessness, Glasgow is shining the light on inclusivity and visibility.

When people think of Scotland, one of the first cities they associate it with is Edenborough; however, Glasgow is growing massively as the vegan capitol in the UK, has an avante garde and super fun queer nightlife, and is bursting with individuality. In a city of grit and fearlessness, Glasgow is shining the light on inclusivity and visibility.

The slogan of the city is ‘People Make Glasglow’ and I couldn’t agree more. So….wearing a kilt, traditional style with no undies, here is my 24 Hour GAYover in Glasgow.

24 Hours in Glasgow WHERE TO STAY If you want chic luxury, you must stay at the Kimpton Bylthswood Square Hotel in central Glasgow. It is a fifteen minute walk to

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Merchant City, the gayborhood of Glasgow. This hotel has a state of the art spa, one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in, and a brand new farm to fabulous restaurant.

WHERE TO PLAY Merchant City is the gayborhood of Glasgow. 24 Hours is not a long time, but have no fear as the Glasgow queer nightlife is thriving any night of the week.

Katie’s is the only lesbian bar in town with a lounge vibe and super fun karaoke.

AXM is a nightclub with avantgarde drag shows.

The Underground is the local bear bar where you can get a little frisky later on in the evening.

With the tagline of “Drags in Heels to whatever you feel,” Delmonica’s has a club-vibe and is a solid place to start the evening.

Polo Lounge is the hottest club in town with a swanky lounge area, cabaret room, and a massive dance club downstairs. Everyone, both tourists and locals alike, end the night at Polo.

WHAT TO SEE Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which is Scotland’s most popular museum, is a must see. The museum is free and you must get there by walking through Kelvin Park, which is the home to Glasgow University. One look at the University and you will immediately be transported into Hogwarts.

Do you fancy a cheeky wee drum tasting of whiskey? Visit the Clydeside Distillery and experience how whiskey is made, take a tour of the distillery, and have an hour of tastings.

Category Is Books is one of three queer bookstores in the UK shining the light on ending transphobia, genderphobia, biphobia, and homophobia. How? By shedding light on the issues, providing a safe space for queer people, and being visible.

The Women’s Library is changing the game for feminists by providing epic exhibitions on women’s achievements and culture.

WHERE TO EAT Glasgow is becoming the vegan capital of the UK and as a vegetarian I am super stoked to dive into the food scene. Haggis is a super popular Scottish dish made out of the blood and guts of a lamb. What am I supposed to do with that? Fear not! Experience the most magical vegetarian haggis at Ubiquitous Chip, a lovely restaurant in Hillhead with the cutest decor.

Brutti Compadres, owned by a gay couple is a fantastic tapas restaurant that won’t break the bank in the heart of the gayborhood, Merchant City.

If you want Farm to Fabulous go to Bo & Birdie inside the Kimpton Bylthswood Square Hotel with mouth watering risotto and outlandish cocktails with peacock feathers.

JANUARY 2020 39

Irish Highlights Self-Drive from $949 Whether you’re hiking through the forests of Connemara or chatting with locals in a quaint Galway pub, Ireland is sure to capture your heart and ignite your imagination.

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MUSIC

JACK TRACY RELEASES PART TWO OF “FOR YOU” TRILOGY

Jack Tracy For You Part 2 continues themes from the first album that was released last summer. The four new songs are “Pretend to Love Me,” a lush, rich yet dark track that explores gay sex work; “Shame,” a club anthem; “Self-Destruct,” a Robyn-esque track about opening old wounds; and “Skin,” a synth-pop song that tackles body image issues.

Recorded at Redbird Studios in New York City and mixed by Grammy nominated sound engineer Brent Kolatalo, For You is Jack Tracy’s second studio album featuring songs with an LGBTQ point of view and LGBTQ story lines. In fact, the entire suite of twelve songs and their accompanying videos, when completed, will showcase a wide slice of the LGBTQ perspective from love, sex and breakups to masculine/feminine norms, body image and more. “The point was to tell universal stories with LGBTQ characters singing from an LGBTQ perspective,” Tracy explains. Part 2 features four new songs including “Pretend to Love Me,” a lush, rich yet dark track that explores gay sex work; “Shame,” a club anthem; “Self-Destruct,” a Robyn-esque track about opening old wounds; and “Skin,” a synth-

pop song that tackles body image issues. Jack Tracy’s For You Part 2 is being distributed through his label, Necessary Outlet, and is available now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon and everywhere digital music is sold.

“The album’s title has a triple meaning,” explains Jack Tracy from his New York City home. “First, this album is for you, the current pop audience. Second, all of my projects are for, by and about LGBTQ people so LGBTQ community, this album is for you. Finally, it’s for the boy who danced alone in the mirror in his bedroom, performing to his favorite Janet Jackson songs. It’s my way of thanking him for finding a way through his struggles because they gave me something to say, and I’m putting them in a song for you.”

As he did in Part 1, Jack Tracy is released all videos from FOR YOU Part 2 along with the record. What makes the videos different this time around is that in all but “Shame,” Tracy takes a backseat in the stories, playing a narrator, and handing the drama to actors,

JANUARY 2020 41

MUSIC many of whom are recognizable from previous Necessary Outlet productions History, Big Law, Millennial Memoir, Jack Tracy’s first feature film Snowflake, and his first podcast, Community.

“Pretend to Love Me” takes place in a futuristic world where holographic prostitution has taken the place of modern-day Only Fans pages. Bill Morton from Snowflake plays the patron who becomes obsessed with a sex worker (played by JJ Bozeman of Snowflake and History) to an uncomfortable end.

In “Shame”, Jack Tracy portrays a 9-5 corporate-type who is uncomfortable in a gay bar surrounded by more progressive forms of queerness. Will he be able to abandon his internalized shame?

For You Part 2 is written and produced by Jack Tracy, mixed by Brent Kolatalo and mastered by Joe Lambert Mastering. The visual album is directed, choreographed and produced by Jack Tracy, with Joseph Patrick Conroy as the director of photography, assisted by JJ Bozeman and Sehee Kim. Erik Schneider serves as art director.

The third and final part of the FOR YOU trilogy will debut early this year with three love songs and a bonus track that hints at a new direction for future music projects. Once released, Jack Tracy plans to promote all three albums with a live show.

For You Part 2 debuts on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon and everywhere digital music is sold on December 3rd.

Part 1 is available now.

“Self-Destruct” stars Maddie Smalls from Snowflake, History, and Community, preparing for her ex to introduce her to his new love interest.

Everything seems fine until she begins to stumble down memory lane.

“Skin” displays vignettes of different people dealing with body image issues. Jude Stav from History decides whether to progress with hormone therapy while Lebene Ayivor from Community, despite the support of her loving boyfriend, struggles with her weight.

Visit https://www.jacktracy.lgbt https://www.youtube.com/necessaryoutlet Follow on Twitter @ NecessOutlet and on Instagram @ jacktracymusic

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TRANSCENDENCE

THE 2020 EXPERIENCE

BY CHRISTINA VRONAY RUGGLES

Writing about the Old year as the Old year passes as I simultaneously write about the New year dawns is a surreal experience.

Maybe it’s because I’m young and so many of my experiences are entirely novel, but this past year was a long one. One I’m happy to see in my rear-view mirror. It was a good year to close a decade with, and a great setup for a new decade, an entirely new chapter in my life.

I’m hoping that this year, this decade, is the time where I finally grab my transition by the gills and make it give me all its got. I’ve been steadily pushing forward in my transition for such a long time now that I failed to realize I haven’t done all the extra bits that make it the beautiful process it can be. I made it mundane.

I mean, it needs to be mundane because a transition is just a part of my life and we all need a certain amount of mundane in our life. But, at the same time, my transition needs some excitement.

Some milestones of its own. And I haven’t made any goals for the “transgender” part of my life for a long, long time now. Partly out of confusion and angst, partly because I haven’t claimed the space I need to become the woman I need to become. The women that I am but also could be if I only be my best, most wonderful self.

Because that’s where the trouble lies. It lies in the fact that I need to make this woman. She won’t just appear in front of me because I wish it so. She won’t melt in my skin in some strange ritual in which two women enter, one woman leaves. I must carve and construct her from the current version of me, while maintaining my forward momentum.

Because so much of my life has been about building and keeping my momentum, about survival.

I think survival, in a very privileged sense, has been the theme of my transition so far. I don’t think that’s the worst sin I could possibly commit, but it’s not exactly a healthy long-term plan. It’s certainly not a plan I want to drag into this new decade we oh so suddenly find ourselves in. I want something different.

Which means I must make something different.

But not just me. While kind of just me, but I’m lucky to live in a queer world you see. My transition, my story is not an isolated incident. It’s a blip on a giant global radar. It’s a speck drifting on the ocean. It’s something that can absorb so much beauty and light from the outside world. So much data can be tabulated and entered

into my transition. So many aspects I can shamelessly plagiarize. The stories and voices of so many thousands to listen and learn from. A thousand others to live and grow with.

I don’t like resolutions because I feel like making a promise to myself is just another way I end up disappointed and hurt. Instead, I want to set a goal, or a series of goals. Goals and obstacles I wish to overcome. Maybe I won’t set any decade long goals beyond getting my vagina installed, but, by the end of this year, I want to be 365 steps closer to the woman I dream of being. Even if one step is just thinking about this absolute dreamboat I could be, that I deserve to be.

Even if one step is just volunteering my time for a cause I believe in.

Even if one step is just spending time doing things I truly love and find fulfilling, instead of merely satisfying.

I want to a quick thank you if you regularly read and enjoy this column. For the most part these columns are semi-reasonably censored pages of my diary, so it can be a journey looking through them for you and hopefully, me as well.

JANUARY 2020 43

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COMING UP NEXT MONTH PERFECT VISION: MODERNISM 2020 JANUARY 2020 45

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EVENTS CALENDAR

JAN 24 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY DESERT GOLF INVITATIONAL The American Cancer Society’s Desert Golf Invitational is a high-end, amenity-rich tournament that raises funds for the Society’s mission of saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer.

While progress has been made in cancer research, we still have a lot of work to do. To date, the Society has granted over $4.8 billion to cancer research and more than 400 lives are being saved each day. In the past 4 years, the Desert Golf Invitational has raised over $188,000 to help the American Cancer Society continue to fund life-saving research, as well as free programs and services for cancer patients and their families in the Coachella Valley and across the nation. www.acsdesertgolfinvitational.org

JAN-MAR CVREP ANNOUNCES LUMINARY LUNCHEON SCHEDULE CVRep announces its Luminary Luncheon Schedule for 2020, featuring a special subscription pass price for all 3 shows!

Subscription price is $150 or $55 per luncheon. All Luminary Luncheons will be held at Agua Caliente Resort Casino at 32250 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage, and will follow the successful luncheon and interview format of past luminary events. The season opens with Lainie Kazan on Monday, January 6th followed by Jerry Mathers on Tuesday, January 28th and Bob Mackie on Thursday, March 19th. All Luncheons begin at 11:30 AM. To purchase tickets by phone or for additional information call 760-296-2966 or visit www.cvrep.org

DBA Mixers For more info visit www.desertbusinessassociation.org JAN 25 PALM SPRINGS ANNUAL HEALTH RUN & SPORTS EXPO Palm Springs Health Run & Sports Expo This year, we are anticipating approx. 600800 runners of all ages, additional 1,500 wellness festival attendees and an incredible roster of nationally known fitness experts, LifeStream Blood Drive, NBC Palm Springs Media Superstar Food Challenge and much more! www.desertcharities.com

46 THESTANDARDPS.COM

ONGOING >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TG MONDAYS. TRANSGENDER SOCIAL EVENT Every second Monday of the month, Transgender Social Hour discussing advocacy, transitioning & HRT. Allies, respectful admirers, and transgender umbrella all welcome. Portion of proceeds to benefit the Raina Chessman Fund.

For more info www.transcc.org

THE JUDY SHOW. PURPLE ROOM SUPPER CLUB PALM SPRINGS The spirit of Judy Garland is alive and well and in Palm Springs at the famed Purple Room Supper Club every Sunday at 7:00! This blend of hysterical comedy and outstanding music explode into an evening of nonstop belly laughs, glamour and high camp, as celebrated entertainer Michael Holmes parodies Judy Garland, who in her 1964 television variety show, played host to some of the greatest female icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood. www.purpleroompalmsprings.com

CHILL BAR PALM SPRINGS A warm and fabulous twenty first century modern venue located on Arenas, suited with multi faceted rooms for any celebration.

The gorgeous island bar is surrounded by hi-definition video entertainment and a comfortable designer lounge. Chill on the patio enjoying music and refreshing beverages with friends after a game of pool, or come by and say hello to our friendly staff. Open for business seven days a week. Get out of the heat, and come join us! Happy Hour (From Open to 7pm) and Late Happy Hour (From Midnight to Last Call) www.chillbarpalmsprings.com THE SUNDAY BAND W/ SPECIAL GUESTS. PAPPY & HARRIET’S PIONEERTOWN The Sunday Rock + Roll Service is a Pappy and Harriet’s institution celebrating the healing powers of music and community! Every weekend the club’s favorite singers and players get together and trade songs. Come join us to see Victoria Williams, Gar Robertson, Carol Ann Crandall, Damian Lester, Bob Furgo, Rachel

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Dean, Ryan Norman, Caleb Winn, Danny Frankel and other talented locals performing for your drinking and dancing pleasure. With a come-as-you-are vibe, Sundays have seen great special guests like Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, Rickie Lee Jones to name a few. www.pappyandharriets.com

BLACKBOOK The sleek industrial styled BlackBook Bar located in the heart of the gay strip on Arenas now has Happy Hour everyday from 4-6pm and NAUGHTY hour from 10:00 PM-midnight.

During these times you cam enjoy specials such as $5 pint glass well drinks, $1 off all bottle and draft beer, and $2 off all wines by the glass! www.blackbookbar.com

OSCAR’S CAFÉ & BAR Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs on the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon, Oscar’s has a huge outdoor patio with lots of umbrellas for shade and misters to keep you cool, too.

You can beat the heat any time of year and enjoy the views of Palm Springs. On Saturday and Sunday from 8am – 2pm, enjoy a $9 Bottomless Mimosas (juice included), a single $2 mimosa or a $5 Bloody Mary with brunch, during which both our full breakfast

and lunch menus are available. Also join us for Sunday Funday Weekly Tea Dance 4pmClose! Live entertainment weekly visit our website for details. www.oscarspalmsprings.com

WANG’S IN THE DESERT The bar & patio at Wang’s in the Desert is known as ‘the venue’ and offers daily happy hour, exciting daily events & amazing no-cover entertainment. Award winning, community giving, Top Shelf Happy Hour & Amazing Palm Springs Pan Asian Cuisine. Well known for Friday “Boys Night Out” Complete calendar list at www.wangsinthedesert.com

HUNTERS NIGHTCLUBS® Palm Springs, Palm Springs’ go-to gay bar and dance club, has been leading the way in full-out fun for 20 years now! And we keep it pumping, making it better for you all the time with our unparalleled event line-up. We enjoy having

the desert’s most sought-after and friendly DJs, full-on themed events, and a staff that has it all without the attitude. And of course, we are proud to hold the longest happy hour in the entire Valley. Remember: Size Matters. Come by for our happy hour from 10am – 7pm. Yes, that’s right: 9 hours long! For a list of all events and specials visit www.huntersnightclubs.com

SUNDAYS “The Playgirls” at Toucans Tiki Lounge featuring Tommi Rose. Performances on Sundays at 8 & 10pm.These darling Divas of drag really deliver with their very own brand of entertainment to packed houses. Special guests appear weekly.

DJ in the sound booth. Every Sunday Complete list of events www.toucanstikilounge.com For a complete calendar of community events visit our Media Partner, O’Bayley Communications.

CLICK ON LOGO WWW.OBAYLEY.NET

JANUARY 2020 47

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EVENTS CALENDAR destination but also it is a fundraising event for local and national LGBTQ organizations.

Aspen Gay Ski Week has gained the reputation of hosting the most exclusive and explosive winter entertainment. Worldrenowned DJ’s, indoor & outdoor pool parties, debauchery that will take you into the morning hours just in time to hit the slopes. www.gayskiweek.com

JAN 2 - 13

PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. PALM SPRINGS, CA Now entering its 31st year, the Palm Springs International Film Festival has a wellestablished reputation as one of the most prestigious and well-attended film festivals in the country. The Festival has long secured its place on the world stage as the portal for the very best in world cinema, welcoming more than 136,000 enthusiastic filmgoers to Palm Springs every year. www.psfilmfest.org

JAN 12 - 19

ASPEN GAY SKI WEEK ASPEN, COLORADO Aspen Gay Ski Week is the premier gay & lesbian winter travel vacation event in Colorado. Not only is it a great vacation

48 THESTANDARDPS.COM

JAN 17 - 19

MID-ATLANTIC LEATHER WEEKEND WASHINGTON, DC Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend is a threeday long party and event with participants that now number in the thousands. The heart of the weekend is the historic leather formal Saturday evening cocktail social, Leather Cocktails. Leather Cocktails is the weekend lynchpin gathering from which all other weekend events evolved. www.leatherweekend.com

JAN 22 - 26 JAN 16 - 19

SIN CITY CLASSIC LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Originally called the Sin City Shootout, the Sin City Classic Sports Festival is a multi-day LGBTQ sports festival hosted annually by The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) in Las Vegas during the four days prior to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Started in 2008, the event has grown to become the largest annual LGBTQ sporting event in the world. Each year nearly 8,000 LGBTQ athletes and another 2,000 fans and allies supporting 20-plus sports make Sin City Classic one of their must-attend events each year. The festival provides an open atmosphere for LGBTQ athletes to connect and compete through various sports over the course of four days of competition and social activities. www.sincityclassic.org

WINTER RENDEZVOUS. STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT, VERMONT The largest and longest-running gay ski event in the northeast offers amazing discounts on lift tickets, rentals, lessons along with non-stop action; daily après-ski, wine tastings, pool party, champagne reception, downhill drag race, bonfires, hot tubs, spa treatments, dance parties, ice sculptures and more! www.winterrendezvous.com

Our National Media Partner, Queer Forty, is the online magazine for the LGBTQ over-40 community. Its mission is to inspire and support older LGBTQ people to keep living amazing lives! www.queerforty.com

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on one of the Zip-line courses. There are hundreds of spa and body treatments to be had, wellness programs, culinary experiences, art galleries and abundant people watching opportunities throughout the resort. www.gaywhistler.com

JAN 29 - FEB 3

ARENA MUSIC FESTIVAL. PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO Arena is Mexico’s biggest gay and lesbian dance music festival. This year ARENA Music Festival is being held in Playa del Carmen on Rivera Maya. It will be 6 days of all out fun, music and much more with 13 special parties! Come join us on the beautiful beaches of Playa del Carmen as we celebrates ARENA’s 6th year with a blow out. This is the 2020 winter event you won’t want to miss. www.arena.mx

JAN 19 - FEB 9

MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL 2020 MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Don’t miss Melbourne’s most famous familyfriendly community day that kicks off summer’s beloved three-week Midsumma Festival season. Midsumma Carnival will serve-up a tasting plate of performances and personalities from the festival program – in one giant showcase – with something for everyone. Check out sports displays, get pooch-smooched at the famous Dog Show, or test out your favorite songs in the Lipsync Limelight competition. Food trucks, bars and stalls galore, all top-full of treats to keep you hydrated, fed and in the community spirit. For complete schedule visit www.midsumma.org.au

JAN 18 - 25

AROSA SKI WEEK AROSA SWITZERLAND The annual Gay Ski Week in Arosa, one of Switzerland’s most enchanting winter resorts.

Come experience Swiss hospitality, the charm of a true mountain resort and glamorous parties while you’re enjoying yourself with various activities throughout the week. There is a wide range of accommodations. Don’t forget to order your event pass for the week, or do you want to miss the foam party, a fondue night at the mountain hut, a classical piano concert, the pool party, our cabaretnight or the drag- queen ski race?? www.arosa-gayskiweek.com

FEB 18 - 26

SITGES CARNIVAL SITGES, SPAIN Carnival has to be Sitges’ wildest party.

Even though it is on in February it is still the hottest party in town! On the most popular days you will find thousands of partygoers dancing on the major streets across the town.

Gay boys and girls from the 4 corners of the world descend on our little town and party the week away! Sitges Carnival is one of the world’s top 10 carnivals and attracts more than 250,000 people to Sitges over 7 days with amazing parades, shows and parties.

This is one winter festival you don’t want to miss! www.gaysitgesguide.com

JAN 26 - FEB 2

WINTER PRIDE WHISTLER 2020 WHISTLER, CANADA BC Our winter gay pride week features a packed event: skiing, snowboarding, parties, dances, social events and much more. The charming European inspired pedestrian village makes getting around easy to experience activities for Non Skiers & Riders or for those that need a break. Whistler offers an abundance of activities from inner tube sliding, dog sledding, snowmobile tours, bungee jumping, to flying through the forest like a Jedi Knight

Our international media partner, FNQ Magazine, www.fnqmagazine.com Cairns gay lifestyle and travel publication that gives Australia and the world a taste of gay life in the tropics, sponsors the International Calendar. www.go2gaycairns.com

JANUARY 2020 49

PHOTO REWIND DAVID’S CHRISTMAS HAT PARTY PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE STANDARD MAGAZINE STAFF

50 THESTANDARDPS.COM

PHOTO REWIND DAVID’S CHRISTMAS HAT PARTY PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE STANDARD MAGAZINE STAFF

JANUARY 2020 51

PHOTO REWIND SANCTUARY PALM SPRINGS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

52 THESTANDARDPS.COM

PHOTO REWIND SANCTUARY PALM SPRINGS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

JANUARY 2020 53

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