METROSOURCE NATIONAL - APR/MAY 2022

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your

healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information

about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine,

visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2022 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0008 01/22

#1 PRESCRIBED

HIV TREATMENT * *Source: IQVIA NPA Weekly, 04/19/2019 through 05/28/2021.

CHAD LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP BEING YOU. Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

ONE SMALL PILL, ONCE A DAY Pill shown not actual size (15 mm x 8 mm) | Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

Scan to see Chad’s story.

SPRING BRINGS NEW LIFE

VIEWS

EDITOR’S LETTER

AND NEW OPPORTUNITY

SPRING HAS SPRUNG. THIS YEAR MORE THAN

Personally, I’m looking forward to rediscov-

EVER, THERE ARE CONSPICUOUS SIGNS OF

ering San Francisco this summer. It’s been (gasp)

NEW LIFE, BEAUTY AND OPTIMISM AS WE

four years for me. Our feature article “The Suite

EMERGE FROM THE GRAYS OF WINTER AND

and Sweet Life of San Francisco” in this issue

PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS. Events are being

has prompted me to plan a visit to the City by

planned, stage curtains are opening, and we’re

the Bay and get a peek at the newly renovated

much more confident about getting out to

Clift Hotel. And in the spirit of adventure and

explore new eateries, visit new exhibits, and plan

new experiences, maybe I’ll even try dining

adventurous getaways.

on octopus!

I recently took out my old-school 2022 wall

We were excited to hear about Gay Wine

calendar and started making plans to attend

Weekend in Sonoma being back in full force

events, festivals and pencil in some out-of-town

this year after a two-year pandemic haitus. This

weekend adventures. By the time I was on my

has been an annual event for several members

second cup of coffee, my calendar was half-full

of the Metrosource team and we are ready to

through September!

traipse through the vineyards once again this

After two years of virtual events, aren’t we all

July. Haven’t experienced the California Wine

ready to get out and enjoy some face time? And

Country in recent years? Or ever? Check out

I don’t mean on an iPhone.

our feature “Three Days of Gay in Sonoma

Some of the features in this issue are sure

Wine Country” which may just prompt you to

to inspire you to make some plans for yourself

pack your aerator and straw fedora and head to

this spring and summer – both locally and out of

Northern California this summer.

town. What have you always wanted to experience? Where have you always wanted to visit?

aboard the Orient Express. I imagined a journey

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING DIRECTOR Christopher Jackson FEATURE WRITER Alexander Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Rimalower

James Delyea Jeffrey James Keyes Mark A. Thompson Megan Venzin Michael Westman

NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

Los Angeles 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #438 Long Beach, CA 90803 New York 511 Avenue of the Americas, #901 New York, NY 10011 800.818.0480 info@metrosource.com

An adventure which always seemed so romantic and high-brow when I was growing up was a trip through the European countryside

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”

PUBLISHER Bent Share Entertainment, LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman COPY EDITOR James Delyea

on this grand hotel on rails would be like Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express with a cast of high-society passengers. Well my dreams can now become reality since as the Orient Express is steaming forward once again with new routes planned.

And if you are planning some nuptials, our feature“Seven Romantic Honeymoon Destinations” may inspire you to consider some further afield locales. I encourage you to embrace this Spring 2022 by planning an adventure that engages

Subscriptions: One year (6 issues): $24.95; 12 issues: $39.95.

Reproduction of any article, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in Metrosource are supportive of the gay community. Mention of any person, business or organization is not a reflection of their sexual orientation. ©2021 Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Advertisers in Metrosource acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for same as advertised. Metrosource assumes no responsibility or liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. The appearance of any person, model, business or organization in this publication, by name, advertisement or photograph is not an indication of sexual orientation.

Advertisers and their agencies assume all responsibility and legal liability for the content of their advertisements in Metrosource. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials.

Metrosource reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content.

All contents are copyright Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.

Content may only be reproduced with written permission from Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Metrosource assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserve the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.

your spirit and fills your heart.

@metrosource @MetrosourceMagazine @metrosourcemag

METROSOURCE.COM

4

APRIL/MAY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

CONTENTS

April/May 2022 | VOLUME 33, NO. 2

24

THIS PAGE: LANCE BASS PHOTO BY JERRITT CLARK/GETTY • MICHAEL FEINSTEIN PHOTO BY ART STREIBER • PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY SCHNEIDER

14

42 18

14 JULIA SCOTTI IT’S A WONDERFULLY FUNNY LIFE

18 MICHAEL FEINSTEIN TAKES US DOWN THE BACKROADS IN GERSHWIN COUNTRY

24 LANCE BASS BEHIND THE SCENES

42 AMY SCHNEIDER MAKING JEOPARDY! HISTORY FOR LGBTQ REPRESENTATION COVER: Lance Bass Photography: Dennys Ilic METROSOURCE.COM

APRIL/MAY 2022

5

DEPARTMENTS

April/May 2022 | VOLUME 33, NO. 2

38 10

CULTURE

30

7 THE SCOPE From Netflix The Andy Warhol Diaries to Harvey Fierstein’s I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

TRAVEL 10 Voyage into the Groove Groove Cruise Delivers a Joyous Dose of Reprieve for a Fun-Loving Crowd

30 Gay Wine Weekend Three Days Of Gay In Sonoma Wine Country

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TRAVEL 32 The Suite and Sweet Life of San Francisco

38 Seven Romantic Honeymoon Destinations

HEALTH 47 Tweak your Skincare Regime for Spring Moisturize. Moisturize.

Moisturize

VIEWS 4 EDITOR’S LETTER Spring Brings New Life and New Opportunity

THIS PAGE: JOHN SUMMIT PHOTO BY @LLAURENMORELLL • GAY WINE WEEKEND PHOTO COURTESY OF GEDMAG.COM • FREDERICKS COUNTER PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLIFT • WEDDING AT THE LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN COURTESY OF VISIT RICHMOND VA

32

CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

THESCOPE

WATCH

THE ANDY WARHOL DIARIES NETFLIX FROM

EXECUTIVE

MURPHY

AND

PRODUCER

DIRECTOR

RYAN

ANDREW

ROSSI, THIS BREATHTAKINGLY EXPANSIVE, SIX-PART

PORTRAIT

CHRONICLES

THE

OF

A

LEGEND

REMARKABLE

LIFE

OF ANDY WARHOL from the intimate

CULTURE

THESCOPE

vantage point offered by the artist’s own posthumously published diaries.

Beginning with his childhood in Pittsburgh, the series traces Warhol’s almost unbelievably diverse journey fluidly moving between mediums and through eras as an artist-both revered and reviled-director, publisher, TV producer, scene maker, celebrity and much more. While he was a largerthan-life figure, Warhol was intensely private regarding his personal life.

This series truly reveals much about the very complex man through his own words-often in his own voice using cutting-edge AI techniquesand those who worked, created, and played alongside him from the subversive to the mainstream, from John Waters to Rob Lowe. Executive produced by Murphy, Josh Braun, Stanley Buchthal, Alexis Martin Woodall, Scott Robertson and Rossi and written and directed by Rossi, The Andy Warhol Diaries deftly validates Warhol’s belief that the idea is not to live forever but to create art that will.

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APRIL/MAY 2022

7

THESCOPE

LISTEN

THE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR “BEAUTIFUL MUSIC,” DIRECTED BY BILLIE BLACK AND FILMED IN LOS ANGELES, WAS RECENTLY RELEASED BY NIERI, A MILAN-RAISED / LA-BASED ARTIST WHO IS SHARING

Nurtured by his European roots and inspired by his life in LA, Nieri pairs catchy melodies, punchy drums, analog synths, and personal lyrics, to create refreshing electronic pop that gets you dancing through the night.

The debut single conjures a pulsing beat and fuzzy bass line, immediately transporting you to a late-night hotspot. His smooth vocals draw you to the dance floor with a seductive persuasion that dancing is the cure for all your ails. Nieri describes the track: “Beautiful Music is about the need to release tension and finding that release in music.

Many of us try to escape the stress of modern life with coping mechanisms like alcohol, drugs, or casual sex. In most cases, that doesn’t really end well. I wrote this song as a reminder to myself that when things get tough, music has (and always will) be there for me. All I must do is turn it on, dance a little, and eventually I will be okay.”

The single is part of a debut EP, slated for later this year. Written and recorded between LA and Stockholm, with producer Joakim Buddee, the EP will showcase Nieri’s versatility as a songwriter and vocalist.

APRIL/MAY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

THIS PAGE: NIERI PHOTO BY BILLIE BLACK

HIS UNIQUE BRAND OF POP WITH THE WORLD.

CULTURE

8

NIERI “BEAUTIFUL MUSIC”

READ

I WAS BETTER LAST NIGHT: A MEMOIR

BY HARVEY FIERSTEIN THIS NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER IS A POIGNANT AND HILARIOUS MEMOIR FROM THE CULTURAL ICON, GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, and four-time Tony

Award–winning actor and playwright, revealing never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, and of his fabled career. While he has never shied away from the spotlight, Mr. Fierstein says that even those closest to him have never heard most of the tales.

Harvey Fierstein’s legendary career has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn, to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood and back. He’s received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots.

I Was Better Last Night bares the inner life of this eccentric nonconforming child from his roots in 1952 Brooklyn, to the experimental worlds of Andy Warhol and the Theatre of the Ridiculous, to the gay rights movements of the seventies and the tumultuous AIDS crisis of the eighties, through decades of addiction, despair, and ultimate triumph.

Mr. Fierstein’s candid recollections provide a rich window into downtown New York City life, gay culture, and the evolution of theater (of which he has been a defining figure), as well as a moving account of his family’s journey of acceptance. I Was Better Last Night is filled with wisdom gained, mistakes made, and stories that come together to describe an astonishingly colorful and meaningful life. Lucky for us all, his unique and recognizable voice is as engaging, outrageously funny, and vulnerable on the page.

VISIT

LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF ART

26 WOOSTER STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013 EXHIBITION: NOT ME, NOT THAT, NOT NOTHING EITHER (NOW THROUGH JUNE 25, 2022) NOT ME, NOT THAT, NOT NOTHING EITHER PRESENTS THE WORK OF ELEVEN CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS EMPLOYING FRAGMENTATION - THROUGH BOTH MATERIAL AND SUBJECT MATTER- IN PAINTING, DRAWING, SCULPTURE, AND TIME-BASED MEDIA. Historically associated with Modernist movements,

Composition in Yellow by Ceaphas Stubbs

strategies of bodily fragmentation (slicing the body into parts, isolating appendages, and distorting one’s self-image) are reconsidered by queer contemporary artists as a means of exploring their own perceptions of self-outside of the cis-heteronormative gaze. Rejecting societal notions of fixedness and individuation, fragmentation in this exhibition serves not as a method of deconstruction but as an additive process in which queer selfhood is malleable, ever-changing, tactile, and connected. The artists in this show forge a queer aesthetic, proposing a world in which the body-in-pieces is in fact the body-as-whole.

Participating artists: Math Bass, Diedrick Brackens, A.K. Burns, Jibz Cameron, Theresa Chromati, KC Crow Maddux, Troy Michie, Christina Quarles, Devan Shimoyama, Ceaphas Stubbs, and Jade Yumang.

Not Me, Not That, Not Nothing Either is curated by Rachel Beaudoin and Nirvana Santos-Kuilan.

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TRAVEL 10

APRIL/MAY 2022

METROSOURCE.COM

VOYAGE INTO THE GROOVE

GROOVE CRUISE DELIVERS A JOYOUS DOSE OF REPRIEVE FOR A FUN-LOVING CROWD THAT’S DOWN FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING

BY MEGAN VENZIN “FOLLOW YOUR INNER COMPASS.” THIS IS THE MANTRA ADOPTED BY THOUSANDS OF RAVERS THE MOMENT THEY STEP ABOARD GROOVE CRUISE, A SEAFARING MUSIC FESTIVAL

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY @LLAURENMORELLL

THAT’S AMONG THE LONGEST RUNNING OF ITS KIND. After

witnessing the strange beauty ourselves, we can attest that these guiding tools point attendees to a few sure things: top-notch performances from electronic artists, larger than life theme parties and a fierce commitment to near-nudity that remains stalwart even on cooler, neon-tinted nights.

“We’re never going home!” is a defiant chant that rings through the luxury ship’s sparkling promenade periodically, and for good reason. You’re crazy if you want to leave this unapologetically open gathering.

Members of the close-knit “Groove Cruise Family” are pros, and many of them have been raging on the open waters since the early aughts. Their enthusiasm for its free-spirited and inclusive environment has never waned - in fact it’s only grown stronger as the days roll on. These long-time fans bring newbies along, all lovingly referred to as “virgins.”

Metrosource falls into this category, and we’re ready to be born again this weekend.

Set on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, this January’s East Coast sailing (January 20-24, 2022) from the port at Cape Canaveral, Florida is ultra-heightened. There’s a palpable energy as friends link up with cabin mates, friend squads and couples they haven’t seen since before our lives changed back in March 2020. There’s still a tentative air in the world as the covid pandemic enters a new phase propelled by the omicron variant, but those who commit to spend the next four days adrift boast brazen, YOLO-esque attitudes. Is “YOLO” still a thing? Whatever, we’re sticking to it because trust when we say that’s the whole damn mood on this Voyager Class vessel as we head toward a beach destination in the Bahamas.

It’s there where we’ll dance in the sand as acts like live duo, SOFI TUKKER drench the crowd in sunny, upbeat melodies.

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THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY @TRRIISSTTAAN • WRECKNO PHOTO COURTESY OF @MCM PRODUCTIONS

TRAVEL

“People used to want to go on Groove Cruise, but once you have been it almost becomes a need,” says Founder, Jason Beukema. “We need to feel the love and community and excitement that is missing from our lives.” He speaks from a place of passion as much as a former place of pain. Last year’s sailings were postponed due to COVID-19-related restrictions, striking a heavy blow to Whet Travel, the organization responsible for Groove Cruise that also happens to be the world’s largest independent music cruise company. His optimism is back now that the 2022 event is finally a reality. “I trusted my intuition and let my heart and soul guide me and it’s never led me wrong. And the #GCFAM deserves it,”he adds with conviction. It’s full steam ahead, and his loyal brothers and sisters are all in. Champagne bottles pop with abandon on the pool deck as we chat, and he’s got a good point - we all crave this release after a collective period defined by gloom and doom.

Strict vaccine protocols and test requirements brought Beukema’s dreams back to life, as well as those of his favorite artists. Modern masters like Anthony Attalla and Marcus Schulz are back with their legendary GC marathon sets, which often last upwards of six-hours or more - a rare find for an average club night, let alone a floating festival. This winter’s voyage also boasts a fierce mix of rising stars and scene stalwarts like tech house darling, John Summit, and Dirtybird label boss, Claude VonStroke. There’s a list of queer visionaries in the mix, too, among them names like Chicago’s own J.Worra, rap disruptor Wreckno and the ever-ethereal CloZee, whose unique brand of world bass sends listeners on a sonic adventure to faraway lands.

Tee So, a DJ who hosts the beloved No Boys in The Booth party, is another friendly face who never fails to rally the LGBTQ+ community together for onboard social activities like an AM Bloody Mary meetup (because it’s always

THIS PAGE: DOMBRESKY PHOTO COURTESY OF @LLAURENMORELLL • PHOTO BY @LLAURENMORELLL • PHOTO BY @LLAURENMORELLL

the right time to sip vodka cocktails on this judgment-free getaway).

“It’s definitely a weirdo party at its core,” says Brandon Wisniski, who bass music and hip-hop fans know as the aforementioned Wreckno. His slot in Studio B - a tricked-out, laser-equipped theater space - is singular for this ship. He spits fierce rhymes over heavy vibrations, and he’s dressed to the nines in a stylish beret and plaid skirt.“I’m a very gender fluid person so when I was getting the lay of the land, I was very happy to see that in the crowd here as well,” he explains of an event he walked into with zero expectations.

At a gathering revered for its trance and house-leaning lineups, he’s among an unusual breed of bass artists booked to play GC. That said, the tides must be turning. We hear heavy drops and resonant wubs most nights as they blast from state-of-the-art speakers during stage takeovers led by labels like Odyzey Music and Born Records. Though Wisniski admits he was nervous before his set for this reason, he’s positively beaming on the other side. Originals like his 2020 Pride anthem,“Meduza”(which he created with follow queer EDM star, GRiZ) and a high-energy reimagining of Gillette’s “Short Dick Man” quite literally sent the crowd into an ass throwing frenzy - a reaction that’s become synonymous with his salacious, one-man act.

“When that song came in, I saw the crowd get lit,” he says smiling. “I don’t regret anything.”

Even the performers walk away with a new perspective on their livelihood after Groove Cruise and Wisniski is a testament to that fact.“It was just awesome for me to see other facets of electronic music and the culture behind these events that are thrown,” he continues. “It was a nice peek behind the curtain at other things that I normally wouldn’t get to experience.”

And in the end, that’s what Groove Cruise is really all about – embracing the novel and pleasantly unanticipated. For some attendees that experience takes shape when they watch the sunrise crest over blue waters while their musical heroes provide an epic soundtrack IRL. For others, it happens when they solve an escape room with a trailblazing female producer like LP Giobbi or embark on a ship-wide pub crawl with melodic dubstep icon MitiS. And for the rest, it occurs when they enter the main dining room wearing only pasties, harnesses, alien costumes or something equally risqué that would never fly as proper attire in the real world. For us it was all of these things, paired with a kindness among strangers that, after the past two years, we thought may have been gone for good. As it turns out, it’s still very much alive here on Groove Cruise – just follow your inner compass, and you’ll find it.

Ready to join the #GCFam? Check out Groove Cruise Cabo 2022 sailing from Los Angeles, CA to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (October 19th - 24th). To book your cabin visit https://www.groovecruise.com/cabo ■ METROSOURCE.COM

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CHAPPELLE’S ENTITLED TO HIS OPINION. I’M ENTITLED NOT TO LISTEN TO IT.”

IT’S A WONDERFULLY FUNNY LIFE

JULIA SCOTTI

SHARES HER COMEDY WITH THE WORLD POST AMERICA’S GOT TALENT

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ COMEDIAN JULIA SCOTT, AGED 63, AKA “THE CRAZY OLD LADY OF COMEDY,” TOOK TO MEL B, AND MILLIONS OF VIEWERS LOOKED ON. Her mission? To show that age has

nothing to do with anything, you don’t stop just because you have gray hair. She killed her set. This innocent-looking granny’s routine was bawdy and hip, and the audience couldn’t get enough. In her words, “I got a standing ovation, all four of them voted to pass me - and I didn’t have a heart attack!” Particularly taken was fellow comic Mandell who asked Julia why she started so late in life. A tearful Julia paused, and carefully replied, “For the first 28 years of my life, I was known as Rick Scotti.” The judges looked shocked as the audience applauded. Howie responded, “You know, whether you’re a man or a woman, you’re human. And you’re funny! You are talented. And you’re brave.” Brave indeed. At age 48, after doing comedy for 28 years, Julia gave everything up to live her authentic self.

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PAGE 14-16: PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIA SCOTTI

THE STAGE OF AMERICA’S GOT TALENT AS SIMON COWELL, HOWIE MANDELL, HEIDI KLUM,

Julia’s success on America’s Got Talent and her triumphant comedy comeback are only a small part of what makes the documentary Julia Scotti: Funny That Way so powerful. The film, with classic footage, family photos, and intimate (and often heartbreaking) revelations from Julia’s friends, family, and past lovers, follows this New Jersey native who, as Rick Scotti, was having a successful run in the 80s era of comedy appearing with big names that included Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock and winning Showtime’s Funniest Person in New Jersey contest (barely losing the Showtime national competition to Ellen DeGeneres).

Whereas some of the trans community wants no connection with their dead name or prior

like the guys I knew who were gay were really enjoying it. And with my couple of experiences, throwing up afterward is not really a good sign, you know? So, um, there had to be something else. And, and so (my ex) Kate, helped me get to that point. I had been told by numerous exwives that I was a woman. One of them said it genuinely, the others said it as a derisive remark, but something about the way Kate said it, after my last event with a guy, the light went on. I realized she was right.

She came out. She lost the relationships with her former wives, her gigs, her comedy friends, and most tragically, her children.

feeling of fathers and mothers arguing constantly in front of the kids and I just didn’t want that to happen. And so, I walked away, separating for 14 years with the hope that someday they would grow up and want to know who I was and make a decision based on who I was now ... who was really all I always was.

Over the years, Julia would send instant messages to her kids on a birthday or holiday with no response. As they got older, Julia’s son was the first to respond. Reconnecting with her kids has been a very slow process, gradual, and still ongoing. But they are present, and they are supportive, even if they don’t know the right terms or what to call Julia. She, in her

life, Julia unabashedly embraces the life of Rick Scotti.

I mean, there is no getting around it. I’m a public person, it doesn’t take a whole lot. You don’t have to be MacGyver to figure out who I was before. I’m not ashamed of who I was. I lived 50 years like that. I understand why some people don’t do it and they want to forget, but it’s part of who I am.

At a time when the words gender dysphoria and gender reassignment surgery were rarely heard or were discussed as a perversion, Rick was trying to find out who he was. He just knew that he felt different.

I had a number of failed attempts at being gay, and I guess if you really have to try to be gay, you’re probably not gay.

I couldn’t understand why it seemed

One of her exes used Julia’s coming out as an opportunity to wrench her children away, using mental health as a scapegoat.

I agonized over telling them. I selftalk a lot and what I asked myself was, “How can I, as a parent, ever tell my kid to be true to themselves, if I can’t be true to myself?” I have to have the courage of my convictions. It’s going to hurt everybody. There is no pleasant outcome here. And so, it was a difficult decision 22 years ago. It is a different world now.

Back then, we were psychopathic killers.

The most painful thing I ever did was to walk away just because I was asked to. My gut wanted me to fight tooth and nail, have the cops there, and go to court and do whatever I had to do. But I came from a broken home and so I know that

jovial laugh and typical humor, is still not sure of what the right terms or pronouns to use in today’s politically correct arena.

I get the whole idea with the pronouns and all, but I’m old and it does confuse me. I’m probably going to get all kinds of shit for this, but it’s like the Abbott and Costello routine “Who’s on First?” It gets confusing and it puzzles people who are not in the LGBTQ community. So, in that sense, it’s off-putting sometimes, but I get why people are doing it because they’re fighting for identity. I understand that. Believe me, nobody gets it more than I do. So, if it makes you happy, then fight for your pronouns, that’s all.

Julia’s big reveal (to which Simon Cowell said,“You’re just full of surprises tonight, aren’t you?”) was not premeditated or used as a METROSOURCE.COM

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gimmick. She was not being used as a token member of the trans community who happened to be funny. Perhaps Julia could have used being trans as a way to ensure her place on national TV, but first and foremost, she’s a comedian. That’s her talent.

They left it up to me as to whether I was even going to do the reveal or not. And I didn’t know up until I went out there, but I told them specifically, “If I do the reveal, it won’t be until after my set, because I want the set to be judged on its own merit.” And they were good with that. And now with this documentary, people get to see how it all turned out. It’s kind of cool.

Julia has been working the circuit with a second wind, courtesy of the show, and while she appears at LGBTQ events and PFLAG symposiums, the majority of her gigs are in the straight world, a very important factor for the comedian.

There are oftentimes stereotypes that the straight community has about who we are and what we do. 99% of the places I play are filled with cisgender people. I want them to walk out saying, “You know, she’s funny, she’s a human being. And as far as I’m concerned, I see her as female.”And that’s all I’m asking for, just give me a chance to show you what I can do.

The comedy world of the not-too-distant past has been notorious for being a hotbed of misogyny, homophobia, racism, and transphobia. How have comics from Julia’s past as Rick and her present peers responded?

I know the people who are not so accepting. That’s fine if you want to be that way. I steer clear of them and they steer clear of me. So far, we haven’t conflicted at all, but I must say that almost everyone who was my friend before, is my friend still. The comedy community is a very special one.

A shocking part of the documentary reflects the comedy of the past where Julia, as Rick, makes a series of gay and transphobic jokes. It’s a chilling reminder of how self-hating we can be to our closeted selves and also of the culture that existed that separated Julia from her kids.

Let me address what I did first. Okay. It was the nineties.

I was struggling with everything at that point. I forgot that I had done the bit, but I remember the period and I know that I was looking for whatever it was that was “wrong” with me.

There was something going on and the only way I knew how to be a man was to imitate what other men were like. You saw my reaction in the movie when I saw myself doing it and was horrified, and I wanted to take that person and just beat the snot out of them. But it’s all part of the growth process.

Very recently, comedian Dave Chappelle discussed the death of his friend, trans comedian Daphne Dorman, who had opened for him.

She committed suicide. He made a joke that purposely misgendered her, stating that she would have loved it. His jokes and statements regarding the trans community have come under fire with pressure on Netflix to pull his specials. Does this kind of comedy telling reflect what’s happening in the comedy world, what’s happening in the world, or what’s happening between the Black and trans community? And should Chappelle be canceled?

I get that Chappelle maybe made his statements out of ignorance. He made it sound like because he took a Daphne as a comic to open for him that he was somehow doing a favor. Well, she killed herself, and I assume partly because

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of that terrible opening set that she had for him. You don’t take a newbie and throw them out in front of a national act for 40, 45 minutes. It took me like four years before I could do 45 minutes. She had no business being there. I think he’s tried to make up for a lot of his sins by doing that. I hope he evolves, but Chappelle’s entitled to his opinion. I’m entitled not to listen to it.

This is a First Amendment issue. The First Amendment doesn’t mean that only the people who agree with me should be allowed to speak. There were Nazi rallies in New York City in the 1930s. They were allowed to do it because that’s what the First Amendment says. Comics take pride in the fact that we still have the First Amendment, we hate it when other people try to censor us. Who am I to say to Chappelle, “You can’t say that. I’m offended!”Well, I can be offended. He’s still got the right to say it. I just don’t have to listen to it.

Making jokes about her age, smoking, and health have been part of Julia’s routine, and even Rick’s routine. But it was no laughing matter when, after Julia received X-rays to prepare for back surgery, the doctors noticed a severe blockage issue. Two days before Christmas, Julia received a quadruple bypass, one valve repair, and one valve replacement. She almost died.

It changed everything in my head about life. When you come that close to it, you see everything through a different lens. Again, it’s a blessing because I lived through it and now, I talk about it on stage. So, it was just, you know, more material!

During her stay in the hospital, she dealt with transphobia. Coming years after she needed medical attention after her gender affirmation surgery, when she was told they didn’t handle“her kind,” to now, during a crucial recovery from her bypass, she would have to deal with hate in her own hospital room.

He was a respiratory therapist. He kept calling me “Rick.”

He kept calling me by my dead name throughout and I kept correcting him as best I could. I was very weak. He just kept doing it. He kept calling me “he, he, he” and finally, my daughter just went, “SHE! SHE, SHE, SHE!” Just like that. I thought, “that’s my girl.” Personally, at that point, I would’ve liked to have just kicked him in the nuts and thrown him out the window because he didn’t want to change, to have his consciousness raised. And he was young!

In true Julia nature, she turned her medical scare and her treatment in the hospital as a way to make a statement under the guise of comedy. She called her next appearances part of her I’m Not Dead Yet tour. All jokes aside, what does more does Julia want from life?

I am complete. My bucket list, with the exception of one thing, is full. I’ve done everything I ever set out to do. I want to go to Italy and I want to see where my ancestors came from.

My heart called out to Italy, and I’m attached. I have to see it before I go. And then I’ll be fine. I’ve had this wonderful, wonderful life. I’ve got a movie about my life! Yeah. I’ve been loved. I have loved people. I have performed everywhere I wanted to perform. What more could you ask?

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More at https://www.juliascottifilm.com/

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PAGES 18-22: PHOTOS BY ART STREIBER

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN TAKES US DOWN THE BACKROADS IN GERSHWIN COUNTRY

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

GRAMMY AND EMMY-NOMINATED MUSICIAN MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, A KEEPER OF THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK, HAS LIVED A LIFE THAT IF PRESENTED ON SCREEN, WOULD BE TOO CRAZY TO BELIEVE. The icons (who have earned that title

rightfully), the music, the performances, the collaborations, and the chance meetings would spring up on Michael’s journey like characters waiting on the side of the yellow brick road. This season, he debuts a new album that is almost too delicious to believe. Called Gershwin Country, Michael reimagines the music of Ira and George Gershwin through a country music lens with a series of duets featuring the biggest names from the genre including Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, Lee Ann Womack, Amy Grant, and Rosanne Cash. Did we mention it was executive produced by Liza Minelli?

The album was inspired several years ago by a conversation Michael had with none other than poet Maya Angelou when the two chatted about their love of music.

Who knew that Angelou was such a country music fan?

Many country music artists have covered the Great American Songbook, there is a symbiosis between the two genres. In today’s music where autotune and electronic riffs fill the airwaves, country music artists may be the last leaders in telling stories through original music.

The bones of the classic American Songbook are malleable and can be interpreted in many ways. The symbiosis is that the country genre is based on melodic music and lyric interpretation and country music artists know how to tell a story and to interpret a lyric in a way that makes it their own, so the Songbook, in that sense, is a natural for country artists.

Feinstein admits that he is a very tough critic of his own work, but because this is made of duets, is his most satisfying album yet. The first track on the album that was recorded was Dolly Parton’s “Love is Here to Stay.” From that session, Michael was able to move forward with a truly clear idea of what the sound of the recording should be and where it was going. By the time this album was completed, even this musical impresario learned something new.

I learned a certain spontaneity or openness in recording because I worked with the most amazing group of musicians in Nashville. Recording in Nashville is different from recording any place else because these are very, very well-educated musicians, musically speaking, and yet they also have the tremendous ability, or tremendous gift, of improvisation. So even though there were blueprints for the arrangements on the recording, so much of it happened spontaneously, be it a key change or a riff or any other device that was incorporated into a track. It was coming up with an idea and then immediately being able to realize it through the extraordinary gifts of the musicians who were present.

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Michael’s relationship with the Great American Songbook started when he was 20, when, after moving to LA, was introduced to Ira Gershwin who hired him to catalog his extensive collection of records. This would turn into a six-year gig during which Michael would come into intimate contact with unpublished music and rare recordings that would expand from Ira’s collection and include that of his composer brother, George.

I had grown up idolizing the work of George and Ira Gershwin. First, it was the music of George and then it was Ira’s lyrics, and I discovered the songs. I met Ira in July of 1977, and when I knocked on the door of his home in Beverly Hills, my knees were shaking. His wife, Lee Gershwin, let me into the house and when I saw Ira sitting at a table at a distance from the front door, I got even more scared.

The minute I sat down with him, he was very welcoming and sweet. He disarmed me with his charm, even though he was very quiet and shy and retiring, he was sensitive. He sensed how I was feeling and did everything he could to put me at ease, even though he was not in very good health. That was the beginning of a relationship that only got better from that first meeting. I was able to speak his language and he started to tell me some anecdotes, some stories about collaborating with his brother. I knew all his references and he was a bit taken aback by that at first, but then he realized that I knew his world. And from then on, I was in.

I spent six years with this beautiful gentle soul. Those years profoundly changed my life and the way I looked at the world, it was beautiful.

His love affair with Gershwin music and the Great American Songbook was just beginning.

His first professional brush with Broadway would be as the musical consultant of My One and Only, a celebration of the Gershwins, and his first CD was titled Pure Gershwin. By the late ‘80s, he was starring regularly on Broadway in a series of concerts celebrating the music he had become so close to. His star was on the rise, and he would appear on PBS specials, TV shows, NPR, and a dizzying number of concerts. He would appear at some of the world’s most iconic venues with some of history’s most iconic singers and songwriters. Many have called him one of the most important musical forces of our time. But no matter how many stars he has collaborated with, or how many Presidents he has performed for, he will never forget his roots, full of bittersweet memories.

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After I moved to Los Angeles, I started playing in piano bars. Most of them were gay bars and they were places of celebration. I met so many special people, many of whom died only a few years later. It hurts my heart when I think about it, when I think about that time and the feeling of freedom and abandon and true joy that existed in those clubs that is different from the way it is now. There certainly is a lot of fun in clubs but, for me, the community that I had at that time was something I never experienced again. I’d play the piano till two in the morning and then we’d all go out to a restaurant, usually a Thai restaurant on Sunset Boulevard or Hollywood Boulevard that was open to four in the morning. We’d just party all night. When I started touring and performing in theaters and concert halls, I had to become much more disciplined in my life. I had to stop partying, smoking pot and had to clean up my act, so to speak. I guess I’m just saying I missed those days of abandon. I’ve come to recognize what is important in life. And that is, simply put – gratitude.

Take nothing for granted ever.

With project after project coming his way so early on in his career, when did he stop and take notice that he was becoming a sensation?

It’s a funny thing, I think that every performer is always desiring more. I’ve seen some of the biggest names in the biz grapple with insecurity, looking at the career of somebody else who always had something that they didn’t have. So, there’s always that hunger to achieve more. As far as the realization that I’d reached a level of esteem, if that’s the word, it was probably after I had success on Broadway in 1988, when I was well out of playing piano bars. By that point, I played the Hollywood Bowl, which was pretty amazing because it all happened so fast. The experience of Broadway ran for months and so many people came to see the show and that was incredibly special for me.

I was still young and fresh and yet there were so many people who came backstage that I would go, “Oh my God, how thrilling to meet so and so!” That gave me a sense of having accomplished something. And, it was with old songs, songs that were considered passe. Yet, there I was making a living from it.

And make a living he has. The names he has performed with and befriended is a gay man’s (or any entertainment lover’s) fantasy. With so many of our favorite divas taking center stage in Feinstein’s life, who have been his standouts?

I REMEMBER BEING ON STAGE WITH ROSEMARY CLOONEY AT THE GREEK THEATER.AT THE END OF THE SHOW SOMEBODY YELLED, “YOU GO, GIRL!” I LOOKED AT ROSEMARY AND SAID, “YOU THINK THEY’RE TALKING TO YOU OR ME?”

Michael Feinstein and Liza Minelli, at the TCM 40 Anniversary of Cabaret. 2012. Photo by Kathy Hutchins Working with Nancy Wilson. Nancy Wilson is one of the greatest jazz singers of any time and she was someone I idolized. When she agreed to work with me, I was thrilled beyond words. We were to perform a duet and she didn’t want to rehearse! She said, “Oh, we’ll just fake it.” And I said, “Please, please, can we go over this?” She said, “No, honey, it’s going to be fine.” And my God, we got out on stage, and it was magical. It just all came together. That was amazing to me because I’m not a jazz singer, I’m not an improviser, and as she was. It was magic and I will never forget that because it was all chemistry the way it just came together. I loved working with Rosemary Clooney, who was my second mom. Debbie Reynolds was another extraordinary force of nature.

Elaine Stritch. Working with Elaine was great because we were remarkably close and we were intimate friends. We shared a lot of secrets with each other and as brassy, bold, and tough as she was perceived, she did amazingly kind things for me. My father was in New York and was extremely ill and had to go to the hospital where we needed to get him into a room.

He needed to be admitted, but there were no rooms available. I called Elaine and, wouldn’t you know, she knew somebody, called a doctor and got my father a private room at the hospital. Those are the kinds of things that she would do if she loved you. And if she didn’t, boy, watch out.

And of course, there’s Liza. Not only have the two appeared together in performances of every kind (even on social media!), but they have also become close friends. Not only does Liza serve as executive producer for Feinstein’s new album, but the two also perform“Embraceable You,”a favorite of Liza’s father, Vincente Minnelli. Vincente not only was close friends with the Gershwins but chose Ira to be Liza’s godfather. Of course, Michael and Liza would connect.

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When I first met Liza, she said, “Okay, from now on, we’re joined at the hip.” I was taken aback by that because it seemed to be very enthusiastic hyperbole. I never dreamed that I would become close to her.

We really bonded at her father’s house when I was playing at his Christmas party. And after everybody left, Liza was still there, sitting next to me on the piano bench and connecting musically on that level was extraordinary. The key moment that we became close was about three to four months after we met. We were hanging out every single night and Liza made a choice to go back to rehab because she was scared by what was happening in her life. She left on a private plane, which was supplied by Frank Sinatra, and I didn’t know if I would ever see her again.

I thought, well, this was a wonderful few months I will always treasure. I didn’t know how different her life would be after she came back from rehab. We were able to reconnect when she came out of rehab and that’s when we truly and deeply bonded. She is a stalwart friend. In many ways, I owe my career to her.

With so many stars that have crossed Michael’s path what makes a star a “star?”

I guess I could quote the James Mason’s speech to Judy Garland from A Star is Born when he discovers her in that first scene in the nightclub. But I think it is very difficult to put into words what defines a star because there is something impossible to capture in words. Stardom is an odd thing. There are many different reasons people become stars, but the most enduring are ones who have the ability to connect very deeply with the hearts of other people on a level that is transporting. They have this God-given ability to present their art in a way that is, on one level, larger than life but also reminds us about something in ourselves that attracts us to their personality.

Michael married his longtime partner in 2008, the fabulous Judge Judy performed the ceremony. Michael’s sexuality was neither being hidden nor was it being celebrated. It just was.

In my late teens, I was out to everybody in my circle of friends and in the community theater where I appeared, but I wasn’t out to my parents. My mother found a Playgirl magazine hidden in my room and had a meltdown when I

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confessed to her that I was interested in people of the same sex. Her response was, “You have to promise never to tell anyone.”

And I said, “Mom, I, I can’t promise that.”

But when I moved to California, I lived very openly. God knows I was playing lots of gay bars and there were write-ups in the local gay rags and all that, so it was no secret.

When I started to get notoriety, I didn’t talk about my personal life, or at least not about that part of my personal life, because I was scared. I was frightened to talk about it, even though I was out in so many ways, but there was something about it that scared me, I’m sorry to say. But I still would do things on stage that were not exactly being discreet. I remember being on stage with Rosemary Clooney at the Greek Theater. We were doing a couple of numbers together. At the end of the show somebody yelled, “You go, girl!” I looked at Rosemary and said, “You think they’re talking to you or me?”This got a big laugh out of the audience. So, in that sense, I wasn’t in the closet.

But, yeah, I did have trepidation about coming out. At that time, it was drummed into your head that you couldn’t come out and have a successful career. Everybody shared that belief and it was a collective belief.

Labels from the LGBTQ community are now often fixed in each headline to take advantage of our current boom in media. Michael has befriended some of the biggest gay icons in entertainment and still, there has not been that kind of labeling for him or his career, it has stayed very mainstream. Does he feel part of the LGBTQ community?

Yes. Yes, I do. I have a deep desire to connect with other people who share a certain aspect of their being with which I can resonate. There are certain things that are innately understood between us that others would not understand in the same way.

There have been times when I’ve felt isolated from the community because I was characterized as being conservative and being Republican. None of this was ever true. I played several times for the Reagans and the Bush family, but I played for them because they were Presidents. I turned down the offer to play for George, the elder Bush’s, inaugural celebration because I didn’t want people to perceive me as politically supporting him. But I also felt, very strongly, that bridges are built by

Michael Feinstein with his husband Terrence Flannery take part of the annual San Francisco Pride 2013.

Photo by Kobby Dagan connecting with people who have different points of view from our own.

When W. Bush asked me to play at the White House on Valentine’s Day, I told my partner, now husband, Terrence, that I didn’t want to do it. He said, “Well, I’ve never been to the White House and I want to go.” He said, “Isn’t the White House for everybody?” I said, “Yeah, that’s true.” So, I contacted the Social Secretary and I said, “Okay. I’d be happy to play for the President on Valentine’s Day as long as Terrence and I are treated as a couple.” And they said that absolutely, we would be treated as a couple. And we were, and that to me was building bridges amongst a group of people who were almost all Republican because it was a private event with just the Bush’s closest friends and supporters. And so there I was with my life partner, mixing with people who probably didn’t approve of our lifestyle, but I’d like to think that their exposure to us and my music earlier in that evening created some sort of empathy or understanding in their souls.

After his multi-decade career and his colorful journey, what has Michael learned the most about music?

The most important thing is always being true to your heart. I wish that I had been truer to my heart when I was younger. Now, I am absolutely true because my soul tells me what is right. I know in my gut what I’m supposed to do, and I try and always listen to that voice. So, when it comes to making music, the sky’s the limit, just follow that muse, keep going for it.

I turned down opportunities when I was younger because I was scared. It wasn’t until later that I learned to say “yes” and then figure out how to do what they are asking. When I started doing that, most of the time, I rose to the occasion, and I was able to fulfill what was asked of me.

Gershwin Country is now available wherever you get your music with a portion of all proceeds benefitting MusiCares®, a partner of the Recording Academy® that provides a support system of health and human services across a spectrum of needs, including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, preventative clinics, unforeseen personal emergencies, and disaster relief to the music community.

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LANCE BASS BEHIND THE SCENES

THIS PAGE: PHOTOS BY DENNYS ILIC

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

*NSYNC MAY HAVE BEEN WHAT PUT LANCE BASS ON THE MAP, BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT KEPT HIM THERE.

Lance has gone from boy band personality to activist, entrepreneur, father, and star in his own right.

Destined to become a mega multi-media personality, he started life in a small town in Mississippi where no one locked their doors. His musical instruction would start early as he began singing in his Southern Baptist church choir. The church became his second home and he would learn how to read music and harmonize, not knowing how much those skills would come into play in his later life. As much as he embraced those early beginnings, he also started to feel the divide between conservative religion and sexuality.

I knew I was gay at five years old and I also knew that it would be something I would have to hide my entire life. At a young age, I started seeing the BS which changed my whole look on religion and the world. I knew at an early age that many of the adults around me were wrong about so many issues - especially in regards to homosexuality - and it was that realization where I became aware these authority figures weren’t to be fully trusted. I feel like I had to fake so much about myself just to appease everyone around me. It made me question everything, and religion doesn’t give you the space to question anything. I remember when I was “saved” and baptized - going through the motions - I had to pretend that I felt the light of Jesus. It was all just an act on my part to appease those around me.

The exposure that would come with *NSYNC also came with the pressure of living life the way the public saw him, not who he really was. Pretty much exposed by the media, his real-life would come into the spotlight as his People magazine cover story would serve as his official coming out. Not calculated or planned, it happened in a media frenzy.

I only had 48 hours to start coming out to the rest of my friends/family who I needed to tell before the whole world learned. I was outed. In hindsight, I am glad the band-aid was ripped off but I had a lot of learning to do about the gay community and I had to learn very quickly.

No one should be forced to come out. Everyone needs to do it on their own time because you don’t know everyone’s story. There could be safety concerns and there are so many different experiences. It’s ultimately a very personal decision and should be decided by the individual and no one else.

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THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF PMC STUDIOS

Even as his coming out made headlines, he retreated.

I didn’t want to read anything about myself because I thought people would just be mean and disregard me. I didn’t want to be felt “less than” because most gay people were treated like that at the time. Gay people were treated as novelties. Eventually, though, I couldn’t help but see the way that the media reacted, and to my surprise, everyone was mostly positive and even supportive. It was the first time I had seen a gay man treated with that kind of respect after coming out and it gave me hope moving forward. At that point, I knew I’d be known for being gay more than *NSYNC. My whole career changed from that moment on and my life went on a completely different path.

I knew I could hopefully help move the needle for LGBTQ acceptance and I’d have to be more vocal.

How did he change the most from his coming out?

I became who I really am. Your relationships become better. You lose people because you see people’s true colors there’s a lot of ignorance, but that’s a good thing at the end of the day. It weeds out the bad ones and keeps the people who actually love you.

Shortly after being embraced for his coming out, the LGBTQ community shifted gears and came after him regarding a comment he made about appearing “straight-acting,” claiming he was enforcing negative stereotypes. His role as a true activist would be later welcomed but, at the time, the inclusive nature of our community wasn’t being well represented, and was quick to judge. Just because he was a celebrity didn’t mean he had all the answers or was groomed to be a spokesperson overnight. Does he think our community has matured since his coming out?

In many ways we’ve grown stronger, but we’ve also digressed in certain ways as well, in my honest opinion. As I mentioned earlier, when I was outed I only had 48 hours to let my friends, family, and colleagues know before the story was going to be published. That also only gave me 48 hours to educate myself as much as I could on LGBT issues which, in hindsight, is just absurd. I was ignorant of so much back then because even though I’ve always known I was gay, I had distanced myself so much from the community in

Lance Bass and husband Michael Turchin.

Photo by Richard Shotwell/ Invision/AP

order to preserve my career and the careers of my bandmates. During that interview, I had relayed a story about how some of my friends (the few who, in fact, had known I was gay) referred to me as “sag” or straightacting-gay, and instead, the publication then erroneously stated that I referred to myself as that. At that time I admittedly had no clue about the offensiveness of this language and the problems it creates for many in the LGBT+ community. I obviously never wanted to hurt anybody but the damage had been done. I distinctly remember receiving an HRC award that year, and when I made my way to the stage two tables flipped me off and walked out. This is where I believe the LGBTQ community can sometimes be too impulsively judgmental to our own who make honest mistakes. We’ve come so far in our journey towards acceptance and equality that, at times, we’re too quick to knock down those within our own community who are still finding their way. Fortunately for me, I also had amazing LGBT people around me who helped educate me on these issues instead of immediately tossing me aside. Because of them, it’s affected how I react to others moving forward.

Today’s celebration of openly LGBTQ entertainers is a totally different environment than the landscape Lance came out in. Having been through two previous substantial relationships, it was his involvement with Amazing Race’s Reichen Lehmkuhl that would make his coming

out inevitable. Does he wish he could have come out earlier?

Knowing what I know now, I would have come out during *NSYNC. To be able to be an ‘out’ gay teenager in the biggest band in the world would have helped so many people. As a teenager, I didn’t understand that though. I’m not sure if my career would have been the same because in the 90s. I could have very well been fired. I never wanted to ruin my best friends’ careers and everyone else that worked for us. I didn’t want the band to get canceled and have my sexuality be the cause - only demonizing sexuality even more. In hindsight, I would have just loved to be authentic, and if people had an issue then SCREW THEM! I think the more representation we have out there in any capacity/industry, the better. Straight entertainers have been singing about heterosexual sex and relationships for as long as the medium has existed. It’s just par for the course. LGBTQ entertainers no longer have to hide and, because of that, their art now reflects their true lives. Gay performers have always existed, but now they finally have the freedom to be authentic.

Though his activism was called into question, he has been an avid philanthropist even in his youth. Five years before his coming out, he founded The Lance Bass Foundation, a non-profit organization that was designed to meet the health needs of low-income children. Two years later he

donated $30,000 to establish the Amber Pulliam Special Education Endowment at the University of Southern Mississippi to aid students who planned a career in special education, all in honor of his cousin who has Down Syndrome. After Hurricane Katrina, he launched uBid for Hurricane Relief putting together celebrity auctions to benefit victims. He also appeared on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that highlighted his donation to save a camp for disabled children in Russia.

He’s been involved in environmental and animal organizations and has been an active supporter of GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. While his time is now more focused on his family, he is excited to see the younger generation of activists continue that legacy. He also continues to call on his fellow celebrities to become involved and use their platforms for activism.

I hope we can continue to grow as an entertainment community. I think things are great and only going to get better. Just in the last ten years, we’ve seen so many LGBTQ artists getting so much respect for who they are and what they’re doing. Entertainers always have a significant impact on peoples’ mindsets because their fans start getting passionate about the same issues and then it becomes a domino effect. For example, many *NSYNC fans started to be really passionate about the LGBTQ community because I came out and it educated them. There are so many fans that are now LGBTQ advocates and creating change within their own communities.

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The *NSYNC fandom remains fervent supporters, even after the group’s hiatus in 2002. The group completed five nationwide concert tours and sold over 70 million records, becoming one of the best-selling boy bands in history. While in junior high school, Lance was approached by Justin Timberlake after the group’s initial bass singer dropped out. He auditioned, left school, and moved to Orlando to start rehearsing with the group full time. Even as *NSYNC became a global phenomenon, the boys were in a bubble.

For years, we had no idea how big it got. It seemed like every day we were booked every hour. We didn’t get to really watch tv or listen to the radio.

It was great because it kept us very humble. We were always chasing the Backstreet Boys. We always felt inferior to them, always trying to prove ourselves or get respect. It wasn’t really until 1999/2000 when we started realizing the impact we were having. We performed “Music Of My Heart” with Gloria Estefan at the Oscars and it was so surreal to be standing on stage in front of people who we’ve looked up to our whole lives. That was kind of where it dawned on us that this was big.

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To Lance, the realization of success was a double-edged sword.

As success grows, there’s more outside influence as a group and also as an individual, especially for teenagers who are becoming adults. With more success, the less close we became. The first few years, we were in it together by ourselves. There was no outside influence and we formed this brotherhood that could never be broken. All we had was each other. More success meant more influence from the outside and sometimes it got in the way. I see that a lot with every musician I know. It’s somehow always the outside that destroys their art.

I hate to say I regret anything, but of course I do. In hindsight, there are many things I would have changed.

Number one, I would have at least wanted to tell my four brothers that I was gay. I wish I could have told them the truth. I think it would have led me to be a different person within the group.

I look back in different interviews and I don’t even recognize who I was - I just wanted to fade into the background and I tried to do just that. If I could have

been open and honest with the guys, I would have been a different person and a better performer.

Much media speculation has been made about why the group hasn’t reunited. Timberlake took the group’s hiatus to start his solo career and what was to last six months turned into an indefinite break.

I think it’s ridiculous we never said goodbye - the fans are owed at least owed that. One last song, one last show.

Though not the full reunion fans have been asking for, Lance and bandmate Joey Fatone joined forces with Backstreet Boys members AJ McLean and Nick Carter to create the ultimate boyband Back-Synch. Their debut performance would raise money for The Trevor Project. With a nod to the future of boybands, the group’s appearance was total nostalgia with the singers performing as well as ever.

I love the stage, I love being a ham, I love performing. The main thing that drew me to Back-Sync was the charity angle. It was great that three of my close straight friends were so passionate about giving back to the LGBTQ community. All in all, it was a great experience and I would love to continue to do it around Pride every year.

THIS PAGE: PHOTOS BY DENNYS ILIC

IF I COULD HAVE BEEN OPEN AND HONEST WITH THE GUYS (*NSYNC), I WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT PERSON AND A BETTER PERFORMER.”

Post *NSYNC would keep Lance busy with appearances on Broadway, in film, reality TV, and more, including a long-running stint with SiriusXM with Dirty Pop, his daily take on pop culture with celebrity guests. He has never been far from the media’s attention, especially present in Lance’s private life events such as becoming a husband and father.

I’ve been in the public eye for most of my life so I don’t know anything different. The husband I am and the father I am is just me being who I should be. I also understand the whole world is watching and I want to be a good influence - someone that people look up to. I took that very seriously at such a young age because I was in a boyband with so many young impressionable fans. It’s always been that way my whole life. I chose to do good in this world and that spills into my home life as well. At the end of the day, there will always be outside chatter and noise and I’ve learned to not let it affect my real life.

Lance has turned his efforts to the nightlife, becoming an entrepreneur in West Hollywood with the opening of the always packed Rocco’s and, most recently, Heart. Where Rocco’s serves up that neighborhood, sports bar feel with a bit of glitz, Heart is the mega dance club that West Hollywood never had. No matter your taste, you will end up brushing elbows with a celeb. His mission is to create a fun, safe space for anyone who needs to forget their troubles and experience inclusive fellowship, even if it’s just a few hours.

Nightlife has been a huge part of my life since I was a teenager. The music industry happens at night. I’ve seen the best bars, clubs, restaurants, and VIP experiences all over the world. It’s easy to start getting accustomed to the way things should be run and be familiar with what people want. I didn’t come into this with strictly business in mind, I came into this as a patron who wanted to experience the best of the best. When my partners came to me about wanting to open up a gay sports bar in West Hollywood, I jumped at the chance. I am gay and I love sports - it made perfect sense! I also loved that I could use my love for hospitality in a fun way. I’m always the one hosting parties at my house - why not at my own sports bar or club?! I had NO idea it would blow up the way it has with our little bar and now owning a nightclub. It makes so much

sense to me.

Additionally, I now have an entertainment venue that the LGBTQ community can use as their own - which was a dream I never thought I ever had. I wanted to give our community a stage for them to do whatever they want and we did just that.

David Cooley and Lisa Vanderpump, two of my very good friends, own a lot of bars/ restaurants in the Weho area so I saw how they handled it and they definitely gave me great advice. The best part of my job in this scene is that I’m entertainment only. All of the other partners have their own expertise.

I stay in my lane and it’s a way less stressful lane because no one is looking at me to operate the club, thankfully. I’m there to make sure the entertainment is amazing.

I’ve learned that people need a safe space to be themselves and the LGBTQ community can be VERY loyal. We have our neighborhood regulars that are at Rocco’s every single week and it becomes a neighborhood family. A lot of the people that I work with

also go there regularly just because they love it so much. I love being able to give this neighborhood a place to go and not worry about being themselves. You can also meet SO many different types of people. It’s incredible to see every ethnicity, body type, and identity dancing together in a space that represents the actual world we live in.

Throughout his career, his fans have been at the heart of everything. From the positive response of his coming out to the thrill of seeing Lance grow into the man he has become, they are unwavering.

The fans have been such an intricate part of my entire life. Being in the type of band I was in, it was all about the fans as much as it was about entertainment and music.

Their continued support is so humbling. I’m so appreciative that they’ve stuck by me all these years and now join in the fight for a lot of the things that I care about which include LGBTQ rights, environment, and animals.

It’s nice to be an influence for someone to do better in this world so I appreciate them more than they could ever imagine.

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WINE COUNTRY IS A REGION OF CALIFORNIA IN THE NORTHERN BAY AREA KNOWN WORLD-

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The region is famed for its wineries, its cuisine, Michelin star restaurants, boutique hotels, luxury resorts, historic architecture, culture, and nearly perfect year-round weather.

Picturesque Sonoma County is among the LGBT-friendliest areas in the nation and was identified as the number two gayest area in the US, just behind San Francisco. This is the backdrop for one of the premier gay getaway events in the country, Gay Wine Weekend, brought to us by Out in the Vineyard, an experiential Wine Country event and travel company promoting positive LGBT lifestyles.

Gay Wine Weekend started in 2008 as a way to introduce the LGBTQ community to this wine region and support local gay causes. It’s grown in participation over the years from 300 to an anticipated group of 700 this year. “We have a number of guests who plan their vacation around Gay Wine Weekend and return annually,” noted Gary Saperstein, owner of Out in the Vineyard.“Gay wine enthusiasts come from as far as New Zealand to participate each year,” he added.

In addition to offering a first-rate Wine Country experience, Gay Wine Weekend also serves as a fundraising event to benefit Face to Face, a non-profit organization in Sonoma County dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS. “Over the years, through ticket sales and our annual live auction, we’ve been able to raise over $400,000 for a local organization that makes a meaningful impact to our community,” Saperstein revealed.

This year the festivities will run Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17 at various venues surrounding the city of Sonoma. From the time you join the VIP kickoff on Friday afternoon, you’ll experience a weekend of gourmet food, winery tours, after-hour parties, a Drag Queen Brunch & Wine Auction, a pool party, and the ultimate vineyard fete: The Twilight T-Dance. It’s truly a weekend of wine and celebration.

You can choose to participate in as many or few Gay Wine Weekend events as you wish, but the All Access VIP Pass available at outinthevineyard.com will provide the best value for those ready to soak up the whole Sonoma experience.

The opening VIP reception is for All Access VIP Pass Holders, The Lodge at Sonoma hotel guests and sponsors of Gay Wine Weekend.

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GET READY FOR ‘THREE DAYS OF GAY’ IN SONOMA WINE COUNTRY GAY WINE WEEKEND 2022 IS BACK!

BY JAMES DELYEA PAGES 30-31: GAY WINE WEEKEND PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEDMAG.COM

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WIDE AS THE PREMIER WINE -GROWING REGION.

GAY WINE WEEKEND - SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

(Some activities require separate ticketing.)

FRIDAY, JULY 15 3:00pm 6:00pm 10:00pm

VIP Reception Winemaker Dinners After-Hours Party

SATURDAY, JULY 16 10:00am 5:00pm 6:30pm 10:00pm

Winery Tours VIP Reception Twilight T-Dance After-Hours Party

SUNDAY, JULY 17 10:00am 1:00pm

Drag Brunch & Auction Pool Party

Guests will enjoy light bites from our host hotel while sipping some fine wines poolside. Meet your hosts and other guests as the weekend events officially kick-off.

Local winemakers have partnered with restaurants and world-class chefs to create intimate and exclusive dinners Friday evening.

Still available as of this writing are the Ashes & Diamond Winery’s dinner at Chef Michael Mina’s newest venue, Wit & Wisdom; Equality Vine’s dinner at El Dorado Kitchen hosted

by Jim Obergefell; or join Etude Winery as they showcase their enticing pinot noirs with cuisine prepared by heralded Chef Chad Carlstedt of Classic Culinaire. Something new this year is an all plant-based dinner with two pioneers in the industry, Miyoko of Miyoko’s Creamery and Chef Eric Tucker of Millennium Restaurant. Their cuisine will be paired with the wines of Knights Bridge Winery and will be held at the original Williams-Sonoma store.

Select from three winery tours on Saturday which include transportation and lunch. Discover Carneros Region wines with a visit to both Roche Winery and Viansa Winery, with one of the most spectacular vistas overlooking Sonoma. Or get an up-close look, and taste, of two treasures of Napa Valley, Stag’s Leap and Etude Winery. Another option is a VIP visit to Dunstan and Sangiacomo Winery, two of Sonoma’s finest that are known for their wines and their vineyards.

Chateau St. Jean Winery once again will host the Twilight T-Dance, the signature extravaganza of the three-day weekend featuring food, entertainment, and a selection of their wines in one of the most stunning Wine Country settings imaginable.

Sunday morning starts with the Drag Queen Recovery Brunch. Guests will be entertained by San Francisco’s infamous hostess of hostesses, Ruby Red Munro, while enjoying a sumptuous Champagne brunch which is immediately followed by a fun and lively Wine Auction to benefit Face to Face.

The last splash of the weekend is a pool party hosted at a private estate, where guests can relax in an idyllic location with warm rays and cool vibes. It’s the perfect way to unwind on a Sunday in Wine Country before heading home.

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For full details on event, lodging and ticket information: https://www.outinthevineyard.com/ gay-wine-weekend-2022 METROSOURCE.COM

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THE SUITE AND SWEET LIFE OF

SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL TO THE CITY BY THE BAY IN STYLE

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BY MARK A. THOMPSON

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FOR MANY OF US, A SAN FRANCISCO LIFE CHAPTER IS ALMOST A PREREQUISITE TO LGBTQ+ ADULTHOOD.

The Clift Lobby.

Photo courtesy of The Clift.

Until you live in San Francisco, at least for a while, it feels like you’ve missed everyone’s favorite college elective. You might even lose your gay card without a sojourn in San Francisco.

Back when I first lived in San Francisco, the city was often depicted as Oz. One of the most popular postcards showed Dorothy and her friends following the yellow brick road to the skyline of San Francisco.

The message was clear: San Francisco was the Emerald City where everyone was fierce and fabulous and rainbow horses were the norm. The City - always rendered in uppercase for those who resided there - was perceived as such a gay mecca that some politicians from that era castigated it as “the land of fruits and nuts,”an epithet that San Francisco turned on its head and wholeheartedly embraced.

And like the protagonists of the HBO television series Looking, sometimes you need to return to your alma mater, the scene of your youthful indiscretions - and see what you’ve been missing.

As any student of history knows, San Francisco has overcome adversity before. Less than ten years after the 1906 earthquake and fire reduced much of The City to rubble and ash, San Francisco welcomed the world to celebrate its rebirth with the PanamaPacific International Exposition of 1915.

Learning to pivot and strategize in the face of disaster has become a global narrative during the COVID-19 pandemic. San Francisco responded with a citywide COVID-19 Prevention & Enhanced Cleaning Guidelines which ensures that hospitality businesses adhere to approved cleaning and safety protocols. Nearly 26 million people visited San Francisco in 2019, with more than three million international visitors - and all visitors to San Francisco are invited to honor and respect the city’s Safe Travel Pledge.

To welcome and assist visitors, San Francisco Travel launched a marketing campaign with the theme “Our Gate is Open.” The citywide initiative includes a fleet of Welcome Ambassadors dressed in bright orange hats and jackets who offer advice on transit options, tourist attractions, restaurants, and shopping.

In the wake of the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco faced a similar dilemma: how to bring people safely back to Oz. In response, the visionary hotel proprietor Frederick C. Clift advertised his brand-new, 300-room hotel, The Clift, as The City’s first “fire and earthquake proof”hotel. Should anyone have doubted his claim, Clift perched himself atop the hotel in a spacious penthouse apartment with sweeping panoramic city views.

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(above)

Executive Suite. (below)

Redwood Room.

Photo courtesy of The Clift.

Photos courtesy of John’s Grill.

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For more than a century, the Clift has stood as a symbol of San Francisco’s resurrection and welcoming hospitality. One year during Folsom Street Fair, my husband and I checked into the hotel when Asia de Cuba was located just off the Redwood Room - and that weekend, the hotel’s dining room was home to more leather and boots than a Harley Davidson club.

Now known as The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, they recently completed a two-year, multimillion-dollar restoration of all its public spaces, guest rooms and suites. The soaring two-story lobby leads into the new Living Room with seating for cocktails or meetings, while the hotel’s iconic oversized French fauteuil (with its knowing wink on the underside) has been reupholstered and repositioned alongside Fredericks, the hotel’s new eatery and café named for Mr. Clift.

For those who love classic speakeasy cocktails, the hotel’s beloved Redwood Room retains its Art Deco charms. Paneled in redwood from a single tree, the Prohibition-era room features newly restored paintings by Gustav Klimt and a bar carved from an 800-year-old redwood tree. It is the kind of room that makes you forget all your troubles, especially when sipping the hotel’s signature “Mr. Clift” cocktail.

And speaking of, Frederick Clift’s penthouse apartment has been transformed into the Spanish Suite, a sophisticated aerie with an expansive terrace,

fireplace, and space enough for 125 guests. The city and bay vistas of the entire Bay Area offer a breathtaking backdrop for wedding ceremonies - just in case you get a bit juiced in the Redwood Room and pop the question. Hey, it happens. In the years before samesex marriage was the law of the land, my now-hubby and I got hitched in San Francisco’s City Hall - our first government-sanctioned certificate.

And since we’re talking nuptials, the Clift’s newly renovated suites are larger than many city apartments and come outfitted with Staycast TV streaming service, Keurig coffee makers, rainfall showerheads, and signature Sonesta bedding. In-room Pelotons are also available, should you feel the urge to exercise. Sumptuously furnished and immaculate, the suites are so lovely that you might imagine them as your own San Francisco pied-à-terre. And for those who are always in the mood for love, the hotel’s Pop the Bubbly package can be enjoyed throughout the year.

In the title essay of her collection The White Album, Joan Didion wrote that the Sixties ended abruptly on August 9, 1969 with the implication that the California Dream had shattered in the aftermath of the Manson murders. Nonetheless, the massive migration of LGBTQ+ people to San Francisco continued, and today, San Francisco holds the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ people of any city in the United States.

Maybe it’s the food. According to the latest Michelin Guide, the Bay Area has once again claimed the top spot with the highest concentration of threestar restaurants in the States, as well as the most Michelin-starred restaurants in California. Furthermore, more than sixty area restaurants have been awarded Michelin’s Bib Gourmand designation for restaurants offering “great food and value.”

Located just off Union Square, the Clift is but a short stroll from One Market where Chef Mark Dommen helms the kitchen. In response to the pandemic, Dommen and his partner opened Mark ‘n Mikes offering Jewish deli comfort food - a concept that proved so popular that it’s now served on Saturdays at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

But if you are looking to be where the magic happens, then claim a ringside seat at the Chef’s Counter at One Market where Dommen and his crackerjack crew showcase the best of California bounty at the open exhibition kitchen with its wood-fired grill and rotisserie. Just as a tip, loaded latkes pair well with the Monkey Business cocktail. And there is no better butterscotch pudding in the state of California. When Pride weekend rolls around in June, remember that One Market is located near the parade kick-off at the base of Market Street.

When you are ready to burn off your gastronomic indulgences, head to Golden Gate Park. With more than one thousand acres and nearly 700 of them

Photos courtesy of One Market.

forested, the park is larger than Manhattan’s Central Park and includes 100 acres of meadows, 33 acres of lakes, 10 public gardens, two museums, and a greenhouse (but no partridge in a pear tree, last I looked). Or you might consider the 17-mile Crosstown Trail which connects San Francisco’s neighborhoods on a diagonal pathway across The City.

San Francisco’s 49 square miles also include the nation’s most visited national park, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area which encompasses the 1,500-acre Presidio of San Francisco and the brand-new Presidio Tunnel Tops which offers 14 acres of new national parkland.

Of course, the more you walk, the more you’ve earned the right to park yourself in another restaurant. In the 1920s, novelist Dashiell Hammett used to work through the mornings in the Flood Building and then head next door for lunch (and a whiskey) at John’s Grill. Hammett made mention of John’s in his 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon and the bond between Hammett and John’s is marked with a commemorative plaque above the door of the restaurant, as well as a 150-lb. bronze falcon perched on the second-floor bar.

Opened in 1908, two years after the earthquake and fire, John’s Grill has been serving seafood and steaks to the city’s politicians and celebrities for more than a century. As owner John Konstin attests, the restaurant is a labor of love, inherited from his parents, and The City returns the favor as evidenced by the framed photographs lining the restaurant’s walls. And if you squint long enough at your martini, you’ll see the spirit of Sam Spade.

Some people claim that San Francisco has changed, which is often a complaint expressed by those who rhapsodize about their youth and the world as it was then. The truth is, all cities change, but if you are yearning for that classic San Francisco neighborhood, then head up to Nob Hill where the“nabobs”of the Gilded Age built their mansions at the peak of California Street. When the 1906 earthquake decimated that rarefied enclave, only two structures survived the fires: the Flood mansion (now the Pacific-Union Club) and the newly completed Fairmont Hotel. Built in honor of US Senator James Graham Fair by his two daughters, the hotel reopened its doors less than a year later in 1907 - primarily due to the brilliance of American architect METROSOURCE.COM

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(above)

Tinned scallops. (below)

Shrimp and Crab Roll.

Bluestem photos

by Kelly Puleio.

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The Fairmont Lobby.

Photo courtesy of The Fairmont.

Photo courtesy of Bluestem Restaurant & Market

and engineer Julia Morgan who pioneered the use of reinforced concrete.

During the course of its century-long reign atop Nob Hill, the Fairmont San Francisco has hosted so many US presidents that it’s often referred to as the “White House of the West.” There is a resemblance between the two buildings, especially when facing the hotel’s porte cochère which leads into a palatial white marble lobby of massive columns and grand staircases. Take the stairs. The Fairmont is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and those staircases are made for exits and entrances. Plus, that sense of arrival is particularly pleasing when entering one of the hotel’s signature Fairmont Balcony Suites.

With two pairs of French doors that open onto a filigreed terrace large enough for candlelit dinner parties, the Fairmont Balcony Suites are beloved by guests for their jawdropping views of the Bay. Few sights are more mesmerizing than watching the fog roll in and blanket the city, especially if you’ve got

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Tony Bennett singing in your head. That statue by the front entrance is in honor of Tony Bennett’s long association with the hotel in which he debuted his signature tune“I Left My Heart in San Francisco”in the Venetian Room in 1961.

When my husband and I found the doors open to the Venetian Room, how could I resist?

How could I not climb onstage where Tony and Diana Ross and countless other legends have performed? How could we not photograph the moment for posterity? Plus, we were a little loopy from our evening at Tonga, the hotel’s tiki bar.

Yes, a tiki bar - and I know what you’re thinking, but even a tiki bar cynic could be converted after a night at Tonga. Since its opening in 1945, Tonga has become a San Francisco tradition as cherished as the cable cars. Housed in what was once the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, the Fairmont Plunge became a lagoon designed by an MGM set director, complete with an island band on a thatch-covered barge.

Once the tropical rainstorm commences,

the crowd goes wild as the Island Groove Band warms up, and the gung-ho atmosphere quickly becomes irresistible, especially under the influence of drinks notable for their potency. You, too, might find yourself tap-dancing onstage in the Venetian Room.

Fortunately, the Fairmont Balcony Suites feature an elegant parlor with separate bedroom and marble bath - in other words, a welcome sanctuary after a long night out. Morning coffee on the terrace overlooking the hotel’s gardens and apiary is wonderfully therapeutic, as is breakfast at Laurel Court. With its pastoral murals and Ionic columns, the ornatelydomed restaurant summons reveries of Versailles - although that might be a tiki-bar hallucination.

When the sun is shining in San Francisco, there’s no good reason not to continue the party, regardless of the hour. Take a cable car down Nob Hill for a restorative wander through Yerba Buena Gardens.

When you’re ready to eat again - because, after all, this is the best eating town in the US - make haste and head over to Bluestem Restaurant & Market.

Bluestem’s founders Adam and Stacy are the unofficial mayors of the neighborhood, and their California-cool brasserie serves as a lively commissary for locals, thanks to large part to the couple’s infectious ebullience. Of course, there is also that cast-iron cornbread, served with honey butter or vanilla ice cream, whichever your preference. With a focus on sustainable local food, Bluestem’s curated market offers some of the best Bay Area comestibles.

On Pride weekend, Bluestem hosts an annual Pride party on their rooftop terrace as the parade marches up Market Street. And should the night before haunt you still, there’s no better cure-all than Bluestem’s famous Honolulu Hangover Cake.

And that’s San Francisco for you, that bit of sweetness that lingers on the palate.

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SEVEN ROMANTIC HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES Photo courtesy of the Belmond Orient Express.

MAUI, PARIS, AND VENICE ARE ALL OBVIOUS HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS, BUT HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A ROMANTIC TRAIN RIDE WITH BELMOND, THE FORMER ORIENT EXPRESS TRAINLINE? OR SKIING THE DOLOMITES, OR CRUISING ALONG CROATIA’S NORTHERN COAST? OR SOMEWHERE CLOSER TO HOME LIKE HISTORICAL RICHMOND OR QUAINT DOOR COUNTY? There

are no real rules for picking a honeymoon location, just be sure to select a spot where you can spend quality time with your new spouse and start your life together in style!

BELMOND - THE ORIENT EXPRESS TRAIN

Back in the day, couples might have romanticized about taking the legendary Orient Express, a long-distance passenger train service created in 1883 with the original train leaving Paris for Vienna. The formal route changed several times, with services often extending from Paris and the former Constantinople or from London to Venice or Athens. In 2014 Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. was renamed Belmond with an impressive list of hotels, river cruises, safaris, and luxury train rides. A fashion-conscious yet adventurous couple might consider traveling from London to Venice on the iconic and signature Venice Simplon-Orient-Express line to crisscross Europe while taking in the countryside en route to the Italian coastline. Put a cherry on top of your adventure with Belmond by staying at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice where you and your lover can take a dip in the famous Olympic-style swimming pool and relish in total Venetian luxury and style. For a taste of Asia, honeymooners can experience Southeast Asia aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express with their signature journey from Singapore through Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Penang, and Huay Yang or a classic journey from Bangkok to Singapore.

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DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN

Wisconsin’s Door County, considered the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” has over 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, providing phenomenal sunsets over the water and acres upon acres of orchards, mouthwatering cherries, and eleven lighthouses to provide the best thank you card or Instagramable moment. Door County is a completely LGBT-friendly community and offers full-service resorts, romantic B&Bs, and luxury waterfront hotels for honeymooners. Nine must-see landmarks include the Sturgeon Bay Bridge, Eagle Tower, Northern Sky Theater, Thordarson Boathouse, all eleven lighthouses, Anderson Dock, the Alexander Noble House, the Native American Village Site, and The Clearing Folk School. The Chanticleer Guest House Bed and Breakfast is an adorable 19th Century farmhouse converted into a bed and breakfast that’s ready to welcome you. In addition to a variety of guestrooms on the main property, guests can choose a little more privacy in their Evergreen Cottage, Oak Cottage, or their Hemlock Cabin. Nearby, the Eagle Harbor Inn offers a bit more of a community vibe where you can indulge in their sauna and indoor pool, go for a hike, or hit the links on the nearby golf course. The Bayshore Inn, celebrating 100 years of business, offers beautiful water view suites, a heated swimming pool and whirlpool and provides complimentary bikes, kayaks, row boats, paddle boats, and a private sandy beach just across from Green Bay.

(above)

Island Sunset. (below)

Fish Creek.

Photo by Dan Eggert Destination Door County

(above)

ENNISKILLEN, NORTHERN IRELAND

Lough Erne Resort. (below)

Lough MacNean.

Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, situated on a natural island separating the North and South of Lough Erne in Northern Ireland. The scenic backdrop is the spot where Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett went to boarding school (at Portora Royal) and the landscape provides a myriad of lush and poetic locations for portraits and quiet honeymoon adventures. The luxurious 5-Star Lough Erne Resort, home to the G8 Summit in 2013, is a decadent and upscale property featuring 120 luxury rooms and suites, a Thai-inspired luxury Spa, 36-hole golf course, and spectacular restaurants curated by award-winning Chef Noel McMeel. The resort’s Lakeview Suites, overlooking Castle Hume Lough and the Fermanagh Lakelands serve as the ultimate home base for a honeymoon in Northern Ireland. Be sure to take a romantic walk around Enniskillen castle, and the picturesque Devenish Island. Lough MacNean, just about a half hour drive from Enniskillen, is a stunning freshwater lake on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Get your cameras ready, you’re in for a treat with this stunning landscape.

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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

(above)

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. (below)

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Photo courtesy of The Jefferson Hotel

(above)

Quebec photo by Paul Fleming.

With 400 years of history, a vibrant arts scene, fabulous restaurants, and worldrenowned museums there’s something for everyone in Richmond. Honeymooners can embark on a romantic canal cruise on the James River and Kanawha Canal alongside Richmond’s historic Canal Walk or take in the impressive collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as well as the beautiful Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Be sure to check out Maymont, a 100-acre Victorian estate and public park featuring gardens, an arboretum, and nature center. The stunning Jefferson Hotel in Richmond has been welcoming lovers since 1895. Book a swank Richmond Suite at the hotel featuring a king bed, adjoining dressing area, and master bath featuring a luxurious soaking tub and separate shower. Champagne is additional, of course. Fun fact: The 1981 cult classic My Dinner with Andre featuring Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory was shot entirely inside the hotel and restaurant. In the mood for a little antiquing? It’s what married couples do, isn’t it? Carytown has got you covered. Stroll through an eclectic mix of shops and find the perfect souvenir to bring to your new home.

If the weather’s nice and you’re on the hunt for a bit of nature, Belle Isle is a wonderful place for kayaking, biking, hiking trails, and even a glimpse of history.

(below)

Quebec photo by Martin Laporte.

QUEBEC

Picturesque Old Quebec, a UNESCO heritage site, is the only walled city north of Mexico. For over a century, Québec City’s Fairmont Le Château Frontenac has been the castle many dream about. This castle has welcomed kings, queens, presidents, celebrities, and diplomats alike. In 1952, the Château Frontenac was transformed into a movie set for Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, I Confess starring Montgomery Clift and Anne Baxter.

Lovers visiting Quebec can find horse-drawn carriages, the Place Royale, the Musée de la civilisation, and stunning views of the St. Lawrence River from the Old Port. Take a stroll down the rue Saint-Jean and take in local shops and landmark spots from central Place D’Youville. The street is closed to traffic all summer long so friends and lovers can meander around and smell the roses.

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PULA, CROATIA

Croatia might not come to mind when planning a vacation yet but one trip to the Istrian coastline will definitely make even the most cynical groom a total romantic. One of Caesar Augustus’strongholds, Pula boasts a spectacular Roman amphitheater known as the Arena of Pula and has a remarkable number of Venetian and Byzantine architectural landmarks. In addition to the Arena, one can take in the spectacular Temple of Augustus, Triumphal Arch of the Sergii, Hercules Gate, and the 4th century Cathedral. The massive Park Plaza Histria Pula offers 368 modern rooms, a luxury spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and close proximity to a Blue Flag-awarded beach. The boutique Valsabbion features exquisitely designed (and spacious) rooms, a Mythos-Medical Spa Center, and outdoor heated swimming pool with sea views. Situated just outside of Pula, this spot is the perfect place to enjoy the company of your new spouse in a private yet gorgeous background.

(above)

Arena of Pula Croatia. (below)

Remple of Augustus Croatia.

SOUTH TYROL, ITALY

Honeymooning in Italy might normally entail a yacht off the coast of Positano, gallery hopping and cruising through fields of sunflowers in Tuscany or having a La Dolce Vita moment in Rome. Adventure seekers might pursue the mountain air of South Tyrol, a province in northeastern Italy affectionately known as “the other side of Italy.”This picturesque alpine region, situated on the border of Austria as well as the weather divide is a photographer’s paradise year-round. Heard of the Dolomites?

Pack your skis and get ready for spectacular views and a landscape built for skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, cycling, and more. Ski resorts in the area include Kronplatz, Alta Badia, and the extremely popular Val Gardena - Gröden. If you’re a bit more into the apres-ski, South Tyrol’s Meran Spa is the perfect place to spend much of your honeymoon.

Treat yourself to an immersive thermal bath experience with 25 pools, saunas, plenty of treatments, and a broad array of spacious rest and relaxation rooms. Looking to up your gastronomy game?

South Tyrol boasts roughly 26 Michelin stars at restaurants like Alpenroyal Gourmet, Hotel Ristorante Elephant, and Parkhotel Holzner. Summer in the Alps brings a wide range of romantic possibilities with pristine lakes and outdoor pools, winding hiking trails over peaks and sweeping valleys, and wine tasting with the peaks of the Dolomites in the distance. A visit to South Tyrol is a masterclass in joie-de-vivre. What a way to spend a honeymoon.

(above)

Südtirol Alto Adige.

Photo by Tobias Kaser (below)

Südtirol Wein.

Phot by Tiberio Sorvillo

Our bags are packed. Can we come with you? ■ METROSOURCE.COM

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AS JEOPARDY! CONTESTANT AMY SCHNEIDER TOOK TO THE SOUNDSTAGE, she had no clue

that she would end up being one of America’s favorite people of the year, making history as the show’s all-time most successful female contestant. She was just trying to get through her first episode. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I had done extensive mental preparation to get ready for that emotion. For one thing, in the week or so leading up to the taping, I really focused on the fact that I might lose in my first episode, and that it would be ok if I did. I realized that my fear of losing was getting strong enough that it risked becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. My mantra throughout was “stay in the moment,” and I think I managed to do that well.

She had been waiting for that moment since eighth grade when she was nominated “Most Likely to Appear on Jeopardy!”Hers has been a lifelong journey into the world of knowledge.

I think it is fair to say I was always a smarty pants. Learning has always come naturally to me, at least in part because I was raised in a family that valued it. I learned from my parents that knowing stuff is fun! It helps you engage with the world more fully, because the more you know, the more associations you have with whatever you are doing or reading or watching, and that can help you see the unstated assumptions and associations behind things I have always been a heavy reader, and I doubt that will ever change. I tend to lean towards history because a knowledge of history inevitably gives insight into just about everything else:

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literature, philosophy, politics, technology’s place in society, etc. I have also had a habit for years, when I had some downtime, I would to go to Wikipedia and just click around until I found something new or interesting.

Even with her eighth-grade nomination and years of knowledge in her pocket, the road to appearing on the show was a long one. Hard to believe that a history-making champion almost never made it to the show. What was the process?

The first stage is an online test, 50 questions, 15 seconds each. During the years I was auditioning, you could only take it once a year at designated times. I did that step about ten times over the 15 or so years I was auditioning. After that, they take all the scores over a certain cutoff, and randomly select people from that group for an in-person audition.

That consists of another 50-question test - I suspect to make sure you weren’t cheating on the online test. Then you chat with the Jeopardy! people a bit and they run you through a mock game. The purpose there is to determine whether you seem engaging and interesting to watch on TV, and to see if you can move fast.

Jeopardy! runs at a really fast pace, and contestants who paused before picking every clue would kill the momentum.

At that point, you would be told that you were in the active pool, and sometime in the next 18 months, you might get a call to be on the show. And if you didn’t, then it was back to square one. I believe the time I got on the show was the third or fourth time I had made it to that last stage.

AMY

SCHNEIDER

JOINING THE JEOPARDY! MILLION DOLLAR CLUB, STAYING GROUNDED, AND MAKING HISTORY FOR LGBTQ REPRESENTATION

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

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How does one even prepare for an appearance on Jeopardy!?

Well, I always say you cannot really study for Jeopardy!, but to the extent you can, the best way is to go through actual Jeopardy clues. The site j-archive.com has every clue ever in it. I would just go through game after game and watch for patterns in things I consistently did not know e.g., getting the Bronte sisters confused, remembering the different layers of the atmosphere. I would try to think of mnemonics so I would remember them if needed. Apart from that, there was the mental preparation described above, which also included the decision I made at the last minute to not worry about appearing “feminine,” but just to be myself and trust that it would be ok. And it was!

As her run on the show continued episode after episode, month to month, the media and fan attention exploded. She was a hit, an American hero. One day she went from engineering manager to pop culture icon. When did she know she was becoming a sensation?

I knew I’d be getting a decent amount of media attention. I just didn’t know how much. There are a couple of things that stand out. One was when I started seeing clickbait headlines about me such as “Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider reveals <some banal fact I mentioned on Twitter>.” And the other was when my run ended. I assumed that the demands on my time would drop off noticeably once I wasn’t on TV, but that didn’t turn out to be the case, which really threw off my planning.

Her presence in pop culture was even further ignited by the fact that she was also making history for LGBTQ representation as the first openly transgender contestant to qualify for the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions on one of America’s most beloved shows, a staple in the nation’s homes since 1964. The show has casually featured contestants who have openly talked about their same-sex spouse, but it wasn’t until the year prior to Amy’s appearance that Kate Freeman, who won, would become the first openly trans contestant in the program’s history. Amy’s appearance on the show as a trans woman was not introduced with pomp and circumstance, but rather with a nonchalant nod to inclusivity. Amy was there on her own terms with her own trepidation.

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NOBODY ON JEOPARDY! MENTIONED THE FACT THAT I WAS TRANS UNTIL I BROUGHT IT UP MYSELF

BY CHOOSING TO WEAR A TRANS FLAG PIN DURING ONE OF MY EPISODES.”

PAGE 42-46: PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMY SCHNEIDER

Nobody on Jeopardy! mentioned the fact that I was trans until I brought it up myself by choosing to wear a trans flag pin during one of my episodes. It was clear to me that, had I not brought it up, they would have been perfectly fine with never mentioning or alluding to it, and I really appreciated that.

I know what can happen to people who are trans and in the public eye. I also struggled with the dysphoria that being on TV brought to the surface, particularly around my hair and voice. But I got much

less negativity online than expected, A national TV appearance was a stress test for that dysphoria, so it was challenging but worthwhile. I’ve come out the other side with a much better relationship to my body and my appearance than I started out with.

According to Amy, being trans is one part of who she is. She wanted to represent that part of her identity as important, but relatively minor. Other contestants’ private lives were not often headline material, why should hers?

Does she think the media, and even the LGBTQ

community, affix labels for headline buzz?

I think that’s true to a certain extent.

I know to many people I am “the trans Jeopardy! contestant,” and I don’t love that it’s the case. But on the other hand, labels are important. It took me decades to understand my identity because, when I was growing up, I didn’t have any label for the feelings I had. Had I known that a thing called “trans” existed, maybe I would have realized a lot sooner that it matched who I was, and that would have spared me years of suffering in the closet.

Even as a child, diversity and inclusivity were parts of Amy’s life.

I think the most important things I learned came from growing up specifically in the Five Oaks neighborhood of Dayton. Dayton’s an extremely segregated city, but Five Oaks was one of the few diverse neighborhoods. It was a very conscious decision by my parents that I not be raised in an all-white environment, and I’m really grateful for that decision.

As I got older, I could see how irrational my friends from the suburbs were about “sketchy” or “dangerous” areas. Obviously, I am still tainted by our nation’s culture of white supremacy, but that inoculated me from the worst of it.

In a circle of events, her coming out was inspired by the entertainment industry, an industry in which she would later make history.

Ten years ago, I was in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, playing Francis Flute. He’s a comic character, who performs in a play-within-a-play at the end but is forced to play a female role in it.

The text plays up his dismay, but I decided to have him be into it. And then playing a character who was into performing as a woman, I suddenly had the thought “What if I just did that, in my daily life? What if I introduced myself to people with a female name?” And I was shocked at how right that felt. It took me years from that point to really accept that I was trans, and most of another year to come out. But from the moment I first had that thought, my coming out was inevitable.

Amy recently made headlines once again as it was announced that she would marry her long-time girlfriend, this time headlines not focusing on her trans identity, but rather what the ring looked like.

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Genevieve Davis and Amy Schneider.

I knew she was going to propose in February, but I thought it might be on Valentine’s, or our anniversary. Instead, she invited some friends over on a random Tuesday, implying to me that she’d just invited one, but then other people had wanted to come over. I was so busy with everything going on that I didn’t notice anything strange even when she got dressed up just to hang out with friends at home. At some point, I stepped out for a bit, and when I came back in, she was on one knee. She completely surprised me!

Our friends had brought balloons, one of them recorded the proposal for us and, all in all, it was exactly how I dreamed it.

How did they meet?

Her brother was dating my friend, and through some set of circumstances wound up picking up my friend at my place, to drive her to meet her brother. She came up and chatted for a bit, I gave her a tarot reading, and we hit it off. Before we knew it, she was coming over to my place every night, and staying over on weekends. We were still officially “just friends,” for a long time, even as it became obvious to everyone except us that we were actually a couple until we finally gave in to the inevitable and started dating.

The continued success of Amy’s run extended her stay month after month. She was now a celebrity, acclimating to an entertainer’s way of life, bumps and all.

On the taping day there isn’t really time between episodes. You pretty much go change outfits, get your makeup touched

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up, and head back onstage. During the time between taping days, I just tried to rest. Maintaining that level of focus was exhausting and I needed to recharge as much as possible when I could.

The first taping was the first time I’d spent the night apart from Genevieve since she’d moved in. And it was tough! We’d have long video chats every night, but at some point, I had to sleep in my lonely hotel bed - not to mention how much I missed our cat Meep!

It was a final Jeopardy! answer of “Bangladesh” that would send Amy home after 41 episodes, $1,300,000, and a new career in pop culture. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy.

In the immediate aftermath, the main feeling was one of loss. Taping those episodes was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had in my life, and I was sorry to see it go. But after a day or two, I felt relieved. I’d known that my run would end at some point, and it had gone better than I ever dreamed, so I was glad to tie a bow on that part of my life and get back to my usual routine.

Well, it hasn’t exactly been a usual routine for Amy. She left her job, signed with CAA, and continues to make media headlines. With a wedding on the way, the future is bright. What’s next?

Well, I’m hoping to write a book. I’ve finished the proposal and now it’s just a matter of finding out whether there’s interest from publishers. Beyond that, I’ve been taking a lot of meetings about ideas for podcasts, TV shows, documentaries, etc. All of that is still in the exploratory

stages, and who knows if any of it will pan out, but I’m excited to see what happens!

Has she stayed grounded in the face of her newfound fame?

I think so. I mean, you’d probably need to ask the people around me to be sure.

But one thing I learned quickly is that there’s a public Amy, and a private Amy. While they have a lot of overlap, they’re not the same. So, I don’t need to let my public image affect how I am in my personal life.

I try to put my best face forward, of course, but at times I worry about showing an idealized version of myself. I do dumb things, I get angry, I drink too much sometimes, I’m secretly arrogant. I strive to be as authentic as possible in my public image, but I’m not showing all of myself by any means.

She has left her mark in TV history, become part of the Jeopardy! legacy, represented our community in millions of American households, and warmed our hearts. She is a delight. Her message to Jeopardy! fans?

Keep watching the show! I had a bunch of people tell me that it was boring without me, but stick with it! It is a great show.

And you know the beauty of it? I guarantee there will be another champion coming along that you can enjoy rooting for - or against. They might not win 40 games, but your next favorite Jeopardy! champion will be here sooner than you think.

■

You can follow Amy on IG: @JeopardAmy

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