Metrosource LA - AUG/SEP 2020

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.

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. 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.

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:

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.

 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.

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.

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.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at

MyDailyCharge.com

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, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP ASPIRING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved.

BVYC0197 03/20

DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP ASPIRING.

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.

See Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

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

30 YEARS LATER

UNIQUE, YET SIMILAR, NEEDS FOR COMMUNITY AND STRENGTH PICTURE IT – NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 1990 - the Gulf War loomed, the AIDS epidemic was growing, Sinead O’Connor was tops at the Video Music Awards, Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” hit theaters, and Metrosource published its first publication, a business directory where advertisers could let LGBTQ people know that their patronage was welcome at their places of business. Many milestone events have occurred in the LGBTQ community over the last 30 years, including: Vermont becoming the first state in the U.S., in 2000, to legalize civil unions and

EDITOR’S LETTER

registered partnerships between same-sex couples, and in 2004, Massachusetts becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage; “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed in 2010, allowing gays and lesbians to serve

PUBLISHER Bent Share Entertainment, LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING DIRECTOR Christopher Jackson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Steven Garcia FEATURE WRITER Alexander Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Day

Steve Gottfried Jeffrey James Keyes Eric Rosen Megan Venzin Michael Westman David Artavia

openly in the military; Same-sex marriage declared legal in all 50 states by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015; and the U.S Supreme Court also ruling in June 2020, that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination “because of sex,” includes gay and transgender employees. We continue to march on for equality for all.

30 years since its humble beginnings, Metrosource continues to publish and distribute nationally. Geared towards the modern metropolitan LGBTQ community, Metrosource covers popular culture, entertainment, design, travel, health and fitness, and telling the stories of gay and gay-friendly people. Some of the celebrities

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that have graced our cover, include: Zachary Qunito, Daniel Levy, Boy George, RuPaul, Betty White, Grace

VIEWS

Jones, Kathy Griffin, Ricky Martin, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Tim Gunn. Metrosource continues to connect its readers with the businesses that want to support the LGBTQ community. 2020 presents its own unique, yet similar, needs for community and strength, as it did in 1990.

Printing New York, Los Angeles and National editions bi-monthly, with corresponding digital issues, and a strong online and social media presence, Metrosource reaches over one million in the LGBTQ community. We are celebrating this milestone by looking forward and introducing new features and products to engage our readers and followers.“Metrosource Minis” podcast is one such feature, a short form audio and video podcast that features personalities from the LGBTQ world and beyond, and is available now on Apple podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, the Metrosource YouTube channel and Metrosource.com.

Bent Share Entertainment, LLC 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #438 Long Beach, CA 90803 800-818-0480

The first series of Metrosource Minis includes interviews with RuPaul’s Drag Race and HBO’s “We’re Here” personalities Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara, Emmy award winning journalist and author Byron Lane, Elizabeth Ziff from BETTY, and author and producer Josh Sabarra. Hosted by on-air personality Alexander Rodriguez, who also serves as Metrosource’s Features Writer, interviews them in his unique style of humor.

While we are all spending more time at home, Metrosource continues to connect with its growing audience with more to come! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @metrosource, Twitter @metrosourcemag, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/metrosource, and visit metrosource.com.

Subscriptions: One year (6 issues): $19.95; 12 issues: $34.95.

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. ©2020 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.

@metrosource @metrosource @metrosourcemag

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THIS PAGE: MICHELLE VISAGE PHOTO BY KATHY HUTCHINS/SHUTTERSTOCK • RUFUS WAINWRIGHT COURTESY PHOTO • BOB THE DRAG QUEEN COURTESY PHOTO • KALEN ALLEN PHOTO BY KIM NEWMONEY.

August/September 2020 | VOLUME 31, NO. 4

CONTENTS

17 30

17 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

24 37

UNFOLLOWING THE RULES SINCE 1998

24 MICHELLE VISAGE AN ALLY WITH AN ATTITUDE

30 BOB THE DRAG QUEEN AN EDUCATION IN LABELS, TERMS, AND IDEAS

34 30 YEARS OF METROSOURCE 37 KALEN ALLEN REACTS TO LIFE CORNBREAD, ELLEN, AND A HAMMOCK NAMED SASHA

34 ON THE COVER: photo courtesy of World of Wonder METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

5

DEPARTMENTS

August/September 2020 | VOLUME 31, NO. 4

46 40 CULTURE 7 THE SCOPE Canada’s Drag Race Shantay you stay, eh?

11 FINANCE Tips for a Healthy Relationship with Your Money

14 BOOK

43

Mind, Body & Spirit Four Hay House Books to Lean into This Fall

22 HOME Summertime Sippin’

46 TRAVEL National Parks to Put on Your Bucket List

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

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BODY 40 METRO HIV Love Knows No Status Beloved serodiscordant couple, recently wed in Venice, share their love story

43 HEALTH Cleanse, Strengthen and Heal your Skin Ten Nourishing Masks for Your Face

VIEWS 4 EDITOR’S LETTER 30 Years Later

THIS PAGE: ARCHES NATIONAL PARK PHOTO BY JACOB W. FRANK • CANADA’S DRAG RACE HOSTS PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAVE • PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVIDANDJOHNNY.ORG

8

THESCOPE

CULTURE

THESCOPE

CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE HAHN

LISTEN

KATY PERRY

UNVEILED “SMILE”

KATY PERRY UNVEILED “SMILE,” THE TITLE TRACK OF HER NEW ALBUM, which will be released by Capitol Records on August 14. The infectious, lifeaffirming song is brimming with gratitude and suggests that setbacks often turn out to be blessings in disguise.

“I wrote this song when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life,”says Katy.“When I listen to it now, it’s a great reminder that I made it through. It’s three minutes of energizing hopefulness.”

Earlier today, Katy revealed the album cover along with exclusive Smilethemed merchandise bundles, available now at http://katy.to/KPshopPR. Fans who pre-order the album will instantly receive“Smile”plus“Daisies,” the Gold-certified “Never Really Over” and “Harleys In Hawaii.”

Since its release in May,“Daisies” has amassed more than 125 million combined global streams. It is now top 10 at Hot AC radio. Last week, Katy shared an acoustic version of the song. While in quarantine, she’s won acclaim for the wide variety of performances she has given of “Daisies” – including the “American Idol” season finale, the launch of the 2020 “Good Morning America” Concert Series and the “Can’t Cancel Pride: Helping LGBTQ+ People in Need” livestream. Katy also co-headlined the recent Democracy Summer 2020 livestream. The event kicked off a campaign to register 200,000 new voters this summer, led by a coalition that includes Rock the Vote, Voto Latino Foundation, When We All Vote, March For Our Lives and others. Visit http://katyperry.com.

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

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CANADA’S DRAG RACE SHANTAY YOU STAY, EH? AT PRESS, THE LATEST EPISODE OF “CANADA’S DRAG RACE,” had the 11 remaining queens showcasing their

ballerina skills in a quick-drag mini-challenge. Winners Anastarzia Anaquway and BOA were named team captains for the “HER-itage Moments” maxi-challenge, dividing into two teams to teach us Americans about some of their Canadian “HER-itage” as they spoofed two iconic Canadian “Heritage Minutes,” which are sixty-second short films illustrating an important moment in Canadian history. Some queens slayed the performance, while others fell short.

On the runway, the queens were asked to create elevated interpretations of their first times in drag. Resident judges Brooke Lynn Hytes, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and Stacey McKenzie, were joined by guest host Jade Hassouné (“Shadowhunters”), to evaluate the queens based on both their acting

SNACK

chops and runway lewks.

Having barely escaped elimination a week ago, the glamorous Lemon squeezed back into the judges’ good graces and was declared the maxi-challenge winner. Tynomi Banks and Kyne had to lip-synch for their lives to Ultra Naté, Amber, and Jocelyn Enriquez’s version of “If You Could Read My Mind,” where Tynomi Banks was granted another week to vie for a win; while Kyne, with her extraordinary charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, sashayed away.

You can hear more about Kyne’s experience on World of Wonder’s official Canada’s Drag Race podcast (www.dragracepodcast.com) hosted by judge Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, who will spill the piping hot tea each week. New episodes will air every Friday at 12pm PT / 3pm ET featuring interviews from the fierce Canadian queens.

DEEBEE’S ORGANIC SUPERFRUIT FREEZIE DEEBEE’S ORGANICS’ SUPERFRUIT FREEZIE IS THE FIRST ORGANIC, FREEZE-ATHOME 100% ORGANIC FRUIT JUICE and puree that has no artificial flavors,

colors or preservatives. DeeBee’s Organics uses the finest organic fruit to craft exceptional plant-based freezies. In just a handful of years with Organic SuperFruit Freezie on the market, DeeBee’s Organics has quickly become one of the leading natural shelf-stable novelty brands. Each bag of SuperFruit Freezie (10 freezies per bag) includes three delicious varieties the whole family can enjoy -- Tropical, Strawberry and Grape (Canada); or Blueberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Lemon and Mango Orange (USA).

DeeBee’s Organics sources its high mineral content water from the volcanic streams of Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) where an artisanal food and wine scene has emerged. Organic produce is procured from organic NonGMO farms with its manufacturing plant leveraging renewable energy; the production facility is also free from the top eight allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, and wheat). For more information regarding DeeBee’s Organics, visit: www.deebeesorganics.com.

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THIS PAGE: CANADA’S DRAG RACE CAST PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAVE • PEODUCT PHOTO COURTESY OF DEEBEE’S ORGANUCS

CULTURE

THESCOPE

WATCH

PLAN

ALOHA NOW, TRAVEL LATER WITH COUPLES HAVING TO POSTPONE THEIR WEDDINGS OR BEING UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHEN THEY CAN

THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF HYATT REGENCY MAUI RESORT AND SPA

SCHEDULE AN IN-PERSON CEREMONY, Hyatt Regency

Maui Resort and Spa has a virtual wedding offer for your consideration - Aloha Now, Travel Later. Hyatt Regency Maui’s package is the perfect experience for couples looking to have a unique virtual wedding now, and celebrate with their loved ones in person in the future.

Engaged couples can select from a variety of experiences inspired by Hawaii from Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa to be part of their virtual ceremony and celebration including:

Pricing starts at $3,500. Couples who book Aloha Now, Travel Later will also receive 20% off any future in-person wedding or banquet style event at Hyatt Regency Maui if it takes place by November 30, 2021 (subject to availability). The resort offers 100,000 square feet of space including spacious outdoor dreamy venues overlooking the Pacific Ocean and on the Ka’anapali beachfront.

Visit https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/hawaii/ hyatt-regency-maui-resort-and-spa/oggrm. Travelers can book this offer by emailing mauiweddings@ hyatt.com.

• Hula dancers and / or fire dancers performing at any point during the virtual wedding as part of the entertainment.

• Live feed of the beach during the ceremony to provide a tranquil background.

• Leis and an assortment of Hawaiian treats sent to all of the wedding guests to make them feel even more included and connected despite the distance.

• Create a signature cocktail for the wedding guests to make at home so everyone can toast with the same drink.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

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READ

NATURAL STRENGTH TODAY’S WORKOUTS LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT FROM

PROTECT

DR. FEDORENKO TRUE ORGANIC

IT ALL BEGAN WHEN JULIA FEDORENKO-BITTON, a Naturopath, and a Clinical Herbalist, moved with her two children from New York City to the Hamptons, a beautiful place with endless beaches, surrounded by farms, and woodlands, which is a place known as Lyme disease “hot spot”. The need to protect her family from being bit by ticks, that transmit this debilitating disease, served as an inspiration to create her first product, a nontoxic and effective tick repellent. This is how the Bug Stick™, was born. This natural tick repellent quickly became a superstar in the local community, with growing popularity all over the country. Since then, Dr. Fedorenko True Organic™ product line has expanded into sustainable, earth-friendly, organic skincare, which continues to grow. “I keep making our products and expand our line because personally, I like to use products that are safe and effective. And I know that many other people feel the same,” says Dr.

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Fedorenko.

Perfect for summer, the True Organic™ Sun Stick™ with SPF30, provides broadspectrum sun protection and helps nourish, revitalize, calm and improve skin elasticity. The stick glides on effortlessly and feels great on the skin, while protecting it with SPF30. It won’t clog your pores, burn your eyes, or poison your body.

Rescue your rough dry skin with this fragrance-free Dr. Fedorenko True Organic™ Skin Stick™ cocoa butter enriched moisturizer. Eradicate flaky dryness with a super moisturizing complex of certified organic luxurious butters and oils. This simple, but revolutionary, formula is enriched with the finest skin-nurturing ingredients to improve dry skin, eczema, and other sensitive skin conditions.

Dr. Fedorenko’s True Organic™ line offers other great sustainable, non-toxic skincare products. Visit www.drfedorenko. com to purchase and for more information.

are closed, and clients are unable to make in-person appointments with their trainers. While at-home workout videos suffice, people still seem to miss the professional advice and inspiration found in the gym. Oscar Smith’s book, Natural Strength, is full of motivation and training knowledge. He allows readers to take his workout plans and long-term, life-changing routines home with them. Smith is a well-known celebrity trainer with a personal training gym in Tribeca. He has trained celebrities that include: Katharine McPhee, Tom Brady, Rosario Dawson, Val Kilmer, and many others.

Smith has tailored specific workouts in Natural Strength, so people can exercise at home without a trainer, safely distanced at a park or beach, in the pool, or anywhere remotely.

While workout plans and healthy tips are important, Smith most importantly wants his clients to have fun and enjoy themselves while working out. In his experience, he knows that people will not create new healthy habits or see results if they are not excited about their workouts.

Smith offers different types of activities, which include supermodel workouts, strength training with weights, plyometrics, cardio days, and also addresses eating habits by including a very specific, 14-day meal plan with a healthy, daily menu of foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and even drinks. Smith says, “If you learn how to cultivate natural strength in your life, my promise to you is that your sense of play, enjoyment, and life force will return to you.” He adds, “Practice seizing opportunities and learn that it feels good to take care of your body. You will feel good about your ability to focus on your goals and to take risks.”Visit https://o-dstudiogroup.com for more information or Amazon to order.

THIS PAGE: PRODUCT PHOTO COURTESY OF DRFED TRUE ORGANIC • BOOK COVER COURTESY OF OSCAR SMITH

CULTURE

THESCOPE

JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. Gyms across the country

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MONEY

MONEY MAY NOT BUY HAPPINESS, BUT STUDIES SHOW THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH IT CAN IMPACT YOUR HEALTH. It’s not surprising that

STOCK PHOTO COPYRIGHT: PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

research has demonstrated a clear correlation between stress about money and poor physical and psychological health. If we add the current health and economic crises into the mix, stress about money is almost unavoidable.

In March 2020, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) revealed the results of a study that highlighted the economic risks to LGBTQ people from the expected economic fallout due to the coronavirus. There are an estimated 14 million LGBTQ adults, with an additional 2 million gay youth, in the United States according to the HRC. The nonprofit’s study revealed that more than 5 million LGBT workers had jobs that are more likely to be impacted by COVID-19. Most specifically, those were jobs in the restaurant and food services, hospital, education, and retail industries. Forty percent of all LGBTQ people work in the five industries most affected by the pandemic.

During this stressful time, anything you can do to improve your relationship with money can go a long way toward helping, not only your finances, but potentially, your physical and mental health.

RECOGNIZING THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION. It’s well known that stress can trigger unhealthy habits. We’ve all heard of stress eating and, in some cases, drinking. Long-term stress — including anxiety about money — can trigger a bump in cortisol, which increases appetite. There’s also evidence that stress can affect food preferences, prompting people to increase their intake of fatty and sugary treats. Indulging in comfort foods regularly can, in turn, lead to weight gain and health problems such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, creating an unvirtuous cycle.

MONEY STIRS UP ALL KINDS OF EMOTIONS. Financial education is often seen as the solution to helping people manage their money, but financial coaches and therapists say education is

not the only component. The more anxious someone is about money, the less likely they are to deal with it. Many people who are deeply anxious about money will handle that anxiety with avoidance. Unfortunately, their avoidance increases their anxiety and then they want to avoid things even more. Because of that mental block, telling someone who is stressed about money to start tracking their daily spending or creating a budget can be a tall order. Take small steps towards regaining control over your finances.

CULTURE

BY JENNIFER DAY

FINANCE

SETTING ASIDE EMOTIONS CAN AID RATIONAL DECISIONS

BE RATIONAL AND TRAIN YOUR BRAIN. Because dealing with money or avoiding dealing with money can be fraught with emotion, therapists say the first step is to acknowledge the emotional component. The goal is to acknowledge the emotional part of the brain and to appeal to the executive functioning, decision-making part of the brain. Changing your behavior is not easy. Changing your mindset can be even harder. But a healthy relationship with money is better for your health — and probably for your wallet, too.

SOME EXERCISES TO GET YOU STARTED. There’s a rational part of the brain, but also an emotional part of the brain that sometimes wants to take over. Acknowledging the emotions could help you set those feelings aside and appeal to your rational self.

Setting aside emotions can help you make more rational decisions about your money and many other things in this life. Realize that little choices add up, whether it’s about spending, diet, or anything else. Every penny really does make a difference. Best of all, you can control your financial choices.

I know these are uncertain times. I find myself continuing to stress about my career, my finances, and my future. Try this advice I give to myself: Take steps to build your credit, lower your debt, and remember to save. We can reap the rewards both physically and mentally and hopefully, 2021 will look much brighter.

■ METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

11

Important Facts About DOVATO

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

What is the Most Important Information I Should Know about DOVATO? If you have both human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including: • Resistant HBV infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV infection before you start treatment with DOVATO. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus can change (mutate) during your treatment with DOVATO and become harder to treat (resistant). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in people who have HIV-1 and HBV infection.

• Worsening of HBV infection. If you have HIV-1 and HBV infection, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking DOVATO. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Worsening liver disease can be serious and may lead to death. ° Do not run out of DOVATO. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your DOVATO is all gone. ° Do not stop DOVATO without first talking to your healthcare provider. If you stop taking DOVATO, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your liver.

What is DOVATO? DOVATO is a prescription medicine that is used without other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults who have not received antiretroviral medicines in the past,and without known resistance to the medicines dolutegravir or lamivudine. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in children.

Who should not take DOVATO? Do Not Take DOVATO if You: • have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains dolutegravir or lamivudine.

• take dofetilide.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DOVATO? Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have kidney problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. One of the medicines in DOVATO (dolutegravir) may harm your unborn baby. ° Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine than DOVATO if you are planning to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. ° If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider will perform a pregnancy test before you start treatment with DOVATO. ° If you can become pregnant, you should consistently use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with DOVATO. ° Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are planning to become pregnant, you become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant during treatment with DOVATO. ©2020 ViiV Healthcare or licensor.

DLLADVT190034 January 2020 Produced in USA.

Learn more about LáDeia and DOVATO at DOVATO.com

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: (cont’d) • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take DOVATO. ° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. ° One of the medicines in DOVATO (lamivudine) passes into your breastmilk. ° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines interact with DOVATO. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with DOVATO. • Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take DOVATO with other medicines.

What are Possible Side Effects of DOVATO? DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “What is the Most Important Information I Should Know about DOVATO?” section.

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with DOVATO. Stop taking DOVATO and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of the skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; problems breathing.

• Liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with DOVATO. Liver problems, including liver failure, have also happened in people without a history of liver disease or other risk factors.

Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: feel very weak or tired; unusual (not normal) muscle pain; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Lactic acidosis can also lead to severe liver problems, which can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms of liver problems which are listed above under “Liver problems.” You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female or very overweight (obese).

SO MUCH GOES INTO WHO I AM HIV MEDICINE IS ONE PART OF IT. Reasons to ask your doctor about DOVATO: You can take it any time of day with or without food (around the same time each day)—giving you flexibility

DOVATO can help you reach and then stay undetectable* with just 2 medicines in 1 pill.

That means fewer medicines† in your body while taking DOVATO

DOVATO is a once-a-day complete treatment for adults who are new to HIV-1 medicine.

Results may vary. *Undetectable means reducing the HIV in your blood to very low levels (less than 50 copies per mL). † As compared with 3-drug regimens.

LáDeia‡ Living with HIV

What are Possible Side Effects of DOVATO (cont’d)?

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking DOVATO. • The most common side effects of DOVATO include: headache; diarrhea; nausea; trouble sleeping; and tiredness.

These are not all the possible side effects of DOVATO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 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.

Where Can I Find More Information?

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to DOVATO.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

October 2019 DVT:2PI-2PIL Trademark is owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

Compensated by ViiV Healthcare

‡

Could DOVATO be right for you? Ask your doctor today.

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT Four Hay House Books to Lean into This Fall

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

CULTURE

BOOKS

HAY HOUSE WAS FOUNDED IN 1984 BY LOUISE HAY as a way to selfpublish her first two books, Heal Your Body and You Can Heal Your Life. The company has grown into one of the most trusted and fastest growing mind-body-spirit enterprises in the world, publishing the work of over 130 authors. We looked to Hay House for inspiration and self-care in the last few months, and discovered a variety of strong new titles to take a closer look at including four: Sayer Ji’s Regenerate: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience Through the New Biology; Rosalee De La Forêt & Emily Han’s Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine; Jim Kwik’s Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life; and Dr. Joseph Mercola’s EMF*D: 5G, Wi-Fi & Cell Phones Hidden Harms and How to Protect Yourself.

EMF*D, 5G, WI-FI & CELL PHONES HIDDEN HARMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF $24.99

By Dr. Joseph Mercola and electromagnetic fields (EMS’s) and frequencies swirling around you day after day? You should be. The hazards of electronic pollution might have once seemed like science fiction, but in the era of ultrawideband technology the danger is only increasing. In EMF*D, 5G, Wi-Fi & Cell Phones Hidden Harms and How to Protect Yourself, Dr. Joseph Mercola, one of the world’s foremost authorities on alternative health, has created a thorough and informative resource for how to protect yourself. EMF*D will provide you with the good, the bad, and the ugly about EMF’s, what they are, how they work, the science that reveals their danger, how they can damage your body, and how to repair the damage that has already occurred and how to reduce the risk of incurring future damage.

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ARE YOU SCARED OF 5G, YOUR CELLPHONE, OR THE INFORMATION

Sayer Ji

REGENERATE: UNLOCKING YOUR BODY’S RADICAL RESILIENCE THROUGH THE NEW BIOLOGY $26.99

By Sayer Ji SAYER JI IS THE FOUNDER OF GREENMEDINFO.COM, the world’s largest open-access natural health database, including over 10,000 researched health topics. A reviewer of the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, Ji sets out to offer a revolutionary and breathtaking vision of the body as “resilient, intelligent, and seamlessly interwoven.” Through the book, he provides the opportunity to learn how to engage the body’s selfhealing mechanisms while unleashing the regenerative powers of the cell. Ji shares the personal story of how he overcame disease and came to heal his own body. Regenerate: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience Through the New Biology is split into three parts: “Your Body and the Miracle of Regeneration”; “Rethinking Chronic Disease, Prevention, and Healing”; and “Regenerate Rx”. “Part I: Your Body and the Miracle of Regeneration” illustrates the secret relationship between human and plant evolution, your genes, and the most common health regenerators and disruptors. “Part II: Rethinking Chronic Disease, Prevention, and Healing” shares new information about the Western Pattern Diet and its connection to the emergence of chronic conditions that accelerate aging and ultimately leads to chronic conditions and “diseases of influence” including cancer, Alzheimers, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Ji sheds light on several aspects of everyday life like fluoride, cow’s milk, cellphones, pesticides, even airplanes while sharing toxicants to avoid, including brain cell degeneration and several practices to keep the mind vibrant for life. “Part III: Regenerate Rx” shares a road map to better health, showing how to detox from the Western Pattern Diet while healing through the “foods of the ancestral diet”. Can we heal our own bodies from the pitfalls of living in western society? Ji offers a four-phase program for triggering your body’s radical resilience mechanisms. This program includes a mind-body component as well as a weekly dietary detox to help you to feel better inside and out. Why complain that you have “ bad genes” when you can be proactive in taking the reins to heal yourself.

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LIMITLESS: UPGRADE YOUR BRAIN, LEARN ANYTHING FASTER, AND UNLOCK YOUR EXCEPTIONAL LIFE $26.99

By Jim Kwick JIM KWIK, KNOWN AS THE WORLD EXPERT IN MEMORY IMPROVEMENTS, BRAIN OPTIMIZATION, and accelerated learning, serves as a brain coach to some of the

BOOKS

most powerful people in the world. His book, Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life holds a life-changing secret: when you learn how to learn, you can break free of limiting beliefs, achieve new levels of success, and lead a “truly exceptional life.” Kwik believes that “the human potential is one of the only infinite resources we have in the world. Most everything else is finite, but the human mind is the ultimate superpower - there is no limit to our creativity, imagination, determination, or ability to think, reason, or learn.” The book aims to provide readers with a series of tools to cast off any preconceived restrictions, a new path for essentially giving you permission to un-limit the brain, focus, and habits. Everyone can learn and grow from the mind hacking strategies laid out in this powerful new book. Want to master your mind? Pick up a copy and prepare yourself for a completely new mindset.

CULTURE

Jim Kwik

WILD REMEDIES: HOW TO FORAGE HEALING FOODS AND CRAFT YOUR OWN HERBAL MEDICINE $34.99

By Rosalee De La Forêt and Emily Han POPULAR CULTURE HAS BEEN AMBUSHING US WITH THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH

of in-person and online yoga, Pilates, and fitness classes. At the start of Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal MediMedi cine, Rosalee De La Forêt and Emily Han pose the question,“ Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the idea of healthy living?” The truth is, millions of people are interested in natural and holistic health, but many are missing nature itit self. Rosalee De La Forêt is the author of the bestseller Alchemy of Herbs and the Education Director for LearningHerbs, and a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Emily Han is author of Wild Drinks & CockCock tails and serves as the Communications Director for LearningHerbs, co-founder of the International Food Swap Network, and a certified California Naturalist and Master Food Preserver.

Their new book, Wild Remedies, is an invitation to live a deeply joyful and powerfully connected life. Their idea grew from their background and experience with plant medicine and a desire to connect with nature more fully. The book is an action guide to becoming deeply connected with the natural world around you, illustrating how to use plants as both food and medicine. Discover how to correctly identify the plants that grow in your area, which ones are safe (and which to avoid), optimal methods for storstor ing herbs, as well as a plethora of quality recipes like Dandelion Maple Syrup Cake, the Elderflower Sidecar, the Citrus Peel Cleaner, an All-Purpose Healing Salve with St. John’s Wort Oil, and more.

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EATING AND LIVING, FROM COMMERCIALS, ADVERTISEMENTS, to the saturation

MUSIC

UNFOLLOWING THE RULES SINCE 1998 CULTURE

BY STEVE GOTTFRIED

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT HAS BEEN UN-FOLLOWING THE RULES SINCE THE OPENLY GAY MULTI-

THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF RUFUS WAINWRIGHT TEAM

HYPHENATE RELEASED HIS FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN ’98, a genre-bending debut album which

earned a slew of accolades and awards from mainstream and queer organizations alike. Which makes the title for his eighth studio album “Unfollow the Rules” particularly apropos. Turns out the title came from an off-the-cuff proclamation by his nine-year-old daughter Viva who said “Daddy, sometimes I wanna unfollow the rules.” In an era where “following” has become part of the social media landscape, the title seems to pose a bigger question as to why we’ve become a culture of followers. I had a chance to sit down with his Rufus-ness (virtually, COVID-style) and discuss his new album, his creative process, life, death, and Liza. But first, a quick retrospective is in order…

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to be living up to it.

I’ve chosen five songs from his extensive catalogue that exemplify the essence of Rufus.

Cementing his image as fearless provocateur, “Gay Messiah” posits Jesus as a gay porn star, complete with explicit lyrics. “Going to a Town” shows his willingness to take on sacred cows like blind allegiance to one’s country and his love/hate relationship with America. “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” showcases his distinctive sound and tongue-in-cheek wit. His rollicking ode to River Phoenix, “Matinee Idol” demonstrated his knack for taking pop icons and deconstructing them with panache. But the quintessential Rufus has to be “Get Happy” from his tour de force homage to Judy Garland wherein he recreated her entire show at Carnegie Hall and replicates Garland’s signature pants-less ensemble, wearing only a blazer, a hat and heels, backed by a bevy of tuxedoed chorus boys.

With his new album, “Unfollow the Rules” which was recently released on July 10th in the midst of a global pandemic and massive civil unrest, Wainwright describes his work on the album as some of his best, and I’d have to agree wholeheartedly. After an immersive foray into the world of opera in which Wainwright wrote and

CHANNELING THE HATRED/A SONG FOR THE TRUMP ERA One of my favorites from the new album is “Devils and Angels (Hatred)” which was written during a particularly dark period where Rufus was consumed with anger. Though it was conceived in a pre-Trumpian universe, Trump was on Rufus’ mind when he recorded it. Interestingly enough, this interview took place before the murder of George Floyd and the massive protests which followed.

“Hatred to me is particularly important to this album. This year is going to be intense, both with what’s happening with the pandemic and with the election. Initially when I was working on this in the studio, I was more thinking of the election, of course. I wrote the song many years ago when I was in a pretty dramatic situation.” Without going

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Hailing from a musical dynasty of folk singers, it seems he was destined for this life from the womb. For a bit of trivia, check out one of his earliest performances as a 13-year-old looking like a seasoned veteran, performing a song he wrote called“I’m a Runnin’”for a Canadian movie called Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller.

It’s difficult to quantify Wainwright’s impact as an openly gay singer/songwriter who courageously and unapologetically owned his sexuality from the start, never looked back and never sold out. He’s described his decision to come out professionally to his record label to inoculate himself from blowback. It was a pre-emptive strike and it placed himself in the driver’s seat, freeing himself of the need to be coy or avoid overtly gay content. If there was ever an argument to be made for queer exceptionalism, Rufus is a worthy contender.

For those unfamiliar with his extensive body of work, some highlights from his 20-plus year career are in order. Right out of the gate, Sir Elton John famously heralded Wainwright as one of the greatest songwriters on the planet. Talk about setting an impossibly high bar. Two operas and eight albums later including taking a stab at setting Shakespeare’s sonnets to music, Rufus seems

produced not one, but two full scale operas, Rufus experienced a creative resurgence as a singer/ songwriter, coming back to his roots and finding inspiration in his hometown of Los Angeles and specifically Laurel Canyon, steeped as it is in a rich musical history of its own, where he lives with his husband of 13 years Jörn Weisbrodt.

Three years in the making, the album represents a full circle moment for Wainwright. The album is a throwback to the concept records of decades past which were created around a unifying theme rather than the scattershot approach of modern-day streaming. He describes the album reflecting three distinct parts, the first part is decidedly buoyant, embracing his return to California and “taking on the mantle of the great songwriters who preceded me.” The second part is a return to form with lush orchestral productions typified in the song “Romantical Man.” And the third part gives voice to the darker elements which typify his operatic sensibilities, the somber final act. Rufus wryly describes the album as a trap which lures you in, romances you and then swallows you whole like a Venus flytrap.

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into detail, he acknowledges that he“was filled with a lot of hatred. And I had to use that hatred. I had to funnel it somewhere and turn it into something I could use to my advantage. It really is about going into battle. Or getting ready for this incredible war and oddly enough, embracing that and enjoying that process, in a kind of medieval way. I think it’s a positive song. It’s about being engaged. It’s about action and fighting for what you believe in. There will be violence and there will be blood, as they say.”

The song “Devils and Angels (Hatred)” has a wonderful sense of drama which lends itself to musical theater and Broadway, is that something you’ve considered?

“Yeah, I’ve always harbored an interest for that concept [Broadway]. I’ve written two operas.

And I’ve also done a very artistic theatre play with Robert Wilson for the Shakespeare sonnets. But no, a Broadway musical is in the cards, though I have nothing to announce. If I didn’t write a Broadway

musical [at some point] it would be silly.”

EARLY MORNING MADNESS While Wainwright wrote “Early Morning Madness” quite a while ago, this song also has a resonance with these dark times we’re living through. As Rufus explains… “I had a rather fabled existence in the land of drugs and alcohol for many years, which I eventually had to come to terms with and shy away from. But it was a long battle and there were some fits and starts, shall we say. The song was initially about being hung over and getting through that exhaustion. That song is haunting me more and more these days. I have some real moments where I’m just up and the sun’s rising and I’m scared shitless. What’s also interesting about that song, it’s almost like the dark, haunted sister of “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk.”

I’m using the same motif. But it’s much darker.

And like “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk,” which

is sort of this joyous, exuberant voyage through unfettered youth and so forth, tinged with a bit of sadness,“Early Morning Madness”is more like this broken, suffering soul that is just wearily placing one foot in front of the other.

MAKING PEACE WITH DEATH We spoke about the song “Peaceful Afternoon” which is interesting on several levels, both for its content as well as the fact that it was written as part of an ongoing agreement between Rufus and his husband Jörn.

“We have an arrangement now where for every album I release, there must be one song about him.

So, it’s kind of a requirement, which can be a little grating. But once I’ve written it, I’m always so thankful and grateful for the love that I have in my life and for him specifically.”

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CULTURE

MUSIC

Rufus’ own death. I asked him to unpack that a bit and his attitude toward one’s mortality. He spoke briefly about his mother’s death from cancer ten years ago. Now a parent himself, age and experience has lent some perspective to life and death.

“I had experienced death a couple times before then, but nowhere near as intensely.

Now there’s friends who’ve died. Even with COVID, I’ve lost a couple of people that I knew quite well. So, death is sort of creeping in, ever more blatantly. I’m a strong believer in accepting that fact and maybe even embracing it in a sense. Being an opera lover, and a great lover of Mahler’s symphonies, death is ever-present. But of course, now it’s more visceral and less romanticized. I’m not reveling in it necessarily, I’m just sort of kindly allowing it to walk through our lives, as it will.”

We also talked about“Romantical Man” which he counts as one of his favorites on the album. He delved into his creative process, by revealing, “Occasionally, if I’m on tour, I’ll wake up in the morning and I’ll have the whole day in front of me. I’ll be somewhere I love, in this case it was London, and I have the whole day, and I’m like, you know what? I’m just gonna walk across the city. And a song will come at the end of that journey. And I kind of get into a trance. And that’s what happened with that song. I walked for miles and miles, for hours and hours, and that was sort of my snapshot of that day in London.”

Do you take a recorder with you? Or do you store it in your memory and then get back to your hotel room?

“It depends. Usually I’ll record it on my phone or something. But really, I think the most valuable exercise is getting into the trance and becoming unconscious in a

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RUFUS’ CREATIVE PROCESS

way of your surroundings and really getting lost in your imagination. So, you kind of stop recording and you sort of just start, you know, singing really.”

And will that happen in a hotel room, or just when you’re out?

“No. It requires a walk. Walking is necessary for writing songs because it gives you the rhythm.

You end up sort of dancing a little. I mean, it’s crazy.

You look like a crazy person.”

The fun thing about a Rufus Wainwright song is that he’ll throw in an obscure reference which might take you off-guard and require a quick search of the internet. This happens in“Romantical Man” and his reference to an 18th century actress named Sarah Siddons who was considered one of the great tragediennes of her time, known for her portrayal of Lady Macbeth as well as challenging gender norms by taking on the role of Hamlet on numerous occasions. I asked if this is someone he was already familiar with…

“No. What happened is, I was on the walk and I passed this statue that really struck me. And there was a grave, so I took my phone out. It was the grave of Sarah Siddons, who I’d never heard of.

And once you really dig into that story, it’s pretty fascinating in terms of both her life.” Siddons went on to experience a sort of posthumous fame courtesy of the Bette Davis movie All About Eve. “Anyway, it’s just kind of a funny thing which led to a bunch of ideas.”

And now she’s been re-immortalized in your song.

“Yes, yes…”

A NOD TO SONDHEIM “The Ladies Who Lunge”appears to be a nod to Sondheim, at least in terms of the title.

“Yeah, very much so. Melodically, it’s not like that, but the title is referring to the Sondheim number for sure. That was the latest addition to the album. That was something I was kind of noodling around with in the studio with Mitchell. And we just did it in a day. Well I did my part in a day. He ended up putting on some of his most complicated

keyboard parts that he’s ever done for hours in the background.

The unusual sound, which almost reminds you of a Fellini score because it had that kind of bouncy, springy quality, is nice because it gets you out of the whole Laurel Canyon, studio session player, warm fuzzy sound. It suddenly becomes very plastic-y which is nice. It’s like a little break, you know?”

HIS “DUET” WITH STREISAND Being a big fan of Streisand, I couldn’t resist bringing up Wainwright’s presence at a Hillary Clinton Fundraiser in 2016 where Streisand performed “Happy Days are here Again.” From the audience, Rufus seized the opportunity to engage in his own duet (unbeknownst to Streisand) recreating the famous duet between Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand of “Happy Days Are Here Again” with Rufus singing Judy’s part “Get Happy.” I was curious whether Streisand got wind of this or if he heard f rom “her people.”

Rufus responded good-naturedly with his characteristic flair for irony and dry wit. “Well, I know that I posted it at one point, my … “our duet” – that didn’t happen. But… yeah, that was a crazy fundraiser. That was when Hillary coined her infamous “basket of deplorables” line which was ultimately used against her. But I had requested to sing that [duet] with her [Streisand]. We never heard back, so I was a little angry, so I sang it from

the audience.”

So, you made overtures prior to that fundraiser?

“Yes, I have made overtures and we’ll see. I’m going to be doing a lot of work for Joe Biden and I’m sure that she will as well. So, our paths will cross again.”

LAST BUT NOT LIZA With time running out, I asked about his rumored tussle with Liza Minnelli. While Judy’s daughter Lorna Luft appreciated Rufus’ homage to her mother in the spirit it was intended, Liza, well… not so much. Instead of letting it go, he wrote a song called “Me and Liza,” having some fun with the rumored feud. I asked if he’s buried the hatchet, metaphorically.

“I buried the hatchet years ago, but I don’t think it was reciprocated.” Careful to avoid reopening the wound, Rufus said,“I wish her all the best. I know that she’s – she has a lot to contend with, and I respect her immensely. But I don’t think it will be rectified at all.”

Is it true that your father also wrote a song about her? Apparently, they were childhood chums… with benefits. There’s a lyric about “prepubescent play.”

“Yes. Two generations of Liza-ness.”

■ For more on Rufus Wainwright, visit rufuswainwright.com.

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SUMMERTIME SIPPIN’ Five Refreshing Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy this Summer CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

THE BEE’S KNEES The phrase “bee’s knees” was prohibition-era slang for “the best.”This classic cocktail born from the prohibition era combines gin, lemon, and honey. Refreshing, floral, and perfect for summer.

Ingredients: • 2 oz Barr Hill Gin • 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice • 0.75 oz Raw Honey Syrup (2:1) • Lemon twist for garnish

HOME

COCKTAILS

Preparation: Combine ingredients in a mixing tin, add ice, shake, then double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add garnish.

THE DYE HOUSE Sweetened with blueberry syrup and garnished with blueberries, this Barr Hill Gin cocktail is a seasonal play on the classic Clover Club.

Summer in a glass.

Preparation: Combine ingredients into a mixing tin, dry shake without ice, add ice, then shake with ice, and double strain into a coupe cocktail glass. Garnish with skewered fresh blueberries. c. 2014 by Sam Nelis (a play on

JUNGLE CAT Made with Vermont maple syrup and barrel-aged gin, the Jungle Cat is where craft cocktail meets tiki drink. With tropical flavors like pineapple and lime, this one is as refreshing as it is unique.

Ingredients • 1.5 oz Tom Cat Gin • 0.75 oz Campari • 1.5 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice • 0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice • 0.5 oz VT Grade A Dark, Robust Maple Syrup Preparation: Combine ingredients in a mixing tin, add ice, shake, and strain over crushed ice in a tiki mug if you’ve got it. Go crazy with the garnish, a Campari soaked pineapple works well, and using cherries or pineapple leaves is fun. Try and make it look like a cats face!

the classic Clover Club) c. 1978 @ The Aviary bar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (A play on the classic)

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PAGE 22-23: PHOTO COURTESY OF BARR HILL GIN • TOM CAT GIN • BARR HILL VODKA

Ingredients: • 1.5 oz Barr Hill Gin • 0.75 oz Fino Sherry • 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice • 0.75 oz Blueberry Syrup • 1 egg white • Fresh skewered blueberries for garnish

WALK ON WATER For those looking for a fancy brunch cocktail, this one is a stunner. Made with Barr Hill Vodka, sparkling wine, and grapefruit juice, among other ingredients, this beautiful cocktail can be enjoyed all day long.

Ingredients: • 0.75 oz Barr Hill Vodka • 0.5 oz Amaro Braulio • 1 oz Grapefruit Juice • 0.5 oz Rosemary Syrup • Sparkling Wine Preparation: Combine ingredients (besides the wine) in mixing tin, add ice and shake, strain into champagne flute and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with an orange twist and rosemary sprig. c. 2017 by Sam Nelis For more from Barr Hill Spirts visit https://

TOM CAT OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL The Old Fashioned Cocktail is the first drink to ever bear the name ‘Cocktail’ (c. 1806).

People would order at the bar a ‘Cocktail’ made with their spirit of choice mixed with a little sugar, some bitters and citrus twists. Here we call for a ‘Tom Cat Gin Cocktail’ using Barr Hill’s barrel-aged Tom Cat Gin as a stand-in for whiskey, making this twist on a classic insanely drinkable in the summer (or anytime, honestly).

Ingredients: • 2 oz Tom Cat Gin • 1/2 tsp Demerara syrup (2 parts demerara sugar: 1 part water) • 2-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters • Lemon or orange twist, or both, for garnish

MUDDLED FRUIT TOM CAT OLD FASHIONED

caledoniaspirits.com/.

Ingredients: • 2 oz Tom Cat Gin • 1 tsp Demerara syrup (2 parts demerara sugar: 1 part water) • 2-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters • 1 cherry • 1 half orange wheel Preparation: Combine sugar and fruit in an old fashioned glass then gently muddle. Add other ingredients and fresh ice, stir, strain into an old fashioned glass over fresh ice, then garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Preparation: Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, stir, then strain into an old fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish by squeezing the citrus twists over the top of the cocktail.

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SHANTAY, SHE SLAYS

AN ALLY WITH AN

ATTITUDE

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

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RuPaul’s Son of Drag, she sits at his right hand and doles out the tough love. We dote on her snappy one-liners, her latest looks, and her candid advice – she is the cool Mom we all want to have. Untucked, the woman behind the makeup and under that hair is a fierce businesswoman, wife, and mother of two, who has been sticking up for our community long before it was cool. During quarantine, she premiered her own show “How’s Your Head Hun” for BBC and World of Wonder Plus, where she digitally let us into her closet and into her family life, without a filter in sight. The result? Yes, we can see she is just a person like anyone else, the differences being that she has more shoes and looks better doing it.

We know and love her as a figurehead in the Drag Race family, but her entertainment career has been a grab bag of projects, each with their success. This Emmy winning producer hit the scene after auditioning and becoming part of an R&B trio called Seduction. The group had five singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Visage then hit the top of the dance charts in 1993 as lead vocalist in The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.. She followed that up by working as a morning DJ on radio waves for over 17 years in NYC, Los Angeles, Miami, West Palm Beach, Ireland, and on afternoon radio at Sirius.

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MICHELLE VISAGE, THE QUEEN OF QUEENS, IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ALLIES WITH AN ATTITUDE. The Mary Magdalene to

FUN FACT: SHE OPENED FOR MILLI VANILLI She has been a patron saint to the LGBT community and her first experience with our community could be a scene out of a Pose episode, complete with a fake ID, a dark room and voguing – all at the behest of her mother: “In 1986, I first moved to NYC from NJ to go to theatre school for college and I knew no one.

We didn’t have cell phones yet or computers, so the only chance we had at getting “discovered” was going to a nightclub, and I was 17 years old.

My mom sent me a fake ID and told me to “go get discovered” so I started going to nightclubs. There was a big club in New York City called The Underground and when I got there, I walked downstairs and this beautiful young man grabbed me by the arm and told me that I had the most beautiful face he had ever seen - I was speechless. The only person who had ever told me that was my mom. I couldn’t believe a stranger just came out of nowhere to simply compliment me. He asked me to come with him to meet his friends and brought me into a dark room where there were 30 of the craziest, weirdest looking, most beautiful people I had ever seen in my entire life and, I lie to you not, I had chills when I saw them all dancing. Not only were they doing something I had never seen before (voguing), but it was the first time I truly felt “home”. That was when I learned about ballroom culture and the rest is history!”

PAGE 25 & 27 PHOTOS COURTESY OF MITCHELLE VISAGE

FUN FACT: VISAGE WON A MADONNA LOOK-ALIKE CONTEST WHEN SHE WAS 16.

Part of that dynamic era was the outlandish nightclub scene, usually at parties hosted by New York icon Susanne Bartsch. Over the top looks, decadent behavior, and an overall sense of inclusivity of these events created a home to LGBT and beyond to express themselves – the party scene was thriving. The New York ball scene gave Michelle the nickname “Cara” which means “face” in Spanish. No one could pronounce it properly, so she changed it to “Visage”, the French version of “face” – Michelle Lynn Shupack became Michelle Visage.

It was at one of these parties that Michelle met RuPaul, and the two started a friendship that became part of drag history. What makes their friendship a winning combo?

I think the bottom line is, we understand and respect each other and our space. We obviously love each other, but it’s more than that. Soulmates are NOT just lovers, there are friend soulmates too and that pretty much says it all.

Visage co-hosted VH1’s The RuPaul Show from 1996 to 1998 and the two co-hosted a morning show for WKTU until 2002. Michelle was the first pick as a permanent judge for Drag Race but was tied up in a five-year contract with CBS Radio.

Speculation has been that her boss was not a fan of the relationship with the LGBT community and said no. RuPaul asked again for Season 3 and Visage (at the suggestion of her friend Lea Remini) went directly to the CBS officials. She was finally able to tell RuPaul “yas, queen!”

FUN FACT: FROM DRAG RACE SEASON 3, SHE HAS APPEARED IN EVERY EPISODE OF EVERY SEASON, INCLUDING THE ALL STARS SPIN-OFFS AND THE U.K. EDITION OF THE SERIES. Her looks on Drag Race rival those of the queens on stage, she is a chameleon of fashion. But how does she put her look together on a daily basis?

I think it’s about how I am feeling - am I feeling good about my body? Am I feeling dark? Colorful? Do I want to be sporty? Fancy? Sometimes it’s simply about what is clean and nearby....

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Has inclusivity of different body types gotten better in the gay world?

I can say that from my experience since I became involved as an ally, yes, it has gotten slightly better, but we fight louder and stronger than the past. With

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that said, it is FAR from being good or all-inclusive. It isn’t news to anyone who goes on a“dating”app and sees No Femmes, No Fats, No Asians, etc. THAT is unacceptable! The thing I loved most about finding my chosen family all those years ago was that I was NEVER, EVER judged on appearances, then told I wasn’t welcome. Was there shade? ALWAYS. Was there shaming and hate? Not that I can remember.

Even in competing houses in the ballroom scene, the shade was thick, but the love was deep. We need to go back to that mentality and steer away from cancel culture saying,“you can’t sit with us.”For the record? You can ALWAYS sit with me!

FUN FACT: MICHELLE WANTED TO BE A VET UNTIL SHE LEARNED SHE MIGHT HAVE TO EUTHANIZE DOGS. What I love about her show, “How’s Your Head, Hun?”, is that we do get to see the brassy personality we know from TV and hang out with her outside the Drag Race set. The bonus is that we get to see her on a more personal and intimate level.

With no makeup, no glam crew, and no scripts, we see the work and reality that go into making Visage who we see on the screen. Wasn’t she scared of being that naked?

We are NOT the Kardashians by any stretch of the imagination and that is crystal clear from the

THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF MITCHELLE VISAGE

On “How’s Your Head, Hun” we literally get to hang out in her closet, a closet we might not want to come out of. What are her three most prized closet possessions?

Heels, fitted blazer and trousers. I know I wear a lot of midi dresses and I love them, but I am such a fitted, flare leg trouser girl, they flatter everyone!

Her journey to the confident and curvaceous stature we see on TV hasn’t always been an easy one.

She has been incredibly open about her struggle with an eating disorder from the early age of 13 well until adult life. Even her chest hasn’t been off topic as she had her signature breast implants removed in 2019. She talks openly about her body issues to inspire body positivity within the LGBT community.

minute you enter my house! When we said we were on board to do this, I knew that I would be judged, but I didn’t care because it was my goal to make people who were home, scared, anxious, or just plain bored, laugh. We want people to have something silly to look forward to weekly to help them get through this quarantine a bit easier. We really are all in this together, I just may be doing it a little sillier.

What did she learn most from filming this show?

I learned that my husband David works his ass off. I mean, he has been a stay-at-home dad for the past 18 years whilst I was out there working, so I KNOW what he can do and make no mistake, he is the best dad I have ever seen, but he is GRAFTING! Hard! I know how hard I work, but it’s cool to see what he can do behind the scenes as well!

He is going to start auditioning as an actor again after a 20-year hiatus once our daughter Lola goes off to college, and I am so proud of him for going back to follow his dream. He is a damn good actor too, went to Juilliard and all that, so I can’t wait to see him manifest it all.

We can all fantasize about having Michelle Visage as a mom. But how can she really enforce being strict when her whole personality is a non-conforming, sexual beast?

I parent the same way I live. Bluntly, honestly, compassionately. My kids are my life and though I KNOW I have made many mistakes, every day I try my hardest to be the best that I can be as a mother first and friend second. My kids are feisty, smart, intelligent and they too live outside of the “norms” of society and that makes me proud. I learn from them daily.

While some reality shows have tarnished the image of pop culture personalities we love,“How’s Your Head, Hun?” has only increased my love for Visage and I have a bigger appreciation for what she goes through behind the scenes.

queens. Because I’m so tough, I think the public only sees me one way. I want them to know who I am when I am not behind a judge’s table and who I am as a human.

She has not only been a role model for the LGBT community, she is a role model for businesswomen everywhere. She has created her own brand, she has successfully dominated the radio waves, TV waves, Billboard charts, podcast arena, literary world (have you read The Diva Rules?), West End theatre, and the fashion world.

How do fans see Michelle Visage?

For me, fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race see me as the “tough love” judge. The judge that tells them what they need to hear but not necessarily what they WANT to hear. I take my job as a judge VERY seriously as I am the number one fan of drag. I LOVE it so much and I take what I do VERY seriously!

Most importantly, I respect it and I respect these

From a receptionist to Emmy winner, she’s done it, breaking the glass ceiling of what an entrepreneur looks like.

For many years we have fought the oppression being told we belong at home, in the kitchen, not in offices or running businesses. NEVER FORGET: No one will look out for you better than YOU! You are woman, let them hear you ROARRRRRR!

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY KATHY HUTCHINS/SHUTTERSTOCK

FUN FACT: THE FIRST DIVA THAT INSPIRED MICHELLE WAS MAE WEST, SHE WAS OBSESSED WITH HAVING A BODY LIKE HERS.

FUN FACT: SHE BOUGHT HER DAD A HOUSE FROM THE PROCEEDS EARNED FROM ONE OF HER SONGS WITH THE S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M. BEING INCLUDED ON THE SOUNDTRACK FOR ‘THE BODYGUARD’.

And during this time stuck at home, she has this to say to her fans: Do not give up hope. Although we did not get to celebrate pride month the way we would like to or the way we deserve, we still need to celebrate! I also want to tell younger LGBTQIA+ people that aren’t out quite yet that now is probably not the time to come out if you don’t feel safe. Please, above all, put your safety first. These are very lonely and isolating times for some LGBTQIA+ youth so please try to remember: YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE P ERFECT. YOU MATTER.

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AN EDUCATION IN LABELS, TERMS, AND IDEAS

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ I HAD WANTED TO SPILL THE TEA WITH BOB THE DRAG QUEEN ABOUT BACKSTAGE SHENANIGANS DURING RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE, how heavy

the winning crown is, how big his closet is, who the biggest diva on We’re Here is, and who is his celebrity crush. We didn’t even get there, and I am so grateful. With all the glitter and snappy one liners in the drag world and Drag Race memes being as popular as Black Lives Matter ones, we can easily be distracted and forget that rallying against the tornado that is our current social and political climate is not just on a given day or given holiday, it is a constant battle. Bob the Drag Queen knows, and he has a lot to say and has the personal experience to say it. With pop culture entertainment personalities running for President, why not Bob the Drag Queen? Hearing him talk about our current situation is a breath of fresh air. He makes sense, he’s got the receipts, and he’s got my vote.

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Before Bob the Drag Queen was a drag queen, he was Caldwell Tidicue the Activist. He moved to New York with two suitcases and $200 to follow his dreams to be a stand-up comedian and actor. How did you get involved in activism?

I first got involved with activism, like in activism the way that people call it activism, in New York City with a group called Queer Rising. They’re this group, a little bit like Act Up, but obviously much later in time, and we would do different demonstrations to cause a scene somewhere and bring awareness to something, get arrested, block traffic, pull basically public stunts in an attempt to bring awareness to different issues in the queer community.

His first drag name, Kittin Withawhip, was based on a 1964 crime drama featuring Ann-Margret as juvenile delinquent with a sexy side. No one really said the name right, so Caldwell decided to keep it easy, three letters, B O B – and Bob the Drag Queen was born. You can still search early performances of Kittin Withawhip on YouTube, and I highly recommend that you do. Kittin had a certain irreverence to drag culture but also a respect for it as well.

Bob’s mom owned a drag bar and he would often accompany her when the babysitter didn’t show up. He bought his first makeup kit shortly after watching Season 1 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

And now, from New York drag scene performer to winner of Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race to producing and co-starring in HBO’s critical and audience hit We’re Here, his brand has expanded to include podcasting, music, and spokesperson for the Queer Black Movement.

many more. “I have noticed that there is a certain reverence being given to black queers right now.

And to be frank, it feels new. And I think that we in the black community are still adjusting to this.

I was watching the Chicago Drag Council on our Town Hall and seeing how uncomfortable some of the white people looked to see black people in power. They were shook, they were shook to have it happen. It felt odd. It’s interesting that the closer you get to equality, the ones who are in power start to feel oppressed. And, it is true they say there is no equality without loss of power. I believe that with every fiber of my being.”

How do you feel about being part of the RuPaul’s Drag Race family that automatically inducts you in the firestorm that social media can become? Even RuPaul himself is often questioned as to his social media presence or lack thereof in acknowledging Black Lives Matter and Trans Black Lives Matter.

HOW HAS DRAG CHANGED BOB THE MOST? My very first day in drag I was 22 years old, I had been living in New York City for a little less than a year. I’ve learned a lot about myself since then - as a black person, as a queer person, as a non-binary person, as a New Yorker, as a son, as a mentor. I’ve certainly learned about the impact that I can have.

I’ve always thought that I had a great potential, but I’ve seen that maybe I could have even more of an impact on people then I thought I would, and I’ve started to choose my words and my actions a lot more wisely than I used to.

At the end of June, Bob the Drag Queen and Drag Race personality Peppermint, led the first ever Black Queer Town Hall with GLAAD and New York Pride. The three-day digital event featured Todrick Hall, Pose’s MJ Rodriguez, Laverne Cox, Alex Newell, Angelica Ross, Monet X Change, and

up in the last two years, but that’s not a true statement. And are they harmful to the community? I certainly don’t think so. I think they can be used to harm people if you’re intentionally misgendering or intentionally trying to identify someone in a way they don’t identify. But I feel like the idea notion of labels, ideas and pronouns are helping people communicate better and helps people feel safe. And that’s why I always tell people to put your pronouns in your Twitter bio. Even if you are a cisgender person who uses the pronouns of the gender you were assigned at birth. It also signals to people who may be crossing your path that you are a safe person they can talk to.

Talking to Bob was an education in labels, terms and ideas that are not quite as explored in my West Hollywood bubble. This current social environment has been a big education as to how people want to be identified and labeled.

CAN LABELS BE LIMITING AND OVERALL HARMFUL TO THE LGBT AND OTHER MINORITY COMMUNITIES? I don’t think that labels are new to our community. Like, yeah, I’ll admit there were less labels, or less labels being acknowledged. There’s also an idea that all this language is brand new, and that’s not completely true. People would have you believe that terms like cisgender or pansexual, or, you know, non-binary, are words that just popped

There are a lot people out there who really seem to have problems with social media activism, and honestly, it really doesn’t bother me. It just doesn’t. I’m also not one of those folks with a vendetta against the cell phone. You know some people were like, ‘We gotta get off our phones!’ I don’t necessarily see it that way. How I see the phone is like you’re holding this device in your hand that has the answer to every question in the world. It’s a powerful tool. Good and bad is subjective. So, whether you can say which ways are good or bad, it is up to each person individually.

I wouldn’t say it is an influencers duty to become politically involved, but I do know that as I became more aware of myself in my community, I felt it was MY duty. So, I can’t obviously decide what other people’s duty is. But I know how I wanted to use my platform as it grew larger and larger. And should we be calling people out who don’t use social media to make a statement? You’re allowed, like I believe, in freedom of speech.You have the freedom to not say anything. I have the freedom to mention that you have not said anything regarding my struggle. So, if you’re going to exercise your freedom, I’m going to exercise mine too.

Comedy is a big part of Bob’s personality and portfolio. His comedy style, while hilarious and effective, has a bite to it. Fans are as likely to pay attention to his comedy as much as his current drag look. To date, he has produced two one-person shows, Bob the Drag Queen: Suspiciously Large Woman for LOGO and Bob the Drag Queen: Crazy Black Lady for OutTV. METROSOURCE.COM

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I THINK WE’RE HERE IS AS A DOUBLE ENTENDRE. I MEAN, WHEN EUREKA, SHANGELA, AND I SHOW UP IN TOWN WITH THESE HUMONGOUS VEHICLES, LIKE WE’RE LITERALLY HERE, BUT ALSO, IT’S AN INDICATION THAT WE, THE QUEER COMMUNITY, ARE ALREADY IN THESE SPACES.”

DO YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT, ESPECIALLY NOW? I don’t believe in policing people’s art and telling comedians what to do with their platform. But then again, that goes the same in my direction. My art is comedy and I have realms of expression in oration outside of comedy as well. So, if part of my expression of art is mentioning how your art is problematic, then you’re going to have to accept that too. I know it sounds like a Catch 22, but if your comedy transgresses a community and that community mentions it, I find it so odd that people would be mad that someone got mad about something they did. The oddness of being offended that you offended someone and that they mentioned it is backwards to me.

His hit show on HBO, We’re Here, was renewed for Season Two. The original six-episode season was released for Pride Season and features Bob alongside other Drag Race alum Shangela and Eureka O’Hara travelling to small towns across America, inspiring local residents to share their stories and express themselves through a performance of uncensored drag.

THE SERIES WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED AND EXPLORED THE WORLD OF DRAG IN AN EXTREMELY, AND SOMETIMES DEVASTATINGLY, INTIMATE WAY. WHAT DOES WE’RE HERE MEAN TO BOB? I think We’re Here is as a double entendre. I mean, when Eureka, Shangela, and I show up in town with these humongous vehicles, like we’re literally here, but also, it’s an indication that we, the queer community are already in these spaces. Some people may not think of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the queer community that exists there or Twin Falls, Idaho, but there’s also a thriving drag scene in Twin Falls, Idaho, and maybe people don’t know about it. So, we’re here to uplift those voices and to amplify those voices.

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HOW IS THE SHOW DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DRAG SHOWS CURRENTLY SATURATING TV SCREENS? Well, We’re Here is different for a lot of reasons. One, I’m one of the faces of the show and have a producer credit, so we have a lot of say in the creative aspect of the shows and HBO and IFC really let us take the lead on the creative direction of the drag, everything from the look, to the performances, to the staff that makes our garments and hair. And I think you can see that in the show, which is why our drag is so authentic.

WHAT DO YOU WANT MOST FROM SEASON TWO? In Season Two, I want our inclusivity to go further. I’m so proud of the fact that we were able to include indigenous voices, black voices, Latinx voices, Asian voices, trans voices, ally voices. I was so happy that we were able to do that, but let’s go further. Let’s reach more people. I would love to go international at some point.

I DO REALIZE HOW DEEP MY CONVERSATION WITH BOB GOT, BUT I STILL HAD TO KNOW WHO THE BIGGEST DIVA ON WE’RE HERE IS. In all honesty, I think that I’m probably the biggest diva, and that’s not a pageant answer. If you watch the show, I’m usually the one who’s not smiling. I’m the grumpiest. Definitely the grumpiest out of the group. If we were The Golden Girls, but only three - I’m Dorothy. Like, DEFINITELY Dorothy.

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YOU CAN HEAR MORE OF MY CHAT WITH BOB THROUGH OUR PODCAST, METROSOURCE MINIS, AVAILABLE ON APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY, IHEARTRADIO, YOUTUBE AND METROSOURCE.COM.

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PHOTOS ON 30-33 COURTESY OF BOB THE DRAG QUEEN

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YEARS

OF METROSOURCE A LOOK BACK ON THREE DECADES OF ICONS, ALLIES & ENTERTAINMENT

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KALEN ALLEN REACTS TO LIFE

CORNBREAD, ELLEN, AND A HAMMOCK NAMED SASHA

LIKE DOROTHY BEFORE HIM, KALEN ALLEN FROM KANSAS CITY LITERALLY WOKE UP ONE DAY TO A DIFFERENT WORLD. WHO KNEW THAT CORNBREAD COULD BE SO POWERFUL?

A YouTuber best known for his“Kalen Reacts”videos, posted his first video reacting to a cornbread recipe (as an inside joke with friends), and his dry humor and seemingly casual one-liners have earned him a place in social media history. With over 6oo million views of his videos (including a home on Ellen DeGeneres’ digital hub), he has gone from food recipes to rubbing elbows with A-list celebrities, becoming a household name, and now appearing as a lead, opposite Seth Rogen, in HBO’s Max film “An American Pickle”.

Even with his quick success, he still maintains that “aw shucks” attitude, childlike charm, and sly grin.

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

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You knew as a kid that you wanted to be an actor, and, without a doubt, you must have been a troublemaker as a kid?

I was a very rebellious child. I didn’t get in trouble much, but if I could find loopholes, I definitely jumped through them. I also was fully against peer pressure! If everyone was doing something, I did the exact opposite. To fit in was boring to me.

I always wanted to be my own individual person and never wanted to just blend in.

After his first appearance on Ellen everything started to fall into place. Kalen tells us, “I felt like Cinderella getting a fairy godmother. I was ready to go. I remember it feeling like my dreams finally coming true.” Kalen has grown his brand past food videos and has become amazingly comfortable on the red carpet, conducting interviews at the Billboards Awards, New York Fashion Week, the Met Gala, and even the Royal Wedding.

Again, all from cornbread?

The gentrified cornbread video was the first one. I’ve learned that I can do and be so much more.

Those videos were a gateway and a steppingstone

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to my true dreams and aspirations. The very next day, after I posted the first one. My app kept crashing. After I made three more and those all went viral too, I knew it was a thing. If it’s not broke don’t fix it!

Why are your videos so popular?

Because they are real and genuine. It isn’t a performance. I’m saying exactly what everyone is thinking at the same time. My intentions are also pure. I’m not trying to be someone I’m not.

Though he is a member of the LGBT community, his sexuality is not the focus of his videos and his fan base skews more mainstream. Much like Ellen, whom he calls Mama E, his sexuality is part of who he is but is more of a matter of fact, rather than his videos’ purpose. He has used his growing voice to gently incorporate more from his gay life. His OMKalen Pride video on Ellen’s network last year gave him a fun way to introduce facts on Stonewall, the Pride flag, and LGBT legislation.

What was your coming out experience?

Well, I’ve come out many times. Each one was

exhausting because I’ve always just been myself.

So, it wasn’t like I started to act, talk, or walk differently. Did I lose people? Yes. But that was their choice, and no one is irreplaceable. Overall, I was accepted, but I think that’s because I didn’t give anyone any other choice. I couldn’t care less if they felt some type of way about me being gay. It’s not their life… it’s mine.

In today’s social and political climate, is there a change in the themes of Kalen’s videos?

I think I am going through a major creative shift in my life right now. With this pandemic and #BlackLivesMatter I’ve never felt more motivated to create content that not only entertains people but also empowers the world. We are entering a new era of Kalen.

Is this new era of Kalen created out pressure from the gay community?

It’s not a pressure, it’s a responsibility that I take very seriously. Not only for the LGBTQ+ community but for my Black community as well. If your queer content doesn’t include intersectionality or diversity…you can keep it!

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Your style of videos has been copied over and over. Is there too much content on the market?

What are current content creators doing right?

What are they doing wrong?

I honestly wouldn’t know. I don’t really get caught up in what other people are doing. The only person I can manage is myself. If what they are doing makes them happy, then that’s all that matters. Unless what makes them happy oppresses and minimizes others. I also have no time for social media haters. I don’t deal with them. Blocked.

Being a successful YouTuber can bring fame, but often at the cost of privacy. Social media content creators are under tough scrutiny, especially in today’s climate. Anything you say or do can mean the end of a career.

What are you learning about sharing too much?

I think sometimes I give people too much access to me. I’m still trying to find safe boundaries. I’m not as fun as people think I am [laughs].

I can be, but I’d rather be at home. I’m like a happy medium between introvert and extrovert.

There’s nothing I love more than canceled plans.

And what about dating?

I hate it. [Laughs] Dating gives me anxiety. I feel I have too much going on to be sitting around wondering if someone likes me as much as I like them.

I need to know your intentions from the jump. That time I would spend wondering where are and who are you holding, could be spent working!

Kalen is continuing to saturate himself in the Hollywood lifestyle since moving to Los Angeles, and, like any Angeleno, had to hit that audition circuit.

Was stepping outside your comfort zone and auditioning for your big-screen debut in“An American Pickle”worthy of a reaction video?

I was terrible at first. [Laughs] I was so nervous. I was off book, but I kept messing up the lines. Luckily, they let me start over and then I was solid. I got the part the very next day! Nothing but God. [Laughs]

Working with a director, a script, and with cameras bigger than his iPhone, his Hollywood life had truly begun.

What was set life like?

Surprisingly, very normal. Like I didn’t really know what to expect but it just felt like going to work. It’s so much different from the stage. You get many chances to do it, so you don’t really have any time to be nervous because by the fifth take you’re just like let’s do it! The fact that my first movie is alongside Seth Rogen… I mean, a dream! I hope that this only opens the doors for more movies and such.

What does the future hold for Kalen? Can we anticipate more acting?

World domination. [Laughs] Just kidding. You can expect a growth full of purpose and intention. I want to change the world, how we think, and how we move through our daily lives. Hopefully, someday, I will get to film with Beyoncé.

A self-titled Beyoncé specialist, he named his hammock“Sasha”… so fierce!

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METROHIV

LOVE

BODY

KNOWS NO STATUS

Beloved serodiscordant couple, recently wed in Venice, share their love story

BY DAVID ARTAVIA

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IN MARCH 2013, DAVID LESTER-MASSEY (THEN MASSEY) GAVE AN INTERVIEW THAT WOULD

THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURE JACQUEMIN

CHANGE HIS LIFE FOREVER. At the time, Atlanta-

based marketing professional and producer Johnny Lester-Massey (then Lester) was casting a reality show and searching for potential talent.

Following a brief phone call, Johnny informed David that he’d call him back. And he did.

That call lasted for hours – as did the next one, and the next one, and the next one. Eventually, David raked up the courage to ask Johnny if they could meet in person. Admittedly, Johnny says now, he thought it was going to be a business dinner.

David, however, knew it was something more.

At this point, the two had hours of conversation under their belt and understood a genuine connection was forming. After having a“really good time” at dinner, David, knowing his feelings for Johnny were building, decided to make an even more courageous move. Only this time, it was something deeply personal.

“I need to let you know that I am HIV-positive,” he told Johnny, expecting what many people living with HIV dread after disclosing their status: fear, rejection, and isolation. But what happened next took David by surprise. Johnny, who is HIV-negative and was not fully educated about the virus at the time, responded with compassionate and concerning questions:“Are you OK? How are you?

What does that mean? Are you healthy?”

David began to educate Johnny on his health, his numbers, and his statistics. What really moved him, he says, was that Johnny never lost romantic interest after telling him he was living with HIV. “[Johnny] took the time to get educated,” explains David.“When he left my house, he called his doctor and he had conversations about what it means to date or be in a relationship with somebody who is living with HIV. [The doctor] was like, ‘OK, so I want you to know something… First of all, if they disclosed that information to you this early on, please consider yourself special, because it’s not easy to do, it’s not easy to hear, and he chose to disclose to you.’”

The wise words from Johnny’s doctor, who is also his uncle, brought the issue into a broader perspective for the young producer. It certainly wasn’t the first time someone disclosed their status to Johnny before, but this time was different. “Atlanta’s very fast-paced, there’s a lot of hits and misses here,” Johnny explains about life in the Southern city, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is fourth in the nation for new HIV diagnoses.“I was at a point of time in my life where I was open and ready for a relationship.

I wanted something different. Being from a small town… coming out as gay, being in front of a Baptist minister in the Bible Belt, you have all of these

layers of stigmas and hang-ups that you have to walk through and deal with. I gave myself two years to really work on myself, to be my openly Black gay self, because I had never had the opportunity to do that. I was always terrified to do that. I said,‘A relationship that’s meant to be will come.’ And it did.”

Together, David and Johnny own HiClass Management, a boutique branding and imaging firm providing services for high profile clientele and awareness marketing around HIV. Recently, they launched into new ventures: Hiclass Blends, a luxury loose-leaf tea company, and SirHiclass Footwear, a luxury footwear line with products made in Italy.

By far, the most extravagant project they’ve curated to date was their 2019 wedding in Venice, Italy, a country that holds a special place in their hearts. A few years ago, David had started touring in Italy, singing and directing a gospel choir, spending two to three weeks at a time traveling across the country. In 2017, he received a call from singer and Insta-celebrity Cheryl Porter, who’d been invited to perform at “Christmas at The Vatican” for Pope Francis.

“She said, ‘I can’t imagine doing this without you. Would you be able to come over?’”remembers David, who jumped at the chance. Johnny joined him for the tour, and the duo fell in love with all things Italy. So much so that when the time came METROSOURCE.COM

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“The onus of your status still belongs to you,” David explains. “You can choose to share it. You can choose not to share it. But you do have a responsibility to ensure that you protect yourself and you protect the other person that you’re with. Whether you plan to be with them for a week, a night, or a lifetime, you still must protect yourself. The way to do that is to make sure that you have as much education in your tool belt that you can be able to share with somebody else. So, when they leave you, for whatever reason, they’re more educated just by meeting you—not hooking up with you, not being in a relationship. Whenever they come into somebody else’s presence, they can give that education to somebody else.”

When David disclosed his status publicly for the first time at a conference, after he already told Johnny, they both realized their stories could actually help others, and they certainly answered the call. “I told him this from the beginning,” explains Johnny.“I was like, ‘I want people not only to see you living with HIV, but they need to see you live well.’They don’t need to just see you and say, ‘Oh, he looks healthy, he’s eating.’ No. They need to see you be a rockstar, because they need to see something that they’ve never seen before.”

Alternatively, they also understand that Johnny’s voice is equally as important as an HIV-negative person who is in a healthy longterm relationship with someone who is poz—a narrative we often don’t see in mainstream TV

and film. “I’m negative, he’s positive, we know what our regimen is, we know what the doctors have told us, and we know how we operate,” Johnny says.“It was like a revelation or an a-ha moment for me in that instance. I also told David, since we’ve never seen this before, since there is no template, my thing is, if we’re going to do anything, we’re going to do it fabulous.”

Currently, they’re in the process of piecing together a mini e-book, which will be a collection of quotables and small insights (or “David and Johnny-isms”) their fans will be able to download and use if ever they need a jumpstart of inspiration. However, their ultimate goal is to be the first gay Black male couple to host a talk show. And given their shared drive and passion for change, they might achieve that goal sooner than later. “I do believe there is a space for thought leaders and people that want to take themselves, their relationships to the next level,” Johnny says. “Us being men of color, by being open and vocal about who we are and what we do, I think it resonates with a lot of people.”

David Artavia is managing editor of Plus magazine, the HIV Plus Treatment Guide mobile app, and HIVPlusMag.com. This column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, The Body, and Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service. Visit their websites — HIVPlusMag.com, PositivelyAware.com, Poz.com and TheBody. com—for the latest updates on HIV/AIDS. (This article was previously published in Plus magazine and reprinted with permission.)

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PHOTOS ON PAGE 40 & 22: COURTESY OF DAVIDANDJOHNNY.ORG

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for choosing wedding destinations, it seemed like a no brainer.

“And so, we said, Italy is a big country, where will we do it?” David explains. “I’d been to Venice, but he hadn’t. And so, I was like, ‘I would really enjoy being in Venice with you, and if we could make our wedding happen, I think you would be blown away.’”

The couple started the planning immediately. Porter also sang at the intimate ceremony, which was performed in the music hall of the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel Campo Santa Sofia. And the private setting was intentional on their part.

“When we talked about the kind of money we were investing,” Johnny explains, “we said we don’t want to invest all of this money for people to come and just spectate. We want people [there] who are going to be rooting and cheering for us. [In Italy], they already invested to get themselves there, so I know they weren’t there to spectate. If there’s one attribute defining David and Johnny’s relationship, it’s authenticity. Checking in to make sure they’re both good and being honest about their feelings will always be top priority. Without a doubt, David and Johnny’s love has grown stronger over the years as they continue breaking down their inner walls. For countless fans, many of whom are living with HIV, their story is one of triumph and trust. The fact that their experience as a serodiscordant couple is highly needed in this age of misinformation has not passed them by. But also, they’re fully aware that for anyone to fight stigma within a relationship, they must equip themselves with knowledge.

“I can understand that there are a lot of people who don’t have the education [about HIV] because I didn’t either,” Johnny says.

“David didn’t know that he was the main reason I was comfortable being in that moment with him the first night he told me [his status], because he was calm. If he would’ve came to me freaking out and all over the place, I probably would’ve naturally reacted and been as freaked out as he was. But he was very calm. He had a conversation with me... People are not dumb.

They know what’s going on. And you can tell if somebody’s kind of rushing things along… that doesn’t make somebody who’s unsure be okay.”

He advises to anyone choosing to disclose their status to their lover, “The person that’s sharing the information, they really are the gauge on that thermometer, because how they deliver it is probably how they’re going to get a response.”

CLEANSE, STRENGTHEN AND HEAL YOUR SKIN TEN NOURISHING MASKS FOR YOUR FACE

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

BLUE LAGOON SILICA MUD MASK Shop-usa.bluelagoon.com $103/3.4 fl. Oz It’s no secret that Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is one of the wonders of the (new) world, where the geothermal seawater creates a spa adventure to end all spa adventures. It’s now possible to order masks from The Blue Lagoon to use at home. The Silica Mud Mask is composed of the Blue Lagoon’s iconic“white wonder mud”known to deep cleanse and strengthen your skin while reducing the visibility of pores. Apply, close your eyes, and imagine you’re floating in the mysterious and healing waters.

BODY

HEALTH

LET’S FACE IT, 2020 HAS BEEN QUITE THE YEAR ALREADY, and everyone can use a little pampering before the leaves change colors and begin to fall. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been out in the sun all summer, or social distancing and hitting Zoom picnics and happy hours from the privacy of your own quarantine, you deserve some rest and a little indulgence. We ventured out (with a face mask, of course) and selected a variety of masks for you to try under that mask.

EARTH THERAPEUTICS HYALURONIC ACID PURE GEL UNDER EYES Ulta.com $5/1 pair Do your eyes need a little pick me up? Zero in on those pesky bags with Earth Therapeutics Pure Gel Under Eyes, infused with hyaluronic acid to provide long lasting moisture while improving the skin’s firmness around the eyes. Want a more comprehensive experience? Earth Therapeutics also offers a Purifying Charcoal Gentle Peeling Foot Mask ($11.99) formulated with a natural wood charcoal and a safe effective blend of Alpha Hydroxy Ac Acids to deep lean, deodorize, and gently exfoliate rough dry skin.

That’s two great masks for under $20. Let your skin look and feel smoother than ever.

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ENVIRON YOUTH + TRI BIOBOTANICAL REVIVAL MASQUE Dermaconcepts.com $81 Environ Youth + Tri BioBotanical Revival Masque, formulated as a luxurious, rich moisturizing masque to target the signs of aging. Help pump up your skin for Zooms, IG selfies, and #nofilter with this blend of lactic acid, Asiatic Acid, and Mandelic Acid that can be applied for 10-20 minutes or left on all night to give your skin a smoother, younger look by the time the sun comes up. Environ Skin Care was created by Dr. Des Fernandes, the first person to introduce high effective doses of vitamin A in cosmetic products worldwide.

Eufora.net $29/6 Fl. Oz. Don’t leave your scalp out of spa day! Eufora HERO for Men is a conditioning treatment that will help soothe irritation, itching, and flaky scalp (who wants that?) Eufora HERO for Men is a gentle combination of Kaolin black clay and finely milled charcoal, which works together to exfoliate dry, flaky skin and provides an elevated concentration of mineral salts to soothe irritation. Eufora products are 98% vegan, planet friendly, and sustainable.

IS CLINICAL HYDRA-INTENSIVE COOLING MASQUE

BODY

HEALTH

EUFORA HERO FOR MEN

Edcskincare.com $85/4Oz. iS Clinical Hydra-Intensive Cooling Masque is a luxurious cooling treatment designed to reinvigorate and refresh the skin while providing soothing hydration. Let your skin feel completely renewed with the perfect blend of aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Japanese green tea extract, hyaluronic acid, and resveratrol. Use after a long day out in the sun to soothe any redness, dehydration, or visible inflammation.

LAB SERIES URBAN BLUE DETOX CLAY MASK Labseries.com $34/3.4 Oz. Lab Series, known as one of the original, men’s only skincare brands, has offered high-performance skincare since 1987.

Their Urban Blue Detox Clay Mask is a powerful, purifying blend of clays, charcoal, and effective ingredients (including blue agave, caffeine, iron oxides) that decongest and unclog pores while removing the extra surface oil from the skin. Formulated for all skin types, this mask will allow you to live your Blue Man Group fantasy 1-2 times a week for 5-10 minutes with each application.

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PAULA’S CHOICE SUPER HYDRATE OVERNIGHT MASK paulaschoice.com $34/3 Oz. Paula’s Choice Super Hydrate Overnight Mask uses soothing plant extracts and a sensitivity-inhibiting peptide to work on your skin while you count sheep and drift off into a blissful slumber. Key ingredients: reishi mushroom and cloudberry work harmoniously to calm redness while shea butter and glycerin move in tandem to lock hydration beneath the surface.

Want to hit reset and wake up feeling awake, alert, and healthier than the night before? This mask is for you.

PROACTIV AMAZONIAN CLAY MASK Proactiv.com $38 Kaolin, Amazonian clay, and bentonite lead a va variety of powerful ingredients including shea but butter, avocado oil, and virgin cucumber in Proactiv’s Amazonian Clay Mask. No need for facial tweezers as this clay mask works like a magnet to draw out dirt, oil, and pore clogging impurities while banish banishing dead skin cells from every pore that’s in its way.

This mask will purify, restore, and nourish to leave your skin feeling supple and glowing.

SNOW FOX SKIN CARE HOT STONE FACIAL MASK snowfoxskincare.com $45/5 masks Snow Fox Skincare’s Hot Stone Facial Mask has created the world’s first hot stone facial, in a sheet mask. Inspired by Ayurvedic origins, this self-warming, intensive brightening mask will help to minimize the appearance of large pores while helping to brighten the skin. Key ingredients include blue Egyptian lotus, niacinamide, copper tripeptide, and potassium azeloyl diglycinate (PAD).

WONDERGLOSS PUMPKIN LATTE PEEL MASQUE Wondergloss.com $50 Is pumpkin spice season here already? It never ended, darlings. Wondergloss has captured the spirit of fall comfort in this wonderful pumpkin/coffee mask.

This mask works to exfoliate while moisturizing and rejuvenating the skin to give it a soft, smooth finish. Pumpkin is a superfood for the skin, of course, and this masque doesn’t just feel amazing while it’s working its magic, but it also smells just as incredible. Who says it’s too soon for pumpkins? There’s nothing basic about taking care of the skin you’re in.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS NATIONAL PARKS TO PUT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

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ACADIA NATIONAL PARK MAINE Considered the “crown jewel of the North Atlantic Coast,” Acadia National Park is home to some of the most gorgeous landscapes of the Eastern Seaboard. The park itself features over 47,000 acres with 158 miles of hiking trails. Roughly 3.5 million visitors make the trek to Acadia each year, and while many will be social distancing this year, there’s plenty to see and do in the park. Some of the most popular hiking trails in Acadia National Park include Champlain Mountain and Beehive Loop Trail, Bubble Rock, Gorham Mountain Trail, and the Great Head Trail. If you’re looking for a hike with a view, plan on exploring the Cadillac Summit trail, offering views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the islands. Go back in time by taking a horsedrawn carriage ride (Victorian gowns are optional) through the park, offered from May through October. There are 45 miles of car-free roads that will lead you through some of the best parts of the park. After your carriage ride, plan on stopping at the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, marking the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island.

This lighthouse, constructed in the 1800’s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and belongs to the U.S. Coast Guard. Looking for a place to propose? Look no further. Think of the Instagram photos!

THIS PAGE: PHOTOS BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

A DAY TRIP OR WEEKEND EXCURSION TO ONE OF THE MANY NATIONAL PARKS can be just the remedy for anxiety or that stir craziness you might be feeling for much of this past year. The National Park System features 419 national park sites across the United States. Founded in 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the “Organic Act” creating the National Park Service, the federal bureau in the Department of the Interior has expanded across over 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories.

Key details and local information about all 419 national park sites can be found on their website at www.nps.gov. The National Park Service is committed to telling all Americans’ stories and in addition to their own rich history many of the parks have their own unique LGBTQIA+ heritage and history. Stonewall National Monument, located in Greenwich Village, New York City, for instance, became a National Park in 2016. We went through the expansive list of stunning and notable parks and chose five to add to your bucket list for whenever you are ready and able to head out into the great outdoors.

THIS PAGE: (ABOVE) PHOTO BY NEAL HERBERT • (BELOW) PHOTO BY JACOB W. FRANK

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK UTAH Arches National Park, located in Moab, Utah, boasts over 2,000 natural stone arches within the park’s 76,518 acres of land, in addition to its soaring pinnacles, enormous rocks, and other red-rock marvels. The park is just five miles north of Moab, and it’s easy to bike, drive, or hike through the park. Some of the best hikes in the park include treks to Balanced Rock, Landscape Arch, and Fiery Furnace. Definitely plan a stop at The Delicate Arch, one of the most famous natural sandstone arches in the world. On the fence about taking the extra hike? Once you stop and take in the view, you too will know that it’s well worth the extra steps. Be sure to stop at Arches Visitor Center before to check in with the rangers, get the lay of the land, and get insight into optimal hiking trails, ranger programs before exploring the park. If you have a little extra time to spare, the park’s film“Window in Time”plays every half hour inside the visitor center.

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK COLORADO

THIS PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Want to stand at the top of the world? Rocky Mountain National Park, located in northern Colorado, spreads across 415 square miles of land, with sweeping peaks and epic valleys, offers over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildlife. Infamous for the Trail Ridge Road (don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights) and Old Fall River Road, the park spans the Continental Divide. As beautiful as it is to drive through the winding roads up and down mountains through the park it’s best to get out and venture through the pine and spruce forests, get up close and personal with the alpine lakes, smell the wildflowers, and take in the stillness of nature all around you. Looking for a great trail? Opt for Mt. Ida, Chasm Lake, Bear Lake to Fern Lake, or Emerald Lake Trail (which takes you into the Tyndall Gorge). There are a few visitors’ centers in Rocky Mountain National Park, but Beaver Meadows is one of the best. The rangers are fun, knowledgeable, and armed with plenty of solid advice regarding where to go and what to see. Also, if you need to pick up any last-minute equipment, they’ve got you covered. The Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater, housed in an early 1900’s log cabin, is insightful and features well curated exhibits for visitors to the park. Need a place to stay? The Stanley Hotel, a luxurious and historic property that moonlighted as the backdrop for The Shining, is nearby.

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THIS PAGE: (ABOVE) PHOTO BY JACOB W. FRANK • (BELOW) PHOTO BY JIM PEACO

YELLOWSTONE IDAHO, MONTANA, & WYOMING While you don’t want to jump into one of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal pools, they sure do make for good social media posts. Yellowstone itself became the first national park for visitors to take in hydrothermal and geological wonders. Old Faithful, first “discovered” in 1870 by the Washburn Expedition, is the park’s most popular attraction. Eruptions, which last from between 1.5-5 minutes, vary with bursts of roughly 100-180 feet into the air. Geological attractions in the park include hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, and over a thousand geysers. Take a stroll through the Norris Geyser Basin and you’ll be walking through one of the world’s largest active volcanoes with hot springs registering at over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your camera out to take in a myriad of bold and bright colored water including yellow, dark red, and emerald green. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, roughly twenty miles long, dips down 1,200 feet. The Canyon Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the geology of Yellowstone. The Quarry Visitor Center, closer to Jensen, Utah, has an enormous Stegosaurus statue that was part of the 1964 World’s Fair. Head inside to take in the Quarry Exhibit Hall for an up close and personal look at their famous wall of dinosaur bones.

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Yosemite National Park, first protected back in 1864, is a marvelous park known for waterfalls, valleys, grand meadows, giant sequoias, and 1,200 square miles of wilderness. If sequoias are high on your list, head to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. Recently closed for a largescale restoration project, the grove reopened in the summer of 2018. Hike the Big Trees Loop, Grizzly Giant, or Guardians Loop Trail through the spectacular trees and feel re-energized by their beauty and stature. Looking for waterfalls?

Yosemite Valley is the place to go. Drive to the 7.5mile glacial valley and take the cliffs and myriad of waterfalls including Sentinel Falls, Ribbon Fall, Horsetail Fall, Bridalveil Fall, Nevada Fall, Vernal Fall, and others. While you’re there be sure to check out the picturesque Mirror Lake and majestic El Capitan rock formation. If you’re an experienced hiker, Yosemite’s Half Dome Cables Route is a must. These 14 to 16 miles are strenuous and not for the faint of heart. Are you up for the challenge? Plan ahead - only 300 hikers are allowed to head up Half Dome each day.

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THIS PAGE: (ABOVE) PHOTO BY GRETCHEN ROECKER • (BELOW) PHOTO BY TOBE ROBERTS VIA PEXELS

YOSEMITE CALIFORNIA

CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY

10 LGBTQ PODCASTS WE’RE LISTENING TO

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ PODCASTS ARE A GREAT WAY TO FEEL CONNECTED THESE DAYS, no matter where

you are in the world. In addition to the politically and socially “on fire” podcasts out there, easy listening or more light-hearted fare is also proving to be a necessity for surviving more time alone. So, we’ve put together a few LGBTQ podcasts that you should tun into. These funny and informative podcasts, cover everything from news, sports, gayming, LGBTQ history, and more, and can be found on Apple podcasts or your favorite podcast listening platform. Listen and enjoy!

SCISSORING ISN’T A THING

LOS ANGELES

PODCAST

Hey, guess what? Scissoring Isn’t a Thing—or is it?

From discussing identity to dismantling old school stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community, co-hosts Daryn Carp (Andy Cohen’s assistant and host of People’s Reality Check) and Liz Culley (digital media executive and podcaster) get some of the most personal and hilarious interviews from your favorite celebs and personalities.

Scissoring Isn’t a Thing is the heartfelt (and hysterical) LGBTQ+ education friendly podcast everyone can feel safe to fall in love with, no matter how you identify.

METROSOURCE MINIS This Pride Season, Metrosource released its premiere audio and video podcast, Metrosource Minis, as a companion to the national print magazine and online articles. Each episode is a short 15-20 minute chat with our featured celebrities from the LGBTQ community and beyond, hosted by yours truly. The Metrosource Minis podcast is available now on Metrosource.com, the Metrosource YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and coming soon to iHeartRadio.

QUEER FORTY

QUEERANTINE + CHILL Hosted by LGBT travel entrepreneur and content creator Vincent Jones, Queerantine + Chill is a daily podcast documenting the global LGBTQ experience during the coronavirus pandemic. Through conversations with a drag queen in Hong Kong, a Ugandan refugee in Toronto, a transgender DJ in NewYork City, a closeted college student from Gaza Strip and dozens more LGBTQ people around the world, Queerantine + Chill acts as a time capsule for how the queer community is experiencing a unique global moment.

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The Queer Forty Podcast is all about celebrating LGBTQ+ life over forty! Featuring special guests, features, interviews and more to celebrate ageing with pride!

A TOUCH FROM THE PAST This podcast is one-part history and one part spooky. Cohosts Clark Canez and Jen Curcio explore the history and ghost stories inside a variety of buildings and often find that history is scarier than any haunting.

ON THE ROCKS WITH ALEXANDER TV & Radio Personality Alexander Rodriguez sips and chats with your favorite celebrities from TV, film, Broadway, music, reality TV and pop culture in this weekly, entertainment, no holds barred talk show. Academy Award, Emmy Award, Grammy Award, Tony Award, Golden Globe Award winners – he’s drank with them all! Its talk radio with a twist!

OUTSPORTS PODCAST Outsports highlights the stories of LGBTQ athletes, coaches and other people in sports who show us all that “courage is contagious.”

THE GAYMING PODCAST

WHO INVITED HER? An LGBTQ, gay, pop-culture talk show podcast from Hillcrest in San Diego. Just a few locals drinking, laughing, and talking about whatever we want. Why? Because we’re nobody of importance. Listen for laughs, mindless banter, or just white noise to get you through your day.

A celebration of LGBTQ video gaming around the world! Each episode Robin is joined by two awesome LGBTQ gaymers to talk about what’s hot in the gayming world. The Gayming Podcast is the companion to Gayming Magazine.

PRIDE There is no singular LGBTQ experience. A community that celebrates with a rainbow flag deserves a podcast like PRIDE that is beyond labels, uplifting, and willing to have fun.

PRIDE host Levi Chambers uses original reporting and interviews to bring you places you couldn’t otherwise experience.

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CROSSROADS KITCHEN

EATING CLEAN AND GREEN FABULOUS VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS IN LA

8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323-782-9245; crossroadskitchen.com

BY ERIC ROSEN SUMMER IS NEARLY OVER, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TIME FOR A BEACH TRIP OR TWO BEFORE THE DAYS START GETTING SHORTER AND THE NIGHTS START GETTING COLDER. Keep your body bathing suit-ready by dining at one of these health-conscious vegan or vegetarian restaurants

around Los Angeles. Even if you don’t normally stick to a plant-based diet, these dining spots will have you salivating for more.

CAFÉ GRATITUDE It’s all in the name – gratitude is the driving principle behind this popular raw, vegan chain with locations in Downtown, Larchmont, and Venice. Hence the cheerful menu listings, like the Fortified, a bowl of sautéed seasonal market vegetables with garlic tahini, sprouts and a choice of brown rice or quinoa; and the signature Grateful bowl, which has recently been renamed the Black Lives Matter bowl with all proceeds going to Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, the NAACP, Fair Fight Action, and the Equal Justice Initiative. It just makes its mix of kale, black beans, garlic tahini, and choice of brown rice or quinoa that much more delicious. For now, the Venice and Larchmont locations are open for takeout and delivery but stay tuned for news on the outpost in the Arts District.

639 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004, 323-580-6383 512 Rose Ave., Venice, CA 90291, 424-231-8000 cafegratitude.com

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THIS PAGE:(ABOVE) PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAKOB LAYMAN • PHOTO COURTESY OF CAFE GRATITUDE

LOS ANGELES

RESTAURANT

The hotspot that put vegan fine-dining on L.A.’s culinary map is open for takeout, delivery, and even modified dine-in these days, so you can plan your next wellness-oriented date night out. The artichoke “oysters” with artichoke puree, crispy oyster mushrooms, béarnaise and kelp caviar are a must, as are the stuffed zucchini blossoms.

Even if you have overloaded on pasta at home, the radiatori capesante with saffron and Meyer lemon cream sauce, English peas and oyster mushroom scallops are a nice change of pace, as is the Italian “sausage” of wheat protein with peppers, onions and tomatoes in a fennel-seed demi-glaze sauce.

Save room for the blackberry shortcake with coconut-milk mascarpone and vanilla shortbread for dessert. That last one may not be healthy, but it’s worth it.

FRESH ON SUNSET It’s a shame you still can’t dine in (for the moment) at the recently opened first U.S. location of this Canadian-based restaurant chain. The dining room is a vibrant, leafy enclave that captures the energy (appropriately enough) of Sunset Boulevard through bright floor-to-ceiling windows. However, you can still order takeout and delivery of its “plantpowered” menu (though not botanical cocktails for now) straight to your home.

The onion rings battered in breadcrumbs and puffed quinoa are always a crowd pleaser, as are the crispy cauliflower tacos with jicama, avocado, Napa cabbage, beet sauerkraut and lemon aioli.

The house made grain burgers taste as juicy as the real thing, while exotic bowls include one with steamed baby bok choy, Swiss chard, kale, broccoli ginger-chili tempeh, picked ginger,

tahini, and a dash of sunflower nori salt drizzled with spicy house made taberu rayu Japanese chili oil. It’s addictive.

8768 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-432-5199; freshplantpowered.com

THIS PAGE:(ABOVE) PHOTO COURTESY OF M CAFE • (RIGHT) PHOTO COURTESY OF FRESH ON SUNSET • (BELOW) PHOTOS COURTESY OF REAL FOOD DAILY

M CAFÉ Not strictly vegetarian, this macrobiotic Melrose mainstay still deserves a mention thanks to its ultra-healthy menu. Morning folk should appreciate breakfast fare like the matcha granola with seasonal berries over vanilla chia pudding, coconut yogurt or an oat milk pour-over. The signature deli salads include red beet poke, kelp noodle alfredo and probiotic slaw, while heartier options include the burrito bowl with steamed quinoa, charred corn, black beans, pico de gallo, avocado, shredded cabbage, cilantro, soy crema, chipotle sauce and lime. Or just opt for the famous grilled tuna burger with ahi in a teriyaki glaze with avocado, tangy shiso leaf, pickled red onion, daikon sprouts and spicy yuzu mayo on a sesame brioche bun. Even if you’re not eating there yourself, you can still donate to feed frontline medical workers via the restaurant’s website.

7119 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323-525-0511; mcafedechaya.com

REAL FOOD DAILY Known to locals as RFD since 1993, Real Food Daily was one of the pioneers of bringing healthy eating to the masses, and continues to serve its signature menu of vegan cuisine at locations in West Hollywood (the original), Pasadena, and even at LAX International Airport. Who needs chicken and waffles when you can start your day with crispy seitan and gooey maple syrup over waffles served with a side of seasonal fruit? Dinner items include the signature buffalo cauliflower with curried, roasted florets doused in spicy buffalo sauce with a “creamy” ranch dressing. There are

now two Impossible burgers on the menu, but opt instead for a build-your-own bowl with protein options like braised jackfruit, marinated tempeh, and almond tuna, among others; a choice of grains or legumes including soba noodles or lentils; and veggies that include grilled plantains, roasted mushrooms, sea vegetables, or steamed spinach.

414 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 310-289-9910 899 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106, 626-844-8900 realfood.com METROSOURCE.COM

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BANKS

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)

700 E Temple St, B-38 LA�����������������������������������������������866444-L APD www�joinlapd�com

US Bank

EVENT PLANNING & EVENT SPACE/RENTALS

Wells Fargo

1022 Davie St Vancouver, BC, Canada www�celebritiesnightclub�com

Toll Free ��������������������������������������800 720-2265 www�usbank�com/checking Toll Free ��������������������������������������800 869-3557 www�wellsfargo�com/lgbt

Book Soup Bookstore

8818 W Sunset Blvd West Hollywood �������������������������310 659-3110

Crossroads Books

1196 E Walnut St Pasedena ������������������������������������626 795-8772

CATERING West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC��������������������������������������������212924-2280 www�li-lacchocolates�com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 METROSOURCE LA

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801 N� Larrabee St, Ste #1 West Hollywood �������������������������310 659-6693

Shorty’s Barber Shop

755 N Fairfax Ave West Hollywood �������������������������323 297-0554 www�shortysbarbershop�com

Aqua-Aston Hospitality

Hawaii ����������������������������������������855 945-4092 www�aqua-aston�com

Vancouver East Cultural Centre 1895 Venables St Vancouver, BC, Canada ���������������604 251-1766 www�thecultch�com

FRAMING

Elan Hotel Modern

8435 Beverly Blvd LA�����������������������������������������������323658-6663 www�elanhotel�com

Opus Hotel Vancouver

Framing Gallery

8527 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood ������������������������310 657-6904

FITNESS/GYMS/PERSONAL TRAINERS

Li-Lac Chocolates

www�misterbandb�com

HOTELS

Celebrities Nightclub

The Cultch

BOOKS & BOOKSTORES

GUEST HOUSES/B&B’S MisterBandB

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)

1700 Stadium Way LA�����������������������������������������������213847-L AFD www�joinlafd�org

Cake and Art

West Village: 40 8th Ave, NYC Greenwich Village: 162 Bleecker St, NYC Grand Central: 43rd & Lexington, NYC Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Ave, NYC Industry City: 68 35th St, Brooklyn NYC��������������������������������������������212924-2280 www�li-lacchocolates�com

Body Builders Gym

2516 Hyperion Ave Silverlake ������������������������������������323 668-0802

Fired Up Athletics

322 Davie St Vancouver, BC Canada ���������������������������������������604 642-6787 www�opushotel�com

Preferred Hotels & Resorts

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Ramada Plaza West Hollywood Hotel

8585 Santa Monica Blvd �������������800 845-8585 www�ramadaweho�com

8474 W 3rd St, Ste 208, LA ��������213 608-9425 www�firedupathletics�com

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

METROSOURCE.COM

HOTELS (CONTINUED) – WEDDING SERVICES Sandman Suites on Davie

1160 Davie St Vancouver, BC Canada ��������������������������������������� 604 681-7263 www�sandmanhotels�com

Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel

1088 Burrard St Vancouver, BC Canada ��������������������������������������� 604 331-1000 www�sheratonvancouver�com

Sunset Marquis

INTRODUCTION SERVICES Bespoke Matchmaking

LA�����������������������������������������������888422-6464 www�bespokematchmaking�com

LEATHER 665 Leather & Fetish Co�

8722 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood �������������������������310 854-7276

Rough Trade

TATTOO Body Electric Tattoo and Piercing 7274 1/2 Melrose Ave LA ..............................................323 954-0408 www.bodyelectrictattoo.com

TAX SERVICES

1200 Alta Loma Rd West Hollywood ������������������������� 800 858-9758 www�sunsetmarquis�com

3915 W Sunset Blvd, Silverlake ���323 660-7956 www�roughtradegear�com

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MARKETING SERVICES

Cash, Gregory D�, EA, MST

Viceroy

Brand2Fly

415 South Belardo Rd Palm Springs ������������������������������� 760 320-4117 www�viceroypalmsprings�com

VIVE Hotel Waikiki

2426 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, Hawaii ������������������������ 808 687-2000 www�vivehotelwaikiki�com

INSURANCE HealthSherpa

San Jose��������������������������������������408 763-7924 www�brand2fly�com

GayVan�com Travel Marketing www�gayvan�com

NUTRITION & FITNESS Power Zone

8578 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood �������������������������310 289-1125 www�powerzoneonline�com

Toll Free �������������������������������������� 844 346-9476 www�metrosource�healthsherpa�com

PET SUPPLIES

Marc Berton Insurance

nulo.com/love

LA .............................................. 323 872-0482 San Fernando Valley ................ 818 365-9449 Toll Free..................................... 800 924-4459 www.marcberton.com

Nulo Pet Foods

5150 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste 350 Long Beach �������������������������562 597-4300 www�gregcash�com

THRIFT SHOPS Berda Paradise Thrift Store 3506 W Sunset Blvd LA�����������������������������������������������323661-8246

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TRAVEL/GETAWAYS

PHARMACIES/DRUGS

Aqua-Aston Hospitality

AHF Pharmacy

Hawaii ����������������������������������������855 945-4092

1400 S Grand Ave, Ste 801 Downtown LA ����������������������������213 741-5271 1300 North Vermont Ave Hollywood ����������������������������������323 661-0643 www�ahfpharmacy�com

Cienega Pharmacy

99 N La Cienega Blvd, Ste 104 Beverly Hills���������������������������������310 360-9969 www�uniteddrugs�com

PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL SERVICES Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic

www�aqua-aston�com

VIVE Hotel Waikiki 2426 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, Hawaii ������������������������808 687-2000 www�vivehotelwaikiki�com

VIDEO

Family Medicine & Mental Health 3324 W Sunset Blvd, LA��������������323 660-2400 www�hsfreeclinic�org

Broadway Video

REAL ESTATE/PALM SPRINGS

Video West

Hammond, Joe & Howell, Gary

Coldwell Banker Hammond: Palm Springs �������������760 275-6597 Howell: Palm Springs ������������������760 275-4792 www�palmspringsgary�com

ROOFING Reliable Roofing By Todd Gregory Young

Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage �������760 323-2705 Palm Desert/Indian Wells �������������760 568-1673 Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley �������������760 365-0072 Desert Hot Springs ����������������������760 251-9495 Cathedral City�����������������������������760 323-2705 www�reliableroofingbytgy�com

3401 E Broadway, Long Beach ����562 433-1920

805 Larrabee St West Hollywood �������������������������310 659-5762

WEDDING SERVICES Cake and Art 8709 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood �������������������������310 657-8694 www�cakeandart�com

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

57

LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY RESOURCES Metrosource is committed to helping non-profit organizations in their ongoing efforts to serve our diverse community.

ATHLETIC ARRIBA SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB PO Box 69611 West Hollywood, CA 90069 www.arribaski.org BIKE OUT 2811 Pico Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90405 310 453-5040 CHEER LA 1223 Wilshire Blvd #1580 Santa Monica, CA 90404 www.cheerla.org DIFFERENT SPOKES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA P.O. Box 2466 Hollywood, CA 90078 www.differentspokes.com GOLDEN STATE GAY RODEO ASSOC - GLAC P.O Box 2407 Long Beach, CA 90801 562 498-1675 www.larodeo.com GREATER LA IGBO LEAGUES www.igbo.org LA BLADES ICE HOCKEY PO Box 4346 Laguna Beach, CA 92652 310 288-3632 www.bladeshockey.com LA POOL LEAGUE PO Box 2227 Los Angeles, CA 90078 818 426-2171 www.lapl8ball.org LA TENNIS ASSOC. (LATA) PO Box 481226 Los Angeles, CA 90048 www.lataweb.com OUTSPORTS www.outsports.com PALM SPRINGS FRONTRUNNERS PO Box 2184 Palm Springs, CA 92263 760 318-8809 www.psfr.org SHORELINE FRONTRUNNERS OF LONG BEACH PO Box 90774 Long Beach, CA 90809 562 252-0218 www.shorelinefrontrunners.org SOCAL GIRL GOLF 714 391-3615 www.socalgirlgolf.com SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WRESTLING CLUB (SCWC) www.geocities.com/scwc2002 SURF & SUN SOFTBALL www.surfandsunsoftball.com TINSELTOWN SQUARES www.iagsdc.org VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION IN LOS ANGELES (VOILA) www.gayvolleyball.org WEST HOLLYWOOD AQUATICS www.wh2o.org WEST HOLLYWOOD SOCCER CLUB www.gaysoccer.com

58

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

CULTURAL, ETHNIC & SOCIAL ASIAN PACIFIC AIDS INTL TEAM 6501 West Olympic Blvd Ste 610 Los Angeles, CA 90015 213 553-1830 www.apaitonline.org BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY 5001 Angel Canyon Rd Kanab, UT 84741 435 644-2001 www.bestfriends.org BEST FRIENDS PET ADOPTION & SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES 15321 Brand Blvd Mission Hills, CA 91345 818 643-3989 www.bestfriends.org/la CHRISTOPHER STREET WEST/GAY PRIDE 8235 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046 323 969-8302 www.lapride.org DIVERSE & INCLUSIVE VISIONARY ARTISTS (DIVA) 8581 Santa Monica Blvd #220 West Hollywood, CA 90069 www.queerdiva.com GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION (GLAAD) 5455 Wilshire Blvd, #1500 Los Angeles, CA 90036 323 933-2240 www.glaad.org GAY MENS CHORUS OF LA 9056 Santa Monica Blvd, #300 West Hollywood, CA 90069 800 636-7464 www.gmcla.org I LOVE ME FOUNDATION 6444 Fountain Ave Hollywood, CA 90028 323 467-6444 www.chazdean.com KIDSAVE 11835 W Olympic Blvd #295 Los Angeles, CA 90064 310 479-5437 www.kidsave.org LA GAY & LESBIAN CENTER The Village at Ed Gould Plaza 1125 N McCadden Place Los Angeles, CA 90038 323 860-7302 www.laglc.org LA GAY & LESBIAN CENTER McDonald/Wright Building 1625 North Schrader Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 323 993-7400 www.laglc.org LA YOUTH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES 8111 Beverly Blvd #306 Los Angeles, CA 90048 877 465-2977 www.la-youth.org

PACIFIC PRIDE FOUNDATION 126 East Haley, Ste A-11 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805 963-3636 www.pacificpridefoundation.org THE POINT FOUNDATION 5757 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 370 Los Angeles, CA 90036 866 33-Point www.pointfoundation.org (SEE AD PAGE 55) VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 18111 Nordhoff St Northridge, CA 91330 818 677-2488 818 677-3000 valleyperformingartscenter.org WORLD HARVEST FOOD BANK 1014 Venice Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90015 213-746-2228 www.worldharvestfoodbank.org

HEALTH/ COUNSELING AID FOR AIDS AFA 8235 Santa Monica Blvd #200 West Hollywood, CA 90046 323 656-1107 www.aidforaids.net AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION/MENS WELLNESS CENTER • 6255 W Sunset Blvd, 21st Fl Los Angeles, CA 90028 888 AIDS CARE • 1300 N Vermont Ave, Ste 407 Los Angeles, CA 90027 866 339-2525 800 367-2437 www.inspotla.org AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION PHARMACY 8212 Santa Monica Blvd The David Geffen Center West Hollywood, CA 90046 323 654-0907 www.ahfpharmacy.org AIDS PROJECT LA (APLA) Client & Community Services The David Geffen Center 611 South Kingsley Drive Los Angeles, CA 90005 866 679-0958 213 201-WALK (9255) www.apla.org www.aidswalk.net AIDS RESEARCH ALLIANCE 1400 S Grand Ave Ste 701 Los Angeles, CA 90015 310 358-2429 www.hopetakesaction.org www.aidsresearch.org AIDS WALK LA 3550 Wilshire Blvd, #800 Los Angeles, CA 90010 213 201-9255 (WALK) www.aidswalk.net AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 3333 Wilshire Blvd #900 Los Angeles, CA 90010 800 227-2345 www.cancer.org

LONG BEACH LESBIAN & GAY PRIDE PO Box 2050 Long Beach, CA 90802 562 987-9191 www.longbeachpride.com

BEING ALIVE PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS ACTION COALITION 621 N San Vincente Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 289-2551 www.beingalivela.org

OUTFEST THE LA GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL 3470 Wilshire Blvd #1022 Los Angeles, CA 90010 213 480-7088 www.outfest.org

DESERT AIDS PROJECT Palm Springs, CA 1695 North Sunrise Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 323-2118 www.desertaidsproject.org

METROSOURCE.COM

GAY & LESBIAN ARMENIAN SOCIETY (GALAS) 8721 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 654 West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 203-1587 www.galasla.org GAY & LESBIAN CENTER Orange County 1605 N Spurgeon St Santa Ana, CA 92701 714 953-5428 www.thecenteroc.org HEALTHSHERPA 844 346-9476 www.metrosource. healthsherpa.com HOLY FAMILY SERVICES, ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE 840 Echo Park Ave Los Angeles, CA 90026 213 202-3900 www.holyfamilyservices.org

THE TREVOR PROJECT 9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100 West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 271-8845 www.thetrevorproject.org VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE 6801 Coldwater Canyon Ave North Hollywood, CA 91605 818 301-6314 - HIV testing 818 301-6390 - Medical Services www.smarthealthla.com

LEGAL LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND INC. Western Regional Office 3325 Wilshire Blvd #1300 Los Angeles, CA 90010 213 382-7600 www.lambdalegal.org

INLANDS AIDS PROJECT (AIP) 3756 Elizabeth St Riverside, CA 92504 951 346-1910 www.inlandaidsproject.org

NATIONAL G & L TASK FORCE 5455 Wilshire Blvd #1505 Los Angeles, CA 90036 323 954-9597 www.thetaskforce.org

LA FREE CLINIC • 5205 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038 323 653-1990 – appts 323 653-8622 – admin www.lafreeclinic.org • 6043 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 • 8405 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90048

LESBIANS

LA GAY & LESBIAN CENTER Health Education & Prevention 13210 South Figueroa Los Angeles, CA 90061 310 327-0590 LA PUBLIC HEALTH www.reallycheckyourself.org LA YOUTH SERVICES McDonald/Wright Building 1625 North Schrader Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 323 993-7450 LIFEWORKS www.lifeworksmentoring.org 310 724-6300 PENNY LANE CENTERS 15305 Rayen St North Hills, CA 91343 818 892-3423 www.pennylane.org OUT OF THE CLOSET AIDS Healthcare Foundation 6210 West Sunset Los Angeles, CA 90028 323 860-5200 OUT OF THE CLOSET THRIFT SHOPS • 8224 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046 323 848-9760 • 3500 East Pacific Coast Hwy Long Beach, CA 90804 562 494-0340 • 1726 East Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91106 626 440-1719 • 360 North Fairfax Ave Los Angeles, CA 90036 323 934-1956 PROJECT ANGEL FOOD 922 Vine St Los Angeles, CA 90038 323 845-1800 www.angelfood.org

LESBIAN LAWYERS ASSOC OF LA PO Box 480318 Los Angeles, CA 90048 213 486-4443 www.lgla.net POWER UP 419 North Larchmont Blvd, #283 Los Angeles, CA 90004 323 463-3154 www.power-up.net WOMAN ON A ROLL PO Box 5112 Santa Monica, CA 90409 310 578-8888 www.womenonaroll.com

PROFESSIONAL LOS ANGELES GAY AND LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE P.O. Box #57555 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 888 552-4522 www.balaweb.org THE QUEER LOUNGE PO Box 69887 West Hollywood, CA 90069 www.queerlounge.org

REFERRALS/ SWITCHBOARDS LA GAY & LESBIAN CENTER Jeff Griffith Youth Center 7051 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90038 TOLL FREE: 800 773-5540 LA GAY & LESBIAN CENTER MacDonald/Wright Bldg 1625 North Schroder Los Angeles, CA 323 933-7400 www.angelfood.org THE TREVOR PROJECT 9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100 West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 271-8845 www.thetrevorproject.org THE VILLAGE AT ED GOULD PLAZA 1125 North McCadden Place Los Angeles, CA 90038 323 860-7328 prevention@laglc.org www.laglc.org

RELIGIOUS ALL SAINTS PARISH 504 North Camden Dr West Hollywood, CA 90036 310 275-0123 BETH CHAYIM CHADASHIM 6000 West Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90035 323 931-7023 www.bcc-la.org GLORY TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN CENTER 3215 East Third St Long Beach, CA 90804 562 438-7758 www.glorytabernacle.com OPEN DOOR MINISTRIES 4101 Willow St 562 925.3533 www.open-door-ministries.org ST. JANE FRANCES CATHOLIC CHURCH G & L OUTREACH 12930 Hamlin St North Hollywood, CA 91606 818 985-8600 WEST HOLLYWOOD CHURCH 916 North Formosa Ave West Hollywood, CA 90069 323 656-2400

See the steps you can take to help stop HIV.

HelpStopTheVirus.com

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