Category Archives: News
CHER Christmas CD Album 2023
Cher has made our holiday wishes come true with the release of Cher Christmas – available now via Warner Records. Listen HERE.
Christmas, Cher’s first new studio album in five years, includes 13 songs – several holiday classics and four originals. It also has a star-studded list of musical besties including Darlene Love, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Cyndi Lauper and Tyga.
“I never say this about my own records but I’m really proud of this one. It is one of the most amazing highlights of my career,” commented Cher.
The Guardian raved, “The catchy dance track, ‘DJ Play a Christmas Song,’ evokes a night that’s anything but silent.” And Consequence added, “‘DJ Play a Christmas Song’ is a rebel’s anthem for anyone whose parents told them Santa Claus would skip their house if they didn’t go to sleep”
“DJ Play A Christmas Song,” the first single, was written by Sarah Hudson (Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Troye Sivan) and her team who contributed four new songs for the album. (Full Track listing below)
Recorded primarily in LA and London, Christmas was produced by longtime collaborator Mark Taylor (“Believe”). Songs include beloved superstar duet classics “What Christmas Means To Me” with Stevie Wonder and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” with Darlene Love. (Darlene first recorded the song with Phil Spector and a l7-year-old Cher singing background vocals); in addition to a haunting version of “Home” written and sung with Michael Bublé.
One of the many highlights is a duet by Cher and Stevie Wonder of Stevie’s “What Christmas Means to Me.” Commented Cher, “Every time I hear that harmonica, I’m a teenager again. It’s a personal dream come true for me to record this song with Stevie.”
Two other standouts include an unexpected pairing with Tyga on another Sarah Hudson song called “Drop Top Sleigh Ride” produced by Alexander Edwards, Mike Crook and Ryan OG, and the magnificent “Angels in the Snow” plus “Put A Little Holiday In Your Heart” with Cyndi Lauper.
Cher is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of her multi-platinum Grammy-winning “Believe” with the release of Believe 25th Anniversary (Deluxe Edition) on Warner Records.
CHER CHRISTMAS TRACK LIST:
1. DJ Play A Christmas Song
2. What Christmas Means To Me (with Stevie Wonder)
3. Run Run Rudolph
4. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) [with Darlene Love]
5. Angels In The Snow
6. Home (with Michael Bublé)
7. Drop Top Sleigh Ride (with Tyga)
8. Please Come Home For Christmas
9. I Like Christmas
10. Christmas Ain’t Christmas Without You
11. Santa Baby
12. Put A Little Holiday In Your Heart (with Cyndi Lauper)
13. This Will Be Our Year
Gender Neutral Bathrooms coming to Airports
Picture it: Kansas City, 2023. A grandmother enters a restroom at the Kansas City International Airport (KCI), but stops abruptly when she sees a man inside, using a sink. She looks confused. The man glances at her over his shoulder.
“I’m just trying to figure out which way the ladies’ room is,” the woman tells him with a nervous laugh.
The man explains: There is no dedicated men’s or ladies’ room here. This is a unisex bathroom. Choose any stall with a green light over the door. A red light means a stall is occupied.
The woman raises her eyebrows and pauses, but says, “okay,” and walks toward the stalls.
“And then we can meet back here and wash our hands together,” the man says. They laugh.
This is the new all-gender washroom experience in KCI’s airport terminal, which opened in February 2023.
In July 2023, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport announced the opening of its own first multi-user all-gender bathroom, explaining in a statement that the change “helps create a better flow for travelers and reduces waiting and congestion.”
NICK ADAMS Drag: The Musical
Nick Adams is an entertainer on many levels. Acting, singing, dancing, film, stage, and more, he’s done it all.
He’s won Audience Choice Awards from Broadway.com, received an Astaire Award nomination for Best Dancer, and has been honored by the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
He is instantly recognizable by his signature smile, powerhouse vocals, and yes, that body that held Mario Lopez to task.
METROSOURCE did a great story and interview with Nick this month! Check it out here!
Colorful Clothes and the BEST Underwear for Men
Choosing to wear regular men’s boxer briefs instead of a ball hammock with ball support is like choosing to adopt a rehabilitated pit bull fighting dog instead of a miniature Golden Doodle runt puppy. It sounds like it’ll probably be fine since plenty of other dudes are doing it, but it’s actually kind of dangerous.
Think about men’s pouch underwear like this: You wouldn’t toss fresh eggs in your shopping cart without an egg carton, all willy nilly?!
Sure, there are other brands with pouches. But I am telling you, this brand fits like a glove, shows you off, and feels so comfortable.
Besides keeping your love spuds cool by cradling them in a moisture-wicking, micro-modal ball hammock, these men’s pouch underwear enhance the look of your package by keeping “your meat and taters all on the same plate.” Common reactions from lucky spectators include comments like “Wow, what size shoe did you say you wear?” and stunned silence.
AND YOU CAN SAVE $$$ with Build Your Own Bundle or their Subscription Services!
BALL HAMMOCK® POUCH UNDERWEAR FEATURES
1 Ball Hammock® Pouch Technology – Helps prevent the twins from getting crushed between your legs
2 Bulge Enhancing – Ball Hammock® pouch makes your package look huge. For real.
Shinesty was created for one reason and one reason only; to bring you the most outlandish collection of clothing the world has ever seen! And they do the BEST job at doing just that!
Shinesty is “a brand that makes people laugh,” says founder Chris White. “Either you think we’re ridiculous or you think we’re fools.”
White started the Shinesty website to sell vintage clothing combed from Colorado’s thrift stores to college kids as a way to make extra money while finishing his JD/MBA at CU Boulder.
He went into importing and working with contract manufacturers to make his own line of wacky apparel, and soon had a huge hit: suits with patterns that mimic ugly Christmas sweaters.
The suits went viral and Shinesty was deluged with orders after Al Roker plugged them on Today.
Suits, dresses, pajamas, swimsuits, and yes, men’s boxers with a ball pouch! SHINESTY! Check it out today!!
Jeff Conway talks to Andy Chohen about Bravo and more!
Can you believe its’s been 16 years since the first Real Housewives show launched?!
Andy Cohen took a risk – and it paid off! He has also been the host and executive producer of his own late night interactive talk show Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, not to mention his two channels on SiriusXM, as well as him being a bestselling author.
Writer Jeff Conway recently interviewed Andy and it is on Forbes.com this week!
URVASHI VAID, ACTIVIST, AUTHOR, ATTORNEY has Passed Away
Legendary attorney, LGBTQ activist, and author Urvashi Vaid, known for her extensive career an advocate for LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, anti-war efforts, immigration justice and many other social causes, died today at age 63 in her home in New York City. She was the Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force from 1989- 1992 and served prior to that as Media Director.
“We are devastated at the loss of one of the most influential progressive activists of our time,” said Kierra Johnson, current Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force. “Urvashi Vaid was a leader, a warrior and a force to be reckoned with,” continued Johnson, “She was also a beloved colleague, friend, partner and someone we all looked up to – a brilliant, outspoken and deeply committed activist who wanted full justice and equality for all people.”
“Her leadership, vision and writing helped shape not only the Task Force’s values and work but our entire queer movement and the larger progressive movement. We will strive every day to live up to her ideals and model the courage she demonstrated every day as an activist and a person. She will be deeply I missed. I miss her already.” concluded Johnson.
At George H.W. Bush’s 1990 address on AIDS, Vaid, then the Executive Director of The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, made a statement with her sign: “Talk Is Cheap, AIDS Funding is Not”. Her critique made waves, disrupting the press conference, and shedding light on the failures of the Bush administration.
“Equality is a fine aspiration. It’s simply not enough”, she wrote in a 2014 piece on liberation. And it is a politics of liberation that shaped her career and informed her vision for the world. Vaid’s vision and passion for defending and promoting civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community led to a lifetime of changemaking.
Her time at The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, in which she held multiple positions for over ten years, notably Media Director, then Executive Director, saw her bring all aspects of queer life and struggle into the public eye. While at the Task Force, she co-founded the annual Creating Change conference, now in its 33rd year.
In 1995, after resigning from her position at the Task Force three years prior, she published her first book, Virtual Equality: The Mainstreaming of Gay and Lesbian Liberation, in which she criticized the idea of “mainstreaming” what was and is, in fact, a civil rights movement. Rather than tolerance, she argued, the objective for the movement should be fundamental, actionable change. It was not an immediately popular notion, as media representation for queer people was just beginning to take shape, though it was, for her, of great moral importance. In 1996 Virtual Equality won the Stonewall Book Award.
In her position as President of the Vaid Group, Vaid advised, mentored, and supported the LGBTQ+ movement.
In 2012, Urvashi Vaid launched LPAC, the first lesbian Super PAC, and it has since invested millions of dollars in candidates who are committed to social justice through legislation.
Prior to that, Vaid held positions on the boards at the Ford Foundation, The Arcus Foundation (where she served as Executive Director from 2005 to 2010), and the Gill Foundation.
She was a leader in the development of the currently on-going National LGBTQ women’s community survey.
Vaid was the aunt of activist and performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon. She is survived by Alok Vaid-Menon as well as her longtime partner, political humorist Kate Clinton.
The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights.
Harvey Fierstein’s Book I WAS BETTER LAST NIGHT
I Was Better Last Night, the new memoir by cultural icon, gay rights activist, and four-time Tony Award®-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein has officially made the New York Times Bestsellers list!
Fierstein’s poignant and hilarious new memoir reveals never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, and of his fabled career which has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood, and back.
He has received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, musicals, and television shows: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, “Cheers,” La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, Kinky Boots, and this spring’s eagerly anticipated Broadway revival of Funny Girl. While he has never shied away from the spotlight, Fierstein says that even those closest to him have never heard most of the tales revealed in these wildly entertaining pages.
Catch him on CBS talking about the book! or read an excerpt here!
Also a great interview here, with the Washington Blade!
YUASA Swimwear and Underwear – Perfect Fit!
YUASA [ you-wa-sa ] is a leisurewear brand for men who have found their own microclimate of cool. Dedicated to showcasing the versatility and timelessness of NYC style where they originated, YUASA keeps it minimal so their wearer can take center stage.
We recently tried a couple of different styles and LOVED THE FIT and quality! Styles are developed over a 12-month process involving fittings on several body types to ensure a perfect fit. I especially like the Advanced Sport Trunk’s custom stretch fabric. “From rise and grind to sport and unwind, the Advanced Sport Trunk supports a dynamic lifestyle, keeping you secure in all conditions. ”
YUASA is the vision of Michael Yuasa, and started as a response to the lack of well designed men’s leisure wear in the market. Michael grew up in a suburban Japanese-American household which influenced the brands minimal design and values of simplicity and form over excess.
“Our mission at YUASA is to create a line of products that will remind people to take it easy and regain a leisurely attitude towards life. YUASA encourages people to take the time to enjoy life and not get swept up by the busyness of the day-to-day. And inspire an excitement and curiosity to see everything the world has to offer.
We released our first products in September 2012 in 6 colors. Utilizing a breathable cotton poplin, we’ve made sure that every boxer is engineered for the perfect fit and feel. Since the initial launch, we have introduced a new color and are working on offering new materials and expanding the line to include new products.”
Yuasas are the perfect length, shape, width, depth for layering under pants. “It’s for functioning in an urban city,” says Michael Yuasa, who along with James Nemastil, runs Yuasa Studios. “Biking, doing yoga, running around.” Yuasa’s line, available in several tasteful shades, is minimalism working at its best.
They also have some great swimwear, currently ON SALE!! I love prints and LOVE their Pink Jellies Swim Shorts, which were an ALI FORNAY CENTER fundraiser collaboration.
“Our special collection, the fish pattern swim shorts, is made with 90% polyester and 10% elastane with full mesh lining.
Each year YUASA Menswear creates a collaboration with an LGBTQ artist to raise money for a charity that makes a positive impact within our community. YUASA worked with acclaimed fashion illustrator Richard Haines to create custom prints inspired by summer in the city. The print collaboration includes divers in black and white and a colorful beach print of oversized sea creatures.
The Ali Forney Center was chosen as charity of choice because of their dedication to support at risk LGBTQ youth in NYC with housing, counseling and job skills training.”
For superior quality with unique flair, check out YUASA Studios.
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New Fun Holiday clothes and PJs from Shinesty
Whether you are looking for a fun suit to wear to a holiday party or some fun and comfortable pajama’s, the Shinesty company has you covered! (They call them Ugly Suits – but actually, some of patterns are pretty cool!)
“We created Shinesty for one reason and one reason only:
To bring you the most outlandish collection of clothing the world has ever seen.
When worn correctly, the right clothing can make Mike Tyson’s albino tiger purr like a kitten, blow the minds of boringly-dressed onlookers, or be a major contributing factor in the creation of a small human that looks strikingly similar to you.
Whether you are searching for a rare retro piece, enough neon to blind the 80s, or simply something that would make Chuck Norris weep with pride, Shinesty is here to help!”
New this year are Pajamaralls. Pajamas that are coveralls!
“We’ve created the first ever pajama overalls, more commonly known as the pajamaralls. You can’t find these pajama overalls anywhere else, because, well, we invented them. Don’t waste your sweet time looking for a more comfortable pair of colorful pattern pjs, because our pajamaralls are comfy, they’re cozy, and they’re perfect to sleep in.”
Built in beer opener. Check.
Shoulder fasteners. Check.
Fly for dudes. Check.
5 pockets. Check.
They thought of everything!
I first discovered Shinesty by way of their underwear.
Honestly, they are SO SOFT, it’s like you are wearing NOTHING.
Soft as an old worn t-shirt – but with great construction. 95% micromodal and 5% spandex. (Silky soft, stretchy and quick drying). Plus The Hammock. It provides a place for the “twins”. The hammock is lightweight, and breathable. The underwear have a gusseted, 4 way stretch crotch area which makes it not bunch up for the most comfortable underwear.
Besides keeping your love spuds cool by cradling them in a moisture-wicking, micro-modal ball hammock, these men’s pouch underwear enhance the look of your package by keeping your meat and taters all on the same plate.
Common reactions from lucky spectators include comments like “Wow, what size shoe did you say you wear?” and stunned silence.
CHECK OUT THEIR EXTENSIVE WEBSITE – they also sell faux fur coats, onesies, sunglasses and many other themes as well.
“Shinesty is a brand that makes people laugh,” says founder Chris White. “Either you think we’re ridiculous or you think we’re fools.”
PS – they also offer underwear subscriptions. This is underwear you are GUARANTEED TO LOVE. Love Your Ball Hammocks or They’re Free.
If this isn’t the softest, most supportive men’s underwear
subscription to grace your grundle, they’re on us.
Queer TV Network Revry Now Available on Samsung TV Plus
Queer TV Network Brings Diverse LGBTQ+ TV to Millions of Samsung Smart TVs in time for Pride Season
Revry, the first global LGBTQ+ streaming network, announced today the launch of its service on Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free smart TV video service that delivers instant access to over 120 free channels in news, sports, entertainment and more.
The Revry Channel, featuring hundreds of hours of original and licensed LGBTQ+ movies, shows, music, podcasts, and news, is available on Samsung TV Plus Channel 1226. As Samsung’s only Queer-focused TV channel, The Revry Channel will premiere across millions of Samsung Smart TVs just in time for Pride season, and will be the first and only home for exclusively LGBTQ+ entertainment on Samsung’s Smart TVs.
“We are excited to launch our newest live linear channel on Samsung TV Plus. Given Samsung’s massive reach, we now have the opportunity to touch a broader LGBTQ+ and allied audience through Samsung Smart TVs,” said Damian Pelliccione, CEO and Co-Founder at Revry. “We believe representation saves lives, so partnering with Samsung helps us bring our ‘radically inclusive’ entertainment to an even bigger audience, and gives us the chance to change hearts and minds, both inside and outside of the LGBTQ community.”
These diverse perspectives have become the hallmarks of Revry’s “unapologetically queer” programming, which includes its slate of originals such as the GLAAD Media Award recipient and Spanish-language docu-series, THE CATEGORY IS, which follows the vibrant underground ballroom scene in Mexico City; the Wes Anderson-style comedy series, SINK SANK SUNK, starring Academy Award nominee Laura Linney; the second season of the reality TV series, PUTTING ON, starring rising Israeli fashion designer, On Mekahel; and THE QUEENS, an insightful documentary film following RuPaul’s Drag Race favorites: Alaska, Katye, Jinkx Monsoon, and Sharon Needles. In addition to these originals, Revry will be releasing over 100 new titles this Pride season.
“Revry continues to have a huge impact on the LGBTQ+ community and we’re really proud to be working with them to optimize the delivery of Revry’s newest channel to the Samsung TV Plus platform, just in time for Pride 2020,” said Blair Harrison, Frequency’s Founder and CEO.
Established in December of 2016 in the U.S., Samsung TV Plus is pre-installed on all 2016-2020 Samsung Smart TVs. Millions of consumers already use Samsung TV Plus, making it one of the top OTT services on Samsung’s Smart TV platform. Users can instantly access their favorite shows, movies, and more with just an internet connection—no download, additional device, or credit card needed. For more information or to view a list of Samsung’s 120+ free, live TV channels, please visit samsungtvplus.com.
To learn more about and experience Revry, please visit www.revry.tv.
Cook One on One with a Top Chef!
Chicago’s Chef Tong is now offering something pretty cool! NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE!
Private Virtual Cooking Classes from My Private Chef
I love to attend Chef Tong’s cooking classes when he holds them in Chicago. But now with technology, you can cook alongside this world-renowned, international chef during a private, one-on-one video session!
Cooking is such a satisfying way of getting creative at home. Now, with a personalized class from My Private Chef, you get to expand your skills, or try new foods, or prepare old favorites. How about introducing a young family member to the world of cooking?
Here’s how it works: Chef Christopher Tong will work with you to create your menu, provide an ingredients list, recipes and a demonstration based on your selection. You set up a date and time via video conference. Chef Chris will lead you step by step to perfection.
Cooking at home has never been so fun!
For more details, contact Event Services at 773.370.8131
Become a Facebook Fan: www.facebook.com/ChefChrisTong
Stonewall Gives Back Concert
April 23rd, 2020, Troye Sivan, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Petras, Rufus Wainwright and many more got together to raise funds for those in the LGBTQ nightlife industry in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
Hosted by
Michelle Visage and Tyler Oakley
Performances and Appearances by
Alan Cumming, Allie X, Betty Who, Carlie Hanson, Cyndi Lauper, Darren Hayes, Dave Mizzoni, Greyson Chance, Issac Dunbar, John Cameron Mitchell, Kim Petras, Kristin Chenoweth, Leland, Lorna Luft, Matt Rogers, MUNA, Nina West, Our Lady J, Pabllo Vittar, Peppermint, Rufus Wainwright, Shoshana Bean, Todrick Hall, Troye Sivan, TUCKER, VINCINT.
The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI). We are a non-profit charitable organization inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ rights movement born from the Stonewall Inn Uprising of 1969. We are committed to eliminating the social intolerance that is profoundly impacting the lives of LGBTQ citizens throughout America and abroad. Through awareness campaigns, educational programming, fundraising and candid public dialogue,we support grassroots organizations scattered across the country and especially those in communities where progress toward equality has been slow and the negative impact of ongoing acts of discrimination and harassment can no longer be tolerated.
Free Live Stream Paramodernities
Photo: Maria Baranova, Courtesy of New York Live Arts, March 2019.
NETTA YERUSHALMY PRESENTS THE LIVESTREAM PREMIERE OF HER
EPIC WORK PARAMODERNITIES.
THE SIX-PART ENCYCLOPEDIC SERIES DECONSTRUCTS HISTORIC DANCE WORKS BY ALVIN AILEY, GEORGE BALANCHINE, MERCE CUNNINGHAM, BOB FOSSE, MARTHA GRAHAM, AND VASLAV NIJINSKY.
EACH PERFORMANCE IS FOLLOWED BY A LIVE DISCUSSION WITH SPECIAL GUESTS AND AN INTERACTIVE CHAT WITH THE AUDIENCE.
MAY 4-9, 2020 @ 3-4PM DAILY
*Closed-Captioning provided for all performances.*
Trailer linked here.
“Take six classic dances. Chop them up. Then tear open the modern canon, with equal parts love and fury.” – Gia Kourlas, The New York Times
Netta Yerusalmy to present the week-long livestream event of Paramodernities Live, May 4-9, 2020, featuring 2019 performances at New York Live Arts with live “post-show” discussions with special guests and a chat feature for the audience. This event is directed by Jeremy Jacob and produced by Marc Crousillat, Jacob, and Yerushalmy.
The six-part encyclopedic series is a multidisciplinary work that weaves theory and performance into a marathon-style hybrid event. Yerushalmy and a cast of 20 dancers and scholars, ranging in age from 20 to 68, perform deconstructed installments of Vaslav Nijinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps (1913), Martha Graham’s Night Journey (1947), Alvin Ailey’s Revelations (1960), a mix of Merce Cunningham works Rainforest, Sounddance, Points in Space, Beach Birds, and Ocean (1968-1990), dance numbers from the Bob Fosse’s 1969 film Sweet Charity, and a response to George Balanchine’s Agon (1957) that includes none of the original choreography.
Paramodernities boasts a radical and undefinable rethinking of the canon, involving virtually no music. Each section was created as an independent unit with a distinct creative process that features text, read live, by scholars and writers from various fields who place the dances within a larger context. The cast joins Yerushalmy in generating questions about the different paths taken by the modern tradition in dance and beyond. Within each installment, fundamental tenets of modernism are explored, such as sovereignty, spectacle, race, feminism and ableism.
The performances at New York Live Arts theater feature dancers Michael Blake, Gerald Casel, Marc Crousillat, Brittany Engel-Adams, Joyce Edwards, Stanley Gambucci, Taryn Griggs, Magdalena Jarkowiec, Nicholas Leichter, Jeremy Jae Neal, Hsiao-Jou Tang, Megan Williams, Netta Yerushalmy; and scholars/writers Thomas F. DeFrantz, Julia Foulkes, Georgina Kleege, David Kishik, Carol Ockman, Mara Mills, Claudia La Rocco, with lighting by Tim Cryan and costumes by Jarkowiec.
Each livestream performance will feature closed-captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Livestream events of Paramodernities take place at nettay.com from May 4th to May 9th at 3pm. This event will be live and free. The running time is approximately 1 hour.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
PARAMODERNITIES #2: Trauma, Interdiction, and Agency in ‘The House of Pelvic Truth’
A response to Martha Graham’s Night Journey (1947)
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
PARAMODERNITIES #3: Revelations: The Afterlives of Slavery
A response to Alvin Ailey’s Revelations (1960)
Thursday, May 7, 2020
PARAMODERNITIES #4: An Inter-Body Event
with material from Merce Cunningham’s Rainforest, Sounddance, Points In Space, Beach Birds, and Ocean (1968-1990)
Friday, May 8, 2020
PARAMODERNITIES #5: All that Spectacle: Dance on Stage and Screens
A response to Bob Fosse’s Sweet Charity (1969 film)
Saturday, May 9, 2020
PARAMODERNITIES #6: The Choreography of Rehabilitation: Disability and Race in Balanchine’s Agon
A response to George Balanchine’s Agon (1957)
PARAMODERNITIES is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. PARAMODERNITIES is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project, commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow in partnership with New York Live Arts, HMD’s Bridge Project, and NPN. The Creation Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency).
For more information: www.npnweb.org.
Fairytale LGBT Foreign film from Italy with Filippo Timi
There is a crazy and colorful new Italian LGBTQ comedy-drama called FAIRYTALE.
Arriving on DVD/VOD on May 12. BREAKING GLASS PICTURES.
FAIRYTALE (Favola) follows Mrs. Fairytale, a perfect housewife in 1950s America who becomes aware of her own unhappiness and embarks on a process of personal liberation. The costumes and the set are totally eye popping and stunning! The attention to detail is The cinematography is truly a feast for the eyes.
Crazy and Colorful!
In a surreal world of stuffed poodles (who seem to move about on their own), whiskey-infused teas, sinful mambo lessons (by one one of the sexy triplets!), and threats of alien invasion, Mr(s). Fairytale will begin to explore a world where anyone can finally be who they want to be, but behind which hides another upsetting reality.
The directing debut of Sebastiano Mauri, based on the stage play by Italian actor Filippo TImi who also stars in the titular role, FAIRYTALE is a tribute to 50s era America, winner of the Golden Ciak Award for Best Production Design, More Love Award at Festival Mix 2018, and Flaiano Prize for Best first work to Sebastiano Mauri.
For me, an American, I found it a little hard to follow at times. You are not always sure what is real – and what is not. It’s very surreal – but well worth watching!
GET A SNEAK PEAK!
Filippo Timi is an accomplished Italian actor, director and writer.
Timi is the author, actor and director of “Fairy Tail”, a comedy that was produced by “Teatro Franco Parenti” on stage of Giordano Theatre (Foggia, Italy) 2014/2015 season. It was made into a film in 2017 and now arrives in the United States.
What’s it All About??
To dig a little deeper into the storyline; The story tells about two girl mates, both married, and one of them is pregnant, who apparently live a normal and quiet life.(even if actually their husbands are not what they seem: one is violent and one other is probably homosexual.)
Something unreal is happening, which will change forever everyone’s life: a sort of genetic mutation, which will change relationships’ balance and behaviors’ interactions among characters.
Actually, this is an unrealistic tail about Mrs. Fairytale, the comedy’s main character played by Filippo Timi. He is an explosive actor and one of the most appreciated actors of the Italian motion picture industry and theatre -,whose name is composed by the word “tale” as a destiny, and about her friend, Mrs. Emerald (Lucia Mascino), two perfect (apparently) loved wives, whose secrets, one more upsetting than the other, are discovered during the comedy until the conclusion and the final overturning.
Everything happens under the eyes of the very sexy Luca Pignagnoli, who plays the triplets; Ted, Tim and Glenn Stewart.
There are a lot of movies quotes in the comedy: starting from Doris Day’s memory, the so called America fiancé, than the Fairtale’s whit, until Fairy’s violent husband whose name is Stan, abbreviation of Stanley, the cruel even fascinating Pole played by Marlon Brando in the movie “A Streetcar Named Desire”.
Go to Breaking Glass Pictures and Demand it Now!
Sean Hayes in Lazy Susan Now on Demand
In Lazy Susan, Susan has always been the self-centered oddball in her family, who lazily skated through life with their grudging support until one day she wakes up to realize she’s middle-aged with no job, no relationship, and an increasingly estranged family.
She finally decides to take charge and turn things around, but never having done anything herself before, the struggle is real (and hilarious) as Susan becomes the woman she always wanted to be, all on her own.
“I think a lot of us are lazy Susans — have been or will become. There’s that question we all ask: ‘Who do you want to be?’ It’s not always easy,” Hayes tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
Sean explains how Susan came about; “When I was 21, I got a call from my agent in Chicago. She said, “There’s an audition tomorrow to replace the white guy on In Living Color.” Jim Carrey was leaving. I grabbed all my wigs and props and characters of all shapes and sizes. One of the characters was Lazy Susan. A few years ago, someone brought up the character. And it was such a great metaphor for someone spinning out of control. A spinning lazy Susan, for someone who can’t get their life together. I love tragic characters, when you don’t know whether to laugh or not.”
WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER NOW
Wendy Sitti YouTube Channel is a Must!
SHE IS thee Chicago Socialite and a woman of the world!
Laughter is best medicine and Wendy Sitti knows how to serve it up!
It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress.
Wonderful, witty, wild and wacky, EVERYONE loves Wendy! With her infectious laugh and her wacky ways she will have you forget your troubles in a few short minutes.
Wing it with Wendy! Wendy Sitti now has a channel and a show! “I will have episodes of DIY Do it Yourself Shows, of various domestication from cooking, gardening, home improvement, travel to unique places and landmarks, in Drag Queen style. We will also have guest appearances by celebrities and film episodes from exotic places around the world to also my home!”
Truly entertaining! – BestGayChicago.com
We hope this channel will entertain you and teach you a new trick or two! At press time, 3 episodes are out now!
“I was born in Warsaw, Poland. The apple of my parents eye! I was raised on a farm and later went to work in my dads sausage factory. That is where I met Stanley in high school and where we went to prom. He was nice but I knew I needed something bigger, it must of been from being around all of that sausage. I wanted to go to America.” Wendy tells us.
“After saving enough money, I flew to Chicago and realized I had no place to stay. I called my cousin Rich and moved in with him.”
“I know America is the land of opportunity and I was excited to make it big. I dyed my hair black to fit in and have a different look. But then some woman, Mrs. Richfield told me I was moving in on her scene. I went back to my natural color and started doing all kinds of odd jobs. Cleaning rooms at a hotel on Halsted called Steamworks, to cleaning the rooms at the Elysium Hotel in Mykonos. I kind of became a big thing and I’m not talking about my boobs!”
“I enjoy fashion, drinking, socializing and hanging out with nice people. If you want your event to Pop, like my cherry then invite me!”
also Wendy on Instagram
and her website
Gay and Lesbian Community and Covid 19
As the worldwide spread of COVID-19 has spiraled into a pandemic, national health organizations are warning that some members of the LGBTQ community may be “particularly vulnerable” to the effects of the virus.
While LGBTQ individuals have not been found to be more susceptible to contracting COVID-19, some health habits within the community,including significantly higher rates of smoking than the general population, have raised concern among health professionals.
Over 100 different national organizations,including Whitman-Walker Health and SAGE, have signed a letter created by the LGBT Cancer Network to bring attention to several factors that could mean the LGBTQ community is at a greater risk of complications from COVID-19, including:
- LGBTQ people smoke at rates 50% higher than the general population, which could be detrimental if a respiratory illness like COVID-19 is contracted.
- Higher rates of HIV and cancer in the LGBTQ community means that a greater number of people may have compromised immune systems, which leaves them more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections.
- Health care discrimination in America, including denial of care, unwelcoming attitudes and lack of understanding from staff and providers means LGBTQ people may be more reluctant to seek medical care. (SOURCE USA TODAY).
POZ.COM has also updated information about HIV and the Covid 19 virus. Go to poz.com/tag/coronavirus for continuing coverage of COVID-19.
ALL MAN The International Male Story
So excited for this! A new movie is in the works that will take us behind the iconic International Male fashion catalog that transformed the “All-American Boy”, changing fashion, masculinity, and gay rights forever.
More than outrageous fashions, hunky models, and scandalous undies, ALL MAN is a journey across three decades of the International Male catalog’s lasting impact on fashion, masculinity, and gay rights. (I still have many of my old catalogs!)
With revenues at its peak of $120 million and circulation of over 3 million, the catalog successfully appealed to both gay and straight audiences. For gay men, the images of sensually dressed men were a gateway into a fantasy world providing an escape from the AIDS crisis and widespread homophobia. For straight men and their female admirers, the catalog gave permission to take fashion risks and enjoy a more carefree expression of sexuality without threatening their masculinity and sexual appeal.
ALL MAN: The International Male Story is designed as a tribute to the catalog’s unique aesthetic and cultural relevance. The film mixes exclusive never-seen-before photographs and videos, interviews with super fans and celebrities, and creative re-enactments of the infamous photo shoots, and more!
You can DONATE to this project now!
Follow on Instagram and Facebook!
Broadway’s Carols for a Cure 21
Palm Spring Leather Pride Oct 24-27
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Robert Graham Shoes Defective Buyer Beware
I love Robert Graham clothes! I have numerous shirts, and always get so many compliments!
(FYI – Robert Graham represents the American Eclectic lifestyle brand-where craftsmanship, luxury and style intertwine. As a true design house since 2001, we’ve been inspiring fashion by developing unique garment-making techniques and complex textile patterns. Our creative seasonal collections encompass: men’s sportswear, premium denim, footwear, outerwear, loungewear, accessories, and women’s sportswear. With eye-catching mixed fabrics, one-of-a-kind trims and stunning embroideries, Robert Graham embodies luxury at its finest. Each product is unique, character-filled and distinctly Robert Graham–with “knowledge, wisdom, truth” embedded in each garment. CHEERS TO LIVING LIFE COLORFULLY!)
I had never seen Robert Graham shoes before. In late June 2019, I was in NYC at Century 21, and they had some of these colorful summery shoes marked down to $100. How could I refuse! Very eye-catching! Very comfortable. They looked worth $100. I would never pay the $200+ asking price.
I work for a luxury retailer in Chicago. I thought these would be a great addition to my black wardrobe. I keep my dress shoes in my locker at work and they never touch pavement. Only the marble floors of the store.
EVERYONE loved these shoes! So many compliments! I did not wear them right away. However, once I did start wearing them, after about 10-12 days of use, I noticed the “image” started cracking. It’s almost like a film is stretched over the leather perhaps? The leather seems fine, but the print is cracking.
See below….
(On the last big photo, the flash hit the shoe – sorry – but you get the idea)
When I looked online, EVERYONE has these shoes discounted to about $100. Maybe RG knew were defective? or they just did not sell? I emailed Robert Graham US, and they said very little about the shoe, no explanation, except that I should return it to the point of purchase. Which was in New York City. I live in Chicago.
I called Century 21, they will not take anything back if it has been worn. For manufacturer problems, they said contact Robert Graham!
RG said, “unfortunately we cannot issue an exchange since the item was purchased from a third party retailer. Merchandise purchased from other retailers, department stores or specialty stores must be returned or exchanged to the store from which it was originally purchased, and is subject to the return policy of the originating retailer.” And RG offered me a $25 gift card! Nothing on their site is $25!
Basically RG does not stand behind the items they manufacture. Why wouldn’t they take it back? It has nothing to do with the store – the item is defective!
I see on some websites, (Neiman Marcus Last Call, Nordstrom, etc) the shoes are listed as Printed Leather “Driver”. Also sometimes listed as Print Moccasins. To my eye, it is not really “printed leather”. As I said, it appears to be a film stretched over or onto the leather. The leather is not cracking – just the image/film.
I do not have my original box – I am not sure how the shoes were described. But, – definition of driving shoes – Though driving shoes can be worn for an evening out on the town, but if that evening consists an extended walk around the city, consider an alternative. This shoe is ultimately made for hanging out, short walks, and of course, driving. They can wear down more quickly since they’re not made for strenuous use. – I wish I had known that. I am on my feet 8 hours a day, on marble. Looking at them, the rubber pieces on the sole make them look durable. So I assumed I could wear them at work. Indoors.
Driving shoes are basically like slippers. Light wear.
Either way, I wore my shoes 80-90 hours and the damage started. You might wear them a few hours here or there, but you can not stop the damage. Driving shoes or not. The movement of your foot will eventually crack the image.
So buyer beware.
I bought some permanent felt tip markers this week and may just color them!
Key West Joins WorldPride NYC Stonewall 50!
The Florida Keys & Key West tourism council and the Key West Business Guild plan to showcase the inclusive spirit of the subtropical LGBTQ visitor destination in New York City’s WorldPride March and PrideFest street festival slated for Sunday, June 30.
New York City’s 2019 Pride is to take place in conjunction with the first WorldPride celebration held in the United States, and millions ofrevelers are expected to attend. The 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising also is to be commemorated in the event known asWorldPride NYC/Stonewall 50, with activities scheduled throughout June.
The Pride March is to feature a Keys contingent carrying a 100-foot section of the 1.25-mile “sea-to-sea” pride flag fabricated by the late rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker. Baker and his assistants spent three months in Key West in 2003 sewing about 17,600 linear yards of fabric into the rainbow banner that was unfurled along Key West’s Duval Street from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean on June 15, 2003. The event marked the 25th anniversary of his creation.
WorldPride march participants carrying the flag are to include current and former Keys residents, their friends and families from across the U.S.
“We look forward to showing that Key West is one of the leading destinations to visit by displaying one of the most iconic pieces of history to be created for the LGBTQ community,” said Alan Beaubien, president of the guild’s board of directors.
Welcoming some 300,000 LGBTQ visitors each year, Key West lies at the tip of the Florida Keys island chain and is renowned for its inclusive recognition that all people are created equal. The philosophy was epitomized by the famed One Human Family initiativecreated by local artist J.T. Thompson. After Key West city commissioners adopted the One Human Family motto for the city in 2000,Florida Keys officials embraced it for the entire 125-mile-long string of islands.
The PrideFest street festival is slated for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday along Fourth Avenue from Union Square to Astor Place. The Florida Keys & Key West booth is to feature Keys giveaways and information on vacationing in the environmentally and culturally rich destination.
“It is important to be present at this historic moment to remind everyone that our islands serve as a place free from judgment for LGBTQvisitors and residents alike,” said Guy Ross, the tourism council’s LGBTQ sales manager. “By participating in WorldPride 2019, we can showcase why we remain such a special, much-loved and much-celebrated destination.”
(The original flag, below)
Florida Keys & Key West visitor information: fla-keys.com/gay and fla-keys.com
Key West Business Guild: gaykeywestfl.com
Social: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Youtube • Keys Voices blog
