Echo Magazine December 2017

Holiday Bliss From ho-ho-hosting to choosing the perfect gifts, we have you covered this season LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 29, #3 | ISSUE 699 | DECEMBER 2017 | COMPLIMENTARY

Attorney Lindsay Benjamin Lindsay@allenlawaz.com

Attorney Tyler Allen Tyler@allenlawaz.com

We’ve got you covered.

Family Law

Employment Law

Criminal Defense

Divorce, Child Custody, Prenuptial Agreements

Wrongful Termination, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination

Felony, Misdemeanor, DUI & Traffic

inside this issue Issue 699 | Vol. 29 , #3 | December 2017

features NEWS 8

Letter From The Editor

12 News Briefs 14 Datebook 16 Phoenix Shanti Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary

PREVIEWS AND REVIEWS

Photo by Fernando Hernández.

46 At The Box Office 48 Opening Nights

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COMMUNITY

Holiday Bliss We’re serving up 12 days of craft cocktails to get you in the holiday spirit in the hosting spirit this holiday season.

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The Gayest Guide to Holiday Gift Giving We’ve made our list and checked it twice to be sure we have everyone covered with this round up of gift ideas.

54 Guest Columnist 56 All Over The Map

TRANScripts

ON THE COVER Jackson Kelly, co-owner and general manager of BLISS/ ReBAR. Cover photo by Fernando Hernández.

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Holiday Bliss From ho-ho-hosting to choosing the perfect gifts, we have you covered this season LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 29, #3 | ISSUE 699 | DECEMBER 2017 | COMPLIMENTARY

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Transgender Day of Remembrance Community advocates reflect on the importance of honoring the lives lost to anti-trans violence in the past year.

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TRANScripts In honor of Transgender Awareness Month, Echo’s book expert highlights four titles that celebrate the T in LGBTQ.

inside this issue

echomag.com web exclusives PHOTO GALLERIES Did the Echo cameras catch you out and about at this month’s events?

Find out at echomag.com/ gallery/2017-photos.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR From pageants to advocacy, this is where the community goes to find out what’s going on in the gayborhood.

Recordings | December 2017 Echo’s music expert Julio C. Reyna dishes on three new albums he’s listening to this month. echomag.com/recordings-dec-2017

echomag.com/

’Tis The Season From theater troupes to choir groups, we have 22 reasons to mark your calendars for an evening of holiday cheer. echomag.com/tis-the-season-2017

community-calendar COMMUNITY DIRECTORY Looking for a local group to join? Have a group that’s seeking new members? Either way, this is the place to connect. echomag.com/ community-directory MARKETING SOLUTIONS Find out why Echo is the publication your future clients are already reading. echomag.com/ marketing-solutions

Photo by nightfuse.com.

Randy Wicker LGBTQ-rights movement hero reflects on picketing in front of the U.S. Army Induction Center and other historic firsts. echomag.com/randy-wicker

online now

Hit Me With Your Best Shot For all the Out & About photos in this issue – and more – visit Echo’s online photo gallery. echomag.com/gallery

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LETTER FROM THE editor

By KJ Philp facebook.com/EchoMagazine

Instagram: @echomagazineaz

twitter.com/EchoMagAZ

Linkedin: Echo Magazine

H

appy holidays! While I’m certain that this seasonal salutation might seem a bit premature to some of you, it seems like the most appropriate way to welcome you to our last issue of 2017!

Whether you prefer celebrating the magic of the season by paying it forward at functions benefiting a local cause or sharing holiday cheer by hosting a houseful of friends and family, we have so much in store for you ahead.

Up first are community happenings.

This year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) observances, honoring the lives of the siblings we’ve lost this year lost to acts of antitransgender violence, will take place Nov. 16, 18 and 20 in Tucson, Prescott and Phoenix (respectively). Find out more about what this observance means to community advocates in “Transgender Day of Remembrance” on page 36.

In honor of World AIDS Day, you’ll find a multitude of community events through Dec. 1 that pay respect to those living with HIV/AIDS and to commemorate the 35 million individuals who have died from the disease since 1981. For additional details, see “Datebook” on page 14 or visit echomag.com/world-aidsday-2017.

If you’re looking for ways to give back this season, mark your calendars for Sparkle, Glitter, GLSEN on Nov. 16, or Aunt Rita’s RED Brunch and The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of Trees, both of which take place Dec. 2.

Then, The Phoenix Shanti Group is celebrating three decades of serving

individuals, families, and loved ones infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS by hosting its 30th anniversary with a gala Dec. 9. Find out more in “Inner Peace” on page 18.

And we’re just getting warmed up.

You’ll find a cornucopia of additional reasons to mark your calendars for a festive night out in “’Tis the Season 2017” at echomag.com/tis-theseason-2017.

The night out on the town is optional, however. If your holiday plans are more focused on evenings spent in, wining and dining your guests, we have you covered too.

Check out our 12 craft cocktail recipes, kicked off by the one and only Jackson Kelly, in “Holiday Bliss” on page 27.

And because we all have shopping left to do – whether it’s for a gift exchange or for ourselves (no shade), we’ve teamed up with LGBTQ lifestyle guru Mikey Rox to bring you some of the best, and the gayest, gifts of the season in our annual Holiday Gift Guide on page 32.

If you’re still reading (as in all the holiday spirit didn’t scare you off) there’s a good chance that you are in agreement with us that this is the most wonderful time of the year. Team Echo wishes all of you a safe and happy holiday season.

We hope to catch you out and about a few more times before 2017 comes to a close. But if not, bundle up with bae, your pet or just Netflix, and we’ll catch you in the New Year.

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Bill Orovan ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Bill Gemmill EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR: KJ Philp CONTRIBUTORS: James Fanizza Tamara Juarez Laura Latzko Art Martori Liz Massey Devin Millington Tia Norris

Seth Reines Julio C. Reyna Mikey Rox Terri Schlichenmeyer Nikole Tower Rachel Verbits Megan Wadding

ART DEPARTMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: Fernando Hernandez, nightfuse.com, Scotty Kirby Photo and Stephanie Anne Donoghue.

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee James ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Gregg Edelman Rosanna Portugal-Miles NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863

ECHO READERSHIP: 50,000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29/year ACE PUBLISHING, INC. MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 16630

Phoenix, AZ 85011-6630 PHONE: 602-266-0550 EMAIL: manager@echomag.com Copyright © 2016 • ISSN #1045-2346

MEMBER:

KJ Philp is the managing editor of Echo Magazine. He can be reached at editor@echomag.com.

MARK OUR CALENDARS To have your event considered for Echo’s print and online calendars, submit your event details to echomag.com/community-calendar.

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Echo Magazine is published by ACE Publishing, Inc. Echo is a registered trademark of ACE Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. ACE Publishing, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers or advice columnists. Publication of a name, photograph of an individual or organization in articles, advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation, unless such orientation is specifically stated. Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of ACE Publishing, Inc.

OUT & ABOUT Rainbows Festival Oct. 21 & 22 at Heritage Square, Phoenix.

Photos by Bill Gemmill and nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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news briefs

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin addresses press conference attendees at the Nov. 9 launch of HRC’s annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) at Phoenix City Hall. Photo by Bill Gemmill.

HRC Launches 2018 CEI in Phoenix Nov. 9 The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, launched its annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) at a Nov. 9 press conference at Phoenix City Hall.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton was joined by HRC President Chad Griffin and representatives from prominent companies leading on LGBTQ inclusiveness, including Dr. Renee McLaughlin from Cigna, Therese Bechet Blake from JPMorgan Chase and Alejandra Santamaria from Univision Arizona.

At a time when the rights of LGBTQ people are under attack by the Trump-Pence Administration and state legislatures across the country, hundreds of top American companies are driving progress toward equality in the workplace.

The CEI is the nation’s premier benchmarking tool that measures the LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices of top U.S. businesses, including those on the Fortune 500 list of the largest publiclytraded companies.

This year’s CEI includes ratings of more than 900 companies, including the nation’s top 200 law firms. They are scored on how well they meet LGBTQ-inclusive benchmarks, including equal employment opportunity policies; employee benefits; organizational LGBTQ competency and public commitment to LGBTQ-specific efforts.

To access the 2018 Corporate Equality Index, visit hrc.org/cei. For more on the HRC Arizona, visit hrcarizona.org.

– Courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign.

one•n•ten Executive Director announces retirement Arizona’s leading LGBTQ youth development agency, one•n•ten, announced Nov. 1 that after six years of agency leadership, the organization’s executive director, Linda Elliott (pictured), will retire effective Jan. 1, 2018.

“Linda has been a steady steward of one•n•ten and a visionary leader for what has become one of the preeminent LGBTQ youth development nonprofits in the country,” said Carmen Jandacek, one•n•ten board chair. “She has helped professionalize the organization, significantly expand its capacity to serve, and has been a powerful advocate for its mission statewide and beyond. On the solid foundation of Linda’s leadership, we will now begin our search for the next executive to guide the organization forward and continue to support the youth of our community.”

As lifelong advocate for LGBTQ issues, Elliott’s achievements include founding the HRC Arizona steering committee, serving ne of the early board members for 12

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the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS and a 2015 induction into the Echo Magazine Hall of Fame. As the executive director for one•n•ten, she’s led the organization, which serves LGBTQ youth ages 14 to 24, since she left the private sector where she was a C-level executive of a Fortune 500 financial services company.

Prior to Elliott’s arrival, one•n•ten had been a predominately grassroots organization operated by limited staff, a large volunteer base, often hosted in donor and booster living rooms across the Valley.

Notable programs and milestones created, expanded or achieved under Elliott’s leadership include: Camp OUTdoors!, the largest LGBTQ camp of its kind in the nation attracting youth from all over North America, the Promise of a New Day (P.O.N.D) housing program for homeless youth, the YES program, a life skills and youth employment program, and the opening of half a dozen one•n•ten satellite centers across Arizona.

Also, under Elliott’s leadership, one•n•ten’s FRESH Brunch has become one of the largest and best attended nonprofit fundraising galas in Arizona.

During her tenure, Elliott more than quadrupled the operating budget of the organization; raised the agency’s profile in Arizona and across the country, and significantly increased the number of LGBTQ youth served since her arrival in 2011.

“Of the myriad things we’ve accomplished at one•n•ten over these past six years, two for which I am exceedingly proud are our team and our board of directors,” Elliott said.

“Our team is resilient, committed, capable and a powerful force for change, service and advocacy for the youth we serve. Our board has been one of the most engaged and active I’ve experienced. The lives that have been changed and, in some cases, even saved by this remarkable organization are hallmarks of the agency’s work. I’m grateful to have been part of such an extraordinary and accomplished organization.”

For more information on one•n•ten, visit onenten.org.

– Courtesy of one•n•ten. news

Nov. 27-Dec. 1

datebook Nov. 26

Quilt Songs: American Songs in the Age of AIDS, will feature selections from the AIDS Quilt Songbook – including a broad range of related struggles, triumphs, stigmas, medical treatments, survival, grief and transcendence throughout the 35-year history of AIDS – from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, 1101 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. bit.ly/2jkjRxq

Nov. 16

To commemorate World AIDS Day (Dec. 1), Aunt Rita’s Foundation will host 15 panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, 1101 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. aidsquilt.org Dec. 1

The Phoenix World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil, an annual observance that unites people worldwide in the fight against HIV, allows attendees a platform for showing their support for those living with HIV and

Nov. 18

GLSEN Phoenix presents its third annual Sparkle, Glitter, GLSEN, a cocktail fundraiser and awards ceremony benefiting the organizations programs that create safe K-12 school environments, will take place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. sparkleglitterglsen.com

saaf.org Nov. 20

Prescott’s Transgender Day of Remembrance observance will begin at 6 p.m. at Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 882 Sunset Ave., Prescott.

Dec. 2

Aunt Rita’s Foundation presents the sixth annual RED Brunch, a World AIDS Day celebration and fundraiser for the organization’s 16 nonprofit benefiting agencies that provide important services to the HIV/AIDS community, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix, 340 N. Third St., in Phoenix. redbrunch.org

The Label Horde Fashion Show, a celebration of Arizona’s growing fashion industry and featuring local designers, brands, models hair stylists and makeup artists, will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at on the deck of Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St., in Tempe, AZ 85281 (building just west of F.A.B.R.I.C.). bit.ly/2zSyUFn Dec. 2

The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Festival of Trees, featuring holiday trees, wreaths and menorahs and a grand prize travel package up for live and silent auction, from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. Seventh St. phoenixgaychamber.org Dec. 9

bit.ly/2zBsL0j Nov. 18

phxvigil.org

Dec. 2

The 29th annual Jerôme Beillard Festival For Life, featuring a live and silent auction benefiting the care services, prevention programs and LGBTQ initiatives of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), will takeplace from 5 to 9:45 p.m. at Desert Diamond Casino, 7350 S. Nogales Highway, in Tucson.

Nov. 16

Tucson’s Transgender Day of Remembrance observance will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the University of Arizona’s Old Main Fountain, 1200 E. University Blvd. (just west of building), Tucson.

also honors the lives lost to HIV/AIDS, will take place from 6 to 7:30 at the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, 1101. N. Central Ave., In Phoenix.

Phoenix’s Transgender Day of Remembrance observance will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the State Capitol Building, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.

(See story, page 36.)

az-gycc.org

bit.ly/2j78Or3

Phoenix Shanti Group’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, featuring awards, entertainment, guest appearances, a live art auction and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Encanto Park Clubhouse, 2605 N. 15th Ave., in Phoenix. (See story, page 18.) shantiaz.org

Nov. 22 Dec. 16

one•n•ten will host its annual Fall Feast, a community Thanksgiving hosted by the Phoenix Storm Rugby Football Club and open to all, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Youth Center, 1101 N. Central Ave., #104, in Phoenix (entrance at Portland and Firsts streets).

RSVP at feast@onenten.org 14

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The Imperial Court of Arizona invites you to its 12th annual Winter Wonderland Gala, benefiting Logan’s Playground, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, 1101 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. imperialcourtaz.org mark our calendars

To have your event considered for Echo’s print and online calendars, submit your event details to echomag.com/ community-calendar. All submissions are subject to Echo’s discretion. events

OUT & ABOUT AIDSWALK Tucson Oct. 15 at Jรกcome Plaza, Tucson.

Photos by Stephanie Anne Donoghue.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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OUT & ABOUT AIDS Walk Arizona & 5K Run Oct. 22 in downtown Phoenix.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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Inner Peace Phoenix Shanti Group to host 30th anniversary gala

By Laura Latzko

“S

hanti is a Sanskrit word meaning inner peace, and is reflective of the approach The Phoenix Shanti Group has taken to promoting personal empowerment and maintaining independence and dignity within the community it serves for the past three decades.

Established in 1987, the nonprofit organization provides housing, counseling, substance abuse, behavior health and vocational training services to those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. According to James Claymon, Phoenix Shanti Group behavioral health coordinator, it’s the organization’s commitment to providing quality care for patients that has kept it going for 30 years.

“I think the reason that we’ve been sustainable and have been around for 30 years is because of the core philosophy we have of just treating people how we want to be treated and having kindness and compassion, respecting diversity, understanding differences, meeting people where they are at,” he said.

As part of the organization’s yearlong celebration of its 30th anniversary, it’s hosting a gala Dec. 9 at the Encanto Park Clubhouse. The event will feature entertainment, guest appearances, a live art auction and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

As part of the gala, the Phoenix Shanti Group will give out awards for outstanding community partners, community support and individual support.

Leading up to the gala, the organization hosted monthly fundraisers and social events, such as a bowling night and comedy shows, to commemorate this milestone. These events also offer past clients and their families the opportunity to reunite with each other as well as the organization’s staff and volunteers.

“To see clients come back and celebrate with us and share how their recovery is still going, how they’re doing, how their family is doing – that’s very rewarding for me personally, and for us as an agency, to be able to see that we’re impacting people’s lives,” Claymon said.

While working with patients, the staff at Phoenix Shanti Group gets to know them on a personal basis.

“It is our goal when somebody comes to us that we get them in enough wraparound support services to help them to 18

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get their life on track and maintain that,” Claymon said.

At any time, the Phoenix Shanti Group works with around 50 patients, who generally receive services for a year and a half to two years.

The biggest challenge, Claymon said, is not having enough space and resources to serve everyone in need.

The organization currently has a waiting list of more than 25 people.

“It’s really heartbreaking when you know that people are suffering and people are living on the streets or living in conditions that are absolutely horrifying, and they have their illness on top of that to manage,” he said, adding that the majority of the individuals served by the organization are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless and a number of them suffer from substance abuse or mental health issues.

According to AIDS activist Randy Gorbette, the organization started off with support groups that took place in his home. As the organization grew, it expanded to include hospice care, a CNA program and substance abuse services.

While the hospice and CNA program are no longer offered, the organization has expanded over the years to incorporate housing and vocational rehab programs to meet the changing needs of people with HIV. When the organization was established, it primarily served white gay men, but according to Claymon, the populations it works with today are much more diverse.

“The face of what a person looks like that has HIV has completely changed from what it was back in the mid- to late-’80s,” Claymon said.

State Medicaid, federal grants, private donations, fundraisers and grants from local and national organizations help to fund the Phoenix Shanti Group. But because of the wider demographic impacted by HIV/AIDS today, Claymon

said the organization’s staff and volunteers are working to build new partnerships with individuals, businesses and organizations within the community.

In the meantime, The Phoenix Shanti Group is always in need of volunteers to assist with events, social media management, Shanti’s 2nd Chances thrift store, the organization’s food and hygiene product pantries and corporate sponsorships and donations.

Other ways the community can support The Phoenix Shanti Group include donating used furniture, clothes and housewares to Shanti’s 2nd Chances thrift store, 4015 N. 16th St., Suite E-F. online shoppers are invited to select The Phoenix Shanti Group on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), which will result in a 0.5 percent donation by the retailer to the organization for every dollar spent.

For more information on The Phoenix Shanti Group, visit shantiaz.org.

30th Anniversary Gala 2-6 p.m. Dec. 9 Encanto Park Clubhouse 2605 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix shantiaz.org

READ THE REST For more on how Shanti’s 2nd Chances thrift store plays into the organization’s mission, visit echomag.com/inner-peace.

Laura Latzko is a Phoenix-area freelance writer, originally from Michigan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies from Hollins University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

NEWS

OUT & ABOUT Spotlight on Success Oct. 20 at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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OUT & ABOUT Local First Arizona’s Fall Festival Nov. 4 at Hance Park, Phoenix.

Photos by Bill Gemmill.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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Did the Echo cameras catch you out and about?

Visit echomag.com/2017-photos to see more from the current issue.

OUT & ABOUT “Not Your Mama’s” Wedding and Event Expo Nov. 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Midtown.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

Get the latest.

Whenever, wherever.

FEATURE story

The Gayest Guide to Holiday Gift Giving

By Mikey Rox

F

rom stocking stuffers to the ultimate adventure, you’ll be able to deliver the perfect presents to LGBTQ people of all ages and sensibilities with this comprehensive gift guide.

For the local lover A Pint of Pride Your favorite local beer will taste even better in a pair of 16-ounce pint glasses etched with the city streets and neighborhoods of Phoenix, Tempe or Tucson. Pro tip: If beer isn’t the preferred beverage of your gift recipient, check out the wine and rocks glasses.

For the accoutrement aficionado

Fanchest

Designed in gay-mecca Golden Gate City, the chronograph watch from Elliot Havok – shown here in festive green with Italian leather straps – features Miyota Japanese JS15 movement, a sapphire glass face, and enough style cred that you can forgo the gift receipt.

Deck out your special sports fan in headto-toe spirit for their favorite team with a Fanchest filled with everything they’ll need for a next-level game day. Each box is unique but chests often includes shirts, hats, scarves, cups and more officially licensed swag from NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB or college teams. Autographed memorabilia boxes also are available.

$199 | elliothavok.com

$59-$299 | fanchest.com Iridescent Universe Joggers Explore the constellations of his nether region while he’s lounging in these hypnotic, cosmic statement joggers that you can’t take your eyes off of.

$29.50 (per set) | theuncommongreen. com/collections/maps-barware Localist Membership As a Localist, the recipient of this gift will gain access to special events and unique opportunities – ranging from tours to tastings – throughout the year, all while supporting local businesses along the way. $20 | localfirstaz.com/localist

BucknBear Small Abalone Knife Vibrant iridescent abalone handles flank a gorgeous VG10 core Damascus steel blade – which resembles a beach shoreline – to create this all-purpose pocketknife that avid outdoorsmen and lesbians will go gaga over. $89 | urbanedcsupply.com

$60 | intotheam.com Seersucker Martini Belt Hand-stitched and made to order, the martini needlepoint belt from Brewster Belt Co. adds a twist of whimsy to casual Fridays while reinforcing the comforting reality that it’s always five o’clock somewhere. Also available in a San Francisco landscape design prominently featuring the rainbow pride flag. $165-$175 | brewsterbelt.com

Frank Lloyd Wright Porcelain Box Gold-trimmed and limited edition – only 1,500 numbered pieces exist – this porcelain lidded catchall features one of Wright’s Liberty magazine cover designs with a quote on the inside as a daily reminder to put your best LGBTQ foot forward. $80 | shopwright.org

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$99 | onehopewine.com Genital-Shaped Cookie Cutters Gay sex positions and detailed human genitalia – veins and all, y’all – turn sugar-spiked dough into never-morethan-a-mouthful cookies lifted straight from the Kama Sutra. Perfect for the church bake sale.

$45-$60 | craftabrew.com

For the homebodies Hestan Cue Induction Cooking System This smart pan and induction burner with embedded Bluetooth sensors brings amateur kitchen skills into the 21st century so you and boo can home-cook like the tuned-in Millennials you can’t stop telling everybody you are.

feature story

Symphonica Horn Speaker Dock Reminiscent of the iconic Victrola phonograph, this handcrafted acoustic horn updates turn-of-the-century design to produce a sleek, electricity-free speaker to amplify smartphone playlists that would make Edison proud. $130-$160 | symphonicasound.com

$500, hestancue.com Rocabi Weighted Blanket

For the lushes we love Kevin Messenger Beverage Carrier Don’t let this bag fool you: The only message it’s sending is how to get day drunk on three liters of insulated wine, beer, or premade cocktail – and look dapper dapper of doing it.

Cut back on your Advil PM and Xanax nightcaps with all-the-rage adult weighted blankets that studies have found to help alleviate anxiety and insomnia. A little rub and tug at bedtime never hurt either. $209-$279 | rocabi.com

Astro Fi Wi-Fi Connected Telescope Your gay niece or nephew (don’t we all have one by now?) can shoot for the stars – or at least gaze at them – with the Astro Fi Wi-Fi Connected Telescope that throws the live night sky onto a phone or tablet for easy exploration of the cosmos (or the hot neighbor’s bedroom). $400 | thegrommet.com

Any amount | echomag.com/communitydirectory

Gay newlyweds will cherish the sentiment – and enjoy the bubbly – in this prideful gift box featuring ONEHOPE

$650 | epson.com

$9-12 | etsy.com/au/shop/bakerlogy

If you’ve considered making a taxdeductible donation to local LGBTQ nonprofit in the name of someone you’re shopping for, this is the year to do it. We have a list of local organizations, organized by category, for you to browse.

ONEHOPE Pride Box

For the entertainment experts Screen movies up to 11 feet wide – that’s four times the size of a 60-inch flat panel TV – with this home projector featuring full HD resolution, 1.6x zoom, and a built-in 10 W speaker that’ll make your old Netflix and chill routine feel like a second-run matinee. Popcorn trick encouraged.

Craft a Brew Give the gift of a date night with an at-home DIY twist with these beer-, wine- and cider-making kits for hands-on boozehounds. All equipment and stepby-step instructions are included to ferment and bottle small-batch libations to quench the thirst of a crowd – or just the two of you.

For the loud and proud

Petite Diamond Snowflake Necklace

$60-$225 | slumbr.com

$200 | shop.thespicelab.com

California Sparkling Brut Rainbow Glitter Edition, a Supreme Court Ruling card

by Emily McDowell, rainbow disco ball bottle-necker and confetti push-pop in a white gift box. Every two gift sets sold fund one hour of operational costs for the Trevor Project’s lifeline helpline that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.

Pay It Forward

Sixty-one shimmering diamonds set in a snowflake of 14K white gold takes the liberal politics your girlfriend wears on her proverbial sleeve and puts them squarely on her chest. A badge of honor, indeed.

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Epson Home Cinema 2100

The Spice Lab lets bar-cart entertainers hone their skills with a this case’s selection of professional tools, plus a dozen botanicals like cardamom, mace, and hibiscus flower to help elevate their drinkslingin’ game.

$75 | vivajennz.com

$495 | bahdos.com 32

that you’ll both sleep better as visions of go-go boys dance in your heads.

$110 | helix.com Premium Mixology Case

For the apparel authorities

Elliot Havoc Racer Chronograph Watch

Vinome website to discover curated wine recommendations tailored to their taste preferences and scientifically selected based on their genetic makeup to add an exciting new element to boozy half-pricebottle nights.

Slumbr Pillows

Wine Explorer by Vinome After receiving their Helix-sequenced DNA results, recipients can head to the

Slumbr’s online Pillow Quiz will help determine which luxurious pillows suit each sleeper – take it on your partner’s behalf so you don’t ruin the surprise – but rest assured (yeah, we know what we did there)

feature story

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.

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Holiday Bliss Holiday Bliss From ho-ho-hosting to choosing the perfect gifts, we have you covered this season

From ho-ho-hosting to choosing the perfect gifts, we have you covered this season LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 29, #3 | ISSUE 699 | DECEMBER 2017 | COMPLIMENTARY

LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | VOL. 29, #3 | ISSUE 699 | DECEMBER 2017 | COMPLIMENTARY

Subscribe today at

echomag.com/echogram.

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cover story

Holiday Bliss Jackson Kelly kicks off our seasonal spirits guide with tips for creating craft cocktails at home

W

hen it comes to holiday soirées, no host wants to be bogged down with preparing festive cocktails that require a ton of ingredients. So, according to Jackson Kelly, co-owner and general manager of BLISS/ReBAR, the secret ingredient to any recipe this season is keeping it simple.

Whatever you do, he advises, don’t spend more time making drinks than you spend mingling with your guests – or, worse yet, than you do enjoying these libations with your guests.

“Today it’s all about craft cocktails,” he said. “Much in the way there was an explosion of culinary experimentation a decade ago, today we see a similar crafting of drinks on a smaller scale. The additions of fresh fruit, herbs and spices have allowed bartenders [and hosts] to create drinks with complex tastings as well as killer presentations.”

While candy canes and coco will always be associated with the holidays, Jackson encourages hosts, bartenders venture out and whip up something unique.

“The fun part is the creative process and the tasting of that work, he said.

“Try using a pumpkin schnapps with some whip cream or ginger liquor mixed with fresh citrus notes and mushed raspberries for reddish coloring or, for the daring, infuse a jalapeño in a coffee or chocolate tequila add some Irish cream and a dash of nutmeg.

For most however, vodka will be the spirit of choice.

“The great thing with vodka is it’s so universally mixable that no one could go wrong. Add a holiday sounding schnapps, a splash of character (fresh fruit, whip cream, graham cracker rim, nutmeg, etc.) and voila.”

“I don’t think seasonal flavors tend to be preferred over others simply because it’s the holidays, it’s more about what you do with them that make or break a cocktail,” Jackson said. “Just as some families prefer ham over turkey … drinks will only be as good as what you make them with and what profiles you choose to match. You would be amazed what a muddled blackberry, a pinch of cloves or a smash of basil will do for your cocktail.

Mix the right proportion of savory and

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other flavors, leave your fruit/leaves in your drink and watch the enjoyment of your guests.”

In the spirit of the season, Jackson introduced Echo to one of BLISS/ ReBAR’s seasonal offerings: The Wall Street, a festive take on the classic Manhattan that’s been updated to meet the modern push for craft cocktails (see recipe, page 28).

“Though many may think drinking scotch or bourbon is an acquired

taste, with a bit of an open palate, this will reach across the aisle (unlike other things today) and entice a new drinker,” Jackson said. “It has essence of smoked tobacco, fresh blackberry puree with a hint of orange and walnut. Overall, a smooth tasting drink for the holiday or for any occasion.”

Cheers to a season filled with merriment, loved ones and exceptional craft cocktails! Here are some recipes to get you started …

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Tingle All the Way 12 days of craft cocktails to get you in the holiday spirit

By Mikey Rox

P

unch up your holiday host game with these 12 festive craft cocktail recipes, including new-release liquors and wines, and artisan mixers, that’ll have you and your guests singing carols with a slur.

3. Hot Rocket 1. The Wall Street Created by BLISS/ReBAR 1 1/2 ounces rye whiskey 1/4 ounce Sweet Vermouth 4 shakes of walnut bitters Muddled blackberry 1 drop smoked tobacco elixir Garnish with a orange peel (zest), a small rosemary stem and a maraschino cherry (optional). Pour over ice and served in a tumbler.

4 ounces Rocket vodka 8 ounces apple cider or unfiltered juice 1 teaspoon maple syrup 2 sprigs fresh rosemary Add vodka to hot cider or unfiltered juice.

Stir in teaspoon of maple syrup. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

5. Ode to Whisky [Sour] Created by NYC mixologist Andrey Kalinin 2 ounces Laphroaig Select Scotch Whisky 3/4 ounce lemon juice 3/4 ounce heather honey syrup 3 dashes cardamom bitters 1 egg white Fresh cardamom Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Dry shake (if using egg white). Add ice and shake vigorously. Pour into a coupe or martini glass, served up. Garnish with cardamom flakes.

6. Holiday Road Punch 4. Frozen Persimmon Margarita

2. Christmas in Pear-is Created by 5Church Atlanta 1 1/2 ounces vodka 1 ounce allspice simple syrup 3/4 ounce St. George Spiced Pear liqueur 3/4 ounce lemon juice 4 dashes Angostura bitters Shake, strain, and serve in a martini glass.

Garnish with a pear slice.

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From The Wildcrafted Cocktail by Ellen Zachos 2 ounces smooth persimmon purée 1 1/2 ounces reposado tequila 1/2 ounce Cointreau 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon simple syrup 1 cup ice cubes 1 lime wedge, for garnish Combine the persimmon purée, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice cubes in a blender. Blend until the texture is thick and smooth. Pour and enjoy.

15 ounce pomegranate green tea liqueur with Everclear (recipe at makeityourown.com) 5 ounces vodka 5 ounces white rum 10 ounces lime juice 10 ounces champagne Combine all ingredients except champagne in a pitcher or punch bowl.

Mix and chill in refrigerator eight hours or more (overnight works best). Just before serving, add chilled champagne and stir carefully. Add ice, along with 10 lime wheels. Serve in punch glasses, ice optional. Garnish with lime wheel.

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rum. Shake and strain into martini glass.

Dip apple slices into agave then dip into cinnamon sugar. Garnish with cinnamon sugar apples.

*Recipe for cranberry sage simple syrup 1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1 cup fresh whole red cranberries 4 cinnamon sticks 10 fresh sage leaves.

Combine water and sugar in medium saucepan. Reduce over medium heat.

Add cranberries, cinnamon sticks and sage leaves. Bring ingredients to a boil, then remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes. Muddle then strain syrup.

Store refrigerated for up to two weeks.

Yields 1 1/4 cups.

7. Chocolate Martini Created by Mastro’s Steakhouse NYC 1 1/2 ounces Three Olives Cake vodka 1 1/2 ounces Godiva White Chocolate liqueur 1 1/2 ounces Chopin Dorda Double Chocolate liqueur Splash of whipped cream Chocolate-covered strawberry for garnish Build ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake vigorously, and strain into martini glass. Garnish with chocolate-covered strawberry.

9. Matcha Hot Chocolate 1 1/2 ounces Baileys Original 1 1/2 teaspoons matcha powder 1/2 cup hot soy milk 1 ounce white chocolate chips In a saucepan, combine Baileys Original, match powder, hot soy milk, and white chocolate chips. Pour into a copper mug. Top with whipped cream and a tall skewer of pink mochi balls painted with glittery luster dust.

10. Jingle Juice 8. Autumnal Rum Created by The Honeywell in West Harlem NYC 3 slices Fuji apples 2 ounces Plantation 3 Stars rum 1/2 ounce lime juice 1 ounce simple syrup 1/4 ounce Suze Gentian liqueur Cinnamon sugar Muddle three slices of apples in a shaker.

Put remaining ingredients into shaker in this order: Lime juice, simple syrup, Suze Gentian liqueur, Plantation 3 Stars COVER STORY

1 1/2 ounces Port Cask Finished VirginiaHighland Whisky 1 ounce cranberry sage simple syrup* 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice 1/2 ounce Cointreau Fresh red cranberries Orange bitters Combine first five ingredients into shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until shaker is completely frosted. Pour into a sugar-rimmed glass and top with two dashes of orange bitters. Stir and garnish with red cranberries.

11. Frísco Hot Toddy 2 ounces Frísco 1 teaspoons honey 1 teaspoons lemon juice 4 ounces hot water Combine ingredients in your favorite mug.

Stir until honey is dissolved. Get cozy.

12. Countdown to Cuvée 4 ounces Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvée 1/2 ounce honey-flavored whisky liqueur Lemon peel Sugar Cut a long and wide strip of lemon peel.

Dip both sides of the lemon peel into sugar. Place sugared lemon peel inside champagne flute, circling the inside rim.

Pour chilled honey whisky liqueur and Bubbly Brut Cuvée into the flute through the center of the sugared lemon peel.

READ THE REST For gift ideas that perfectly pair with these craft cocktails, as well as the palates on your shopping list, visit echomag.com/holiday-spirits.

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.

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OUT & ABOUT Blush Brunch Nov. 11 at BLISS/ReBAR, Phoenix.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

Jingle Balls Next month’s Blush Brunch, hosted by Barbra Seville, will take place Dec. 10 and mark BLISS/ReBAR’s third annual Jingle Balls.

“It’s still the same mix of food, frolic and fun as we see in each show but with extra sass, glam and joy,” according to Jackson Kelly, the establishment’s co-owner and general manager. “Barbra always keeps the guest for this show a secret, and this year is no different – but I promise they will not disappoint.”

To RSVP for the event, email jackson@blissrebar.com.

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FEATURE story

The Gayest Guide to Holiday Gift Giving

By Mikey Rox

F

rom stocking stuffers to the ultimate adventure, you’ll be able to deliver the perfect presents to LGBTQ people of all ages and sensibilities with this comprehensive gift guide.

For the local lover A Pint of Pride Your favorite local beer will taste even better in a pair of 16-ounce pint glasses etched with the city streets and neighborhoods of Phoenix, Tempe or Tucson. Pro tip: If beer isn’t the preferred beverage of your gift recipient, check out the wine and rocks glasses.

For the accoutrement aficionado Elliot Havoc Racer Chronograph Watch

Fanchest

Designed in gay-mecca Golden Gate City, the chronograph watch from Elliot Havok – shown here in festive green with Italian leather straps – features Miyota Japanese JS15 movement, a sapphire glass face, and enough style cred that you can forgo the gift receipt.

Deck out your special sports fan in headto-toe spirit for their favorite team with a Fanchest filled with everything they’ll need for a next-level game day. Each box is unique but chests often includes shirts, hats, scarves, cups and more officially licensed swag from NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB or college teams. Autographed memorabilia boxes also are available.

$199 | elliothavok.com

$59-$299 | fanchest.com Iridescent Universe Joggers Explore the constellations of his nether region while he’s lounging in these hypnotic, cosmic statement joggers that you can’t take your eyes off of.

$29.50 (per set) | theuncommongreen. com/collections/maps-barware Localist Membership As a Localist, the recipient of this gift will gain access to special events and unique opportunities – ranging from tours to tastings – throughout the year, all while supporting local businesses along the way. $20 | localfirstaz.com/localist

For the apparel authorities

BucknBear Small Abalone Knife Vibrant iridescent abalone handles flank a gorgeous VG10 core Damascus steel blade – which resembles a beach shoreline – to create this all-purpose pocketknife that avid outdoorsmen and lesbians will go gaga over. $89 | urbanedcsupply.com

$60 | intotheam.com Seersucker Martini Belt Hand-stitched and made to order, the martini needlepoint belt from Brewster Belt Co. adds a twist of whimsy to casual Fridays while reinforcing the comforting reality that it’s always five o’clock somewhere. Also available in a San Francisco landscape design prominently featuring the rainbow pride flag. $165-$175 | brewsterbelt.com

Frank Lloyd Wright Porcelain Box Gold-trimmed and limited edition – only 1,500 numbered pieces exist – this porcelain lidded catchall features one of Wright’s Liberty magazine cover designs with a quote on the inside as a daily reminder to put your best LGBTQ foot forward. $80 | shopwright.org

For the loud and proud Pay It Forward Petite Diamond Snowflake Necklace Sixty-one shimmering diamonds set in a snowflake of 14K white gold takes the liberal politics your girlfriend wears on her proverbial sleeve and puts them squarely on her chest. A badge of honor, indeed. $495 | bahdos.com

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If you’ve considered making a taxdeductible donation to local LGBTQ nonprofit in the name of someone you’re shopping for, this is the year to do it. We have a list of local organizations, organized by category, for you to browse.

Any amount | echomag.com/communitydirectory ONEHOPE Pride Box Gay newlyweds will cherish the sentiment – and enjoy the bubbly – in this prideful gift box featuring ONEHOPE feature story

Vinome website to discover curated wine recommendations tailored to their taste preferences and scientifically selected based on their genetic makeup to add an exciting new element to boozy half-pricebottle nights.

that you’ll both sleep better as visions of go-go boys dance in your heads.

$110 | helix.com

Epson Home Cinema 2100

Premium Mixology Case The Spice Lab lets bar-cart entertainers hone their skills with a this case’s selection of professional tools, plus a dozen botanicals like cardamom, mace, and hibiscus flower to help elevate their drinkslingin’ game.

$60-$225 | slumbr.com

For the entertainment experts Screen movies up to 11 feet wide – that’s four times the size of a 60-inch flat panel TV – with this home projector featuring full HD resolution, 1.6x zoom, and a built-in 10 W speaker that’ll make your old Netflix and chill routine feel like a second-run matinee. Popcorn trick encouraged. $650 | epson.com

$200 | shop.thespicelab.com Craft a Brew California Sparkling Brut Rainbow Glitter Edition, a Supreme Court Ruling card

by Emily McDowell, rainbow disco ball bottle-necker and confetti push-pop in a white gift box. Every two gift sets sold fund one hour of operational costs for the Trevor Project’s lifeline helpline that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. $99 | onehopewine.com Genital-Shaped Cookie Cutters Gay sex positions and detailed human genitalia – veins and all, y’all – turn sugar-spiked dough into never-morethan-a-mouthful cookies lifted straight from the Kama Sutra. Perfect for the church bake sale.

Give the gift of a date night with an at-home DIY twist with these beer-, wine- and cider-making kits for hands-on boozehounds. All equipment and stepby-step instructions are included to ferment and bottle small-batch libations to quench the thirst of a crowd – or just the two of you. $45-$60 | craftabrew.com

For the homebodies Hestan Cue Induction Cooking System This smart pan and induction burner with embedded Bluetooth sensors brings amateur kitchen skills into the 21st century so you and boo can home-cook like the tuned-in Millennials you can’t stop telling everybody you are.

Symphonica Horn Speaker Dock Reminiscent of the iconic Victrola phonograph, this handcrafted acoustic horn updates turn-of-the-century design to produce a sleek, electricity-free speaker to amplify smartphone playlists that would make Edison proud. $130-$160 | symphonicasound.com

$500, hestancue.com

$9-12 | etsy.com/au/shop/bakerlogy Rocabi Weighted Blanket

For the lushes we love Kevin Messenger Beverage Carrier Don’t let this bag fool you: The only message it’s sending is how to get day drunk on three liters of insulated wine, beer, or premade cocktail – and look dapper dapper of doing it.

Cut back on your Advil PM and Xanax nightcaps with all-the-rage adult weighted blankets that studies have found to help alleviate anxiety and insomnia. A little rub and tug at bedtime never hurt either. $209-$279 | rocabi.com

$75 | vivajennz.com

Astro Fi Wi-Fi Connected Telescope Your gay niece or nephew (don’t we all have one by now?) can shoot for the stars – or at least gaze at them – with the Astro Fi Wi-Fi Connected Telescope that throws the live night sky onto a phone or tablet for easy exploration of the cosmos (or the hot neighbor’s bedroom). $400 | thegrommet.com Slumbr Pillows

Wine Explorer by Vinome After receiving their Helix-sequenced DNA results, recipients can head to the feature story

Slumbr’s online Pillow Quiz will help determine which luxurious pillows suit each sleeper – take it on your partner’s behalf so you don’t ruin the surprise – but rest assured (yeah, we know what we did there)

Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.

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The Names Project - AIDS Memorial Quilt presented by Cox Communications Reserve your table or purchase seats at REDBrunch.org

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Feature Story

Transgender Day Of Remembrance Community advocates reflect on the importance of honoring lives lost

By Liz Massey

W

hen it comes to the LGBTQ calendar, Nov. 20 is a significant date. Although it doesn’t have the liberating flourish of June 28, 1969 – the date that the Stonewall riots started – Nov. 20 has come to be recognized as the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), an annual observance trans individuals and their allies gather to honor those lost to violence due to their gender identity during the previous 12 months.

Gwendolyn Ann Smith created TDOR in 1998 as a way to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed that year. When asked why she inaugurated TDOR, Smith asserted, “The right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people – sometimes in the most brutal ways possible – it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered.”

The Transgender Day of Remembrance has different meanings for each person who attends a public event or observes the day in their own private way. Ahead of this year’s observance, we asked several LGBTQ community members to share with us what TDOR means to them, and how it influences their advocacy work.

Here are their stories.

Kendra Tonan-Lizzarago “I’m currently the president of Trans Spectrum of Arizona (TSAZ), and I’ve been active in the community since I came out three years ago. This year’s [TDOR] will be my third such event; this year, as was true for the other two years, I have helped with staffing and organizing the event in Phoenix. Our attendance increased both years I’ve been involved, and the events were safe with no major issues.

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“This event is important because people need to remember that we in the trans community are people. Losing anyone in our community is always devastating, and a huge loss. By reading through the names and recognizing each person, we are trying to humanize a senseless act of violence. Participating in the event keeps me grounded and reminds me of all that we have lost over the year.

“People who attend TDOR events can give back to the trans community by helping out where they can. It lets local trans people know they have the validation they deserve as humans.

Attend gatherings and support meetings and simply find ways to help other human beings who happen to be trans.

You can help by having the strength to be yourself, and realizing you have a family in this community. Please support your local organizations, so they can continue to support you.”

hope is that one day we will no longer need an annual day of remembrance to mourn and honor the lives of the trans folks that were murdered in a year. In the fall of 2000, I was a member of an organization that organized the first TDOR event at Arizona State University.

“TDOR is an important day and opportunity for trans people to come together in community. Now more than ever, it matters because of the anti-trans political climate we need to come together as a community and we need our allies to show up as well. It is critical that we honor and remember the lives of the trans folks who have been brutally murdered, because if we want to change the systems of oppression, the institutions that devalue our lives, and the individuals who foster hate in their hearts for trans folks, we must first make our lives visible and demand to be treated with dignity and respect.

“My participation in TDOR over the years has informed my understanding of all the other work that I do in the community – and vice versa. For me, even though the vigil can be profoundly sad, it is also life affirming to see so many trans folks and allies come out to gather together and say that our lives are important and that we are deserving of dignity, respect, and liberation.

Karyna Jaramillo “I am the coordinator of community defense and liberation for Trans Queer

Michael Soto “I am an out and proud trans man, active in several LGBTQ organizations.

I currently sit on the board of directors for Equality Arizona and I actively support the work of Trans Queer Pueblo.

“I have attended too many TDOR events – I say too many because my

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Pueblo, an LGBTQ organization for migrant people of color. I emigrated to Phoenix in 1989 and, as a person who has been through the detention process, I know the needs that exist for those who are detained, as well as the injustices and abuse that happen inside these detention centers specifically to trans-identified individuals.

“I will be attending this year’s [TDOR] event in Phoenix, as I have the past two years. The event has allowed me to understand that not many things have changed. There are many deaths each year, and mass incarceration and detention that is geared towards black and brown trans bodies. Each year I see the power that we have and need to have trans leadership in all aspects of life and the importance to remembering our brothers and sisters who have died trying to make this world better.

“It is important to remember that their lives were lost fighting for trans rights, and we still have a long way to go. This day is important to highlight the reality that nothing has changed, that there is a lot of work to do …” “[TDOR] gives me the courage to continue working on stopping the criminalization of trans women and building their leadership. It is a good way to learn about the needs of our trans community and the way to support and plug in to organizations that are doing the work.”

because I believe it is very important to be visible in our community, and to remember those we have lost. I think it is very important to note that in 2016 the transgender women of color were primarily targeted with this violence, I hope to promote the voices of our transgender individuals of color.

“We have to cherish those individuals and their stories. They died simply for being their true selves, and this has to stop. We have to honor them by coming together and being stronger. And being that voice they no longer have.”

Chris Duarte “I’m a co-founder and co-chair of the Greater Yavapai County LGBTQ Community Coalition (GYCC), which provides an umbrella of support for several local LGBTQ organizations, including Faith Bridge and the Northern Arizona Gender Mentors Network, or NAZGEM, that is organizing this year’s TDOR event in Prescott.

Presented by the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) and UofA Pride Alliance, members of the Tucson transgender community and allies will be performing before the reading of the names, and a performance by the combined Desert Voices and Reveille choirs will follow.

For information, or to inquire about performing or volunteering at the event, contact Abby Louise Jensen at abby@sagatucson.org.

Under the theme “a celebration of life,” this year’s observance of TDOR will feature speakers, performances by local/regional musicians, including Andrea Flanagan, and a candlelight vigil.

“We need events like the [TDOR] because as a transgender person myself, I often feel like the white elephant in the room, invisible to those around me.

People will Google information about the transgender community rather than ask me what it is like to be transgender… when GYCC held a TDOR event in 2015, it moved the conversation beyond ‘us’ and ‘them.’ There were more allies than transgender people there, but hearing our stories connected the hearts of our allies to the transgender community.

“The best thing that someone attending a TDOR event can do afterward is to share what they’re experiencing with others. Support for local organizations, particularly in rural areas, also is important. Advocacy work is not free and many organizations in rural areas have no outside sources of funding.”

Feature Story

Transgender Day of Remembrance – Tucson 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 16, at the University of Arizona’s Old Main Fountain, 1200 E. University Blvd. (just west of building), Tucson. bit.ly/2zBsL0j

Transgender Day of Remembrance – Prescott 6 p.m., Nov. 18, at Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 882 Sunset Ave., Prescott. az-gycc.org

Jericho Galindo “I am transgender man, and my partner is a transgender woman who is an entertainer. We both have been involved locally with the Human Rights Campaign, Phoenix Pride and AIDS Walk Arizona.

“I have not previously attended a TDOR event, although I have heard others’ stories through social media.

I will be attending TDOR this year,

TDOR Observances

Transgender Day of Remembrance – Phoenix 6-8 p.m., Nov. 20 at the State Capitol Building, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix. bit.ly/2j78Or3 This year, organizers are aiming for more inclusions of trans-specific and LGBTQ organizations from around the Valley, and trans youth will read the list of those being remembered.

Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com.

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Same Sex Marriage Shouldn’t Mean Same Old Lawyers

Introducing Audra E. Petrolle Family Law Attorney

Marriage laws have changed. But some family law attorneys can still be stuck in ancient ways. Not Audra Petrolle, a new addition to Arizona’s largest woman-owned law firm. Whether you’re heading into a marriage, getting out of one, adopting or planning your family’s estate and assets, try the state’s most innovative law firm. It, and Audra, are definitely not the same old thing.

RoseLawGroup.com 7144 E Stetson Drive, Suite 300, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | 480.505.3936 | info@roselawgroup.com Asset Protection/Estate Planning • Class Action • Corporate • Cyberbullying • DUI • Elder Care • Elections • Employment • Equine • Family/Parenting Rights Government Relations/Lobbying • Homeowners Associations • Intellectual Property • Internet Fraud • Land Use • Litigation • Medical Marijuana • Online Defamation/ Cyber-Reputation Management • Real Estate Transactions • Renewable Energy • Special Needs Planning • Tax • Water/Environmental • Zoning

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TRANScripts

Raising the Transgender Child

Four titles that celebrate the T in LGBTQ

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

T

he first memoir I ever read that was written by a transgender individual was Mirror Image: The Odyssey of a Male-to-Female Transsexual by the late Nancy Hunt, in the late 1970s Until a few years before the book was written, Hunt was a man’s man, twice married, a veteran and a father, and well into adulthood when he realized why he was terribly unhappy.

He’d been cross-dressing for some time, but it wasn’t enough and though his second wife reportedly wanted him to remain a transvestite, Nancy instead took steps to do something she felt strongly was overdue: she had surgery to fully become a woman. At that time, the number of transgender people in the US could only be estimated – and the estimates were pretty small.

Even so, the fact that there were transgender people who were willing to be identified and to speak out about their experiences then meant

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that change was in the wind. Now the change is here, as evidenced by the huge number of recent memoirs that’ve been written by transgender men, women, their families and allies – not to mention the number of books that are on the horizon.

Yes, up until recently, books by or about transgender individuals were few, relatively speaking. Even the word is new-ish and still causes some confusion: for some it’s an “umbrella term” that encompasses many states of gender and for others, it’s used in an incredibly specific way. To that end, and perhaps because people are opening their eyes to the rich spectrum of human gender, transgender people are telling their stories, loud and openly.

In honor of Transgender Awareness Month, we’re featuring a few titles that recap the experiences of several transgender individuals as we celebrate the T in LGBTQ.

Your preschooler has always had an active imagination. Flights of fancy and dress-up fill his days. She’s rough-andtumble, a scrapper in her mind. Makebelieve has always been a big part in your child’s life but now you’re hearing something you know in your heart is not pretend, and in the new book Raising the Transgender Child by Dr. Michele Angello and Alisa Bowman, you’ll find guidance for it.

In retrospect, you might’ve seen it coming: your son told you once that he was really a girl, or your daughter cried when you wouldn’t let her get a buzz-cut.

You’ve suddenly realized, or your child has told you, that zie is gender-diverse. Either way, Angello and Bowman point out that few parents are immediately 100 percent prepared for raising a child like yours.

And so, you’re not alone. Others have raised transgender children before you and have “blazed trails” already. Your feelings are normal, so is worry, and confusion about gender dysphoria will “burn off.”

Dysphoria. Now, there’s a word you might have seen while doing research in print or online. There are, in fact, many terms you’ll want to know when raising a gender-diverse child, starting with the difference between “sex” and “gender.”

And by the way, as for shaky “studies” and internet myths, set them aside. There are many theories on “what leads to gender diversity,” and a lot of unknowns.

Again, put arguments away and ignore negativity; all kids are different, and so are their gender experiences.

Feature Story

Rosie loved her job. Penn worked on his novel. And Claude dreamed of being a girl.

Is it worth obsessing over? Probably not, because you love your child regardless, so prepare yourself for a toe-dip into “social transition.”

It started when, as do most parents, Rosie told Claude that he could “be anything” he wanted to be someday.

Claude was three years old and loved dress-up; it didn’t seem odd to let him wear dresses at home. But soon, home wasn’t enough and Claude tantrumed until he was allowed to wear dresses to preschool, though he was told that he’d have to use the nurse’s station bathroom and his teacher was “not happy.”

Talk with teachers, neighbors and take steps to make relatives aware of new pronouns and appearance.

Educate yourself on public bathrooms, team sports and other legalities. Know when to ask for help, both financial and emotional. Remember that grief is common, and that your child may experience issues, too.

Still, Rosie and Penn were willing to do what it took to make Claude feel secure.

With his dresses and pink, he was a confident child; without, he was sullen and sad. None of his classmates seemed to mind his clothing and his brothers never even gave it a second thought.

Claude was simply Claude, until he asked his parents to call him Poppy.

Finally, dare to dream again. Zie will grow up one day and, as the authors say, will eventually fall in love with “Someone wonderful and amazing…”

As a parent of a transgender child, you may think that all this is commonsense stuff you’ve heard before – and that may be so, but there’s a certain calmness inside Raising the Transgender Child that can’t be beat.

The other thing that sets this book apart is that is its comprehensiveness: Angello and Bowman seem to have thought of everything mom, dad or caregiver could possibly need to know about present issues and what’s to come. It’s all easy to comprehend, too, and it covers children from small toddler to older teen.

Particularly vexed parents will be happy to see that the authors even tackle unpleasant situations and emotions that may need to be heeded along this journey.

Whether you need it now, or you sense that you might later, this is a good book to have in your parenting bag of tricks. For questioning children and families with questions, it’s more helpful, perhaps, than you can imagine.

This Is How It Always Is You must not tell. You cannot breathe a word to anyone who doesn’t already know. That Which Cannot Be Spoken must remain buried, put away, frozen, lips sealed, or in the closet.

You cannot tell because, as in the new novel This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel, secrets change everything.

In the beginning there was Roosevelt, known to his loved ones as Roo. Not long after he was born, Ben entered the family.

Then the twins, Orion and Rigel, arrived.

So Rosie Walsh, still hoping for a girl baby, did everything the Talmud recommended she do next. Months later, she and her husband, Penn, welcomed Claude.

And that was OK. Another boy in their raucous, rowdy family of boys was fine and Rosie and Penn loved them all. They were happy in their big, rambling, open farmhouse just outside of Madison, Wis.

And that was fine, too, especially when the family moved to another state and it was easier to keep quiet – until it wasn’t.

Until Poppy started growing up, the world became a vicious place, and secretkeeping couldn’t last forever.

And so, here’s the thing: once you’ve started reading This Is How It Always Is, you might as well just clear your schedule. Cancel all appointments. You won’t want to do anything but read, so just give in. Blame it on the book.

Part of the appeal, I think, is in the way that author Laurie Frankel writes: there are no airs, no try-to-impress-you words, nothing uppity. Her characters are normal people with everyday lives, trying to maintain that normalcy and Frankel writes like they might talk: with downto-earth matter-of-factness and a fast dash of humor that winds its way through a serious topic. And on that topic, you’ve perhaps heard it before (or something

More Trans Titles Visit echomag.com for more stories on transgender experiences, or by trans authors, including:

echomag.com/surpassing-certainty Feature Story

echomag.com/dear-mom-and-dad EchoMag.com

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similar) but not in a voice like this, and not quite as enjoyable.

One more thing: be sure to read Frankel’s after-notes, which brings her novel full-circle and will make you smile.

But don’t peek; instead, start “This Is How It Always Is” from the beginning and savor it properly. It’ll make you want to tell everyone.

Long before they met, Wendy and Beatrice had a lot in common: both came from families of similar sizes. Both had fathers that “didn’t have a head for figures” and mothers who ran the family businesses. Wendy and Beatrice are both on the autism spectrum. The main difference: Wendy was a married woman.

They met one afternoon when Wendy, her husband, and their four children were living in the home of a “well-to-do” family that had just hired an au pair. The shy young woman didn’t speak English and Wendy didn’t speak Swiss German, but when Wendy was asked to help the girl to settle in, Beatrice proved to be a quick study. She easily learned a new language and she and Wendy forged a close friendship.

From its very beginning, “Transitioning Together” is a tough read. There’s a lot of preliminary to wade through to get to the start of the actual story here, and then there’s a lot of confusing set-up that identifies authors Wenn and Beatrice Lawson by their relative ages, rather than by name. While it’s helpful, later, to have a change in font to delineate who is weighing in, you might continue to be baffled by the semi-linear nature of what is mostly Mr. Lawson’s version.

Yes, tenacious readers who can bear with this dual memoir will get a doubleedged peek at the emotional process of transitioning for both partners, through the added, unique perspectives of autism and age – that alone is worth your patience.

Both seemed only a little surprised when that friendship turned into love.

Wendy, who’d had health issues most of her life, never considered falling in love with another woman, but it felt right. Beatrice had an inkling that she was a lesbian but she shunned the word, afraid that it would “be an embarrassment” to her family. Even so, she settled into a relationship which was tender, and fragile from the start.

Transitioning Together: One Couple’s Journey of Gender and Identity Discovery Your hair has more grays than it did back then. You’ve both packed on pounds here and there, too. A few wrinkles surround your smiles, but that’s OK – you’re not freshfaced kids anymore. You’ve aged, you’ve softened and, in the new book Transitioning Together: One Couple’s Journey of Gender and Identity Discovery by Wenn and Beatrice Lawson, you’ve changed quite a bit.

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Wendy and her family moved from England to Australia as her abusive marriage was crumbling. Beatrice was unable to make the move with her beloved, due to Australia ’s immigration laws. They ultimately figured out a way to be together physically; once Wendy’s divorce was final, they knew they’d be together legally as well.

But even after their wedding, Wendy wasn’t happy. Never comfortable in her body, she felt sure that something was missing, so she sought her “tribe” before understanding that she needed to transition to become the man he’d always known he was. And that was something Beatrice wasn’t sure she could handle…

echomag.com/wrong-bathroom

Self-Made Woman Your own two hands, that’s what it took.

Plus a bit of paint, pencil or pen, rouge

echomag.com/pants-project Feature Story

and ribbon and rickrack to make that of which you are proud. You did that. You made it with your own two hands. As in the new book Self-Made Woman by Denise Chanterelle DuBois, it takes a lot to craft a new life.

It began near a lakeside cabin in Wisconsin. DuBois says she was four then, a curious little boy who loved the water – until he fell in and nearly drowned. Once fished out, he was dressed in girl’s clothing while his dried, and he was enchanted. He fought his mother’s demands that he give the clothing up.

That was the beginning of DuBois’ lifetime journey toward womanhood.

Though his parents were both abusive alcoholics, it was the Catholic school nuns who showed DuBois that sexual stimulation could come from humiliation. In grade school, he preferred playing with girls because he was a girl himself, but teachers and nuns forbade it. When embarrassed in class, he felt stirrings; he asked playmates to spank him, and he learned to welcome negative attention.

This led to petty theft and a secret life: DuBois began sneaking into his sister’s closet to wear her clothing. He broke into random buildings to steal panties from strangers, and he lost a babysitting job when he was caught wearing his client’s lingerie; the ensuing humiliation only enhanced the experience. He dabbled in domination by being a slave to women who wanted his money, experimented with drugs and alcohol, had were run-ins with the law and even became suicidal.

And yet, there were bright moments in his life. DuBois fell in love with a woman who went along with fetishes that had grown into full-blown obsessions. He made friends – albeit, friends who were into drugs – he got married and he started learning what it would take to be the woman he always knew he really was.

Self-Made Woman is a lot of things: It’s sad, poignant and scary. It’s also TMI sometimes and, at just over 200 pages, it’s a bit too long.

From Wisconsin childhood to womanhood in Bangkok, DuBois tells readers of a multi-city, lifetime self-search,

in an account that feels overly detailed and overstuffed. Reading it is akin to being held captive by someone who really needs to tell all, including unabashed details about the world of submission and female domination. Those details are titillating for those who share DuBois’ fetishes, but cruelty and graphicness make them wince-worthy. Add in memories of drug and alcohol abuse and an account of imprisonment that seemed rushed and you could have a mess of unreadability, were it not for the overall uniqueness, vulnerability, and the truthfulness in this tale.

When the story itself lags, those are the things that redeem it. They’re what make this matter-of-factly-told memoir one that sets itself apart by its brutal honesty.

It’s what will make you want to put SelfMade Woman in your hands.

Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm, lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 13,000 books.

She’s been reading since age 3 and, to this day, she never goes anywhere without a book.

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at the box office

By James Fanizza

Ferdinand In Theaters Dec. 15 | PG | 106 Minutes | Adventure, Comedy

The Shape of Water In Theaters Dec. 8 | R | 119 Minutes | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

The master of romantic horror is back with an other-worldly fairy tale, set in Baltimore in 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda Fuller (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Written and directed by Guillermo Del Toro, and featuring exciting performances by Hawkins and Spencer (and Richard Jenkins as a gay scientist), The Shape of Water is a genre-bending movie about loving otherness and overcoming loneliness, which just also happens to be about a creepy-looking water monster.

Directed by Carlos Saldanha, this film is the latest adaptation of the classic story of a Spanish bull with a big heart. Based on the book by Munro Leaf, the plot line follows Ferdinand as he is mistaken for a dangerous beast, captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team of loveable creatures on the ultimate adventure.

Starring the voices of Kate McKinnon and John Cena, Ferdinand heartwarming and hilarious choice for all this holiday season.

Pitch Perfect 3 In Theaters Dec. 22 | PG-13 | Comedy, Music

I, Tonya In Theaters Dec. 8 | R | 119 Minutes | Biography, Drama, Sport

The shocking truth behind the tabloid story of Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding comes to light in this film written by Steven Rogers and directed by Craig Gillespie. Harding made headlines in the ’90s not because of her impressive skating abilities, but rather because of her connection to the attack on her skating rival Nancy Kerrigan (played by Caitlin Carver).

Generating lots of Oscar buzz for Margot Robie’s impressive performance, this dark comedy attempts to humanize Harding and showcase the troubled woman underneath.

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Everyone’s favorite movie about an acapella group’s rise to fame is back with its third and (maybe?) final installment. The girls are now graduated, out in the workforce and, obviously, they hate it. So, they rally the gang back together to compete in the overseas USO tour. At the very least, Last Call Pitches promises catchy songs and genuinely funny moments delivered

by Rebel Wilson, Elizabeth Banks and company– not to mention the unabashed lesbian theme. Franchise newcomers include Ruby Rose, Trinidad James and John Lithgow.

James Fanizza is a proudly queer filmmaker, writer and recent Valley transplant. He can be reached at @jamesfanizza on Instagram and Twitter.

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Alex Lawther as Billy. Courtesy photo.

made Billy sensitive and appealing underneath all the apparent confidence and self-possession,” Styler said. “I’d been looking for those extra layers to come through, and Alex brought depth to Billy from day one.”

Breslin was cast as Alex’s very unlikely rival, Lynette.

“I love Abigail’s performance as Lynette! She managed to bring such a brashness and superficiality to the screen, she’s fearless,” Styler shared.

“We’ve all known those kinds of kids at school who seem to have zero empathy with anyone and are determined to be top dog at whatever cost …”

Styler and the crew had four weeks to prepare for production and an ambitious total of 22 days to shoot the feature.

Ultimately, funding was secured because of Midler’s involvement.

Freak Show Producer dishes on all-star cast led by Bette Midler

By Sarah Toce

B

ased on James St. James’ awardwinning cult novel by the same name, Freak Show is a comingof-age heart-warmer that relays the timely tale of Billy Bloom, “a boldly confident and eccentric teenager who faces intolerance and persecution at his ultra-conservative high school, and decides to fight back on behalf of all the misunderstood freaks of the world.”

The kicker in the equation? His overbearing mother, Muv, is played by real-life gay rights icon, the incomparable Divine Miss M herself – Bette Midler.

In addition, Alex J. Lawther, Abigail Breslin, Laverne Cox, Anna Sophia Robb, Ian Nelson, Celia Watson, Willa Fitzgerald and Larry Pine also star in the film produced by actress/director Trudi Styler’s production company, Maven Pictures.

“In keeping with the message of the movie, most of the music I chose to support the narrative was composed

by LGBTQ artists, for example our own Eliot Sumner, Boy George and Perfume Genius,” Styler said. “The cast features the great gender rights activist Bette Midler and Laverne Cox, herself a notable transgender activist.”

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When Connecticut-raised Billy (Lawther) is shipped off unexpectedly to live with his father (Pine) in his southern mansion, a whole bunch of crazy transpires. Not one to trade in his face glitter for a letter jacket at his new high school, Billy takes an alternate road to finding new friends and, more importantly, himself. Part Mean Girls, part Napoleon Dynamite, part Clueless, Styler’s take on Freak Show is an intersectional/multi-generational story that aches to be told.

“Before we started casting the film, I met James for dinner and just found him delightful – so full of spirit, and enthusiasm,” Styler said. “It was a real treat to meet him and see how committed he was to remaining true to himself, like Billy. We talked about how we had both felt like outcasts when we were growing up. We talked about our childhoods and why it was so important to make a movie that touched upon sex and gender tolerance.”

Lawther garnered fame starring as the young Alan Turing in the Academy Awardwinning 2014 film The Imitation Game.

“I found Alex just through the normal casting process you go through … when Alex came in and auditioned he brought a vulnerability to the character that

“Muv became the linchpin to our finances and the very great Bette Midler accepted the role of Muv,” Styler shared.

“From that we were able to really start the Freak Show machine turning and to get the movie in the can by the night before Thanksgiving.”

Midler wasn’t sure she wanted the part; she hadn’t worked on film in over four years. Ultimately, Styler called her and asked her to read the script. She did – and immediately signed on.

For Styler, this project had a profoundly personal connection to her own childhood.

“When I first began to work on the movie, as a story about bullying it resonated with me on a deeply personal level,” Styler shared. “I was bullied myself as a child and teenager, as my face bore the scars of being run down by a truck when I was only two years old. My own children also suffered from being bullied, especially my daughter Eliot who has only recently talked about what a hard time she had at school.”

There’s a direct message throughout Freak Show that is perhaps relevant now more than in recent years.

“The message of Freak Show is that we are all one in our shared humanity, a humanity which encompasses and connects all colors, sexes, races and religions,” Styler said. “That is one of the most important lessons we must communicate to young audiences today.”

For more information on Freak Show, visit facebook.com/freakshowmovie.

Sarah Toce, an award-winning journalist and the recipient of the National Diversity Council’s 2016 LGBT Leadership Award, was named one of GO Magazine’s Red Hot Entrepreneurs of 2014. She can be reached @SarahToce or sarah.tocetheseattlelesbian.com.

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Cinderella Creative team dishes on this fairy tale’s latest adaptation

By Seth Reines

E

xactly 60 years ago, Broadway composer/lyricist team Rodgers and Hammerstein created their version of Cinderella for live TV. Originally commissioned by CBS as a vehicle for My Fair Lady star Julie Andrews, their Cinderella was seen by 107 million.

The 1965 remake of Cinderella, a new live production starring Lesley Ann Warren, caused little excitement, playing to only 22 million viewers.

Thirty-two years later, Rogers and Hammerstein gave their Cinderella a third try … this time with Brandy as Cinderella, Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother, Bernadette Peters as the Stepmother, Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen and Jason Alexander as the King. The ratings tripled with a viewership of over 60 million.

But it still took 16 more years for Cinderella’s golden coach to finally park on Broadway in 2013 with added songs from the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalogue (including “Now Is the Time,” a rousing call for social change that was cut from South Pacific) and a smart new book by Douglas Carter Beane, author of Xanadu, Sister Act and The Nance.

In Beane’s new version, the Prince Charming’s parents have died and been replaced by a devious prime minister who tricks the naïve prince into signing bills that repress his people. A more politically savvy Cinderella opens the Prince’s eyes to the injustice in his kingdom. And, in brand new subplot, a rebel named JeanMichel and stepsister Gabrielle fall in love and plot to overthrow the government.

The first national tour of this lavish new Cinderella – a far cry from Rogers

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Lee Wilkins (left) and Josh Rhodes.

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and Hammerstein’s original vision – hits ASU Gammage from Dec. 19 to 24.

Boasting William Ivey Long’s Tonyaward winning costumes and the exquisite choreography of Josh Rhodes, this version earned “... a wonderful example of how Broadway dancing can be both virtuous and sincere” from Broadway World.

Echo caught up with Rhodes and his life and business partner, Lee Wilkins, who will be restaging the balletic choreography for the national tour, and here’s what they had to say.

Echo: How did you get started as a choreographer?

Rhodes: My first great schooling for choreography was being a dancer in multiple Broadway shows, which is priceless schooling for anyone who wants to craft stories with dance in musical theater. I was also an assistant choreographer and a dance captain. I started dipping my toes in the water as the need came for me to finish numbers for a choreographer or add small sections of dance once the choreographer or director trusted me. After a while, you gain confidence and technique and you think perhaps you could do it on your own.

Echo: What can you tell us about your experience creating the Broadway premiere of Cinderella?

Rhodes: Cinderella was a wonderful experience because the director, Mark Browkaw, and the writer, Douglas Carter Beane, let me look through the script and asked where I could enhance the story with dance. They let

me experiment for months with a few ideas and many are in the show today.

The two of them helped me shape the numbers to make sure they use principals and keep the story moving during the musical numbers. Working on new dance arrangements with a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein score was heaven. It was a choreographer’s dream.

Echo: How did Josh and you meet?

Wilkins: We met on a blind date in Costa Mesa, Calif. I was on the Cats tour that was leaving Costa Mesa and Josh was on the pre-Broadway Jekyll and Hyde tour that was coming into Costa Mesa. We had dinner together, spent a day off and for the next six months (pre-cell phones), we lived a long-distance relationship.

We met in August of 1995, and married Nov. 15, 2006.

Echo: Lee, if you were not a performer/ choreographer, what would you want to be?

Wilkins: I’ve been several things in my life and career … a drummer, lighting designer, set designer, marketing firm owner and music editor. I love finding new things that challenge me. I think next might be a web designer or film editor.

Cinderella Dec. 19-24 ASU Gammage 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe Tickets: $20-$150; 480-965-3434 asugammage.com/shows M. Seth Reines is an award-winning theater buff who has directed more than 500 productions nationally for stage and television, and formerly served as head of Roosevelt University’s musical theatre program.

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Photos by © Joan Marcus.

Deborah Cox as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard .

Opening Nights

The Bodyguard Deborah Cox brings legendary role to Gammage

By Seth Reines

D

eborah Cox is best known for her double platinum “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here,” which held the record for the longest running No. 1 R&B Single for 14 consecutive weeks, but Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum R&B/pop star has been hard at work reimaging the work of another legendary artist this year.

As part of The Bodyguard, the musical’s national tour, Cox was cast as Rachel Marron, the film role originated by Whitney Houston.

And she will be bringing some of Houston’s biggest hits, including “How Will I Know,” “Run to You,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “I Will Always Love You,” to the stage at ASU Gammage from Nov. 28 to Dec. 3.

Based on the 2012 London West End hit, the show is a perfect vocal fit for Cox whose voice has often been compared to that of Houston.

In making the role of Rachel her own, Cox said she had to rethink all the songs and that required reading the lyrics only.

Not referencing the originals.

“It’s been a process through which I’ve been able to discover new things and find new meanings in the songs,” she said. “I can’t say definitively what I bring because every audience and every show is different.

I strive to be authentic in each moment.

The challenge is to tell Rachel’s story while simultaneously being in concert and diva mode. I also approach the singing of these songs a little differently in places.”

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Cox made her Broadway debut as Aida in the musical by Elton John and Tim Rice.

In 2013, she again starred on Broadway as Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde opposite Constantine Maroulis and as legendary Josephine Baker in Josephine at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Spring of 2016. But according to her, this role is different.

“This is a dream role,” Cox said. “To be portraying such a strong, complex woman and singing these incredibly iconic songs is truly the best part! I also get to dance and be larger than life, especially in the opening and closing numbers.”

According to Cox, she first realized that she had a strong LGBTQ following during a Pride weekend in New York City.

“I was standing on a huge stage at Palladium at 5:30 in the morning and I was looking at a sea of gay men,” she recalled. “That was the moment when I realized that this is something that is not ever going to change. It’s something that is going a part of my life and part of my legacy forever.”

During this year’s Pride season, she released a new dance single “Let the World Be Ours Tonight,” which reached No. 1 on the dance chart.

Cox began singing TV commercials at the age of 12 and went on to perform in nightclubs as a teenager. She started her recording career as a background singer with Celine Dion before signing her first recording contract with Clive Davis of Arista Records.

“We’ve been on this journey together for a long time and I thank you for your support over all these years,” was the message she had for her LGBTQ fans.

“Continue to be bold, brave and strong.

We’ve come a long way, but we’re not there yet.”

“Every night I find myself reminiscing of my times growing up ‘trying’ to tackle some of these songs,” Cox reminisced.

“Then at the stage door, people’s comments inspire me. People are coming back multiple times within the week. They are being touched by the show and that is humbling and rewarding for me.”

The Bodyguard Nov. 28-Dec. 3 ASU Gammage 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe Tickets: $20-$150; 480-965-3434 asugammage.com/shows

Cox has been recognized for her longstanding commitment to the LGBTQ community, for which she has earned awards spanning from the New York State Senate Civil Rights Award in 2007 to the Liberty Bell and Proclamation for Philadelphia LGBTQ Pride Day in 2016.

M. Seth Reines is an award-winning theater buff who has directed more than 500 productions nationally for stage and television, and formerly served as head of Roosevelt University’s musical theatre program.

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Guest Columnist

Certificate of Adoption

McLaughlin vs. Jones, the marital presumption and my family

By Claudia D. Work

B

y now, many of you have heard something about the biggest thing to happen for the Arizona LGBTQ community since Arizona’s Oct. 17, 2014, marriage equality ruling.

In McLaughlin vs. Jones, the Arizona Supreme Court acknowledged that children born during a same-sex marriage, or within a 10-month window before or after the marriage, are entitled to the legal presumption that the wife of the woman who gave birth is the other legal parent. And if the spouses planned or agreed to be co-parents of the child, the birth mother can be prevented from presenting evidence that her wife is not the biological parent in order to prevent her wife from having rights of custody and parenting time.

In this case, the former couple was married in 2008, and decided soon after to start a family. Using an anonymous sperm donor, Kimberly became pregnant and gave birth in 2011. They treated the child as their joint son and even signed documents to protect the family. Suzan stayed at home to take care of their son for two years until Kimberly took their son and cut off all contact, claiming Suzan had no rights.

From there, it took almost four years and a trip to the Supreme Court to settle not only Suzan’s parental rights, but the rights of thousands of Arizona women and men in similar positions.

This is going to get annoying, so I will put it up front in case you stop reading: Everyone needs either a court order of adoption or parentage to protect your family.

What does this case mean for my family?

Does this mean you are absolutely the legal parent of the child your wife gave birth to? The answer is a resounding, “probably.’ Every family is different.

The McLaughlin decision is a logical reading of existing law treating 54

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husbands as legal fathers of children born during the marriage, even if it’s obvious to the outside world that they are not biologically related. It is very hard, but not impossible, to remove a husband (and now a wife) from a birth certificate. Even if a biological father tries to claim the child, the court must consider the interests of the child in maintaining the parents who have been raising them.

Where the wife wants to prove her spouse is not a biological parent and the biological father is not stepping up, the court almost always rules to allow the spouse to remain the legal parent, even preventing the wife from presenting contrary evidence If you and your wife used anonymous donor sperm, then the odds of a court declaring that you are not a legal parent are low. But that is if you end up in court in Arizona, such as in a divorce.

No one thinks it will happen to them, but there are many biological mothers out there who will try to take any advantage they can to keep you, their loving co-parent, away from your child following your break up. You could even end up divorcing in a state that has laws allowing anyone to prove their spouse is not a parent by flashing a DNA test.

However, a confirmatory “stepparent” adoption now will prevent anyone from declaring you are not a parent in the future, no matter where your family ends up.

And, if you used a known donor or that guy from Craigslist whose name you forgot, then you absolutely need to do a “stepparent” adoption to terminate his rights and name you the only second parent.

What if we divorced before I knew I was a legal parent?

Consult with a knowledgeable attorney who regularly works with the community. In many cases, you

can reopen your case to have the Court declare you a legal parent to your ex-spouse’s child born during the marriage.

What if I’m on the birth certificate already?

Vital statistics in Arizona started putting married lesbians on the birth certificates of children born during the marriage in early 2015, because of a law that makes them put anyone the woman is married to on the birth certificate. Until recently, those certificates listed the wife as “father,” and the only way to change it was by court order. Whether you are listed as the “father” or are one of the lucky ones who are listed as “parent,” the birth certificate is only a presumption and does not mean you can’t be kicked off in the future if a known donor steps forward or your wife argues you aren’t a parent. Again, the only real protection for your family is to do a “stepparent” adoption.

One (or both) of us adopted our child, does that mean we’re protected?

McLaughlin only applies to biological children. If only one of you adopted before Arizona recognized your marriage, you are not the other legal parent unless you too adopt. And worse, you are in danger of completely losing your child if you and the legal parent divorce. EVERY, and I mean every, married person who is acting as a parent to a child his or her spouse adopted absolutely needs to do a “stepparent” adoption.

Claudia D. Work is the attorney representing the non-biological parent in McLaughlin vs. Jones and several other appeals. Her expertise is in representing and advancing the rights of the LGBTQ community.

She can be reached at info@campbellazlaw.com.

Community

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ECHO Magazine 2017: Oct., Dec.; 2018: Feb., Apr., June, Aug. 3.375” x 4.75”

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ALL OVER THE MAP

Embracing the Dark of Night in the Season of Light

By Liz Massey

A

s I write this, our nation is poised to plunge itself into the surrealistic two-month frenzy that Americans know as “the winter holiday season.”

I am one of those folks who has almost entirely positive associations with Christmas … I love the special holiday foods, the seasonal traditions I was taught as a child, and most of all, I love Christmas music.

With the exception of the first Christmas Eve I spent in Phoenix, when my dinner consisted of day-old spaghetti and an orange, I have blessedly few rotten holiday memories.

I realize I am not necessarily the norm in the LGBTQ community. With many LGBTQ folks facing family rejection after they come out, and/or rejection by the church of their childhood, the holiday season can evoke painful memories, or even become an annual period of spiritual crisis. To make everything worse, this year has been hell on marginalized people in America in general, and the religious right seemed all too happy to crank up the fake “War on Christmas” meme before it was even Halloween!

So, November and December can be hard on the queer soul, especially if all is not rosy with one’s career, your relationship situation or general mood.

But instead of battening down the hatches and ignoring or lampooning the holiday season, one of the better alternatives to fighting the so-called “season of light” is to become content with sitting alone in the dark.

The act of embracing life’s shadows actually has some legitimate historical connections with winter. Many cultures

proclaim holy days on the Winter Solstice – which features the longest night of the year. It’s possible to become friends with the dark side of the holidays.

Try some of the following actions: Name your demons.

Sometimes it can be excruciating to discuss what ails us. But ultimately, it can be healing.

Curl up with your journal and let the pain fly onto the page (and store it in a safe place if you need to express angst at others). If writing doesn’t come easily to you, record sound files on your smartphone. If you can articulate what’s causing your struggle, its power over you lessens.

Watch out for your own shadow projections.

Psychologist Carl Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” One interpretation of what he meant by that is that while aspiring to be a role model and a leader can be admirable, it’s easy to get tripped up if we ignore or hide our weaknesses. We’ve all heard of the embezzling accountant, or the moralizing politician who gets caught with his pants down. Acknowledging that we, like all others, are all complex, messy, sometimes-good/sometimes-bad people can help us avoid projecting onto others that which we most hate about ourselves.

Balance light and dark in your media consumption.

One of the criticisms my holiday-hating friends point out to me is that many Christmas movies are so sickeningly

sweet that that they practically cause insulin shock. I’m not so much suggesting that you balance out It’s A Wonderful Life (which actually has quite a few dark moments, by the way) by watching Krampus, but stay aware of how the emotional tenor of holiday programming, fictional or not, is influencing your prevailing mood. And prepare to be surprised … sometimes stories of overwhelming difficulty and injustice have enough hopeful notes embedded in them that you find yourself uplifted rather than dejected afterward.

Reach out to others.

This is a tip that I’ve often forgotten when I feel depressed. Bad moods tend to bring out the introvert in me, but when I’ve made a point of connecting with someone else and focusing on their situation, I’m distracted from my troubles, at least for a little while. If you want to cast the circle of concern a little wider than family and friends, soup kitchens and other charitable organizations almost always need extra helpers for hands-on activities at this time of year.

Have a safety plan.

If you’re concerned about slipping into self-destructive behavior because of holiday-related dark feelings, be proactive. Arrange to call your best friend after that stressful family dinner, find an LGBTQ-friendly community gathering to attend if you’re lonely, or keep relevant hotline numbers handy, just in case. Pamper and be kind to yourself throughout this season; think of it as a way to practice masterful gift-giving to others by rehearsing on yourself.

Nobody really WANTS to have a crappy Christmas, but sometimes it can’t be helped. As author Brene Brown points out, “The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.” If we spend all our time staving off the difficult elements of the holiday season, we may lose the chance to feel an unexpected moment of rejoicing amidst the shadows.

Liz Massey has been involved in LGBTQ community-building activities in Kansas City and the Valley of the Sun, and is a former managing editor of Echo Magazine. She can be reached at lizmassey68@gmail.com.

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COMMUNITY

Wishing your family & friends a

Happy Thanksgiving!

Open Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 23rd @ 8pm so our employees can spend time with their families & friends too.

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Stay tuned to Stacy’s @ Melrose Facebook page for New Year’s Eve announcements!

4343 North 7th Avenue Phoenix facebook.com/stacysatmelrose

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59 73

THE GAYBORHOOD

19

22

7

5

21

25

16

18 10

15

5th

8

32nd St.

Bethany Home

24 20

e.

Av

6

3 1 14

2

23

9

12 4 17 13

11 *Map is not drawn to scale

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|EchoMag.com EchoMag.com

LOCAL BUSNESSES

1

ANVIL

2424 E. Thomas Road

602-334-1462

M, D, L

2

AQUA NIGHT CLUB

1730 E. McDowell Road

602-253-0682

F, N, E, D

3

BAR 1

3702 N. 16th St.

602-266-9001

M, N, E

4

BLISS REBAR

901 N. Fourth St.

602-795-1792

M, N, E

5

BOYCOTT BAR

4301 N. Seventh Ave.

602-515-3667

MF, D, E

6

BS WEST

7125 E. Fifth Ave.

480-945-9028

MF, D, E

7

BUNKHOUSE

4428 N. Seventh Ave.

602-200-9154

M, N, L

8

CHARLIE’S

727 W. Camelback Road

602-265-0224

M, C, E, D

9

CLUB VOLT

3108 E. McDowell Road

602-244-1465

MF, D, E

10 10

CRUISIN’ 7TH

3702 N. Seventh St.

602-212-9888

M, E

11 11

DICK’S CABARET

3432 E. Illini St.

602-274-3425

M, G

12 12

FEZ

105 W. Portland St.

602-287-8700

R

13 13

FLEX SPAS PHOENIX

1517 S. Black Canyon Hwy

602-271-9011

M, AO

14 14

KARAMBA NIGHTCLUB

1724 E. McDowell Road

602-254-0231

D, E

15 15

KOBALT

3110 N. Central Ave., Ste. 125

602-264-5307

MF, E, N

16 16

LOS DIABLOS

1028 E. Indian School Road

602-795-7881

MF, R, N

17 17

NU TOWNE SALOON

5002 E. Van Buren St.

602-267-9959

M, N, L

18 18

OFF CHUTE TOO

4115 N. Seventh Ave

602-274-1429

M, A

19 19

OZ BAR

1804 W. Bethany Home Road

602-242-5114

MF, N

20 20

PLAZMA

1560 E. Osborn Road

602-266-0477

MF, N, E

21 21

ROYAL VILLA INN

4312 N. 12th St.

602-266-6883

M, AO

22 23

STACY’S @ MELROSE

4343 N. Seventh Ave.

602-264-1700

MF, D, N

23 24

THE CASH NIGHTCLUB & LOUNGE

2140 E. McDowell Road

602-244-9943

F, C, D

25 24

THE CHUTE

1440 E. Indian School Road

602-234-1654

M, AO

26 25

THE ROCK

4129 N. Seventh Ave.

602-248-8559

M, N, E

MAP CODES: A M F MF

Adult Retail & Entertainment Mostly Males Mostly Females Mixed Male/Female

LOCAL BUSNESSES

N R D C

Neighborhood Bar Full Restaurant Dance Club Country Dancing

L E G AO

Leather/Bears Entertainment (Karaoke, Drag) Go-Go Dancers Accommodations/Other

EchoMag.com 2017 EchoMag.com| | DECEMBER OCTOBER 2015

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bar specials

OUT & ABOUT Fashion Victim

BUNKHOUSE M 7 p.m. Darts with Acxell

Oct. 28 at Cult Hair Studio & Spa, Phoenix.

T Latin Night with Diego

Photos by nightfuse.com.

S $1 drafts & HH prices all day & night

W 9 p.m. Karaoke T Underwear night: $1 off all drinks if in skivvies! GoGo dancers 9p.m.

F 8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Miller family products. 4 & 6 p.m.: Free-to-join poker

S 8 p.m.-close: $2.50 Bud family products

CHARLIE’S S Super HH 4-7 p.m., $3 pitchers; $3 Long Islands open to close

M 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 8 p.m.-close, 1/2 off drinks for wearing underwear, $3 Jack Daniels

T 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 cocktails & beer 8 p.m.close

W 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; $3 Three Olives vodka, 8 p.m.close

T 2-8 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestic bottles, $3 pitchers; 2-4-1 drinks open-close

F 2-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics, $3 pitchers; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $1 drafts 10 p.m.- midnight

S Noon-7 p.m. 2-4-1 well & domestics; HH 7-9 p.m.; $1 well & domestics, $3 Absolut & Bacardi 10 p.m.-midnight

STACY’S @ MELROSE S $1.50 Rolling Rock pints & well drinks until 10 p.m.

M Karaoke, 9 p.m.-close; HH & $3 charity shots ALL DAY

T HH, 4-8 p.m.; $1 draft pint, $3 charity shots, $4 Mojitos & Caipirinhas ALL DAY; live DJ

W 2-4-1 ALL DAY; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance

T HH & $1.50 draft pint, 4-8 p.m.; $1.50 draft pint & wells, 8 p.m.-midnight; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

F HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close

S HH, 4-8 p.m.; $3 charity shots ALL DAY; $2 Kamikaze shots ALL DAY; live DJ, top 40 & dance, 8 p.m.-close 62

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OUT & ABOUT 40th Anniversary Spectacular, Spectacular Show Nov. 11 at Crusin’ 7th, Phoenix.

Photos by nightfuse.com.

For more Echo photos visit echomag.com/gallery.

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lambda directory Please support our advertisers who help keep Echo free.

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ACCOUNTANTS/TAX PREPARATION Jeffrey J. Quatrone PLLC

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58

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45

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53

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The Chute

64

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Dolce Villagio Apartments 45 East and West Apartments

58

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47

Claudia D. Work

59

Jackson White-Attorneys At Law

51

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15

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39

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2

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19

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5

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47

3

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31

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Original Wineburger

14

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The Classy Kitchen

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68

58

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FUNERAL SERVICES Abel Funeral Services

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American Realty Brokers 49

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PHARMACY

53

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61

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53

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3

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Gallery

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Benefits Arizona

Brokers Hub Realty

Shawn Hertzog, West USA 3

INSURANCE

MARKETING

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ATTORNEYS

66

4

Community College District

Stacy’s @ Melrose

53

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55

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EDUCATION

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Nicholas Yale,

3 45

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13

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