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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Publisher’s Letter Cover Article Welcome to the debut issue of OUTvoices Phoenix! As many of you know, the magazine formerly known as Echo has a new look, name, and focus. My team and I have been working very hard over the last few weeks to get everything just right before introducing you to OUTvoices Phoenix. There were a few bumps in the road, and I suspect that there will be a few more as we continue to transition to the OUTvoices brand, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. As OUTvoices Phoenix we will join our sister publications in Nashville, Kansas City, Chicago, and Indianapolis (soon to include New York and Las Vegas) as the out voice for the LGBTQ+ community in each city. You might be wondering why the change? Echo is a legacy LGBTQ+ publication and has been serving the Arizona LGBTQ+ community faithfully and respectfully for over 19 years. When we purchased the publication in 2020, we felt like it was time to refresh the brand to better reflect the out voices of our diverse community. You will notice some design and layout changes in the print publication, and the website has been completely re-designed. Over the next few weeks and months, you will see some new and exciting projects being launched. One of the biggest benefits of being part of the OUTvoices network will be our ability to share content with other publications within our network, extending the reach and readership of the stories we publish far beyond our local area. We will soon be able to share OUTvoices Radio, a streaming station featuring 24/7 LGBTQ+ talk radio content. We are preparing to air original TV shows, produced by our parent company Aequalitas Media exclusively for OUTvoices TV, on YouTube. Titles include The Gaycation Travel Show with host Ravi Roth and the cooking show, Joe Eats World (currently a monthly column in OUTvoices Nashville), to name just a few. Each OUTvoices location will produce content that engages with the local community. While we will mainly work with local content creators, we will also have access to nationally respected LGBTQ+ contributors delivering the thought-provoking content that our community demands and deserves. It is equally important to us that we continue to connect with our local LGBTQ+ groups and organizations to help promote the good and vital work that they do and support their efforts in any way that we can. In the crazy times in which we live it is imperative that our community stays informed about important issues that affect us directly or indirectly. You have my word that my team is committed to bringing you news and information that you can trust, opinions that encourage dialogue and debate toward understanding and respect, and lifestyle content that uplifts and inspires you to get out there and experience our world. OUTvoices Phoenix is committed to being your respected LGBTQ+ publication. We look forward to continuing to earn your trust and support as we evolve to become a better LGBTQ+ publication. And I look forward to the great things we can and will accomplish together. DJ Doran, Publisher
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Contents
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DEPARTMENTS 5 Publisher's Letter
Welcome to OUTvoices Phoenix, formerly Echo Magazine. We look forward to supplying you with all that is fresh and fabulous about LGBTQ+ life in Arizona and beyond.
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Event Photos
A vogue drag ball organized by Arizona Working Families Party raised awareness around the THRIVE Agenda.
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FEATURES Cover Story
An investigative report into out bisexual Kyrsten Sinema's powerful senate role and why the LGBTQ+ community has become disillusioned with the trailblazing senator.
Travel
Don't be COVID-shy, it's time to dust off your passport and plan your next big adventure, and we have some picks for you.
BEATS Food
Beaut Burger offers a satisfying excursion into vegan fast food.
30 Books
Last Call is a suspenseful queer crime novel set in gritty New York City.
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13236 N 7th Street, Suite 4 #563, Phoenix, AZ 85022 Phone 602-266-0550 phoenix.outvoices.us STAFF
Publisher: DJ Doran CEO/Publisher, Aequalitas Media Group Publisher: Bill Gemmill, VP Operations Founder and Publisher Emeritus: Bill Orvan Group Editor Aequalitas Media: Merryn Johns merryn@outvoices.us Sales & Marketing: Kris Radtke kris@outvoices.us Design, Layout and Production: Saul Santos fsdemianhades3@gmail.com Accounting and IT: Joe Morales
CONTRIBUTORS
Writers: Victoria Brownworth, Merryn Johns, Jeff Kronenfeld, Timothy Rawles, Terri Schlichenmeyer Photographers: Arizona Working Families Party Cover: Sinema.Senate.Gov National Advertising Representative: Aequalitas Media 3023 N Clark St #732, Chicago IL 60657 312-600-8823
OPPORTUNITIES
OUTvoices Phoenix welcomes volunteer writers, photographers and videographers throughout the year. If you’re interested in contributing to our publication, send an email to merryn@outvoices.us with a resume, contact information and samples of your work if available. Our volunteer staff is unpaid, but contributors do receive credit for their work in our print publication and online. Those seeking an internship in journalism or mass communications are strongly encouraged to apply.
LEGAL
OUTvoices Phoenix strives to be a credible community news organization by engaging and educating our readers. All content of OUTvoices Phoenix is copyrighted 2017 by OUTvoices Phoenix, Inc. and is protected by federal copyright law and shall not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. All photography is licensed stock imagery or has been supplied unless otherwise credited to a photographer and may not be reproduced without permission. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of the person or persons. OUTvoices Phoenix accepts unsolicited material but cannot take responsibility for its return. The editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit submissions. All rights revert to authors upon publication. The editorial positions of OUTvoices Phoenix are expressed in editorials and in the editor’s notes as determined by the editor. Other opinions are those of writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of OUTvoices Phoenix or its staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged but may be edited for clarity and length. There is no guarantee that letters will be published. OUTvoices Phoenix only accepts
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Photos: Arizona Working Families Party
Out & About
Vogue for votes
Arizona’s LGBTQ+ community and Working Families Party held a vogue ball, calling out Sen. Sinema. On Saturday, April 3, the Arizona Chapter of the Working Families Party in collaboration with AZ Ballroom Champions, Felicia “Fefe” Minor, and Shannon Perkins held a vogue ball at AZ Ballroom Champions (1805 E Baseline Rd #103, Tempe), Tempe to tell Sen. Sinema that she must vote in support of the THRIVE Agenda and can no longer pander to their community. “We’re calling on Sen. Sinema to take action on a recovery package for jobs, racial justice, and climate change,” said Matthew Marquez, AZWFP Campaign Director. “We also wanted to remind the Senator of the communities that helped her get into office, and ensure that she doesn’t forget her Arizona LGBTQ+ community and progressive roots.” More information at RecoveryRecess.org.
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Lifestyle
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Cover Story
Kyrsten
Sinema: The Senate’s bisexual contrarian
From Marxist to Blue Dog, the Arizona firebrand is making news again — for all the wrong reasons. By Victoria A. Brownworth
Photo: Gage Skidmore
Victoria A. Brownworth is a Pulitzer Prizenominated, Society of Professional Journalists and NLGJA Award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun, DAME, The Advocate, Bay Area Reporter and Curve among other publications. She is the author and editor of more than 20 books.
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Kyrsten Sinema: The Senate’s bisexual contrarian
Cover Story
Kyrsten Sinema made international news in 2018 when she became the first out bisexual elected to the Senate in U.S. history. Sinema was also the first woman to be elected to the Senate from Arizona and the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Arizona in 33 years.
When Sinema ascended to the Senate, she had spent years working for LGBTQ rights and other issues in Arizona and nationally. She fought for marriage equality back in 2006 as a 29-year-old member of the Arizona state legislature. Her innovative stances and her then-strong progressive politics drew many LGBTQ Arizonans and progressive allies to support her. That support came from national sources as well, like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and The Victory Fund. For her part, Sinema worked with LGBTQ groups. For years, she participated in training and a leadership development program for The Victory Fund. Winning the Senate seat came only after a bruising race against Republican Martha McSally, a former Air Force pilot a dozen years Sinema’s senior. The open seat had been vacated by Republican Jeff Flake, who declined to run for re-election. The vote was close enough that, like the 2020 presidential election, it took several days to count all the ballots.
Echo staff photographer
Sinema is back in the news again—this time as a Blue Dog Democrat and sometime contrarian who, on April 9, MSNBC anchor Joy Reid called a leader of the “no progress caucus.” The woman who rose to prominence as a groundbreaking progressive has also been tagged “the Senate’s newest super villain” by The Nation’s D.C. correspondent and Arizonan, Aída Chávez.
“As long as I’ve served Arizona, I’ve worked to help others see our common humanity & find common ground."
Sinema herself was thrilled by her win, promising to be an independent voice for all Arizonans. That pledge has taken on new meaning in recent weeks as Sinema has become a lightning rod for what can go wrong in a 50-50 Senate where all Democrats need to toe the party line to pass Democratic reforms. Sinema has balked at her role in assuring that legislation passes. That contrarian stance has become her new—and unwelcome—signature. In 2018, Sinema represented hope for historically marginalized people, and she knew it. In a tweet following the announcement, Sinema posted a photo of herself and the caption “Thank you, Arizona.” She wrote, “As long as I’ve served Arizona, I’ve worked to help others see our common humanity & find common ground. That’s the same approach I’ll take to representing our great state in the Senate, where I’ll be an independent voice for all Arizonans. Thank you, Arizona. Let’s get to work.” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the first openly lesbian and LGBTQ person to be elected to the Senate welcomed Sinema. “Very happy to say I’m no longer the *only* openly LGBTQ U.S. Senator,” Baldwin wrote on Twitter as Sinema delivered her victory speech. “Congratulations to @kyrstensinema on a well-deserved victory.
CODEPINK Women For Peace May 2021
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Cover Story
Kyrsten Sinema: The Senate’s bisexual contrarian
The upper chamber is lucky to have your steady leadership." Sinema’s election was a big story in both the mainstream media and LGBTQ+ press. But in Arizona, the news highlighted that Sinema’s bisexuality was irrelevant—even as it was their headline. AZCentral wrote on Nov. 14, 2018, the day after the race was decided, “Now characterized by some as a standard-bearer for LGBTQ people, Sinema’s sexual orientation was barely mentioned during her hardfought campaign against Republican Martha McSally for the seat.” Reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez wrote, “That it wasn’t even an issue reflects Arizona’s long libertarian tradition emphasizing individual rights that stretches back at least to the Barry Goldwater era of politics.” LGBTQ+ people here responded to Sinema depending on their power positions. Neil Giuliano was the nation’s first directly elected, openly gay mayor. The former mayor of Tempe, now president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership, a business leadership organization, told reporters in 2018, “It’s not a front-and-center part of Kyrsten’s identity, although she lives with great authenticity—she always has.” Giuliano said, “Here’s what we know about politics: If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Giuliano added. “So it’s very important that she is at the table as a voice that comes from the LGBTQ community, openly, honestly and proudly. I think that’s tremendous.”
At Sinema’s election, Parker said, “The world is changing, but there are many states in the country where you can be fired simply for being LGBT. There’s a growing trend to try to allow sanctioned discrimination.” Parker added, “As we see those things, it makes it more important to have those who are from the community advocating in the halls of power.” Sinema entered the Senate surrounded by an aura of excitement that she would be that progressive LGBTQ+ “game changer” that was both wanted and needed. It wasn’t just people in leadership roles who had high expectations of Sinema. Arizona Democrats and LGBTQ+ voters felt the same. Melody Smith, who has worked on Democratic issues in Arizona for over two decades, had been following Sinema’s political rise for years. Herself an out lesbian, Smith watched Sinema take on the marriage equality fight in the Arizona legislature where Sinema served from 2005 to 2011 before running for Congress. “She was masterful," Smith said. “She came at the debate from a place where straight people could say—wow—I had no idea.”
Echo staff photographer
LGBTQ advocacy groups were deeply involved in Sinema’s election. The HRC, one of the largest LGBTQ advocacy groups, had been a strong supporter of flipping the Senate seat for Sinema.
The Victory Fund, a political action committee working to elect LGBTQ candidates, cited her ascension to the Senate as a “game changer.” Annise Parker, the former mayor of Houston and the CEO of Victory Fund, told The Arizona Republic that Sinema’s win is the highest profile for Victory Fund. For years Sinema had actively worked with Victory Fund, engaging in training and in a leadershipdevelopment program, so her win came full-circle.
Kyrsten Sinema in the Phoenix Pride Parade with Steve May 16
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outandaboutnashville.com
Kyrsten Sinema: The Senate’s bisexual contrarian However, Smith’s positive view of Sinema has tempered in recent years. She said, “The thing I will say to this day is that Kyrsten is likable and funny and always warm—she never forgets who you are.” Smith, who has met Sinema at Democratic events in Phoenix over the years, told OUTvoices, “She genuinely likes and cares about people. Her whole history speaks to that concern. And I still believe she is determined to do the best by Arizonans. Which makes some of her current stances...confounding.” Confounding is an apt description. Sinema was a long-time member of the Green Party, worked for Ralph Nader’s 2000 campaign and ran for office several times for that party before switching to the Democrats. While working as a spokesperson for the Arizona Green Party, Sinema worked to repeal the death penalty. Sinema has served as an Advisory Board Member of the Arizona Death Penalty Forum. In 2013, Sinema co-sponsored a letter opposing Saudi Arabia for “the use of torture and capital punishment against the LGBTQ community.” Sinema has a long history of anti-war stances and has organized 15 anti-war rallies prior to the Iraq War. It was Sinema’s history as an anti-war activist and Marxist, that McSally had run against. During the 2018 election, the conservative National Review laid out Sinema’s progressive history in a sneeringly misogynist and dismissive essay titled “The Ridiculous Kyrsten Sinema.” It was a reprise of her Republican opponent’s attack ads against her in 2012, which accused Sinema of being an “anti-American hippie” who practiced “Pagan rituals.” Sinema grew up poor and, at times, homeless. Raised a Mormon, Sinema went to Brigham Young University as an undergraduate on a scholarship, finishing with honors at only 18 and eventually leaving the Mormon church for atheism. She then went on to earn four more degrees. Sinema has a master’s in social work, a master’s in business administration, a law degree and a Ph.D. in justice studies. She is Dr. Sinema—with more degrees than any other senator—and has worked as a social worker and a criminal defense attorney. In 2008, Sinema completed the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government program for senior executives in state and local government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow. Sinema was an adjunct professor teaching master’s-level policy and grant-writing classes at Arizona State University School of Social Work and an adjunct Business Law Professor at Arizona Summit Law School, formerly known as Phoenix School of Law. These were a lot of successes for Sinema, who lived with her family in an abandoned gas station for years. According to congressional records, she has the least wealth of any other senator, living on her Senate salary.
Cover Story
Since Sinema’s 2018 election, she has become known as the style queen of the Senate—her colored wigs, vibrant hipster chic and designer booties setting her apart from the staid and buttoned-up professional looks of her fellow women senators. Sinema’s fashion choices have made news more often than her policy decisions. But as Melody Smith alluded, that has changed as Sinema’s quixotic turns on policy have raised eyebrows and ire among progressives nationwide, as well as a phalanx of her Arizona constituents like Smith. As one of two vocal Blue Dog Democrats (the other is West Virginia’s Sen. Joe Manchin), Sinema has found herself in the spotlight since Democrats regained a one-vote control of the Senate in January with the elections of Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock in Georgia’s run-off races. Sinema’s centrist—some argue contrarian—positions on key Democratic issues like the filibuster and minimum wage have frustrated the Biden White House and enraged progressives. Sinema’s recent stances—particularly on minimum wage as the Biden stimulus package was being debated—are a conundrum. Sinema, who is known for her acid wit and jocularity, made news with a sarcastic political misstep on March 6. While wearing a pleated miniskirt and carrying a Lululemon bag, Sinema gave a flouncing thumbs down to the inclusion of raising the minimum wage in the American Rescue Plan Act as it was being debated in the Senate. One former Arizonan, Ashok Kumar, tweeted a video of Sinema’s vote and posted this angry response, “I knew Kyrsten Sinema in the mid-2000s. We were local Green antiwar elected officials. We’d meet up at conferences & laugh at shameless centrists. Here she is fucking curtsying while voting against raising the minimum wage. I’m convinced she’s a psychopath.” That flounce was the kicker for many. Sawyer Hackett, communications director for Julián Castro, who was also aghast, tweeted the video and said, “Did Sinema really have to vote against a $15 minimum wage for 24 million people like this?” While Sinema’s action was meant to mimic the late Sen. John McCain’s thumbs down vote against rescinding the Affordable Care Act in 2017, it was a dramatic political error that opened a floodgate of repressed anger at Sinema’s move away from the left. And where McCain’s vote benefited Democrats, Sinema’s did not. The Arizona senator was one of eight Democrats to vote against adding the minimum wage raise to the package, but Sinema was the only one to get media attention for her vote. The vote was moot regardless, as the Senate Parliamentarian refused to allow the provision for raising the minimum wage in the relief package. The Parliamentarian asserted the addition of the minimum wage provision violated the rules of reconciliation through which the bill was being passed—a point Sinema’s office reiterated to us.
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Kyrsten Sinema: The Senate’s bisexual contrarian
Sinema’s office was also curt in their response over media attacks on Sinema when there were other senators, including Tom Carper from President Biden’s home state of Delaware, voting against the inclusion. Hannah Hurley, Sinema’s spokeswoman, said, “Commentary about a female senator’s body language, clothing or physical demeanor does not belong in a serious media outlet.” Perhaps, but some fellow Democrats disagreed. And it was the manner of her vote—which is what drew media attention (no one has even mentioned the other seven Democrats who voted with her)—that has haunted her in the weeks since. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), of the progressive group of women of color House members led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and known colloquially as “The Squad,” did not hold back on her outrage at Sinema’s flounce. Tlaib said, “No one should ever be this happy to vote against uplifting people out of poverty.” Yet Sinema is not against raising the minimum wage. She had tweeted previously that raising the minimum wage was itself a “no brainer.” And as Sinema’s office pointed out, the vote that mattered—passing President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Relief Bill—was a vocal ‘yay’ from Sinema. That bill provided stimulus checks for millions; expanded unemployment, child care credits and SNAP (food stamps) benefits; and included a plethora of other progressive policies also expected to lift millions of American children out of poverty. Not a single Republican senator voted for the bill. Sinema’s profile has continued to rise as pivotal legislation may be stalled by not only the GOP, but Sinema and Manchin, as both reject ending the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass any bill. President Biden has said the filibuster must go—that it is a relic of another era and will stymie the most pivotal of his proposed progressive legislation. Sinema told the Wall Street Journal on April 6, “When you have a place that’s broken and not working, and many would say that’s the Senate today, I don’t think the solution is to erode the rules.” Most progressives disagree strongly with that assessment by Sinema. They assert that when things are broken, fixing them is the only option—not maintaining a status quo that has historically harmed women, people of color and LGBTQ+ people like Sinema herself. In her 2009 book, Unite and Conquer, Sinema wrote: “Voters say regularly that they’re tired of the partisan bickering and want politicians to sit down and work out practical solutions to the pressing problems facing our country. While we hear this regularly from the public, we’ve not made any real effort to change the way we do business.” Working with Republicans was the only way she could get anything done as a minority Democrat in the Arizona Legislature. 18
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Cover Story
In 2021, some in the Arizona state Democratic Party argue that the majority of Sinema’s constituents are conservative and she is walking a fine line. Others are disappointed and angry. One local strategist who requested anonymity said, “Kyrsten has lost that edge that we loved about her. It sometimes feels as if she’s lost sight of what she promised us—to be an honest broker for the people of Arizona and by extension, for the country."
discrimination ordinances that protect all people, including LGBTQ people, from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, while also protecting important religious rights.”
The debate over who Sinema really represents was raised recently at a vogue ball held on April 3 organized by the Arizona Chapter of the Working Families Party (AZWFP), in tandem with Arizona Ballroom champions Felicia “FeFe” Minor and Shannon Perkins, was convened to demand that Sinema support the THRIVE agenda and “to no longer pander to our community.”
The interfaith signees included Methodist, Jewish, Episcopal and United Church of Christ leaders. The letter was also signed by Michael Soto, president of the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Arizona. Both Soto and Sinema are former Latter-day Saints.
THRIVE (thriveagenda.com) stands for Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy. According to the website, “The THRIVE Agenda presents a bold new vision to revive our economy while addressing these interlocking crises of climate change, racial injustice, public health, and economic inequity with a plan to create dignified jobs for millions of unemployed workers and support a better life for the millions more who remain vulnerable in this pivotal moment.” Some could argue Sinema supports the THRIVE agenda because she supports President Biden’s relief, infrastructure and voting rights proposals, which are inclusive of most of this. Conversely, her stance on the filibuster argues against getting any of the new legislation past the GOP. And the possibility exists that the GOP could reclaim the Senate in the 2022 midterms. Matthew Marquez, the AZWFP campaign organizer, said the THRIVE event was intended to “call on Sen. Sinema to take action on a recovery package for jobs, racial justice and climate change.” Marquez said, “We also wanted to remind the senator of the communities that helped get her into office, and ensure that she doesn’t forget her Arizona LGBTQ+ community and progressive roots.” Local LGBTQ+ organizer Felicia “FeFe” Minor said, “We’re part of the ‘rainbow wave’ that helped Sinema get elected into office.” Minor added, “LGBTQ+ representation isn’t enough. We need her to give back to the queer Black, brown, Indigenous and progressive communities that got her there by going hard on racial justice and jobs.” Yet just days before the event, Sinema was the top signatory to an interfaith statement calling for LGBTQ equality. As reported by several Arizona media outlets, Sinema joined an area leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder C. Dale Willis, in Area Seventy for the church in Arizona, in a news release featuring the statement. The statement was released as an open letter to Arizona residents and signed by nine leaders. The letter called to support “non-
The letter continued, “No one should be denied these protections for being LGBTQ, and likewise religious persons and institutions should be protected in practicing their faith.”
“As someone who grew up in the LDS Church in Mesa and is also transgender, this is an incredible moment of love and acceptance of the equal worth and dignity of LGBTQ people,” Soto said. The Mesa City Council passed an ordinance on March 1 to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. “This letter serves as a powerful rebuke of attempts to repeal the ordinance and divide our community using fear and lies,” Soto said. “I hope Mesa residents will join church leadership and decline to sign the petition seeking to repeal the ordinance.” Sinema has been a staunch supporter of the Equality Act for years. In 2017, while in the House, Sinema said, “On behalf of the co-chairs, I thank my colleagues in both parties who have joined the LGBT Equality Caucus and pledged to stand for and with the LGBT community,” Sinema said in a statement. “While we've made significant progress in recent years, we still have more work to do and must protect the progress we’ve made. Our caucus continues to work to ensure every American has the fundamental freedom and opportunity to pursue the American Dream.” On her Twitter account, Sinema wrote on April 10, “Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender should never prevent someone from achieving the American dream. That’s why we introduced the Equality Act — to ensure that no Americans face discrimination in housing, education, or employment because of who they are or who they love.” The Twitter account of Sinema exemplifies her dichotomous stances almost day-to-day. It also points to Arizonans’ mixed views on her leadership. One response on April 11 to her filibuster stance said, “Kyrsten I voted for you! Time to think it over! 50 Senators represent 35% of the people and you want to give them extra points for Insurrection?” Another said, “Thank you, @SenatorSinema for doing an outstanding job! You are a fantastic person and an extraordinary Senator. Thank you for your integrity and compassion and for saving the Covid Relief bill. You are a true Arizona Treasure and Arizona loves you! #teamsinema.” Despite her centrist views, the left is not letting up or giving up on
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Cover Story
Kyrsten Sinema: The Senate’s bisexual contrarian
Sinema. One local LGBTQ activist who declined to be named for this story said, “I don’t need a pile-on for saying what’s true.” They believe Sinema can be reasoned with. “She’s not a millionaire out of touch with the people,” they said. “She’s traveled all over the state. She’s lived in poverty. She may love her outfits, but she started putting that shit together from yard sales and thrift stores. She knows we need a living wage, voting rights and the Equality Act.” But two left magazines, Jacobin and The Nation, posted stories in March about Sinema as the new Margaret Thatcher of the Senate—a power-grabber who had rejected her progressive roots. Jacobin’s piece, “How Kyrsten Sinema Went from Lefty Activist to Proud Neoliberal Democrat,” was mystified by Sinema’s vote to table the minimum wage. The piece damns her complicity with the GOP, noting “a death by a thousand compromises that has turned Sinema into a right-wing Democrat who makes a virtue of defying not just the party’s Left but even its center.”
Wikimedia Commons
The Nation essay’s headline says: “How Kyrsten Sinema Sold Out: The origin story of the Senate’s newest super villain.” The piece illuminates Sinema’s former positions, highlighting a letter she wrote in 2002 while a member of the Green Party: “Capitalism,” she wrote, “gave us NAFTA, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, which benefit the American ruling class at the expense of workers in the United States and abroad.”
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Sinema concluded, “Until the average American realizes that capitalism damages her livelihood while augmenting the livelihoods of the wealthy, the Almighty Dollar will continue to rule. It certainly is not ruling in our favor.” It is this Sinema who Arizona activists want back. The Democratic strategist OUTvoices spoke with was succinct, suggesting that Sinema was heading in the wrong direction. “Arizona is on the cusp of change,” they said. “Kyrsten needs to recognize that and remember her roots.” Sen. Sinema’s office did not respond to several requests for comment for this story and a staffer referred us to HRC for Sinema’s statement on the Equality Act, where the senator has a video statement on the importance of the bill.
"It is this Sinema who Arizona activists want back. The Democratic strategist OUTvoices spoke with was succinct, suggesting that Sinema was heading in the wrong direction."
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Food
BEAUT BURGER'S VEGAN AESTHETICS Story and photos by Jeff Kronenfeld For Valley residents heading south, Tucson’s vegan restaurant Beaut Burger has become something of a pilgrimage site since opening in 2018. Instead of serving meat substitutes made from a bevy of unpronounceable ingredients, owners Ari Shapiro and Kerry Lane make all their plant-based proteins — and nearly everything else — from scratch using vegetables, whole grains, legumes and spices. With the opening of its second location overall and first in Phoenix, now fans can satisfy their craving for these macrobiotic delights without driving 100 miles. Shapiro and Lane first had the idea for Beaut Burger while on a hike in the temperate rainforests of British Columbia in 2014. Despite the former being a vegetarian and the latter a vegan, they both craved a classic burger experience à la Shake Shack or In-N-Out Burger. However, they wanted to satisfy this desire without recourse to meat. “At that time, this was pre-Beyond, Impossible and pre-everything that's happened in the last two to three years,” Shapiro said. “It just seemed like there was the Boca Burger and the Garden Burger. All the veggie burgers were fine, but they just weren't what we were looking for, which was this kind of satiating, juicy, get-all-over-your-face burger.” Lane is a macrobiotic chef, which is a food movement popularized by George Ohsawa, a Japanese author. Guided by a dualist philosophy influenced by Buddhist beliefs, the diet focuses on plant-based foods made without industrial processing. Shapiro is a serial entrepreneur who ran several food concepts in Tucson over the years. The romantic couple pooled skills and began planning. Though their relationship transitioned into a platonic friendship, they continued to collaborate and remain business partners.
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With the success of Beaut Burger in T-Town, the owners began to think of expansion. While several places were considered, the steady stream of visitors from the Valley suggested Tucson’s larger urban neighbor to the north as the ideal choice. They found a location in Phoenix near the intersection of Indian School Road and 33rd Street. COVID-19 reared its spiky head soon after they signed the lease, forcing them to make a tough decision. “We definitely had to do some soul searching as to whether we should go forward with this with the restaurant business being so uncertain,” a solemn Shapiro explained. “We were just getting going on this and it was really difficult to be perfectly frank, but the developers were really supportive and showed a willingness to work with us a little bit and we just kept pushing.” As I pulled into the parking lot for the vegan burger joint’s new location around one pm on Wednesday, the recently renovated commercial complex gleamed in the early afternoon sun. Two carloads of people dined happily in their vehicles as I approached the twin glass doors of the entrance. Beaut is currently the building’s only tenant, aside from Bristlecone, which is a dairyfree soft serve business also run by Shapiro and Lane. Bristlecone occupies one side and Beaut the other, while a wooden planter serves as a divider. The space isn’t huge, but its efficient layout and ample outside seating made social distancing easy. The sleek industrial décor of the mostly concrete and metal interior was softened here and there by rustic notes like a neon light and wood paneling. As I waited behind a group of three customers placing their order, I debated what to get. There are 11 varieties of burgers available. The most basic is the B1, which comes with ketchup, mustard, lettuce, onion
Without Reservations and a pickle. Others include vegan versions of a bacon cheeseburger, a mushroom and Swiss burger and more unique takes. For instance, the B7 comes with peanut butter, tamarind chutney and romaine lettuce while the B9 features roasted eggplant, pepita pesto and a house-made dairyfree mozzarella. Six types of sandwiches are available as well. They include a vegan pulled pork sandwich made with shredded jackfruit, a tofu sandwich mimicking egg salad, a tempeh Reuben and one called the Bay Cakes, which comes piled high with artichoke patties. The remaining two — a grilled cheese sandwich and a peanut butter and jelly one — seem to be more geared towards kids. A small but delectable number of sides include potato and sweet potato fries, fried cauliflower, coleslaw and pickles. I went with the B3, which includes a meatless patty. dairy-free Swiss cheese, fake bacon, smokey ketchup, Dijon mustard and lettuce on a brioche bun. The patty is dark orange and interspersed by a few little flecks of veggies. It’s not trying to imitate meat and the spices subtly reminded me of certain Indian food dishes. An ample portion of fake bacon looked surprisingly real. It had all the savory crunch of that popular meat candy, though without quite so much artery-clogging cholesterol. Overall, the burger had a nice mix of textures, moisture levels and flavors. Even the most blood-thirsty meat lovers could enjoy this protein-packed burger. For a side, I tried the sampler, which includes fries, coleslaw and a big pickle. The hand-cut tater sticks came out mostly golden yellow, with a few crispier brown parts. The individual fries were halfway between the thick steak-cut style and the thinner kind served at most fast food joints. Fries may seem like the simplest thing, but Beaut spares no expense when it comes to preparing theirs and it shows. The dark green pickle came out whole. It was about five inches long with a satisfying girth. Made in-house, its blend of sour and sweet flavors and a crunchy yet soft texture hit the spot.
Food
We also had the fooled pork sandwich, which comes barely contained by a bun. In addition to the mound of shredded jackfruit, this behemoth also boasts fried pickle slices, coleslaw and a bright red prickly pear BBQ sauce. These toppings spilled out the side of the sandwich just like a real pulled pork one. The slaw and pickle slices imparted a pleasant crunchiness, while the sauce-drenched jackfruit melted in my mouth. The riot of flavors included sour notes, sweet heat and a savory aftertaste that lingered long on my tongue. The last of our sandwiches was the Wry Reuben, which comes with tempeh, sauerkraut, mushrooms, onions, nondairy Swiss cheese and house-made Russian dressing stuffed between two dark brown pieces of marble rye. The bread was my favorite part of this dish. It was soft yet crunchy and held together very well. I’m not sure it really evoked the taste of a real Rueben and this was probably my least favorite of all the sandwiches and burgers I tried. Last but far from least were the beer-battered cauli bites. These fifteen pieces of breaded and fried cauliflower were my favorite item. They looked like high-end chicken nuggets and came with a pair of dipping sauces, one buffalo and one ranch. The tender, moist vegetable morsels were coated in a crunchy coating of batter. This delectable finger food completely lacked the sulfurous quality that the cauliflower sometimes has, and you really could see how it evokes the taste and texture of chicken wings. In the small but rapidly growing number of vegan restaurants in the Valley, I’d rank Beaut Burger at or near the top. The attention to detail, quality control and unique approach make this one burger joint you don’t want to miss — whether you’re a herbivore, carnivore or somewhere in between. beautburger.com 267 South Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ 85745 and 3301 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018
The coleslaw was something special too. Its collage of dark and light greens topped with a shock of bright pink pickled onions had me excited before I took my first bite. The vinegar-based slaw wasn’t drowned in mayo, giving the dish a pleasant pungent crunch. Even if you don’t normally like coleslaw, this take is definitely worth a try. My second visit came early on a warm Friday evening. I brought a friend and despite it being quite a bit busier, we didn’t have to wait long for our food. We sat on the patio as the inside was filled with a group of young women and a few families with small kids. Given that it was the end of a long week, we tried out the menu’s only mixed drink. They also serve a variety of beer and wine. The Santarita Sunrise is made of limeade, prickly pear juice and tequila. It was an almost translucent light pink and filled the air with the smell of fruit and alcohol. It goes down dangerously easy, and the citrusy kick lingers pleasantly. I imagined this would be the perfect drink for lounging by a pool, though somewhat sadly I didn’t get to test this theory. For our meal, we order a B5 burger, two sandwiches, fries and an order of the cauli bites. That burger comes drizzled in a jalapeño pesto called zhoug, house-made ranch cucumber slices and lettuce. It was light yet filling. The smokey, mildly spicy pesto was well balanced by the coolness of the ranch and cucumber.
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Travel
SONOMA VALLEY
Photo: Sonoma Visitors Bureau
Photo: Sonoma Visitors Bureau
Photo: Sonoma Visitors Bureau
IS RISING FROM THE ASHES TO RECLAIM ITS TOURISM PRIDE
By Timothy Rawles Known for its rolling, lush hills, Mediterranean microclimate, and culinary arts, Sonoma Valley is one of those destinations where blood pressures immediately decrease once you pass the city marker. Located in Sonoma County, which covers about 1,800 square miles, Sonoma Valley rests inland against Napa Valley to the east and 50 miles from San Francisco to the south. There probably isn’t a more relaxing or more beautiful drive in any direction through the California landscape than that of Sonoma. However, that environment was severely assaulted by wildfires both in 2017 and 2020; some of the worst in California history. The devastation took not only lives but property, severely altering some of the picturesque skylines. “Like many places that have gone through earthquakes or hurricanes or any natural disaster, Sonoma Valley has weathered the fires and come out with a renewed civic vigor to prepare as well as forward-thinking resilience strategies,” says Jennifer Sweeney, a public relations and communications consultant for Sonoma Valley. Those strategies couldn’t prevent the 2020 global pandemic however, which put California on lockdown, striking another blow to Sonoma’s once-bustling tourism industry. Sweeney says the lifeline that kept Sonoma fresh in the minds of people who were eager to return once the pandemic was over was far-reaching. “We’ve had to find creative ways to showcase Sonoma Valley that required a total community effort,” she explains. “At the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, we upped our engagement on social media and supported our hospitality businesses through virtual events and one-on-one video interviews with business owners to keep the destination top of mind.” And those businesses, especially the wineries, are the very backbone of Sonoma Valley tourism. The Benziger Family Winery has graced the Sonoma landscape for many years. Nestled in the heart of Sonoma Valley’s bucolic serenity, the winery is the epitome of the area’s devotion to family, grape horticulture and wine making. Chris Benziger is not only a part of the estate’s bloodline, he is also its brand ambassador. Which means public representation of the company and, in essence, keeping its family crest well-polished is a full-time responsibility.
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Travel Photo: Benziger Family Winery
Sonoma Valley is rising from the ashes to reclaim its tourism pride
But sadly for Benziger the recent infernos “hit close to home, literally! My family lost our home,” he said. “The amazing part is that this great community rallied around those that needed help and got us back on our feet, better than before!” As for most of the wineries in the area, not only was the scenery tainted but so were the grapevines. Vintners were left trying to figure out how to save their flavorful lifeblood. Benziger says 2020 was a difficult year in that regard. “We had to leave some of our grapes on the vine that were too far gone, but we got most in and used our 40-plus years of wine-making experience to minimize the effects.” He said, although the exact science of how they did it remains a secret. “The 2020 white wines that we are now releasing are proof that harvest was not a complete disaster. Our spring whites and roses are delightful with no hint of smoke.” Now that the smoke has settled and the pandemic is easing its restrictions on travel, Sonoma Valley is experiencing a re-growth. Travelers are finding their footing after a bumpy 2020 and although foreign travel is still unstable as summer approaches, domestic staycations are becoming more and more popular, especially with the LGBTQ community. And being so close to San Francisco, Sonoma is just arm’s length away from outdoor relief. Although there isn’t a wholly dedicated space for LGBTQ people in Sonoma, the City is proud of its intangible inclusion. “Sonoma Valley embodies the welcoming and open spirit for travelers and has had a fairly robust LGBT community,” said Sweeney. “It is just an hour from San Francisco, an iconic city for LGBT travelers and residents.”
The Valley is also home to Out at the Vineyard Gay Wine Weekend, an annual event which brings the community together for wine tasting and local excursions. Sweeney adds, “Sonoma County Pride will be back in 2021 with a month-long series of events around the theme ‘Beyond the Rainbow: Surviving, Reviving and Thriving.’” Benziger also supports the LGBTQ community: “We have a wonderfully big and diverse family of friends and employees,” he said. “We take pride in offering a welcoming experience to all our guests.” Benziger may have inadvertently described Sonoma when explaining what people will experience when they visit his property: “Delicious wines, stunning vineyard views and our signature welcoming experiences, currently all hosted in a more intimate setting.” Sweeney says we can expect the same Wine Country hospitality we are accustomed to — from hotels to restaurants to wineries to local retail businesses. There is also a Sonoma Valley Safe initiative in place which requires visitors to wear masks and stay six feet apart, “about the length of six Sonoma wine bottles between parties,” says Sweeney. Visit sonomavalley.com
Timothy Rawles is the editor-in-chief of Gaycation Magazine
Aesthetics by Catherine BOOK YOUR APPT: 916.846.1767 4515 N. 16TH ST. SUITE #103 LOCATED INSIDE THE OFFICE SALON
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Travel
THE TRAVEL
COMPANY
LOVE FIRST THAT PUT
By Merryn Johns
Photos: myvacaya.com
Since its founding in 2018 with a boatload of optimism, originality, and inclusivity, VACAYA has raised the bar and broadened horizons for what LGBTQ+ travel should be in terms of who’s invited at cruises and resorts in some of the most unique and beautiful destinations around the globe.
To find out we talked to CEOs and co-founders Randle Roper and Patrick Gunn.
VACAYA is possibly the best way to fall in love with the world again after what has been a forced abstinence from savoring its many pleasures. And to entice us back into full adventure mode, VACAYA is now offering the LGBTQ+ community the very first full-ship charter cruise to Antarctica December 6-17, 2022. The most remote, pristine, and leasthabituated continent on Earth just might be the perfect way to bounce bak from the pandemic. VACAYA will sail one of the world’s most luxurious expedition ships – Le Boreal from Ponant — for 10 adventure-filled days and nights exploring Antarctica. Included is a pre-cruise night in Buenos Aires and roundtrip flights from BA to Ushuaia (where the cruise begins and ends) to create an 11-night expedition, the first of its kind, with highlights such as multiple daily landings on the continent via Zodiac®, hiking, kayaking, and encounters with penguins. But there is a lot more in store for this year and beyond. To find out we talked to CEOs and cofounders Randle Roper and Patrick Gunn.
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The travel company that put love first
Venturing out after this pandemic is certainly a challenge but has there been an upside to this hiatus as travel entrepreneurs? Patrick: If anything, it’s strengthened our resolve to keep opening those doors of inclusivity ever wider. The beauty of our LGBTQIAPK community is that there are millions of stories among us. And VACAYA has the honor of being the vehicle that brings those individual tales of life and survival and joy together in an incredible melting pot of diversity. The #GreatPause of 2020/2021 has allowed us to connect with our guests in all-new ways. We’ve had countless conversations with our guests on the phone, over Zoom, and at online events that have given us such a strong perspective of what our community members are looking for. And as we return to service this summer, all of that great feedback will spring to life! How has travel and what people want out of it has changed? Randle: VACAYA has always been about bringing people together. Meaningful connections are at the heart of the VACAYA experience. Humankind has been struggling more mentally than physically during this #GreatPause because most of us are social by nature. We’re tactile. We hug. We connect. So to have those basic necessities stripped away has built up a hunger to burst free from this cage that’s confined us. We are seeing an extraordinary increase in bookings ever since the US presidential election and the release of the vaccines. People are ready to get back to their social lives and travel again, there’s no question about that.
Travel
And we don’t have to wait until 2022. You have four itineraries to see out 2021. Some people are still a little travel shy. What protocols and guidance have you observed to guarantee customer safety? Patrick: Well, let’s be clear… there are absolutely no guarantees of safety, not in travel, not in going to a restaurant, not in going to the grocery store. We’ve seen that over and over again through the pandemic. What VACAYA can do and has done, though, is mitigate the risks. For our Iceland Cruise, all guests are required to be vaccinated. So that instantaneously raises the bar in regard to safety. On top of that, we’ll follow both the masking and social distancing guidelines in effect at the time of sailing. In addition, Ponant (our Iceland Cruise Line) has implemented a series of safety measures onboard that will come into play if anyone happens to come down with Covid-19 despite being vaccinated. Those measures will not only provide those who might become ill with world-class care, but there are plans in place that will prevent any kind of widespread outbreak, as well. Randle: We are part of weekly meetings with myriad entities about health and safety — learning the latest details regarding the vaccine rollout, protocols, and the future. Being based in Washington DC and having direct lines to so many leaders within the various governmental departments has kept VACAYA on the front lines of great information without the sometimes-maddening cacophony of often-conflicting media reports.
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Travel
The travel company that put love first
Which itinerary are you each most excited about and why? Randle: That is the Sophie’s Choice of questions! Each of these trips is our baby. How could we pick just one? So I’ll give you two answers – one for 2021 and one for 2022. This year, I’m most looking forward to our fall New Orleans Cruise Nov 14-22. New Orleans is my hometown and I love it more than any other city on earth. So I’m excited to share it with our guests. Add to that this is the first ever LGBTQ+ US-based river cruise and it will be a celebration for the ages! For 2022, I’d have to say our Antarctica Cruise. In nearly 50 years of LGBTQ+ travel, no company has taken their guests on a fullship charter to the 7th continent. VACAYA is truly making history with this one. I had the good fortune of traveling to Antarctica in 2015 and I can say this with all sincerity and without an ounce of hyperbole: Antarctica is a place that changes your world view forever. No one who goes to Antarctica comes back the same. You have touted VACAYA as truly inclusive as a brand. What are some of the initiatives you've been working on to ensure that women, BIPOC, GNC folks — the full rainbow of our community — can book a trip and feel welcome? Patrick: We’ve certainly made big moves, but it’s the collective power of all the small initiatives that has really moved the needle. Together they paint a picture of inclusivity unlike any other travel company out there. From our Wonder Board (which is our women’s Advisory Board) and our Black Voices initiatives, to our educational Alphabet Soup page, you’d be surprised how many people have no clue what all the letters after LGBT stand for) and our creation/use of new hashtags to build community (for example, #TransTravel), we are redefining what’s possible in this market. Randle: We believe strongly that our collective voices can make a huge difference in building acceptance in some of the less welcoming places we visit. We encourage our guests to give a little sweat equity by volunteering during their vacations and we provide them with a safe environment in which to do so. By the end of some of these activities, our guests from all walks of life, sexual orientation, color, creed, etc. are bonded to each other and uplifted by their shared experience of giving back. Patrick: Our solo traveler program is one of the most popular among our guests and helps create a wider diversity on our vacations by providing reasonably priced access. By matching solo travelers up with roommates on certain vacations, we enable more of the LGBT+ audience to travel with us because they’re only financially responsible for a portion of the cruise stateroom or resort room that they share. 28
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Randle: And finally, (and I say that more out of an effort to keep this list a reasonable length rather than suggesting that this is all we do to promote inclusivity), we work closely with all of our cruise line and resort partners to create a welcoming environment for all travelers, including those with special needs. Final thoughts before I dust off my passport? Patrick: 2020 was the toughest year in the history of travel. The fact that not only did VACAYA survive, but is now thriving is a testament to the hard work of the men and women behind VACAYA and our guests who have embraced us so tightly. We wouldn’t be here without them. So we’ll leave you with one thought that really defines who we are at our core: we are grateful. Grateful for the privilege to do what we do and serve the community we serve. Randle: We invite everyone who believes “love is love” to join us on a VACAYA vacation and see for themselves why we are the leader in the LGBT+ cruise charters and resort buyouts. Your readers can learn more and book online 24/7. Visit myvacaya.com and follow on social media @myVACAYA
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Books
There's time for one last round. One for the road, as they say. A tip for the barkeep, a final toast before you go, one more clink before you drink, and, as in the new book Last Call by Elon Green, be careful on your way out the door. The roadside maintenance worker had been around awhile, long enough to know when something was unusual. It was May 1991, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the last trash bag he hefted seemed too heavy. When he poked the final one of eight bags, he saw freckles and called the State Police. He hadn't touched anything in the bag, but he was ordered to have an AIDS test: the naked man inside was identified as Peter Stickney Anderson of Philadelphia, a banker and father who was gay. Slightly more than a year later, on an otherwise-lonely stretch of road in New Jersey, two Transportation Department workers discovered another pile of trash bags that seemed "not quite right." Inside the bags was the meticulously-dismembered body of Thomas Mulcahy, a detail they knew instantly because the killer left Tom's ID behind. In May of 1993, a street worker, Anthony Marrero, was found dismembered in a series of plastic bags identical to the ones Mulcahy had been left in. By this time, officials had homed in on a few facts: the bags came from a certain store in Staten Island. They were tied in a specific way, and the bodies were cut with almostmedical precision. Still, despite the heinousness of the crimes, littleto-no attention was paid to them outside the gay community.
BETWEEN
THE COVERS Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green By Terri Schlichenmeyer
On July 29, 1993, Michael Sakara, an affable, thoughtful man told panhandlers as he left a Manhattan bar that he was "going upstate" with a companion he'd met that night. Less than 48 hours later, Michael's head and arms were discovered in a plastic bag. Police from two states put their collective heads together and got nothing but loose ends, and the case went cold. Years later, they'd muse about how close they'd actually come to a solution… In his afterword, author Elon Green explains why this story captured his fancy. Who were these four men? Were there others? Most importantly, why didn't this murder spree get the regional attention it deserved?
Photo: Author Elon Green by Natalie Sparaccio
Green answers his own questions in this book but there's more. There are biographical sketches of four good men here, each rounded out so well that you may wish you'd known these guys. None of them fit a mold – Green captures that clearly – and he subtly, kindly reminds readers that they were someone's son, friend, or father.
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And then, just as it seems like there's no conclusion to this tale, Green brings in the killer, whom he tantalizingly doesn't immediately name. In those pages lie some of the edgiest, most shoulderclenching, most psychologically taut chapter you'll read this year. So lock the doors. Pour yourself a strong one, and down the hatch for fortification. You're looking for hair-raising true-crime, and Last Call is the one to have around.
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