Next 070716 issue 346 by Multi-Media Platforms

CONTENTS JULY 07, 2016 | VOL 346

18. Alexander The Great Ally

Alexander Skarsgård sure knows how to offset the uproar over his missing loincloth in The Legend of Tarzan.

THE NEXUS

10. Gay D.D. 12. What's Next | Screen Queen: Summer Movies 14. What's Next | Hear Me Out: Lemonade

FEATURES

26. Spotlight: Lena Dunham Mans Up

NEXT STEPS

31. Travel: 10 Best Boutique Hotels 36. Fitness: A Boxing Workout

36 6

NEXT WEEK 39. Calendar of Events

On the Cover

Alexander Skarsgård

Photo By Warner Bros.

inside. 07-07-2016 Issue 346 PUBLISHER

Kevin Hopper EDITORIAL

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THE

GAY D.D. · WHAT’S NEXT

The Healing Power of Beyoncé’s Lemonade PAGE 14

COMMENT OF THE WEEK: I don’t understand why people’s breath be mother fuckin’ stinky and they don’t taste it. You gotta taste it cause I smell a hot boiled ass porta potty mess coming out your mouth - Jasmine Masters.

JULY 07, 2016 PRIDE QUEEN Hillary Clinton showed up for the LGBT community at New York City Pride, in more ways than one. Clinton made waves yesterday when unannounced, she joined marchers at New York City’s Pride March. “I saw her and was completely dumbfounded,” Kelsey Roberts told The New York Times. Joined by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Rev. Al Sharpton, she shook the hands of onlookers and waved to the crowds. While she did not speak at the March, she addressed the crowd at the Dance on the Pier via video segment. Brad Goreski introduced her to the crowd's screams. “I never thought I would be the opening act for Fergie,” she began. Go to our sister magazine's website, nextmagazine.com, to watch. HE SAID, HE SAID Calum McSwiggan is still claiming his story about being attacked last Sunday night in West Hollywood is true, and he took to Facebook to write a lengthy post about the alleged attack. We chatted briefly with Damien Nichols, a Los Angeles LGBT community member who provided a detailed account about

GOT GAY-TENTION DEFICIT DISORDER?

what may have really happened on Sunday evening with Calum McSwiggan. "We met up with Calum at the Abbey. He was completely wasted, by himself. He had his pants down and buttless underwear on. We approached him to hang out, because, how often do you see that." Go to our sister magazine's website, nextmagazine.com, to read the rest of his account. THE WORST The hashtag #HeterosexualPrideDay trended on Twitter last week. We aren't sure how it got started, but the results are either intense bigotry tweeted out by conservative types or hilarious responses from our own LGBT community and allies responding with humor and clarity. Our favorite? "To celebrate #HeterosexualPrideDay I'm giving out free hand jobs to every straight guy who aggressively confronts me on the street today," tweeted out by @NOTCHRISTYLER. STOP THE HATE Lady Gaga, Jane Fonda, Caitlyn Jenner, and Sofia Vergara are just a few of the celebrities in this memorial video for the 49 victims of

Orlando produced by the Human Rights Campaign. One by one, the celebrities dressed in black say the names of the 49 people who lost their lives with short bios describing these people's lives and loves. Go to our sister magazine's website, nextmagazine.com, to watch this touching tribute. INCREDIBLE GAY SEX “You just have to embrace it,” Alexander Skarsgård told Pride Source of filming his two gay sex scenes on True Blood, before going on to explain his attitude going into his first, with fellow straight actor Theo Alexander, who played Talbot on the show. “Look at the scene,” he recalled telling Alexander. “It’s this nemesis and he comes in and then it gets seductive and you think they’re gonna make love and it gets into that and then suddenly my character stabs him in the back and he explodes. In two minutes, look at this emotional rollercoaster we’re taking the audience on. If we commit to this, it’s going to be an amazing scene and we’re going to be very happy with it forever. If we hold back, that’s when it gets awkward.”

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US SCREEN QUEEN

SUMMER MOVIES

A Roundup of the Latest Blu-rays/DVDs

caper took notes from “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” and let two screen icons unleash on each other because, you know, every generation of gays needs a Hollywood lesson on how greed and conceit and plastic remedies incite extreme comical consequences.

DEATH BECOMES HER

Character development, be damned. The archetypes in the Robert Zemeckis-directed commentary on showbiz superficiality and the general vanity of being human are mere sketches, but if Death Becomes Her is purely an excuse for a head-turning Meryl Streep and half-stomached Goldie Hawn to play up an onscreen rivalry with heightened fakeness and a one-on-one shovel showdown then, great gods of campy film, thank you for this gift. Lady Streep exercises a rare frivolity to play Madeline Ashton, a B-movie and Broadway actress; Hawn is Helen Sharp. They hate each other. Then, when a man war involving Sharp’s exfiancé (Bruce Willis) breaks out, Madeline visits an agedefying sorceress named Lisle von Rhuman (the fab Isabella Rossellini, supremely decked out in an iconic necklace) who can turn the desperate Madeline ageless… for a pretty price. Obsessed over by queers who live for seeing two queens in a cat fight (plus, beefy, shirtless men for maximum gayness), the 1992 dark-comedy camp

BROOKLYN

Why, exactly, is Brooklyn so good? Saoirse Ronan, for one. Known for standout stints in Atonement and The Lovely Bones, the Oscarnominated sad movie actress imparts her big, soft heart into the role of an immigrant who can barely stand to leave Ireland but must – aside from her mother and sister, there’s nothing left for her in Enniscorthy. America becomes home, eventually. She settles. An Italian fella charms her into loving him, she bonds with the boarding-house ladies with which she lives; it’s almost perfect. But Ireland is never far from Eilis’ mind (when letters are arriving from family overseas, how could it be?), and when tragedy strikes back home, Eilis returns to Enniscorthy and finds herself faced with wrenching decisions. Naturally, Ronan is a marvel, bringing earnest sensitivity to Eilis. But Brooklyn thrives on the strength of its ensemble, which was cast by Fiona Weir, who also assembled a brilliant troupe of talented actors for 2014’s sublime Pride. Wistful, nostalgic and bound to melt you into a big puddle of mush, this remarkably moving coming-of-age drama is classic filmmaking in peak form.

WHAT’S HOW TO BE SINGLE

Maybe one day Rebel Wilson will surprise us by not playing the same man-thirsty, cocksure powerhouse she’s so frequently cast as, but until then, we get Robin in How to Be Single. Wilson’s Robin is a singlehood specialist, and her latest project? The hopeless and hapless Alice, a new hire that Robin takes under her wild, horny, frequently drunken wing because Robin knows all the ins and outs of not being tied down and Alice is a clumsy broad who thinks she has to buy her own drinks at the bar. Meanwhile, a crop of other characters – though, surprisingly, none of them gay – offer various perspectives on getting the guy, even if just for one night. Alison Brie’s Lucy, for instance, steals Wi-Fi from the bar underneath her flat, a good excuse for her to encounter the hottie who bartends downstairs.

CAROL

The taboos of homosexuality are contained in out director Todd Haynes’ wonderful, hypnotic romance Carol, focused on love’s enduring power despite external resistance. Cate Blanchett is the titular character who finds herself drawn to the strikingly younger, more meek Therese, the yin to her yang, when they meet during a chance run-in at a NYC department store. There are complications to pursuing a same-sex relationship, of course. It’s the ’50s, so there’s that. Also, Carol has a husband. Throughout his nuanced period piece, the Far From Heaven filmmaker brings a taut fervor to the film as it unfolds with Thelma and Louise-like shenanigans and heart-seizing moments of tender longing.

ANOMALISA

Charlie Kaufman introduced post-breakup memory obliteration in one of the best films of the aughts, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, conveying aspects of the human condition with his own brand of idiosyncrasies. That same warped pathos pervades Anomalisa, Kaufman’s stop-motion film about a down-on-life inspirational speaker (David Thewlis) reinvigorated by an intense connection he has with a refreshingly spirited woman (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Poignant subtleties, including a moving bedside take on Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” abound as both characters, and the film’s off-kilter creative team, illuminate the mundanity of human connection in the most revelatory of ways – without humans at all. Innovative and thoughtful, Anomalisa is an artistic wonder.

SISTERS

If Sisters accomplishes anything, and it doesn’t accomplish much, it’s that everything is less insufferable with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Still, it’s hard not to wish these two comedy queens were using their time more wisely – you know, by making a Mean Girls 2 that isn’t that made-for-TV mediocrity. Alas, we get Sisters, out Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore’s ill-conceived and tepid effort about a pair of siblings who turn their childhood home into a party scene – one last (too long) hurrah! – after their parents inform them the house is being sold. Maya Rudolph, as a snooty rival, is spectacularly bitchy, but still, you have to wonder: What might Sisters have been with an actual script and an actual story and more actual jokes? N –Chris Azzopardi

WHAT’S

HEAR ME OUT: The Healing Power of Beyoncé’s

Lemonade E

veryone has their own theory about Beyoncé’s Lemonade. Is it about her marriage to Jay Z? Her father’s infidelity? America’s pervasive racism and its wrenching consequence: the slaughtering of innocent blacks? Is it about Orlando now? It could be. Though the complexities here are rich and thought-provoking, Lemonade simply represents resilience. Inspired by Bey’s own grandmother-in-law’s adversity, it’s about soldiering on despite setbacks, be it the calamity of a troubled relationship, the ever-present black struggle, or the grief of 49 lives lost in a gay nightclub. It is, therefore, our album to lean on, music for unearthing an inner fortitude when fortitude seems futile. Beyoncé is, yet again, a beacon of empowerment, and Lemonade is next-level liberation. “Freedom," for instance, marches in like a victorious rally cry. During the song, Queen Bey channels the rawness of Merry Clayton’s vocal shred, when the singer memorably sang “rape, murder; just a shot away” in 1969 on the Rolling Stone’s “Gimme Shelter”; on “Freedom,” Bey is carrying on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks; she is the voice of all those oppressed, past, present and future. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of despair and persecution, a “bulletproof” Beyoncé proclaims, “I break chains all by myself.” In that moment, she sounds reborn, which she is. Lemonade sees Beyoncé on the frontlines of change. This is her Like a Prayer, her Velvet Rope. Risks abound, from the Jack White-produced goth rock of her patriarchal takedown “Don’t Hurt Yourself” to the New Orleans-tinged “Daddy Lessons,” a guitar-plucked, percussion-slapped soul ditty that’s a testament to Beyoncé as a bona fide artist: Her talent is basically boundless. Vocally, too, Beyoncé doesn’t play it safe. “Don’t Hurt Yourself ” smears Auto-Tune all over her velvety voice; she drops to a hypnotically low octave on “6 Inch”; she

fashions a reggae inflection on “Hold Up.” The production is bold, and Bey’s presence throughout is seismic. She is queen. Lemonade is her throne. It also happens to be her best album to date (do it; bow down), advancing the inventiveness of her last avant-garde release, 2013’s self-titled Beyoncé. This one further catapults the former Destiny’s Child song slayer beyond bling and bug-a-boos to new, socially-conscious heights. Pop stars, this is your benchmark now. Basically, not only should you surprise-drop your work and create an astonishing visual component, as she has, you must also be the zeitgeist. You mustn’t just buck the trends – you must set the trends. You must make an album that plays like an album – remember cohesive narratives? – rather than a stew of singles. You must demonstrate that you can be successful without radio support. Bey’s sixth studio album is a staggering achievement on those merits alone. But it doesn’t stop there. It goes deeper. Potent social subtext concerning the Black Lives Matter movement and Southern repression mark the 11-chapter narrative, which also serve as tintedwindows into Bey’s own personal life. Reconciliation comes in the form of “Sandcastles,” the piano ballad that bridges the album’s split narrative – angry, icy/hopeful, warm – as it unfolds into “All Night,” which champions the power of love... all love. (The video appropriately features gay and lesbian couples who are, you guessed it, crazy in love.) The cycle is complete. Bey is now the artist she sought to be then, full-fledged, chains undone. Love, too, is still the answer, it seems. N –Chris Azzopardi

Alexander the Great Ally True Blood alum on coaching gay sex scenes, his outsider perspective, and Tarzan vs. Farrah Fawcett BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI PHOTOS BY WARNER BROS.

ON THE COVER

lexander Skarsgård sure knows how to offset the uproar over his missing loincloth in The Legend of Tarzan. “I’m actually wearing it right now,” teases Skarsgård, joking about the brouhaha regarding this Tarzan’s more civilized article of clothing as he portrays the jungle warrior in Warner Bros.’ new take on a classic tale. “I do all my phoners in a loincloth.” “Phoners or… ?” I ask, hinting at the obvious rhyme. The 39-year-old True Blood alum beams, cracking up. “Exactly! I do all my boners in loinclothes.” And that's just the beginning of our revealing conversation, which leads to all sorts of places: being poisoned by Lady Gaga, how other straight men should approach a gay sex scene (“dive in”), and why – after giving us his best Farrah Fawcett impersonation last year – shooting The Legend of Tarzan “was nothing compared to that night in drag.”

So, I don’t know if you know this, but gay men love you. Oh, really? They do. Is that surprising to hear? Well, I don’t know. I’ve always been… I don’t know how to answer that question, but thank you. That’s very flattering to hear. It’s always been the most natural thing to me because my uncle and godfather is a gay man and so growing up, even as a little toddler, it was just as natural as being straight. My aunt would show up with her husband and my uncle would show up with his husband. He was, by far, out of my father’s four siblings (Alexander’s father is actor Stellan Skarsgård), the most fashionable and the most trendy, cool guy. So, when I was a kid, he was the one I looked up to. I thought he was really badass: fit and awesome and cool, and obviously not because he was gay. When I became a teenager and the kids made fun of other teenagers who were gay, I never really understood that. It just baffled me because my idol, my godfather, was gay, and he was the coolest guy I knew. I just couldn’t understand how that could be an insult. That kind of personal relationship can change everything for somebody. I agree. And I think a lot of the xenophobia and fear comes from that, from not having a personal connection. People

that know someone close that they love who is homosexual or bisexual are more likely to sympathize with people in the LGBT community.

The Legend of Tarzan is, in part, about making your own family. How might that resonate with the LGBT community? In a way, he’s lost between two worlds, he doesn’t fit in. He’s adopted by these apes, and even though emotionally he’s an equal and he’s loved, he can feel that he’s different. Then he goes to London and it’s kind of the same. He looks like people around him, but he also doesn’t fit in there either. That sense of being an outsider and trying to fit in or finding your home and your place in the world – it’s interesting to explore that. He’s a character who, on the surface, has it all – this gorgeous, wonderful wife; incredible wealth; beautiful mansion – but people don’t understand him, really, and his heart is still in the jungle. Have you ever felt like an outsider? I can relate to the feeling of being somewhere between two worlds. I was born and raised in Stockholm, but I’ve lived in the States for 12 years. In a way, I feel at home when I go to Stockholm, but it hasn’t been my permanent home for 12 years. So, there are a lot of things that make me feel like an outsider: cultural references, the music scene, the arts scene, theater, what’s going

on back home in movies; other references make me feel out of touch too. I live in New York now and all my memories in New York are from the past 10, 15 years. Obviously, in Tarzan the two worlds are a bit more extreme! (Laughs) There are no apes on the loose in New York that I am aware of. (Laughs) Yes, it’s slightly more dramatic. But that is my job as an actor – to find something, even if it’s on a more microscopic level, that allows me to tap into and understand the character on a larger scale. What do you think starring alongside Lady Gaga in her “Paparazzi” video did for your gay following? I have no idea – I wasn’t famous at all. I wore a wig in the first season of True Blood, so no one ever recognized me. But my friend Jonas Åkerlund is a tremendous music video director and called me and said, “Hey, I’m directing this video for an artist. Her name is Lady Gaga.” I’d heard her name but didn’t know much about her. (Laughs) It sounded like a fun love story, so of course I said yes. I had a super fun day. How did portraying someone who is pansexual on True Blood , a show rife with queer characters and storylines, influence the way you view sexuality? It was just one of the most profound experiences ever. Just liberating. Even though there’s shit loads of nudity on the show, it never felt gratuitous. I think that’s when, as an actor, you feel uncomfortable, if you’re standing there with your clothes off and you’re not quite sure why.

PHOTOS BY WARNER BROS.

Like if you’d been wearing that loincloth in Tarzan. That’s why I wear nothing in all the flashbacks... because that would make sense! If it makes sense, it’s not an issue; you just have to do it.

In 2006’s Kill Your Darlings, you played a transvestite. Then, during the premiere of Diary of a Teenage Girl last year, you went in full-on drag as Farrah Fawcett. How would you describe the feeling of putting on women’s clothing? I loved it. It was so much fun. On that movie, Diary of a Teenage Girl, our first AD

“

I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR ALL THE DRAG QUEENS OUT THERE. I GOT A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT IT TAKES TO LOOK THAT FABULOUS.”

was a drag queen by the name of Cousin Wonderlette, who’s on the San Francisco scene, and there was also Lady Bear, another drag queen who was the casting director for extras on the movie. So, Cousin Wonderlette and Lady Bear were gonna host the premiere and do a number from Rocky Horror Picture Show and then throw the afterparty at a gay club. Everyone was planning their outfits and talking about these crazy drag outfits they were gonna come in with. I was sitting there with my grey suit and I just felt like, “Fucking hell, this is so boring; can I play as well?” I said, “I wanna look like Farrah Fawcett.” I showed them that iconic image from the early ’80s in that golden dress with the blonde hair, so that’s what we went for. I can’t quite say that we nailed it. I mean, they did an incredible job, but I think it’s tough with a dude who’s 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. (Laughs) And with those heels, I was like 7 feet tall. Once we got to the after party at the gay club, I just kicked my heels off and walked around barefoot because I was just dying. So, I have tremendous respect for all the drag queens out there. I got a little taste of what it takes to look that fabulous. What tips do you have for other straight men who are doing gay sex scenes? You just have to embrace it. I had two gay

sex scenes on the show. They’re incredible scenes. I loved this scene and I remember talking to Theo (Alexander), who played the Greek lover of Russell Edgington (portrayed by Denis O’Hare), and that was the first gay sex scene I had on True Blood. He’s also a straight guy and he was nervous; he had never kissed a guy before. I just said, “Look at the scene. It’s this nemesis and he comes in and then it gets seductive and you think they’re gonna make love and it gets into that and then suddenly my character stabs him in the back and he explodes. In two minutes, look at this emotional rollercoaster we’re taking the audience on. If we commit to this, it’s going to be an amazing scene and we’re going to be very happy with it forever. If we hold back, that’s when it gets awkward.” Same thing shooting the other scene with Ryan (Kwanten) – we knew that it was coming because we shot a scene the previous year where I hypnotize him and say, like, “When you dream, dream sweet dreams of me.” Because we did it in a very seductive way, when they said “wrap” and I turned around and I saw the writers, I could just see in their eyes that they were like, “We’re definitely gonna see this dream later on in the show.” We knew it was coming. You have to think of the scene and how it fits in and hopefully be excited about the scene. Then, just dive in. N

Lena Dunham Mans Up Girls creator on recognizing ‘seemingly mundane’ LGBT issues, channeling masculinity and the influence of her sister’s queerness

Photos: Courtesy of HBO

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

Suited is the perfect fit for Lena Dunham.

roducer of the thought-provoking documentary about the powerful relationship between fashion and identity, Dunham knows firsthand that bending the gender rules by wearing a suit can be a transformative experience. During this year’s annual Met Gala, the multi-hyphenate – actor, author, director, social activist, feminist, out and proud proponent of the word “no” – rocked an androgynous look, sporting black-tie attire and slicked-back hair as if she were a GQ cover model. The masc moment was classic Dunham – meaning, yet another strong statement. Known for her Emmy Award-winning HBO series Girls, the 30-year-old has made it her life’s mission to tear down societal standards. Backing Suited only seemed natural, then. During Jason Benjamin’s directorial debut, which aired on HBO on June 20 (the film initially premiered in January at Sundance), transgender and genderfluid suit-buyers uncover a deeper sense of self as they find garments that speak to their identity at Bindle & Keep, a Brooklyn-based bespoke men and womenswear company. Dunham’s genderqueer sister, Grace, appears in the documentary while on a quest for a “dark wool suit … to run around in.” Dunham recently phoned for a candid conversation about how Grace’s gender subversions have influenced her to challenge Hollywood norms. During the interview, the actor also elaborated on the “strength” she gained from wearing her own tailored suit, seeking to break stereotypes with her zeitgeist coming-of-age dramedy Girls, and being so gay adjacent she calls her significant other, fun.’s lead guitarist Jack Antonoff, her “partner.”

SPOTLIGHT In what ways did you find yourself empathizing with some of the people who visited Bindle & Keep? I don’t identify as queer in my sexuality, but I have a lot of really close relationships with queer people, and queer culture has been hugely influential. Like so many disenfranchised women, queer culture has been a huge part of my coming of age. Like I said, I’m a straight girl, but what I really empathized with was the need to find yourself in fashion when there aren’t representations of you. I know that when I entered high school and became a chubby girl – I’d always been a little skinny kid and then suddenly I gained 40 pounds in four months and didn’t know what to do with my body and didn’t feel like there was a place (for me). I could either walk into a Lane Bryant and sheath myself in something that didn’t make me feel like myself at all or I could continue to wear my too-tight hot pink sweatpants. I didn’t feel like there was a place for my body to be seen or known or understood. So, for me, what’s been really powerful as an adult has been having my clothes tailored, which is something I only started doing once I started going to red-carpet events, and even though I’ve had that experience, I actually had a Bindle & Keep suit made for our Sundance premiere. The experience of putting on something that just fucking fit was so remarkable, and I looked in the mirror and there was this strength that came from not trying to hide any part of myself. So, I think we can all relate to that feeling of trying to find the look – of fashion being a way to try and express yourself, and not feeling like there’s any place to turn in the commercial marketplace where your identity’s being accepted. In that way, fashion turns from something that is very superficial to something that is extremely emotional. Recently, I finally fit into a shirt that I’d been wanting to fit into for a long time, so I get it. It’s amazing. It’s so subtle but it’s so important. My dad has always been into tailoring. He’s a real suit guy. My friends will be

like, “I saw your dad and I knew it was him from far away because he was wearing this super sharp suit at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday heading to the grocery store,” and this made me really understand that part of the reason my dad does that is because it makes him feel that he can own his identity. Something that I love in our family is, my dad has all these suits and then my sibling, Grace, who’s in the movie, will take his old suits and tailor them to her body. It’s funny, when we were little girls my dad always wanted to dress us in a super androgynous way. If we were alone with him for the day, it was a plaid shirt, jeans, sneakers; he just thinks androgynous fashion on women is super cool. One of the first presents that he bought each of us: He got me a suit in eighth grade; he got my sister a suit in high school. He would really push the-ladies-in-suits angle. My mom came up in New York in the ’80s wearing a power suit, so the idea of suiting as something that kind of already defies gender lines, I already felt like I had an understanding of. This (movie) obviously takes it to a whole new level.

How do you hope the stories that you are a part of telling, such as Suited and your work as creator of Girls, can enrich and embolden the lives of the LGBTQ community? I think my biggest hope – and my (creative) partner Jenni Konner’s definitely coming from the same place – is just that these stories make people feel seen. That was always our goal with Girls. I went into HBO and said, “Hey, I don’t see any shows that represent my friends.” And then when we put it on, and we got our own critiques about what we were representing, we were going, “Wait, a bunch of other people feel that way too,” because I didn’t see kind of my weirdo, anxious, chubby self on television. Other women didn’t see complex women of color represented on television; other women went, “Hey, I’m Asian and I’ve never seen a character who doesn’t just have her nose in a book and is playing the violin.” We’re always just trying to push

back against stereotypical representation or play with it in an intelligent way. And what I loved about Suited: This is about an aspect of queer life – we spend so much time thinking about, and rightfully so, these huge issues like marriage equality, raising families, job discrimination; this is a much more seemingly mundane issue. For the queer community and members of the gender nonconforming community, it actually ripples to every part of their life. Because you see, if (doc subject) Everett (Arthur) doesn’t get a suit then Everett doesn’t feel confident and Everett’s not gonna get a job and Everett’s not gonna show that, hey, a gender nonconforming trans lawyer is an option in the South. It goes so far. I just hope people see it and go, “I’m seeing myself represented whether I’m queer or not in these characters, and this is a version of the queer story that I haven’t seen before.”

Photos: Courtesy of HBO

How has having a sister who identifies as a gender nonconforming person changed your perspective on yourself and your sexuality? This is an overused word, but Grace is a really brave person. Grace very much came into the world – age 3 – being like, “I don’t wanna wear a dress and I’m being myself.” Grace always makes a joke that she was briefly straight from the ages of 7 to 10. She very much came into the world with this radicalized approach to being a woman. She did an interview recently in the New York Times in which she was having a conversation with her friend Nicole Eisenman, who is also a queer woman, and they asked Grace about her pronouns and Grace was like, I’m a gender nonconforming person but I’m OK with being called “she” because I like to really push the boundaries of what “she” can be, and that really resonated with me. Because even though I consider myself female and I have a more binary approach to my sexuality, I think that Grace’s idea about expanding the definition of what “she” can mean has really opened me up. Before Grace became so deeply embedded in her identity, I think that I was still thinking of the world as… I accepted the idea of transness but I felt like I didn’t understand the idea of a person whose gender and sexuality could contain elements of everything that they’d seen. It’s funny: You know, I wore a tuxedo to the Met Ball this year and it was such a great feeling to go to a big fashion event where you’re surrounded by girls in gowns and feel this kind of strength that comes from being feminine while owning some masculine attributes.

How did it feel to be the odd man out, so to speak? It’s this very ineffable thing where you’re like, “I feel cool, I feel sexy, I feel like myself.” I felt a little bit at the Met Ball – I’d go up to ladies and be like (deepens voice to resemble a man), “You look great!” (Laughs) I was owning these kind of masculine clothes I had on and it felt really good, and I feel without Grace in my life I wouldn’t. I think, especially when you’re working in Hollywood, there’s a real pressure to conform to femininity in a traditional way, especially if you don’t look like what people think a T V star should look like. When I was first getting styled I’d go, “I just wanna wear a really pretty dress and really pretty makeup, so when I go to an event people think, ‘Oh, she’s way prettier in person than I thought she would be.’” That’s all I wanted. And now, Grace has made me feel like I can go in with a fucking suit with my hair messed up because the rules have changed. I love that you’ve taken her lead. Speaking of people who’ve influenced your world, I talked to Jack a few years ago. Mmm! My partner. Yes, your partner. Is that what you call him? (Laughs) I use partner because I like it. We’re not married, but also, he’s not my boyfriend. I feel like it’s another one where I’m like, I’m kind of down with the queer community. I have my partner! He’s my partner! Your refusal to marry until your sister could was admirable, and you wrote a wonderful essay after the Supreme Court ruling last June. It’s been a year since the ruling. Have you thought about what you might have the queer people in your wedding party wear? That’s an amazing question, and actually, Jack and I have talked about it and we’ve always said that when we get married we want our wedding party to just be our two sisters in tuxedos. Jack has a straight sister, I have a queer sister; they’d be our best men / women and we’ll call it a day. That’s our dream. N

TRAVEL • FITNESS

The World’s 10 Best Boutique Hotels A dream itinerary—from some of the globe’s largest cities to places literally at the end of the world By Patrick Rosenquist

If you’re looking for a great hotel, you could do worse than James and Tamara Lohan. The London-based couple—reviewing hotels as Mr. and Mrs. Smith since 2003—have crafted guide books, websites and apps structured around their personal opinions of some of the world’s best inns. Their thorough and thoughtful approach has won over legions of jet-setters and even earned them an MBE from the British Crown. Needless to say, they know where to stay. Here they provide us with not only every vacationer’s dream itinerary but a diverse selection showing off some of the world’s most beautiful and exciting destinations. 31

STEPS Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur “The hotel is located on the edge of a cliff, and the views are awe-inspiring,” says James. The Post features cabins—Tamara lovingly refers to them as cozy, luxurious “hobbit holes”—sprinkled throughout a Redwood forest. James also raves about the restaurant, Sierra Mar, headed by Chef John Cox: “Their wine list is staggeringly amazing. They’ve got it all.” postranchinn.com

Ham Yard Hotel, London, UK Kit Kemp, who designed all of Ham Yard’s 91 rooms, ranks among the couple’s favorites. “She’s the most innovative designer in the UK; her work is unbelievable,” says Tamara. An off-kilter mix of unexpected textures and bold, bright colors come through in every part of the hotel. “There’s a bowling alley and a movie theater, along with a lot of private spaces throughout,” James says. “There’s also a great rooftop terrace, which is really rare to see in London,” says James. firmdalehotels.com

Amangiri, Lake Powell, Utah “This part of Utah has a moon-like quality,” says James, “And Amangiri is luxurious. Taken together, it’s all sort of Bond villian-esque.” Tamara is quick to add that the hotel’s best feature is its spa, which is considered one of the best in the world. Spread out over an area of more than 25,000 square feet, it’s certainly one of the largest. “They have killer pools, right near cliff edges. The whole juxtaposition is really striking,” she says. aman.com

Ett Hem, Stockholm, Sweden With décor that melds unique antiques and sophisticated modernity, Ett Hem represents the best of Swedish style. “It’s like your artistic aunt or uncle renovated a private home,” says Tamara, noting that owner Elsa Crawford is always updating the design with recently uncovered pieces. “In a lot of ways, it feels like a friend’s home. They always have a chef on duty, and you can pop in and ask them to prepare whatever you’d like,” says James. etthem.se

Uxia Casa Hotel and Spa, Trancoso, Bahia, Brazil Located in a small town on the coast, a great perk of Ixia is its integration into the local community. “The hotel is near an extended communal space, with an ancient church at the end,” says James. “You see children playing football. It feels like you’re staying among the community.” Its quartz pool, made of 40,000 pieces of mineral, is a standout. “Like everything else at this hotel, it’s utterly unique,” says Tamara. uxia.com

TRAVEL Huka Lodge, New Zealand On the northern part of New Zealand, James believes Huka Lodge is one place perfectly capturing that Lord of the Rings feel. “I think that’s where they shot most of it, right?” (Yes, it is!) Owner and interior designer Virginia Fisher, who brings a sophisticated, welcoming feel to the space, ranks among their favorites. James adds that this part of New Zealand boasts some of the country’s best fishing spots, too. hukalodge.co.nz

Lime Wood, Hampshire, United Kingdom An hour and a half outside London, Hampshire has long been a getaway for the city’s dwellers. The Lime Wood is the couple’s favorite boutique hotel in Britain. “It’s so cozy. You just never want to leave,” says James. It sports a “small but complete” spa, featuring an indoor/outdoor Jacuzzi. Chef Angela Harnett helms the restaurant, H.H. and Co., featuring forest-inspired fare. “The food is absolutely sublime. If I could stay there every weekend, I would,” James says. limewoodhotel.co.uk

The Upper House, Hong Kong “I think Hong Kong and New York are the only two places that live up to their reputation as crazy and hectic,” says James, and The Upper House is a great respite from the insanity, “a little haven, with a strong feng shui element.” The Lohans rave about the concierge service, which they consider one of the world’s best. “We once arrived and Tamara quickly mentioned she does yoga to relax. They delivered a book on yoga along with a list of local classes. We didn’t even ask for it,” says James. upperhouse.com

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali Located on the beach, Alila Villas Uluwatu is one of the most striking hotels in the world. “Architecturally speaking, there’s nothing sexier,” says James. Featuring what looks like a mid-century take on a bird’s nest, this gorgeous structure juts out over the water. Coupled with an infinity pool and dark wood notes throughout the property, it’s their favorite place in Bali. “You’ve never seen architecture like this,” he adds. alilahotels.com

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia Located on the southern edge of the continent near the city of Adelaide, Kangaroo Island is known for its otherworldly landscapes and easy-going charm. “It truly feels like the edge of the world,” says Tamara. The hotel itself has an upscale, sleek feel that plays up its unique location. “This place has a great sense of space; it’s a luxurious lodge,” she adds. “This is a hotel that belongs on a bucket list.” southernoceanlodge.com.au

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Get Physical: A Boxing Workout BY TOM BONANTI

ure, you can stay in peak condition with the right combination of weight training and cardio. But if you are lucky enough to find a sport that is challenging and hot, then you can take your fitness to the next level of greatness! Boxing is one activity that has caught on with lots of guys.

First off, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be an Olympic contender, and you may not have access to gloves and a boxing ring, but you can still get started simply. All you need is a jump rope, speed bag, and a punching bag (a laundry bag filled with sand, sawdust and rags). A garage, basement, or spare room should provide ample space.

FITNESS Boxing can bring out your competitive side because the first thing you need to do is to find a partner. Be sure to warm up together by doing pre-workout stretches. Start your workout with a circuit training approach where you move quickly from one station to the next. Employ calisthenics like push-ups, pull-ups and crunches, as well as light to moderate weights. Shoulder dumbbell presses, front and lateral dumbbell raises will pump your shoulders and arms. Dumbbell, or barbell bent over rows are best for back. Nothing beats barbell squats and lunges for legs. This workout should take maybe 20 minutes. On to your boxing routine. Wearing heavy gloves (boxing gloves or even heavy duty workout gloves) start by throwing moderate punches at the heavy bag. Make sure your hand does not turn, you don’t want to sprain or break the wrist. Alternating with your partner a few sessions, turn up the heat and hit the bag more forcefully. Work up to three minutes of nonstop heavy hitting at a time and you’ll feel it. Now try jumping rope. This will help you build rhythm, co-ordination and stamina. Jumping rope is a great form of cardio that will help you melt away fat. The speed bag hangs from a platform and springs right back at you when you strike it. A speed bag allows the user to develop hand rhythm and hand/eye co-ordination, along with endurance. Practice hitting the speed bag, until you get used to the feel. These exercises should be performed for three minutes each and then repeated. Eventually work up to five-minute cycles of punching bag, jumping rope, and speed bag. After you and your partner have completed the circuit twice, move to an area large enough for some action. Put on the gloves with your partner and begin a block/sparring session. One is the aggressor; the other guy blocks the punches. The aggressor should throw the punches at 70% speed, without trying hard to connect, and the defender only blocks the punches, with no return blows thrown. Switch roles after a couple of minutes. This provides good basic

training in how to punch and how to defend against a punch. Avoid actual head blows and wear a mouthpiece for protection just in case. Here’s a few other techniques to add to your boxing workout. Medicine balls can be tossed forcefully between you and your partner as you do crunches. Shadow boxing can be done on your own or with others. Still another option is the hand punch routine, where your partner holds up padded hands and you hit them forcefully.! N

Tom Bonanti is a certified fitness trainer and licensed massage therapist (MA#40288) with his own one on one gym and studio www. pumpnincgym.com at 1271 NE 9th avenue in Ft. Lauderdale, fl. 33304. Call Tom today with any questions (954) 557-1119 and be sure to set up your free fitness consultation!

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WEEK

WHAT TO SEE & WHERE TO BE JULY 08 THROUGH JULY 14

Relive the 80s! Boy George and Culture Club July 8.

WEEK

FRIDAY JULY 08 BOY GEORGE AND CULTURE CLUB. Broward Center for the Performing Arts 201 SW Fifth Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33312; 954-462-0222, browardcenter. org. Calling all karma chameleons: Relive the 80s! Culture Club is back on the road with its original lineup, fronted by the imitable Boy George. George remains as fierce a showman as ever, taking the stage with the same outré fashion that made him a global icon. 8:00 pm.

FUEGO FRIDAYS. The other side Miami 729 NW 79th street Miami Florida 33150, poisonivyentertainment.com. Poison Ivy Entertainment brings back the urban night that fires up everyone. Hosted by Jamal Paisley with special performances by Stasha Rivers, Hawkins Sheena and Foreign Property 4. Party starts at 10:00 pm. Text OTHERSIDEMIA To 545454. BUBBLE GUM FRIDAYS. The Manor Complex 2345 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305;

954-626-0082, themanorcomplex.com. Free membership card party, featuring DJs JPS and Miik. No cover before midnight for over 21. Under 21 is $12 all night. HAPPY HOUR. Infinity Lounge 2184 Wilton Manors FL 33305; 754-223-3619, infinityloungefl.com. Head over to this swanky lounge to enjoy cocktails and martinis that are sure to get your weekend started.

SATURDAY JULY 09 DRAG YOURSELF TO BRUNCH. Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-565-2526, alibiwiltonmanors.com. It is a weekend brunch special with your local entertainers that know how to give a show, like wig maker extraordinaire Carmen Adore. Enjoy the fantastic shows at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm. DECADES REWIND: A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. Broward Center for the Performing Arts 201 SW Fifth Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33312; 954-4620222, browardcenter.org. Take

a trip down melody lane with Decades Rewind, featuring over 60 songs effortlessly blended into unique medleys from the most prominent decades in music history. This fully live concert experience features an 8-piece rock band and 6 brilliant rocking vocalists surrounded by rock and roll stage lighting, poignant videos of American culture, and over 100 costume changes. 8:00 pm. BIGGER SATURDAYS: Score Nightclub 437 Washington Ave Miami Beach FL 33139; 305-5351111, scorebar.net. From 11:00 pm to 5:00 am, this South Beach

party club will be featuring music by Dawson and Alex Acosta. Get there when doors open and enjoy free drinks for a half an hour ending at 11:30 pm. For other discounts and info download the Score App. CIRCUIT SATURDAYS: Progress Bar Wilton Manors 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-533-4916, progressbarsouthflorida.com. Sip all night long on $6 Three Olives flavors and $5 Fireball as you dance the night away.

SUNDAY JULY 10 THE LEGEND OF TARZAN: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE. Museum of Discovery & Science 401 SW 2 St Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312; 954-467-6637, mods.org. It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he

has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash. This film is rated PG-13. Visit website for show times.

SUNDAY T-DANCE. Scandals Saloon 3073 NE 6th Ave Oakland Park FL 33334; 954-567-2432, scandalsfla. com. Their T-Dance is from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and it’s packed to the rafters. Karaoke starts at 9:00 pm so sing-along or join in.

MONDAY JULY 11 MR. EOY ROLLY VILLAVERDE BENEFIT. Boardwalk Bar 1721 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33311; 954-463-6969, boardwalkbar. com. On his road to compete at the national competition of Mr. EOY, Rolly is having a benefit to raise monies for the trip to Louisville KY and the expenses that he will occur representing Florida.

Special guest entertainment, raffles and more, show time is 8:00 pm. MUSICAL MONDAYS. Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-565-2526, alibiwiltonmanors.com. Join celebrity impersonator Michael l Walter as Dame Edna for laughter and live show tunes in the all-

WEEK new Manchester Room starting at 8:00 pm until 10:30 pm. N.E.R.D. GYM Sportsbar 2287 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-368-5318, gymsportsbar.com. Plug in and hangout for nocturnal electronic recreational devices. As you play and throw a few back with friends. $2 Rolling Rock and $5 Tito’s vodka.

TUESDAY JULY 12 INDUSTRY NIGHT. Progress Bar Wilton Manors 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-5334916, progressbarsouthflorida. com. This fun and trendy bar is paying respect to the hard workers of our community with 50 percent off all drinks for those of you who are in the biz. For everyone else enjoy 2-4-1 drinks.

GET YOUR GAME ON. Rumors Bar & Grill 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-565-8851, rumorsbarwiltonmanors.com. Try your luck, or skill, with poker in the red room from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. While your're there, enjoy some discounted beverages from 9:00 pm to close: $2 domestic, $2.50 imports and $5 Absolut.

BEEFCAKE’S GRILL. 1721 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33311; 954-463-6969, boardwalkbar.com. 69-cent Jumbo Chicken Wings all night long along with Hot Days of Summer frozen drink specials. House specialty, cool and refreshing frozen lemonade just $8, all others $10.

WEDNESDAY JULY 13 DOLLAR DRINK NIGHT. Rumors Bar & Grill 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-565-8851, rumorsbarwiltonmanors.com. This staple nightclub is in a giving spirit on Wednesdays. First it’s 2-4-1 until 9:00 pm and then they drop prices on well and draft drinks to just $1 a pop. Plus, Skyy cocktails are reduced to only $4 a drink. And all these low price drinks are ongoing until the club closes.

LIP SERVICE WEDNESDAY. Progress Bar Wilton Manors 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-533-4916, progressbarsouthflorida.com. Hosted by Amanda Austin and her special guest entertainers. She likes to include the audience too with their own lip-sync contest at 11:30 pm – try your luck at winning the gift package. There’s always a different and fun theme.

NEW MEAT CONTEST. Boardwalk Bar 1721 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33311; 954-463-6969, boardwalkbar.com. Contestants compete for cash and prizes as the audience selects the next Mr. Boardwalk of the Week. Hosted by drag legend Daisy Deadpetals. Special drink prices all night long and 75-cent drinks from 9 pm to midnight.

THURSDAY JULY 14 LIT THURSDAYS! Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305; 954-5652526, alibiwiltonmanors.com. This night belongs to none other than $5 long Island Ice Teas. There’s no better place to start your pregame for the weekend. The music is great, the crowd is chilled and the drink jogs are huge. What more can you ask for?

TOWEL NIGHT. leBoy 1243 NE 11 Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33304; 954-368-8786, leboytonight. com. Things will get a little cleaner, and then a little dirty when you see go-go darlings walking around in nothing but a towel. What lies beneath is at your discretion to find out. Make sure to treat them right. It all starts at 7:00 pm.

FEEL THE PULSE. Village Pub 2283 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305; 754-2005244, villagepubwm.com. A benefit for Orlando and a lineup of stellar entertainment with a cast of the Who’s Who in South Florida. There will be raffles, auctions and a night of healing, everything gets started at 9:30 pm.