GED Magazine - February 2023

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023

VIP SEATING BEGINS AT 6PM

VIP MEET & GREET PACKAGE

RESERVED SEATING NEAR STAGE VIP GIFT BAG

AFTER-SHOW MEET & GREET WITH CRYSTAL WATERS & PEPPER MASHAY

(Limited to 50 people)

VIP TICKETS HERE:

PUBLISHER

From The Editor

800.818.0480 info@gedmag.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michael Westman

CREATIVE DIRECTION

Coachella Valley Design

DISTRIBUTION

Pride In Media

MARKETING

Christopher Jackson

ADVERTISING SALES

Eric Davis

Southern CA Account Manager eric@gedmag.com

Jim Delyea Northern CA Account Manager jim@gedmag.com

Terry Porter San Francisco Sales terry@gedmag.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 info@rivendellmedia.com

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES info@gedmag.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alexander Rodriguez

Michael Westman

Stan Jenson

Trent Broadus

Cover Model: JeanPaul Acocella

Cover photo by: Normady Europa

LOVE! We hope you are healthy and happy, and everyone at GED MAGAZINE wishes you a month filled with LOVE. We hope you enjoy this issue, with our exclusive interviews with JeanPaul Acocella, who talks about modeling for Andrew Christian, stereortypes, and issues facing the LGBTQ community; Lawrence Street and Caleb Mathura give us the scoop on the Mean Girls debut in Southern California; and Kimora Blac talks about Drag Race fandom.

We are looking forward to bringing you new events, new columns, and new excitement as 2023 progresses. As always, the GED Magazine Team is committed to bringing you the best in LGBTQ entertainment, nightlife, travel, and lifestyles. Visit us on the web at GEDmag.com and sign up for our monthly insider newsletter. Insiders will also be entered into future drawings for trips, event tickets, dinners and more. And for all the updates on social media, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @GEDmagazine and tag us in your photos - #GEDmag. GED MAGAZINE is here for YOUR entertainment!

Kimora Blac Werking Every Angle

By Alexander Rodriguez

Kimora Blac is a Queen with many talents. She is an oft-included Drag Race persona (though her stint in Season 9 was brief), she dominates the YouTube beauty channel scene, is a fashionista, and has performed alongside Todrick Hall, Ari Gold, and who can forget her glamming it up next to JLo at the recent iHeart Music Awards? She has the lewks, she has the cheekbones, and she got that booty...a booty that has been Kim Kardashian-approved.

Fashioning her name after model Kimora Lee Simmons and her favorite color black (with the k removed for that added twist), she started doing drag very young, in high school. Her relationship with makeup started with a pimple, a mom, and unconditional love.

I had a nasty pimple. It was disgusting. It hurt so bad. And I had to go to school and my mom put foundation on my face. And I’m telling you, I felt absolutely stunning. She was always just that girl for me. My mother was a hairstylist, she owned her own salon. She was always accepting of me and growing up with my real dad (I haven’t seen my real dad since I was 12 years old), he would always look at me with disgust. I knew he didn’t love me. My mom would always give me extra love and always made sure that I was okay.

Kimora would start to wear eyeliner to school and work her way into clubs at the age of 15. By the time she was 18, she was working as a drag queen professionally. The drag world didn’t just offer her a place to perform, it offered her safety as she explored her feminine side.

When I was doing drag, I wanted to, technically the word nowadays is transition, become trans. It was the route that I was going down because I was really unhappy with the way I looked. I didn’t really fit in with gay guys. I mean, I was a skinny Asian man, I didn’t feel I was hot like the other people or other guys are. When I was a girl, I felt so right. I felt in place like this is exactly what I want to be. Then long down the road, it got mixed in with professional drag and dressing up for fun, and living a full life that I realized I wasn’t trans. I like the comfort of choosing what I want to be every single day. And I do love that because I think if I was truly trans, I would’ve done it with no hesitation whether it’s down this road or that road.

Getting into drag at such an early age was not without its bumps, but she is forever grateful for that early start. Her advice to new Queens is to just do the damn thing.

Photo courtesy of Kimora Blac

I started drinking at a young age. I think when you’re sneaking into the clubs, what are you drinking in there besides liquor? It definitely messed with my senior year a lot, but I passed, and I graduated. But I’m happy with my journey. I loved it. I love every single part of it. These baby drag queens nowadays are like, can you teach me this? Can you show me how to do this? You need to learn it yourself. This is your path. You’re going to look like shit for years… get over it! You can’t just say, ‘I’m famous on Instagram so I’m the drag queen of the world.’ No, you have to work and challenge yourself. You have to know your angles, your smile, your face, and your makeup too.

It would take Kimora three tries before being cast on the 9th season of Drag Race. She was patient with the process and never swayed from her brand.

A lot of people ask me, what do I need to do for my audition tape? I say, be authentically you. In the script (for the audition) they asked me to go to a Dollar Store to sew something. I don’t put anything from Dollar Tree on my body, so I skipped that for sure. But I think a lot of viewers don’t understand the expectations for what Queens should look like are so overly rated and that it puts us into a mental state of mind to prepare for what we authentically like to do. When it comes to the audition tape, just be you and your time will come. And if you hate doing it, maybe this is not for you be -

cause you actually should enjoy doing these tapes. These tapes shouldn’t be stressful, and you should actually love doing them. So, if you don’t like to do a tape about yourself and your life, which I feel like people and superstars love to do, then this is not the career for you.

And what did she learn most from doing Drag Race?

I’ve learned to deal with social media. I was pretty popular on social media before I entered the workroom, but I don’t think I was on the magnitude of dealing with that side. I think when all the girls get on the show, we are so focused on being us and doing us, but then when you get off the show, the switch is completely opposite. If you’re not mentally stable and you suffer from depression or if you take everything so seriously, it will probably break you. And this could probably be in charge of your career because Drag Race fans can be brutal. Some are rude and disgusting and you have to learn how to tune them out and pay attention to the ones that are there for you. A lot of girls go private because they can’t handle it and it sucks because this is your prime time to be your business and show you. I think that’s what I really learned when I got off the show. But I have strong, thick skin. I’m not going to get mad with someone I never met.

Kimora comes from a family of thick skin, a family of survivors. His family’s journey to the States reads like a movie.

Photo courtesy of Kimora Blac

My grandpa was in the military, and he wanted to flee the entire family to the States. We would have to break up the family one by one because traveling together is really, really hard to get on the boat and go into the darkness and find your way to another boat to go across the sea. So, my whole family was broken up. They sent the oldest siblings first, which was my Auntie, she got to the States first. But what happened throughout the journey was two of my other aunties got abducted by pirates and then the rest went to camps. No one knew what happened to each other. I’m pretty sure they were just so scared all waiting by the shore or wherever they were, with the only hope being to get to the US. So, some went to camps and the others eventually made it to the camps. I remember my grandma telling me she would have to make little rice buns to survive and make money and sell them. Miraculously, my family all found each other in the same camp and just made their

way across the United States.

It’s that same resilience that Kimora has shown with her own career. She won’t be defined by a single TV show, she won’t be cataloged as just a lip-synch.

I love the Drag Race fandom. I think what Drag Race and Ru and World of Wonder have done is amazing and I will always appreciate what they’ve done for me and I will do anything for them. But why I wanted to get away from the franchise was because there are so many other things that you can do besides just lip-syncing and being tagged on Drag Race. I will never speak badly about Drag Race. I love them, but there’s so much more you can do as a drag entertainer besides doing that. And when I started to see a lot of the girls from the show doing the same thing year by year, going to Chicago to New York to Texas, back and forth, I said, I don’t want a residency like that. I want to do other things. I

want to be on campaigns for makeup, I want to do separate things, and I want to host a club versus lip-syncing.

What I had to do was breach my contract with my manager and then I hired two managers that had nothing to do with Drag Race. I took that gamble and now they’ve taken me to be working with liquors, they’ve got me working with venues and there’s so much more out there that I want to taste. And who knows? I can always come back to Drag Race, but don’t let one brand define you, it’s limiting. There are like 180 girls, you’re not the special one. You have to hustle. If you’re on Drag Race, you just can’t finish your season, and then hashtag Drag Race on every post you do and sit and wait for the doorbell. I feel like a lot of the girls that are on the show just expect the show to do a hundred percent of all the work for them.

Photo courtesy of Kimora Blac

Kimora is never afraid to speak her mind. She often calls members of the LGBTQ community out for their flimsy support of the actual drag world.

I try to stand for feminine men because we are looked down upon and frowned upon. For someone like me growing up and struggling with that, it was harder for me to live and it made me question my gender. Guys want to praise Bad Bunny for having nails and being in drag, and you guys think he’s so hot, but you guys don’t do this for your fellow brothers and sisters at the club or someone that you know. When’s the last time you went to a gay bar and walked to a drag queen standing by herself and said, Hey, beautiful. How are you? Or just kind of giving us the time. A lot of people in our community treat us just like scum until we’re on stage. What’s the difference between that drag versus the drag in your community?

It’s like a lot of people pick and choose what they want to hate and love and it doesn’t stay at a hundred. Why can’t you just love? So, when it comes to the Bad Bunny situation, this guy’s not even gay and he’s basically dressing like us and being praised by our community. And when a gay guy does it, it’s almost like shame. We’re just gross, we’re too feminine, or his drag is not right. Wait, what? I want people to support the sisters in your house. Like that drag that person that comes to the club that’s dressed to the nines. You don’t know what it takes, the bravery to dress like that. So stop pushing more negativity into the community you’re trying to fight for.

Kimora’s fans remain loyal, her social media channels grow by the day and her makeup tutorials are more life happy hours where she intimately talks about her life while she transforms from Von to Kimora. What is it about her that fans love so much?

Either you’re on the Kimora train or you’re not. I’m a true Sagittarius, whether you like me or not. I’m very unapologetic. The reason why I do and say certain things is that I want someone to take that energy and live their life as well. I think it’s really hard to live life in a time like this where we care what everyone thinks. We always want confirmation when we post a photo. We always want confirmation that we’re hot when we post on TikTok. We wait for the rates and the numbers. And I think it’s just toxic and I think it’s easier to live life by not giving a shit to be quite honest.

Her message to her fans?

I love you guys. Thank you for your support. I’m always going to be original. I’m always going to be authentic.

You can follow Kimora on IG: @KimoraBlack

Photo courtesy of Kimora Blac

By Michael Westman

Brothers of the Desert, a non-profit organization, is growing the Black gay men’s community in the Coachella Valley through collaboration, respect, integrity and honesty.

BOD’s mission is to “nurture and support Black gay men and allies through philanthropy, volunteerism, mentorship, education, advocacy, and social networking. Our purpose is to change the dynamics that produce isolation, disconnection, and inequities among Black gay men,” says Eric Davis, BOD Vice President.

With a growing membership, BOD meetings are hosted at the LGBTQ+ Community Center in Palm Springs second Saturday of every month. Their membership encompasses men who identify as Black or of African descent, gay, queer, bisexual, or same gender loving. Allies are also welcome and include individuals of any race, gender, or sexual orientation who support or contribute to community well-being.

BOD events are open to everyone, with most being free or donation based, and such events include: an annual Wellness Summit, which emphasizes holistic health and community engagement; a quarterly speaker series; a bi-monthly social event called “Brothers Got Talent”; and the monthly newsletter, Drumbeat. BOD programing is enhanced by special events for important dates such as Martin Luther King Day, Black History month, and Juneteenth.

According to brothersofthedesert.org, “The seeds of our group were planted in 2017 in response to these feelings of isolation and disconnection among a group of Black gay men in the Coachella Valley – both Black gay desert pioneers and Black gay desert newcomers. The founding group hosted a progressive dinner party on New Year’s Eve 2017, and in 2018 began

discussing the need to intentionally support the Black gay community in a strategic and meaningful way. We began by assessing who was in the valley by reaching out to personal contacts; we asked each other about the needs and dreams of the community in facilitated focus groups; and we learned about the experiences of long-standing Black gay residents and prior organizing efforts.”

Also engrained in the BOD mission, is giving back to the community. In 2019, BOD

partnered with Better Brothers of LA and began raising money for scholarships. Since organizing, BOD have dedicated more than $10,000 to scholarships for LGBTQ+ students and Black students in the Coachella Valley. Brothers of the Desert was formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2020.

In recognition of their efforts, in 2020, BOD received the City of Palm Springs Human Rights Commission Community Service Award, in 2021 Community Service Award from the Palm Springs Black Chamber of Commerce, and the 2022 Community Service Award from the Desert Business Association.

“Living your best Black gay life” is not just a motto with BOD but an action item, allowing its members to connect and socialize with each other, while sharing vital information on mental, physical, spiritual, and sexual health. BOD is truly building community in the Coachella Valley and beyond.

For more information on upcoming events, membership, or to donate, visit

www.brothersofthedesert.org

com·mu·ni·ty feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Photos from facebook.com/brothersofthedesert

Photo credit: Joris Studio

JeanPaul Acocella Living in the Moment

By Alexander Rodriguez

Over the years, the boys included in the Andrew Christian campaigns have changed. Reflecting the emphasis in mainstream media on inclusion and diversity, the models today include more mature, filled-out, POC, and – gasp! guys with body hair! Meet JeanPaul, Andrew Christian’s newest Trophy Boy. Coming from an extensive performance background, he celebrates the differences that set him apart in the modeling, gay, and entertainment communities. This Boca Raton native started his love with the arts early on in school and went on to attend an Arts high school. He attended college at the University of Central Florida as a hospitality Major and a Dance Minor. As any good gay performer does, he worked with Disney for close to a decade, getting the opportunity to work in Japan and France.

Conflicting the pretty boy stereotype, he is reflective of difficult issues affecting our community that include body dysmorphia, depression, and the pressures of social media. JeanPaul sat down with us for a very candid and intimate chat about his personal struggles and some of the realities of the modeling and go-go world, and his biggest hope for the LGBTQ community this year.

The arts have been a big part of your life, what was the first piece of art that sparked your interest in getting into the biz?

I guess the earliest memory of getting introduced to something artistic was starting the recorder in elementary school. I remember thinking I was so cool cause I was one of the best recorder players in the class. We even got colored belts for our play level, just like in Karate. Only a few of us “cool kids” got to tackle the black belt. I could play a fierce “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid. From there, that got me into band in middle school, followed by dance in high school, and ultimately started working for Disney as a performer. I think I was always meant to be a performer, in whatever form that takes!

Were you teased for being in dance in high school? How did you deal with high school bullies?

I was teased relentlessly starting in middle school. I was a huge nerd. Glasses, braces, tall and lanky, super closeted, I was prime picking for the bullies at my school. Unfortunately, that continued through high school, but it was more me not being able to come to terms with my sexuality and being teased by others about it. I was a very weak and unconfident person all through college. The bullies got away with it a lot of the time, but I think overall the entire expe -

rience of dealing with that really made my skin a lot thicker once I learned how to stand up for myself.

What do you love most about dancing?

I love how dancers can move their bodies unlike anyone else in the world. The things dancers can do and the shapes and lines they create are just gorgeous to me. You have the complex and rigid training that comes with ballet, all the way to the free moving and storytelling grittiness of hiphop. Dancing can captivate people and make them feel emotions just by moving their bodies. Also, dancing is just FUN.

When did you first start to realize you weren’t like the other boys…what is your coming out story?

Wait, you think I’m gay? Ok, you got me. My coming out story is pretty sad, to be honest. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that. I suffer from chronic depression. This affected me all of my adolescence, and I basically went into a spiraling depression all through high school and college. I used to cut myself on my arms and wear long-sleeved shirts to school hoping someone would notice and ask me if something was wrong. But I never let them be seen. I was hurting very badly and even thought about hurting myself a couple of times. I would pray to God to fix me and make me “normal”, but he never would. Eventually, my mom realized that something was very wrong with me. I was getting ready to leave for college and I couldn’t care less- which got her concerned. She took me out to eat one night and basically asked me what was going on and why I was so depressed. Eventually, she coaxed it out of me that I was questioning my sexuality. From there it started to get easier. The first time saying it out loud to a loved one is always so freeing. I’m so blessed to have parents that accepted me immediately and didn’t ever want me to feel like I had to hide that part of myself from them.

What brought you to LA, what were the hardest things to adjust to about living here?

To pursue a career as an entertainer/performer/actor/model, like everyone else! California has always been a dream of mine, and I spent most of my young adult life making excuses not to move here. I would get another show at Disney, or I would tell myself I’m trying to save money. There was always an excuse not to move. Eventually, I had to own

up to the fact I had been lying to myself and putting off this goal for no reason other than fear. If you want something bad enough, you will make it happen. There’s never going to be a perfect time to make a huge move, you just gotta do it.

You’ve talked before about your struggle with body dysmorphia. Is that something you still deal with today?

As I mentioned previously, depression is a bitch. It’s so sneaky, it creeps up on you without you even realizing it. Your day will be fine, and then all of the sudden it feels like the world is crashing down around you. But when someone asks what’s wrong, you literally can’t think of anything that’s wrong, it just IS wrong. It was the same with body dysmorphia. I would look in the mirror and see so many flaws staring back at me. No matter how many people told me I was handsome or had nice teeth or any kind of compliment I would just take it as them being nice and not wanting to tell me what I looked like. My mind had my image so warped I was seeing someone totally different. Today, I can happily say I do not suffer from body dysmorphia. Some days I love what I look like, some days I see stuff I want to fix, but when those days happen I just tell myself that I still look great and I should always appreciate where I’m at in my fitness journey and that I’m proud of myself for how far I’ve come from that little boy getting the shit beat out of him before band class.

Do you ever think the thirst trap pics on social media overshadow your talent and skills?

Of course, they do. Thirst traps are what get likes, followers, and attention. Don’t get me wrong, I work hard on my body, so I like to show it off. But I would say that I want be known for my talent, personality, and skill as a performer more so than my social media persona. People always think I’m such an outgoing and social person, but I’m introverted naturally. I might be out there shaking my ass in a thong being a chatty Cathy, but if I’m just a bar patron, I am by a wall or sitting down somewhere, preferably by someone with a dog that I can pet.

How do you deal with body issues while being part of the gay community, and a model?

A lot of self-reflection. My depression is caused by a chemical imbalance where I’m not able to produce a lot of serotonins naturally. Once I started taking my antidepressant my world was literally flipped upside down, in a great way. I would walk down the street like I was in a cartoon, the flowers might as well have been singing to me. Ever since I gained that new sense of confidence that I was so desperately lacking, I started being a lot kinder to myself. I used to force myself to fit the mold of what other people wanted me to be, I would diet and do so much cardio so I could try to be those emaciated models that grace the covers of Vogue. I realized how unhappy I was not only with myself

“If you are able to look in that mirror and like what you see, then that’s where your care of anyone else’s opinion of you should stop.”

Photo credit: Erica Dorsey

but the fact that I let all these people tell me how wrong I was for how I looked at ANY stage of my modeling career. “You’re too fat, you’re too skinny, you’re too tall, now too short, wide hips, big butt….” it goes on and on. One day I finally figured out that there is no one way to be beautiful. If you are able to look in that mirror and like what you see, then that’s where your care of anyone else’s opinion of you should stop. Also, even with my newfound discovery of self-love, that doesn’t mean the outside comments stop once you learn this. People will still come up to me when I’m go-go dancing to tell me something negative about myself (believe it or not, drunk people feel the need to share ALL their opinions). Now, instead of letting it get to me, I look right at them, smile, say thank you for sharing, and continue dancing as if nothing happened.

How did the Andrew Christian gig come about?

I had been doing a decent amount of modeling for some other underwear brands, and one day, out of the blue, Andrew shot me a message on Instagram asking if I wanted to come in for a shoot for the brand. I was obviously excited because Andrew Christian is such a well-known and powerful brand in the underwear world. I agreed and the shoot was at this beautiful house in Silverlake. I had such a good time meeting two of the other Andrew Christian boys, the photographer, the crew, and of course Andrew himself. I immediately felt comfortable, and the shoot turned out great. I was asked to come out to Palm Springs to record a video with Andrew doing a couple of holiday cocktails for the Andrew Christian blog. I have been a bartender for the last four years, so I was also super comfortable jumping in there and helping out with the video and making those cocktails. After that, I attended the GED Magazine MEGA PRIDE pool party with the AC boys. I booked two more photoshoots after that, and was then asked to officially become a Trophy Boy!

What do you love most about being a Trophy Boy?

I think it’s such a notable fixture in the gay community. So many people know the Trophy Boys of Andrew Christian. It was an honor to get asked to be one, and it validated that I am moving in the right direction of where I want to be. It opens me up to a lot of opportunities to meet more people, become more involved in the community, and maybe even show people there’s a lot more to a trophy boy than what he looks like. If people take the time to get to know me, I think I’ll surprise a lot of people! I’m such a goofball, quiet by nature, and just always wanna enjoy myself and make others feel comfortable around me.

Do you think body positivity and body diversity have gotten better in the LGBTQ community? In the modeling community?

Absolutely! I think compared to even just 10 years ago we’ve seen so much change within both of these communities. I’m a very big advocate for body diversity in the community. Every person should love the body they are in,

at whatever stage of shape it’s in. Society tells us that we need to have abs and be ripped to be beautiful. I’m happy to see times are changing and that we can promote and uplift people who don’t look like that, and they can see themselves in the models in campaigns, other than the unachievable Abercrombie and Fitch models back in the day. Along the same line, I think we have to realize that people are attracted to all different body types. I can openly admit that I’m not often attracted to super ripped guys with no body fat. I love a belly on a guy (big or small), I think it’s powerful and sexy. My friends will tease me a lot and say that I like ‘meatballs’ because a lot of the guys I go after are shorter and corn-fed. Everyone enjoys different things, we have to be more accepting and vocal about saying things like this, it opens up a conversation so people can have a better understanding of those with interests different than their own.

Photo credit: Brad Hammer

Photo credit: Normandy Europa

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about being an Andrew Christian model?

I’m sure each Trophy Boy will answer this question in their own way, but I think the biggest misconception for me is that Trophy Boys are overly sexual. I’m a very private person sexually most of the time. I’ll never be the one at a circuit party looking for someone to take to a back room, or even look for someone to take home at all. If you ever see me at a club and I’m making out with someone, something has gone terribly wrong. [Laughs] On top of being an Andrew Christian model, I also go-go dance, so I’m sure that stereotype is placed on me quite often. I get asked often if I have an OnlyFans, and I always joke because I wish I was that driven by sexual encounters that I could have the will to film and upload them for money, but I’m just way too lazy and don’t like sex enough. [Laughs] I think go-go dancing and even being an AC model make you have this sexy persona that attaches itself to you, and I love getting to be that sex pot in photos and when I dance because it’s just this alternate persona that only comes out when I’m doing one of those.

What do you want most from your career?

I’d love nothing more than to be a notable and successful model/ actor. Modeling is something I’ve always had a huge passion for. I was the closeted kid secretly watching every season of America’s Next Top Model over and over again. I’ve been fortunate to have some solid success with modeling, but I wanna take it to the next level and really do more fitness modeling. Next would be getting more acting roles and developing myself in that direction more. Landing a role in an LGBTQ+ Film or TV show would be my dream. I’m trying to live in the moment and not rush my goals. I’m taking it slow and putting in the work I need to do before I can make those goals a reality.

What is your biggest hope for the LGBTQ community in 2023?

Just continuing to be unified and fighting as a team. I think we have such an advantage as gay people because we know what it’s like to be outcasts at some point in our life. We know what it feels like to be treated differently because of something that makes you different from the people around you. With that, we are able to be family for those who don’t have any of their own, and we can see differences and embrace them rather than toss them out like the expired vegetables in your fridge. And even so, I think we need to further practice empathy and educate ourselves on the different aspects of our community. There is no rule book on how to be queer. Queerness comes in so many different forms, so we need to stop judging others for how they choose to express their queerness. I’m glad there is so much being done on shedding light on the trans community. We need more trans people on TV shows, in the news, and in everyday life being shown so that the people who fear or spread hate on trans people can see that we are literally all the same. How someone chooses to live their life and live their truth is no one’s business except that person. I just hope we as a community continue to spread love, support, and knowledge to each other and those not in our community as well.

You can follow JeanPaul on IG: @JeanPaul.Acocella

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023

DISCO HOUSE

PEPPER MASHAY

CRYSTAL WATERS

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023

DRAG BRUNCH

DJ FEMME A

ANDREW CHRISTIAN FASHIONS BROLESQUE SHOW

DAVID HERNANDEZ

SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023

MODERN MEN

BRIAN SCOTT

TOM GOSS

NRG T-DANCE, BEER BUST, DJS

"NOT YOUR MAMA'S CHICKEN RANCH"

STAN JENSON

ON STAGE with

9 TO 5: A couple of long-time friends accosted me recently and said, “Why haven’t you written anything about Long Beach in a while?” They were correct, so here goes: Long Beach has a number of theatres of various sizes. My favorite is Musical Theatre West, a pro/am company which produces four fully staged musicals each year and has been around for some 70 years. This year’s quartet starts off with 9 To 5, Dolly Parton’s musical. It is even more fun than the film and worth catching during its run February 10-26. This company uses a full live orchestra and a combination of professional actors and volunteers, though the productions always look totally professional. 9 To 5 will be followed by An American in Paris April 14–30 with a trove of George Gershwin tunes; The Wizard of Oz (calling all friends of Dorothy) July 7-23; and The Sound of Music October 20 – November 5. All shows are presented at the Karen and Richard Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of Cal State Long Beach. www. musical.org

THE SECRET GARDEN: Los Angeles’s Ahmanson Theatre is dusting off a 30-year-old beauty, The Secret Garden, with its first full production since it debuted on Broadway in 1991. The music is lush and memorable, though certainly more serious (ie, classically inspired) than most of the shows I mention in this column. Mary Lennox, a sickly 10-year-old girl living in India, loses her parents to cholera and is sent to England to live with her mysterious uncle. She meets a little boy and together they discover … well, think about the title. The adults are all seasoned professionals, but much depends on the two young leads, and no one can say for sure how they are in performance because they haven’t done any, but they were selected after extensive audition. It is likely to be a visually stunning show along with some truly haunting music. Plays February 9 – March 26. www.centertheatregroup.org

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE: In honor of the passing of Stephen Sondheim last year, Pasadena Playhouse, California’s State Theatre, is presenting a variety of shows by and about the musical genius. In January they hosted Into the Woods performed by high school students. This month is Sunday in the Park With George, February 14 – March 19, a musical about George Seurat the painter who developed pointillism. It is considered a masterpiece and rarely performed in a fully staged production. It will be followed by A Little Night Music April 25 – May 21, and Bernadette Peters in Concert June 10 – 11 (she was his favorite leading lady). There are a couple of related celebratory events including the unique Sondheim on Sondheim where a video version of the composer explains how numbers came about and then they are performed onstage by live performers. That one event is presented at USC’s Bing Theatre April 20 – 26. All others are at Pasadena Playhouse, a historic and delightful theatre to visit for any reason. www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org

Everybody deserves CARE.

If you are living with HIV/AIDS or concerned about your STI risk, the CARE Center at Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center is here to help. We offer high quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care. Come in for HIV/STI testing, PrEP or PEP, or specialized HIV care—regardless of your ability to pay. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/stmary/care or call (562) 453-3766

PrEP: Know Your Options

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for protection against HIV now has many forms.

By Trent Broadus, NP, MSN, ACNP-BC, AAHIVS

The HIV prevention world has changed dramatically in the more than 10 years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gilead Sciences’ Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in July 2012.

Following the discovery that Truvada can pose renal and bone density problems in some individuals (which, thankfully, go away after the medication is discontinued), the FDA approved Gilead’s more kidney-and-bone-friendly Descovy as PrEP in October 2019. While Truvada is currently available as a generic equivalent, Descovy is still under patent.

More than a year ago — on December 20, 2021 — the FDA approved GSK’s Apretude, the first and only long-acting injectable form of PrEP, which requires a new dose every two months.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), when taken as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of HIV infection from sexual activity by more than 99%, and by at least 74% for those who use intravenous drugs. You should be on PrEP for HIV protection if you are 18 years or older, are sexually active (or soon planning to be) and are HIV negative.

The great news with injectable PrEP is that it is a wonderful alternative for people who have issues with adherence and may forget to take their daily pill. It’s also very helpful for unhoused people who may have nowhere to store their meds, or who may be concerned that they’ll be stolen. Even more exciting, longer-lasting forms of injectable PrEP are currently being studied. Data are promising one injection that would last a full six months.

Before starting PrEP — whether orally or by injection — you’ll need to get tested for HIV, STIs, kidney function, and Hepatitis B and C. Some people experience gas, nausea, or headache when beginning PrEP. These side effects typically go away within the first week. Note that it takes at least one week on PrEP before you’re protected for anal sex, and three weeks for vaginal sex.

Most insurance plans cover oral PrEP for HIV. Injectable PrEP is covered by Medi-Cal, but some Medicare and private insurance plans may require you to go through your primary care provider. All forms of PrEP require regular follow-up HIV, STI, and kidney function testing - every three months for oral PrEP; every two months for injectable PrEP. You should talk to your doctor before stopping any medication. And if you stop taking PrEP, talk to a health care provider about using other HIV prevention strategies.

If you’re interested in PrEP, contact a PrEP navigator at DAP Health at 760-656-8400. You can also talk to any nurse or nurse practitioner during your visit if you want to discuss which PrEP may be right for you. If you don’t have health care insurance, or if you need financial assistance, a PrEP navigator can also explain your options, help you get access, and answer questions about finding a doctor or working with your pharmacy. And remember: All PrEP visits and lab work done at DAP Health’s Sexual Wellness Clinics in Palm Springs and Indio are always free of charge to all patients.

DAP Health Clinical Supervisor of Sexual Wellness Trent Broadus oversees the organization’s Sexual Wellness Clinics in both Palm Springs and Indio. He has been on staff at the agency since 2017.

sexual health is health care

Mean Girls Take Over Southern California

By Alexander Rodriguez

The Mean Girls musical is sweeping So Cal, first appearing in Los Angeles, it is in San Diego, then off to Orange County. Based on the Tina Fey movie, based on the popular nonfiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, the musical is now being turned into a movie musical by Paramount. The musical version looks a bit different than the film but has all the elements that have become so popular. This touring production also features a number of performers from the LGBTQ as well as POC community, including Lawrence E. Street as Principal Rick Duvall and Caleb Mathura as Kevin G. We caught up with them on their day off to chat about their personal experience in theatre, as well as taking on well-loved characters.

LAWRENCE E. STREET

You made your Broadway debut in Urinetown…what was opening night like? What was going through your mind moments before taking the stage?

A Broadway debut is a singular moment in a performer’s life. I remember feeling a complicated sense of accomplishment and pressure. Also, mixed with my personal experience, the Nation was in a state of terror, due to World Trade Center bombings. Our official opening was supposed to be September 13, 2001. I remember our Officer Barrel, Daniel Marcus, took my shoulders and said to me “No matter what happens after this, you have performed in a Broadway Show. No one can take that away from you.” It was a very moving moment.

What has been your experience, as a black man, in the queer community?

My experience has varied. There has been connection and joy on the dance floor while listening to House Music. There has been awe and inspiration watching amazing drag performers like Kevin Aviance. There has also been a lot of loneliness and confusion by being “othered.” My personal work, over the past few years, has been about healing the damage that racism and homophobia have done to my sense of self.

What has been your experience, as a queer man, in the black community?

Growing up, being othered by the cis-gendered, heterosexual, black community was traumatic. I had a deep sense of hopelessness that was created by my family and the community I grew up in. Just living was met with the message

Photo courtesy of Lawrence E. Street

Photo by Jenny Anderson

that I was dirty/wrong/going to hell. There was an equally painful sense that I was a joke-not worthy of respect or empathy. Today, I have found a deep sense of safety with other Black Queer Folx in the rooms of recovery.

You have been on the stage for 20-plus years, how has theatre changed the most since you started?

Awesome advances have been made in lighting, sound, and set design in the past 20 years. The world that designers can create using modern technology is really exciting. Whether I’m onstage or in the audience, I feel like I’m getting a visual and auditory feast!

What was your connection to the Mean Girls movie before auditioning for the musical?

I’m a huge Tina Fey fan. I’ve always known that if she wrote it then I’m gonna love it. Tina’s singular creative voice is a special gift. Touring a big musical like Mean Girls is an honor. We travel with a company of 60 professionals, all at the top of their craft, and bring Broadway to cities all over this country. I feel a real sense of giving something to each community we perform in that feels heartfelt and sincere.

If you had to choose, which of the Mean Girls do you relate to the most?

I was a Gretchen when I was younger. I got very good at maintaining my social power by having LOTS of information about everyone else. YUCK.

How have you made the role of Mr. Duvall your own?

I think my Mr. Duvall is very highly-strung. I find a lot of comedic juice in the idea that he spends the entire day running from problem to problem and can barely keep it together. Mr. Duvall and I are alike in that we both take our jobs very seriously and we want to be respected. The main difference is that I don’t think Rick Duvall likes teenagers and doesn’t remember being one himself. I happen to think teenagers are great and I still try to stay connected to the younger versions of myself when I can.

What is your favorite onstage moment?

I love my last two lines in the show. They are so snarky. Something I would think to myself but would never say out loud.

What is your message to the LGBTQ community coming to see the show?

My message is simply THANK YOU for coming.

You can follow Lawrence on IG: @StreetLifenStuff

What was the first piece of theatre that inspired you to become an actor?

Years ago, I saw RENT for the first time. I was fascinated by both the actors onstage, as well as the roles they were playing. It was the first time I really felt represented onstage. I remember that like it was yesterday!

You come from a diverse heritage - Indian, Lebanese, and Irish – what about these cultures do you love the most, and what special element have they added to your performance?

I will always be a “foodie” at heart, so one of my favorite things about my heritage is the delicious foods each culture inhabits. My background has influenced my work onstage by making me more aware of the responsibilities that artists of color hold, especially when it comes to paving the way for the next generation of BIPOC artists.

You have portrayed some iconic lead roles – Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin in Pippin – how did you make these well-known roles your own?

For me, I always try to bring elements of myself to the role I’m playing. I’ve found that it helps create authenticity and originality onstage. Although sometimes difficult to find, there will always be similarities between yourself and the character. Embrace that!

What was your audition process for Mean Girls? Your first thoughts when you booked the tour?

Photo courtesy of Caleb Mathura

Photos by Jenny Anderson

I had three separate auditions for Mean Girls over the course of a few months, some were virtual and some were in person. When I booked the job, I felt overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude. This has been a dream of mine since I was 5, and having it become a reality was surreal.

What are some of the behind-the-scenes realities you’ve learned about life on the road with a show?

I’ve become more resourceful on the road. Traveling from city to city can be difficult on the mind, body, and spirit. From learning how to make oatmeal in a drip coffee maker, to actively scheduling time to talk with the people I love… my first tour has been very informative, to say the least.

What do you love most about playing Kevin G?

I love how “extra” I get to be when playing Kevin. He has a lot of bling and (possibly too much) swag. It’s a blast. Kevin and I are both very passionate people. We care about the future of ourselves and the people around us. Kevin is also incredibly confident about himself and his “schquillz” —I strive to be more like him in that sense.

What was your creative process when putting your performance together as Kevin G?

Kevin’s track utilizes a lot of skills that I hadn’t fully developed until stepping into this role. Focusing on diction and vocal stylization, especially for the rapping I do in the show, has been very important to my creative process for Kevin. I’m also a perfectionist; learning to let some of that go has been a process in itself.

What is your favorite onstage moment in Mean Girls?

I really love the moment I share with Cady during Act 2, before “Do This Thing.” I think it’s the first the audience sees how much having Cady on the Mathletes team means to Kevin… he really cares about her and wants her to utilize her talents. English Bernhardt (our fearless leader!) is also an absolute joy to work with, on and offstage. The show has been beautifully updated to take place in the present time vs. the movie, which was shot in 2004. The power of social media weighs a lot heavier in our production than the movie, which I think makes it even more relatable to this generation of fans.

You have spent most of your life in the theatre. What has it taught you about life?

Hard work and dedication. Being in any competitive field can be very intense at times, but you have to remember why you chose to pursue this. If you have a goal for yourself, work towards it every single day, and you WILL get there. That goes for anything you are passionate about in your life.

What is your message to the LGBTQ community coming out to see the show?

Never dim your light for the comfort of others. Live your life truthfully and authentically.

You can follow Caleb on IG: @Caleb_Mathura

Get tickets to Mean Girls at www.meangirlsonbroadway.com.

Photo by Jenny Anderson

LOS ANGELES DIRECTORY

BARS & CLUBS

AKBAR

4356 W. Sunset Blvd Silverlake, CA 90029

323.665.6810

akbarsilverlake.com

BEACHES WEHO

8928 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.360.0395

beachesweho.com

FIESTA CANTINA

88565 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.652.8865

fiestacantina.net

FUBAR

7994 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046

323.654.0396

fubarla.com

GYM Sportsbar

8919 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069 424.313.8202

gymsportsbar.com

HAMBURGER MARY’S

8288 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

323.654.3800

hamburgermarys.com

Heart Weho

8911 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069

heartweho.com

HI TOPS

8933 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

hitopsbar.com

MICKYS

8857 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.657.1176

mickys.com

ROCCO’S

8900 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069 424.343.0123

roccosweho.com

SAINT FELIX

8945 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.275.4428

saintfelix.net

THE ABBEY

692 N Robertson Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.289.8410

theabbeyweho.com

THE CHAPEL 692 N Robertson Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.289.8410

theabbeyweho.com

THE EAGLE

4219 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029 323.669.9472

eaglela.com

REVOLVER VIDEO BAR

8851 SANTA MONICA BLVD. WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069 424.382.1108

REVOLVERWEHO.COM

STACHE 8941 SANTA MONICA BLVD

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069

310.402.0770

STACHEWEHO.COM

THE BAYOU

8939 SANTA MONICA BLVD

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90069

310.273.3303

THEBAYOUWEHO.COM

TRUNKS

8809 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.652.1015

west.hollywood.trunksbar.com

CLOTHING & LEATHER

665 Leather & Fetish 20810 Lassen St

Chatsworth, CA 91311

818.678.9193

665leather.com

BRICK & MORTAR

8713 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310.652.6605

shopatbrick.com

CHI CHI LARUE’S

8861 Santa Monica Blvd and 8230 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069 323.337.9555

circusofbooks.com

ROUNDERBUM

802 N San Vicente Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

844.284.2968

rounderbum.com

ROUGH TRADE LEATHER 3915 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90029

323.660.7956

roughtradegear.com

THE PLEASURE CHEST

7733 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046 323.650.1022

thepleasurechest.com

HAIR SALONS BLADES

801 N. Larrabee St, Ste #1

West Hollywood

310 659-6693

LOS ANGELES DIRECTORY

SHORTY’S BARBER SHOP

755 N Fairfax Ave

West Hollywood

323 297-0554

shortysbarbershop.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES HEALTH/COUNSELING

AID FOR AIDS AFA

8235 Santa Monica Blvd #200 West Hollywood, CA 90046

323 656-1107 aidforaids.net

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION/MENS

WELLNESS CENTER

• 6255 W Sunset Blvd, 21st Fl Los Angeles, CA 90028

888 AIDS CARE

• 1300 N Vermont Ave, Ste 407 Los Angeles, CA 90027

866 339-2525

800 367-2437 inspotla.org

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION PHARMACY

8212 Santa Monica Blvd

The David Geffen Center West Hollywood, CA 90046

323 654-0907 ahfpharmacy.org

APLA HEALTH

CLIENT & COMMUNITY SERVICES

The David Geffen Center

• 611 South Kingsley Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90005

213.201.1600

213 201-WALK (9255)

• 3743 S. La Brea Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90016

323.329.9900

• 5901 W. Olympic Blcd. #310

Los Angeles, CA 90036

• 1043 Elm Avenue #302

Long Beach, CA 90813

562.247.7740 apla.org aidswalk.net

AIDS RESEARCH ALLIANCE

1400 S Grand Ave Ste 701 Los Angeles, CA 90015 310 358-2429

www.hopetakesaction.org aidsresearch.org

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

3333 Wilshire Blvd #900 Los Angeles, CA 90010 800 227-2345 cancer.org

BEING ALIVE PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS ACTION COALITION

621 N San Vincente Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310 289-2551 beingalivela.org

GAY & LESBIAN CENTER

Orange County

1605 N Spurgeon St Santa Ana, CA 92701 714 953-5428 thecenteroc.org

HOLY FAMILY SERVICES, ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE

840 Echo Park Ave Los Angeles, CA 90026 213 202-3900 hfs.org

LA FREE CLINIC

• 5205 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038 323 653-1990 – appts 323 653-8622 – admin lafreeclinic.org

• 6043 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028

• 8405 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90048 LA Public Health reallycheckyourself.org

OUT OF THE CLOSET

THRIFT SHOPS

• 8224 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046

323 848-9760

• 3500 East Pacific Coast Hwy

Long Beach, CA 90804

562 494-0340

• 1726 East Colorado Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91106

626 440-1719

• 360 North Fairfax Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90036

323 934-1956

PROJECT ANGEL FOOD

922 Vine St

Los Angeles, CA 90038

323 845-1800

angelfood.org

THE TREVOR PROJECT

9056 Santa Monica Blvd #100

West Hollywood, CA 90069

310 271-8845

thetrevorproject.org

VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE

6801 Coldwater Canyon Ave

North Hollywood, CA 91605

818 301-6314 - HIV testing

818 301-6390 - Medical Services

smarthealthla.com

LEGAL

LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND INC.

Western Regional Office

3325 Wilshire Blvd #1300

Los Angeles, CA 90010

213 382-7600

lambdalegal.org

NATIONAL G & L TASK FORCE

5455 Wilshire Blvd #1505

Los Angeles, CA 90036

323 954-9597

thetaskforce.org

PALM SPRINGS DIRECTORY

ATTRACTIONS

THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS

47900 Portola Ave

Palm Desert, CA 92260 760 346-5694 livingdesert.org

PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM

745 N Gene Autry Trail Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 778-6262 palmspringsairmuseum.org

PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM

101 Museum Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 322-4800 psmuseum.org

PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY

1 Tram Way

Palm Springs, CA 92262 888 515-8726 pstramway.com

BARS & CLUBS

BLACKBOOK

315 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.832.8497 blackbookbar.com

CHILL BAR

217 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.327.1079 chillbarpalmsprings.com

DICK’S ON ARENAS

301 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.0753 eagle501bar.com

HUNTERS

302 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0700 hunterspalmsprings.com

ONE ELEVEN BAR

67555 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.537.3111 oneelevenbar.com

OSCAR’S

125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 108 Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.325.1188 oscarspalmsprings.com

PS AIR BAR

(Speakeasy inside Bouschet) 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr, Suite 22 Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.327.7701 psairbar.com

QUADZ

200 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.4326 Spurline.com

STREET BAR

224 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1266 psstreetbar.com

THE BARRACKS

67-625 E. Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.321.9688

REFORMA

333 S Palm Canyon Dr Unit 2, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-902-6630 reformaps.com

THE ROOST LOUNGE 68718 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.507.8495 theroostcc.com

TOOL SHED

600 E. Sunny Dunes Rd. Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.320.3299 pstoolshed.com

TOUCANS TIKI LOUNGE

2100 N. Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.7584 toucanstikilounge.com

CLOTHING OPTIONAL RESORTS

BEARFOOT INN

888 N. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA. 92262 760.699.7641 bearfootinn.com

DESCANSO

288 E. Camino Monte Vista Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1928 descansoresort.com

DESERT PARADISE

615 S. Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.320.5650 desertparadise.com

EL MIRASOL VILLAS

525 Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.327.5913 elmirasol.com

INNDULGE PALM SPRINGS

601 Grenfall Rd Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.327.1408 inndulge.com

SANTIAGO RESORT

650 San Lorenzo Road Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.322.1300 santiagoresort.com

THE HACIENDA

586 S. Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264

760.327.8111 thehacienda.com

TRIANGLE INN PALM SPRINGS

555 San Lorenzo Rd. Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.322.7993 triangle-inn.com

TWIN PALMS

1930 S. Camino Real Palm Springs, CA 760-841-1455 twinpalmsresort.com

VISTA GRANDE RESORT

574 S. Warm Sands Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.322.2404 vistagranderesort.com

CLOTHING & LEATHER GAYMART

305 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.6436

GEAR LEATHER & FETISH

650 E Sunny Dunes Rd #1 Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.322.3363 gearleather.com

ROUGH TRADE LEATHER 321 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.699.7524 roughtradegear.com

GIFTS

DESTINATION PSP

170 North Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 354-9154 destinationpsp.com

GREETINGS PALM SPRINGS

301 N Palm Canyon Dr # 102 Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 322-5049 greetingspalmsprings.com

JUST FABULOUS 515 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 864-1300 bjustfabulous.com

PALM SPRINGS DIRECTORY

MISCHIEF CARDS & GIFTS

226 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 322-8555 mischiefcardsandgifts.com

PEEPA’S

120 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 318-3553 peepasps.com

PS HOMEBOYS

108 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.318.7388 pshomeboys.com

Q TRADING COMPANY

606 E Sunny Dunes Rd Palm Springs, CA 92264

760-416-7150

HAIR SALONS CUT BARBER

1109 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 322-2999 cutbarber.com

DADDY’S BARBERSHOP

192 S Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264

760 537-1311 daddysbarbershop.com

MEN’S GROOMING SPOT

68487 E Palm Canyon Dr Suite 43 Cathedral City, CA 92234

760 992-0028 mensgroomingspot.com

PALM SPRINGS FINE MEN’S SALON

750 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3 Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.904.0434 psfinemenssalon.com

REALTORS

3 BEARS REALTY

2905 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-699-6175 3bearsrealty.com

PALM SPRINGS HOME TEAM

Conrad Miller (DRE #01973983)

760.464.9559

Brandon Holland (DRE # 01986968)

760.413.1220

Palmspringshometeam.com

RESTAURANTS

1501 UPTOWN GASTROPUB

1501 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, 92262

760-507-1644

1501uptown.com

BLACKBOOK

315 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.832.8497 blackbookbar.com

BOOZEHOUNDS PALM SPRINGS

2080 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.656-0067 boozehoundsps.com

EIGHT4NINE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE

849 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.8490 eight4nine.com

FARM

6 La Plaza Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.2724 farmspalmsprings.com

JOHANNES

196 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.0017 johannespalmsprings.com

NICOLINO’S CATHEDRAL CITY

35325 Date Palm Drive, Unit 111, Cathedral City, CA 92234 760-324-041 nicolinos.com

RICK’S DESERT GRILL

1596 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.2127 ricksdesertgrill.com

ROLY CHINA FUSION

1107 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.548.0041 rolychinafusion.com

SAMMY’S PLACE

69034 E Palm Canyon Drive Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.770.4030 originalsammysplace.com

SHAME ON THE MOON

69950 Frank Sinatra Dr Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 760.324.5515 shameonthemoon.com

SHERMAN’S DELI 401 E Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.1199 shermansdeli.com

TRILUSSA

68-718 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.328.2300 trilussarestaurant.com

TRIO RESTAURANT

707 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA. 92262 760.854.8746 triopalmsprings.com

WILMA & FRIEDA’S 155 S Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.992.5080 wilmafrieda.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

DAP HEALTH

1695 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 323-2118 daphealth.org

DESERT CARE NETWORK 760 561-7373 desertcarenetwork.com

DESERT OASIS HEALTHCARE 275 North El Cielo Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 325-DOHC (3642) mydohc.com

EISENHOWER HEALTH 39000 Bob Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 760 340-3911 eisenhowerhealth.org

MICHAEL’S HOUSE 1910 S Camino Real Palm Springs, CA 92262 844 768-0633 michaelshouse.com

PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760 416-5718 psanimalshelter.org

PALM SPRINGS FRONT RUNNERS & WALKERS frontrunners.clubexpress.com

STONEWALL GARDENS

2150 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760 548-0970 stonewallgardens.com

LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE DESERT 1301 North Palm Canyon Dr, 3rd Floor Palm Springs, CA 92262

760 416-7790 thecentercv.org