GED July 2022

LIST WITH THE TEAM THAT

KNOWS

PALM SPRINGS.

OVER 30 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE.

Conrad

Brandon

WWW.PALMSPRINGSHOME TEAM.COM Conrad Miller REALTOR®

760.464.9559

Conrad@PalmSpringsHomeTeam.com DRE #01973983

Brandon Holland REALTOR®

760.413.1220

Brandon@PalmSpringsHomeTeam.com DRE #01986968

EXPERIENCED FINANCIAL ADVICE CNBC ANCHOR 18+ YEARS INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR SIMON D. HOBBS

SIMON D. HOBBS CALIFORNIA FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. Helping people pursue their financial independence and investing with confidence, starts with listening and understanding your unique set of priorities, hopes and fears. Our comprehensive financial review will estimate your cash during each year of retirement. Plus, we only charge one single transparent fee. I will not sell products that pay me a commission.

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CONTENTS

Matt Rogers – 28

Jake Shears – 8

Aja – 38

16 – Ethylina Canne

26 – Skinny Dipping

18 – Sassy Movie News

44 – GAYME

20 – On Stage

46 – Discover ARENAS

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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 Ethylina Canne Josh Jaquez Michael Westman Stan Jenson Steven H. Garcia

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

PUBLISHER

From The Editor Hello Summer! Our special feature this month is Matt Rogers, who talks about Hulu’s Fire Island, his podcast with SNL’s Bowen Yang, and I Love That For You with Jennifer Lewis. He is also on GED’s podcast U.S. of Gay, so be sure to tune-in for all the tea. We are also happy to have Jake Shears, powerhouse performer from Scissor Sisters who debuted on Broadway in Kinky Boots.

Drag Queen Aja LaBeija, Sassy Movie News, the world’s best skinny-dipping spots, some Vegas hot spots, and more, line the pages of this month’s issue.

The GED Magazine Team is committed to bringing you the best in LGBTQ entertainment, nightlife, travel, and lifestyles, and GED continues to bring you new events and new excitement, including Issue Release parties across California, monthly BINGO with Ethylina Canne the second Sunday of each month at The Roost Lounge in Cathedral City, and more upcoming events!

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, and Twitter @GEDmagazine and tag us in your photos to be featured… #GEDmag. GED MAGAZINE is here for YOUR entertainment!

Cover Model: Matt Rogers Cover Photo by: Curtis Brown

GEDMAG.com | 7

Jake Shears

is Getting Kinky.

Photo by Kevin Tachman

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By Alexander Rodriguez

Jake Shears may be instantly recognizable as the wildly successful songwriter and one of the powerhouse performers of Scissor Sisters, but you can add actor, writer, and solo artist to that list. We have seen him mature through both his songs and his career, and he shows no signs of taking a break. This July, he comes to the Hollywood Bowl to his reprise his Broadway debut role as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots, alongside Wayne Brady and Kelly Marie Tran. Having gone through COVID, a breakup, and a move across the pond, Jake’s Charlie Price is a welcome return.

Getting off-book again and going back to the script, it’s sort of naturally coming back. I just feel so comfortable. It’s really like putting on an old leather jacket or something you haven’t worn for a while. I feel confident with it, I don’t feel that stressed out about it. I think there’s something else coming out in the character with me and I’m just so excited to do it again with that confidence.

His 2018 Broadway debut in Kinky Boots was not without nerves. Although his musical theatre relationship had started years prior when he wrote the music for the musical version of the book Tales of the City, and although he had performed to sold-out audiences around the globe, the Broadway grind was something foreign to him.

It was topsy turvy doing eight-show weeks. We would do five-show weekends, I would finish the weekend and realize I had been on stage for a good chunk of my waking life.

I was living on a stage, which is my dream, and I was really enjoying it. I took it so seriously just because I wanted to be good and just preparing for it and getting in there was just a lot of work. I don’t know if I’ve ever worked so hard on anything before in my life. It was completely exhausting but very satisfying. Kinky Boots was biting off even more than I could chew. There was a moment where I thought to myself, I don’t know if I can do this, but I did, and that was just one of the best moments in my life.

Jake first deviated from his Scissor Sisters persona as an actor when he appeared in the deeply dark play, Bent, directed by theatre impresario Moisés Kaufman. In true Jake form, he challenged himself and was able to turn dark energy into light.

Moisés came to me and wanted to cast me in the show, but I’m not an actor at all, like I’m a bad actor. And he said, “Don’t worry. I promise I’ve got you on this. I’m gonna help you through it. And he really, really did. I learned so much and it was one of the most amazing times of my life that summer. I think we did 70 shows and it’s such a beautiful show. I met amazing people on it and it’s just so exciting to see yourself kind of progress and learn new things and I loved it. It was really funny, it was so heavy and every night I remember after the show I’d set up my dressing room, with a full bar. There was a big rug and fairy lights and stuff. The show was so depressing, everybody was really down and I would run up to my room and play Donna Summer’s “Love Will Always Find You” every night. Everyone went back to the dressing rooms and got their good moods back on, it

was an amazing moment. I wouldn’t have been able to do Kinky Boots without it.

From leaving Scissor Sisters to pave his own path, the year he debuted in Kinky Boots was a big one for Jake. Not only did he release his memoir, Boys Keep Swinging, but he also released his self-titled debut solo album Jake Shears. His beautiful style of songwriting translated to the page extremely well, and the memoir detailing his journey from being bullied in high school to being embraced by New York’s underground solidified his role as an indie artist. With rumors and assumptions as to why Scissor Sisters broke up, his memoir would unflinchingly tell his side of life – drugs, sex, and rock n roll were his life’s companions.

I was nervous about it, it’s a little strange opening up about certain things. I am actually a private person… on social media I don’t like to spill everything out. I don’t like for people to necessarily know where I’m at all times or who I’m dating or what’s going on. But that book exposed me, it’s very sexually explicit, there’s a lot of drugs and sex and partying and all kinds of stuff in there. And I was like, my God, my Mom is gonna read this, and she did. She’s totally fine, ha! I loved writing that book and I look at it now and I kind of wish I could write it again. There is something about writing about your life that can be eye-opening.

I’ve been thinking about how I was 25 when the first Scissor’s record came out and it’s really interesting thinking back to that boy now that I’m 43, thinking about all the crazy stuff that I went through at a pretty young age. I think about it a lot now and try to give myself a little leeway sometimes. I can be hard on myself. I try to go back and think about those points and remember that I did go through a lot. I think sometimes you’ve gotta be a little bit easier on yourself.

Revisiting Jake’s debut solo album is like revisiting the early years of Scissor Sisters. There is a euphoric joy that just exudes from each note, his instantly recognizable voice immediately makes you feel filthy and gorgeous at the same time. The energy and exuberance of his songwriting play as a complete opposite of the anxiety and depression that Jake has experienced and has been very open about. How does he write music from sometimes a dark place?

Joyful music just comes out of me. I love writing fun music and I love writing stuff that’s a little bit sinister too. Over the last couple of years, people ask me what the record’s about, and it’s not about anything other than the act of making music, it made me happy making it. It was the one thing I could do that made me feel good. I just think that it’s important to at least find things that can bring you some joy. And over the last few years, that is what really brought me a lot of joy - making music.

Before non-binary and gender-fluid style was a fixture on the red carpet, as a youth, Jake was exploring his creative side. A self-proclaimed “girlie freak,” he was dressing very aggressively, GEDMAG.com | 9

Photo by Kevin Tachman

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Photo by Stevie Be

lots of consignment-shop skirts and fishnets, and would buy bondage belts from his tweaker friends who needed money for drugs. Even in the low-key climates of suburban Arizona and a harbor town in Washington State, he was defying norms loudly.

Attention is what I needed! That’s something about just my personality. I’m a person that does need attention and I feel like I have channeled that into healthy channels, in positive ways. I think it can go kind of either way for people like me. At the time, I felt different, and I felt like I needed to break out when I was a teenager. I was so inspired by all the music I was listening to, kind of right before Nirvana came out and there was Susan and the Banshees and Nine Inch Nails, and I was super into Bowie. It was an amazing time for music and I was very inspired by the styles that I was seeing. And I wanted to be different. I wanted to look different. I wanted people to see me. I wanted to feel like I was sticking out, no matter the cost. Even if people were going to yell at me from their cars, it was more important to me to feel like I did inside as on the outside, whether I was going to be made fun of or not.

From taking tap dance lessons in the 4th grade with his mom to becoming an international music star, he’s had a colorful journey complete with ups and downs. Now that he’s created his own spotlight, is he able to celebrate his time with Scissor Sisters?

Absolutely. It was tough and there were struggles. Yes. But I loved every minute of it, I wouldn’t trade any of it. I love singing those songs. Even though I’m not with a band anymore, things don’t feel that different for me. I’m still making the music. I still perform and sing all the songs I’ve

written over my career and the new songs that I do. I love what I do. I’m one of the luckiest people on the planet, I’ve never had to get a real job. I have been able to make my living from my passion. It just doesn’t feel like work - it’s fun. Even though there are hard times, and even though you can really sacrifice a lot for it, it’s worth it. And it’s a life I would never, ever trade.

As Jake puts the final touches on his second memoir, his second solo album, and his return to Kinky Boots, he looks to the future and the future for our community.

I think we are in a pretty good spot; I think it’s going to be an exciting Pride this year. I think the main thing is we all just need to really listen to one another, and we all need to keep a sense of humor. Humor is part of who we are.

Everybody’s got to be flexible a little bit, there’s no world where there is no compromise, you know? So, I think being flexible, having a sense of humor, listening to one another, and all those things, loving one another, are the most important things. And that’s what I want to see and continue seeing in our community.

This pride season, just don’t take our good times for granted, don’t take our community for granted. Don’t take your friends for granted.

Jake will be appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in Kinky Boots from July 8th – 10th.

Look for Jake’s second memoir and solo album coming soon.

Follow Jake on IG @JakeShears GEDMAG.com | 11

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GEDMAG.com | 13

Advance tickets sold at The Roost Lounge, or call (760)507-8495

Get your tickets soon! This event will sell out.

Delta Work

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Ethylina Canne

Sunday, July 24

Morgan McMichaels

DRAG BRUNCH • HOLIDAY DINNER PERFORMERS • RAFFLES • WREATH AUCTION Abigail Carter

Details at theroostcc.com Keisha D

David Hirsch

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CHRISTMAS IN JULY at The Roost Lounge benefits Tools for Tomorrow and the children of Rio Vista Elementary School.

Bill Lohnes

THE ROOST LOUNGE • 68718 E Palm Canyon Dr. #203 Cathedral City, CA 92234 • (760) 507-8495

Viva Las Vegas

By Ethylina Canne

Summertime is here henny and it is time to head to Sin City for a trip of a lifetime. The saying may go “Whatever Happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” but here’s your guide to help you live your best life on and off the strip.

Now I must say, I LOVE Vegas, for about 3 days! I am so enthralled with the golden era of Vegas where the Ratpack used to croon on the stages, and the star residencies had the likes of Nancy Sinatra, Ann Margret, Liberace, and Jayne Mansfield! I would seriously time travel to get to experience one of those concerts in person! Those acts and superstars may be gone, but the thrill of the town is still there and it’s a great mixture of the old and the new. There is so much more to Vegas than gambling and I’m here to tell you all about it!!!!!

Area 15: This is your MEGAPLEX of fun! Immerse yourself in a complete world of fantasy with amazing attractions that include Omega Mart, Oz Ride, Wink World, and Museum Fiasco just to name a few. You can dine, drink, and even fly above the entire complex. The amount of Instagramable moments is simply beyond and you can spend all day inside if you choose. www.area15. com The Neon Museum: This fabulous indoor/ outdoor museum holds all the old gems of neon history that we all remember from the “good old days.” You may experience the magic of The Neon Museum main collection day or night! The night tour, which is called “Brilliant,” features the FABULOUS neon of the restored signs, and the beautifully and dramatically lit un-restored signs. Seeing the lights come to life in the evening is nothing short of breathtaking. Their newest tour, “Neon Night Flight Spectacular,” is taking flight now as you soar above the strip by helicopter for a sight you will never forget! www.neonmuseum.org Erotic Heritage Museum: Just image…24,000 square feet and two stories of exhibits that promote the preservation and acceptance of human sexuality. The unending collection on display there is something 16 | GEDMAG.com

you just MUST SEE! Not only is it educational, but it is pure entertainment as well. And speaking of entertainment, two of my FAVORITE shows happen there: “Puppetry of the Penis” and “Naked Boys Singing!” (Use promo code: ROBERT for discounted tickets to NBS.) Both of these shows are performed in the flesh and the boys bare all, and let me just tell you…there’s A LOT to see, if you know what I mean. www.eroticmuseumvegas.com Las Vegas Showgirl Museum: Who doesn’t love a Vegas Showgirl? Here is a fun fact for you: Did you know Elvira Mistress of the Dark started her career as a Vegas Showgirl???

One of my guilty pleasures is of course the cult movie “Showgirls,” and if you want to see all the rhinestones and feathers up close, this is a MUST! Over 40,000 artifacts are on display which include wardrobe pieces, sets, and props, costume designs, film footage, historical documents, and photos. www.lasvegasshowgirlmuseum.com 18b Las Vegas Arts District: I just adore everything retro and vintage and there is no better place to find some mid-century gems than the Arts District. Taking a stroll down the street you will find anything and everything from small nick-nacks to that deluxe davenport you have been dreaming of. My favorite spot is the Antique Alley Mall where my friends’ booths “Party Fowl Antiques” and “Mid Mod Crisis” are filled to the brim with treasures! Be sure to tell them Ethyl sent you! www.midmodcrisis.com The Garden Bottomless Brunch: Las Vegas’s Best Drag Show is now every Saturday and Sunday in the Downtown Arts District.

This show features queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race and more. Reserve your seats early if you know you will be making the trip before hand and ask to sit inside for the best viewing. The food is fab, and the vibe is even better. Here’s to the ladies who BRUNCH! www.thegardenlasvegas.com Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: This gorgeous display of flowers and fauna is truly one of my favorite things to do.

When you step foot into the conservatory, you never know what to look at first. The visuals are stunning and will be sure to take your breath away. This attraction changes with the season’s so you can keep going back time and time again. www.bellagio. mgmresorts.com Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge: My ABSOLUTE favorite place to dine in Vegas. This vintage diner is old Vegas at its best. You are transported into a bright neon jungle complete with trees and servers that are the “no fuss no muss” type of gals I LOVE. The fireside lounge is a total love shack with velvet seats surrounding a sunken fire pit which just begs for a nice Dirty Shirley of two. I will be honest and have you know that I have put a couple extra printed napkins and colored confection sugar in my purse a time or two. I am OBSESSED and you will be too! Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner awaits, and you can even buy a professional photo of your gang to commemorate the occasion! www.peppermilllasvegas.com The Thrill of it ALL: I love a good rollercoaster or thrill ride, and I am one of those gals who searches them out when I know I’m heading on vacation. Vegas has a multitude of options for you, whether it’s zip lining above Freemont Street, twirling around from the top of the Strat in the SKYPOD, feeling adventurous in the Aventuredome at Circus Circus, or the high-speed thrill of the Big Apple Coaster at New York, New York. They are all are worth it, and I make it a point to try and experience them every time I visit. Let loose…I mean it is Vegas!!! www.vegasexperience.com www.thestrat.com www.circuscircus.com www.newyorknewyork.mgmresorts.com Now with all these fun things to do, you still need to put a $20 in the slots. I hope you WIN BIG and that your next trip to the strip is one you will never forget!

Best of Luck, XO Ethyl

CHRISTMAS IN JULY BINGO SUNDAY, JULY 10TH HOSTED BY ETHYLINA CANNE Doors open at 12pm BINGO starts at 1pm $20 (4 cards p/game x 5 games) 50% of all proceeds go directly to

GEDMAG.com | 17

SASSY MOVIE

With Alexander Rodriguez This is your Sassy Movie News brought to you by GED Magazine and On the Rocks’ Alexander Rodriguez, Bringing you the sassiest and tipsiest top & bottom movie news.

Here is the latest Hollywood tea…

Despite actor Ezra Miller’s multiple brushes with the law and making headlines for causing drama, the WB says there are no plans to replace them as The Flash, number one the movie is done and would need to be scraped, ALSO, WB is saying that The Flash may be the best film from the DC franchise…ever! The movie is about The Flash but will also feature Ben Affleck AND Michael Keaton’s Batman. What was their spandex budget?

Are you a fan of Tron? Too bad. Tron 3 will not happen because plans were scrapped due to Disney’s acquisition of Marvel and Star Wars…all the focus went to those big-budget projects. If you remember the original Tron you probably need a walker by now. Bloop!

The horror/comedy classic Arachnophobia is getting a remake! This version may be a little gorier than the first.

Bring it on! The original film really propelled the blend of comedy, camp, and horror – so did my ex.

Top Gun 2 may very well be Tom Cruise’s biggest hit to date. The film has done extremely well with both critical and audience praise. The first film came out in 1986! Tom Cruise hasn’t aged a day…maybe it’s all that Scientology juice.

The romance novel Red, White, and Royal Blue is getting a film adaptation. In a nutshell (no pun intended), it’s about the President’s son falling in love with England’s Prince. It’s a gay rom-com! Uma Thurman has been cast to play the President of the United States. BUT HER EMAILS! There’s a new Winnie the Pooh movie in the works! Now before you get the kids ready to see it, it’s a horror film!

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey deals with Winnie the Pooh and Piglet eating Eeyore due to starvation from being neglected by Christopher Robin. The dangerous duo then goes on a killing spree. Perfect for the holidays!

West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler is set to play the lead in the Hunger Games prequel. Her career is on the rise and will also be appearing in the Disney live-action Snow White as well as the Shazam sequel. She’s really moved on from Tony quickly!

The Exorcist reboot has already started filming and Exorcist original Ellen Burstyn has already filmed her scenes. The original film premiered in 1973. This reboot will hit the screen in October of 2023 and be a direct sequel to the previous films, even the bad ones. Linda Blair is somewhere saying, “Um, hey, what about meeeee?”

Yes, we are all sick of the Johnny Depp court drama. BUT, how about some Johnny Depp news you want?

Rumors are circulating that he will be appearing in the long-awaited Beetlejuice 2 alongside Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton. For some reason, his name appears in Google searches and on a Google cast list. Rumor or fact? I’m guessing there won’t be a cameo by Amber Turd.

Why would you cover up Bradley Cooper’s hot mug? Well, first pics have emerged of Bradley as musical impresario Leonard Bernstein for the biopic, Maestro. There is already Oscar buzz. Lady Gaga is also somewhere, going, “Hey…need a song?”

That is our Sassy Movie News -- Check out our weekly movie news sound bites on CHANNEL Q and online at GEDmag.com. Stay sexy, stay healthy, and we’ll see you at the movies!

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ON STAGE with STAN JENSON

MOULIN ROUGE: I have not been to New York since this show opened so I bought my July seats at the beginning of this year.

Based loosely on Baz Luhrmann’s film, it is a love story surrounded by spectacle and lots of popular tunes such as “Lady Marmalade,” “Roxanne,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Royals” and many, many more. Plays through September 4 at Hollywood’s beautiful Pantages Theatre. www.BroadwayInHollywood.com

HOLLYWOOD BOWL: I know I kicked off with the Hollywood Bowl last month, but there are two shows this month that I feel really need your attention. The first is the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular with Steve Martin & Martin Short. Sure, the word “Spectacular” gets batted around a lot, but it only starts to describe the fireworks at The Bowl. After an evening of orchestral pops and the comedy of Martin and Short, the firework display is absolutely amazing. The Los Angeles Philharmonic plays a medley of patriotic tunes while hundreds and hundreds of pyrotechnics are ignited in absolute synch to the magnificent music. And it seems to go on and on. The same show will be presented on July 2, 3 and 4.

The other Bowl show you should know about is a concert staging of Kinky Boots, the musical. With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, the tale of a young Brit who inherits his family’s shoe business is packed with pop music and drag queens – lots and lots of drag queens. Charlie, the heir to the factory, is a straight man with fiancé in tow, but he meets a free-spirited drag performer named Lola, played by Wayne Brady (who played the role briefly on Broadway). Lola’s club act includes her ”Angels,” a group of drag artistes. Most of us know Lola needs thigh-high boots, Charlie gets his factory to manufacture them, and they become a worldwide hit, marketed as Kinky Boots. A concert staging means the Philharmonic will be visible on stage behind the performers. There will be full costumes and many set pieces, but not full backdrops, etc. Each summer’s stage musical is a big hit so this one is scheduled for three nights (and the Bowl seats 18,000!). Plays July 8, 9 and 10.

Tickets/info at www.hollywoodbowl.com.

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DEAR EVAN HANSEN: Do not be turned off by the failed attempt to film this musical last year. There is a reason this show is still playing on Broadway and in fact booking its second tour to Los Angeles. Evan Hansen, a 17-year-old with social anxiety issues is told by his therapist to write letters to himself. One of those letters end up in the pocket of a student who commits suicide and that student’s parents decide that Evan must have been their son’s only friend. Evan encourages that belief and the rest of the show is about the results of that ruse. The music is very upbeat and the book and lyrics funny and hip.

Plays at the Los Angeles Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center through July 31. www.centertheatregroup.org

Summer is Here.

Why Not Strip and Enjoy Some of the BEST Skinny-Dipping Spots in the World!

A beach popular with gay men in Italy has been named the world’s second-best spot for skinny-dipping. To celebrate summer, MyDatingAdviser.com has ranked 100 of the top skinny-dipping locations across the globe, for beach quality, safety, weather, and hotel cost. Spiaggia Della Lecciona in Tuscany, Italy, a beach popular with gay men in Italy, has been named the world’s second-best spot for skinny-dipping.

Spiaggia Della Lecciona has been a popular gay beach since the ‘70s and is one of the region’s last free beaches, with no admission charge and no permanent deckchairs or umbrellas allowed. Situated on the banks of the Ligurian Sea, the Spiaggia Della Lecciona beach was topped on the list only by Lokrum Island in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Third place went to Maslin Beach in Adelaide, Australia.

With an average air temperature of 84°F and an average water temperature of 77°F, Spiaggia Della Lecciona seems the perfect Italian coastal get-a-way. The average cost of a hotel per night in the area is $185.

To determine the best skinny-dipping locations, MyDatingAdviser compared 100 nude beaches to determine the best locations to enjoy a dip au naturale. They then ranked the top locations according to: (1) pollution; (2) Blue Flag status; (3) weather; (4) air temperature; (5) water temperature; (6) safety; and (7) hotel cost. Using the data points,

each location was given a ‘Skinny Dipping Index Score,’ representing the quality of experience that you could expect to have at the location.

Other notable gay beaches on the list include Baker Beach in San Francisco, Blacks Beach in San Diego, Hippie Hollow in Austin, Texas, and Little Beach in Maui, Hawaii.

Here are some tips for having a fun time skinny dipping: 1. Be respectful and have discretion. We agree the human body is a beautiful thing but give people the opportunity not to look at you if they don’t want to.

2. Don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray. You don’t want to get a sunburn in that spot that usually doesn’t see the light of day.

3. Don’t skinny dip drunk. A little liquid courage could help you get naked. But if you are completely drunk, it isn’t safe to swim and could land you in a dangerous situation.

4. Keep your eyes on people’s faces. Interact as you normally would and keep physical contact to a minimum.

5. No photos. If only celebrities and politicians could learn this too.

6. It’s not a big deal. Get over yourself and have fun. Remember that not even swimsuit models look like that in real life. So, relax and enjoy being naked.

Check out the fun map on the following pages and to view the full list of the best skinny-dipping spots in (nearly) every country in the world view: https://mydatingadviser.com/best-nude-beaches-in-the-world/.

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Matt Rogers is on Fire

By Alexander Rodriguez

Photo by Curtis Brown

From senior high school prom king to writer, actor, singer, podcaster, and TV host, Matt Rogers has been killing it.

Most recently in high profile projects like Showtime’s I Love That For You alongside Vanessa Bayer, Molly Shannon, and Jenifer Lewis and Hulu’s Fire Island with Margaret Cho and long time friend SNL’s Bowen Yang, his star is clearly on the rise…and we are here for it. Matt is as charming as he is talented and it’s easy to see why Hollywood is taking notice.

Matt’s obsession with Hollywood started early on and would be the result of a mix of genres that included epic motion pictures, reality TV, Lost, and awards shows.

When I was seven years old, that’s when Titanic fever was happening. I think it was that moment when Kate Winslet turned around in her hat and said, “It doesn’t look as big as the Mauretania.” I loved it. She was giving iconography, she was giving complaints, she was giving “poor little rich girl.” I wanted to know everything.

I’m sure that like many other gay kids, I thought I had a “crush” on her but really I was just stanning. From there, I became obsessed with the Oscars and the awards glitz and glamor and the Oscar race.

And so, I was keyed into the entertainment industry at like seven or eight years old because I think, it just looked so different from the world that I was growing up in. Inherently, I knew that I was different from the rest of the kids. When I was around 12 years old, American Idol started, and began singing in my backyard, trying to get my riffs down. I think I voted for Kelly Clarkson like 250 times in a night once. (I was on the right side of history there.) Once I saw the show Lost when I was in high school, that was when I really decided I wanted to be in television and be someone that created TV. So, all of those shows together give you a good picture of who I am with a nice dose of being a lamb, a huge Mariah Carrie fan.

Despite his early entertainment obsessions, Matt was a sports kid. He was afraid of being outed and never pursued anything he wanted to do for fear of being perceived as gay. Coming out would not only fortify his personal life but would also spark his creative career.

I worked very hard at making myself an acceptable person in my high school of 270 kids per class on Long Island, which was pretty conservative. Then when I got to college and I was at NYU, it was like, oh, wow, now that’s not an acceptable archetype for me to be, because I think everyone around me knows it’s fake and knows it’s inauthentic. And suddenly there was this shift from when I was in high school growing up where you wanted to be like everyone else. And then suddenly there was this vibrant, diverse place, with so much value put on being an individual. I decided to commit to the things that I loved – acting and writing. So, I transferred schools internally, from journalism to dramatic writing, and I started to pursue sketch comedy. I came out of the GEDMAG.com | 29

Fire Island Photos Courtesy of Hulu

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closet and started to take steps to become who I really was for the first time. And honestly, I think it helped my acting and my imagination. It was a pretty easy transition for me, and I was immediately happier for saying my truth and starting to walk in it.

With Matt’s current boom in projects, it’s easy to forget the decade-plus that Matt has had in the industry, doing the hard work, serving as a staff writer for Comedy Central’s The Other Two, hosting game shows, appearing in a myriad of improv shows with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Looking back, what advice would he give to a newbie to the business, especially from his point of view seeing the changes in entertainment and, more specifically, the changes in LGBTQ visibility?

I really had to develop my own take on this because there was no one to give me advice. I ended up just throwing everything at the wall and seeing what stuck. I just made sure that I was prepared to do anything that I was asked in this business and to be able to be good enough at it so that I wasn’t nervous while it was happening, and I could have a good time and show my personality. I would say that it’s a very good idea to be well-rounded, so if there’s an area of your tool belt you feel is missing, try to cultivate that area.

If you are interested in acting but you’ve never done that before, you need to put yourselves in a position where you’re getting on camera and you’re acting - whether that means taking classes, scripting your own work, or funding your own things.

It’s hard, but you really have to be scrappy in the beginning and surround yourself with people that you think are special and that make you laugh. Get like-minded people and commit to those friendships and relationships. Learn to be a good collaborator, which means listening, and knowing when to say, okay, we’re going to do your idea instead of mine. It’s understanding people’s points of view. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have those relationships that I started fostering when I was 19 in college.

One of those relationships Matt has fostered is with his bestie, Bowen Yang. The two have become a comedic power force with the success of their podcast, Las Culturistas, and now appearing on screen together in Fire Island. They met as freshmen in college, cultivated that friendship throughout, and ultimately, became best friends.

That relationship is form and foundational to both of us creatively and comedically. It’s like that throughout the rest of my career as well. I always seem to know someone on the projects I’m doing whether it’s because I’ve worked with them before, they’re a friend, or I know them through someone. The longer that you’re around in this business, those relationships really end up mattering a lot. So be kind, really try to learn from each other. And when you feel a special feeling about someone, keep them close.

What started off as a fun chat time between Bowen and Matt has exploded into becoming one of the most popular podcasts

around, being named as Top Podcast by Esquire, Vulture, Time Out New York, and more, and featuring some of the top names from the biz. Why does Matt think Las Culturistas has become such a hit?

I think the podcast resonates with people because when we started it, we genuinely thought no one would listen to it - truly. I mean, we were not doing it for anyone other than each other. And because that’s the tone, we started the podcast with that and that’s what the podcast is and has always remained. And so, when people tell me that the podcast resonates with them, I really get the feeling that what they mean is that it feels like they’re a part of a conversation. It brings out authenticity in our guests. And I honestly think that there wasn’t really an effort ever to be a “podcast.” Like we’re not talking in what I call podcast voice, you know what I mean? We’re not up on the mic whispering and like saying our ideas and then giving a whole beat before someone else responds. It sounds like a conversation. I think that’s what people respond to. It started as a play-date between Bowen and I for 90 minutes a week, and that it has remained that. And now it feels like a playful, fun, you know, cultural experience for us and everyone listening, and bottom line, we just don’t take ourselves too seriously. You can’t!

Matt’s turn on I Love That For You, features him as a senior associate for Jenifer Lewis, the head of a major shopping network.

In today’s age, we have different expectations of what we expect to see from gay characters on TV. The Jack Trope from Will & Grace now seems hollow. In creating his character, Matt had to add layers to his role. He wasn’t just the funny, sassy office gay.

The character I play is Darcy and he is not sassy period. Like he is NOT. I don’t think he’s ever snapped his fingers in his life. I think he would look at that as dated. He takes himself extremely seriously. And so outside of his sexual orientation, which really is not a part of the show, to be honest with you, he is an authentically gay person, but he is not struggling with his sexuality. He is not held back because of his sexuality. His sexuality is not a hurdle going forward in the show. He has other things on his plate, and he has other conflicts in his show, which do not have to do with A) his sexuality or B) conflicts that you see often when a character is this sexuality in sitcoms. I would immediately balk at that personally, as an actor, if I got a script and it was, “miss thing comes in and says, ‘mama slay,’ and ‘where can I put this juice down sister queen?’” I just would not do it. When I got the audition for this show, the character was described as dry, ambitious, and well dressed. And I loved that immediately. I really got excited about the character of Darcy in that I was going to employ in the performance this skill that I’ve had my entire life, this skill of code-switching.

Darcy must be different people in this environment in order to survive. He expresses his goals. He drops his guard.

He smiles. These were all little things that I thought about when I was playing the character. How does this person appear to different people in this toxic work environment to GEDMAG.com | 31

Fire Island Photos Courtesy of Hulu

survive it and stay at the top of it? I am really, really grateful to be able to portray him because when you see him at the end of the season, he is in a completely different space than he is in the first episode. And it’s just really exciting to play an arc with what could have been an archetype.

Filming Fire Island was a dream for Matt. Not only was he surrounded by cast and crew that he’s known for over a decade, but he made new friends off the screen. Fire Island is a skillfully crafted adaption of Pride and Prejudice. At first glance, it’s a fun romp about gays hanging out on the infamous island; but there is more to the film.

I hope that it makes the community really think about the ways in which we exclude each other and how we contribute to the sort of hierarchy in the community without even thinking about it. This movie is very much in the spirit of Jane Austin, it is about social class and the desire to be mobile within a social group. And I think it’s an extremely smart adaptation in that it does not shy away from the harsh realities of why some people are going to be more accepted than others. This movie shines a very harsh light on the racism in the community, the classism in the community, and the hierarchy in terms of body type. We have a very powerful, diverse ensemble, and every single character has a very unique experience and no matter who you are, you’re going to identify with something or see yourself in some way. And I am excited to hear what people’s pulls are from the movie based on all of its very smart social commentary, be32 | GEDMAG.com

cause while it’s a really fun splashy funny movie, it’s also very thoughtful and intuitive and real.

Matt’s character Luke is dealing with his own insecurities. There is a pivot in the film that challenged Matt, who has stated that it is probably the most challenging thing he’s done as an actor.

The role was written for me by Joel (Kim Booster) who is my dear friend. And so, when I got the script, I really could feel myself in it and I could also feel the areas where I would improvise and where I would riff and where it would be really fun to sort of do certain things. And then there is a dramatic twist in the story that my character is integral and I think that it was the drama of that scene and the shock of what happens in that plot point that was difficult for me to play because, to be honest with you, we hadn’t had many conversations about how it would be played. I even thought it would be one way and then when I was actually doing it, it ended up being a whole other emotion that was coming out. It was extremely difficult to do this scene because it’s just a hard place to revisit and there were two days we were shooting that scene and that material, and I don’t think you know how emotional you’re going to get about doing something until you do it. I think having to access that vulnerability and bring it to the screen is very different for me.

And it was the first time I’d ever been asked to do that. But I think that the way it plays out in the movie is really responsible and lovely.

From singing Kelly Clarkson in his backyard to becoming part of LGBTQ representation, Matt has stayed grounded and down to earth.

Talking to him is like talking to a friend, there are no airs and there is no pomp and circumstance when he talks about being a role model in our community.

I’m a person that’s grown and changed a lot over the 13 years, I’ve been trying to do this. And now that I feel like things are paying off a little bit, I just want to make sure that the person that I am presenting to the world is someone that I like and that I stand by.

I think I’m doing that right now. That’s really, all you can do is try to be - not even use the word role model, but, you know - I know there are people that enjoy and watch what I do. I just want to make them proud and make myself proud ultimately, and keep working and keep discovering new elements of myself. And if I look back in 10 years on everything I’ve done and said at this period in my life and think, wow, cringe, whatever - at this time in my life, I’m doing my best. And all you can do is your best.

Fire Island is streaming on Hulu, I Love That For You is available on Showtime.

Check out our in-depth chat with Matt on our GED podcast, U.S. of Gay. Follow Matt on IG: @MattRogersTho GEDMAG.com | 33

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Drive-Thru Dialogue with Aja LaBeija

By Alexander Rodriguez

From Drag Race and Drag Race All Stars to HBO Max’s Legendary, Aja has made an indelible mark in the world of art, drag, and activism.

She left drag after her appearance on Drag Race and debuted her work as a rapper and joined the ballroom scene as a famed member of House LaBeija, founded by Crystal LaBeija, whom Aja portrayed during Snatch Game. Her personal identity has been an evolution, celebrating her artistic queerness and coming out as trans. Inspired by Kylie Sonique Love’s win on All Stars as the first-ever trans woman to take home a crown for the US version of the show, she returned to drag.

Most recently, the House of LaBeija partnered with Taco Bell for its YouTube series, Drive-Thru Dialogue, which features real conversations with underrepresented voices discussing the most pressing topics for our community – all from a Taco Bell drive-thru with Aja and LaBeija House Mother Samil.

During Pride, there is much discussion about the corporate celebration of our Pride. Is it a money-grabbing tactic or true allyship? For Aja, it is clear.

It is important to partner with allies of the LGBTQ+ community that want to help raise awareness to the mass audiences on the challenges we are continuing to face. With larger corporations like Taco Bell, we are able to work together to push the envelope andinsert 38 | GEDMAG.com

these “tougher” conversations, which are typically unexplored or underrepresented in mainstream media. We collaborated on an episode of Drive Thru Dialogues which is a Taco Bell social content series on Tik Tok featuring our conversation recognizing House Mothers, and all chosen mothers, in hopes of making Mother’s Day and other holidays more inclusive. I look forward to building a world where these topics are normalized and invite you to follow along with the Drive-Thru Dialogues series on Taco Bell’s Tik Tok @tacobell.

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

She has had the unique opportunity to have made herstory in two trailblazing genres – on the Drag Race runway and in the Legendary ballroom. Her Pride is evident.

My guilty pleasure is indulging in an extremely nerdy activity like Pokémon. As a trans woman who lives a particularly glamorous life being that I am into beauty and fashion, people don’t really expect me to have a nerdy side, but I am so into video games, anime, etc.

I’m proud to be a part of the LaBeija legacy! Today, the House of LaBeija is as loud and proud as it was in 1972 and the vision of our founders is clearer than ever. As the oldest and most revered house in New York’s drag and ballroom scene, we pioneered a lot of firsts – protested against the white, Eurocentric beauty standards, paved the way for voguing and the first to host benefits to raise awareness during the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Aja is this month’s GED drag centerfold, though her artistry expands on the drag world to celebrate an art form founded in history with an eye on the future of LGBTQ+ representation:

How did you come up with your drag name?

Everyone was pronouncing my name wrong, so I ended up just going with the way people said it. I made up this whole narrative about how it was part of a Bollywood movie to make it seem interesting, but honestly, it was just that nobody knew how to say my name.

Guilty pleasure?

Favorite part about doing ballroom?

One of my favorite things about being in ballroom is that I can represent who I really am and what our culture is all about. I am fortunate to be in a position to partner with a brand like Taco Bell and speak about what goes on in our daily lives. By leveraging Taco Bell’s platform like Tik Tok for Drive Through Dialogues, I can push for more representation and empower others to be their authentic self, even as ballroom is becoming more mainstream, while continuing to reach a wider audience.

In ballroom I am not considered a drag queen,

I am considered a fem queen.

Least favorite part about doing drag?

My least favorite part about drag is how popular it has become. It’s like everybody does drag now. Everyone’s mom, cousin, uncle, and grandmother are doing drag. I am all for it but I just wish that people would do drag because they wanted to and not because they saw it as a cheap way to get famous. But at the end of the day, we see through all the façades and we know who really wants to partake and who is just doing it for the influence!

Craziest drag story?

My craziest drag story is that one time I was flying from Los Angeles to Tampa Florida after filming the promotion teaser for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3 and I was going to land late for my gig so I had to do my make-up on the plane, and it was just so chaotic.

Everyone was looking at me like I was insane, and I already suffered from really bad anxiety so I was just having sweats and my heart was racing the whole time. I hated it.

Most un-drag thing you do?

Honestly, I don’t really feel like I do anything that draggy in the first place.

Ever since my transition I feel like my style of drag has become very much an extension of my womanhood and I feel like the only drag thing I really do is lip-synch performance.

Strangest hobby or talent?

My strangest hobby? I have so many. I don’t really think I’m that normal of a person so there’s that. A lot of people do know this, but some people may not, but I am a medium. So, I have a few spiritual abilities that I’ve been aware of since I was a child and when I am not on tour, I am a leader of a spiritual community here in New York and I have created a queer safe space for other people to participate and not feel alone.

What celebrity most needs a drag makeover?

I feel like most celebrities are low-key drag queens.

Despite what people may think, my favorite nightlife hotspot is home. I don’t really like to go out that much, but if I’m in the room I am the life of the party. However, I don’t really like to go out in my free time, I like to feel luxurious and indulge in peace and quiet.

Favorite non-profit?

Everyone should definitely check out the Brooklyn Ghost Project which caters to the trans community.

Go-to cocktail?

If it’s the right place I can go for a Cosmo at any time. But if the bartenders look like they don’t want to deal with a high-maintenance girl, I’ll just get a vodka sprite.

What would the name of your biography be?

Ibutola. Which is my Yoruba name.

Favorite song to perform?

“White Couture” by Aja. Favorite moment from Drag Race?

My favorite moment from Drag Race would have to be when I stunt it on all the girls in All Stars and they had to pretend that my outfit wasn’t Studio 54 just to eliminate me even though they knew damn well it was.

How much Taco Bell do you eat in a month?

I’d say it happens at least once a week.

The munchies direct me.

What do you love most about chatting with queer youth?

I love to share my experiences with people who may be going through similar things and hopefully I can help them get a sense of direction in their life. It’s unfortunate but if I am able to go through trials and tribulations I can assist others to go through them as well.

Follow me on Instagram @ajathekween and Twitter @ajaoxum.

Favorite nightlife hotspot?

GEDMAG.com | 39

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GAYME GUIDE with JOSH JAQUEZ AND STEVEN H. GARCIA

Sasaki and Miyano

by Josh Jaquez Sasaki and Miyano are both in high school with Sasaki being one year ahead.

After seeing Kuresawa, a friend of Miyano’s, getting beat up and realizing that Miyano wanted to but shouldn’t step in, stops him and takes on the group.

Soon Sasaki starts getting closer to Miyano through their mutual interest in BL or boys love manga and novels. Miyano has always been teased by classmates because of his feminine features and considers BL to be a guilty pleasure that he is embarrassed to talk about in public. To his chagrin Sasaki seemingly at times doesn’t care what others think and is quite open about his newfound enjoyment of the genre. This could be a result of being raised by his two moms. What starts as an awkward friendship between the two boys slowly grows into something much deeper. Throughout the series we get to know the boy’s groups of friends Hirano, Ogasawara, Hanzawa, Tashiro, and Kuresawa. The show is a cute and somewhat honest depiction of what it’s like to fall for somebody for the first time. Showing the story from both of the boys’ points of view - the uncertainty of not knowing whether the person you like could possibly like you, and not wanting to lose them as a friend if you ever confessed your feelings and they weren’t interested. With characters created by Maki Fujii the anime is based on the Japanese manga series of the same name written by Shō Harusono and produced by Studio Deen. It was later adapted by Kotoko Hachijō into a two-volume novel. To follow Sasaki and Miyano’s story you can watch the first season dubbed or with subtitles on Funimation or with subtitles on Amazon.

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Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga

by Steven H. Garcia Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga is a Lego-themed action-adventure game developed

by Traveller’s Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game adapts all nine entries in the Skywalker Saga series of films, with additional characters based on other Star Wars films and television series. The game offers 380+ playable characters.

Each episode has five main story missions, making a total of 45 levels, contrasting from six levels per episode that was in previous games. There are also short pre-levels in between that advance the story forward but do not feature any of the collectibles like minikits or True Jedi. You can start any of the trilogies in which ever order you like. Beating the first episode of a trilogy will unlock the next episode in that series.

Combat has been fully fleshed out with awesome lightsaber combos, force power and more skills to unlock via the skill tree, same with gunners and droid abilities. There are also hidden Lego bricks to collect everywhere, and you can use them to buy fun power ups and silly add-ons. It’s so fun seeing all the funny jokes they have thrown into the Star Wars series. The Lego humor is great for all ages, and there are some great jokes for adults too.

Local co-op spit screen is also available in the game and it’s a ton of fun to play this wacky adventure with a buddy. And if that’s not enough Star Wars for you, then there are DLC story missions already available to play based off of The Mandalorian Season 1, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and The Mandalorian Season 2. Each story will add even more minifigures to add to your collection.

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Discover Arenas District

By Michael Westman If you have been to Palm Springs and you’re gay, there is a 99 percent chance you’ve stepped foot on or around Arenas District, the LGBTQ hub in Palm Springs. Clustered together, you’ll find bars, restaurants, shopping, old school barbering, piercing services, and more. While this gay mecca may have the feeling of a long-time established neighborhood spot, Arenas Road’s gay history is somewhat still new. The first gay bar opened in 1991, while most surrounding buildings were vacant storefronts. Fast forward and now visitors and locals alike have reasons to spend an entire day and night in this famous Palm Springs District.

Here are some places you need to visit the next time you’re on Arenas Road.

Blackbook A low-key cocktail bar with a tiny kitchen and a big heart. Blackbook serves up award-winning craft cocktails—without the wait or attitude—and classic American comfort food that’s so good we were named the best restaurant in Palm Springs in 2020.

Amazing burgers, Nashville hot chicken, and other regionally inspired standards await you, along with a curated whiskey list of more than 450 bottles and a rotating selection of craft beers, seltzers, and spiked kombucha. www.blackbookbar.com.

Chill Bar Palm Springs “We’re that friend who throws the best house parties. Where you’re welcomed anytime to chill during the day or party at night. Where the atmosphere is a lifestyle.” Chill Bar is a warm and fabulous twenty first century modern venue, with fun and exciting events happening every day and night. Whether you’re there to chill or party, a good time is guaranteed. www.chillbarpalmsprings.com.

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Division Rev up your style and head to Division in the heart of the Arenas District, where you can shop an incredible mix of seasonal items and year-round essentials. The clothing at Division will flatter any figure. This contemporary men’s store offers a variety of unique clothing brands, from tank tops to button downs to swim wear. They also have an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind men’s jewelry and gifts. www.divisionmenswear.com.

GayMart USA For 30 years GayMart has been the Desert’s destination for the best selection of men’s swimwear, underwear, and fashion from exclusive designers such as Andrew Christian, Sauvage and Whittal and Shon. Along with having a huge selection of gay fashion, they also make a great stop for picking up a lottery ticket and the latest copy of GED Magazine. Stop in and say hello! https://gaymart.business.site.

Hunters Hunters Palm Springs is located at the center of gay nightlife in Downtown Palm Springs. Serving up quality drinks, dancing and entertainment daily is what they do. They also offer Karaoke, cabaret, large special events, happy hour, and tons of friendly fun. Check out their social media platforms for events happening throughout the week. www.hunterspalmsprings. com.

Johannes Chef Johannes Bacher whose global modern European award-winning cuisine including his popular guest favorite “Wiener Schnitzel” has been a downtown Palm Springs staple

since 1999. Chef Bacher continues to use his many years of traveling the world as the inspiration for his subtle, creative dishes that are exciting and tastefully show off his Austrian roots.

Open for Dinner Wednesday through Sunday, 5pm to 9:30pm.

Call for reservations (760) 778-0017 or visit www.johannespalmsprings.com.

Daddy’s Next time you need to visit the barber, try a proudly gay owned and operated one. Serving the LGBTQ communities and allies, offering a long-lost artistry of “old school barbering”, Daddy’s offer everything you would expect from a barbershop: hot towel shaves, precision cuts, high, mid and low fades, stylistic cuts, pompadours, military cuts, undercuts, naked/bald skin fades, mow-hawks, design cuts, flattops, crewcuts, razor and clipper lineups, razor-cut parts all scissor cuts, scalp treatments, rest-facials, handcrafted beard sculptures, trims and cleanups. This is “Not Your Father’s Barbershop.” Book at www.daddysbarbershop.com.

Street Bar A desert tradition since 1991, Street Bar was the first gay bar to open on Arenas Road. From the moment they open to last call the friendly staff keep patrons lubricated. Known for their strong drinks and top shelf daily specials this spot is the locals’ neighborhood watering hole! And if karaoke is your thing, you can sing your heart out, or listen to others do it.

Rough Trade Gear Rough Trade Gear Palm Springs is one of the Desert’s delights when it comes to offering Fetish Gear, Play Toys, Slut Wear, Pig

Essentials and more. They’re always at your service with shopping that can be done any time of day, when you visit them online at www.roughtradegear.com. Enhance your play with Rough Trade Gear.

Bear Wear Bear Wear has been clothing men for over 19 years - big, small, and everything in between! Size doesn’t matter with their unique styles designed for fashion, comfort and to make the wearer feel and look enticing for their admirers! So, whether you’re a bear or not, there’s something for nearly everyone inside. www.bear-wear.com.

Quadz “Quadz – Southern California’s original and best location for flag waving, napkin tossing Showtunes sing-a-longs! Fun crowd, fun bartenders and great cocktails all within a stylish interior and exterior with the new patio.” This popular spot is known to draw in friendly crowds of all ages. Right on the corner of Arenas Road and Indian Canyon Dr, you won’t miss this spot.

Eagle 501 Bar This is the one bar that wants you to cruise heavy, drink up, and have a blast. The Eagle 501 Crew is packed with a punch to get you rowdy, going and off to where and what you want. Here leather, fetish, kink, levi, muscle bears, grunge, grit and country all come together. Eagle 501 has a vintage feel and weekly specials. www.eagle501bar.com.

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