

Casa Yvonneka, Puerto Vallarta’s #1
to Zona Romantica and the Malecon... Casa Yvonneka is ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!
Whether it's your wedding, birthday, engagement—or any wild celebration you can dream up under the desert stars, we’ve got the stage. Featuring three unique venues all crafted for events and celebrations you won’t want to end.
We're offering promotional pricing through the end of the year on celebrations so epic, they'll own your group chat forever.
Book your celebration now at Ace Hotel & Swim Club.
Welcome to the August issue of GED Magazine! This month, we delve into a significant moment in LGBTQ+ culture and commerce, celebrating a legacy while also spotlighting the vibrant new voices shaping our community.
Our cover story focuses on the bittersweet closing of Andrew Christian’s iconic male underwear brand after an incredible 25 years. For a quarter-century, Andrew Christian was more than just an underwear label; it was a symbol of confidence, sensuality, and unapologetic queer expression. We explore the brand’s immense impact, its journey from a niche market to a global phenomenon, and the lasting influence Andrew Christian has had on body positivity and LGBTQ+ visibility. Join us as we reflect on this remarkable era and what its conclusion means for the landscape of queer fashion and entrepreneurship.
But as one chapter closes, new ones are always beginning, and this issue is brimming with fresh talent. We’re thrilled to feature an in-depth spotlight on Jamie Hannah, a queer singer whose mesmerizing voice is captivating audiences worldwide. Get to know the artist behind the music as he shares his journey, inspirations, and what it means to be an authentic voice in today’s music scene.
And for those who love the art of drag, prepare to be enchanted by Acacia Forgot. This phenomenal drag queen is making waves with her unique style, sharp wit, and incredible performances. We sit down with Acacia to discuss her creative process, the power of drag as a form of self-expression, and her vision for the future of the art form.
This August, we invite you to celebrate the past, embrace the present, and look forward to the future of the LGBTQ+ community. Please visit us on the web at GEDmag.com to read the current digital issue and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ GEDmagazine to stay up to date on exciting new event announcements coming soon. Gay Entertainment Directory is here for your entertainment!
As always, thank you for being a part of the GED Magazine family.
— MICHAEL WESTMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Westman
Cesar A Reyes
FEATURES WRITER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Christopher Jackson Alexander Rodriguez
Daniel Vaillancourt
Ethylina Canne
Michael Westman
Stan Jenson
ADVERTISING SALES Eric Davis Southern CA Account Manager eric@gedmag.com
NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com
PUBLISHER 800.818.0480 info@gedmag.com
Wherever You Are, We’re Here for You.
From the San Diego coast to the Coachella Valley — and with telehealth available anywhere — expert care is always close to home.
Our Services Include:
Family Medicine & Pediatrics
OB-GYN & Prenatal Care
Mental Health Counseling
Adult & Pediatric Dental Care
Telehealth & In-Person Visits
Need Help with Medi-Cal?
We’ll guide you through enrollment or renewal — at no cost.
SOME LIKE IT HOT – Various: Many of us remember the 1959 film, Some Like it Hot, where Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon are 1930’s musicians who are spotted as they witness a gangland killing. They see an ad for a touring band looking for two more musicians and decide that would be a great way to get out of town. Only problem is that it’s Sweet Sue’s All Girl Band so they decide to get in drag. As “girls,” they ace their auditions (yet another two lives saved by drag!)
Unlike the movie, in addition to playing bass and saxophone, the two guys also perform an act called the Tip Tap Twins which opens the door to many dance numbers. In fact, the Broadway musical was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw who also directed and choreographed Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Drowsy Chaperone, The Prom and Aladdin
In short, he knows his way around a dance number. In was no surprise that Some Like it Hot earned him the 2023 Tony Award as Best Choreographer.
In the show, one night after the band’s performance, the boys (out of drag) meet up in a bar with the band’s singer, Sugar (Marilyn Monroe in the movie). She and one of the guys fall for each other, with her not realizing that HE is the SHE who plays saxophone in the band.
In passing, the Best Actor in a Musical of 2022 was awarded to J. Harrison Gee who played Jerry/Daphne, one of the two cross-dressed musicians. He is one of the first two non-binary actors to win a Tony and he presented as a very attractive lady on the night he won.
Plenty of laughs, plenty of music, and plenty of dancing. Count me in! Plays the Hollywood Pantages 7/29 - 8/17; Sacramento Keller Auditorium 9/2 - 7; Costa Mesa Segerstrom Center 10/7 - 19; and the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts 10/21 - 26.
IN THE SHOW, ONE NIGHT AFTER THE BAND’S PERFORMANCE, THE BOYS (OUT OF DRAG) MEET UP IN A BAR WITH THE BAND’S SINGER, SUGAR (MARILYN MONROE IN THE MOVIE). SHE AND ONE OF THE GUYS FALL FOR EACH OTHER, WITH HER NOT REALIZING THAT HE IS THE SHE WHO PLAYS SAXOPHONE IN THE BAND.
RIDE THE CYCLONE – San Francisco: San Francisco’s New Conservatory Theatre Center has been in continuous operation since it opened in 1981 and is still led by its founding director, Ed Decker. The theatre is not recognizable from the street since it is in the basement of a Van Ness office building but if you find yourself visiting San Francisco this summer –or any time, for that matter – it is worth tracking down. This month they have revived a musical called Ride the Cyclone with Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jacob Richmond & Brooke Maxwell, Directed and Choreographed by Stephanie Temple, and Musical Direction by Ben Prince.
Reaching for the skies takes on a whole new meaning when six members of a Canadian chamber choir take a fateful rollercoaster ride to the great beyond. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. Both madly hilarious and surprisingly introspective, this award-winning musical poses the question of what makes a life well-lived, or in some cases, worth saving.
Its previous reviews include: “Delightfully weird and just plain delightful” declares The New York Times; “Chillingly dark and wittily funny” proclaims Playbill and “Zany, zingy, and macabre musical” heralds The Seattle Times. That’s good enough for me!
Plays at www.nctcsf.org through 8/15.
REACHING FOR THE SKIES TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING WHEN SIX MEMBERS OF A CANADIAN CHAMBER CHOIR TAKE A FATEFUL ROLLERCOASTER RIDE TO THE GREAT BEYOND. WHEN THEY AWAKE IN LIMBO, A MECHANICAL FORTUNE TELLER INVITES EACH TO TELL A STORY TO WIN A PRIZE LIKE NO OTHER — THE CHANCE TO RETURN TO LIFE.
PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS – Laguna Beach: I know you don’t really need extra motivation to visit Orange County’s little jewel box, Laguna Beach, but if for some reason you are still not fully decided, attending their iconic annual Pageant of the Masters might just be the deciding factor for you. The first Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts was held in 1932 and was basically the display of a collection of works by local artists. The next year they added a “Spirit of the Masters Pageant” where they restaged famous artworks using living people. It proved popular and in 1935 they developed a larger stage and added music and narration. That year they concluded the presentation with a re-enactment of Da Vinci’s Last Supper and to this day, that is the traditional finish. In 1945, an outdoor venue known as The Irvine Bowl was built specifically for their annual presentation and it was enlarged to its present structure in 1953.
The Pageant and the affiliated Festival of the Arts have continued to grow. This year they are open from July 5 – August 29. Six nights per week, hundreds of local volunteers assemble to recreate important works of art on the stage using cleverly constructed settings and humans painted to look like the characters in the famous works of art. With live music and narration, it’s a fascinating and moving experience. The items presented aren’t limited to paintings. I recall Asian pottery, fancy circus wagons, and nude male statues of sporting figures which were displayed on the wall around the outdoor venue (and I remember that performance quite distinctly!)
My favorite moment of the show is when under ordinary work lights, we see stagehands roll on a setting. Then people whose clothes and faces seem ridiculously painted, take their places on the setting, often needing to be strapped in place. Then the work lights go out and a moment later the stage lights come up and we recognize a famous painting and understand why an actor had the side of his face painted blue – that’s what it was in the original.
Your ticket to the Pageant also includes a full visit to the Festival of the Arts. Parking can be a bit of an effort, but arrive early, have dinner in Laguna Beach or on the Festival grounds, and then attend a truly unique performance. Tickets at www.foapom.com. Plays through 8/29.
MY FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE SHOW IS WHEN UNDER ORDINARY WORK LIGHTS, WE SEE STAGEHANDS ROLL ON A SETTING. THEN PEOPLE WHOSE CLOTHES AND FACES SEEM RIDICULOUSLY PAINTED, TAKE THEIR PLACES ON THE SETTING, OFTEN NEEDING TO BE STRAPPED IN PLACE.
SHUCKED – Various: Shucked is another 2023 Broadway production now making its way around California. It features music and lyrics by Grammy-winners Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and the book is by Robert Horn. The plot is – well – corny, from start to finish. After storytellers give us the corn-ful history of Cob County, we meet Maizy and Beau, a loving couple who aim to be wed. As Beau’s brother, Peanut, officiates their wedding, the county’s corn starts to die. They naturally realize they can’t finish the ceremony until the corn can be healed. Maizy heads off to the metropolis of Tampa and there she spots a sign for a podiatrist who promotes himself as a “Corn Doctor.” Just what she’s looking for.
I suspect the plot doesn’t get much better than that, but the comedy was very popular on Broadway, playing just shy of a year. It was nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, the latter of which was awarded to Alex Newell who was actually the first non-binary performer to win a Tony (about an hour before J. Harrison Ghee won Best Actor for Some Like it Hot). Plays The San Diego Civic 8/12 - 17; Hollywood Pantages 8/19 - 9/7; San Francisco Curran 9/9 - 10/5; Costa Mesa Segerstrom Center 11/11 - 23; and The Palm Desert McCallum 11/25 - 30.
THE PLOT IS – WELL – CORNY, FROM START TO FINISH. AFTER STORYTELLERS GIVE US THE CORN-FUL HISTORY OF COB COUNTY, WE MEET MAIZY AND BEAU, A LOVING COUPLE WHO AIM TO BE WED. AS BEAU’S BROTHER, PEANUT, OFFICIATES THEIR WEDDING, THE COUNTY’S CORN STARTS TO DIE. THEY NATURALLY REALIZE THEY CAN’T FINISH THE CEREMONY UNTIL THE CORN CAN BE HEALED. MAIZY HEADS OFF TO THE METROPOLIS OF TAMPA AND THERE SHE SPOTS A SIGN FOR A PODIATRIST WHO PROMOTES HIMSELF AS A “CORN DOCTOR.” JUST WHAT SHE’S LOOKING FOR.
n a time when autotuned voices, remixed melodies, and rapping YouTubers rule the music scene, musician Jamie Hannah’s voice literally soars above the rest. No stranger to music, he’s given his talent a modern edge by mashing up his five-octave range, operatrained voice with pop music – and it has more than worked.
Jamie’s Italian Aria series has become a social media phenomenon, racking up over 10 million views and 200 thousand new followers in just eight months. He uses his classical training as a countertenor to give his spin to songs like “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” “Like A Prayer,” “Hallelujah,” and more. This British-born artist has found his space in Los Angeles and is using his continued success as inspiration for a full album, scheduled to be released in Spring of 2026. Despite his social media star climb, he remains humble, grounded, and completely candid. Not only has he mixed classic opera with modern pop, but his personality is a mix of English manners and Los Angeles passion.
Jamie’s place in music was destiny, as he was born into a family of musicians. His first recollections of music come from family time.
My grandfather could hear a piece of music and immediately go to the piano and play it. I always thought that was such a beautiful thing. I remember that as a family, we would kind of get along and sing, and my sister would bring her clarinet, and I’d be the singer. My mom and dad always remind me about when we used to play hide and seek growing up. They could find me very quickly because I would always be the one singing behind a sofa. My method was that if they can’t see me, that means they can’t find me.
Jamie’s successful operatic covers of popular music in his signature style are not surprising. As a queer boy growing up, both styles had his heart. His classical training would give him the skill set to sing in any genre.
I went to go and study at the Royal College of Music, and there
“RIGHT
was always a little bit of a discrepancy because, despite studying Handel and Monteverdi, I would get home in the evenings, and I was doing the Ariana Grande covers. I was just kind of doing them both in tandem.
I think for my whole life, I’ve always been immersed in the classical music world. I was in the National Youth Choir of Great Britain for about 12 years. I was welcomed into the choral world and was able to sing repertoire from all around the world with loads of other singers. And I think there’s a beauty in building the foundations of being a vocalist. I think that is really stemmed from some of the classical greats of our past. I was like, okay, I want to be like Whitney Houston. I want to be like Frank Sinatra. And many of them were trained and had those foundations classically.
Covid was a turning point for Jamie. Though it was a bittersweet decision, it was time to leave England. He found his home in Los Angeles.
Lockdown was just very tough. I got dropped from my music record label and I was just finding things to be quite stagnant. I was never going to give up on my career. I thought, where have I had glimmers of interest before in the past? And LA was one of them, and I knew nobody, but all of
my perception of Americans was that they’re very optimistic. They’re very warmhearted. That’s what I’ve experienced is that in LA, it is this melting pot of people trying to really pursue their dreams and just kind of make something happen. That’s so inspiring to be around. There’s a real celebration of creativity and talent in this city, which is addictive.
Going into lockdown, Jamie was putting his original music out there but not getting the audience growth he was looking for. Knowing the power of social media, he released his take on Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” He was a literal overnight success, waking up the next day to over 1.2 million views and 7,000 comments. He would follow that viral hit up with another, his take on “I Will Always Love You.” Brides from around the world literally flew him out to their weddings to sing his version. Being a viral sensation was new to Jamie; not only did he have to deal with the pressures of going viral, but he had to adjust his love/ hate relationship with social media.
Even my management at the time just said, “Great, you’ve gone viral, do it again.” It was kind of like, no one’s really caring for my mental health here. No one is looking out for what my actual purpose of doing this is. With the greatest respect to Instagram
and TikTok and this content, which has built an audience, it is a long-term tool to really get to where you want to be. I am a songwriter. But for my original music to be heard around the world, it’s a necessary evil really. But I don’t think of it as a necessary evil anymore. I think of it as a way to connect with people. Behind every (like) there is a person with a story that wants to be told. I connect with every single person who messages me. Whether that’s a lady in her late seventies who comments that it’s the final few days of her life and I’ve really brought something, brought some emotion out of her, or whether it’s a 10-year-old who wants to start singing lessons. It is truly remarkable. I get so much out of that, and I focus on that rather than the metrics of what the industry kind of demands from me.
To say that Jamie’s five-octave range is impressive is an understatement. There is a unique beauty in his soaring notes. His voice plays with both the feminine and masculine energies. What has become a stunning part of his skill wasn’t always celebrated by the singer.
That was something I really, really struggled with for so long, because I think after training, I fought against it so much, and I jumped into more of a commercial side of things where I wasn’t utilizing that high register in my voice because I was scared nobody would want to date me. It really just came down to that. I threw all those years away. I suppose the silver lining of lockdown was that you had so much time to reflect on what mattered to you most. My purpose on this earth is to perform and connect with people and sing.
When I sing in that register, it just resonates with people on a different frequency and vibration. So I just had to say to myself, if people want to date me, take me or leave me. This is who I am, and I’m going to show up as who I am. Every gay boy had to do that at some point in their life, whether or not it’s a high voice or the way that they dress. It’s just standing in your truth and just saying, this is me, this is who I am. It’s not all butterflies and rainbows. I think to myself, it would
be really nice to go on a date. I wonder why men don’t ask me out. Is that because I’m showing myself as this kind of more feminine person online? I mean, people have made remarks in the past, oh, you’re so much straighter in person. People are always going to have an opinion of you, regardless. I think I’ve proven over the past 12 months that I’ll be able to find my community and people who want to be a part of it. I’m working through the personal struggle.
Another element that Jamie lives his truth in is his sobriety. Being sober has helped him live his life with clarity, with the good and the difficult, and is also instrumental in his musical journey.
I’m sober seven months. I’m a work in progress, and I’m going to be putting that into my original music, and I want people to be able to know that just because I’m a public figure or whatever, doesn’t mean I’m pristine. There are plenty of sober opportunities here in LA and in London, and
I’ve really jumped into them. I think just choosing to be sober was a way for me to ensure that I was going to be the best person on that stage, at my top potential. I mean, on a day-to-day basis, I’m singing for at least an hour. It was hard initially being in LA and being a mid-20-year-old and wanting to go out and have a good time. But I really had to put firm boundaries within myself because I want to be a performer, and I want to be a singer. And some things that are usual for a
20-year-old don’t align with how my voice needs to cooperate in a studio.
Jamie’s fan base goes beyond the LGBTQ community. His followers are diverse in age, sexuality, location, and class. But Jamie will always remain grounded in the queer community. As an immigrant, he has stood by our community in resisting the current political climate sweeping Southern California, affecting both the queer and immigrant communities.
I will always show up for my community. I’m friends with many kinds
of other queer artists here in LA and in London and across the world, and I suppose it’s really nice to celebrate one another, no matter what genre they’re performing; it’s showcasing their creativity and their authenticity, and it should always be celebrated. I will always stand up for what’s right for my community.
Jamie continues to build his legacy, with his eyes on finishing his album. He knows the title, but is keeping close to the vest for now. He appreciates where his Italian Aria series has gotten him, but his true passion remains his ultimate goal.
Right now, what’s bringing me the most joy is hearing how people connect to these Italian arias. It happened in the past with my original music, but nowhere near on this scale. What I would love, which is in the works right now, is to have this album released and to really tour it across the world and be able to connect with audiences globally. I’ve had glimmers of this from doing covers and being hired to go to South Africa, Japan, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, and the USA, and people hiring me who don’t even speak English, but they’re hiring me for my voice. It blows my mind sometimes that I’ve been able to achieve that for my career. But what I would love to do is make my original music have that same impact; I’m confident I’m getting there. I’ve got about four songs I want to get to seven. It’s all coming into fruition.
There are a few themes running through it... many sober-relatedresilience, overcoming, finding your strength, and authenticity. It’s just been such a pleasure to be able to be in LA with some of the top collaborators in the world. And most of the time I’m shooting, I’m a one-man band. I’m not with a record label, but I have faith in my talent and what I can bring. Sometimes you just shoot your shot, and nine times out of 10, you don’t get responses from people. But then sometimes you get that one response and you’re working with one of the greatest songwriters of all time. I’ve learned so much just to be audacious and to reach out. We’re all human; the worst they can do is not respond. That’s been kind of a great lesson through all of this as well.
Follow Jamie on IG: @JamieHannah
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
s Pride month commenced, fashion designer and the Patron Saint of Men’s Underwear, Andrew Christian, took to social media to announce that, after 25 years in the business, he was calling it quits. After Andrew releases his final collection, Bespoke for Fall/ Winter 2025, he will start to shut the company down by the end of the year. This came as a shock, as the Andrew Christian brand has become a staple in just about every gay man’s closet for years.
Andrew Christian started the company in 1997, and it was included in INC. 500’s fastest growing companies in the US for 4 consecutive years. As the face and designer of the brand, Andrew brought his gay apparel into the mainstream with a presence on shows like Drag Race, The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, Millionaire Matchmaker, and more.
Andrew’s relationship with fashion was born out of a need to create a safe space for himself. Growing up in Fresno, he had three major stigmas working against him – his ethnicity, his sexuality, and his family’s wealth level. Andrew was raised in Section 8 housing.
Childhood was tough. You know, growing up a minority, growing up a gay kid where it wasn’t accepted, you were made fun of. I remember being taunted and teased when I was a kid. People calling me a beaner, being called a faggot even before I knew I was gay. It wasn’t easy growing up in a small town, being very different than what the perceived norm was.
Despite the bullying, Andrew has always been proud of his heritage. He credits his success to his background and the ideals he learned early on. His story is the American Dream story, even as the current political climate would have the nation believe that immigrants are our number one threat.
Being Mexican American, my family was farm workers, and I think that instilled within me a hard work ethic, which I’ve always carried through with everything. When I first started, I had no employees. I always tell them now, “I’ve done your job before. I’ve packed those orders, I packed those boxes, I’ve made the invoices.”
I think that’s where my creativity came from in fashion because I couldn’t afford the name brands that all the other kids were wearing. All the other kids at my school were much more well off than we were. So, I had to be creative and create my own aesthetic. Out of adversity comes creativity.
Andrew was very resourceful starting out. He even faked his voice as a receptionist when the phone rang to
“I THINK THAT’S WHERE MY CREATIVITY CAME FROM IN FASHION BECAUSE I COULDN’T AFFORD THE NAME BRANDS THAT ALL THE OTHER KIDS WERE WEARING.”
make the company seem like it was bigger than it was. But, as he did early on, he overcame challenges by thinking outside of the box. In his youth, he would escape to his sketchbook to create designs. In high school, he started making clothes and selling them to local boutiques.
His relationship with underwear began like most gay boys, looking at underwear ads and underwear boxes in the department stores. He would fish his mom’s Frederick’s of Hollywood catalogs out of the trash to look at the male models. Andrew started to come to terms with his sexuality and came out to his family when he was 20 by introducing his mom to his first boyfriend.
My coming out story was a bit anticlimactic. I told my mom, and she was like, “I know. I’ve known since you were four.” And I’m like, “Well, why didn’t you tell me?!? You could’ve saved me a whole lot of stress.
Not being able to afford going to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising), Andrew attended LA Trade Tech, a community college in Downtown Los Angeles. It was, as he calls it, “rough around the edges.” But he excelled in his classes and learned the ins and outs of men’s and women’s fashion, working in boutiques and selling clothes on the side to sustain himself. As students dropped out of school around him, he coasted through his education and found himself ready to immerse himself in the industry. He remains thankful that every job he has ever
had has been related to fashion. The idea to start his own company started fairly quickly after college.
I worked for a few different fashion companies in LA, and I just thought, if these idiots can do it, I can do it. I never wanted to have any regrets in life, so I’m like, let me put a hundred percent into this. I remember being young and my friends were going out to the bars and clubs, and I was staying at home on Friday night, Saturday night sewing samples to take to the trade shows, to the store buyers.
I started out small. I made a little bit of money, and all that money just went back into the company, growing bigger and bigger. There were some really, really lean years. I wasn’t successful until like 10 years after I started my company. People think it’s this overnight success. It was not; it was like 10 years of barely making it. And I had no backup plan. It was this or nothing.
During his involvement with The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency reality show, his brand came out of the closet, so to speak. Andrew Christian was gay fashion for gay men, hitting the market unabashedly.
At that time, most designers were shying away from being openly gay. I leaned into it, and my marketing was for gay people. I think that’s what resonated with people was that we were a gay company for gay people.
From that moment, Andrew revolutionized the way the queer community looked at underwear and celebrated sexuality. His models were from the community, unknown hot guys who eventually became major influencers. Colors, patterns, and erotic cuts showing off the male form started to become the norm. The fashion line has incorporated styles for all body types and aesthetics from playful to fetish. A major breakthrough for the company came when Andrew started putting out music videos showing his models in very sexual environments, showing off every curve and bulge. The videos went viral.
It was crazy. Every time I looked at the views, it was like a hundred thousand more views, a hundred thousand more, a hundred thousand even more. But it was a point in time. I don’t think
you can go viral like that anymore because I have a feeling that if there’s any gay content, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok don’t push it out at all. I think part of it might have to do with the political climate we’re in, but I even saw the shift before that. I’ve seen it with other gay entertainers and artists; their videos don’t go viral like they used to.
By going, pardon the pun, balls to the wall being super gay, did anyone in the industry tell Andrew that he wouldn’t be taken seriously in the business world?
I had people within the industry tell me that, and I was like, no, you’re wrong. This is our strong point. I wouldn’t be who I am if I weren’t gay. I wouldn’t be successful if I weren’t gay. It was authentic.
Andrew Christian wasn’t just selling underwear. His ads, his appearance around the nation, and his designs all created a safe space for queer men to come together in fellowship and celebration of sexuality. When he looks back at the success of his brand, there’s one thing that sticks out.
I think the biggest thing is having a positive change and influence on people. I hear so many stories of these kids growing up in these small towns in the Midwest or in Texas. Andrew Christian was their only link to LGBTQ culture, and it kind of saved them. They felt like they were a part of something, and it helped them to come out of the closet. I hear the story over and over. I didn’t start my company with that in mind, but I think that’s what I’m most proud of is that I had that kind of positive effect on people feeling connected with the community.
So, after 25 years in the business, why is he closing up shop? Andrew gets candid.
The whole fashion landscape has just changed, and buying habits have changed, especially among younger LGBTQ youth. They’re buying $3 underwear off of Temu and Shein, which are being subsidized by the Chinese government. So, they’re selling these things at a loss. I can’t compete with that in that format. It’s the same thing that’s happening with gay bars. Gays aren’t supporting their own gay businesses, so it’s hard to stay in business.
I see the trend in where it’s going. I decided to step out with some grace and on my own terms while we’re still happening and hot.
Andrew made an emotional post on social media and on his website. Once he hit publish, there was no going back. The texts and media calls started flooding in, no one could believe that he was actually ending an era. He isn’t leaving the industry quietly, though. His final collection will probably be his most personal.
My final collection is called Bespoke. It’s a small capsule collection based off of things that I would actually wear myself. They’re timeless pieces that will be with you for a while. And it’s kind of like my love letter to everybody who’s ever supported me over the years.
What was it like working on his final collection?
It was a little bittersweet. It was a little emotional because I’ve been doing this for over 25 years. There’s definitely a comfort in doing the same routine over and over. And I love designing.
In his goodbye post, Andrew talked about going through a transition, a time for change. So, what is his plan for the future?
I’m not sure yet. Creativity doesn’t retire. It might be something with mentoring LGBTQ youth. Our community hasn’t been attacked like this in decades so maybe it goes more into political activism. Maybe I get a podcast.
Andrew’s life has been forced into a few different transitions. Andrew lost his mother unexpectedly this last year. Anyone who knows Andrew knows how close they were. He had to keep a brave and strong face as the leader of his brand.
She was my biggest champion. It was just really difficult because I never got to say goodbye. She wasn’t sick. It was hard on me. It’s very isolating. When it first happens, people are very supportive. But it’s when it becomes like a month later, and nobody’s there, and you’re still going through it. Like your first Christmas without your parent - you’re still going through the grief, but everybody’s kind of moved all along.
But Andrew continued his work as an
homage to the support and unconditional love she had for him. Working hard in the face of adversity is just second nature for Andrew. When the doors finally close and he doesn’t have to report to work, what is he going to do on his first day off?
Absolutely nothing.
From his years in the business, he has some messages to the queer folk out there. To his models and to his employees who have become family, he says:
You got this, you can do it. I did it,
and you can do it.
And to any queer kid feeling out of place who has dreams of starting their own business, he says:
It’s going to be hard. It’s not going to be easy. Nothing’s going to be handed to you, but you know that the truth is inside you and you can do it.
And to his fans, he shares:
This is a goodbye for this chapter, but I’m not going away. I’ll still be here. So, until the next chapter.
BY ETHYLINA CANNE
Hello and Happy August! We are officially moving into wedding season, and I’m happy to announce that I am celebrating my 11th year of being ordained. That’s right, I can be the one who officiates your loving ceremony and help you tie the knot on your special day.
Sadly, in my 11 years of being ordained, I have yet to marry a couple in drag. I have only done so sans wig, but I think that just might change thanks to my dear friend Reverend Brian, who is the new owner of the Palm Springs Wedding Chapel. Whether It’s Elopement, a Micro Wedding, Same Day or Pop-Up Weddings, or if you are looking for a fabulous drag queen to bring some sparkle to your day, the Palm Springs Wedding Chapel has your needs and wants completely covered.
I was able to sit down with Reverend Brian and ask him some questions about his new business and what he has in store for the Coachella Valley.
How long have you been a Reverend and what led you down that path?
Well, that’s a tricky question because I never used the title Reverend before coming to Palm Springs Wedding Chapel. I was ordained as a Pastor in 2014 by the Covenant Network, a network of affirming Christian churches. Over the next several years I gained a larger following on social media than I had in my own little church here that met in the ballroom of The Saguaro. During that time, we launched a sister church in Los Angeles and went to Caracas, Venezuela under our spiritual cover. At this point we had three churches that I was the lead over and had now ascended to the “office” of Bishop. Upon accepting that role a church in Houston, TX, which had been a sister church in our previous network came alongside us and we became our own network of affirming churches. My Board of Directors conferred the title of Bishop upon me as I was ordained for a second time. I use Reverend because The Chapel has no denomina-
tional or theological stand. I am a Christian who also happens to be gay, and that’s where I leave it.
Being ordained is such a wonderful thing, as you get to be a part of the couple’s special day. How many couples have you married and describe one of the weddings that holds a special place in your heart.
I’ve married about a dozen couples to date, most within the past two months since taking the reins of the Palm Springs Wedding Chapel.
My favorite wedding so far has got to be the very first wedding I officiated at after taking over The Chapel, Arika and Nick. The young couple were amazing to work with and they were so much in love. Their energy was electric. The bride was from New England and the groom from London, where they were both living when they contacted me. They had met in Palm Springs six years ago and wanted to get married where they met. They both flew
in from London a couple days early so they could get the marriage license prior to the day of the wedding, “just in case”. Everything went off without a hitch and they closed the ceremony by dancing at the front of The Chapel to their song, “ Midnight Train to Georgia” as supplied by Franco Fabrizio, The Chapel’s sound tech and aromatherapy guru.
Bridezillas: We all have been around one, been to a wedding with one, or know a friend of one. What was the worst ceremony you have ever performed?
I have actually never had a “Bridezilla, per se, but I immediately thought of a couple of “entitled” brides that I’ve run across. The first one I removed myself from the wedding all together and the other I just grinned and endured it. Both brides lived in different cities than where I lived in Palm Springs. One required a two-hour drive, the other a five-hour drive. Both expected me to pay all my own expenses, gas, hotel, food, etc. and with no remuneration as they were both people my daughter knew. I was told by one girl that it was an honor to be asked to marry her, and I should gladly pay whatever it cost to accept the honor. I bowed out of that wedding. The second one expected me to pay for all my expenses except for the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception. After the rehearsal, I was “uninvited” to the dinner as the couple had decided to take the whole group on a dinner cruise and there wasn’t room for me and my companion.
Pre-COVID there were other chapels in the desert performing weddings. Now, there is only the Palm Springs Wedding Chapel. How did this chapel become yours?
This is probably the best part of my story! For about the last 14 years or so, the Palm Springs Wedding Chapel was led by a sweetheart of a woman named Lisa Phillian. I had only met Lisa once, but was friends with her right hand man, Tracy Everett. Lisa passed away unexpectedly leaving The Chapel unattended and in a state of semi-disarray. Lisa’s family was of course devastated and in a quandary, as they didn’t have the ability to run The Chapel on their own but also didn’t want
Lisa’s legacy to die along with her. So, they turned to the one person they knew that might be able to help, Tracy. Tracy wasn’t interested in taking over The Chapel for himself, but told the brother and sister-inlaw that he MIGHT know of someone who would be interested, a retired Bishop he was friends with. Long story short, Tracy got the family and I together and we hit it off famously. Two days later they turned over the entire operation to me, lock, stock and barrel. I’ve been busy updating the website, joining business organizations such as the Desert Business Association and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as expanding our services. It’s been a joy and a lot of hard work all at once. I have to give a big shout out to my buddy, Tracy, for sticking with me through the whole transition. He was key to putting EVERYTHING together, not just the transaction, the entire transition.
With a new business owner, comes new business practices and offerings. What are some of the new additions to the standard wedding service that you have offered in the past.
Now this is the part that really gets me excited… we are moving to “rebrand” The Chapel and expand at the same time. Lisa’s brand and aesthetic was that of a Vegas Wedding Chapel, complete with an Elvis impersonator as a wedding officiant, and the interior of The Chapel reflected that aesthetic. In addition to adding to our services and expanding our market appeal we are remodeling the Chapel to reflect more of an “Old World” elegance. Everything will transition into a European villa feel as we get more and more comfortable in our new skin.
As far as additional services goes, we are not only expanding our list of optional “additions” to any wedding package we offer, such as a gorgeous floral package, featuring a classic bouquet of 18 white, pink or red roses and boutonniere, a champagne toast package featuring three different grades of champagne to seal the nuptials, as well as several other things we’re still putting together.
I think the biggest new addition is going to be the offering of wedding/reception packages. The Chapel has never offered anything like this before and we’re very cau-
tious about who we enter into such a joint venture with, so there will only be a few that we’ll be working with. One we are partnering with is V Wine and Martini Bar where we’ll be offering the option of having a local drag queen, who is an ordained minister, to officiate the wedding. Another addition is pure elegance and aims towards a slightly more gentile, or “bougie” crowd, with weddings held on Sunday afternoons in a section of Willie’s Modern Fare, with the reception being “High Tea.” If you haven’t experienced High Tea at Willie’s it is a must regardless of your social position. Don’t be intimidated, it’s pure elegance served like only Willie Rhine can serve it, yet as easy as a Sunday afternoon should be.
We have just celebrated the 10 year Anniversary of Same Sex marriage being legal and recognized in this country. There is talk in some circles that the current administration in Washington DC are trying to revoke the option for same sex couples to marry. What are your thoughts?
You know, we’ve come one hell of a long way, and we’re not safe yet. But the one thing I know for sure is that the queer spirit is indomitable. We will NEVER go back to hiding in some closet or peeking out from a darkened doorway, We’re here, in the light, to stay. That being said, I do realize that there is a slim chance that our right to legally marry might be temporarily revoked. I say temporarily because I don’t believe the current administration will have the staying power to enact their treacherous policies for any significant duration of time. In the event that we do lose the right to legally marry we, Palm Springs Wedding Chapel, will grow and evolve into whatever we need to be to ensure that everyone who comes to us is united in a ceremony that their family and friends can join and be proud of. We will continue to offer our acceptance and endorsement of love, no matter who it is a person loves.
If you and that special someone are looking to get hitched, look no further. For more information about the Palm Springs Wedding Chapel, head over to the website at: www.palmspringsweddingchapel.org or call 760-278-3116.
Best Wishes on your Special Day!
TRACEY ENGELKING IS LIVING HER BEST LIFE AS BOTH AN INVOLVED PALM SPRINGS RESIDENT AND A THANKFUL DAP HEALTH PATIENT. SHE WANTS YOU TO LIVE YOURS, TOO.
BY DANIEL VAILLANCOURT (as seen in DAP Health magazine)
Tracey Engelking, 51, may not be a celebrity, but if she tried her hand at fame, she’d surely be an overnight sensation. Often told she resembles Sarah Jessica Parker, she definitely exudes a star’s confidence, charisma, and sex appeal.
She was born a water-lover, raised Roman Catholic, and lived with her mom, dad, and adored older sister Kelley in the tiny town of Auburn on Owasco Lake in the Finger Lakes region of Western New York state. “I was a competitive swimmer — always in the lake, always in the pool,” she says. “But it was so cold there! As beautiful as the
summers were, even as a child, I knew there was no way I could live there.”
So, after dropping out midway through her junior year as a fine art major at SUNY Buffalo, she packed her meager belongings — and $600 cash — into her Oldsmobile Cutlas Sierra and hightailed it to La Jolla, California, to live by the beach.
While working as a showgirl at a club called Nightlife in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood, Engelking met a hot new bartender named Chad. On his third day there, she offered him a tour of the area. They made a date for
the very next day.
“It was July 31, 1998,” she reveals. “We went to dinner, walked around downtown, went to the harbor, watched the fireworks over SeaWorld. Out of nowhere, I said, ‘You’re exactly the kind of guy I would get marry.’”
When Chad replied the feeling was mutual, she blurted out, “Let’s get married!” They wed 48 hours after meeting, and they’re still together more than a quarter-century later.
“He’s the easiest human I could ever, ever imagine being with,” she says. “I can’t imagine being with anybody else.” Alongside her diamond ring, Engelking wears the little pawn shop band they found for $20 in El Cajon.
Pregnant within months, they relocated to Chad’s native Houston, where he soon began working in aerospace. After their son Blue was born, Chad was transferred to Newport Beach (where he still works, for the same company) and the little family settled into a condo in San Clemente.
“We had the quintessential smalltown beach life,” she says. “We lived a block from the beach. I was a full-time mom for a lot of years, just raising our son, surfing every day.”
When Blue was 10, Engelking began doing marketing, events, and social media for Hobie, the legendary maker of water-sport recreational products. But when the demands of working full-time grew too great, she quit. “I was fortunate enough to be able to retire in 2019,” she reveals. “And this is where my life really changes.”
When COVID-19 happened, Engelking and the fam found refuge in Palm Springs, swapping the little weekend studio they’d enjoyed for more than a decade for the house that is now their primary residence. “We still have our place at the beach,” she clarifies. It’s home base for Blue, who’s 25. “We own it outright, so we’ll never get rid of it.”
Engelking set about planting roots in the desert. She got her yoga teaching certification and started teaching at Urban Yoga at DAP Health’s Sunrise campus. She also regularly attended group classes taught by Ted Guice of G-Force Workout at Ruth Hardy Park. From there, her circle of friends just kept growing wider and deeper.
Today, Engelking belongs to nonprofit groups the Palm Springs Women’s Club and Palm Springs Pathfinders, performs with the Desert Flaggers at the Sunday tea dance at Oscar’s, teaches yoga twice weekly at Steel Gym, has marched and danced in four Greater Palm Springs Pride parades, warmed up onstage alongside Guice and others at the 2023 DAP Health Equity Walk, and plays Mahjong weekly with a large group whose members range from 25 to 94 years of age.
“I feel like I found a world where I can be 100% myself,” she says, flashing
that engaging smile. “And my husband encourages it. He’s happy for me to finally be my whole self and to not have people constantly saying, ‘Well, if she’d only tone it down.’”
Palm Springs is also where Engelking finally decided to try her hand at erotic writing. But rather than craft hetero bodice-rippers, her talent lies in spinning sexy man-on-man yarns.
“When I was 13, 14 years old, I went to my grandmother’s neighbors’ house.” she explains. “They were a couple of older gay men. I went into their bathroom, and like a nosy child does, I started opening cabinets. They had a gay porn magazine. I stayed in that bathroom for 30 minutes! The men were so beautiful. I loved looking at them. So, when it came time to write, I thought, ‘I’m gonna write about two guys.’”
So talented is Engelking that when friend and fashion designer Andrew Christian (known for his eponymous swimwear, underwear, and sportswear line) sampled her prose, he made space for her on his website. Writing under the nom-de-porn Eris Chase, she’s so far posted 30 or so fictional pieces and advice articles.
“I have no shame, and I’m very sexpositive,” she declares. “I always had a super high sex drive, right from the jump.”
It’s Engelking’s high sex drive — and deep desire to maintain a vigorous monogamous relationship with Chad — that brought her stress. “Entering my perimenopausal years, I was really concerned about weight gain,” she says. “I’ve been the same size since I was 18, and I don’t want to invest in all new clothes. I’m concerned about the exhaustion. I’m really concerned about orgasms, and vaginal atrophy and dryness.”
But when she shared her qualms with her coastal OB-GYN, a woman, they were brushed off as a fact of life. “I thought, ‘I need a different gynecologist,” she says. “I’m in this desert with people who are vital and alive. I’m not willing to hang it all up, just age, and turn into a dried-up piece of fruit.”
ENTER A HEALTH CARE SAVIOR Engelking found that new gynecologist through a man named Casey in her Mahjong group, whose partner happens to be Dr. Evan Schwenk, an OB-GYN at DAP Health’s Palm Springs Family Health.
“I had my first appointment with him, told him my concerns, and he immediately started with all these great options,” says Engelking. “They just kept flowing! I felt heard and I felt seen. Dr. Schwenk is one of the most loving, compassionate doctors. It makes me feel excited to have my other doctors through DAP Health.
“I don’t know if it’s because the culture at DAP Health is so sex-positive — it’s such a forward-thinking company. But we should all be living our best lives, whatever that means to us. I should be able to have sex in my 70s and 80s, just like men can. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request to say, ‘Let’s use everything available.’”
ENGELKING TAKES A BREATH, THEN CONTINUES.
“It’s hard being anyone, but being a woman sometimes, there’s so much shame involved. Same with gay men. I think maybe that’s why I do feel more comfortable here in the gay community. I don’t ever have to feel shame anymore. I like having sex. A lot of it. I don’t feel like I ever have to keep that from anyone out here.”
Engelking says that every day, online, she reads stories about women whose concerns fall on deaf ears, whether it’s those of their husbands or partners, or of their doctors. “They’re just devastated. They’re depressed. They can’t get anyone to listen to them,” she says. “What I want more than anything is for some Latino mom out there — whose vagina is dry, who hasn’t had an orgasm in two years — to be able to say, ‘Oh, wait! Maybe if I go to someone who will listen to me, someone will hear me.”
For more information about DAP Health’s sexual wellness services, please visit daphealth.org.
drag queen who can sing for real? Why yes, Acacia Forgot can pull out her guitar and serenade you with a song that is sassy and catchy. Yee haw! Fans of Drag Race fell in love with Acacia Forgot as she entered the Werk Room for season 17. Many believed her time on the show was cut way too short, and her Instagram grew by a whopping 694 % during her run. She’s been a SoCal staple since her time in the Midwest and New York, and if you’ve met her in person, she is down-to-earth, sweet, and mannered. If you’ve seen her perform live, you know she brings it at full octane, setting herself apart in the crowd of queens by being able to master an audience without having to lip sync.
Her big personality, big Western looks, and larger-than-life presentation belie a quieter beginning, when, as Tyler, he had to overcome an earlier life in an extremely conservative environment, struggling to find his place as a queer youth. But at the core of everything in his life has been music. With Drag Race under his belt and with gigs across the nation, he now has the platform to mix his two passions – drag and music.
BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ
Acacia spilled the tea with us, directly after a performance for Out at the Fair at the San Diego County Fair. GED was on hand, and it was a joy to share the stage with her. She’s a true professional backstage and onstage.
You were raised in a musical family. What did your family teach you most about the musical world?
They taught me a lot about music, but the most important lesson was how to love music and how music brings community together.
You worked as a music therapist. What exactly did you do, and what did you love about doing it?
The basic foundation of Music Therapy is using music to achieve non-music goals, whether they are emotional, physical, developmental, or psychological. I worked with many different populations, but my favorite was working in the NICU, where we used specialized music techniques to regulate
the babies’ vitals and soothe them when distressed. We also used music for parent/baby bonding.
What is your coming out story?
I grew up in very oppressive social circles and continued that pattern when I moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, for college. I felt tired of being pushed in a corner and finally came out after my freshman year of college. Although I lost the majority of my childhood friends due to their religious and conservative beliefs, it was a small price to pay to finally claim my freedom.
How do your queer and musical identities complement each other?
All of my original songs have roots in queerness with the storylines. Whether it’s a queer story or campy jokes, it’s always gay as shit.
How did you come up with your drag name?
I knew a girl in college with the name Acacia, and I loved it, so I knew
that would be my first name. When I started saying it out loud, the last name, Forgot, instantly came to me and stuck.
What was your first exposure to drag?
My first exposure to drag was in middle school. I was obsessed with Coco Peru and Sherry Vine on YouTube! I’d show all my friends the videos, and they thought I was losing it, but I connected with it so much.
What was your first professional drag appearance? How did it go?
The first time I went out in drag was for the monthly show (and only show) in Grand Forks, ND called BJ Armani’s Cabaret, and when the host, BJ, saw me, they instantly added me to the cast for the next month. I was just that pretty! Looking back, I was not great, but the people loved me, and I solidified my spot as a cast member.
Favorite part about doing drag? Blush, Heels, and Hair.
Least favorite part about doing drag? Sweating.
What do you think it was about your audition tape that got you cast on Drag Race?
I believe I bring a unique perspective based on my life story and take on music and performance that is rare in Drag Race and in the drag community.
What did you learn most about yourself from getting through your season of Drag Race?
I learned not to second-guess my intuition and to believe in myself and my power. I let myself get in my head because of the things others said, and I wish I didn’t let that shake me.
Do you have any regrets from your season of Drag Race?
I don’t have any regrets because I believe everything happens for a reason, which I know is so oversaid. But if anything, maybe show my butt more since that’s what the people want!
Would you come back for All Stars? Absolutely, I would. I need that redemption girl!
Go-to lip sync song?
“I Believe in a Thing Called Love”The Darkness
Favorite pickup line?
I heard you were looking for a stud. I have the STD, and all I need is U!
Favorite drink? Pina Colada.
Craziest drag memory?
I fell down a metal staircase wearing a Christmas tree costume covered in bells in a silent bar…
Both the art and the queer world have been affected by current government legislation. What must the art and queer communities do to rally back?
I think the most important thing that the queer community can do is just exist unapologetically. If there is anything I learned living in an oppressive, homophobic place like North Dakota, it’s that
just existing as you are is a protest. It shows those against you that you will not back down to cater to them, and it shows those like you that there is a safe space for them to also be themselves.
What do you think the future of drag looks like?
I feel like all drag is starting to morph into the same few drag aesthetics, and I hope, in the future of drag, people find more individuality, and I hope more fans of drag don’t put people down just because they are different than the mold.
“I LEARNED NOT TO SECOND-GUESS MY INTUITION AND TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF AND MY POWER. I LET MYSELF GET IN MY HEAD BECAUSE OF THE THINGS OTHERS SAID, AND I WISH I DIDN’T LET THAT SHAKE ME.”
How has drag changed your life?
Drag has changed my life because it taught me how to be free. My whole life I was suppressed to become a smaller version of myself and drag has given me the freedom to search for who I really am on the inside.
What kind of legacy do you want to build with your drag?
The biggest thing I aim to do with my drag is to spread joy and laughter through every interaction, performance, and project I do. Overall, I also want to leave an impression on LA and be remembered as a notable member of the community in the city I love and call home.
What is your message to your fans? Love me! Please! And Yee-Haw! And thank you for all the support and never stop being yourself and bringing queerness to every corner of the world!
You can follow Acacia on IG: @AcaciaForgot
Sonoma County, California, is more than just rolling vineyards and world-class wines; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with rich history, stunning natural beauty, and a proudly queerinclusive spirit. For LGBTQ+ travelers seeking a sophisticated yet welcoming escape, Sonoma offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of wine country.
While often associated with its more boisterous neighbor, San Francisco, Sonoma County has long been a quiet haven and a place of activism for the LGBTQ+ community. Guerneville, nestled along the Russian River, holds a particularly significant place in this history. Affectionately known as “The River,” it emerged as a prominent LGBTQ+ resort town, especially for gay men, with a history stretching back decades.
After the logging industry declined and the town faced severe flooding in the 1960s, a new kind of visitor began to arrive. In the 1970s, LGBTQ+ individuals started buying up the available resorts and businesses. This allowed for the open establishment of gay-friendly spaces. Peter Pender, a Philadelphia man, bought a riverside hotel in 1978 and renamed it Fife’s, creating Guerneville’s first openly gay resort. Other gayfocused businesses quickly followed, including The Woods, Highlands Resort, The R3 Hotel, and the iconic Rainbow Cattle Company, which still thrives on Main Street today.
BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
The late 1970s and early 1980s saw Guerneville flourish as a weekend destination for the queer community, particularly as the sexual revolution spread from San Francisco. Even during the devastating HIV and AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s, Guerneville remained a vital refuge, where the lesbian community often took on caregiving roles for gay men affected by the crisis – a testament to the community’s solidarity. Today, Guerneville continues its legacy of acceptance, hosting events like Lazy Bear Week, Women’s Weekend Russian River, and Russian River Pride, ensuring its place as a welcoming and celebratory destination for all.
Santa Rosa, as the county seat, also plays a crucial role in Sonoma’s LGBTQ+ narrative. While not historically a “gayborhood” in the same vein as Guerneville, Santa Rosa has a thriving and increasingly visible LGBTQ+ community. Organizations like PFLAG Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Pride work tirelessly to provide support, advocacy, and vibrant annual celebrations, including a large Pride festival. The LGBTQ+ community in Santa Rosa is well-integrated across the city, making it a welcoming place for residents and visitors alike.
Get ready to sip, savor, and explore the best of Sonoma County with this curated itinerary designed for the discerning LGBTQ+ traveler.
Morning: At only 48 miles away from San Francisco, the charming town of Sonoma is a great spot to begin your adventure - centered around the historic Sonoma Plaza. This sprawling, tree-lined square is the largest in California and a National Historic Landmark. Take a leisurely stroll, soaking in the missionera architecture. Visit Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of the California missions, and the Sonoma Barracks, offering a glimpse into early California history.
Lunch: For lunch, head to The Girl & The Fig (Sonoma Plaza). This beloved restaurant is renowned for its rustic French-inspired cuisine and commitment to local, seasonal ingredients. Their duck confit is a must-try, and the sun-dappled patio is perfect for people-watching.
Wine Tasting on the Square: After lunch, venture to Corner 103, just a block down from The Girl & The Fig in Sonoma, a unique tasting room that offers a guided, educational experience with pairings, helping you understand the nuances of Sonoma County’s diverse wines.
Evening: Enjoy a sophisticated dinner at El Dorado Kitchen, located on Sonoma Plaza. Their seasonal, farm-to-table menu and contemporary elegant ambiance make for a memorable dining experience. Afterward, if you’re looking for a low-key evening cocktail, The Swiss Hotel on the Plaza is known as a casual gathering spot for the local LGBTQ+ community on Friday evenings.
Where to Stay: Consider The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, Autograph Collection in Sonoma for a luxurious stay with a boutique feel.
Morning: Begin your day in Santa Rosa’s charming Historic Railroad Square, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This walkable district features beautifully restored buildings dating back to the early 1900s. Explore the eclectic mix of antique shops, boutiques, and art galleries. Don’t miss the old train depot, now home to the Santa Rosa Visitor Center, where you can learn more about the area’s history and pick up a copy of the Sonoma County LGBT+ Wine Map.
Lunch: Railroad Square offers a variety of dining options. For casual dining with a modern Jewish deli flair, Grossman’s Noshery & Bar is an excellent choice, known for its house-cured meats and baked goods. A late lunch or happy hour (3-6pm) at Stark’s Steak & Seafood is a locals hot spot. Belly up to the bar, if you can get a seat, and order the famous $5 Ford’s Gin Martini, along with many foodie favorites on the bar menu.
Afternoon: After lunch, embrace a bit of whimsy and pop culture history with a visit to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center. Learn about the creator of Peanuts, who lived in Santa Rosa for many years. For an afternoon wine tasting, consider Benovia Winery, a boutique winery located within Santa Rosa, offering private tastings by appointment amidst beautiful grounds. Inman Family Winery is a sustainably-farmed, 100% solar powered estate, offering naturally made wines. And they offer a complimentary EV charging station to recharge your car while recharging your body.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at Augie’s French, located on 4th Street in historic downtown Santa Rosa. The menu embodies French Bistro classics and crafted cocktails in a stylish setting. Afterward, stop by Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie Bar right next door for a delicious treat. Noble Folk has been consistently recognized by the San Francisco Business Journal as one of the top LGBTQIA+ owned businesses in the Bay Area. if you’re looking for a lively spot for a drink, Santa Rosa has several welcoming bars, though it doesn’t have a dedicated “gay bar” district. Many of the craft breweries, like Russian River Brewing Company, are popular and frequented by all, offering a relaxed atmosphere.
Where to Stay: For your night in Santa Rosa, the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country offers comfortable and upscale accommodations, conveniently located near Railroad Square and with its own restaurant and bar.
Morning: Head west to the Russian River Valley, a region known for its world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as its stunning natural beauty. Start your day with a visit to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, where you can walk amongst ancient, towering redwood trees – a truly hum-
bling and serene experience.
Lunch: Enjoy a laid-back lunch (Friday – Sunday) at the new restaurant located at the R3 Hotel – Baked on the River. Stay and enjoy the lively pool and bar scene at the R3 Hotel.
Queer-Friendly Sips: A must stop is Equality Vines in Guerneville, the world’s first cause wine portfolio dedi-
cated to equality for all people. Their tasting room offers a unique experience with wines from their current portfolio, and they are pet-friendly. It’s a perfect pairing of excellent wine and a commitment to equal rights. Afterward, explore downtown Guerneville, rent a kayak, or simply relax by the Russian River.
Evening: For delicious Southernstyle offerings with a California twist, check out Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint, drawing on Louisiana heritage for soulful dishes in a welcoming atmosphere. Think flavorful dishes like fried chicken, ribs, red beans and rice, and cornbread waffles. Saucy Mama’s is a beloved spot for those seeking authentic soul food. Another great option is Trillium Winebar & Taproom, which offers a delightful menu with options ranging from Oysters, soups and salads, seafood, tasting boards, share plates, house-baked breads and desserts, all in a cozy setting perfect for a relaxed meal. An after-dinner cocktail at Rainbow Cattle Co or R3 Hotel is always a good bet.
Where to Stay: For a truly immersive experience in Guerneville, consider Autocamp Russian River. This unique glamping experience offers luxurious Airstream suites and canvas tents nestled amongst the redwoods, providing a chic and comfortable base to explore the Russian River area.
Morning: Travel north to Healdsburg, a sophisticated town at the confluence of three renowned AVAs: Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley. Spend your morning exploring the charming Healdsburg Plaza, browsing the unique boutiques, art galleries, and gourmet food shops.
Lunch: Healdsburg boasts an impressive culinary scene. For a delightful lunch, try Lo & Behold Bar + Kitchen, an LGBTQ+ owned business known for its creative cocktails and a globally-inspired menu perfect for sharing. Their “almost famous” chicken tenders are a must-try!
Afternoon: Dedicate your afternoon to exploring the Dry Creek Valley, celebrated for its Zinfandel. Visit MacRostie Winery perched on a hilltop in the heart of the Russian River Valley, their Estate House offers stunning vineyard views and a focus on small-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their signature seated tasting is an elegant experience.
Evening: For your farewell dinner, indulge in a memorable meal. Valette in
Healdsburg offers an exquisite dining experience with an innovative, seasonal menu and impeccable service. the Chefs 5-Course Tasting Menu is a perfect way to cap off this portion of your Sonoma adventure.
Where to Stay: Consider the The Lodge at Healdsburg, A Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which offers a comfortable and stylish stay with great amenities and close to Healdsburg Square. The luxurious Hotel Healdsburg for sophisticated accommodations is right on the Plaza.
To enhance your LGBTQ+-friendly wine country experience, be sure to consult the LGBT+ Sonoma County Wine Map produced by the LGBT+ Wine Society. This bi-annual print and digital map highlights key places to eat, drink, and stay that are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBT+ Wine Society was created to bring wine lovers from the LGBT+ community and its allies together with friendly businesses in California, offering exclusive offers, mixers, and information on wineries and travel.
Visit lgbtwinesociety.com for more spots to eat, drink, and stay in Sonoma County and to learn about their mission to support equality through wine.
Sonoma County offers a truly enriching experience for LGBTQ+ travelers – a place where you can relax, indulge, and connect with a community that celebrates authenticity and joy. Cheers to your unforgettable journey!
LGBTQ people are among the many subgroups of Americans known to experience high rates of food insecurity.*
*The Williams Institute
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert provides food for 30,000+ people annually.
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
BLOCK PARTY
8853 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069 blockpartyweho.com
BRICK & MORTAR
8713 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.652.6605 shopatbrick.com
CIRCUS OF BOOKS
8861 Santa Monica Blvd and West Hollywood, CA 90069 323.337.9555 circusofbooks.com
LOVE CONNECTION
8244 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046
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
YMLA
8594 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 ymla.com
BLADE
801 N. Larrabee St, Ste #1 West Hollywood 310.659.6693
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
213.201.WALK (9255)
• 5901 W. Olympic Blcd. #310 Los Angeles, CA 90036
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
• 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
REACH THE LA LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND ADVERTISE WITH GED MAGAZINE
COMPETITIVE RATES
STATEWIDE PRINT DISTRIBUTION
sales@gedmag.com
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
PS 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
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
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
CASA OLIVER
535 S Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-323-7505 casaoliverhotel.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
EL TUGGLE
388 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.880.4338 eltuggle.com
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
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
PS FINE MEN’S SALON
750 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3 Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.904.0434 psfinemenssalon.com
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 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 PS
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
RICK’S DESERT GRILL
1596 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.325.2127 ricksdesertgrill.com
PLAY LOUNGE & CAFE
2825 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Bldg C, Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-808-8588 playloungeps.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
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
PALM SPRINGS TEST
140 N Luring Drive, Ste D Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-299-6487 healthypstest.org
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
BARS & CLUBS
440 CASTRO 440 Castro, San Francisco, CA the440.com
BEAUX
2344 Market St., San Franciso, CA beauxsf.com
HI TOPS
2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA
415.551.2500 hitopsbar.com
LOBBY BAR
4230 18th St. Unit A, San Francisco, CA lobbybarsf.com
LOOKOUT
3600 16th St., San Francisco, CA
415.431.0306 lookoutsf.com
MAC’S CLUB
39 Post St., San Jose, CA
408.288.8221
MIDNIGHT SUN
4067 18th St., San Francisco, CA
415.861.4186
midnightsunsf.com
MOBY DICK
4049 18th St., San Francisco, CA
415.294.0731
OASIS
298 11th St., San Francisco, CA
415.795.3180 sfoasis.com
RENEGADES
501 W Taylor St., San Jose, CA
408.275.9902 renegadesbar.carrd.co
SF EAGLE
398 12th St., San Francisco, CA 415.200.2002 sf-eagle.com
SPLASH
65 Post St., San Jose, CA 408.292.2222 splashsj.com
THE CINCH SALOON
1723 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 415.776.4162
THE MIX
4086 18th St., San Francisco, CA 415.431.8616 thesfmix.com
WHITE HORSE BAR
6551 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA 510.652.3820
HAIR SALONS
HEALING CUTS
2350 Market St., San Francisco, CA
415.286.2970 healingcutssf.com
SPUNK SALON
4147 19th St., San Francisco, CA 415.701.7865 spunksalon.com
THE CASTRO BARBER LOUNGE
2265 Market St., San Francisco, CA 415.678.5942 thecastrobarberlounge.com
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
HEALTH/COUNSELING/SUPPORT
API WELLNESS CLINIC
726 Polk St. SF LGBT Center 1800 Market Street San Francisco, CA apiwellness.org
BILLY DEFRANK
LGBTQ CENTER
938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 408.293.3040 defrankcenter.org
LYRIC CENTER FOR LGBTQQ YOUTH
127 Collingwood St (@ 18th St), San Francisco, CA 415.703.6150 lyric.org
OAKLAND LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER
3207 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, CA 510.882.2286 oaklandlgbtqcenter.org
PACIFIC CENTER FOR HUMAN GROWTH
2712 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 510.548.8283 pacificcenter.org
QUEER LIFESPACE
2275 Market St, San Francisco, CA 415.358.2000 queerlifespace.org
RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER
2380 Salvio St., Concord, CA 925.692.0090 rainbowcc.org
SF AIDS FOUNDATION
470 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 415.437.3400 strutsf.org
SF LGBT CENTER
1800 Market St, San Francisco, 415.865.5555 sfcenter.org
STONEWALL PROJECT
1035 Market St, #400, San Francisco, CA 415.487.3000 stonewallsf.org
THE TREVOR PROJECT
866.488.7386 Text: 678.678 thetrevorproject.org
UCSF ALLIANCE HEALTH PROJECT
1930 Market St, San Francisco, CA 415.476.3902 ucsf-ahp.org
LEGAL
AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL
1663 Mission St, #500, San Francisco, CA 415.701.1100 alrp.org
OASIS LEGAL SERVICES
1900 Addison St, #100, Berkeley, CA 510.666.6687 oasislegalservices.org
TRANSGENDER
LAW CENTER
510.587.9696 transgenderlawcenter.org
HOTLINES
THE GLBT HOTLINE OF SAN FRANCISCO: 415.355.0999
GLBT NATIONAL HOTLINE: 1.888.843.4564
GLBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE: 1.800.246.7743
TREVOR PROJECT HOTLINE (Queer Youth Suicide Prevention): 866.488.7386
CALIFORNIA AIDS, STD, & HEPATITIS HOTLINE: 1.800.367.2437
SEXUAL ASSAULT - COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS: 800.670.7273
CONTRA COSTA CRISIS CENTER for Suicide & Crisis Intervention: 800.273.8255