LGBTQ+ HISTORY & ARCHIVES OF THE
PRESENTS AN EXHIBITION
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CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF LEATHER IN PALM SPRINGS
OCT. 30 - NOV. 2, 2025
THURS - SAT: 11AM - 8PM
SUN: 11AM - 3PM
FREE ADMISSION
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Leather Women: Celebrating Our Sexuality Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 6:30PM
FROM THE EDITOR
WE HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE NEW FALL SEASON
We have some interesting features for you including our exclusive interview with Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, a South African-born, UK-based non-binary actor known for their role as Sheriff Santiago in Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2. They studied at the National School of Arts and the Royal Central School of Drama, and are fluent in Xhosa, Zulu, and English. Beyond acting, Lewis-Nyawo is passionate about representing their heritage, being engaged in the queer community, and finding authenticity in their work.
In addition, we went on the search for the BEST burger joints in the Coachella Valley, and we have complied a list for you to explore!
Here in Palm Springs, Pride is almost upon us, and GED and LE Parties have FIVE events during Pride weekend for your enjoyment –Friday night at 7pm is DRAG-A-LICIOUS, the largest Drag Show in town taking over the ballroom of the Riviera Resort, followed by EUPHORIA at Reforma starting at 10pm; Saturday is our highly anticipated pool party COLOSSAL from 12-6pm, followed by the evening
dance party STEAM WURK starting at 10pm, which proves to be an immersive club experience like no other; Sunday after the parade, come on back for RINSE & REPEAT pool party from 12-6pm. Weekend passes for all the events are available at PRIDEMASSIVE.COM or visit GEDmag. com for more information.
The GED Magazine Team is committed to bringing you the best in LGBTQ entertainment, travel, and lifestyles. Visit us on the web at GEDmag.com and sign up for our monthly insider newsletter. Insiders will also be entered into future drawings for trips, event tickets, dinners and more. And for all the updates on social media, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @GEDmagazine and tag us in your photos to be featured… #GEDmag. GED MAGAZINE is here for YOUR entertainment!
— MICHAEL WESTMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Because where you shop matters
STEREOPHONIC – Various: Stereophonic opened on Broadway last year and received 13 Tony nominations, a record number of nominations for a play. Of those, it won five Tonys including Best Play, Director, Supporting Actor (3 nominations), Sound and Scenic Designs.
The “play with music” (as opposed to a true musical) follows a fictitious rock band on the cusp of superstardom as they struggle through recording their new album, set from 1976 to 1977. Broadway critics compared it to Fleetwood Mac creating their album “Rumors” which was released in 1977. In fact, some authors who had written a book about the backstory of the creation of “Rumors” sued the playwright, David Admji, for plagiarism. The case was settled out of court. Set in a Sausalito recording studio, the band takes over a year to record their album, mostly because of personal issues between the band members. Two are married to each other, one an addict, the recording engineers might not have all the qualifications they touted, and so on.
The play features a dozen rock songs which are reminiscent of the 70’s, composed by Will Butler of the indie rock group Arcade Fire. In all the productions so far, the cast has actually played and sang the music themselves. Broadway actor Will Brill had never even held a bass guitar before being cast as the group’s bass, and many of them had to study extensively to perform the required music. It plays at the San Francisco Curran 10/28 – 11/23 and the Hollywood Pantages 12/9 – 01/2.
THE “PLAY WITH MUSIC” (AS OPPOSED TO A TRUE MUSICAL) FOLLOWS A FICTITIOUS ROCK BAND ON THE CUSP OF SUPERSTARDOM AS THEY STRUGGLE THROUGH RECORDING THEIR NEW ALBUM, SET FROM 1976 TO 1977.
ADDAMS FAMILY – Long Beach: I heard on the radio the other day that The Addams Family is the most frequently performed show in America today. Adaptations of popular books and movies always have a head start in ticket sales because the public knows the title. Fortunately, Addams Family is more than just a title – it’s a great piece of entertainment. The show’s overture starts with the iconic theme from the TV show, and the audience invariably howls, but from that point on, it’s all original territory.
The show’s music and lyrics were written by Andrew Lippa and the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The characters of course include Gomez and Morticia and their children, Wednesday and Pugsley. Uncle Fester, Lurch, and Grandma Addams are on the scene as well.
After the opening number, “When You’re an Addams,” Uncle Fester addresses the audience directly and explains that Wednesday has fallen in love with a normal boy and that he and his parents have been invited to dinner. That sets the ball in motion for what follows during the next two hours. Much of the humor comes from the boy’s strait-laced family and their reactions to the morbid and macabre behaviors that the Addams delight in.
The Addams Family is being produced this month by Music Theatre West, an excellent regional company centered in Long Beach that dates back to 1952. For the last three decades they have called The Carpenter Center home. It’s a beautiful proscenium theatre on the grounds of Cal State Long Beach, and the lobby has pictures of its chief donors, Richard and Karen Carpenter (and I think I remember one of his electric pianos being on display). Plays 10/10-18.
THE SHOW’S OVERTURE STARTS WITH THE ICONIC THEME FROM THE TV SHOW, AND THE AUDIENCE INVARIABLY HOWLS, BUT FROM THAT POINT ON, IT’S ALL ORIGINAL TERRITORY.
MOULIN ROUGE – Various: Unlike movies, live theatre can only be enjoyed when someone produces it. I was delighted to see that several of my favorites are returning to California this month. I was particularly excited to see that Moulin Rouge was coming back. Loosely based on the Baz Luhrmann 2001 movie, it is a jukebox musical (using existing songs), but with some thrilling new arrangements, especially some medleys that merge two or more rock classics. It opened on Broadway in 2019 and is still filling houses today.
Like the movie, the musical’s story begins in 1899 as Christian arrives in the Montmartre district of Paris from Lima, Ohio. He meets Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago, who are attempting to create a play with songs in it. They like Christian’s songwriting talents and enlist him to help them write their show. We then meet Satine, the star of the Moulin Rouge, and Christian becomes smitten by her. Frankly, the plot is only important as a vehicle to introduce such well-loved songs as “Lady Marmalade,” “Come What May,” “Diamonds are Forever,” and “Firework.” The voices, orchestrations, and dancing are all exquisite.
One of the keynotes of the actual Moulin Rouge nightclub, still doing three shows a night in Paris, is that the sets and costumes are truly spectacular. During the opening medley, blending 14 songs, I seem to recall at least five different settings. Scenery is flying in from above, rolling on from the sides, and in constant motion, as is the cast. It is perhaps the most exciting and energetic opening number I have ever seen in a musical.
This tour is hitting some of the smaller theatres, including Palm Desert. It plays Costa Mesa Segerstrom Center 10/28 – 11/2; Hollywood Pantages 11/4-6; Palm Desert McCallum Theatre 12/9-13; San Francisco Orpheum 12/16-28; and Sacramento Safe Performing Arts Center 2/3-7.
LIKE THE MOVIE, THE MUSICAL’S STORY BEGINS IN 1899 AS CHRISTIAN ARRIVES IN THE MONTMARTRE DISTRICT OF PARIS FROM LIMA, OHIO. HE MEETS TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND SANTIAGO, WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO CREATE A PLAY WITH SONGS IN IT.
THE INHERITANCE Part 2 - Palm Springs: Palm Springs and The Bent Theatre are a match that was waiting to happen. Palm Springs’ sizeable gay population wanted to see their stories presented onstage, and The Bent has delivered in spades! The Palm Springs LGBTQ theatre company produced their first production on December 13, 2022. They have subsequently elevated their position in the community (and indeed, in the state) with three outstanding seasons. Every single production they have staged has been nominated for Desert Star Awards, the Coachella Valley’s version of The Tonys, and they have carried home a dipropionate number of trophies for all three seasons.
Season Three concluded last May with The Inheritance Part 1. The Inheritance is an epic piece of theatre by Matthew Lopez, which examines love between gay men in contemporary New York a generation after the early AIDS crisis. It asks what the current generation owes to its forebears, and the all-male cast represents several generations.
The play was staged in The West End and on Broadway in two parts of over three hours each, intended to be viewed sequentially. Playwright Lopez reimagined E. M. Forster’s Howards End as “a lovingly wry portrait of New York’s gay community with gay men from different generations standing in for Forster’s straight people from different classes.”
The company’s Artistic Director, Steven Rosenbaum, is a magician of theatre-craft. The entire company of men are onstage throughout, lounging around the outstanding set designed by Jason Reale. Rosenbaum’s staging puts the right people at the right part of the stage with the right props in their hands and the right pieces of clothing added or removed – all seemingly effortlessly – but of course it’s the result of military maneuvering.
Last season’s production of Part 1 was a knock-out and played at The Bent’s performance space, The Palm Springs Cultural Center, to full houses. Part 2 kicks off their fourth season, and I, for one, can’t wait to see how the story progresses, and to check out some very attractive actors. Plays 10/17 – 11/2.
“A LOVINGLY WRY PORTRAIT OF NEW YORK’S GAY COMMUNITY WITH GAY MEN FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS STANDING IN FOR FORSTER’S STRAIGHT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CLASSES.”
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:
Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.
ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:
dofetilide
rifampin
any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.
Have any other health problems.
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.
Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks of breastfeeding during treatment with BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:
Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.
BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:
Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.
Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.
Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.
Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.
Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.
The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).
These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.
You are encouraged to report negative side e ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY
Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
GET MORE INFORMATION
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.
Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5.
If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
“COME
ON FALL SEASON! LET’S GET SPOOKYYYYYY, YAAAAAAS!!!!”
…said in the voice of Laganga Estranga! Honey, it’s OFFICIALLY “Halloween Time” and I am COMPLETELY here for it!
or those who know me, you know I LIVE for decorating for the holidays all throughout the year. If I can theme a Christmas tree to it, trust and believe I do.
FThis past 4th of July was a rough one, I’m sure we can all agree. I was pulled sideways… by myself, on whether or not to decorate due to the unpatriotic and unconstitutional actions from the regime at the White House. I ended up decorating, because I truly love this country and what it stands for. I realized that just because this moment in time is like a dream sequence from “Nightmare on Elm Street,” and that I just want to wake up from it, I still wanted to show my patriotism! It wasn’t this way 10 months ago, and it sure as shit won’t be like this forever. I acted “as if” and was at my house channeling Betsy Ross herself, doing my best at Making America Gay Again.
So, needless to say, July 5th came and I was like “Bitch, light that pumpkin spice candle and bring on the Spooky Season!” My fellow peeps refer to this time as “Summerween” and it’s the only part of summer that I truly vibe with. I’m sure I could conjure up a fabulous tree that screamed LABOR, as that’s the only recognized holiday before Halloween, but I choose to sit that one out.
I set my sights high again this year, and told myself “the 3rd times a charm!” You see, I’ve been trying to have the halls decked for the Headless Horseman on the same day as “Halloween Time” begins at Disneyland for the past 2 years. That’s right, if Disneyland can bring on the goblins and ghouls in August, then I CANNE too! (Fun Fact: Michael’s Craft Store had their entire 2025 Halloween collection on the shelves in JUNE!!! Friday the 13th of June, to be exact! #winning)
So, I opened the carport storage doors and dove in deep. I began unraveling the life size Jenga puzzle I assembled last November, when I put Halloween away. As I was extracting the decor box by box, I couldn’t help but have a feeling of déjà vu - I thought… didn’t I just put this stuff away? How in the hell has it been a year already? And then I asked myself “Why did I even bother putting it away? I should have just left it out!!” Time is moving so fast, it will be Valentines Day before you know it. (I honestly could leave the gourds out through Christmas, but I am not one of those people that spray paints their pumpkins silver and gold and hear jingle bells. #nojudgement)
After all 450 boxes of witches, warlocks, and werewolves were before me, I looked up as I heard the local neighborhood ice cream truck making its loop through the neighborhood. And just guess what my eye’s spied peeking out just above the top of the fichus hedge?
Why it was the skull of the gigantic Costco Skeleton, and it was in my nextdoor neighbor’s yard!!!!! I had to do a double take, because there was no way my neighbor had their decor up before me!?!? I mean this was August 15th. I briskly walked to the end of my driveway, made a sharp left on the sidewalk, and felt like I floated to the end of my property line. There, in front of me standing 12 feet tall, was said skeleton. My heart skipped a beat and grew three sizes that instant. I suddenly loved my neighbors even more than I already did!!!
I went along my spooky way and started putting up all the lights and such, and I noticed something rather sad taking place at night time. I would pass by the neighbor’s house, and there was no light for the skeleton. He could not be seen by passersby, and I just couldn’t have that. (Also, this year, I had a new edition of my own glow in the dark skeleton.)
Mid-day that week a gust of wind came up, very “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, and I heard a voice in the breeze telling me that the two
skeletons wanted and needed to be friends. I found myself suddenly having a conversation with my neighbor at the mailbox, letting her know about the nighttime light and that my skeleton wanted to be friends with their skeleton. I had a vision of bringing them together and when I told her, she almost shouted “YES” and jumped up in the air!!! (The jumping part may be a little exaggeration, but I swear she wanted to!) I quickly headed back to my house and started going through my stock of lights. I plucked what I needed and got to work quickly. I was so elated with JOY, I believe I almost fainted.
I am happy to report that I did it!!! The candles were lit on Friday, August 22nd. I won Halloween! And my favorite part of the decor is the string of lights connecting the new skeleton friends. So, get into the Halloween spirit, it’s good for you!! Don’t listen to those naysayers who love to say, “It’s too early” or “can we just get through summer first?” More importantly, if it brings you JOY, GO BIG cause that’s what really matters. Joy is contagious, so spark some this Halloween season, and every season you Canne.
OCT 2025
Jai Rodriguez
6:30P
The Roost Revue w/ host Jason Mannino
Marisa Corvo Halloween
THE POWER OF BEING SEEN
LUYANDA UNATI LEWIS-NYAWO
ON QUEER BLACK REPRESENTATION AND FINDING THEIR VOICE
BY KEVIN PERRY
Misfits just have more fun. We eschew expectations, love out loud, and create captivating chaos wherever we may roam.
Managing the mayhem isn’t easy, but Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo is up for the job.
“The Addams Family has a longstanding tradition - it’s always been about the things that are outside of the status quo.” They continue, “the IP has historically exemplified coloring outside of the lines.”
Lewis-Nyawo plays Sheriff Santiago on the massively popular Netflix series Wednesday, and they revel in the rebel narrative. “The idea of an outcast being celebrated again, I think is really important. Every generation needs one. Mine was Buffy. Showing my age a little bit.”
Icons are timeless, and Lewis-Nyawo is having a blast and a half mixing it up with pop culture legends. “It’s such an honor, and it’s such a gift because I used to watch The Addams Family as a kid and now, I get to play opposite Jenna Ortega and Fred Armisen, who I’ve been a fan of, like, for ages. I loved Portlandia. It’s just been such a pleasure to be able to exist with those characters.”
Despite their monstrously merry demeanor, Lewis-Nyawo shares one quick quibble. “There’s a little part of me that sometimes is like, ‘oh, why don’t I have superpower?’ I’d also like to be kooky. I *am* kooky. But I thoroughly enjoy playing that voice of reason.”
In real life, their superpower is boundless positivity. In addition to their costars, the effusive actor also praises the maestros behind the lens.
“What’s really lovely in a Tim Burton world and this tongue firmly in your cheek world is that you just get to have a lot of fun and allow for the characters to not really take themselves that seriously.” Lewis-Nyawo continues, “They’re existing in this very weird macabre, yet also playful and comedic kind of environment.”
Far from fluff, the themes of Wednesday waltz off the screen and into the psyche.
“The show really typifies a sort of
same, same, but different,” they quip, borrowing a phrase from their South African upbringing. “People having such very different backgrounds or cultures or creeds or powers, where they come from, but at the end of the day, they all unite together, and they are there for each other. There’s not a lot of infighting between, you know, werewolves and gorgons. They all just see themselves as Nevermore kids. And I think that that’s really, really beautiful. I think all of our communities could learn a lot from that.”
It feels far removed from Lewis-Nyawo’s own formative years as a nonbinary kid and one of only three people of color in their semi-private school. “It was just after apartheid ended. So, there’s all these tensions and weird things happening. I always felt like an outsider. And I really struggled during my school days to make friends. I was quite alienated. So having something like drama really gave me a
way to express myself.”
They even noodled around with the trombone for a hot (jazz) minute. “If it was creative, I excelled at it, whether that was music, theater, dance, or writing or anything like that. I always gravitated towards creativity, and so that’s when I got it. And it became my safe space throughout my schooling years and some of those were difficult times.”
Lewis-Nyawo gradually navigated from escapism to activism, forming philosophies aplenty about justice, representation, and the sheriff role they currently slay on Wednesday.
“For me, what was really important is the ideal of what law enforcement is supposed to be, what these authoritarian figures are supposed to be. It’s important to remind people of what that ideal is. They’re not supposed to cause harm. And if they find themselves in a situation where they are ill equipped to provide
care, then maybe the other departments need to be created. If people are needing mental health care, for instance, I don’t think sending an armed officer helps. And I think armed officers potentially would agree. They’re just over-extended. That’s not their job. That’s not what they’re trained to do.”
A wellspring of wisdom, Lewis-Nyawo is able to convey volumes of emotion with a single line of dialogue. In Episode One of Season Two, for example, Sheriff Santiago assures the title character that they will be a better advocate than the previous sheriff. “In that moment, I was really playing that as an overture to Wednesday going, ‘Hey, I’m here. I know you’re going to get yourself in some kind of trouble. And if you get in over your head, even though I’ll be bringing a gun to a superhero fight, I will come and help you. I will be the adult in the room.’”
But even adults enjoy their occasional playtime. Lewis-Nyawo plays Illaoi in Riot Games’ hotly anticipated gaming release, 2XKO. “It’s a fighting game, a sort of like tag team fighting game based on the characters from League of Legends,” they narrate. “The gaming community - much like any fandom - is ferociously in love with their worlds. So, it’s always wonderful to bring a character like that to life. And I love Illaoi. She’s just so powerful. I’m a massive nerd myself, so I’m excited to just get my hands on the game too and start playing it.”
Now listen up because Lewis-Nyawo lends their lyrical lines to another iconic franchise.
“I do a lot of voice work. I love to do it. I’ve always loved Doctor Who. So, when I kind of got the ‘oh, would you like to come through and do this?’ I said, of course, it’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with some wonderful writers and creatives.”
That’s right, they’re part of the expansive Doctor Whoniverse. “We get to really push the envelope out there in terms of stories because it’s an audio drama,” declares Lewis-Nyawo. “We really get to play with things, to queer things, to change timelines, to bring in new people, to explore some other timelines more deeply than maybe the TV show is permitted to do in a more rigid structure. It
Wednesday Premiere photo by Dave Benett for GettyImages
“THE IDEA OF
AN OUTCAST BEING
CELEBRATED AGAIN, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. EVERY GENERATION NEEDS ONE.”
has been a pleasure to always go back in there whenever they call and if I’m available, I’ll go.”
Lewis-Nyawo joins a who’s who of Who humans. “All of the old doctors have come back. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tom Baker, Paul McGann, and Derek Jacobi … it’s just been such a lovely space, and it’s run by some wonderful people.”
So, what’s next for this sci-fi, gaming, pop culture juggernaut?
“I think I’m ready to go back to my roots and dig into a really intense drama,” proposes Lewis-Nyawo. “It’s been a while since I’ve stretched that muscle and I miss it. I intentionally took room from it just because it was getting to be a lot and now, I feel like I’m ready again.” So, what would be ideal? “Well, I’m looking for a queer indie, coming of age kind of thing. That would be awesome. I mean, I can’t really play coming of age anymore. I am of age. But being involved in that kind of ensemble and something like a quite beautiful, quite honest, role.”
Casting directors, take note! But also, take turns because Lewis-Nyawo is in demand and outstanding. Their career is ping-ponging across the pond and back, collecting accolades with every role. “I’m so excited to be working on a very, very, very gay project: Russell T. Davies’s new TV series, Tip Toe with Alan Cumming and David Morrissey.” Lewis-Nyawo beams about the “wonderful, wonderful team and loads of loads of queer humans. It is set in Manchester’s Queer District Canal Street and is going to be a really exciting project. I’m looking forward to that. We are currently shooting now and that should be dropping
sometime next year.”
The term all the feels seems tailor made for Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo. They care deeply, they ponder thoughtfully, and they empathize on an epic scale.
“The main thing that’s just sitting heavily on my heart is that I know it’s really scary for queer folks in general. Every second, something feels really regressive. In particular for our trans brothers and sisters and our nonbinary family.”
Their mind drifts across the Atlantic momentarily, but their soul remains defiant.
“Even though I live in London, you know, when America rumbles, the UK kind of goes ‘Oooh!’ It does have an effect and we’re experiencing that effect.”
Lewis-Nyawo counters legislation with love, no matter the locale.
“I just want to remind queer folks that joy is also an act of resistance. And being intentional about its creation. But also, there’s no shame in taking care of yourself and trying to be safe. During this time, I know a lot of people are going to have to go stealth in their state. I know some people are trying to flee. It’s gotten that bad. It’s gotten that scary… Rally in your community, wherever you are. Now more than ever, take care of each other, even if that just means bringing a meal to somebody who’s too scared to leave the house, I think that’s so important. And remember, we’re all outcasts.”
And with that fierce flourish, they tie the conversation up with a rainbow ribbon. Lewis-Nyawo applauds the weirdo in us all, the whimsy in artistry, and the wonder of our world as it teeters on the brink of the unknown. Navigate wisely, fellow travelers.
Paradise Found Paradise Found
Casa Yvonneka, Puerto Vallarta’s #1
to Zona Romantica and the Malecon... Casa Yvonneka is ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!
IT’S TIME TO SAY “YES” TO YEZTUGO
THE GROUNDBREAKING NEW FORM OF PREP TO PREVENT HIV, FROM GILEAD SCIENCES, IS A LONG-LASTING INJECTABLE THAT ONLY NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TWICE A YEAR. NOW THAT’S A GAME-CHANGER. HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.
BY DANIEL HIRSCH (AS SEEN AT DAPHEALTH.ORG)
here’s a new sheriff in PrEP Town. In June, the FDA approved a new longlasting injectable called Yeztugo (correct pronunciation, per Gilead Sciences Chairman and CEO Daniel O’Day: yez-TOO-go) for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.
TThose whose mission is to study and prevent HIV — like our professionals at DAP Health — are ecstatic about its arrival. Clinical trials have found Yeztugo’s effectiveness at preventing HIV even better than previous forms of PrEP.
One such excited clinician is DAP Health Director of Specialty Programs Dr. Jason Halperin, a longtime HIV
specialist. I spoke with him to understand not only why Yeztugo is such a breakthrough, but what hurdles may prevent its widespread adoption.
WHAT MAKES THE RELEASE OF YEZTUGO SO SIGNIFICANT?
Yeztugo is our second long-acting injectable PrEP. It has the longest time in between injections: once every six months. I can’t believe we’re at the point where we have a prevention method that’s 99% effective at preventing HIV infection, where a patient only needs that injection twice a year for full protection.
WHAT’S IN IT AND HOW WAS IT DEVELOPED?
It’s a new antiretroviral medication
— the generic name is lenacapavir — that was recently developed for HIV treatment. We’ve used the component for HIV treatment for the last three years. It’s called a capsid inhibitor, which is a brand-new class of HIV medication.
Lenacapavir was studied by Gilead Sciences (creator of Truvada and Descovy) to determine if it could be used for HIV prevention. They did two very large studies that were looking first at cisgender women. What was so cool about that study is they allowed women who could become pregnant to stay on the medication. If you know a little of the history of PrEP studies, you might know that trials for Descovy did not include cisgender women. Gilead received a lot of criticism for that.
HOW DID YEZTUGO COMPARE TO TRUVADA?
In the first study, which was among cisgender women, they randomized everyone to either go on Yeztugo or oral Truvada. The oral arm had a 50% reduction, where the Yeztugo group had zero new infections — a 100% reduction.
Then, in the second study, which was among cisgender and trans women, there were two cases of HIV infection in the Yeztugo arm. But in the Truvada arm, there were 10 times as many cases. So, there was a significant difference — a 99% reduction in incidence in the Yeztugo group was much better than in the Truvada one.
When they looked at the cases in the oral arm of both studies, in every single case there was not enough drug in the patient’s system. So, the assumption is there was non-adherence to the oral daily medication. Which we know is a big issue, which did not emerge as an issue among the Yeztugo group.
HOW IS YEZTUGO
ADMINISTERED?
It’s two subcutaneous injections — in either the abdomen or the thigh — given in a clinical setting. It’s a very small needle, but it does burn a little bit. What I have found — and we’ve had over 50 patients in the last week start on Yeztugo — is that a little premedication with ice on the injection site really helps.
You take two tablets of oral Yeztugo at the time of your first injections, and then two tablets again 24 hours later. But you only need to take these oral lead-in doses the first time you receive injectable Yeztugo. Six months later, it’s only injectable Yeztugo. The incredible thing is that 48 hours after the first injections along with the oral Yeztugo, you are at a therapeutic level and protected against HIV.
ARE
THERE ANY NOTABLE SIDE EFFECTS?
The most important thing to know about the injection is that it does leave a nodule. It’s about the size of a nickel. It’s not always seen, but it is almost always felt. The reason the nodule exists is that it’s actually how the medication is released. There’s a
white blood cell called a macrophage that surrounds the medicine and leads to the forming of this nodule. Then the medicine gets released over six months.
WHO’S ELIGIBLE TO TAKE YEZTUGO?
Everyone who is eligible for PrEP should be eligible. There are some medications that interact with Yeztugo, but they are very rare. So, talk to your doctor before starting. It’s a really easy transition from oral PrEP. After you get an HIV screening, a week later, you get the injection. If someone’s on Apretude, our other injectable medication, we can go immediately to Yeztugo.
And I want to stress it’s for absolutely everyone. It does not interact with hormones — they’ve looked at this in terms of our trans population. So, that’s really exciting. It’s even appropriate for women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant.
A YEZTUGO INJECTION IS EXPENSIVE, COSTING $14,109 PER INJECTION, OR $2,352 PER MONTH VERSUS TRUVADA’S $30 PER MONTH PRICE TAG. WILL INSURANCE COVER YEZTUGO?
So, yes and no. The amazing thing is Medi-Cal is covering it. That’s really incredible. Private insurance seems to be playing by their own rules. At this time.
DO YOU THINK MORE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL EVENTUALLY CHANGE COURSE?
In the old world, I would say this is 100% going be approved for more coverage soon. The data for Yeztugo is so overwhelmingly positive. But the politics of the moment is the big caveat. The Affordable Care Act guarantees coverage that is a Grade A recommendation by the United States Preventative Task Force.
However, the existing USPTF Task Force, made up of extremely respected clinicians nationally, is under severe threat by the current administration. It is possible a new USPTF board is put together by Robert Kennedy Jr. that will say PrEP is no longer a Grade A recommendation. In that case, there will be no guarantees of any future coverage. These are the concerns we need to unify and raise our voices about with our elected officials.
POLITICS ASIDE — A BIG ASIDE — COULD YOU HAVE IMAGINED A DRUG LIKE YEZTUGO COMING INTO EXISTENCE WHEN YOU STARTED WORKING IN HIV MEDICINE 12 YEARS AGO?
Absolutely not. That’s why it’s like an absolute miracle to be here. We have come so far. We literally have all the tools to prevent new infections.
To learn more about starting PrEP with Yeztugo at DAP Health, please visit daphealth.org.
PAINT THE TOWN RED AT BLACKBOOK
THE EPICENTER OF INCLUSION IN PALM SPRINGS
BY KEVIN PERRY
Gays are the architects of our own destiny. Unfettered by straight traditions, we make our own rules, like the midcentury marvels that dominate the Palm Springs landscape. We’re stylish, we’re strong and we’ve weathered generations of strife, but we’re still standing. Each experience stacks up, bone by bone and brick by brick, until we’ve lashed together a legacy of love and belonging.
Our favorite bars are manifestations of our architectural personalities. They can be shadowy and discreet, flirty and festive, or all of the above. Safe spaces say so much about us, and one Valley visionary is listening closely. “We let the place speak to us. We let the guests speak to us.”
Dean Lavine built Blackbook on a foundation of philosophy, philanthropy and all the feels.
“We started with the space, and some
fundamental things like you need to have a kitchen and you need to have a space where people can gather around the bar and they want to look at things that are appealing, and we originally started with a very industrial look. It was austere.”
But the simplicity of its decor dovetails with the depth of Blackbook’s resilience.
“There’s an evolution,” explains Lavine. “We’ve been open for eight years and we’ve become a strong part of the community. Part of that is because we opened post Pulse.”
The Florida nightclub shooting occurred thousands of miles from Palm Springs yet hit crushingly close to home.
“It happened a year before and we knew we wanted to create a safe space for this community.”
Lavine alchemizes tragedies of the past into triumphs of the present, and it’s all playing out on Arenas Road. “It is the area that people come to celebrate. It’s the area
where people come to mourn. When we had the No Kings protests this summer, it coincided with the Big Gay Barbecue on Arenas. So, after that protest, they all ended up on our street and there was a mixture of people having a good time and also sharing how they felt, which made it really special.”
And the second you step from the street into the seduction of Blackbook, that sense of inclusion intensifies. The bar’s welcoming tabletops are arranged family style, so you’re bound to be faceto-face with a fellow hottie. “One of the reasons why we do the whole communal thing, we want people to meet and talk,” Lavine declares. “That’s a very big thing with us. Once I put a sign up in the bathroom that said, ‘The person on your phone may not be real. The person in front of you is. Put down the Grindr and make a friend.’”
Blackbook is the capital of IRL OMG,
and it’s in good company on Arenas, the friskiest block on gawd’s green earth. The cruising is robust, spilling across the street and throughout the gayborhood. “As somebody who used to come down here before I opened Blackbook,” Lavine reminisces, “I loved going to Hunters and then and then Chill thinking, ‘Well there might be somebody attractive in this place versus that place.’ You know it’s all part of the fun!”
Fun is an understatement. Funderstatement? Lavine’s background is in entertainment, so he designed Blackbook less as a bar and more of an experience. “You want a good story, well told, so I approached our business like a writer. The correct way to write is to create your characters, and then you build it from there.”
But the establishment soon took on a life of its own, transcending narrative and going next-level.
“The character of Blackbook changed based on the needs of Blackbook,” assesses Lavine. “The best way I can describe this Blackbook is it’s the full opposite of exactly what we set out to do.”
Blackbook’s aesthetic quickly went from LA rockabilly chic to Palm Springs refined, never losing its playful emo vibe. “Everything about hospitality is entertainment. We don’t go to restaurants or bars for sustenance. We go to basically extend the entertainment that we have in our lives, and that’s a form of engaging people and being with people. We’re spending time, and that’s what life’s about.”
But entertainment is far from frivolous, especially in Lavine’s impassioned perception.
“In my industry, we can make an impact on somebody that we don’t know will be a lifelong impact. It could be something as simple as a guest not knowing what they want to drink because they’re new and a server or bartender suggesting something. They might order that drink for the next 50 years of their life and that means that they’ll remember who they got it from and where they got it from first. That’s impactful. They’ll remember moments and where they spent birthdays, anniversaries, etc. So, what we do in hospitality transcends what people really expect from us and they don’t realize it. Those life-affirming or lifechanging moments, they stick with you.”
The bar’s intoxicating influence is growing… literally. During the pandemic,
Blackbook expanded into the street, creating a luscious lanai that juts into Arenas. “Having a parklet on the street as an area where people can spend time break bread and have a good time, that has exacerbated the sense of community here and that’s really important to me.”
But there are big things in store for this little annex. “We’re in the process of redesigning it to get better shade structures,” narrates Lavine. “We’re making it a little more comfortable. And so that’s something that we’ve been working on. In fact, this summer, we closed for 10 days to redo all of our floors in our kitchen and our air conditioning and really reinvest in Blackbook.”
Those upgrades are paying dividends as we enter the high homodays. “We are about to embark on Halloween,” Lavine notes. “I’ve redone what we do for Halloween and I’m excited. I want to see what happens with the decorations, but we’re going to make this feel like a Haunted Mansion style haunted house… We’re going to
launch it before October so that people can have a good month of enjoying the spooky season and then for Pride, we’ve decided to lean into glitter and rainbow… for lack of a better term, gay as f***.”
Sign us up!
“There’s an eclectic nature to it.” Lavine welcomes seasonal change, so long as it works organically with the soul of the space. “It’s always expanding and growing; there’s always something new happening here.”
Celebration is a group sport, and Blackbook is coordinating its considerable efforts with the rest of the bars on the block. “We meet regularly and we’re about to build this entire holiday program with the Arenas group this year, so this is really making it special and it’s nice that all the merchants, the owners here, have a respect for each other and want to come together. And so that’s a big thing for me.”
For Lavine, camaraderie is a quiet strength rather than a cause for boastfulness. When asked about his various philanthropic endeavors, he remains notably restrained. “We participate in a lot of community wide things, but I don’t like talking about that and there’s a reason for it. It’s something we should do, not because we need attention for it.”
Generosity plays out in both the macro and the micro at Blackbook. It cascades from impactful initiatives like Dining Out for Life to the noshes on your plate. “When you and go get nachos from most places, it’s a race to get the last of the cheese right? Because they may not put enough cheese on everything. Well, every one of our chips has cheese here.”
Scooping a heaping helping of thoughtfulness atop the aforementioned cheese, Lavine adds, “That’s how we build everything. We ask, ‘If we’re gonna do this dish, what’s the best version of it that we can do?’”
Nachos: accomplished.
“I’m very proud to talk about what we do here,” Lavine concludes. “I tell my staff: you spend more time with the people you work with than the people at home, so we should probably work hard at making a space that makes you happy… It’s important to us that we feel like home.”
Blackbook is a burly embrace that beckons you into its loving arms. Have a seat, have a drink, have a bite, and hug out loud. Cheers!
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JUICY DELIGHTS
DISCOVERING THE COACHELLA VALLEY’S BEST BURGER JOINTS
BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
he Coachella Valley is renowned for its stunning landscapes, thriving arts scene, and a beloved destination for the LGBTQ+ community. From the buzzing energy of Palm Springs to the laid-back charm of its neighboring cities, this desert playground offers a warm welcome to all. And what better way to fuel your adventures, connect with friends, or simply savor a delicious meal than with a perfectly crafted burger?
TBut not just any burger. We’re talking about the kind of patty that’s served with a side of acceptance, a dash of community spirit, and a whole lot of flavor. Finding establishments that not only serve up a killer burger but also foster an inclusive and friendly environment is paramount. So, buckle up, burger aficionados, as we embark on a delectable journey through the Coachella Valley, spotlighting the best LGBTQ-friendly burger joints that are truly sizzling!
PALM SPRINGS: THE EPICENTER OF FLAVOR AND FUN
Palm Springs, with its iconic midcentury modern architecture and a longstanding reputation as an LGBTQ+ haven, naturally boasts a plethora of fantastic burger options.
First on our list, and a true gem of the Palm Springs gay scene, is Blackbook Bar. More than just a bar, Blackbook is a community hub where friendly faces and good times are always on the menu. While their cocktails are legendary, their kitchen also churns out some seriously satisfying grub, and their burgers are no exception. Picture this: a juicy patty, perfectly seasoned, nestled in a fresh bun with all the classic fixings. It’s the kind of no-frills, all-flavor burger that hits the spot after a day by the pool or a night of dancing. The atmosphere is always lively and welcoming, making it an ideal spot to grab a bite with friends or make new ones. Their commitment to being an inclusive space shines through in every interaction, making their burger taste even better.
Next, we venture to a Palm Springs institution, Tyler’s Burgers. This isn’t just a burger joint; it’s a step back in time, a nostalgic trip to a classic American diner with an undeniable charm. Tyler’s has been serving up consistently excellent burgers for decades, and their commitment to quality ingredients is evident in every bite. Their philosophy is simple: good meat, fresh toppings, and a perfectly toasted bun. The simplicity is its genius. Each burger is cooked to order, ensuring maximum juiciness, and the hand-cut fries are the perfect accompaniment. While not exclusively an LGBTQ+ establishment, Tyler’s has always been a beloved spot for the community due to its friendly service and unpretentious vibe. It’s a place where everyone feels comfortable pulling up a seat and enjoying a timeless classic. For those seeking a more elevated gastropub experience with an emphasis on craft and creativity, 1501 Gastropub is a must-visit. This stylish eatery, housed in a beautifully restored fire station, offers a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere that’s
Blackbook
popular with locals and visitors alike, including a significant LGBTQ+ following. Their burger program is a true standout, showcasing high-quality ingredients and inventive flavor combinations. Expect premium patties, artisanal cheeses, and often a unique sauce or relish that elevates the humble burger to an art form. The “1501 Burger” is often a star, but they frequently feature specials that are equally enticing. The outdoor patio offers a lovely setting to enjoy your meal, and the diverse crowd contributes to its welcoming and inclusive feel. It’s the perfect spot for a date night or a leisurely meal with friends where you can enjoy great food and conversation in a chic setting.
With a great location and viewing for the Pride Parade, consider TRIO Restaurant in Palm Springs, a popular spot known for its “classic American comfort food with a twist.” Executive Chef Gladis Lizarraga brings a unique blend of precision and creativity to the kitchen. The delicious smashburger comes with grilled onions, pickles, American cheese, and burger sauce, on a brioche bun, and is served in a lively, upscale-casual environment that is consistently inclusive and popular with the LGBTQ+ community. Signature cocktails and notable wines from their curated list are the perfect accompaniment. The energy here is infectious, and their dedication to service makes every meal feel special.
For a truly classic American diner experience that has been a long-standing favorite, we have to talk about Tony’s Grill. Not to be confused with Tony’s in Cathedral City (we’ll get to that!), Tony’s Grill in Palm Springs offers a quintessential diner experience with a straightforward menu executed to perfection. Their burgers are hearty, satisfying, and exactly what you crave when you’re looking for a dependable, delicious meal. It’s the kind of place where the staff remembers your order, and the atmosphere is always genuinely friendly. A local favorite, Tony’s Grill consistently draws a diverse crowd who appreciate its unpretentious charm and consistently good food. Their cheeseburger with a side of crispy onion rings is a taste of pure comfort.
Tyler’s Burgers
1501 Gastropub
TRIO Restaurant
Tony’s Grill
And, nestled discreetly on the border of Palm Springs and Cathedral City, Paul Bar is a true hidden gem. You might miss it if you aren’t looking, but once inside, you’re transported to a moody, sophisticated speakeasy reminiscent of a bygone era. The atmosphere is intimate and cool, with a long, classic mahogany bar and a focus on expertly crafted cocktails. But don’t let the refined drinks menu fool you—the food here is a force to be reckoned with. Paul Bar’s burger has a cult following for a reason. It’s often praised as one of the best in the valley, a testament to the kitchen’s “less is more” philosophy. The “PaulBurger” is a masterpiece of simplicity, featuring a high-quality patty cooked to perfection, with bacon, aioli, lettuce, tomato and onion, served on a fresh bun. It’s the kind of burger that stands on its own, without needing a lot of extra flair. The staff, including the owner Paul himself, are known for their genuine hospitality and wit, creating a welcoming and fun environment that has made it a beloved spot for a date night or a casual get-together with friends. The LGBTQ+ community has long gravitated to this spot for its unique blend of incredible food, classic cocktails, and an authentically inclusive atmosphere.
CATHEDRAL CITY: A HIDDEN GEM FOR BURGER LOVERS
Just a stone’s throw from Palm Springs, Cathedral City has its own vibrant character and a growing number of fantastic dining options. Not to be overshadowed by its glitzier neighbor, Cathedral City has built
a reputation for its inclusive atmosphere and community-focused businesses.
And when it comes to burgers, Tony’s in Cathedral City is a local legend that deserves a spotlight. This unpretentious, family-owned establishment has been serving up some of the best burgers in the valley for years, garnering a loyal following from all walks of life. What makes Tony’s special? It’s their commitment to fresh, never-frozen beef, hand-formed patties, and a meticulous attention to detail that results in an incredibly flavorful and juicy burger every single time. Their classic cheeseburger is a thing of beauty – simple, perfect, and deeply satisfying. But don’t overlook their specialty burgers, which feature creative toppings that are expertly balanced. The atmosphere is casual, bustling, and always welcoming, making it a favorite for families, locals, and visitors who appreciate good food without fuss. It’s a testament to the idea that great food, served with a smile, transcends all boundaries.
While the Agua Caliente Casinos in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs get a lot of attention, the Agua Caliente Casino in Cathedral City has its own fantastic dining options, including some great burgers. This property is known for its
Paul Bar
Tony’s in Cathedral City
intimate feel and a more neighborhoodcentric vibe, making it a favorite among locals and a great, low-key spot for a night out. When it comes to food, two of their main dining options, Café One Eleven and 360 Sports Bar, offer excellent burger choices. Café One Eleven is a casual yet elegant eatery on the casino floor that transforms from a bright daytime café to a cozy dinner spot. Their menu features a “Signature Prime Burger” that uses high-quality prime beef and is a reliably delicious choice. The casino’s commitment to creating a fun, inclusive environment
makes it popular with a diverse crowd, including a large LGBTQ+ following. It’s a testament to the fact that great burgers can be found in the most unexpected and entertaining of places.
Tucked away in a quiet Cathedral City location, Meester Zebra is the definition of a local gem. This unassuming spot, which has been embraced by the community, offers a menu that’s a delightful mashup of classic American comfort food and bold Mexican flavors. It’s the kind of place where locals grab a quick, satisfying lunch, and the friendly, casual atmosphere
makes everyone feel right at home. While their sandwiches and Mexicaninspired dishes are incredibly popular, their burgers are what put them on the map for many. The “Zebra Burger” is a standout, featuring a half-pound beef patty with marinated jalapeños, grilled bell peppers, fried shallots, and a zesty chipotle sauce. It’s a burger that’s not afraid to be different, with a complex flavor profile that delivers a perfect spicy kick. For those who prefer a more traditional route, their classic cheeseburger is equally delicious, proving that they can master both the simple and the more adventurous. What makes Meester Zebra a perfect fit for this list is not just the quality of its food, but its genuine, family-owned vibe. It’s a place where the staff remembers your name, and the diverse mix of customers— from business people on lunch breaks to long-time locals—creates a welcoming environment. It’s a testament to Cathedral City’s growing reputation as a destination for great food and community spirit, and Meester Zebra is a cornerstone of that scene.
THE HEART OF THE MATTER: MORE THAN JUST A MEAL
What truly makes these establishments special goes beyond just the quality of their patties and buns. It’s the intangible feeling of belonging, the subtle nod of understanding, the genuine smiles from staff, and the diverse crowd that fills their tables. In a world where safe and welcoming spaces are needed, these burger joints stand out as places where everyone can come as they are, relax, and enjoy a fantastic meal.
The Coachella Valley’s culinary scene is as diverse and vibrant as its community. From classic diner burgers to gourmet gastropub creations, there’s a patty for every palate. But the true flavor comes from knowing that these delicious bites are served in environments that celebrate inclusivity, foster community, and truly welcome everyone to pull up a chair. So go forth, explore, and savor the incredible burgers and even more incredible spirit of the Coachella Valley! Your next favorite burger, and perhaps a new friend, awaits.
Cafe One Eleven
Meester Zebra
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MOVIES ARE SO GAY!
YOU’LL SCREAM FOR OCTOBER’S FILM RELEASES
BY KEVIN PERRY
Fear is fierce! October is serving macabre by the mile and we’re so here for it. Scientific fact: nothing beats the thrill of a good jump scare. Just picture yourself slumped down in your seat, enjoying “cheat day” popcorn by the gallon, and then suddenly a jolt of terror erupts when you least expect–
MARRIAGE EQUALITY IS UNDER ATTACK!
See what we did there? The world is scary enough for reals, so we need the cathartic kick of *fake* horror to deliver us from the everyday shock of oppression with a few well timed, creepy–
CROCS ARE BACK IN FASHION AND THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT!
Whew, is it getting intense here or what? We can’t stand any more of these unnerving interruptions–
THE POLAR ICECAPS ARE MELTING FASTER THAN YOUR HEART AT A BENSON BOONE CONCERT!
Ok, that’s just eerie. Let’s ditch the coming-attraction distractions and start the feature, shall we?
OCTOBER 3
The Smashing Machine was my nickname in college… not for any sexual reasons; I just got smashed a lot. The film stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily “The Devil Wears Prada” Blunt in a searing, sensitive look behind the ropes of the UFC in its early days. The two leads deliver heartfelt performances, but the real hero is whoever greased up the adonises (adonii?) on set. Each muscle glistens, each thrust pulsates, and each grapple touches our hearts. Well done, body oil applicator person - you lucky bitch, you!
We’re just gonna say this once: we will not watch or even tolerate any film that puts pets in peril. That’s why we’re dubious about Good Boy, a supernatural thriller told from the pup’s perspective. If the pooch goes unharmed, we’re all for the concept, but if those filmmakers harm one hair on that furry face, we’ll go all Aunt Gladys on their asses! And if you don’t get that Weapons reference, are you even gay? To conclude our Good Boy review: we’re team dog (obvi)!
There’s also a horror movie called Bone Lake coming out, but we’re too engorged with maturity to mock its throbbingly thilly title. Boing.
OCTOBER 10
There are so many releases this weekend that we need to start with the gayest and proceed from there. But what’s queerer: a cyber ballet filled with bodacious body suits or a dark musical fantasy told between two male cellmates? Let’s go with the bodysuits (rawr)!
Tron: Ares stars Jared Leto as a bulgey baddie with a head for data and a hard drive for mayhem. He plays a malfunctioning AI hellbent on emerging from the digital realm to destroy the real world. So basically, it’s like when you ask Alexa to do something and she ghosts you… except Tron lasts two hours and costs $150 million. TechNOOOO!
Sashaying to the 2nd gayest debut of the week, Jennifer Lopez channels Chita Rivera as she weaves an intoxicating emo web in Kiss of the Spider Woman. The bold Broadway adaptation is a fantasy fever dream in which a gay prisoner describes in detail his favorite J Lo movie. Plot twist: it’s Gigli and yes, you’re trapped in hell. JK! The trailer actually looks sweeping and seductive and spectacular, thus rendering our sarcasm powerless. Damn you, Spider Woman!!!
Shockingly, a film entitled Fairyland ranks a distant 3rd on the gayometer, even though it’s hella gay. A widowed dad juggles queer love, fatherly duties, and the grainy embrace of 70s San Francisco nostalgia in this tearjerking true story. Look out for award-worthy performances from Scoot McNary, Geena Davis and Emilia Jones… not to mention Adam Lambert living his glam
daddy era. We’ll take that one-way trip to Fairyland, please thanks and spanks! The crime dramedy Roofman follows Channing Tatum… sorry, we got distracted by the idea of following Channing Tatum. Peach emoji!
Daniel Day-Lewis stars in Anemone, directed by Ronan Day-Lewis. Hmm, it must be a coincidence. Oops, we just checked, and it turns out Ronan is Daniel’s son. Color us nepo-shocked! The nepo-plot revolves around some nepobrothers doing some major nepo-brooding in the nepo-woods. Ooh nepo-baby, this sure is gonna be a… movie.
Rose Byrne boots sentimentality right in the crotch with her tour de force: If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. First of all, she DOES have legs, so we’re confused by the title. Secondly, who cares about the title? Byrne burns up the screen burntastically as a desperate mom trying to keep her shizz together. We. Can. Relate. She’s basically every gay at the family reunion. Stay strong, sister.
OCTOBER 17
Guillermo del Toro goes gothic… um, gothicER with his take on Frankenstein. A contemplation on life, mortality, power and betrayal… oh who are we kidding? It’s about Jacob Elordi as the hulking creature who flings men to their death with the flick of his beefy, reanimated arms. In these uncertain times, it’s refreshing to see an impossibly handsome actor find work as a disfigured assemblage of corpses. Your crypt or mine?
The psycho thriller sequel Black Phone 2 leaps from reality and seeps into the fractured nightmares of its main characters. Seriously disturbing and sinister to his core, The Grabber is back to terrorizing teens who all look like they shop exclusively at Nirvana 21, a trendy throwback Gen X fashion outlet that we just made up.
touching… literally, it’s about good touch, bad touch, professorial touch, lesbian touch, who touched whom in the touchzone, and other touchy subjects. Enjoy and get ready to master-debate the film’s complex narrative after the end credits roll.
OCTOBER 24
If you thought Jeremy Allen White was hawt in The Bear, see him really cook in the rock biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. Relive your glory days, feed your hungry heart, and drive your pink Cadillac over the river and down thunder road to see this movie. To borrow yet another turn of phrase from The Boss, the flick is fire.
Blue Moon depicts the downfall of Lorenz Hart, who watched his former partner flourish through the murky heel of a cocktail glass… so, it’s basically how you spent last year’s Pride. Hart was an early collaborator of Richard Rodgers, famously of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame, and he struggled to accept the meteoric success of Oklahoma! while he himself flailed in obscurity… which is a sobering preview of next year’s Pride.
The cast of Regretting You is so white, you’ll suffer snowblindness just looking at them. Allison Williams, Dave Franco, Mckenna Grace and– aahhh, my eyes!
OCTOBER 29
To get a jump on the jump-scariest day of the year, three new films hit theaters mid-week. We’re so excited, we just pre-Halloween’d!
Sexual politics dominate After the Hunt, boasting an A+++ cast that includes Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri and Chloe Sevigny. The film is
Stitch Head and Chainsaw Man battle it out for edgy animation bragging rights while Anniversary is a live-action psychological thriller starring Diane Lane, yummy Kyle Chandler, Zoey Deutch and Mckenna Grace– oh no, we’re blind again! Who keeps casting these uber-caucasians?!?
No matter how you choose to freak yourself out this scary season, we wish you canyons of queerness and fathoms of fabulosity. Stay safe, stay gay, and stay tuned for next month’s sneaky peekies!
PALM SPRINGS DIRECTORY
ATTRACTIONS
THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS
47900 Portola Ave
Palm Desert, CA 92260
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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
PALM SPRINGS DIRECTORY
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
REALTORS
3 BEARS REALTY
2905 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.699.6175 3bearsrealty.com
PALM SPRINGS HOME TEAM
Conrad Miller (DRE #01973983)
760.464.9559
Brandon Holland (DRE # 01986968)
760.413.1220 Palmspringshometeam.com
RESTAURANTS
1501 UPTOWN GASTROPUB
1501 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
