264 ION Arizona March 2024

Welcome to Pets and the City BFF - Best Friends who Never Disappoint

TION JUST JACK

his is one of our favorite community issues as we showcase some our readers and their pets. This year we have dogs, a cat, and even a pet scorpion. You heard me right. Our models generously donated $650 to HALO Animal Rescue, a no-kill shelter in Central Phoenix. We also have a great feature about Brant Michaels and Dustin Carlson, two energetic entrepreneurs who own petbar, a full service dog grooming business franchise to keep Fido looking good.

While we don’t cover politics in ION, one ally dove “head” first into the subject. Stand-up comedian Kathy Griffin was canceled for nearly six years after a controversial anti-Trump photo went viral. Since then, she laid low but now she’s on her comeback tour. Check out our interview on page 54. Hurry to get your tickets for “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the PTSD-List” at OrpheumPhx.com. Kathy always delivers a great show! You’ve been warned.

This month, ION will be at the Melrose Street Fair showcasing Pricilla Queen of the Desert RV and we’ll have a booth at the Rainbows Festival. Both events are pet friendly so bring your best friend(s). Check out all the great concerts, theatre, events, parties, ION features and guides throughout this issue. Get out and enjoy all your community has to offer!

That’s it for me. Going for a long walk with Olive Juice and enjoying the Phoenix spring weather. Woof!

Jack M. Tesorero Olive’s Best Friend

APP | SOCIAL | VIDEO | MAGAZINE

Vernon Ave., Suite 3 Phoenix, AZ 85003 602-750-1164 (no solicitors)

www.IONAZ.com ionarizona@me.com

PUBLISHER / APP DEVELOPER / SALES

Jack M. Tesorero ...................... jacktesorero@me.com

EDITOR / EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS

Deon Brown ............................... ionazeditor@me.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR / MODEL SUBMISSIONS

Alex Campos ...................... ionazproduction@me.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

LeakedGlass Production Rafalogie Studio

Fernando Hernandez RSVP Photography

CONTRIBUTORS:

WEB: Zachary Cross / Custom Resumes

APP: Steve Sovacki / Biz Burst Mobile

DISTRIBUTION:

Danny Silvani

Published monthly by

1995-2024: 29 Years of Design and Creative Excellence

© 2024 JMT Designs, Inc.

All rights reserved

All original artwork and photography for ION Arizona Magazine remain property of JMT Designs, Inc, and cannot be reproduced, altered, or sold without authorization and compensation. Limited usage rights can be purchased for a small fee.

NOTE: The views expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the views of ION Arizona, its staff, or that of its parent company.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization within ION Arizona is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organization. To our knowledge, all people photographed and published in ION Arizona are over the age of 18. Some photos were submitted by our readers. To our knowledge, they own the copyrights, and they have given us permission to reproduce them. If you see a picture that you own, please call us immediately and we will remove it from future publications. All copy, text, display, photos, and illustrations in the ads are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized, have secured proper written consent for the use of names, pictures, and testimonials of any living person, and that ION Arizona is not responsible for unlawful use of such content.

ION SAZERAC

ION AGRA RODEO

PHX ATTRACTIONS

ION EVENTS

Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus: Diva Divine

Barbra. Judy. Dolly. Gaga. The chorus’s powerful voices celebrates the legendary gay divas who have inspired generations with their talent and unapologetic spirit. For people who need people. Phoenix Center for the Arts, 1202 N. 3rd St. Tix: PhxGMC.org

March 8 & 9

FoodieLand Phoenix

A night market inspired multi-cultural foodie and entertainment event. Over 185+ vendors bring a variety of amazing eats, like sushi pizza, chicken waffle cones, Korean corn dogs, frog legs, lumpias, churro sundaes, and more. Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Rd. You must buy entrance tix in advance at FoodieLand.com

March 8-10

Miss, Mister and Mx

Phoenix Pride

Who has what it takes to wear the crowns and represent their LGBTQIA+ community with Pride, of course! Talent galore at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. in Tempe. Of course. Sing out, Louise! And Louie! Tickets at PhoenixPride.org

Sunday, March 10. Doors open at 3 p.m.

Phoenix Pride Rainbows Festival

A weekend of entertainment, fun, community information and more! It’s free at Heritage Square, downtown Phoenix. Go to PhoenixPride.org for info. Twirl at the “Supernova” After Party at Walter Studios, 747 W. Roosevelt in Phoenix on Saturday night.

March 23 & 24

Madonna: The Celebration Tour

The Material Matron — errrr … “Girl” — busts open the vaults and belts out all of her biggest blockbusters (the ones we really like!) from the past 40 years. Maybe she’ll start on time! (Keep hoping!) Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St. in Phoenix. Tix: LiveNation.com or call TicketMaster 800-653-8000

Sunday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Jimbo’s Drag Circus World Tour

Freaky. Bizarre. Odd. The weirdest show on earth! It’s an evening of outrageous characters and adult humor starring Canada’s own Jimbo from RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8 and Canada’s Drag Race. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Ave. in Phoenix. Tickets: LiveNation.com or call TicketMaster 800-653-8000

Tuesday, March 26 at 8 p.m.

AIDS Walk Arizona & 5K

“Paint the Town Red!” Put on a good pair of walking shoes for the largest gathering in Arizona to advance HIV & AIDS funding and awareness through an educational and fun community-wide event. All proceeds benefit Aunt Rita’s member agencies. Register at Aunt Ritas.org at Tempe Beach Park, Mill Ave.

Sunday, April 6

Willow Pill presents “God’s Child”

This RuPaul’s Drag Race winner is spreading the good word and will take you through the (mostly) true story of her religious childhood up to stardom as a D-list celebrity in a night of sacrilegious madness, wild antics and trippy visuals. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Ave. in Phoenix. Tickets: LiveNation.com or call TicketMaster 800-653-8000

Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m.

Mark Boyd with Barney and Bailey

What do cats and dogs do on their day off? They can’t just lie around … that’s their job. On a recent Saturday — when their humans friends had the day off — the all “hightailed” it over to Hance Park and posed for ION Arizona’s 15th annual “Pets and the City” feature. Thanks to their help and donations to HALO Animal Rescue, a non-profit, no-kill shelter. They have rescued over 60,000 cats and dogs, finding loving homes for them. Did you know that people who have a pet live longer, healthier lives? It’s true. If you need a furry friend in your life to make your home complete, pay them a visit. Save a life. Find out more about them at HALOrescue.org

Michelle Santana with Roo

Joshua Barelli with Dolce

Nick Mardis with Vernita Green

Imran Malik with Summer

Arely and Van with Archie

Joe Janus with Lucy

Vince with Cinder

Ken Elder with Boo and Scout

Juan Zapien with Ivy

Jefferson Manzano with Panda

Kristi Neal with Kevyn

Nathan M Nathan S & Kya

MAR

MAR 24

Stacy’s @ Melrose Trey Cabaret (W)

Walter Studios Weekend Brunch (W)

Tempe Center for the Arts PHX Pride Pageant

Charlie’s Sunday Funday (W)

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Fresh Brunch

Renaissance Fair Grounds Renaissance Festival

Thunderbird Lounge Happy Hour Specials (W)

Sazerac

Stacy’s @ Melrose Karaoke (W)

Sazerac Karaoke (W)

Thunderbird Lounge Trivia (W)

Charlie’s Blackout Bingo / Karaoke (W)

Charlie’s Undie Mundies (W)

Sazerac Karaoke (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Rising Star Drag Show (W)

Charlie’s Blackout Bingo / Karaoke (W)

Charlie’s WTF! Wednesdays (W)

Sazerac Whiskey Flights / Cigars (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Communion Goth Night (W)

Sazerac Whiskey Flights / Cigars (W)

Thunderbird

Stacy’s @ Melrose Communion Goth Night (W)

Sazerac

Thunderbird

Sazerac / Roosevelt Row

Flex Spa’s Phoenix Blackout Night (W)

Charlie’s Pipin’ Hot Friday’s (W)

Sazerac

Flex Spa’s Phoenix Blackout Night (W)

Sazerac

Sazerac / Roosevelt Row

The Rock Bark After Dark

Stacy’s @ Melrose Trash Disco Dance Party (W)

Stacy’s @ Melrose Flavor Dance Party (W)

Heritage Square Park Rainbows Festival

Walter Studios Fabian Presents SUPERNOVA

Orpheum Theatre Kathy Griffin

Stacy’s @ Melrose Bad Bunny Dance Party (W)

Walter Studios Weekend Brunch (W)

Krazy for Kathy

She’s back! And the laffs come fast & furious with this comedy queen.

By Deon Brown

ION: We have a lot to talk about since ION interviewed you six years ago. We’ve battled COVID, monkeypox, a vicious presidential election. Plus, you had a bout with lung cancer.

KG: In a nutshell, I have PTSD, I’ve actually been diagnosed by a psychiatrist and my oncologist; that’s why I call the show, “My Life on the PTSD List” because I talk about that stuff. You have to freaking laugh at it; you have no choice. I say to the audience, “Clap if you’ve been touched by cancer in any way.” Well, everybody has. Then I’ll say, “Clap if you have been put on the no-fly list.” (I’m just kidding. I don’t say that – because no one has but me!) I also became addicted to prescription pills, I tried to take my life, and then I was on a 5150 cycle [California law enforcement’s emergency hold for those who pose a danger to themselves. – ed.] like I’m Brittany and Kanye combined, and I just filed for divorce. So, honey, I need my Phoenix people and I need the gays to support me. I want to feel a big gay hug all around me.

ION: We’re there. Sorry about the divorce. I read he just didn’t share your same lust for life.

KG: That’s what the National Enquirer said, and that’s where I learned it. That’s actually not the real reason, but, I was a little giddy to be in the National Enquirer. You know me! All I cared about – because I’m shallow – was “Oh, that’s a nice picture!” It’s really about the picture. I don’t care what they write, I just want a good goddam picture.

ION: It’s all about the lighting and the angles and you’ve got it. Hey, maybe this next marriage, marry one of the gays. Of course, you wouldn’t be getting the big “D,” but —

KG: I would love a marriage of convenience. Back in the day I would be dating Liberace! Come on! Me and Liberace! Can’t you see it? I could have made that marriage work! I would’ve looked the other way and said, “He’s a wonderful musician and sometimes he doesn’t come home because he’s composing.” I’d cover for him!

ION: And you’d double your wardrobe.

KG: Can you imagine the sparkles alone? Worth it! So what homosexual do you think I should be in a marriage of convenience with? Bradley Cooper? Kidding. That is alleged. Timothée Chalamet? Completely kidding.

ION: We’ll find someone for you. I’ll throw my hat in the ring. I’ve got a dog, you’ve got dogs.

KG: I have four. I’ll definitely be taking them to Phoenix. I’m a dog lady. I really should be a lesbian. I’m doing a photo shoot with them for PETA. No joke. I was trying to tell the PETA people, “You realize these dogs aren’t trained Cesar Millan dogs, they’re practically feral.” So that definitely will be a day of doggy comedy. I’ll be lucky if one of them doesn’t just have diarrhea on my lap.

ION: Obviously, you’re removed from the no-fly list.

KG: I can fly again! When I went through the airport leaving Los Angeles, I legit was triggered, like, “Oh man, please don’t stop me again” and I got right through. I feel like the world is my oyster! I can go to any country I want! I’m going to a country named Phoenix, and I need the gays, and the queers, and the theys and the thems to show up and come with an open heart and mind, because we’ve got to laugh our asses off. Let me tell you something, honey, gay rights are being rolled back. In my opinion, we have a Supreme Court that’s illegitimate. I cannot trust the Supreme Court to do their job and do the right thing about gay rights. If Trump gets reelected, I’m going to come live in your basement as a political refugee. (Cont’d. next page)

ION: Well, we don’t have a lot of basements here in Phoenix.

KG: You can dig a hole. Dig a hole!

ION: Since your unfortunate breakup, Sharon Stone babysat you. Jesse Tyler Ferguson made dinner for you. Who else has been there for you?

KG: Oh, honey! That was a gay-tastic evening. Jesse and his husband, Justin, invited a couple of other genuine homosexuals, and we talked, and laughed. They took a shift, and the next night I went to Sharon Stone’s. Rosie O’Donnell has been an angel. I live in Malibu now, so I have very juicy celebrity neighbors. I can tell you I probably won’t be visiting Mel Gibson for solace. And because she lives, like, two blocks from me – I might just randomly knock on Streisand’s door and see if she’ll even open it. Which I doubt. But I did get the Barbra book and I’m going to listen to it if I have a spare 60 hours. And I say that with love.

ION: Tell me three gays that you would take with you on this desert island.

KG: I have to go with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin. The third homosexual … I’m going to have to go with Johnny Weir. We could skate together. We could twirl, quite literally. And he has a big enough wardrobe to last all of us many lifetimes over.

ION: But wearing high heels on sand …

KG: He’ll wear high heels on ice! He doesn’t care! He’s a champion!

ION: The Super Swift Ball Bowl, any commentary?

KG: First of all, be very fucking careful, my friend, because we are walking into dangerous territory. If I find out that you print anything that even hints that I’m trying to cause trouble with the Swifties, I will hunt you down and I will find you, because the Swifties are a force to be reckoned with. Here’s my takeaway from the Swift Bowl, because of my – let’s just say “difficulties” – with the previous administration, I love that the MAGA people are dumb enough to think they could ever, ever prevail over the Swifties. They are amateurs; the Swifties are professionals. Taylor’s an amazing feminist, talent, and I’m rooting for her and the boyfriend.

I actually think she could tip the election in Biden’s favor. If nothing else, just her getting young people to register to vote is a giant coup. I love her as an artist, but I also think she’s a historical change agent. She’s powerful. And yes, I’m afraid of her. I don’t want to be terribly afraid – but I’m not stupid. I’m a little afraid of her.

ION: What’s the best part of being Kathy Griffin?

KG: Easy. Making people laugh. I know that sounds basic. I have the greatest job in the world, and I think I got PTSD because to be doing it for decades as I have, having done 21 standup comedy specials, touring for years, and played Carnegie Hall five times, and

Sharon Stone & Kathy Griffin

all the awesome stuff, then, when the Trump thing happened, [If you don’t understand the reference, Google ‘Kathy Griffin Trump Head.’ – ed.] and for the phone to not ring for six years, and to be put on the no-fly list so I couldn’t even tour, that definitely messed with my head.

I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to come back. And yet, something happened. I don’t know if there’s just the right amount of time passed, but honestly, it’s quite recent. Honestly, it’s a relationship I have with the live audience, and there’s a rhythm to it. We take a ride together, and it’s very improvisational, and they don’t know what I’m going to say as much as I don’t know what I’m going to say, and it’s just the greatest feeling. ION: I’m surprised that with everything that happened to you these past six years that there’s not a Netflix documentary about you.

KG: Yeah! Where’s my Netflix? I think there are a lot of people in my industry that are still scared of me. For years I didn’t even talk about politics in my act; I just focused on making fun of the Kardashians and celebrity encounters I’d have, and I made a fool of myself, et cetera. Trump is someone that I have known for years, and I would run into him at NBC Universal events, and as a woman and as an advocate for the community, I felt like people were not really getting how dangerous he is. When I took that photo, I honestly thought people would get on board and be like, “Yeah, this guy is taking gay people down! This guy is taking women down. It’s time to do something!”

I thought people were going to rally around me. Well, the cheese stood alone, honey. Now that enough time has passed, I think people are really aware. I hear from a lot of people now, “Now, I get why you took the picture,” or “I was mad because I thought you went too far then, but now that I see what’s going on, I see when you want to go for the king, you’ve got to cut off his head.”

“If I find out that you print anything that even hints that I’m trying to cause trouble with the Swifties, I will hunt you down and I will find you, because the Swifties are a force to be reckoned with.”

That gives me a lot of gratification because it was weird to think that the federal government feared little Kathy Griffin so much that they had to put her under an investigation by two agencies and the DOJ! I think maybe that’s why I don’t have a special quite yet, and I say “yet” because I’m hoping there’s not a docu-series, maybe there will be, maybe not till after I croak, who knows?

But, you want to hear this, this is juicy, I’m on a daily text chain with Stormy Daniels, Mary Trump and E. Jean Carroll. It’s been really cathartic to find other women and gay people that have either adversely affected by the change in the tide with gay rights. My God, the idea that drag brunches are under siege is shocking! It’s up to us. We are on our own, folks. And I thought we were done with this shit. I thought we moved on.

ION: So … what happened to THE Trump Head?

KG: Oh, the head was a Halloween mask. (Cont’d. next page)

It’s funny you should ask because when I was being investigated, the Secret Service and the US Attorney’s office were not only upset with me that I didn’t still have the head, they wouldn’t believe me. I put the mask on a wig head, and then I held it up. I believe the photographer, who I don’t have the best feelings about, by the way, sold the fucking picture to fucking TMZ, and Harvey Levin is totally in bed with Donald Trump – they’re buddies – and it was a shit storm over there. I threw the head in the dumpster as soon as we were done with the photoshoot. I honestly thought, “This Trump photo will live on a gay blog for two days and that’s it.”

Well, I was wrong. It went right to DOJ office and the Attorney General, and it was turned into a meme, and it was in Iran and Russia and China, and then I was the face of ISIS, and then the MAGA people with the death threats, and then the FBI coming over, going, “Okay, Ms. Griffin, there’s another threat.” Those MAGA people are still pissed at me; they’ve turned into Q Anon, and think I’m harvesting baby parts with Hillary Clinton in a basement with Tom Hanks and Madonna. You’ve got to laugh because millions of people actually believe that shit.

ION: So, who’s in the crosshairs these days?

KG: I’m not in love with AMI Media, and they own the National Enquirer. There are these guys named David Pecker and Dylan Howard, and they’re so dirty, they actually cut an immunity deal with Robert Mueller in the Mueller investigation. Even though they’re not household names, It’s important that people know, when you’re picking [tabloids] up on the racks. They’re fun to read. It’s fun to see best and worst dressed and I get it – but it’s not all “harmless fun.” The idea that Trump was in bed with tabloids, and then they spread so many lies about Hillary, that – with other things – literally tipped the election. So one of my missions – which will probably land me having to live on a desert island with Johnny Weir, Jesse Tyler and Justin – I want people to be aware of the power of some of these media companies that look really silly and harmless, but in fact have an agenda that is very anti-gay and very anti-woman. I have MAGA relatives. Honey, most them don’t even talk to me. It’s like a cult! They can’t talk about anything but Trump. I might talk about going to Sharon Stone’s and they’ll go, “Yeah, but, you shouldn’t have taken that picture blah, blah, and I’m like, “Oh, for Christ’s sake, just eat your sandwich.”

ION: We can’t wait to see you in Phoenix!

KG: You better be there, and you better bring your gays. Spread the word. Do me a favor: every time you get the opportunity, please go into a gay bathroom and write, “Go see Kathy Griffin.” That’s called ‘Gorilla Marketing,’ my friend.

ION: I’ll use a Sharpie.

KG: Yes, the kind that never comes out!

Kathy shares her tales of “My Life on the PTSD List” at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St. in Phoenix. Tix: check out OrpheumPHX. com or call 602-262-7272

Saturday, March 30 at 8 p.m.

YOUNG ROYALS

ION STREAMING

All of Us Strangers

Lonely television writer, Adam, struggles with … everything. Love, childhood, and more. This slowly unfolding, emotional, touching drama is beautiful in every way. If you don’t cry, you’re heartless. Starring Andrew Scott, Claire Foy and Jamie Bell.

Nominated for GLAAD Media Award. A big Oscar snub. Unforgivable.

Sort Of

Young Royals

If you haven’t been sucked into this Swedish teen romance and drama following Scandinavian boys coming out angst, you don’t know what you’re missing. Closeted young Prince Wilhelm swoons over poor Simon in a prestigious boarding school. Kinda like Hogwarts but without Harry Potter or any magic, but with lots of testosterone. Swedish with English subtitles.

March 11

ELECTRIC HEARTS

MJ THE MUSICAL

MJ

The music. The moves. The icon. The artistry of one of the greatest entertainers of all time comes to the stage in this Tony Award®-winning new musical offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave. in Tix: ASUGammage.com or call 480-965-3434

March 12-17

ION ARTS

Masterclass

TV & Broadway star Vicki Lewis portrays opera superstar Maria Callas who delivers a hilarious and harrowing masterclass to future divas recounting the rise and fall of her career and the sacrifices she made. Playwright Terence McNally balances severe moments with lighthearted punches. Arizona Theatre Co. at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. Tix: ATC.org or call 480-350-2822

March 29-April 14

Kathy Griffin

This hot mess never shuts up. And that’s why we love her. The modern day patron saint for the gays brings her opinions – and she’s got lots of ‘em – and tales of “My Life on the PTSD List” to the Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St. in Phoenix. Tix: check out OrpheumPHX.com or call 602-262-7272

Saturday, March 30 at 8 p.m.

SPOTLIGHT petbar for the Pampered Pooch

by Deon Brown

Money can buy you a dog, but it can’t buy the wag of their tail.

Need help with that “end” of things? You supply the dog, Brant Michaels and Dustin Carlson, franchise owners of petbar, a full-service dog grooming, bath ’n’ brush, plus a do-it-yourself shampoo salon in Central Phoenix will help you keep your furry friends spic ’n’ span from the snooter to the tooter – and leaving with tails wagging.

Brant and Dustin have been together for 12 years, married for nine, and live with their Shiba Inu, Merlin. “We weren’t sure how running a business together would go; we thought it might cause some stress, but it couldn’t be going any better. We balance each other out,” said Dustin, who’s also the afternoon DJ for Arizona’s Alternative Rock station 93.3 since 1997. Brant comes from the world of show business touring with Broadway musicals and is in charge of the day to day operations of petbar.

Based in Texas, with 35 across the United States, this is the first petbar in Arizona, opening over a year ago. “We’d been tossing ideas of opening a business, and we felt this franchise opportunity was the right choice. Even when you’re having a rough day, you have great dogs,” Brant related. “It’s great seeing repeat clients with their dogs. petbar is a real neighborhood place. Having a place like this to make dogs more comfortable is better for the dogs, better for their people, and better for everyone,” Brant said. “We have a big LGBTQ clientele who come in with friends and neighbors, too.”

Dustin expanded. “We wanted a business we could really enjoy. petbar is strictly grooming and bathing, focusing entirely on the dog,” In addition to expert full-grooming in private rooms, guests can personally make their Shar Pei shine or your Goldendoodle gleam with a full array of professional shampoos, eye and ear cleaners, brushes, hair dryers and more. Cost effective monthly memberships are available, too, for frequent dog bathers.

“Some days are bark-y days, some days are poopy days. But when we see the reactions of our clients when they see their dog is totally gratifying. Everyone leaves happy with a smile on their face,” Dustin pointed out. And with their tails wagging. Well, that’s the dogs, of course.

petbar

2824 E. Indian School Rd. Suite 5, in the Sprouts Plaza.

More information at ArcadiapetbarInc.com

Phone: 602-675-0875

Fun Fact: petbar does not serve the Greyhound cocktail. (Get it petbar … cocktail … greyhound …)

NAVIGATION

Use the ION ARIZONA APP for Google Maps turn-by-turn directions with links to UBER & LYFT!

DON’T DRINK & DRIVE!

Kobalt

Mi

NuTowne

OZ

Rewined

The

Sazerac

Stacy’s

Walter

anvilbaraz.com

bar1bar.com

boycottbarphx.com

bunkhousesaloonphx cashnightclub.com

centricophx.com

charliesphoenix.com

cruisin7th.com

fezoncentral.com

flexspas.com

ftrooftop.com

hulasmoderntiki.com

karambanightclub.com

kingpingrill.com

kobaltbarphoenix.com

mipatioaz.com

nutownebar.com

ozbarphx.com

rewinedphx.square

therockdmphoenix

sazeracphoenix.com

stacysatmelrose.com

thunderbirdloungephx

walterstudios.com

walterwherehouse.com

Health Concerns for Aging

Individuals Living with HIV

As medical advancements have allowed individuals living with HIV to live longer, it has become increasingly important to address their unique health concerns as they age. Many individuals aging with HIV have multiple chronic illnesses or conditions, such as heart disease, which require careful management in addition to their HIV treatment. They may also be taking various medications, including antiretroviral therapy, which can interact with other medications and cause side effects

Long-term HIV-related infections, such as hepatitis B and C, also require medical attention and can complicate the management of other health conditions. Healthcare providers need to be aware of these unique health needs and provide tailored care to ensure that individuals aging with HIV receive the best possible outcomes.

The Southwest Center has broadened the types of health care it provides but stays focused on helping those with HIV/AIDS. As a commitment to providing quality care to patients living with HIV, they recently announced that four of its healthcare professionals have received their credentials as an HIV Specialist™ a professional designation with the letters “AAHIVS” from the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM). The credential is renewed every three years and valid from January 1, 2024 and expires on December 31, 2026.

“Obtaining the AAHIVS credential was important for me to instill confidence in patients seeking HIV care,” said Taylor Piontek, Director of Clinical Services. “It allowed me to further my knowledge about HIV so that I can provide current, evidence-based care to my patients.”

AAHIVM HIV Specialists™ are experienced medical professionals who pass a rigorous, psychometrically sound exam on all aspects of HIV medical care. This credential is the first and only one offered domestically and internationally to nurse practitioners, physicians, physician assistants, and pharmacists specializing in advanced-level HIV care.

For more information about Southwest Center visit SWCenter.org

Submitted by Iris Avila

ION FABULANCE

The Cosmos read the stars and are giving us the Pet Edition. The Vernal Equinox says, “Hello, spring!” on March 11. If you forgot your New Year’s Resolutions, this is a good time for some Spring Cleaning. ¶ It’s Eclipse season, and once that begins, Fate takes over. The Lunar Eclipse on March 25 could bring some upheaval. It might be a hard time to bond emotionally. Lay off too Milk Bones and don’t chase any cats. After that, howl at the Moon all night long.

ARIES Mar. 21 - Apr. 20

Look for inspiration, but don’t chew up all the credit. Run wild while you’re off-leash, but watch out for speeding cars. This birthday means you can expect to shine more than ever. But don’t scoot. You are Schnauzer.

TAURUS April. 21 - May 20

ION HOMOSCOPES

Your life is moving in a spiral. You feel like you’re chasing your tail sometimes. You’re shedding more than usual. That’s okay! Make this a time to rejuvenate yourself. You are a Siberian Husky.

GEMINI May 21 - June 21

All eyes are on you as you sparkle in the spotlight – like you’re at the Westminster Dog Show. You get a reward. It might be a blue ribbon, or maybe a piece of ham. Eye on the prize! You are a Beagle.

CANCER June 22 - July 22

Lots of hard work pays off for you. You escape from the backyard and see a whole world of possibilities and cats to chase. You wag your tail even when you don’t feel like it. You are a Jack Russell Terrier.

LEO July 23 - Aug. 22

Who makes things happen? You do. You earn everything you get. You are bold, creative and audacious. You attract attention. Are you in heat? Maybe. You are a cat, of course. Screw the world.

VIRGO Aug. 23 - Sep. 22

New tricks you’ve learned work to your advantage. And not just learning how to fetch or sit or heel. Open up to new information and try a new activity. It works in your favor. You are a classic Scottish Terrier.

LIBRA Sep. 23 - Oct. 22

It’s all about dealing with conflicts and finding creative solutions. This takes a few well-planned risks using fresh ideas. It’s a blend of opportunities and challenges. You are a Border Collie.

SCORPIO Oct. 23 - Nov.23

Your beauty and charm brings admiration popularity. You’re trustworthy and you seek trust. Don’t get distracted from your goals by a tasty treat. You’re a Cocker Spaniel, of course.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 - Dec. 23

Enjoy being comfy and cozy. You’re feeling frisky and playful. Show off. Focus on self-care. Get groomed and a new hairstyle. Get your glands expressed if you need to. You are a Bichon Frisé, of course.

CAPRICORN Dec. 23 - Jan. 20

You might hear from an old lover. Was it a purebred? Or some rando stray mongrel? You crave mental stimulation, clever conversation, and learning new tricks. You are an Australian Shepherd.

AQUARIUS Jan. 21 - Feb. 19

Be confident! Things have been a bit confusing. You question those around you, it’s second nature. Look for plot twists in relationships. Social harmony is everything. You are a West Highland Terrier.

PISCES Feb. 20 - Mar. 20

Long term vision serves you well. Embrace your inner goddess! Birthday Cosmos say: surrender to your erotic desires, but don’t be needy. You’re pretty assertive anyway. You’re a yappy, happy Chihuahua.