Metra Issue 959 - NOV 2022

Real Estate Talk with Realtor Kory

Hey Cuties!

Rise up my queer family and enter the land of home ownership! Don’t get stuck on the rising interest rates in this current market; and here’s why!… For the first time in a long time, buyers have negotiating power as homes are sitting on the market longer. So if you are a first time home buyer with down payment assistance or an FHA loan, now is your time to buy! Interest rates will always change and when they lower again you can simply refinance your home to lock into that lower rate. Take advantage of the market and get the home you have been dreaming of in time for the holiday season! Always remember, homeownership can be the first step to financial freedom and it’s more accessible than you think. I am more than happy to help get you started on buying your first home! Check out my TikTok for more Real Estate tips, @realtorkory or contact me today for all your real estate needs! Email, text, or call because I do it all! My email has changed, please discard kory@jsarealtor.com and update to my fabulous new address: Kory@KorVanRealty.com

-Kory Lambarth

Around Town

Camp Grounds

As we ponder what we’re grateful for this year, something I am surprisingly grateful for is my House In Virginia. I know, right? You’re thankful you have a potentially deadly disease? Well, no. Of course not. But I am grateful that I have my health. I see my doctor at least twice a year now. I’m closer to my family and friends now that I don’t have to hide this piece of my life. I’m also grateful for the strength and power overcoming the obstacles this disease has thrown at me.

While I’ll never understand why, why me, I will forever have a love-hate relationship with this House In Virginia. This year, I’m grateful for it.

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a diverse and easy-going environment where all are welcome!

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and sweet drink

Aries: Fall is one of your favorite

of year. You’re excited for haunted hay rides, you’re ready to pick a pumpkin, and have your hole stretched in the mid dle of that cornfield (you know the one your old principal owns). Cooler weather isn’t going to slow you down. Now you’ll just go on some adventures to down a different kind of hot chocolate. Make sure you take your vitamins. We don’t want you to catch a cold.

Taurus: Taurus’ tend to be sad when the weather starts to get colder, and the day gets a little shorter. Don’t wor ry your big bull head, sis. A longer night means you get to sissy that ass all over the place and earn points (check official rules for terms and conditions). But get your beauty sleep. We want you to be ready once the weather breaks! Gemini: Crisp air and working in the garage are a few of your favorite things. You love a project. You just tend to start em’ and then you don’t finish them. Make sure you don’t start something you can’t finish. We want to make sure you’re being productive and you’re get ting your bed companions’ rocks off all in the same breath.

Cancer: Fall means sharing your slut years (3 weeks ago) over a big burning fire. The only thing it’s doing is having a bunch of judge judies reading you to filth in their head (except Carl, he’s inter ested to hear more about that time you were dressed as a cat and how you got out of that ball of yarn). Have fun and let some other people share their stories too.

Leo: Cooler weather tends to make you a little slower than normal. Make sure you take your daily vitamin, eat some breakfast, and swallow that gunk when Daddy offers it to you (I’m talking about a special family recipe, ya-nasty). Catch up on some of your favorite shows: Tele tubbies, Bloomberg TV & Are you my daddy? Fall weather is the perfect Net flix N’ Chill time.

Virgo: November is typically the time of year when you take all the clocks in your house apart to clean them and reassemble. However, this year, you’re feeling like a big old’ dick pig. You bought yourself a sex swing, got stuck in it for about 3 hours and had to have your sister come and help you out of it (we don’t know how you’re ever going to be able to look her in the eye again). Let’s just stick to the clocks. It’s a safer bet. Libra: You recently sat down to make a list of priorities for the summer. Pay off that credit card. Rotate those tires. Get your memorial tattoo to Biggie Smalls (you’re a little late girl). Fuck your X-Un cle-In-Law (your Auntie gave you her blessing, so it’s fine as wine, child). Lists makes you feel productive. Just kick it old school and write it on a piece of paper.

Scorpio: Scorpio’s over at the club looking like a Snack-A-Saurous. And they know it too. That’s why sometimes people don’t approach them. That’s fine. Scorpios love making the first move. Holding the door open, extending your hand to shake someone’s hand, slipping a thumb into their wonder wall when

you told them it was only going to be your pinky.

Sagittarius: You truly enjoy seeing your friends succeed. That’s why you’ll gladly hold one of their legs as they’re getting that beer bong or pull back their hair as they let their new friend wreck holy hell on their mouth (they could al ways just use a ponytail holder, sis). Just make sure you sometimes don’t forget you’re competing too.

Capricorn: Sometimes it’s a dry day and you may not be scoring the Zac Effron you were hoping for. It’s okay. That crooked ass nose could stimulate you better then you would’ve imagined with Mr. Perfect Face. Plus, Quasimodo is gonna try their darndest to get a call back so you can get your bell rang again (SANTUARY!!!!)!

Aquarius: Always the logical one. No don’t drink that drink from a stranger. No don’t barter sex for whatever you want in your life. Sometimes you can be a real fun sucker. You’re supposed to have bat tle scars from your youth. A burn mark. A hand print. A tattoo in Chinese that you thought said “I’ll survive” and in reality, it translates to “Dumb White Bitch.” En joy yourself, no one’s gonna die.

Pisces: November is all about you en joying some personal time. Bake a bunch of cupcakes, put them in the bathtub, reach out to MrJigglesWorth3820 on your favorite sex app and get the most fucked up sugar attack of your life. Sit on those cupcakes, slut! Eat what you can from the bathtub and wash your face, your nanna would be so disappointed.

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

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.



(bik-TAR-vee)



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.

Continued on next page.

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, continued on the next page and at BIKTARVY.com

Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY. Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com

Featured patients compensated by Gilead.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (cont’d)

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. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter 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.

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.

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, above and at BIKTARVY.com.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, KEEP BEING YOU, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2022 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0088 03/22

DIMITRIZACH NIKKICHADHUGOD’EVA

Hookup from the Bell?

Back in my late-teen / early-twenty years, I worked at a local taco-themed fast food restaurant. Everyone knows that most fast food joints (at least pre-COVID) were 24/7 back then, and open every day except Christmas and maybe New Year’s Day. I always volunteered to work holidays because why not? I was a young guy working his way through college and could use the extra cash.

One Thanksgiving, I was working the front register. There was hardly any staff because, let’s be honest, this restaurant isn’t where most people are going for their Thanksgiving Dinner. It was usually just high teens and the occasional recent immigrant who didn’t realize what the day was.

One of our regulars came in. Young guy about my age, had a girlfriend, but sometimes would call me up for the casual bee-j at 12:30am on a weekday. As I was ringing up his order I couldn’t help but notice him grabbing at his junk. He didn’t have to say it, but he definitely gave me the “lets fuck” eye, and nudged his head towards the bathroom. I figured why not; there’s no up-front staff, no customers.

We made our way to the bathroom and took care of business. It didn’t take long. I think by the time we were done his order was ready. I hope he enjoyed the free side of not-so-sour cream.

Michael's Ad

Don’t try to get over your anger

Think about a pleasurable time and rely on your five senses to enjoy the moment in your mind. What are you seeing, feeling, smelling, touching and hearing? Dig deep into your sensations to locate how this moment brings you happiness. Tap into the emotions you are feeling as you experience even greater pleasure and become aware of the physical sensations enveloping you.

This is one of the first steps in mastering your unwanted emotions, the negative feelings that sometimes overcome you, consume you, cloud your judgment, and even cause regretful actions and responses.

Your goal is to regulate your emotions, not push them back inside you where they will resurface again and worsen. Drop the narrative, locate the source of your anger inside your body, focus on your physical feelings, be in the moment, and then respond.

If you allow yourself the time to focus on your body’s reaction to your anger and stay in that moment (dropping the narrative) for 60 to 90 seconds, there’s a good chance your response will not be shouting or acting irrationally. You have given yourself time for clarity, time to drop the narrative, time to feel how your body is reacting to your anger, and time to process your actions.

Be with your emotions, do not try to bury them, do

not try to get over them. Instead, learn to manage them, tolerate them and respond appropriately to them. In the heat of the emotional moment, we don’t recognize our physical response to the emotion because we are allowing the narrative to overcome all sense of logic.

It sounds like a simple process because it is a simple process, but it is not so simple to master.

Do not deny, obey or try to shut down your emotions. Become aware of them, get in touch with these raw emotions, understand they are part of who you are and don’t feel guilty for having them. Accept them. Pushing them away only creates more emotional distress. The longer you suppress emotions, the more you internalize them, and it can cause severe mental and physical health issues.

As your confidence increases, you may even rehearse certain scenarios that previously caused you distress, anger, frustration or anxiety. You will find the emotions they generated have changed, and even subsided, because you know how to manage them positively.

Always remember to focus on the moment and the raw emotions it is generating, NOT the narrative. You are in charge of your emotions.

Joe Kort, Ph.D., LMSW

AASECT Certified Sex Therapist & Supervisor of Sex Therapy

Dragrectory Dragrectory Dragrectory

Performer’s Name Home Area

Aaliyah Tealheart Lansing

Home Bar

Floats

Aero Dean Grand Rapids Rumors

Time Doing Drag Contact By/ Social Media

7 Years Insta & FB

1 Year Insta, FB & TikTok

Alexa Vogel Grand Rapids Mary’s GR20 Years Tonyfields44@gmail.com

Aliya Holmes Metro Detroit Liberty Bar10 Years Aliyaholmes2017@gmail.com

April Evangelista Grand Rapids Mary’s GR30 Years Insta, FB & TikTok

Artemis Knight Battle Creek Music Factory4 Years Insta & FB

Artemiss Metro Detroit Candy Bar/Live3 Years Insta & FB

Astara Love Flint Floats

9 Years Insta & FB

Baby Boi Battle Creek Floats 13 Years Insta & FB

Ben Eaton Northern MI SideTraxx 10 Years Insta, FB & TikTok

Bentley James GR/Metro Detroit Mary’s GR10 Years Insta & FB Betty J Jackson Floats 5 Years cooleybodaryg@gmail.com

Chanel Hunter GR/Metro Detroit Mary’s GR/Ypsi20 Years Insta & FB

Cherry Poppins Grand Rapids Rumors 5 Years Instagram

Cherub Sinn Grand Rapids Rumors 4 Years Insta & FB

Countess Hexen Grand Rapids Rumors 4 Years Insta & FB

Dante Gabbana Metro Detroit Floats 14 Years Insta & FB Daya Molayne Grand Rapids Rumors 1 Year Facebook

DeAngela Show Shannon Metro Detroit Gigi’s 30 Years Insta & FB

Delicious Jackson Lansing Floats 19 Years FB: Dee Clark Deja D. Dellataro Toledo Georgjz41918 Years Insta & FB Deja Vaton Northern MI SideTraxx 19 Years Insta & FB

Delicious Jackson Metro Detroit Floats 19 Years FB

Dia Elektra GR/Saugatuck The Dunes18 Years Insta & FB

Dreama Belle Metro Detroit Gigi’s 7 Years Insta & FB

Dylan West Metro Detroit Menjo’s/Gigi’s3 Years Insta & FB

Emma Sapphire Metro Detroit Gigi’s 8 Years Insta & FB eRIS Lansing Floats 4 Years Instagram Infestasia Metro Detroit Menjo’s 2 Years Insta & FB Jacqueline Frost Metro Detroit Gigi’s/Menjos14 Years frostedminiqueen@gmail.com Jennifer Foxx Metro Detroit Floats 45 Years FB Jezebel Metro Detroit Floats 6 Years Instagram

Kelly Ann Jefferies Northern MI SideTraxx 8 Years Insta & FB Kourtney Charles Metro Detroit Menjo’s 12 Years Facebook Lala Sanchez Traverse City SideTraxx 11 Years Insta & FB Lotipha Renee Hunter Metro Detroit Gigi’s 4 Years Insta & FB Lucy Fatalé Metro Detroit Campit Resort/Liberty 13 Years Insta & FB Lucy Misfit Ann Arbor Necto & Gigi’s4 Years Instagram

Mercedes Benz-Over Northern MI SideTraxx 5 Years Insta & FB Mia Cole Metro Detroit Woodward10+ Years Miacole41@gmail.com

Minnie Vogue Ludes Grand Rapids Rumors 4 Years Diondradiamond2@gmail.com

Monique Madison Kalamazoo 515 & Mary’s GR25 Years Insta & FB

Nadya FisherPrice Metro Detroit Menjo’s 2 Years Instagram

Nickki Stevens Matro Detroit Gigi’s 35 Years FB Oliver Woodstock Lansing Floats 4 Years Insta & FB Peaches Kalamazoo Vortex/The Dunes 30 Years Instagram Perry Dox Flint/Lansing/Detroit Necto/Candy Bar6 Years Bookings.perrydox@gmail.com

Raven Divine Cassadine Metro Detroit/GR Menjo’s 17 Years Insta & FB

Reba Rose Rau Grand RapidsRumors/Marys GR 18 Years Insta & FB

Regina Kadett Metro Detroit Gigi’s 2 Years Insta & FB Remi Releve Metro Detroit Woodward/Gigi’s1 Year Instagram

Rose Ritz Metro Detroit Menjo’s 4 Years missroseritz@gmail.com

Sabin Metro Detroit 515/Gigi’s 18 Years Insta & FB

Sapphire Shade Kalamazoo/Lansing Vortex 5 Years Instagram

Satine d’John Grand Rapids Rumors 12 Years Insta & FB Shylo Ann Arbor TBD 1.5 Years ShyloOfficial.com

Sirinity Sapphire Metro Detroit Gigi’s 2 Years Insta & FB Syrinx Ann Arbor Mary’s GR3 Years Syrinx2301@gmail.com

Tequila Sanchez Grand Rapids Rumors 12 Years Maxxij1090@gmail.com

The Petty Divine Grand Rapids Rumors 3 Years Pettydivine.com

Tony Tuesday Grand Rapids Rumors 2 Years Insta & FB

Vajojo Visage Northern MI Sidetraxx 12 Years Jpetto_2015@icloud.com

Veronica Scott Grand Rapids Rumors 10 Years Insta & FB Victoria Sanchez Metro Detroit Five15/Pronto 20 Years Facebook

Yolanda Del Fierce Battle Creek Rumors/Mary’s GR 7 Years Insta & FB

ZuZu Bella Saginaw MI Rumors 10 Years Zuzubella89@hotmail.com

Mental health professionals (3 full time therapists, 1 care coordinator, and 14 graduate interns) have expanded our Behavioral Health department, tripling our program's capacity in the past 12 months.

BY THE NUMBERS 2022

WHY GIVE?

Your support allows us to stand up programs and expand services that support the health and wellbeing of our community.

of youth graduates (ages 13-22) from the Youth Leadership and Workforce Development Program selfreported having improved social confidence in workforce navigation, increased knowledge of problem-solving, and critical thinking.

people have used our center in 2022.

Affirmations’ COVID Vaccine Project has partnered with 29 organizations across the state including 14 LGBTQ+ centers, 4 health departments, and 3 medical/hospital services. This was made possible through the largest grant received in Affirmations' history.

HALO DETROIT PRESENTS THE 7TH ANNUAL DETROIT SANTA SPEEDO RUN SUNDAY DECEMBER 4TH 1PM @ CHECKER BAR DOWNTOWN DETROIT

BENEFITTING OUR FRIENDS AT:

Who: Fun-loving, speedo-clad, people. Men/Women/All Welcome. What: A one-mile run/walk/stroll through a fun downtown route. No athletic skill necessary. “No Elf left behind.”

When: Event starts at 1:00; run at 3:00pm

Where: Checker Bar – 124 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI 48226

Why: To raise funds for two great charities: The Greening of Detroit and The Ruth Ellis Center How: Show up decked out in a skimpy suit. Bring friends. Make a donation. Complete a release form. Run.

There isn’t a fee to participate. All registration is in person the day of at Checker Bar starting at 1:00. Donations appreciated.

7th Annual Detroit Santa Speedo Run Sunday, December 4, 2022 Liquid Encouragement at 1:00pm Run at 3:00pm

Checker Bar, 124 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI 48226

Bartender Cathy W