METROSOURCE NATIONAL - DEC21/JAN22

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.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, 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 effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 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. 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 affect 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.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects 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.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP BEING YOU, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0467 06/21

REAL

BIKTARVY

PAT I E N T S

KEEP BEING YOU. Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com Featured patients compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

ALL I WANT

FOR CHRISTMAS! ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS THIS SEASON BY GIVING LESS PRESENTS AND MORE PRESENCE ‘Cause I just want you here tonight

NO MATTER YOUR DENOMINATION, YOU KNOW IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON when you hear Mariah

Holding on to me so tight

Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.” While it might

What more can I do

be a bit maudlin, the lyrics do ring true for what is

Oh, Baby all I want for Christmas is you

VIEWS

EDITOR’S LETTER

important during the holidays – love, respect, family, and laughter. According to Billboard, the jingle has

All the lights are shining

charted every single year since it came out in 1994,

So brightly everywhere

when it was initially released. And the holidays just

And the sound of children’s

would not seem the same without Mariah’s familiar

Laughter fills the air

PUBLISHER Bent Share Entertainment, LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman COPY EDITOR James Delyea CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING DIRECTOR Christopher Jackson FEATURE WRITER Alexander Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Rimalower

Jeffrey James Keyes Kevin Perry Megan Venzin Michael Westman Paul Zahn Steve Gottfried NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING

song in the background – And everyone is singing I don’t want a lot for Christmas

I hear those sleigh bells ringing

There is just one thing I need

Santa won’t you bring me

I don’t care about the presents

The one I really need

Underneath the Christmas tree

Won’t you please bring my baby to me quickly

Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

I just want you for my own More than you could ever know

I don’t want a lot for Christmas

Make my wish come true oh

This is all I’m asking for

All I want for Christmas is you

I just wanna see my baby Standing right outside my door

I don’t want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need, and I

I just want you for my own

Don’t care about the presents

More than you could ever know

Underneath the Christmas tree

Make my wish come true

I don’t need to hang my stocking

Baby all I want for Christmas is you

Los Angeles 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #438 Long Beach, CA 90803 New York 511 Avenue of the Americas, #901 New York, NY 10011 800.818.0480 info@metrosource.com

There upon the fireplace Santa Claus won’t make me happy

All I want for Christmas is you, baby.

With a toy on Christmas day During this holiday season, the most important I just want you for my own

gift you can give is the gift of your time and your per-

More than you could ever know

sonal presence to your family and friends during this

Make my wish come true

season. Enjoy the holidays this season by giving less

All I want for Christmas is you

presents and more presence. I remember the family get-togethers when I was young – it wasn’t quite

I won’t ask for much this Christmas

as chaotic as the Griswold household, but extended

I won’t even wish for snow, and I

family came into to stay, we read Christmas stories

I just wanna keep on waiting

and listened to music, we drank hot cocoa out of

Underneath the mistletoe

special mugs, cooked up a huge feast, and yes, there was always some type of drama, but, this all made

I won’t make a list and send it

for wonderful memories that I hold dear to this day.

To the North Pole for Saint Nick

So, whether it is presents or presence you are giving

I won’t even stay awake

this holiday season, give from the heart.

To hear those magic reindeer click

and prosperous new year!

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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Advertisers and their agencies assume all responsibility and legal liability for the content of their advertisements in Metrosource. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials.

Metrosource reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content.

All contents are copyright Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.

Content may only be reproduced with written permission from Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Metrosource assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserve the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.

On behalf of all of us at METROSOURCE, we wish you all a happy holiday season, and very healthy

4

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Reproduction of any article, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in Metrosource are supportive of the gay community. Mention of any person, business or organization is not a reflection of their sexual orientation. ©2021 Bent Share Entertainment, LLC.

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METROSOURCE.COM

December 2021/January 2022 | VOLUME 32, NO. 6

CONTENTS

THIS PAGE: KARAMO BROWN BY LEIGH KEILY • PHOTO COURTESY OF CARMEN CARRERA • TYLER HENRY BY MICHAEL CIANFRANI

26

31 36

21 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 26 KARAMO BROWN PERFECTLY DESIGNED

31 CARMEN CARRERA TRANSFORMING STANDARDS

36 TYLER HENRY HOLLYWOOD’S FAVORITE MEDIUM HAS A NEW SHOW

COVER: Karamo Brown Photographer: Leigh Keily METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

5

DEPARTMENTS

December 2021/January 2022 | VOLUME 32, NO. 6

40

10

CULTURE

16

7 THE SCOPE

HEALTH 40 Holiday Grooming

Cynthia Lee Fontaine Shines as a Glorious Navidad Gueen in Her Festive Song “Bring Me the Holidays,”

Holiday Gift Sets to Pamper Yourself or Your Friends

TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT

46 Switzerland A Place in the Clouds

10 Jasmine Davis Life Beyond The Chi

16 Tom MacRae Telling LGBTQ Stories with a Dash of Camp Everybody’s Talking About

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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VIEWS

4 EDITOR’S LETTER

All I Want for Christmas!

Enjoy the Holidays this Season by Giving Less Presents and More Presence

THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF JASMINE DAVIS • TOM MACRAE PHOTO BY THE OTHER RICHARD/PA • LAKE TSEUZIER IN VALAIS SWITZERLAND PHOTO BY MARTIN STEINER

46

CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

BRING ME THE HOLIDAYS

BY CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE RUPAUL’S

DRAG

RACE’S

THESCOPE

LISTEN

“MISS

CONGENIALITY” WINNER CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE SHINES AS A GLORIOUS NAVIDAD QUEEN IN HER FESTIVE SONG AND MUSIC VIDEO,

“BRING

ME

THE

HOLIDAYS,”

THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY OF CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE

CULTURE

by Cynthia’s boyfriend, Armando Barrientos, the jazzy ballad with its pop influence ushers in the joyous spirit of the holiday season, whisking listeners on a magical journey through an enchanted Christmas Forest.“Adoro la temporada Navideña,” says Cynthia Lee Fontaine from her Austin home.

“It’s the time of year I reflect fondly on my childhood memories with my family in Puerto Rico. Amo a mi familia!”

Fontaine also holds a deep love for the island of Puerto Rico.“What makes Christmas in Puerto Rico special is the music, the dancing and oh, the food,” she continues. “On Christmas Eve, we would prepare a turkey and a ‘lechon’ (roast pig), a very traditional dish in Puerto Rico. Around midnight, the adults would celebrate with hugs and kisses and then check on the children to make sure we were sleeping because Papa Noel would be coming soon!

Early Christmas morning, the children would wake to presents under the tree and after opening all the gifts, we would gather for our traditional breakfast with the leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner.

It was always so much fun!”

Cynthia Lee Fontaine was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her father had three children from his first marriage and two children with Cynthia’s mother.

Cynthia’s parents divorced when she was young, and her mother had another child (Cynthia’s younger brother) with her second husband. Christmas was a time for all the siblings to get together.

“My favorite Christmas was when I was five years old, and my two big sisters and

THESCOPE

RELEASED NOVEMBER 11. Co-written

big brother surprised us by coming to Puerto Rico on Christmas Eve. It remains, by far, one of my most cherished Christmas gifts ever.”

Cynthia Lee Fontaine is the stage name of drag performer Carlos Díaz. Cynthia competed on the eighth and ninth seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, winning the title of Miss Congeniality in season 8.

Sadly, after filming, Cynthia was diagnosed with stage one liver cancer. Fortunately, by season 9, she was in remission and returned to the competition on the second episode as the 14th queen of the season.

“My Christmas wish for all my Cucu fans is that they have joy and happiness this Christmas season, and a prosperous and healthy and happy New Year.

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo 2022!”

Cynthia Lee Fontaine’s“Bring Me the Holidays”is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. Visit CynthiaLeeFontaine.com.

METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

7

WATCH

SINGLE ALL THE WAY

NETFLIX – DECEMBER 2, 2021 SINGLE ALL THE WAY IS NETFLIX’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED, FIRST GAY HOLIDAY FILM AND TELLS THE STORY OF A GAY MAN NAMED PETER WHO ASKS HIS BEST FRIEND TO POSE AS HIS BOYFRIEND ON A CHRISTMAS VISIT HOME, BUT THEIR PLAN - AND FEELINGS - CHANGE WHEN HIS FAMILY PLAYS MATCHMAKER. Directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer and

CULTURE

THESCOPE

starring Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Kathy Najimy, Luke MacFarlane, Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Robertson, and Jennifer Coolidge.

Assembling such a roster of rainbow riches required a robust vision (pardon the alliteration – we’re excited!) When screenwriter Chad Hodge sat down to pen the story, he conjured up the tale of queer camaraderie, farcical misunderstandings, and the good intentions that bind us all together, even through the most trying times.“I made a list of all the things I personally wanted to see in a holiday rom-com,”he recounts for Variety.“The list ran the gamut, from honestly portraying the uniqueness of gay friendships and relationships, to the often-hilarious dynamics of our families, to Jennifer Coolidge. I am so grateful to Netflix for embracing all of it.

I can’t wait to see it come to life.”

A winning Christmas tale if we have ever seen one.

HERE’S TO US HARDCOVER – DECEMBER 28, 2021

BY BECKY ALBERTALLI AND ADAM SILVERA Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera reunite to continue the story of Arthur and Ben, the boys that readers first fell for in the New York Times bestselling rom-com What If It’s Us. Ben survived the first year of college, but he’s feeling more stuck than ever. His classes are a slog, his part-time job working with his father is even worse, and his best friend Dylan’s been acting weird for weeks. Ben’s only bright spot is his writing partner Mario, who has been giving him a lot of Spanish lessons and even more kisses. Mario’s big Hollywood dreams make Ben start to dream bigger - and the choices he makes now could be the key to reshaping his future. So why can’t he stop thinking about a certain boy from his past?

Arthur is back in New York City for the first time in two years, ready to take the theater world by a storm as the world’s best ... uh, intern to the assistant of an offoff-Broadway director. Of course, it sucks

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

READ

to be spending the summer apart from his sweet, dependable boyfriend, Mikey, but he knows their relationship is strong enough to weather the distance. Which is why it is no big deal when his ex-boyfriend Ben stumbles back into the picture. And it is fine that Ben’s blissfully happy with some mystery boy. First loves are special, but it is way too late for what-ifs. Right?

Even as the boys try to shake off the past, they keep running into each other in the present. Is this the universe trying to tell them there is a do-over in their future?

Here’s to Us is sure to be welcomed by fans old and new of these authors and their previous collaboration, What If It’s Us. Critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera combine their talents in these smart, funny, heartfelt novels about two vastly different boys who cannot decide if the universe is pushing them together - or pulling them apart.

METROSOURCE.COM

SEE

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY ERINSHALL

THE ICONIC QUEER BAND BETTY RINGS IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH HOLLY JOLLYPOCALYPSE, THEIR SEASONAL

BETTY TOURS THEIR HOLIDAY CONCERT: HOLLY JOLLYPOCALYPSE!

CELEBRATION OF SONGS, STORIES, AND HARMONIES SMOOTH AS THE ROAD PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.

Join BETTY’s Alyson Palmer and sisters Amy and Elizabeth Ziff as they welcome their annual Very Special Guest, Gloria Steinem (NYC only), along with killer musical guest performers for a memorable night like no other! For 35 years, BETTY’s distinct vocals have been heard on radio, film, and TV, and ten albums. For the juiciest backstory, listen to BETTY: Girlband, the Podcast, available everywhere. U.S. Arts Envoys who travel the world in non-Covid times to empower girls, women, LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities, BETTY is thrilled to be back in real life to spread wildly infectious cheer - and sleigh!

Concerts are December 5th at The City Winery in Washington D.C.; December 9th at Urban Artifact in Cincinnati, Ohio; December 13th at The City Winery in New York City; December 18th at The Razz Room in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Visit www.hellobetty.com for more information.

METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

9

JASMIN DAVIS LIFE BEYOND THE CHI

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ WHEN I FIRST MET ACTOR, MODEL, AND MUSICIAN JASMINE DAVIS, I WAS IMMEDIATELY AFFECTED BY HER TINY STATURE, COY GLANCE, AND SHY DEMEANOR. And while I am used to

actors not resembling the characters they portray on screen, the total transformation from Imani, the strong-willed powerhouse we see on Showtime’s The Chi struck me. I knew immediately her shyness did not come from fragility, it came from the quiet, powerful calm of someone who has been through a lot and seen it all.

The Chi is a visceral, coming-of-age drama, centered around the mostly Black community that resides in Chicago’s South Side and deals with consequences that arise from racial inequality and the impact of drugs, lack of access to higher education and mental health services, political duress, police brutality, and family violence. It is not a show for the weak of heart. Truthfully, the first few episodes made me feel like a foreigner in this world as depicted through the eyes of a community I have been called to support, but never completely grasping the full scope of issues affecting another minority community. I found myself binging all four seasons, engrossed by the stories of these interconnecting lives. While I will never pretend to know the full extent of the struggles of the Black community, there are similarities to the hopes and dreams and treatment by others that my own minority community has fallen victim to. Suddenly the world didn’t seem so foreign to me. The show has become a critical and viewer hit for Showtime, with Season 5 on the horizon. Just like we want the eyes on our LGBTQ-driven media, our community must support other minority-driven projects. But should we be labeling shows according to their minority makeup, whether it be that “gay show” or that “Black show?”

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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There’s a simple answer, yet not so simple. First, we need to keep making minority-focused shows in a non-stereotypical but more human and universal way, because we all have similarities. We may not come from the same upbringing or have the same belief systems but, for the most part, many of us all want the same thing - to be heard and seen in some manner and to love and be loved.

One aspect that I couldn’t get used to, was the constant use of the N-word, whether it be as used in jest, affection, or as an insult. The continued use of derogatory terms used for the LGBTQ community has often been discussed among our group. What is Jasmine’s take?

It’s not a question of why it is okay for this word to be used in every scene, but why it gets used at all. That reason is because Black people have taken a word that was used to degrade them and used it to empower themselves and express how prideful it is to be Black in America.

Jasmine joined the show in Season 3 but is no stranger to the world of The Chi. She grew up on the streets of the Chicago, being witness to the crime wars, drive-bys, and even addiction in her own family at a very early age. As her character Imani, she brings the heart and support system to the family her character has created with her drug dealer boyfriend. She’s a badass, she’s unapologetic, she’s a goddess. It isn’t until mid-season that we find out that Imani is trans. It is done quietly but effectively. Show creator and Emmy Award Winner Lena Waithe had wanted to include a trans character from the beginning of Season 1 and was excited to bring Jasmine on and finally realize that diversity on her own show. Lena’s goal was to reveal the character as part of the norm, without pointing the finger or creating a bombastic reveal. Imani is a real person who happens to be trans. As the character developed, Jasmine knew she had to come out. Early in her childhood, she knew she was different but also knew that she would have to pass as a cis woman in order to survive the streets.

Her coming out was swallowed up by the media with every interview or press coverage calling attention to Jasmine’s being the first out trans actor on The Chi playing the first trans character on the show. She was immediately made an activist and spokesperson for the trans community when in reality she wanted to talk about her acting, her character development, her craft.

I am grateful when I get to inspire anyone in any way that adds and brings love and light to this world. But I never asked to be a spokesperson. It was forced on me unknowingly. I just wanted to be an actor, yet I understand there’s a certain responsibility in being an influencer, and I use the word “influencer” because celebrities in the entertainment world were the original influencers. However, there’s becoming a thinner line between arts and politics, and some of this is used for good, but there’s a dark side to it. That’s what we as artists must make sure of - that being an influencer is not used for the wrong reasons. Coming out during COVID was a complete nightmare. I was very scared for many reasons. Yet, it helped me grow as a human, and some of the lessons I’ve learned - and am still learning - are priceless. Sooner or later, someone was going to out me anyway - I just beat them to

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the punch. [Laughs] As an artist and a storyteller, Jasmine took charge of her character making the role of Imani a collaboration with the show’s creative team. What comes across the most in chatting with Jasmine is how much affection she has for Imani. During the process, creator Waithe has become Jasmine’s mentor and friend. The positive response for Jasmine’s character has been immense, due partly to the loving relationship she and co-star Luke James have presented – they are a couple in love, nothing more. As part of the character list of The Chi, it proves that you can’t represent a community or talk about women without showing all individuals from those communities.

Jasmine’s life has been full of creative evolutions. She’s been a hairdresser, studied cosmetology, has worked as a model for several years, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a BA in Sociology minoring in Gender Studies. She also spent time learning improv at Second City where, despite being the only minority in her class, broke out of her bubble, coming into her own and working through her dyslexia.

I would say to anyone who is blessed to have dyslexia, look at it as a gift. I say that because some of the most successful people in the world have or had dyslexia, like Richard Branson, Tom Cruise, Leonardo Da Vinci, Walt Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Albert Einstein, and Guy Ritchie, to name a few.

Even with the success of The Chi, Jasmine knows that being part of the entertainment isn’t without its flaws. After coming to Hollywood and receiving a series of “no’s,” she was destined to play transgender superhero Dreamer in CW’s Supergirl. That was going to be her coming out. One audition away, she learned that the role ultimately went to someone else. If she were to base a television show on her own life?

I would call it “Imperfections.” I really don’t think life is meant to ever be perfect as there are no lessons in perfection. In my opinion, the lesson is in the journey and the journey is the lesson.

She has used her creativity during downtime between seasons to release a clothing line, Saint J’s Brand, made of sustainable items that celebrates diversity. She has also released her first single “BLISS” under her pop artist alter ego JAS-ZEY for her EP Never Give Up. I come from a family of musicians and singers, and I started writing pop songs at the age of 12. I never did anything with it until now, but the desire was always there. You get to see different aspects of my personality, like how three-dimensional I am, and I can be seen in more ways than one.

So, what’s next for this entertainment chameleon?

We will just have to wait and see. I know where I want to go, and I know it’s more than possible to get to the level I’m working toward. The real question is how soon I get to the next level, so I can get to another level, and so on. Also, as you probably know, my agent and manager don’t allow me to talk about pending projects but believe me, we have some exciting things on the horizon!

■ You can follow Jasmine on Instagram @theJasmineDavis

METROSOURCE.COM

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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PAGE 10 & 12: PHOTOS COURTESY OF JASMINE FAVIS

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.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, 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 effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 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. 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 affect 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.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects 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.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP ASPIRING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0370 04/21

DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP ASPIRING.

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

See Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

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THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY THE OTHER RICHARD/PA

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT

THERE’S A CERTAIN JOY AND OPTIMISM THAT JUST EXUDES FROM WRITER TOM MACCRAE. Chatting

with him instantly feels chummy, as if you are sharing a drink in a pub with a longtime friend.

It’s this same familiarity with a sense of hope for the future that has fueled the wildly popular Amazon film, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, based on the stage musical, based on the 2011 documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, featuring the real Jamie and his coming of age in the world of drag. The film was a welcome breath of fresh air and became a global sweetheart despite both the screen and stage versions being postponed during COVID. With over 1,000 sold-out shows on the West End, and now with the success of the film, MacCrae (who penned the play, screenplay, and lyrics with co-writer Dan Gillespie Sells) has become the latest personality to join the ranks of Ryan Murphy, Steven Canals, and Greg Berlanti in telling LGBTQ stories with a dash of camp and a whole lot of heart. Tom is completely self-taught and received a BAFTA early on in his career, has written for Doctor Who, Comedy Central UK’s Threesome, and The Librarians. And now with a major hit on his hands and already working his next musical, how does he explain his success for someone who never took a writing class?

Not knowing what you’re doing is quite useful. I’m talking about creative industries specifically where if you can invent it with enough imagination, you can make it become true. I think when you really do believe you know what you’re doing is probably when you’re going to start producing stale content.

So, it’s good to keep testing yourself and throwing yourself in at the deep end, and that’s all I’ve ever done. And if I’d done a writing course, I’d have left with that piece of patriarchy or “look, I’m a writer.” Well, that would be very false confidence because you’re not a writer until you’re writing and you’re not a good writer until you’re writing good stuff.

So, to never go in thinking that I deserve to be there, but that I had to earn my place with every job just kept me keen and hungry. But a couple of years ago, me, Dan, and Johnny (who created Jamie) were made Doctors of the Arts by Sheffield Hallam University, which is where the Jamie stage version opened and where it’s set. So suddenly, we had this very formal day where we all got this kind of education we’ve never had and this fantastic qualification. So now I am qualified! Like, I’m a, literally a doctor. It’s come quite late in my career, ha!

TOM MACRAE

TELLING LGBTQ STORIES WITH A DASH OF CAMP

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

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Tom does not usually write about his own life, but rather focuses on other characters. But similarities to the real Jamie can be drawn. And perhaps these shared similarities are what have made the movie so relatable to other gay kids, and really anyone who feels like an outsider, from a small town. He wasn’t an introvert, he wasn’t that chatty kid in class, he was just … different. His coming out was not a Hollywood dream.

I just was kind of lost. I was in the wrong place. I grew up in a little village, which is a small town, but smaller, then even smaller than that. And I love it now, but it was not a nurturing place for a kid who wanted to make movies and theater and write songs and all this stuff I got to do. I was the odd one out and I never worked out how to fit in. And now, I fit in there very well. I think I’ve figured how to have different sides to my life. But as a kid, I just wanted to escape. That was all I was interested in. I didn’t care about school or anything. I wasn’t particularly academic. And I just was looking to run away, which to be fair, I’ve never stopped doing. I’m always running somewhere.

I was 17 and sort of came out without me wanting it to. So, I had the fallout of having never even kissed a boy. I didn’t think there were any gay kids, in hindsight. So, it was so hypothetical and suddenly I was having to explain who I was, and I didn’t know. It was really horrible, but it wasn’t so for very long. My mum and dad were pretty good. And then they were absolutely great. So now, I can sort of talk about it without any residual pain, but it was not fun at the time.

There is a part of the musical’s denouement during which Jamie’s best friend, Pritti, confronts Dean, the school bully. That moment and Tom’s perfectly crafted speech make for a powerfully touching highlight and is presented in the film exactly as it was in the stage version. That experience during filming would serve as a learning point for MacCrae.

Everything she says in that speech is me, at that age. It’s what I wish I could have said to the “Deans” in my life. I think two of them were called Dean, which is why I use the name. Something I really did learn when shooting the film, was how these 16, 17, 18-year-olds (most of them straight) who played our Year 11 responded to the content of Jamie and the queer issue, and the drag, and gender-bending and all that, and just how completely relaxed and open-minded they were about it all. These weren’t posh kids, these weren’t stage school kids, they were kids from the area we found by doing an open casting call. I realized, since I had been at school, just how much it’s all moved on. And then I got to go back to my old school to do a speech day. I hated being there the first time around and going back this next time with all different staff and all different kids I saw how much they really wanted to have an inclusive community at the school. They had a group for trans kids at the school and an active LGBT club. And the teachers were proactively pushing that kind of conversation to be happening. And I thought, well, the world has all changed. I mean, it’s not perfect and this is only Dan Gillespie Sells, Tom MacRae, Jonathan Butterell, Noah Leggott. one small part of the world, but in the UK, it really attend Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has moved on a lot. And I’m happy that Jamie gets Sheffield Premiere.

Photo by Anthony Devlin to become a part of that.

Getty Images Europe The music of Jamie, though modern, captures the charm of earlier feel-good musicals and does not alienate musical theatre lovers from any genre. A doer, Tom just jumped

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Max Harwood (center) and the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Max Harwood and Sarah Lancashire in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Photos by John Rogers/Amazon

into the creative process of writing a musical for the first time with both feet. His songwriting partner, Dan Gillespie Sells, is a popular English singer-songwriter best known for his rock group The Feeling. Their friendship, and their work, was kismet.

We met at a rally. We were being political.

I was with a friend of mine (Russell Tovey), and we all just really hit it off. So, we started hanging out and I was a really big fan of Dan’s band, and still am. He had been watching my sitcom Threesome, which was on TV at the time. And so, we ended up hanging out and we’d go out and get drunk. I was quite excited because I’d never had a friend who was a pop star before and we’d say, “We should write a musical! We should write a musical. Yeah, we’ll write a musical!” And then one day Dan rang me whilst we were both sober and said, “Let’s actually do it.”

So, we’ve been friends for a little bit before it happened, but our friendship has always been involved in some way with either talking about or writing a musical.

I did the lyrics and Dan did the music.

Normally with his band, he did both. Normally, I would do neither. So, there was a point when we had to figure out how that worked, so we went to watch a lot of shows to research how others were working together. And, at one of those, we bumped into someone who ended up introducing us to (director) Jonathan Butterell, who’d seen the Jamie documentary, which inspired the stage show. That’s how that all came together. I think that’s why it works is we just did it and it just came together. And now looking back, I could probably break down why it works. But at the time we were just like, if we’re having fun and we like it, then it’s probably okay. And luckily enough other people have the same kind of sensibilities which allowed us to find this huge audience, which we didn’t really know was an outlet.

Tom’s favorite part of the film?

It’s the new song, “This Was Me,” without a doubt because it’s so powerful and it’s also where Dan and I have our cameos with our parents dressed as drag nuns. It was the first shot of the first day of filming. It was a little cobbled sheet, which we were pretending was somewhere in London, but was literally just opposite the theater where we opened. So, it was kind of an amazing day of everything coming full circle. We had John McCrea, who was the original Jamie in the METROSOURCE.COM

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19

West End, playing young, Richard E. Grant in the flashback with Max (Harwood), who was now the movie version of Jamie, having his first day. And there we all were with me and Dan in these ridiculous heels, all done up, tottering along. And then the song is probably my favorite one of all the songs we’ve written. I think the moment is really powerful. It’s how we honor the fallen and it’s our kind of letter back to those times and those days, AIDS, the 80s, and London and drag, and the police and everything, and trying to make sense of that for a modern audience.

Meeting the real Jamie and his mom was a bit surreal for MacRae, and the characters he and Dan had created for the musical, though unplanned, fit the real-life versions like a glove.

Well, we saw the documentary and I just watched it once because I didn’t want it to influence me too much. Although I absorbed way more than I realized. There is so much of it in the show. But we decided not to meet Jamie until we’d written it so that we didn’t have any competing version of Jamie New, who’s my fictional version, and Jamie Campbell, who’s the real boy. We met Jamie and we played him the songs and he knew this musical was in the works, but he didn’t know (even when we just had our two weeks at Sheffield) that it was a major production, with a band in a proper theater, with a proper budget, a cast of 30, and sets and costumes, and magic and all the rest of it. Jamie had no idea it was going to be all of that. And then we played him the songs, which we’d had all demoed up. He thought it was going to be the two of us at a piano crooning out some show tunes in the top floor of a pub. And instead, we had this lavish production and played all the songs. He found it very, very emotional as you might expect, particularly “He’s My Boy,” which is the big mother/son song.

Then we met his mother Margaret on the night before we opened the show. And it was amazing because she’d come out with these little sayings like, “what is normal anyway?”

We looked at each other because they were literally lines from the show that I’d written, I’d made up. There were three or four times where she just said things that were almost word-for-word lines of dialogue that I’d given her character, from my imagination, in the show. And we said to her at the end of the night, “You’ll think that we’ve gone home and rewritten it when you see it tomorrow. But I promise you, everything is as it

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Jonathan Butterell, Tom MacRae, Jamie Campbell, Margaret Campbell. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Roy Haylock and Layton Williams with the cast of the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Photo by Johan Persson

was before we met.” And Margaret always says to me, “You were in my head, you were in my head.”

And somehow, yeah, we were.

We have this very beautiful and quite strange relationship where it’s like I’m her mind reader. They are a wonderful family who loves the show, and we love them.

In addition to his film and screen work, MacRae has published three children’s books and will be writing the live action/CGI adaptation of MG Leonard’s Beetle Boy youth geared books. He is also knee-deep in writing

METROSOURCE.COM

a new musical but is sworn to secrecy.

Now with theatre returning, Jamie’s global reach continues with a continued UK tour (with Bianca Del Rio playing the role of Loco Chanelle in Liverpool), Japanese, Australian, and Italian tours, and a Los Angeles debut in January at The Ahmanson. The world is literally talking about Jamie.

Check out our in-depth podcast chat with Tom on Metrosource Minis, as we chat about his parents, sci-fi, reboots, and his take on current drag culture, available on metrosource.com or wherever you get your podcasts. ■

AV50 NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES

THE LINUS BEANIE

By ZVOX $149.99

By SH*T THAT I KNIT $80.00

The ZVOX AV50s noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones sound wonderful - immersive, realistic, high-fidelity sound including tight, accurate bass. But that’s just the beginning. With advanced noise cancellation technology, noise from jet engines, wind, crowds, and air conditioners are all reduced or eliminated. Try them on your next plane trip - you’ll be amazed at how relaxed you feel when the plane lands.

The AV50s use ZVOX AccuVoice technology to give a boost to voices while they reduce unwanted noise. So, you understand dialogue clearly, without having to turn up the volume. You can connect the AV50s using the supplied cord, or connect to your phone, tablet or laptop computer using aptX Bluetooth technology. With an optional Bluetooth transmitting device, you can also connect to your TV. Light and comfortable. The AV50s are lighter than many noise cancelling headphones - less than half a pound. The AV50s have a microphone in the right ear cup that allows you to make hands free phone calls with your cell phone. You hear the caller - but not the crowd around you. The slim carrying case, only 2.5” thick, and fold-flat design, makes travelling with your AV50 headphones a breeze.

Visit www.zvox.com for details and sale offers.

The Linus Beanie can be worn by anyone who wants to look chill, but still feel super warm. The Linus Beanie has an added brimmed and matching non-removable pom pom. It offers a completely new look. This beanie is made with a unique merino and alpaca wool blend, making it equal parts cozy and functional, and zero parts itchy.

Sh*t That I Knit creates high-quality knitwear and accessories that make you feel good. Their products are sustainably sourced, eco-friendly, and handmade by women in Peru who are working moms earning a fair wage.

Donating “Knit Kits,” the company helps teach young adults undergoing cancer treatment how to knit.

It’s an all-around feel-good purchase!

Visit www.shitthatiknit.com.

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BEAR BLOCKS $49.99 For the fitness buff on your list, Bear Blocks are a revolutionary body weight fitness device that protect your wrists and maximize the focus on your muscles. When not in use, the blocks slide together to create a cube that is 3.5 inches deep and 4.5 inches wide. This makes for easy storage and easy packing.

When you slide the cube apart you have two incredibly strong and comfortable blocks to support your wrists and hands for many different body weight routines – push-ups, planks, mountain climbers, burpees, bear crawls, handstands, downward dog, chaturanga dandasana, and many more. Bear Blocks were designed with the correct angle and surface to protect the wrist bones and ligaments from pain, fatigue and possible injury.

For more on the story of Bear Blocks and to order yours, visit www.bearblocks.com.

NEFT VODKA $37.00 (750ml) NEFT is packaged in a container that is as unique as its taste: a portable and unbreakable barrel that closely resembles a small oil drum, which conveniently keeps NEFT cold for hours. This is a premium vodka with a crisp, distinct flavor, blending perfectly into your favorite handcrafted cocktail.

The purity of NEFT’s two clean ingredients – pristine, oxygen-rich spring water from the Austrian Alps and only four, gluten-free, non-GMO ancient rye grains farmed in lower Saxony – means minimal impurities, which is reflected in the need for only one distillation. The result is a creaminess on the tongue, a rounded earthiness, and a slightly smooth finish so good you’ll want to sip it neat.

NEFT has supported the LGBTQ+ community through donations and sponsorships for organizations such as Project Angel Food, GLAAD, and others.

Since debuting in the U.S., NEFT has received multiple accolades and awards including: “Best Vodka” out of 170 other global entrants, back-to-back Double Gold medals at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 98-point rating from The Tasting Panel magazine.

Visit www.neftvodkaus.com for all the information and in-store or online purchase options.

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FUNCTIONAL CHOCOLATE $7.49 Functional Chocolate bars are made with dark chocolate (60% cacao) that offers the best of both worlds - less fat, less sugar and more flavor. Crafted in Idaho from raw fair trade cacao, these bars are 100% plant-based, vegan & gluten-free. They are formulated with a focus on effectiveness, by pairing chocolate with active nutraceuticals and clinically researched ingredients, creating an indulgent and especially effective experience, as the natural healthy fats in the chocolate act as a carrier to improve bioavailability of the other ingredients.

Each condition-specific bar has been crafted based on years of research and development. Bars include: Energy, Sleepy, Brainy, Stress & Anxiety, Sexy, and more.

One of our favorites is the Espresso Crunch Energy Chocolate, formulated to promote sustained energy. This 60% Cacao formulation is designed to lift energy and vitality for when there are too few hours in the day. With a combination of Chocamine®, a patented cocoa-based ingredient shown to provide sustained energy without jitters, alongside a blend of vitamins, taurine, L-tyrosine, schizandra berry and green tea extract, Energy Chocolate offers a full day boost without the side effects associated with many other types of energy supplements. Featured ingredients include: Maca Extract - Native to Peru, maca is believed to improve energy and stamina.

Maca acts like a stimulant, but doesn’t actually contain any stimulants like caffeine.

Ashwagandha - Used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and wellknown for its rejuvenating and adaptogenic properties, ashwagandha is effective at regulating hormones and the immune system, relieving stress, increasing energy levels and improving concentration.

Schisandra Berry - Schisandra’s purplered berries are described as having five tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, pungent and sour.

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epigallocatechins-3-gallate (EGCG), green tea extract is associated with sustained energy without jittery side effects.

Chocamine® - A patented cocoa-based ingredient that delivers the best of chocolate - its taste, aroma and health benefits - without the guilt, sugar, fat and dairy, Chocamine® consists of standardized theobromine, amino acids, nutritious minerals, biogenic amines, anandamides and polyphenols.

Visit https://funcho.co.

*Any health, wellness, medical or cosmetic claims contained in this feature should be verified with the product provider and your healthcare professional.

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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WINE A TASTING COURSE - FROM GRAPE TO GLASS

By Marnie Old $25.00 (Hardcover)

BOOK IDEAS: SASSY PLANET: A QUEER GUIDE TO 40 CITIES, BIG AND SMALL

By Authors David Dodge, Nick Schiarizzi, Harish Bhandari, and Illustrator Braulio Amado $24.95 (Paperback) For decades, LGBTQ travelers have congregated in predictable places: queer-friendly cities like New York and Berlin, or beach towns such as Mykonos and Fire Island. But as progress and visibility expand across the globe, so do queer people’s travel options. Drawing on their own extensive travel experiences, as well as the perspectives of local DJs, artists, activists, drag performers, DIY historians, and longtime residents (many of them found through the biggest advantage gay travelers have over their straight counterparts: ‘hookup’ apps like Grindr and Scruff), the authors of Sassy Planet offer up the latest on what’s hot in 40 cities around the world. Traveling in the US? Check out RuPaul’s Drag Race star Alaska’s recommendations for Pittsburgh, where she first got her start. Planning a trip to Japan? Read about the 300+ queer bars packed into Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood. Even in countries

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where homosexuality is sanctioned, you’ll read about emerging pockets of queer acceptance and culture. You’ll also find the very latest info on where to go in major destinations, from the Por Detroit parties in Mexico City to new Brooklyn hot spots. The book features interviews with local celebs, best-of lists, and littleknown hideaways all packaged with helpful insights, cool bits of regional culture, queer lore - and of course, plenty of sass to spare.

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The ultimate course for wine lovers! Learn your sauvignon blanc from your chardonnay and your merlot from your grenache. Smell, swirl and taste your way to transforming from wine novice to expert. The pages of this wine book make a comprehensive, no-nonsense wine tasting course that covers every aspect of wine from grape to glass. Explore the nuances of your favorite red and white and discover new cultivars. It explores fun wine facts and explodes myths, giving you everything you need to talk, taste and enjoy your favorite vintage. Can’t smell honeysuckle in that glass of sauvignon blanc, or wondering which end of a bottle of Chianti is the “nose?”With this immersive guide to all things wine, you’ll soon become an expert. Pour over vibrant infographics and learn through “Did you know?” boxes as you try out a selection of taste tests and get a handle on grape varieties and regions. This wine guide is a beautiful gift for the wine lover in your life, or the book for beginners you’ve been searching for to enjoy, understand and appreciate wine.

Visit www.penguinrandomhouse.com

ANTONI: LET’S DO DINNER

By Antoni Porowski $30 (Hardcover) Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski shares exuberantly easy dinners for every night of the week in Let’s Do Dinner. Dinner with Antoni means satisfying meals full of clean protein and loads of vegetables, with splurges of carbs and decadence. Simple, yes, but always special. Antoni keeps shopping lists short and steps and pans to a minimum.

Pulled chicken nachos, pasta carbonara with scallions and peas, or pan-seared steak with harissa butter and crispy potatoes - it’s all good for post-work evenings or casual entertaining. Antoni shows how to crank the flavor, make exciting suppers from pantry staples, create new takes on classics by swapping in one surprising ingredient, and build a rousingly flavored vegan grain bowl. Plus, he lets you in on the secret weapons in every kitchen that get great food on the table fast.

Antoni tells us a little about the book,“My dinners throughout the week tend to follow a pattern. On Monday and Tuesday, I typically stay plant-based, with a white bean chili, crispy tofu on an arugula salad, or a one-pot cauliflower and chickpea curry in a gingery, creamy broth made with coconut milk. By Wednesday, though, I want something more substantial, like meatballs and eggplant, made uber-easy by that “fast cooker” hiding in plain sight: my broiler. At the tail end of the week, I lean into decadence with a skillet-seared steak luxuriously slathered with spicy butter. I pair that with a fresh parsley salad, one of the sleeper hits in this book. On other nights, I fall back on another one of my secret weapons, eggs, and make a soft scramble with shrimp and scallions.”

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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KARAMO BROWN PERFECTLY DESIGNED

BY PAUL ZAHN step to take.

Growing up there was TIES WHOSE STAR WATTAGE AND this constant fear that one of ADVOCACY WORK HAS EARNED my identities would get me THEM THE HONOR OF BEING hurt or killed. Not just being KNOWN GLOBALLY BY A SINgay, but would I be harassed GULAR NAME. Visionaries like because I was Black or be Oprah and Iyanla have shed hurt by the police? Would I be their surnames as they have harassed by someone who did helped people successfully navinot like that my parents were gate the ups and downs of livnot from this country? ing a fulfilling life. Now, there is However, he also used this a new addition to this esteemed The cast of Queer Eye Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Tan France fear to begin his enlightenment and Antoni Porowski. Photo by By Kathy Hutchins journey with a very valuable list of trailblazers – Karamo Brown. The Emmy nominated lesson by honoring his identities television host became a household name as a part of the Fab and leaning on a tight knit group of friends to help him progress Five when the hit series Queer Eye debuted on Netflix in 2018. on his journey.

As the culture expert, Karamo uses his big heart and background It taught me early on to not be ashamed of any part of my in social services to help reshape people’s outlook on life while identity and to also honor them - they deserved to be honored winning the hearts of viewers around the globe. Following the and protected. My best friends Ray and Trey - these people success of Queer Eye, Karamo added author to his resume - writwere warriors in protecting my identities. They were doing ing his motivational memoir Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purit unconsciously because they were young and going through pose, and co-authoring a best-selling children’s book with his son their own things. They knew if there were moments that I Jason ‘Rachel’ Brown titled I Am Perfectly Designed. Additionally, was unprotected - they would help.

Karamo has also made a splash in Hollywood as an actor - reWith the internet readily available nowadays, Karamo encourcurring on the final season of Netflix’s Dear White People, guest ages people looking for “warriors” of their own, to turn to groups starring on TBS’ Miracle Workers and even appeared in Freeform’s like The Trevor Project or the LGBTQIA Center in their closest city. first gay rom-com, The Thing About Harry. Most recently, he sucAfter navigating a challenging upbringing, Karamo knew he cessfully launched his own line of grooming products called was destined to live his dreams but the path to this goal was not MANTL. However, Karamo’s journey to Hollywood stardom was always clear. His first foray into the world of show business proved not without a few bumps in the road. to be a pivotal moment in defining where his journey was headed.

Born in Houston, Texas to first generation immigrant parents, In 2004, he joined the cast of The Real World: Philadelphia as the Karamo knew what fear looked like from an early age. Karamo first openly gay Black man on a reality television show. However, made the brave decision to come out of the closet at the age of 15 the lesson he learned from this experience stays with him to this and during the pre-internet years in the South - this was a risky day - intention versus impact.

HOLLYWOOD

HAS

A

SELECT

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THIS PAGE: THE CAST OF QUEER EYE BY KATHY HUTCHINS/ SHUTTERSTOCK

GROUP OF FAMOUS PERSONALI-

THIS PAGE: KARAMO BROWN BY LEIGH KEILY

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My intention was to go on The Real World to have fun, get drunk and have a lot of sex. The impact was it forced me to be responsible for my actions. It forced me to understand the language I use and that there are people watching. When you are doing things, your intention may be one thing but if the impact is different - it negates what your intention was. So even though my intention was to have fun - there was something greater. The impact of being one of the first openly gay Black men on reality television changed that. Once I realized the impact of me being on that show, and needed to be better as a human being and better for others, scared me.

The pressure after realizing his impact from being on The Real World brought Karamo to a dark place in his life. He turned into a“West Hollywood party boy”in an effort to manage this pressure and fear.

I was afraid to realize I had to be responsible for my actions and I had to be better for myself. I just did not want that pressure. I was scared if I could handle what was next. I was getting high, drinking, wasting money. It got bad with the tremendous amount of drug intake and everything else - I had suicidal ideations.

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THIS PAGE: KARAMO AND JASON BROWN. BY RAEN BADUA • IMAGE BY DEBBY WONG

Karamo and Jason Brown

THIS PAGE: IMAGE COURTESY OF KARAMO BROWN

Fortunately, a friend and his family stepped in, and a new life changing revelation brought Karamo to the next stage of his journey - fatherhood. After returning from a Real World/Road Rules Challenge trip, Karamo was greeted with papers for back child support. Initially, he thought it was a joke but quickly realized a quick fling with a former female best friend resulted in a child. The female friend moved shortly after the encounter and prior to cell phones and the internet - staying in touch with people was challenging. His new role as a father lead him to another vital next step - healing himself from years of trauma.

This is when I was in my darkest place, and I had to get my life together and go meet my kid. I was healing myself and trying to reflect on what lead me there. What were the

while working the OWN job and at the same time compiling his various unpaid appearances on shows like Access Hollywood, HSN and CNN. With this footage, he found an agent who saw his vision. Karamo knew this was a vital component to his next step, as well as sage advice to anyone navigating a journey.

The job at OWN Network was the catalyst I needed to feel affirmed. Find people in your life that see the vision for you.

Sometimes out of desperation we get with people who don’t see the vision. People settle because of fear they will miss out. My vision, paired with a new agent “warrior,” forged the way to this next chapter.

After hearing news of a re-boot of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Karamo knew he needed to be a part of the show. However, Karamo was not a chef or a hairdresser, but he brought something very unique to the table that makes Queer Eye such a special show.

things from my past that made me not feel safe? What was killing me on the inside?

But inadvertently, I was also looking at this young boy who had ten years without a father, and I had to figure out how to help him heal. If I didn’t, he would be going through these same things in ten years.

By this point, Karamo had also adopted his biological son Jason’s half-brother Chris, so fatherhood was his priority. Karamo harkened back to his childhood warrior support ideal and sought out a safe space in the form of group therapy at the Houston LGBTQIA Center.

For nine years, I fell off the face of the earth, started raising my kids, didn’t do anything in television - it was all about healing and self-discovery. I was able to get it out. I was able to talk it out. Even if you don’t have a group to talk to, look in the mirror and talk it out. The truth of the matter is, if you don’t talk these monsters out, they become bigger and bigger. The next step was writing down what I was saying to myself so I could see them. I turned to the local library for books on healing, trauma and more to continue my journey of healing.

Following this period of healing, Karamo was ready to pursue his dream of being a host in Los Angeles. He spent his time juggling fatherhood, working in social services and on the Hollywood audition circuit. His first hosting gig came by way of Oprah’s OWN Network. He continued working full-time in social services

After watching past episodes, I realized that what was missing was mental health.

I have a background in mental health. I thought, maybe I can shift this into talking about emotions and not art galleries.

He and his agent persevered, and Karamo went through to the final audition stages. With his almost four decades on a rollercoaster ride of life experiences, Karamo earned a spot on one of the most heartwarming and acclaimed shows of the past decade. The award-winning show, renewed for a sixth season, is known for its strong representation amongst the LGBTQ community and communities that include people of color. In addition to Karamo, Queer Eye features Antoni Porowski, food and wine expert; Tan France, fashion expert; Bobby Berk, design expert; and Jonathan Van Ness, grooming expert.

Karamo now uses his experiences to help heal people.

I tell people there is nothing you went through that I haven’t been through myself: from addiction, to abuse, to heart break, to anger, to love, to success. I have experienced it all, but I also took the time to heal and learn from it.

Karamo has picked himself up on many occasions, leading up to where he is today. He also leaned on “warriors” at times along his journey for support. Luckily, the world now has Karamo Brown - a warrior of our own and a special friend helping to navigate this thing called life.

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KARAMO’S HOLIDAY GIFT PICKS THE GIFT FOR ANYONE IN YOUR LIFE - MANTL MANTL is Karamo’s range of skincare products for the face and scalp and makes for the perfect gift for anyone in your life. Karamo shares,“I decided to create an empowering and inclusive brand with products everyone can enjoy.

You can use MANTL on your face or scalp (or both), regardless of gender identity, skin tone or skin type.”

Karamo recommends gifting his new favorite bottle of bubbly - Veuve Clicquot Rose Rich. He exclaims,“It is the best thing! I am giving these bottles like you cannot imagine. I bought two cases and every time I go to a dinner party, I bring one!”

THE GIFT FOR YOUR BAE “I am old school. I love a handwritten note. We have lost that art. Write something for your bae about the growth you have had together, your time together. That would definitely win me over,” he gushes.

THE GIFT FOR THE KIDS IN YOUR LIFE I Am Perfectly Designed, a book co-written

by Karamo and his son Jason ‘Rachel’ Brown, about feeling comfortable in your skin and loving yourself - exactly as you are. The book is a wonderful gift for any kid. Karamo also suggests the Queer Eye Lego Set because “it is iconic” and perfect for any age.

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THIS PAGE: IMAGE COURTESY OF MANTL • IMAGE COURTESY OF VEUVE • BOOK COVER COURTESY OF CARLOS MEDEL • PHOTO COURTESY OF KARAMO BROWN

THE GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAY PARTY HOST

FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE BOARDROOM

TRANSFORMING STANDARDS

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ CARMEN CARRERA IS MANY THINGS. SHE IDENTIFIES AS A CIS-PASSING, HETEROSEXUAL TRANSWOMAN OF LATINX HERITAGE, BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, SHE IS AN ENTERTAINER, MODEL, ENTREPRENEUR, SISTER, AND DAUGHTER. She has surpassed her role as a con-

PAGES 31-35: PHOTO COURTESY OF CARMEN CARRERA

testant on RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Third Season and has become one of the leading, if more outspoken, activists for the LGBTQ community. She is not afraid to speak her mind and now with her company, CC3 Entertainment, she is giving support and a platform to a diverse family of personalities from the activist, sports and fitness, beauty, fashion, and entertainment and media industries.

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Kulie Sonique Love and Carmen Carrera.

Courtesy photo

CC3 entertainment started as a way for me to provide jobs to LGBTQ influencers during the pandemic. I understand how difficult things can be when there’s not enough work and it feels like there’s no hope. CC3 was created so that LGBTQ plus influencers and creators can continue to feel inspired and hopeful for their future.

She is considered a pioneer for the trans community, such as challenging the use of pejorative words used by the LGBTQ community and beyond to describe or refer to transgender people. She challenged the Drag Race community, and even RuPaul herself, and would not be pressured to subscribe to casual lingo just to remain part of reality TV. In doing so, she progressed the discussions and awareness that needed to be had between other minority communities. Now trans contestants have been celebrated in the mainstream drag faction. Even with the boom in trans personalities coming out in mainstream Hollywood and being depicted in popular media, Carmen believes we still have a long way to go.

I feel like currently in the media we are tokenizing cis passing trans women versus representing what the trans experience looks like across the board. Trans representation should not look like cis passing trans people only. Trans representation should include all spectrums of the transgender umbrella and the reality of the standards that society places on both the male and female roles and how the trans community fits or doesn’t fit into those boxes. Trans representation should include blazing the trail of personal identity

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and the difference between gender and sexuality.

Carmen’s path to becoming the confident advocate she is now has not been an easy one. She not only has she dealt with the bigotry that does exist within the gay community towards trans people, but she has also had to contend with it in the Latinx community, an important part of her heritage that she values outside of her personal identity.

Honestly speaking, my experience as a trans person in the Latin community has been one of fetishization and oppression. I think my immediate family are the only ones who truly accept me and respect me the correct way. However, lately, there’s been a lot more acceptance and conversations around acceptance and what that looks like which I’ve been a part of. I feel very hopeful that I will be able to develop a more grounded sense of belonging in the Latinx community.

Has she also dealt with the inequities that exist between males and females in the business industry?

Luckily, I have not yet experienced resistance as a woman in the business world, however, I have tons of experience with resistance for being a transwoman in the entertainment industry. It’s because of that experience I feel I have enough backbone to deal with sexism. Realistically speaking, most of the work I do is specifically designed to cater to the LGBTQ community, so I’m a bit less likely to deal with sexism. Now, that’s not to say I will never run into it or have to deal with it at some point. Just know, however, I’ll be ready for it when I do.

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And she is ready; she is not afraid to cause a stir. She appeared in ABC’s Primetime: What Would You Do?, marking the first time she publicly revealed herself to be transgender and took part in a filmed, social experiment challenging the norms of what is acceptable behavior towards someone who is trans. Using her looks to promote her activism, she appeared in David LaChapelle’s work for the annual AIDS charity Life Ball, appearing as two different versions of herself – as both the Biblical Adam and Eve with exposed genitalia stating, “Your gender should not matter in your heart or in the way you express your personality ... My message is: beauty has no gender. At the end of the day, beauty is beauty.”

Her beauty has landed her high-profile modeling gigs for products and campaigns beyond the LGBTQ community. A petition, greatly covered by the media, went viral, challenging the producers of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She was not cast, but it did draw attention to that brand’s decades-long lack of diversity.

The modeling industry tries to be inclusive but the problem with the modeling industry is that it’s still infected with toxic ideals of body image and tokenization at its core. Elitism runs rampant and unfortunately, it is still the business model. I have always drawn from my real-life experiences to build up my self-confidence. In the real world, my beauty and my body are enough.

If I ever feel insecure or uncertain, I focus on putting in the work to simply live healthy and strong. The gym is my best friend.

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Her bold statements and provocative ideas have not made her the unchallenged activist.

I am open to learning and I have much empathy for people’s feelings. I don’t allow the pressure of being politically correct to affect me or get in the way of what I’m doing. I am a human being, and I will make mistakes too. I have made many mistakes!

However, I think it comes down to the openness and ability to learn and move forward with passion and education. I try to be as respectful as possible.

That empathy is something she believes is the key for the gay and trans community to unite.

I see the gay community as my brothers and sisters. We should be more loving toward one another and have more empathy toward what we individually experience as LGBTQ people. The world already judges us and continues to place false narratives and negative ideologies onto us. It’s best that we create positive and loving spaces for one another because the world doesn’t give that to us.

My hope for the LGBT community in the future is to find more healing and comfortable spaces to thrive in the world. I think if we work together, we can really create a very powerful front against adversity, policy reform, poverty, healthcare, and disenfranchisement.

And her view on the changes in current drag culture, now seeing it from the sidelines?

Drag culture has evolved, as it always has, to be more inclusive of newer forms of art and the nuances that come from the next generation of queer people.

Drag has always been a safe space for queer people

to express themselves and feel accepted in a safe setting. I think it’s important that we continue to be more inclusive of queer people and all our beautiful forms of art versus trying to tell people what is or isn’t drag.

■ You can follow Carmen on IG @Carmen_Carrera

THE MODELING INDUSTRY TRIES TO BE INCLUSIVE BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE MODELING INDUSTRY IS THAT IT’S STILL INFECTED WITH TOXIC IDEALS OF BODY IMAGE AND TOKENIZATION AT ITS CORE. METROSOURCE.COM

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TYLER HENRY HOLLYWOOD’S FAVORITE MEDIUM HAS A NEW SHOW

BY STEVE GOTTFRIED TYLER HENRY HAD HIS FIRST PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE BY AGE 10. By

19, he had his own reality TV series Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry which ran four seasons on E! Entertainment and put him on the map as the go-to medium for an eclectic assortment of celebrities that would include actors, rock stars, rappers, and Olympic athletes, many of them from the LGBTQ community. Part of the charm of the show was watching this decidedly un-Hollywood neophyte paired with celebrities whose work he often had no familiarity. It was a humbling reality check for celebrities accustomed to being recognized and fawned over, having to explain who they are. As Tyler would begin his trademark scribbling - a process which helps him connect with spirit - messages would come through from their loved ones.

It wasn’t long before jaws were dropping, tears flowing and skeptics turning into believers. Think what you will about mediums, it’s hard to argue with the level of success he’s had with two reality TV series, a live tour, two national best-selling books and a waiting list of 300,000 for private one-on-one readings. I had the opportunity to sit down for a Zoom chat with the spirit world’s favorite millennial to discuss a wide range of topics from his new TV show dropping in early 2022, for an as-yet-to-be-disclosed streaming service, the bombshell discovery about his own family, a recent health scare which required emergency surgery, and other cosmic quandaries like who he’d like to play him on Saturday Night Live.

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PAGES 36-39: TYLER HENRY BY SERGIO GARCIA

My new show is very different from Hollywood Medium. This one really shows the ins and outs of my everyday life, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep at night. It’s caught me in some of the most vulnerable moments of my life. Because of COVID, we had been doing it virtually which was interesting. I was able to do readings for people across the country, just everyday people, not celebrities like I’d done on Hollywood Medium.

And that was really gratifying, to be able to read people who really needed it from different parts of the world. Once it was safe, I was able to travel and knock on people’s doors and surprise them and have meaningful moments.

Do you miss reading celebrities?

I don’t miss it a single bit. There’s a lot less ego involved. It’s a lot easier for me to read everyday people, and I just enjoy it more. It’s where I started and where my passion has always been.

Tyler also revealed that he got some unexpected revelations about his own life while shooting his new show.

I discovered that my mom was taken as a child from her biological parents. So, the show documented how this kind of happened as I figured out who my real family was. The woman who took my mom ended up being a convicted murderer who killed two people and went to prison for 30 years. It has been a very interesting journey to say the least. I had a feeling that it was very possible that the woman wasn’t my mom’s biological mother. But anytime I would mention it to her, she would say, “Oh no, but we look too much alike, so we have to be related.” But I had gut feelings throughout my childhood that something was kind of off. It wasn’t until we took a 23andMe test and got the genetic results, where I came back Italian and realized “uh oh, I thought I was French.” So, it just goes to show, mediums don’t know everything. There are still blind spots where it can be difficult to read ourselves.

Speaking of blind spots, while Tyler also is a medical intuitive, meaning he’s able to detect health issues in people he’s reading, his own health scare in early 2020, took him completely by surprise.

I was getting ready to do a live show and was actually lying in bed and I felt some chest pain and very quickly realized it was not the result of a spirit coming through. It was a medical thing. I was rushed to the hospital, went into emergency surgery and they found that my lung had basically been resting near my heart. I was in bad shape. They told me I had the lungs of a 70-year-old. Which was not reassuring. But I suspect that I had COVID very early on and that might have been why my lung collapsed in the first place. Even to this day, I’m still kind of healing and processing all that, and I still get shortness of breath.

How is the taping schedule for your show? Is that wearing on you?

It’s been good. We finished up a few months ago, but it was a

very intensive schedule. They really packed in as many readings as they could in a short period. The readings do take a lot out of me, so I’ve had to pace myself. When I must do seven in a week, by the seventh one I’m ready to tap out. But I do think it makes me better at what I do, and I find that growth is on the other side of my comfort zone. Not knowing who I’m reading entails handling a certain level of discomfort on a regular basis. So that’s been a big part of my job - just trusting that what will happen will happen.

Seeing as how Tyler was only 19 when he started his first TV show and from a conservative background, I was curious to find out how his sexual orientation was addressed.

Being gay was acknowledged from the get-go on the show in scenes with my mom and Charlie (the driver), however it was never much of a focus because Hollywood Medium was 95% readings and celebrity stories. Producers always encouraged me to be myself. Everyone involved insisted on keeping everything real, and with that convey the honest reality of a person new to Hollywood with a unique talent who just happens to be gay. Though not everyone can relate to being a medium, everyone can relate to feeling like an outsider at some point. To embrace what makes us different requires courage to be who we are despite those who don’t understand us. Sticking true to that individuality allowed me to share four seasons of an incredible show that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible if I stayed in the psychic closet. Being able to convey who I was in my orientation made sharing that vulnerability even more meaningful.

Tyler tells me that it is important to be true to himself and to honor what makes him different from the people around him, and that the same sentiment applies to being a medium as it does to being gay.

I had to honor who I was and what I felt organically despite criticism, despite people not being supportive. If anything, being gay was a good trial run for some of the difficulties I would deal with coming out of the psychic closet. If anything, it’s just made me more of an individual, more myself, and I love that. When we can honor who we are, there’s great power in that. Similarly, with being gay and being a medium, these were things I was bullied for. Yet today those are the very things people applaud me for. That was only the result of having the courage to embrace those things.

It seems only natural that, after all the work Tyler has done delivering messages from the spirit world that the dearly departed would show their appreciation. Tyler explains that’s how he met his soul mate, Clint Godwin.

Clint’s grandfather had passed away tragically shortly before we met. Clint contacted me. I gave him a reading and relayed why his grandfather had passed away. He sadly took his own life. I just shared the reasoning that came through with him and he validated that had been what his family had long suspected. And from there we just had an immediate bond. I knew the second I saw him. I METROSOURCE.COM

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was like, this is my person. And that’s only grown stronger every day over five years now. I think it’s very necessary with the nature of my job to have a strong support system when I come home. My boyfriend has just been the best human being on the planet. I am very lucky.

Tyler goes on to explain their dynamic and what makes the relationship work.

I would say, if anything he very much is not Hollywood. He’s not about fame. He’s not interested in attention.

He likes to fly under the radar. Which is good, especially because so much attention, both good and bad, gets placed on me, he very much is just kind of quietly supportive, which is really helpful.

We’re both very similar in a lot of ways.

We’re very quiet, we like our alone time. We don’t have a big social circle.

I think it does help to be intuitive in any relationship. And for me, it really has served me throughout my life to get a sense of who is going to resonate in the long run and maybe who isn’t. I certainly don’t get any shortcuts because I’m a medium. But with our relationship, it has been very helpful.

In terms of the afterlife, are there consequences for people who do bad things?

I would say everyone who’s ever come through seems to acknowledge they’ve gone through a process. I call this process a life review. I believe every consciousness sees the ripple effect of how their actions and inactions affect the greater collective. Whether you lived in this life with a conscience or not, I believe when we transition, we see the impact that we’ve had for better or for worse. And we must come to terms with it. I don’t believe it comes from a place of punishment from a judgmental God. I just really believe it’s the result of learning and the result of consciousness expanding in its awareness. So, you can think of it in this life like a drop of water and then when we transition, we kind of become like a vast ocean of consciousness. I think that ultimately lends some degree of acceptance about how we lived and how we died. And through that acceptance they find peace on the other side. But I believe it’s really through that process of understanding

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that they get there. When we think of punishment or justice, I do think it’s a little more complicated and nuanced than heaven or hell. But there certainly is an accountability that seems to come through resoundingly.

And I’ve brought through a lot of people – and some people who maybe didn’t live the best lives or did things that were not kind – and I do believe they reckon with that when they pass away.

Does Tyler filter what comes through on his readings?

There are definitely times where I have a hard time conveying what I need to say. I liken my job to that of a mailman in the sense that I don’t write the letters, I just deliver the message. So, I view it as a responsibility not only to the living person but also the departed person to deliver what I’m getting in a way that’s going to click with the person I’m reading. In a way that will do the message justice, so to speak. And so, with that, I have to kind of not filter myself, but simultaneously be diplomatic and considerate of people’s emotions and feelings and what they might be going through. It is a fine line, and I am always learning and growing and figuring out how to do that better. I think I kind of got thrust into a situation very early on as a teenager, being 19 years old and then getting a TV show where I was put in situations where I had to navigate some very serious topics that required a lot of diplomacy.

I don’t think I had the maturity to the extent that I will 10 or 20 years from now. But I do my best.

In 2016, Tyler read Matt Lauer, and was aware of what was coming. For those unfamiliar with the story, Matt Lauer was fired as the anchor of NBC’s Today amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

I said to Matt that his father was coming through, saying he would need to step away from his current job. And then I gave the month in which he needed to step away. And I said, you know, this is just necessary. So that’s kind of the inside scoop. In all honesty, I didn’t fully know why. I was just kind of relaying this change that I saw happening and around the time in which it would. And we obviously know the rest of that story. It’s also not my job to judge the person I’m reading. What I’ve learned is that everybody is human. Everybody has things they’re not proud of, everybody has things they can do better. And when I’m reading somebody, I must come from a place of compassion despite what’s going on in that person’s life. And that can be the most challenging part – not applying judgment to what I might be seeing or feeling.

Do you get recognized a lot when you’re out in public?

A good amount. Even with a mask on, I think my voice is so “up here,” people are like “oh it’s you!” And then you know I’m very smiley, you know I smile with my eyes. So, people recognize that a lot. But I love it and it’s nice to see the impact the E! show [Hollywood Medium] had on people. It’s so much more than just like “oh, I’m a fan.” It’s more about what the work represents.

Being a public figure in anything ideological – be it politics or religion – is very polarizing. What I do falls into the religious category for a lot of people. And so, I’ve had to deal with a lot of criticism. And that can be very painful. Being under a microscope. But I have to remember why I do the work, why I started when I was 16. I was graduating early and trying to become a hospice nurse. For me, it has always been about leaving people better than I found them. And that’s never changed. I try to focus on that, but it can be very difficult.

The grieving process when someone dies is a natural process of mourning a person’s physical absence. But it can certainly be a very hard process for many.

I think it’s normal to grieve the physical absence of a person. I always

say readings are never a replacement for the loved one being here. They may substantiate the idea that there’s a continuation of consciousness.

Grief is a natural part of life and sadly suffering is a very real part of life. In my own life I have experienced great grief – physical loss. I have not wanted to get out of bed in the morning because I’ve lost someone or an animal. And that’s coming from a medium. I think grief is a natural process of mourning that physical absence – even if you know that there’s a spiritual connection. It may dampen the blow a little bit, but it certainly doesn’t act as a replacement for their presence.

Tyler’s interview with the one and only Larry King, was like a tennis match. I remember watching that interview and feeling like I was on the edge of my seat because the questions kept coming, one after another. Tyler seemed unflappable.

We got off on a very interesting foot. I went into the restroom right before my interview. I open the door and see this shadowy figure standing there, holding something … and he turns around and it’s Larry King peeing. I looked at him, he looked at me, and we both screamed. Then he said, “Tyler, I thought you were psychic. You should know I was in here.” Not only did I have to see Larry in that position, but then I had to go into an interview with him. That was how we met, and it will forever be seared into my consciousness. Obviously, he’s an icon and skepticism was an important part of his life just by virtue of being a journalist. And I didn’t mind that one bit. I think he asked some great questions that a lot of people never did. He was supposed to be a guest on my show during Season 4, but Larry passed away before we got the chance to do it unfortunately. He was a lovely man. He spent his whole life pursuing answers. And so, I hope wherever he is at, he got them.

After some weighty topics, I decided to end things on a light note by asking Tyler if he’s ever been parodied on Saturday Night Live. He replied that he hadn’t, but that he’d consider it an honor. When I asked which cast member he’d like to impersonate him, he didn’t hesitate.

Oh Kate McKinnon, absolutely. She’s got the hair.

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BULLDOG SKINCARE TRIO SET www.us.bulldogskincare.com $19.99 Step up your skincare game this holiday season with Bulldog’s Skincare Trio set. Bulldog is known for their fresh products that help you to feel healthy and get clean without much effort. Lather up their Original Face Wash and get up close and personal with the Original Shave Gel before finishing off with the Original Moisturizer that will leave your skin ready to trim the tree, fire up the Yule Log, or head out for some caroling with family and friends. These products

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J.R. WATKINS AWAKEN BATH REGIMEN www.jrwatkins.com $59.96 J.R. Watkins has delivered potent, plant-based home and body remedies, crafted with North American ingredients since 1868. Their Awaken Bath Regimen, crafted to stimumonths. Wake up from the cold with their Creamy Body

GENTLEMEN’S HARDWARE BEARD SURVIVAL KIT

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off before lathering on their nourishing Sugar Body Polish.

Ready to tame your mane? The Beard Survival Kit from

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KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 LIMITED EDITION HOLIDAY ADVENT CALENDAR www.kiehls.com $99 Kiehl’s Since 1851 is celebrating its 170th holiday season with a collection of the brand’s most beloved skincare products encased in whimsical, limited-edition packaging designed by partnering artist Marylou Faure. The collection houses iconic Kiehl’s formulas including cleanser, face masks, facial serums, moisturizers, and more. Open a door from Deceminside. This set is literally chock full of goodies to tackle the

NATURA 12 DAYS OF CARE ADVENT CALENDAR

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LA CHATELAINE SOAP SUPPLY FOR MEN www.lachatelainebeauty.com $78 We gasped and clutched our fake pearls when opening this soap set, perfect for the man in your life who could use a little pampering. La Chatelaine’s soaps are 100% pure vegetable-based soaps crafted in Provence with ethically sourced natural and organic ingredients. Blended with porganic shea butter, organic calendula, organic argan oil, and vitamin E, these soaps will protect and nourish the skin. Fragrances include Deep Blue Sea, Sandalwood, Citrus Zest, Moroccan Mint, Vetiver Cedar, and Bourgon Vanilla for any kind of mood. Lather up, boys!

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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PAYOT PARIS BLUE TECHNI LISS SET

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A PLACE IN THE CLOUDS THIS QUAINT SWISS DESTINATION KNOWN FOR ITS SKI SLOPES AND WINE MAKING HAS A FEW OTHER CULTURAL TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE DURING THE OFF-SEASON

BY MEGAN VENZIN

THE AIR JUST TASTES BETTER IN THE ALPS. THERE IS A DISTINCT CRISPNESS THAT LINGERS ON THE TONGUE AND AWAKENS THE NOSE. Each bite is a bit

more savory. Every scent’s a bit sweeter. Surely elevation plays a role in that sterling quality - a few days spent among the jagged vistas are invigorating in ways that feel foreign to city folk like ourselves. A few hours after we’ve touched down in Europe and it’s clear: we’re far too accustomed to trudging down bustling avenues packed with taxi cabs and freight trucks. Why do we accept that the smog we inhale is simply an accessory to the metropolitan lifestyle? Really, that’s just how it is? Maybe it doesn’t have to be.

In Valais, a municipality located two hours outside of Geneva, Switzerland by train, these gas-guzzling vehicles are few and far between. In the bucolic resort town of Crans-Montana, commuting is as simple as popping into a bubble lift and hopping off at a designated plateau along the tree-lined gradient that overlooks rows of quaint, low-rise structures below. Make sure to watch your step - these globe-shaped transporters never make complete stops, but some would say that’s half the fun of riding (the other half is peering upon frosty peaks that pierce clear, blue skies.)

Lovers of snow sports, French-inspired gastronomy and designer shopping will be hard pressed to find a better vacation spot than this lake set village, which also happens to be just a short journey away from the sustainable pastures of Colombier. In this preserved society, tourists can stay over in traditional chalets and watch Swiss farmers herd the very livestock that produce the

Valais Blacknose sheep in Valais on a rainy summer day.

Photo by Schame Bisse Du Ro. Photo by David Carlier

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Lee Burridge at Caprices.

Photo by David Holderbach

Colombire.

Photo by Retouchées

creamy foundations of the region’s signature raclette. On these grounds, massive wheels age patiently in humble cheese caves until hungry visitors come back to indulge in a hearty, post-hike meal.

We do eventually embark on one of those outings, and don’t worry, we’ll revel in that lactose-laced experience later. But to start, Metrosource descends upon the lesser-known Swiss hideaway Crans-Montana for louder reasons.

For the past 18 years, music lovers have traveled across the globe to experience Caprices Festival, and even as the planet fights its way out of a lengthy pandemic, that tradition lives on. And now, we’re a part of it.

This one-of-a-kind gathering started as a haven for live music nearly two decades ago, and as tastes and trends transformed, so did the beloved event’s sonic offerings. Today, Caprices is for the house heads of the world - fans of all things deep, soulful, minimal, and disco-tinged. Techno’s a vibe, too. Audiophiles who enjoy the opposite side of that stylistic spectrum are the same beat-seekers who spend long weekends losing themselves in the queer parties and hedonistic halls of the hallowed Berghain nightclub. In fact, many of the artists on this year’s lineup - among them Ben Klock, Apollonia and Marco Bailey - grace the decks at the salacious Berlin nightlife monolith.

This week the surroundings are a bit softer, but don’t be fooled. The drilling claps and lighting fast BPMs are still mercilessly satisfying.

Playing tunes geared toward the former ilk is Modernity Events resident Giorgio Maulini, an artist and Crans-Montana transport known for his vinylonly sets and dreamy lounge-house productions.

“After so much time [spent] not seeing our music industry buddies, it felt A cable car at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland in the sunset.

Photo by Elizabeth Wirth

great to all be together joking, having a couple of drinks, and listening to some of the finest artists in the game,” he shares with enthusiasm in his voice. He’s feeling optimistic after emerging from a lengthy lockdown that left many largescale events cancelled or limited the year prior.“It is awesome also to share this experience with fans, the public and everyone attending the festival because they charge the whole place with this beautiful energy demonstrating why electronic music events are so important in our culture.”

The festival’s three unique stages brim with the free-spirited folks Maulini mentions. Compared to those at other European bashes, this bunch possesses a certain lighthearted nature that we find irresistible. Caprices offers a welcome contrast to the sometimes moody, intense themes that permeate packed underground haunts in spots like Amsterdam and Paris - in other words, we feel amongst our silly flock here in the hills.

Perhaps, they’re driven by the unbridled joy that fellow festival goers emanate as they shimmy their way toward their first dancefloor back? Or maybe the Swiss locals are an inherently effervescent crew, dawning two-piece suits plastered in colorful all-over prints, tiny purple sombreros, and mile-wide smiles. We must say these are some of the most accepting new friends we’ve met as of late. We are in our zone.

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Caprices Festival

The Yellow Heads at Caprices.

Photo by David Holderbach

“People from all around the world, no matter their sexual orientation, color, class, religion, culture, origin, political thoughts are just getting together to dance under the same roof united by love,”Maulini says with pride as he describes the type of crowd one might find at the annual celebration.“Sincerely, the world needs way more of this. That’s what makes me have faith in the future of humanity and in a healthy, tolerant and inclusive society.”

Caprice runs for two consecutive weekends, and for the more than 2,500 attendees who make the tune-fueled pilgrimage it proves to be an airy, COVID-safe bash. Attendees must provide full proof of vaccination or take a rapid test before soaring 2,200 meters upwards toward the transparent Modernity Stage where internationally renowned artists like Lee Burridge, DJ Tennis and WhoMadeWho dazzle crowds with their unique discographies which range in style from party-ready breakbeats to playa-tinged live sets. A quick excursion beyond the tent’s seethrough walls offers unforgettable scenes of the range’s most famous summits, which kiss the clouds in plain view. Words simply cannot do this place justice, but Maulini gives it a shot.

“From our Modernity Stage you can see Zermatt, Mont-Blanc, Weisshorn and the glacier of The PlaineMort just to name a few,” he shares passionately.

“We are so deep into nature that it makes it hard to believe that there is actually a music festival happening at this spot.”He’s not lying - tucked far above the pedestrian-filled sidewalks, only ticket holders can feel the telltale vibrations of bass beneath their boots.

“I always believed that being surrounded by nature is how humans find their true selves,” Maulini goes on. “For artists and fans, it really becomes a one-ofa-kind experience because the connection you feel

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Caprices Festival

among nature has a direct impact on how you feel towards others and yourself. It is a positive energy recharging experience, and the music is the universal language through which we can all understand and communicate with each other.”

Maulini gives the impression that he’s a product of the mountains, but he spent his youth in his native country of Venezuela. His first visit to Crans-Montana 10 years ago proved to be a life-changing one, and he now serves as a ski guide during the high holiday season when Caprices typically takes place (in 2021 it took place in September due to COVID-19.) “Every year I still get surprised by the wonders of these snowy mountains,” he shares wistfully. “Don’t miss the April edition of Caprices if you want to witness this for yourself.” We second that recommendation.

Colombire.

Photo by Retouchées

Though we’re tempted to push ourselves at the Signal or Forest Stages which run until 5am and feature stage partners from festivals around the world such as Detroit Movement, TechnoV and Sunwaves, we make the reasonable choice to call it an early night on Friday.

When morning comes, we take breakfast at the aweinspiring Hotel Royale. The intricate wooden facade makes the outside of these luxury accommodations look almost like a toy model, like something that was painstakingly whittled in a worker’s shop. There are only a few minutes to admire the supreme craftsmanship before we start a winding drive that brings us to the town of Sion where we meet our tour guide Nathalie who gives us a lesson on the area’s present, past, and future.

We watch a herd of huge black cows and bulls scale the hillside with a grace unexpected of such large beasts. Massive bells on their necks rattle and echo across the landscape, generating an enchanting symphony that rings like a tribute to simpler times.

“They can recognize the sound of their own bells,”Nathalie explains. “And if they get lost, the bells help the farmers find them, and bring them home.” A cacophony builds as the animals enter trailers that will be used to transport them to lusher lowlands. “It’s the end of the season,” Nathalie continues. “So now, they must go somewhere else to eat.”

We’ll also be going somewhere else before we can eat.

Nathalie, who reveals with some reluctance that she serves as a police officer by day (“I never like to say,”she says with a laugh) reveals that this is her first time giving an English-speaking tour, and that this side hustle is one she pursues out of pure passion for the outdoors, and history as well.

Our trek follows an intricate path of man-made waterways, or “bisses” as they’ve been called for hundreds of years. Since the 14th century, these stone structures have served as valuable vehicles for irrigation. To this day, they play a role in the agricultural practices in Valais and are an attraction for those who prefer sustainable tourism attractions.

Colombire.

Photo by Retouchées

Bisse Du Ro. Photo by David Carlier METROSOURCE.COM

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Aerial view of Crans-Montana village center with many like chalet style hotel and residence in Valais, Switzerland.

Photo by AsiaTravel

Château de Vaas in Flanthey

The bisses contribute to a verdant natural landscape which is good news for us - Nathalie also happens to be an expert forager, and that skill will make our lunch even more lovely. “The herbs on the trail are no good,” she warns. Shortly after she lends words of caution, we see a dog lift its leg in a familiar gesture. She points in its direction before adding,“See, that’s what I mean!”Good call, Nathalie.

We make our way down a less-traveled road.

Not long after we pass a flowing waterfall, Nathalie spots some fresh thyme and a patch of Lady’s Mantle, a wild green that has therapeutic benefits and is known as a homeopathic remedy for cramps and other ailments. And bonus: it’s delicious!

We discover this for ourselves when we sit down for lunch at Le Relais, a critically acclaimed restaurant with a terrace that overlooks the nearby valley. It’s a perfect spot to take down a plate (or three) of freshly melted raclette, warmed by the wood-fired stove that sits outside of the main dining room.

We eagerly watch our server use a knife to coax the viscous cheese out of the wax wheel and onto our plates. It stretches, steams and lands before us - in that moment we achieve unadulterated, dairyinduced nirvana.

Raclette boasts a richer flavor than the standard Swiss one might remember from their childhood ham toasties. Each bite is perfectly salty, pungent, and subtly sweet on the backend and with a bit of a bite that makes it a perfect companion to all things crunchy and chewy.

And so, we enjoy our gooey lunch with our wild finds, as well as with fresh vegetables, cornichons, cured prosciutto, capicola, salami and freshly baked breads. “I promise Swiss people do not eat like

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terraces all along the valley. Crans-Montana is south-facing, giving a lot of sun and heat to the fruits, and therefore, sugar.”

Ah, that makes good sense. A healthy earth produces healthier grapes! So that must be why we feel near invincible even after a couple of bottles? That’s what we tell ourselves anyway.

The fendant is pleasing on the palate - this white variety is bright and fruity with an immaculate finish. Why yes, we will have another glass!

Pierre lets us know, however, that there are other sips to explore in this part of the countryside.

“Château de Vaas in Flanthey or Chateau de Villa are places to visit to learn all about the history of winemaking in our region,” he suggests.“Of course, a stop at wine cellars is a must to taste cornalin, amigne, petite arvine, heida,

Sunrise and morning at Lake Tseuzier with barrage in Valais Switzerland in September.

Photo by Martin Steiner

this all the time,” Nathalie assures us. But what we’re really thinking is, “Why the hell not? This is fantastic!”

We partake in another serving of the hot cheese, not sure of when we’ll get to experience another experience quite as divine as this one (spoiler alert: we do fondue on Sunday, and it’s a close second).

We take down a chilled bottle of Fendant - a Chasselas wine from the Valais region - as the raclette reappears before us. The vin, too, is so clean we manage to escape without the hint of a hangover.

Now we know we must be dreaming.

“The Rhone River flowing down the valley gives this region a special soil perfect for vineyards,” explains Pierre-Henri Mainetti, Sales Manager for Crans-Montana Tourism & Congress. “You have seen how it is organized - with so many walls built with local stones assembled without cement,

METROSOURCE.COM

humagne rouge or the more common pinot noir or syrah.” If only we had more time…

Back in Crans-Montana we nap off our lunch and venture up to the late-night stages where we dance off our raclette reserves to the booming sounds of hard-techno. Inside this packed, warehouse room, it feels a bit more like a weekend we might have in our native New York.

We step outside to catch our breath and are quickly reminded of how nice it feels to be far away from those busy city streets. As the air hits our lungs with a nourishing infusion of vitality, we look around and see people laughing, connecting, and exuding a rare authenticity that only presents itself after dark. If we could, we’d bottle this unusual hint of clarity. But we can’t, so instead we’ll just attempt to carry the remnants of this feeling forever.

■

EVENING UNDER THE STARS

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