May 2022 :: Health & Wellness by OUT FRONT Magazine

VEGAN 101 SIZE-INCLUSIVE

FI TN E S S PSYCHEDELICS

& MENTAL HEALTH

HEALTH HEALTH

WELLNESS WELLNESS &

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 46 NUMBER 2 MAY 2022

From The Editor

Breaking 08 OFM •

• Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill Signed into Law

OFM Culture •Counselor Will Mills

OFM Sports

• Crossroads: Working through pressure as an

OFM ART

• Shaunie Berry Artist Profile

OFM DINING

• A Sampling of Healthy Eating Options for

OFM Health

•'Hypochondriac' Tackles Mental Illness

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• Courageous Yoga • Aromatherapy • Mystical Exploration through Altered States of

Consciousnessy

• Beyond the Binary

OFM Style • Beauty Beat

• A Look into Fab Fit Athleisure

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•BlackGirlFitClub • Urban Walking

OFM Thoughts • Queer Girl Q&A

OFM Cannabis • Cannabis Reviews

OFM Music • The Aquadolls

• HEALTH on Their Message of Mental Wellness

• Restaurateur Louise Palmer-Masterton

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• Interview with Sociologist and Activist Mais

Grassroots Union

Denverites • Spilling the Tea on 2022 Food Trends

Al-Nima

• Queer Word Search

Gallery

• NY Amazon Workers Make History with

LGBTQ athlete

• Metal Meltdown

OFM Astrology

OFM Lust

• May Horoscopes

• A Legwarmer Workout

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FROM THE EDITOR

“Helloooo Health” Each year, we tell ourselves this will be the year: the year that we will make changes to our diet or exercise plans, that we will get right with our mental health, or that we will get on a good schedule with attending regular doctor’s appointments and refilling our medications. However, each year also presents new and unique challenges, be they COVID, mental health strains that come from fear and prejudice, or simply the hellscape that is late-stage capitalism making it nearly impossible to go to the doctor and get medication. And as soon as we try to make positive changes, we face negative messages from society: We’re still doing too little for our physical health, or our mental health still doesn’t line up with and look like the norm. So, what is the answer? What I’ve said so far might sound very bleak, and if your answer is, “Do nothing; it’s too hard,” honestly, that’s fair. But we care about you, and all that comes with that, and we want you here. So we’ve tried our best to do our part in supporting your mental and physical health journey, no matter what that looks like. In these pages—and in the very special insert tucked within this magazine, presented with collaboration from Envision:You—we offer resources to help you hold boundaries, seek gender-affirming mental healthcare, go on a health journey that has nothing to do with vilifying fatness, and find the help you need from folks who know how to provide care in the right way. We’re not promising that this magazine is going to solve all your problems, or take away all these terrible barriers to mental and physical healthcare, but if we can provide resources and add to the conversation in a positive way, that’s one step toward better health for all. So, while the world burns around us, let’s shake off the seasonal depression, replace it with the more manageable, regular depression, and get out there to show the world that all bodies are spring fashion bodies. -Addison Herron-Wheeler

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Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Signed into Law By Ray Manzari

A bill recently signed into law by Florida republican Governor Ron DeSantis, titled “Parental Rights in Education,” seeks to ban instruction based around gender and sexuality for younger students. Critics have dubbed the bill “Don’t Say Gay,” as republican lawmakers in the state have aimed to stop any and all instruction on topics of gender identity and sexual orientation. Another bill recently passed in the Sunshine State would prohibit instruction that alludes to certain sexes or races having more inherent privilege than oppressed minorities. While this bill does not specifically cite critical race theory, the graduate-level law class would be banned under the law. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill has met much opposition by both politicians and students from Florida’s public schools. More than 500 students from Winter Park High School in Orange County, Florida staged a walkout in protest of the bill. The walkout was organized by juniors Will Larkins and Maddi Zornek. During the walkout, students were

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chanting, "We say gay!" and holding "protect trans kids" signs. "It is certainly something that is not helping, you know, young people who are members of the LGBTQI+ community who are already vulnerable, already being bullied," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says when asked about the Florida legislation in February. While backers of the Parental Rights in Education bill have argued that the more popularly adopted nomenclature is misleading, the bill does effectively prohibit the discussion of sexual orientation. Here's what the pertinent portion of the bill says: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” The vague language within the bill leaves what is “age-appropriate” up to

interpretation. The threat of lawsuits against school boards could easily keep teachers censored from discussing a wide variety of topics. DeSantis’ spokesperson, Christina Pushaw, has made several tweets claiming that the true purpose of the bill is to protect children from “groomers,” a term for pedophiles who gradually initiate sexual relationships with children through establishing trust with the child and sometimes even the child’s family. "If you're against the Anti-Grooming Bill, you are probably a groomer or at least you don't denounce the grooming of 4-to-8-year-old children. Silence is complicity. This is how it works, democrats, and I didn't make the rules," the tweet reads. The argument for suppressing gay rights in favor of protecting children from pedophiles is a long overused, yet tried-and-true method of the republican party. This line of thinking has been used to block everything from same-gender marriage to trans people using bathrooms. As public opinion of LGBTQ topics begins to shift, and more protections are granted to the community on both state and national level, republican lawmakers have scrambled to capitalize on parents’ fears. "There's a fantasy going on that children are being indoctrinated," UC Berkeley philosopher and gender theorist Judith Butler tells CNN. "Parents and communities want to exercise forms of censorship to stop their children from knowing about how the world is being organized and how different people are living their lives." Including Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, there have been over 150 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced at the state level in the current legislative session thus far.

NY Amazon Workers Make History with Grassroots Union By Ray Manzari

Christian Smalls, a former Staten Island Amazon employee, was fired two years ago for participating in a walkout in protest of the company’s pandemic response. Since then, Smalls has started a grassroots labor organization called the Amazon Labor Union (ALU). Executives at the tech giant initially attempted to undercut the ALU’s organizing efforts by painting Smalls as “not smart or articulate,” according to leaked PR meeting notes. Spokesperson Kelly Nantel attempted to dismiss the authenticity of a growing number of signatures in favor of the New York Union. However, on April 1, 2022, employees of the Staten Island, New York Amazon facility voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing. The vote marks the first time a group of U.S. workers have successfully moved to form a union in Amazon’s 27year history. While some Amazon employees in Europe have managed to unionize, the company was able to fend off unions in the U.S., up until recently. A push to unionize an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama gained national attention. The results of the election at Bessemer one year ago favored Amazon but were scrapped after a National Labor Relations Board regional director determined Amazon had illegally interfered, a decision the company called "disappointing." A doover election currently remains too close to call. In 2015, a group of Amazon employees made an effort to unionize a facility in Virginia, which was withdrawn after reaching an election agreement. Another effort in Delaware just a year prior also resulted in workers turning down the option to unionize. The victory in New York is striking for a number of reasons, including that the ALU is unaligned with an existing labor union. The grassroots approach may very well have ripple effects throughout the company where other union efforts remain underway. Beyond Amazon itself, the unionization of one New York facility could have the power to supercharge the broader labor movement across the country, labor experts conjecture. Amazon is widely viewed as setting the standard for what the future of the American workforce looks like. "Amazon workers around the country will now have a belief that it's possible to organize and win an election—but it will still be difficult," says Rebecca Givan, a labor law professor at Rutgers University. "The odds are always, always stacked against workers organizing in a situation like this, but this is proof that it can be done and it will likely inspire workers elsewhere."

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Crossroads: Working Through Pressure as an LGBTQ Athlete By Daniel Paiz

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ia Thomas made history as the first trans woman to win an NCAA Division I championship, albeit not without backlash. While LGBTQ athletes deserve the same visibility Thomas is getting during 2022’s collegiate swimming season, they don’t have to win championships to get it. The journey to being an LGBTQ athlete who has publicly come out is unique to each person. However, the biggest indicator of finding success might be different than what you’re expecting it to be. Participating in sports at any level requires a certain amount of training and mental fortitude. Whether that be in a team sport or an individual sport, preparation is everything. But, that prep isn’t simply lifting weights or running drills. Instead, it’s dealing with the pressure to perform from within, to prove something to everyone else. Recognizing who Determines the Outcome For runner Nicholas Turco, there was that pressure to prove that a gay runner could be fast or strong, that they belonged. However, at a certain point, there was an important shift that changed things for the Western Colorado/CU runner. “Even after I came out, I put a lot of pressure on myself,” Turco says. “When my journey of letting that go, and realizing that the point of sports for me was to do the thing I loved more than anything in the world, that’s when it all clicked for me, and I started finding my flow as an athlete.” Turco realized how important it was to get back to the root of why he runs. It might sound simple. Supposedly one might not lose sight of that when participating in something they love,

but working through one’s journey of coming out clearly adds to life’s other pressures. Part of how someone finds that moment that things click relies on those surrounding them. Having a support system is vital. For CU volleyball player Alexia Kuehl, that support helped them to feel comfortable with their decision to come out. “It was a little bit of stress personally just trying to figure out myself and who I am,” Kuehl says. “Being surrounded by such open minds and accepting people made it easy for me.” From what Kuehl has shared, thankfully, the volleyball, CU, and Boulder communities have been fairly accepting. There are, of course, going to be times when support isn’t there. But, across different sporting communities, these athletes still find support. The biggest support system also begins with oneself. For those still working through their own journeys with their identities, Nicholas Turco had this to share with those athletes. “Sometimes it can be hard to find yourself exactly out there in the world, but just trust that you do belong out there, and all the different versions of yourself; just trust that journey of finding yourself in all these different ways.” Support Systems are Crucial It’s important that different athletes in different sports have a solid support system around them. However, many LGBTQ athletes don’t have that. The worst part about having to deal with the personal and athletic challenges one faces when working

through their journey is how this conversation is currently being framed at a societal level. Numerous states across the nation are introducing and passing legislation that disallows trans athletes to participate in sports as under their correct gender. This guise of “protecting” the competition (often framed as “protecting” cisgender women) has been the rallying cry for those opposed to the inclusion of trans athletes. This adds to the pressure one already puts on themselves due to wherever one is in their personal journey with deciding to come out. Fortunately, at the collegiate level, the NCAA has recently worked to not prevent any athlete from competing. The Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy outlines expectations for transgender athletes. Testing policies surrounding testosterone are outlined as it’s implemented, and athletes are expected to follow sports specific guidelines in addition to the policy. This policy is what athletes like Lia Thomas, Iszac Henig, and others have been following during 2022’s NCAA championships. Imagining the mental fortitude it takes to make it to a college tournament as a 18-23-year-old isn’t something most of us have experienced; adding these policies and public scrutiny adds yet another layer. There’s been some growth in sports when it comes to accepting LGTBQ competitors. However, there’s still a long way to go to accepting everyone in this community.

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ARTIST and HEALTH PROMOTER Shaunie Berry

by Denny Patterson

Photos by Sam Mallouf

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rt can be defined as so many things, but to Shaunie Berry, it’s about self-care, healing, and a form of protest.

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Berry quickly established a name for herself in the art scene after moving to the Mile High City for graduate school. She is known as an abstract portrait artist whose mission is to spread the joy of how she sees the world, which includes ethereal realities consisting of colorful, energetic figures; the aliveness of nature; and bright, saturated, dream-like realities that invoke viewers to see the beauty in small things. Berry believes that life should be a celebration of spirit and the divine, and many of her pieces reflect these sentiments. Her projects depict gratitude and contemplation within this chaotic world, hopefully adding some stillness and appreciation to one’s narrative. “If you look at my work and feel happy, excited, calm, or your heart feels content—I have fulfilled my destiny in this world,” she says. OFM caught up with Berry to expand on how mental health and art are connected. Can you begin by telling us what kind of artwork you like to do? I do mixed media. So, I use pen, ink, paint, watercolor—a little bit of everything. How did you discover your passion for art? I have been creating ever since I was a kid, and I just never really stopped. It was the one thing that I was always good at. I pursued it, despite people saying there’s no money in it. You believe life should be a celebration of spirit and the divine, and many of your pieces reflect these sentiments. Are there certain themes or elements you always try to incorporate into your pieces? Oftentimes, I incorporate figures or portraits along with plants, and I tend to put in a lot of celestial, galaxy references like stars and planets, splashes of color, and stuff like that. You like to make your pieces happy and joyful? I don't necessarily try to make them happy and joyful, but that's just kind of my style that comes out. Are you currently working on anything at this moment? Yeah, I’m always working on something! (Laughs.) I’m kind of taking a step back from commissions and just creating for other people. I’ve been drawing my girlfriend and friends a lot, so it’s been casual. Where is your work primarily displayed? It was at Red Line Contemporary Art Center for a show earlier last summer, but right now, it’s at Goldspot Brewery and a salon called Let Em Have It.

Can you talk about how you are also a health promoter? I have my master’s in public health, and arts has done a lot for me and mental health, so I run art programs through RedLine, and I try to integrate physical activity and wellbeing health topics into my curriculum. Do you believe art and mental health goes hand in hand? Absolutely. Art is mental health. People tend to judge themselves a lot based on what they make, how many likes they get, or if their work sells or not, but once you cut all that out and create, I think it’s very therapeutic. A lot of people that I work with say it's super relaxing and calming. Why do you think mental health is still an issue that's stigmatized and often pushed to the side or swept under the rug? I feel like people are kind of embarrassed to talk about some of the issues they might have because in this society, people put more importance on being strong, getting through it, pushing as hard as they can. We live in a capitalist kind of patriotic society, and I feel like most people don't have time for it. It's either not accessible to them or they just don't put importance on it because we live in a society that doesn't want to. Our society just wants us to work. Why do you think mental health is an even bigger issue in the LGBTQ community? It’s getting better, but it’s something that’s traditionally been stigmatized and very taboo. I feel like most gay, queer, LGBTQ folks from a young age deal with a lot of trauma in terms of coming out and how religion plays into that. There’s a lot of shame behind it, and that can take several years, sometimes even a lifetime, to tackle. It’s just one additional thing that we have to deal with. Besides art, how else do you keep your own mental health and wellbeing in check? I'm a big advocate of movement. I like to work out, run outside, spend time with people being social, eat well, get plenty of sunshine, and have an outlet for a hobby or creativity. Something that just makes you feel good and helps you vibrate a little higher. What are some future goals you hope to accomplish as an artist? Future goals are to eventually have shows in other states and countries. I want to really use my art as medicine. I love when people don't have art, but they see it and buy it. It does something powerful for them, the same as medicine does. I also hope to continue making good money to travel and live a life of more freedom. You want to enjoy life and not work yourself to the bone.

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"... have an outlet for a hobby or creativity, something that just makes you feel good and helps you vibrate a little higher."

Stay up-to-date and connect with Berry by following her on Instagram @artbyshaunieb, or visit her official website, artbyshaunieb.com. 1 4 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

Queer Word Search Diversions Word Search - Dan Savage

Find the words in the list below hiding across, backwards, up, down and diagonally in the grid. Words separated by a slash “/” are found individually in the puzzle. Words in parentheses “( )” are not in the puzzle. The unused letters starting at top left and going down by row will reveal a quote by Dan Savage!

T A O M O D E E R F

E S K I P P I N G

V U A Y O A

E I D C R R

R S K C I D V I C T I D E T S R V C A O I N M U M H I I T M E N T T

O E E N A E P L W L A G U L T S

O Y R U C R E M A X A N N O U A

B P O P D I P R E V E N T I O N

Y E H J O U R N A L I S T I R T

Dan Savage Podcaster Books Author (Savage) Lovecast Skipping/Through Media/Pundit Journalist Gomorrah Activist (The) Commitment (The) Stranger Sex/Advice Hump/Film/Festival The Kid Columnist American (Savage) Creator

R G T I P G T S I V I T C A E O

F G U T N H N T S N F R S R V R

E I A P E A H I M L E L R E E U

L N L K D R C U Y A A Y T G F M

G I M O R L I T L A E N N E I

D N U U O P O R T L A N D O L

It Gets/Better/Project (w/ husband) Terry/Miller Suicide/Prevention Anti/Bullying Freedom (to)/Marry (The) Real/O’Neals (ABC)

T G Y C M R L A E R U I O E L

H S P R O J E C T M A B E S E

I H I T G E T S L I A I D N R

Portland/Mercury Everout (Coined terms:) Santorum Pegging

Visit https://www.facebook.com/DiversionsPuzzles for more free puzzles and book info by Kerry Shatzer!

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A Sampling of Healthy Eating Options for Denverites By Robert Meyers-Lussier

Welcome to spring in Denver! There’s never been a better time to explore healthier dining options in the Denver area than now. From our expansive farmers’ markets opening, to our well-stocked local supermarkets, to fresh and healthy dining chains, to our grand vegan and vegetarian restaurants, there’s no end to discovering a way to eat fresh, delicious, and locally sourced foods than right now.

substantial enough to support the burger components. The Cauliflower Chickpea Shawarma Bowl reminded us of a super fresh salad and would have been great as a shared first course, filled with chickpeas, quinoa, tomato, cucumber, mint, parsley, and a creamy ranch. Lastly was the Chicken, Bacon, and Avo Club. It was perhaps the least reminiscent of its doppelganger. The plant-based bacon didn’t taste or look much like bacon, to our eyes and taste buds, nor did the plant-based chicken. Add all the fresh vegetables, sauce, and freshly toasted bun, it was a hearty sandwich, for sure.

Native Foods Upon walking into Native Foods, I’m not sure I would have had a clue this is a chain. While you do order from a counter, it does not have the feeling that it’s part of a chain. Seating is expansive and comfortable. Parking can be a little difficult, as the restaurant is surrounded by many other smaller stores and two large hotels. We decided to start this culinary adventure with the Nachos, crispy chips covered with all the ooey, gooey, salty, and spicy ingredients you’d expect from a hearty gathering of corn tortilla 1 6 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

chips. Most surprising to my two dining companions, whose palates had not experienced vegan dining, were the cashew cheese and the plant-based taco meat. The cheese had a pleasant umami flavor, and the texture was smooth. While lighter in color than beef, the taco meat had a ground-beef texture and provided a flavorful addition to a rendition of classic nachos. The BBQ Brisket Burger looked like a solid, beefy burger. Upon portioning, it still looked like a beefy burger. The BBQ sauce was tangy and slightly spicy, with an onion ring and plant-based provolone on top, and a creamy-tangy southern slaw beneath the patty. The toasted pretzel bun was

Dessert was mixed as well. The Oatmeal Cream Pie had two large oatmeal cookies which were sweet, with a good crumb, but the filling was bland. A bit (more?) of vanilla would have made it perfect. The Peanut Butter Parfait was wonderful, with layers of graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter mousse and chocolate chips. The Key Lime Parfait was good. While the key lime-ness was spot-on, the mousse was a bit runny. Lastly, the refreshments were a real surprise. The Watermelon Slush was a summer’s dream made with real watermelon. We all took advantage of free refills, like the Lavender Lemonade and three different freshly made ice teas.

City, o’ City With a tagline of “Denver’s favorite vegetarian restaurant,” my regular dining companion and I were excited to visit. On a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, it wasn’t hard to find the place. On the corner of 13th and Sherman, just a stone’s throw from the Capitol, you will immediately know this place looks like fun. It was packed, both inside and outside, where there is an extensive outdoor seating area. Inside, the decor was funky, artsy, and welcoming. We had the chance to sit at the large communal table in the middle of the front dining room and were glad we did, as I had a view directly into the kitchen or the bar, depending. Owned and operated by Jennifer Byers, Hannah Kuehl, and Lauren Roberts, the restaurant uses local produce whenever possible, and even have their

Leevers Locavore It’s a grocery store. It’s a place to order freshly made dishes. It’s a place to get a hot and fresh cappuccino. It’s a place to sip a glass of your favorite red wine. It’s the superhero of supermarkets! Most importantly, its neighborhood market provides top-notch, locally sourced produce, meats and other healthy groceries for the Highlands neighborhood and beyond. Originally established in North Dakota, the chain arrived in Colorado in 1983. This store opened with great fanfare in 2019 and is decidedly distinct from its closest competitors, like Whole Foods. A bar serving wine, beer, coffee, and other soft drinks greets guests as they enter. The shopping carts feature a drink-holder positioned in the front-right corner of the cart, encouraging guests to grab a beverage and enjoy while perusing the aisles.

own urban micro farm which provides much of their produce in the summer. My dining companion spotted the Ravioli and had to try it. It honestly is one of the most delicious renditions of a fried ravioli I’ve ever had. The inside was filled with a creamy combination of roasted mushrooms, artichokes, and a cashew ricotta. In combination with the perfectly deep-fried crispiness of the wonton, it was culinary perfection. Served with a side of a house-made basil pesto, neither one of us needed it. The Breakfast Burrito was my main course of choice. It came out, and we both gasped. It was huge. Perhaps it didn’t need to be. The bulk of the filling was fried potatoes and not much of the other ingredients. The plantbased scrambled eggs were dead-on for scrambled eggs and were delicious. It was covered in a hearty helping of a spicyWhile carting through fresh produce, at the back as you enter are micro-restaurants serving up fresh dishes, to include Basil Doc’s Pizzeria, One Two Three Sushi, and Oscar’s Eats. If a fresh pizza or sushi isn’t in the offing on your trip, make sure you travel through every aisle. I experienced deja vu, growing up in Minnesota like I did, where we had access to one of the great grocery store chains, Byerly’s. In a smaller package, Leevers Locavore is every bit as impressive. I had no intention of purchasing anything, yet there I was, picking up items I hadn’t ever seen in my local markets. (OK, it’s Parker, don’t judge.) Then I got to the meat department. I nearly passed out. Most of the products—bacon, sausage, chicken breast, ground beef, pork, and lamb—come from chef Justin Brunson’s own River Bear American Meats, which only uses family farm- and naturally-raised animals. The cuts of meat are

earthy green chili sprinkled with vegan cotija cheese. We shared the Chophouse Burger, in the desire to sample a comparable burger to what we’ve had elsewhere. It was every bit as delicious, but different. The burger here was made of vegetables, sunflowers seeds and walnuts, and every bit as texture worthy as any other burger. Combined with the other goodies like crispy onions, vegan cheese, and house-made steak sauce, it was incredibly satisfying. We had room for one dessert to share and given my companion’s penchant for chocolate, we had the house-made Ho-Ho Cupcake. The cake was dense and moist, with the center filled with a smooth vanilla “cream.” Topped with a chocolate ganache that was perfectly tempered, it was a perfect bite, no matter how we divvied it up. divvied it up. extensive. But Brunson wants you to have goose and rabbit and prosciutto to eat, too, and so he brought in a smattering of meats from his favorite (also responsibility-minded) brands. Charcuterie galore. And the cheese selection! I can share a couple items only found at Leevers that I have since prepared. The handmade beef pot pie was scrumptious. The handmade, hand-formed crust was hearty and the beef filling, with a sprinkling of vegetables, was the pinnacle of umami flavoring. I also prepared the pumpkin and sage ravioli, which I paired with an alfredo sauce. Fresh ravioli pasta surrounded the delicate pumpkin and sage filling, which was dense and delicious. Fresh, healthy, delicious, and locally sourced ingredients—All three establishments offer some of the best of all four elements. Denverites, enjoy!

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Spilling the Tea on 2022 Food Trends By Zachari Breeding, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN, FAND

very year, a flurry of the “hottest and healthiest” foods storm our social media accounts, end caps at grocery stores, and conversations with friends at our local bar. We feel like we hit the jackpot of nutrition information—“Here is this amazing food we recently discovered that can do these things we feel we are missing out on,” we think. Like any kind of fake news, misinformation travels at a speed much faster than facts. It is most entertaining and entrancing to learn about a new and exciting piece of information, regardless of the science behind it. But when it comes to nutrition, it really is all about the science. With any compound that can generate a benefit, evidence is needed to prove that the food can actually perform the claims that promote it. We’ve compiled a list of the hottest food trends for this year, as determined by extensive market research and chats with experts in the field. Let’s take a deeper dive into these trends and see how much of the claims are true while weeding out the propaganda.

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Superfood Coffee

Need a way to get in nutrition, but hate eating? New supplement brands are popping up touting antioxidant and probiotic blends meant to be mixed into your favorite coffee drink. Naturally, the health benefit claims are extensive, ranging from disease prevention to helping to reduce inflammation and even depression. The fact is, there is absolutely nothing special about the ingredients within these blends. The components of these blends are nothing more than supplements found in your local pharmacy, spices found in your grocery store, and herbal remedies that offer no known substantial benefit whatsoever. For a quick, onthe-go nutrient boost, make a smoothie at home using frozen fruits, vegetables, protein powder, and an unsweetened fluid (like oat milk or water).

Matcha

Matcha is a powder form of green tea leaves that are plucked at an early age and instantly turned into powder form. The claim in doing so is that all of the antioxidants and polyphenols (compounds found in plants that have a health benefit) are retained in the powder that would otherwise be lost during the brewing process. Though there’s not a lot of truth that hot water destroys these healthful compounds, there is a ton of research to show how beneficial green tea is in strengthening the immune system and controlling inflammation that can cause a host of other diseases. When drinking green tea for its many benefits, it doesn’t have to be matcha specifically. However, including matcha certainly does more good than harm.

Turmeric

Though it may not sound like a “hot new food trend,” turmeric will make the spotlight this year. Turmeric is a spice within the curcumin family and has been well-established to offer a variety of benefits, from reducing inflammation to decreasing risk of pancreatic and colon cancers. It should be noted, though, that if someone already has these cancers, turmeric will not offer a risk benefit. Turmeric’s benefits lie only in prevention and risk reduction; it is not meant to be a substitute for med-

ical therapies. A little goes a long way in terms of offering color and flavor, and the dose response to achieve the benefits of turmeric is only about a half of a teaspoon. So, go for it!

Mankai

Mankai is a tiny green that is claimed to be a complete plant-based protein (three ounces is about five grams protein, compared to a half cup of beans, which has eight grams) and offers a range of nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, folate, and choline (which is good for brain health). These tiny greens are not sold as greens, usually, but as powders and frozen cubes. None of these claims are false, but adding mankai to your diet shouldn’t replace anything. There are a ton of plant-based proteins out there (beans, lentils, tofu, seitan, just to name a few), and many vegetables and leafy greens have a similar nutrient profile. If using it makes you feel better, there is certainly nothing wrong with including this product as part of an already nutrient-rich eating plan.

Hemp Seeds

These nutrient-dense seeds are rich in protein (nine grams of protein in about three tablespoons), fiber, and healthy fats (such as omega 3). Proponents of hemp seeds tout them as being a good source of vitamin E, potassium, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. These claims are all true, and consuming hemp seeds can offer some anti-inflammatory benefits as well as helping to lubricate joints. Hemp seeds can be used as a plant-based protein or as a nutritious add-on to a salad or smoothie.

Home-Fermented Foods

This trend has been going on for some time and is only increasing in popularity. While some may worry that home fermentation may be creating a petri dish of unknown and dangerous bacterial growth, food scientists and safety experts say properly fermented veggies are just fine. The development of lactic acid during this process nearly obliterates all pathogenic bacteria which can cause food illness. Properly fermenting a vegetable is as easy as applying basic food safety principles— using washed vegetables, sanitized surfaces, and clean equipment. Cabbage, daikon radishes, turnips, parsnips, cucumbers, okra, string beans, and green tomatoes

are all good candidates for fermentation, but you can really go wild with the options. Salt is also an essential ingredient, and it all depends on the concentration of salt in the liquid, so follow a tried and true recipe. Fermented vegetables with 1 to 2% salt by volume should keep well for at least four to nine months under refrigeration. A 2% salted version should keep well in a dark, cool area such as a root cellar for at least three months.

Probiotics for Mood

Expect to see probiotics in everything, say food experts. With emerging research connecting gut health to mood, food companies are going to make every health claim they can about their products. Generally speaking, the foods we eat can directly affect the bacterial community in the gut, known as the microbiome, in terms of both diversity and number. The more diverse the microbiome, the healthier the gut. The microbiome plays a huge role in managing the neurotransmitters, peptides, and compounds released from the gut. The neurotransmitter serotonin, for example, plays a key role both in the gut and in the brain, but most of the research in the realm of the gut/brain connection has not been proven in humans. No one food, vitamin, mineral, or supplement should be considered a treatment for depression or other mental health issues. There is no information to suggest that nutrition alone can be a replacement for prescription management or counseling. Though probiotic supplements may benefit the microbiome, eating a plant-based diet that focuses on higher fiber foods ( fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes) shows the most promise at this point. There are no yet-to-be discovered ingredients that will make it easy to get all the nutrients we need to thrive. Food trends come and go, whether or not they carry misleading claims. There is usually no harm done with including some new foods into your already nutritious lifestyle. The aim, however, is to remember that a balanced diet can’t be replaced with any single food.

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workouts, and weekly classes, we give our members the tools that they need to improve their work/life balance through self-care. Since the pandemic, our program has shifted to a hybrid virtual/in-person platform, but our overall mission still remains the same: to do everything we can to correct these disparities for our sisters and for ourselves. How many people do you currently work with, and what events, classes, groups, etc. do you hold? Our programs run annually, and our forum meets in a private space online. In addition to our fitness challenges, monthly presentations with various Black women health SMEs, as well as our in-person dance fitness classes, we also provide weekly group meetings via our private online portal for members to connect and support each other and hold each other accountable on their health journeys.

Photo by Ryan Landell By Addison Herron-Wheeler

BlackGirlFitClub Redefines Wellness for Black Folks and People of Size It’s not at all a new concept that the fitness world is not always a welcoming and accepting place. While the narrative it tries to put out there is that everyone can “get fit” at any time, that also comes with a lot of preconceived notions about what “fitness” needs to look like, as well as a lot of shame about one’s current body shape and size, shame that can compound microaggressions and years of pain for Black folks, people of size, and others who don’t fit in with the status quo. For those reasons, Rajdulari Landell started BlackGirlFitClub, a group dedicated to doing exactly what the name implies and helping Black women and others who struggle with mainstream fitness prioritize joyful movement. Through her line of merchandise, social group that promotes connection, and series of Zumba classes, she is changing the way we think about working out. She took a few minutes to share with us what makes her group special, and what their plans are for this year and beyond. What is the overall goal of BlackGirlFitClub, and how has that changed during the pandemic and your fitness journey? Black women and women of color in America are disproportionately affected by conditions that negatively impact their health. Founded in 2016, BlackGirlFitClub is an online health and wellness forum that educates and inspires Black women and women of color to develop and live healthier lifestyles. Through one-on-one coaching, group discussions, live virtual 2 0 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

Why is it so important to provide extra support to Black folks in fitness, especially women and people of size? Black women, women of color (AND plus women of color especially) in America are disproportionately affected by conditions that negatively impact their health, in comparison to their counterparts in the following areas: socioeconomic status, health behaviors related to culture, access to healthcare, environmental factors, and direct and indirect manifestations of race and size discrimination. Our goal has always been to make sure that our members feel supported and also educated with tools to empower them to feel confident, even in mixed spaces. Our mission would be to ensure that each and every one of our members feel validated, empowered, and supported as they embark on their individual health journeys. We are not alone in our struggles, and BGFC is determined to be a foundational support for our communities of color. What do you hope BlackGirlFitClub achieves over the next few years? My goal for BGFC would be for us to have annual retreats where our members could come together in person and enjoy various workshops: yoga retreats, wellness classes, nutritional education, as well as healing time in a community space with like-minded sisters. We’d also like to expand our reach and continue our work to support women of color nationally as well as overseas. We have been blessed with the progress we’ve made so far, but there is always more work to be done. Is there anything else you'd like to add? Thank you so much for featuring BGFC,and for the incredible work you do to support queer communities of color overall. We are honored to be featured in your magazine and are grateful for our continued collaboration with OFM and BGFC. For more info, please visit us at blackgirlfitclub.com.

Photo Courtesy of Stem & Glory

Restaurateur Louise Palmer-Masterton Talks Queerness, Veganism, and Sustainability By Keegan Williams Louise Palmer-Masterton is a prime example of creating a meaningful and substantial idea from scratch while raising awareness within the business field among the nonbinary community. Palmer-Masterton is a nonbinary chef and restaurateur, securing the title of Businessperson of the Year at the Cambridge 2022 SME Awards through the success of their vegan restaurant, bar, and brand, Stem & Glory. It’s also the U.K.’s first carbon-negative restaurant, using 100% renewable energy within their establishment. OFM had the opportunity to chat more with Palmer-Masterton about their restaurant’s new location and 2 2 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

cookbook, Stem & Glory Classic Recipes, embracing the health and environmental benefits of plant-based cuisine, and navigating the food world as a nonbinary business owner. Hi Louise! I know it’s already been a wild year for you with getting your third restaurant open and releasing your cookbook. Can you give us an update of what you’re working on right now and how 2022 is playing out? We have just closed our latest crowdfund on Crowdcube and are about to land the funds from that, which means we will be on site building our third site very soon. The new site is at Broadgate Circle; (it) will be our biggest project to date and will be open in the summer. We have already got our sights on locations four and five and have been viewing a few possible options.

We are also launching our supermarket-ready meals range this year. Can you tell me more about the Stem & Glory cookbook? What were your aims in releasing the cookbook, and how has the reception been? I also see it’s a limited run—Do you plan on selling more if they sell out, or potentially releasing Stem & Glory cookbooks in the future? The book is in response to the Stem & Glory FAQ number one—"Where can I get the recipe for those awesome crackers (our very legendary, multiseed crackers that we have served in our restaurant since the start)?" We also frequently get asked when we are writing our recipe book, so this first book contains all our best-selling classics since the start. We are already

working on our second book, Low Carbon Cuisine, which will be a much deeper dive into British-grown produce including seeds, grains, peas, beans, pulses, and, of course, vegetables. I want to talk a little more about your work with U.K. agriculture, specifically centering foods and menu items that make the most of home-grown food and giving back to farmers. Can you tell me more about your work in that regard and how the two are connected? There is a lot wrong with U.K. agriculture right now, in particular with regard to soil health. Organic farmers farm regeneratively, and there is a lot to learn from them. For example, leguminous crops grown on rotation build natural fertility into the soil, in turn enabling growth of non-leguminous crops—So much knowledge of this harmonious cycle has been lost due to the market driving down cost and the increased use of chemicals, and it’s had devastating consequences to the fertility of our soil. Add to that the huge amount of crops that are grown for animal feed, and it’s become quite a large problem to fix. Regenerative farming is, however, becoming a trend that will hopefully accelerate in the coming years, so, in spite of everything, I am optimistic about the future. Over the years, we lost touch with a lot of crops that used to be grown in the U.K., like ancient grains and a wide variety of dried peas. Fortunately, this is making a comeback now, and businesses like Hodmedods are driving this forward. They not only work with farmers to grow these crops regeneratively, they also do so equitably, so no one in the chain is squeezed. I see our part in this cycle very much part of an education piece around this. Many of these British-grown crops are unknown from a culinary perspective, so using these products in our restaurants is a great place to start. I also personally love cooking with these. We use lentils grown in a field not far from where I live, and I am a big fan of the humble yellow pea, which is an amazingly nutritious alternative to chickpeas that grows fantastically well in the U.K. Many fake meat products are made from processed “pea protein.” In my view, it is far better to eat the humble pea in its natural state. We actually have a yellow pea hummus recipe in our first cookbook. To shift gears a bit, I wanted to talk a little bit more about your experience being a nonbinary person in the culinary industry. What’s that been like for you? My nonbinary status has everything to do with the socially constructed nature of gender which I have spent my entire life railing against. I’ve never identified with a binary gender, so it’s been something of a huge relief to discover myself as nonbinary. Hospitality is a very binary, gendered place, so all I can do is set a different type of example. The socially constructed nature of gender is the beginning of all inequality, but it literally exists only in the mind. I think there is potentially a danger with labels such as nonbinary also leading to inequality, so my preference would be to just do away with gender labeling completely. People are people; it’s only society that labels differences. I have two teenage chiloutfrontmagazine.com 23

100% Vegan 100% Vegan 100% Vegan 100% Vegan

100% Vegan 100% Vegan

dren who identify as nonbinary, as do most of their friends; they are definitely moving away from gender, and they all also identify as queer. This is the future, I believe. The next big “ism” to conquer, by the way, will, I believe, be ageism. For folks who might want to embrace veganism or a diet that helps their health and to reduce their footprint, but maybe don’t know where to start, what would you say to them? Some people like myself have a sudden, blinding realization and become vegan on the spot, but for most peo-

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ple, it’s a more gradual process. So, just start with a couple of days a week, and see how it goes. Like with smoking, never give up giving up! It takes time to change habits, so don’t beat yourself up if you lapse. It’s going to be easier if you like cooking, and even better if you love lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, and a wild array of vegetables, but honestly, there has never been a better time to try and go vegan. It’s easy to access vegan meals almost everywhere now, and food in the supermarkets is well labeled. If you want to do the whole journey towards wholefood, plant-based, then this will most likely require you to slow down. It’s convenience that drives processed and packaged foods, and in such a time-

pressed society, it’s easy to default to unhealthy grab and go. Building some time into your schedule for making your own lunch and cooking from scratch does require a change in your schedule, but it really doesn't need to be onerous. Take small steps, one at a time. For more from Louise Palmer-Masterton and Stem & Glory, find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ stemandglory. Stem & Glory Classic Recipes is available for a limited run on the restaurant website at stemandglory.uk/merch.

Urban Walking/Hiking: Embracing the Meditative Activity Just Outside Our Doors By Keegan Williams

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I’ll admit, I chuckled to myself Googling the phrase “urban walking” in preparation to write this story and seeing the first definition, “A walk in the city that includes a sense of adventure.” I’m not laughing because it’s inaccurate—quite the opposite. Walking around the city can be a cumbersome chore or a magical journey, and it’s all about perspective. I wasn’t a huge walker before I moved to Denver. I lived in Fort Collins, and while I was situated right across from Colorado State University and in ideal proximity to downtown, I usually took a walk to get blitzed at bars without driving, or stumbled home to avoid a rideshare. Then, I stopped drinking in July 2018, moved to Denver a month later, and so began my personal love affair with urban walking. Let’s revisit the aforementioned definition, ironically on the website Denver By Foot: “(Urban walking or hiking) embraces the urban environment by adventur2 6 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

ing through parks, climbing stairwells, crossing intersections, and meandering through the city’s obstacles of life. You can do urban hikes with your friends or by yourself. When urban hiking, you can be anonymous in a sea of people. Sidewalks, speedbumps, and curbs become your obstacles in your hiking trail to balance, cross, and giggle across.”

I grew up in Colorado, so I’d been to Denver in a fleeting capacity, but living there was a wholly new experience. I was walking up and down streets I had no idea about. I took notice of my favorite houses, and I even got into the habit of snapping quick pictures of things that caught my eye that I just thought were pretty.

I’ll let you in on a secret: I candidly didn’t know until recently there was an explicit term for the activity I’d gravitated toward and that eventually became a crucial part of my day-to-day life. It’s affirming to see that so many others found the same solace in a walking adventure around the city that I always connected to.

Eventually, walking around Denver was just part of my routine. There was a period I worked downtown and (unless it was too cold) simply amped myself up for the day with a brisk, mile-long walk to my office, paired with a cool-off of sorts once my shift concluded.

After I stopped drinking and found myself in a new city, I needed a more productive hobby as I found my footing in sobriety and wanted to shake off the jitters of living in a new place. I also lived in Capitol Hill, and if you know that area, you know that parking can be rough. Once my albeit compact and easy-to-parallel-park Kia Soul was situated, I usually didn’t move it unless I was traveling more than a couple miles and didn’t have time to walk (or if street sweeping was coming up).

I remember one scorching hot day I walked to the Gamestop in Glendale to pick up a Nintendo Switch, a 7.6mile round trip from my apartment. I was sweating bullets by the end and fully exhausted, but I simply wanted to see myself do it and had the time. (Also, what better time to turn around and play a new gaming system? I earned it.)

I’ll admit that walking around the city often feels like a sort of weird escapism from everything else in my life, though it also is a very confrontational activity. It’s something I often embrace as a reminder, “Hey, there’s a whole world happening around you. Go see it.” It sounds cheesy, but often just being able to bear witness to the colors of the city, the smells, the people around me, is incredibly grounding and calming. As someone who’s worked from home exclusively for more than two years, it’s a requirement to keep me comfortable and sane in my studio apartment all day. I had a brief hiatus from my coveted activity brought on by 2020’s pandemic neurosis, though I began venturing out again a few months before moving to Los Angeles in September of the same year. Once again, I was faced with a new place, but this time, it was FULLY unknown. Because of COVID-19, the few trips I planned to scour out the area were canceled, and the day I moved to Hollywood was my first ever day in the city of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is … huge, so my walking journeys typically take me around Hollywood, or to close neighborhoods like West Hollywood, Larchmont, East Hollywood, and Hancock Park. I don’t expect to conquer all 503 square miles of Los Angeles on foot. Just pushing myself to stroll around these streets in my down time, and soak in every bit of it, immediately made me comfortable in my new home, among my fellow Angelenos, and always eager to keep exploring. The Denver By Foot primer mentions that urban walking/ hiking is an “attitude.” It truly does involve a bit of slowing down and even romanticizing the seemingly simple things all around us. In the digital world we live in, it’s easy to feel plainly over-exposed to everything. Urban walking/hiking plainly invites you to live in the moment, and what happens, or where you go next, is entirely up to you and your feet.

It was like my Denver walks, with a fully new level of stimulation: the eclectic flora and fauna I’d never see in Colorado, the random sea birds hanging out with crows 10 miles inland, the Spanish-inspired architecture, sweeping street art, not to mention landmark after landmark after landmark within walking distance of my apartment. Rather than sparring with the absurdly frustrating and dominant permit-only parking in West Hollywood, I can just jaunt a couple miles over that direction. I can turn down any given street and witness sights I never have before. It’s hard to explain that something so simple can be so gratifying. While I typically listen to music, especially during my longer endeavors, I usually use this as an excuse to keep my phone in my pocket and fully take in everything in front of me. It goes without saying this is a physically healthy habit, sure. I get plenty of steps in, and it definitely feels good to be moving and keep a brisk pace. But the main reason I walk so much isn’t just to max out my daily fitness; it’s largely because of the sense of well-being it offers me. Another compelling argument for urban walking is that it helps us to understand the city we’re in. By the time I left Denver, I felt like I’d walked that place up and down. It makes me feel great going back, having such a detailed grasp of the city, and feeling like I’ve fostered a sort of personal relationship with it during my time there.

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the study really seriously, and it led naturally to where I am today.

Strong Connections:

Courageous Yoga Champions Mind, Body, Spirit, and Community. By Erica Buehler

At its core, yoga is a practice meant to strengthen all aspects of a person; from learning the power of your breath to finding peace in meditation, it provides innumerable benefits. But like many practices in the health and wellness space, yoga still has work to do when it comes to honoring its roots and providing safe and affirming spaces for all people. Denver’s own Courageous Yoga is putting in the hours and energy to do so. Jordan Smiley, co-director, teacher, and lead of yoga teacher training at Courageous Yoga, found his way into yoga via meditation. Finding it difficult to sit still, Smiley was advised to do sun salutations, a core movement of Ashtanga yoga. He didn’t know it at the time, but this advice would introduce him to a world he’s become immersed in as a practitioner but also a leader in his own right. “I started to notice more emotional and mental stability and more joy and freedom in my life and mind,” Smiley says. “I took

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Smiley describes yoga as “a holistic practice to bring balance to the mind, body, and spirit to draw us into greater intimacy with our inner and outer world.” He points out that while many folks begin with the physical practice of yoga (which is entirely OK), it doesn’t traditionally “begin” that way. “Many people in the introductory experience of coming into contact with yoga start with the physical practice,” Smiley says. “Especially in the West, which has been systemically disconnected with our bodies, and especally so for those in the LGBTQ space.” He goes on to say that, tradition aside, whichever aspect of yoga a newcomer feels called to is right, whether that’s restorative yoga, a meditation class, reading about the practice, or watching a YouTube video. “I advocate for any method,” he says, chuckling that Courageous is always a good place to start. “All of the doors lead in and the practice, and at a certain point it begins to do this work on us—like surgery on the heart. It doesn’t matter which door you come through.” When asked his opinion if yoga has been traditonally welcoming and affirming to the LGBTQ community, Smiley says it depends on who you ask and their experience. “What I’ve witnessed and experienced is that the surface-level acceptance is certainly there in yoga communities for queer folks, especially in the post-2020 landscape,” he says. “However, I feel like white wellness in general is an industry that relies heavily on white, cultural-dominant norms—a part of history that remains very much alive. One of the things the queer community is facing is our own intersectionality, and because we’re not taught about it in our education system, we learn to compartmentalize gender and race. The type of yoga we teach and promote at Courageous tries to interrupt, confront, and disrupt that method of thinking because it’s toxic.”

Also toxic, Smiley mentions, is how a yoga studio can say it accepts everyone, but many of the yoga communities in Denver aren’t doing the work under the surface to “pry apart the biases that are operating below and how gender is reinforced.” A simple example is the “norm” that, for people assigned male at birth, it’s acceptable to take their shirts off during practice. But Courageous implements a “nipple-neutral” policy, asking patrons to think more deeply about what gives one person the right to take their shirt off over another. Smiley notes that being in community is one way to ensure support and reflection when approaching the practice. And for Courageous in particular, community is a huge pillar for all who walk through its doors. “I’ve experienced what I might call microaggressions but also pretty explicit discimination in wellness spaces for being a trans person,” Smiley says, explaining that the wellness space in general has a lot to improve upon when it comes to acceptance beyond performative allyship. Essentially, while Smiley encourages anyone interested in practicing yoga to do so, he advises folks in the queer community to continue asking themselves if they’re “accepting acceptance” or, on the contrary, looking to align with people actively trying to break down the barriers that have systemically held back and harmed the community. For allies (and “co-conspirators,” as Smiley puts it), that process will probably require folks to get uncomfortable. And for those yoga newcomers, it’s about looking for the signs that a studio or community is not just performative. “If you're willing, call the space or check its (social media) and see how proactive people are about doing some of that work and speaking to their mistakes,” Smiley says. “How much do they lift up queer voices and teachers and educators? Is there representation in the space?”

Photo Courtesy of Courageous Yoga

The studio runs a queer group the second Friday of each month called Queerageous, accessible through the studio’s Instagram. “That group is doing the work of exploring what it means to be queer and waking up, especially in Denver where we do battle a lot of racism. Everyone is invited to that space, and it’s very beginner- and all-levels-friendly and is a neat introduction to the community, as well as the practice of yoga and meditation and movement and breath,” Smiley says. At the end of the day, Smiley wants folks to know how powerful and transformative yoga can be, especially when you find the right space for you. “I think one of the things I realized was how parallel queer embodiment and the yoga practice really are. Queerness takes something, turns it upside-down, and shakes it out to find an authentic center; anything we might call our identity is very fluid—Yoga practice is exactly that.” Courageous Yoga is located at 1280 Sherman St. in Denver and is always looking for opportunities to scholarship queer and BIPOC folks for its Yoga Teacher Training. From Jordan: If readers wish to donate to our nonprofit (which goes to scholarship opportunities), they can do so through the Pay it Forward Fund.

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Aroma Therapy By Alanna L.P.

What is Aromatherapy? Have you ever walked into a room and been hit with a scent so strong it affects you physically or mentally? Our sense of smell is so powerful that it can change our moods and behavior. When we use our sense of smell, the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotion and memory, is involved in interpreting that scent. That’s why many believe that aromatherapy, the use of essential oils to affect moods and improve health, is so powerful.

How can I get Started? Essential oils are natural oils extracted from plants. Just a drop or two of an essential oil can pack a powerful punch. There are three main ways to practice aromatherapy. • • •

Oil diffuser: These devices release a scented mist into the air so that you can passively inhale your chosen scent over an extended period of time. Inhalation: If you want a shot of a smell, simply smell the bottle or smell the mist from your oil diffuser directly. Topically: You can also wear the scent by using a carrier oil. Carrier oils are oils extracted from nuts, seeds, or vegetables. These oils, when used with an essential oil, dilute the oil so that it can be worn safely. Some carrier oils that you can use are sweet almond oil; coconut oil; olive oil; and unscented, organic lotion.

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Common Essential Oils and Their Uses There are more than 100 essential oils. Each has their own unique properties and uses, but the following oils are affordable, easy to find, and can be used in countless blends. (Please do not use without consulting a physician first or if pregnant. If you exhibit any signs of allergic reaction, cease use immediately, and contact a physician.)

Chamomile

Lemon

is a good anti-inflammatory oil. It has a sleepy, dreamy feeling that is associated with the planet, Neptune. It is best known for its soothing and calming effects. It can make one feel sleepy and relaxed when massaged into the feet and hands. Chamomile oil can be used as a remedy for insomnia and mild anxiety. In esoteric circles, it is thought to help in communicating with angels. Chamomile can help alleviate PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps. Do not use if you are allergic to asters, daisies, chrysanthemums, or ragweed.

Eucalyptus Radiata is a cooling essential oil and is widely used in products to treat colds. It can soothe sore throats, open up the sinuses, and coat the vocal cords when one needs to find their lost voice. It can also help energetically clear spaces. Along with the general safety guidelines, do not use if nursing. Also do not use if you are epileptic.

Geranium

is an antiseptic and antibacterial oil. It is thought to help with reproductive issues for people with vaginas. It enhances strength and confidence and is related to the ideals of traditional masculinity such as confidence and virility. It can help treat insect bites, spider bites, and wasp stings.

is a versatile antiseptic essential oil that is fresh and uplifting. Lemon can be used in cooking and cleaning. It can also be used to calm anxiety. Avoid exposure to sunlight if you are using topically because it is phototoxic (i.e. a condition in which the skin or eyes become very sensitive to sunlight or other forms of light).

Peppermint

has been used as far back as ancient Egypt to ease stomach pains. It can also be used to soothe respiratory problems and deter fleas, ants, and mice. Along with the general safety rules, peppermint is a possible irritant. Keep away from mucus membranes, and use sparingly. Avoid if you have high blood pressure. Do not use if chest feeding.

Rosemary

is helpful in helping one stay vigorous in mentally exhausting situations. It can boost confidence, aid with memory, and ease depression. It is also found in some beauty products. Do not use if you have high blood pressure or if you’re epileptic.

Lavender

is the most commonly used essential oil. It can be used as a healer that prevents minor scarring. It can also relax and calm the mind. This scent is related to ideas of traditional femininity such as gentleness and beauty.

Additional Safety Tips Do not take essential oils internally, and do not use them if you are pregnant without the guidance of your doctor. Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children, and do not use on children without the guidance of a doctor. Refrain from using on pets without the guidance of a veterinarian. Keep out of eyes and away from the face. Make sure to store essential oils as directed in glass bottles. Synthetic bottles will deteriorate over time. Each essential oil has a shelf life, so make sure that you do not keep any oils past their expiration date.

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Embrace spring with a commitment to your mental health wellness. Whether you want to talk, or need help with something more serious, call us.

303.617.2300 aumhc.org Telehealth

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Where queers belong. outfrontmagazine.com

Photos Courtesy of Roxanna Carrasco

Special Thanks to A² Fitness and BlackGirlFitClub

Drag Queens: Anna Staysha and Victoria Paige Matthews

Additional Models: Rachel Galstad and Rajdulari Landell

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Mystical Exploration through Altered States of Consciousness yB Alanna L..P

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his article was written for adults T who are interested in responsible drug usage. It is not for minors. OFM and Alanna L.P. are not responsible for any decisions that you make as a result of reading this article. If you choose to enter an altered state of consciousness like those described in this article, you assume full responsibility for your actions and any consequences they may bring. The Esoteric Theory of Planetary Vibrations “There is no blade of grass that does not have a constellation over it, telling it to grow.” -Book of Creation, Sefer Yitzirah 4.6 Each zodiac has a planet that governs it. That means that, whatever sign you are, you have a planet that looks after you, like a guardian angel. This planetary energy watches over you and teaches you the lessons that you chose to learn when you incarnated on Earth. The ancients believed that the planets ruled everything, not just the zodiac.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that plants like marijuana have planetary assignments. You don’t have to be an astrologer to use the energy of the planets to guide you in altered states. All you need is an open mind for planning a conscious trip into your psyche. Planning and Preparing for your Altered State Journey. First and foremost: Use a moderate and mindful dose of any substance when entering an altered state. The act of entering into an altered state for ritual purpose or spiritual exploration should be planned carefully and intentionally. If you are inexperienced in the art of entering altered states, it’s best to choose someone with experience to be your trusted guide in your journey. Even if you’re experienced with altered states of consciousness, choose a mindful dose and make sure you are read up on your drug of choice. It is never wise to ignorantly enter an altered state of consciousness. Timing Your Journey with the Movements of the Sun and the Moon Planets close to the Earth like the sun

and the moon have a stronger effect on Earth than planets further away like Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto in astrology. Therefore, pay attention to the time of day you plan for your ritualistic journey. If you want to amplify rebirthing energies, plan your experience around the dawn. If you want to use your journey to banish, plan the journey around dusk. An Introduction into Using Planetary Energies in Altered States of Consciousness Wine The sun is thought to rule the active energies associated with power, life force, vitality, health, manifestation, and confidence. Grapes grow and ripen in the sun and are traditionally harvested during sun-ruled Leo. Choose a glass of wine when evoking the energies of this planet in an altered state. If you would like to learn more about the energy of the sun, wear yellow or gold and perform your rite on a Sunday. Leos may get the most out of this journey. Mantra: I approach this rite with a clear conscience.

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Safety note for alcohol consumption: It’s dangerous to drink in the heat, so make sure you stay cool and hydrated if you are planning to use wine ritualistically. Stop consuming when you feel tipsy to find that sweet spot between sobriety and inebriation. Psilocybin Mushrooms The moon is associated with passive energies of psychic abilities, emotions, compassion, wisdom, intuition, nurturing, imagination, creativity, and empathy. Use magic mushrooms when evoking lunar energies if you would like to make the waking mind aware of subconscious thoughts. Magic mushrooms give the mystic the opportunity to heal the subconscious mind through consciously working with the creative mind. You can paint, draw, dance, or write in your altered state. If you would like to dive deeper into working with the energy of the moon, wear violet or silver and perform your rite on a Monday. Cancers may get the most out of this journey. Mantra: I approach this rite with a pure heart. Safety note for tripping on mushrooms: It’s best to work with a mental health professional when healing traumas, especially if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or anyone else. If you are inexperienced with tripping mushrooms, try microdosing on your first journey to induce a slight buzz, similar to being drunk without using alcohol. Amphetamines Mercury is associated with the active energies of communication, wit, intelligence, study, travel, perception, dexterity, and technology. Mercury is the fastest planet in the solar system, so when evoking this planetary energy, choose an amphetamine. Amphetamines speed up your central nervous system, so everything moves faster. Ritalin has the reputation of a “study drug” because it increases one’s ability to concentrate so use it to aid in matters of learning and writing. If you would like to dive deeper into working with the energy of Mercury, wear orange, and perform your rite on a Wednesday. Geminis and Virgos may get the most out of this journey. Mantra: I approach this rite with a good sense of humor. Mars is associated with the attributes of aggression, war, active manifestation, inspiration, setting boundaries, lust, anger, motivation, passion, active sexuality, vitality, and protection. Amphetamines would also be a good choice for learning about this energy because drugs like cocaine tend to give the user a speedy burst of courage. To explore this energy deeper, wear red, and perform 4 0 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

your rite on a Tuesday. Aries and Scorpios Saturn through the lens of cannabis, may get the most out of this journey. wear black and perform your rite on a Mantra: I courageously approach this rite. Saturday. Capricorns may get the most out of this journey. Safety note for taking amphetamines: Mantra: I perform this rite with humility. Amphetamines are highly addictive and can cause crashes that last for days. If you want Safety note for marijuana usage: If you to try a lighter version of Mercurial energy, are not a regular cannabis user, it’s best try drinking a caffeinated beverage. to smoke a small amount consciously. Avoid edibles if you are inexperienced MDMA with the herb because they can cause Venus is associated with the passive energies extreme paranoia and even vomiting of love, sex, attraction, relationships, when too much is consumed. possessions, romance, pleasure, beauty, affection, friendship, tenderness, erotica, LSD and luxury. When exploring this planetary Uranus is associated with the active energy, choose MDMA for a high that attributes of creation, newness, brings out all of Venus’ attributes. Known revolution, evolution, intuition, as the “love drug,” MDMA induces ecstatic trickery, intuition, science, change, euphoria and sometimes can cause mild excess, individuality, discovery, and hallucinations. If you would like to dive eccentricity. Uranus also rules the deeper into working with the energy of sign of Aquarius. The age of Aquarius Venus, wear green, and perform your rite on is thought by some to have dawned in a Friday. Taurus may get the most out of this the 60s, so turn on, tune in, and drop journey out on LSD when you are working with Mantra: I perform this rite as an act of love. the energy of Uranus. LSD is a powerful psychedelic that causes personal Jupiter is traditionally associated with the revolution. If you are looking for a active energies of expansion, abundance, rebirth, LSD can help you break free philosophy growth, luck, optimism, from limiting structures. If you would prosperity, freedom, opportunity, generosity, like to explore Uranus on a deeper level justice, and higher purpose. The elated through the usage of LSD, there is no feelings of hope and optimism induced by color or day best for the working of the uplifting drug MDMA bodes well with jovial rite. Break free from the rules, and do Jupiter. If you would like to dive deeper what brings joy to your heart. Aquarius into learning about Jupiter through using may get the most out of this journey. MDMA, wear blue and perform your rite Mantra: I approach this rite with an on a Thursday. Sagittarius may get the most open mind. out of this journey. Mantra: I perform this rite with joy. Safety note for tripping acid: Just like psilocybin mushrooms, taking too Safety note for rolling on ecstasy: MDMA can much acid can be very overwhelming be emotionally addictive and can also cause and dangerous. If you are inexperienced harsh emotional come down. Some people with tripping acid, try microdosing on claim that taking 5HTP ( found at the health your first journey to induce a body buzz. food store or in the vitamin section at the drugstore) can replenish depleted serotonin Plant Medicine levels. MDMA can be cut with different Neptune is associated with love, psychic drugs so it’s best to test your dose with a test ability, healing, creativity, empathy, kit (you can find them online) before taking imagination, sensitivity, transcendence, it. Staying well hydrated and avoiding compassion, dreaming, and vision. alcohol during consumption is best. MDMA Therefore, choose a plant medicine like is being proven to successfully treat anxiety, ayahuasca or San Pedro (mescaline) PTSD, and depression in a clinical setting. when diving deep with Neptune. Altered Check out MAPS.org for more information states associated with psychedelic plant about the exciting psychological research medicine are powerful, otherworldly being conducted using MDMA and experiences, so it is best to undertake other Schedule I substances right here in the journey in a ceremonial fashion Colorado. with a trained shaman. These shamanic journeys shatter the illusion of the ego Cannabis and cause intense visual hallucinations. Saturn is traditionally associated with the They have the power and potential to active forces of restriction, discipline, death, change you at the very core of who you initiation, responsibility, perseverance, are, so be mindful and respectful of the limitation, sacrifice, fear, and binding. plant medicine. Pisces may get the most Saturn is traditionally the planet associated out of this journey. with altered states induced by cannabis. Mantra: I surrender myself to this rite. Although it may be difficult to see the relation at first, Saturn is known as the Safety note for using plant medicines in great teacher and the greatest lesson of shamanic journeys: These journeys often all is losing all attachment to physical include a period of physical purging things. Intentionally using cannabis for through vomiting, diarrhea, or both. It this spiritual aim can help one drop the ego is thought a purge must happen first in and embrace a simpler, more natural life. If order for healing to occur. The visuals you are interested in learning more about can be so intense that you may feel you

are seeing the face of god. Therefore, please work with a trained shaman who can guide you through the intense mental, physical, and spiritual sensations of your healing journey. Pluto is associated with death, rebirth, transformation, binding, destruction, the subconscious, destiny life cycles, intensity, and resurrection. DMT affects neurotransmitters that induce an altered state similar to a near-death experience when one “breaks through.” If you feel that a rebirth is needed and you are ready for old parts of yourself to die, choose to journey to the underworld and be resurrected with DMT. Scorpio may get the most out of this journey. Mantra: I approach this rite as I would approach death. Safety note on using DMT: DMT causes large amounts of serotonin to be released. If you are taking antidepressants or feeling depressed, please reconsider using this method of contacting Pluto energy. For a deeper experience, wear white on any day of the week. Working with planetary energies can take you on a wonderful journey through the cosmos. Make sure you keep a journey on hand, and have your favorite tunes ready to go. Remember, it’s just a ride, and enjoy the journey. Do this, and the planets will reveal the answers you seek. May you be blessed on your journey. So mote it be. If you are struggling with substance abuse, please call 1-800-6624357 to get help.

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Living Life onthe Margin, From Iraq to Denver Interview with Sociologist and Activist Mais Al-Nima by Denny Patterson

As a queer immigrant born in Iraq, navigating her childhood and education in multiple countries during a period of war before finally moving to Denver just before her 21st birthday, Mais Al-Nima has a distinct experience, and it’s shaped the way she traverses the world.

with first … I always felt my attraction was something that was, you know, maybe all queer kids ( feel this way) in some way, shape, or form, like, ‘This is an abomination; This is not normal; there’s something wrong with me.’ So I felt like an outsider in that regard.”

Al-Nima was born in Baghdad, Iraq and stayed there until she was about 11 or 12, a period she called the most consistent of her life. Her mother is half Syrian; her father is fully Iraqi, and by 2003, the Iraq War had begun. They stayed for about a year before it became unlivable, and from there packed up as a family and headed to Syria.

Though, in reference to her immigration to the United States, Al-Nima says, “I think being in the U.S. in general has its own type of alienation.

In Syria, Al-Nima finished middle school and started high school, and by her senior year, her father got a job in Kuwait, and it was time to move again. Al-Nima wrapped up high school and completed college with a major in computer science, staying in Kuwait for five total years. Her father worked for the army for an extended period and qualified for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), which allowed the family to immigrate to the U.S. just before AlNima’s 21st birthday. That’s when Al-Nima found herself in a completely new environment, Denver, Colorado. Al-Nima is no stranger to alienation. “I’ve always thought of myself as someone on the outside looking in, like someone who’s living on the margin,” she says. Back home, this was due to gender and sexuality. “I was always the tomboy, right? Someone who didn’t really adhere to the girly-girl gender role, and my sexuality came later, actually. I think gender was something I struggled 4 2 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

“Probably, if you see me on the street, you’ll think Hispanic, or I can pass, right? But the second that I open my mouth, it’s like, ‘Where’s your accent from?’” Al-Nima says. But the reality is that in many Middle Eastern countries, LGBTQ folks still can’t be out and proud, Al-Nima says, and moving to the U.S. allowed her to finally, openly explore her queerness. But, with that, she also was able to feel just how different she was from others in the queer community and the Denver community as a whole. Al-Nima says it was a “really interesting time” to move to the U.S., citing the shift toward Trumpism and the general political shift “where people got really empowered to be racist,” she says. “I was just too Arab, right? I was just too ethnic. I was just too different in a way that I didn’t really find belonging, necessarily, in the dominant queer space,” Al-Nima says. “It’s predominantly white, especially in Denver, and I want to be mindful of the different geographical differences across U.S. cities. They’re not the same; I just happen to be in Denver.”

Photo Courtesy of Niama Al-Nima Al-Nima also says that she was used to affirming to herself that she was “queer enough” throughout her adolescence and young adulthood, and coming to Denver brought up that question again: “Am I queer enough?” Though, the new environment was also a reminder of all the different aspects of her identity, how they all inform her queerness, and how they all interact. “I was already done growing up or whatever,” Al-Nima says. “I never felt like I necessarily fit right, and so it really makes you question that universal thinking that we have. Is there actually a universal identity, right, when it comes to being queer? Is there a universal identity when it comes to being feminist? Is there a universal identity when it comes to fill-inthe-blank, you know?” For Al-Nima, coming to the U.S. was the beginning of her journey in terms of accepting that. “The beauty about this is that you are all of these things at once, and who cares about fitting in, right? You create your own narrative in every single aspect of your life.” Al-Nima also dove into this conversation for her master’s in sociology, where she completed her thesis on queer Muslims. She admits that a huge part of the thesis was searching for herself and connecting to folks like her, or folks who came from similar backgrounds. She says in this,

and in the broader scheme of the LGBTQ community and others, it’s important to remember that our similarity is not the only point we can come together with.

another country, and from there, kind of like the crescendo of my life, it was always better. I always moved to a better place than the one that I was before.”

“It’s all of these points of divergence that enrich us as people who have different experiences that are marginalized, right? And I hate that word, but as people who are living outside of the script in some way or the other, some of us are living outside of this script in different ways, pertaining to different identities. Some of us might be living outside of that in one of their identities, so how can we have a conversation about that and say, ‘Here’s my side of the story. How does it look on your side?’ And actually listen to each other, right?”

Al-Nima carries this sentiment into her work as a member at the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau (CRSB), where she’s been since 2018. She says she tries not to take too many engagements because of her specific experience, though she cites the last talk she delivered, “basically coming out in front of like 500 people, in a very subtle way.” (She says those who were paying attention got the message.)

Al-Nima also admits that she hates labels, though she recognizes the need for them, especially at the beginning of every movement. She is cautious when it comes to putting each other in boxes and the assertion that, once a person takes on a label for themselves, it’s the lane they must stay in their entire lives. This also applies to her immigrant identity. Some SIV holders are colloquially referred to as refugees, though Al-Nima has personally never identified as a refugee. “My experience, when I look at so many other people that I know, is actually very privileged,” Al-Nima says. “Yes, I lived through a couple of years of war, but I was actually able to transport myself to

“I really find passion in making people uncomfortable, and not for the sake of just discomfort, but to really help them reflect back and think about their values, things they might not have questioned.” Al-Nima says her work at CRSB allows her to uplift that aspect of her identity, though she also works as an advisor for graduate students and wants to continue elevating these conversations, especially in that hope they reach folks who need to hear it. “I think my biggest struggle as I was even coming out to myself was like, ‘Are there even queer Muslims?’ Like, who the hell am I, right?” Al-Nima says. “It’s really hard to be looked at as an impossibility as you’re trying to figure out yourself. So just because you don’t hear about us, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t here.”

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Photo by Rox Tran 4 4 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

by Denny Patterson

therapists operating under the umbrella term of life coach to help people within those parameters. Personally, I specialize in ADHD coaching, anxiety, parents of neurotypical and autistic children, and I do men’s coaching where we unpack toxic masculinity and diet culture, especially in the LGBTQ world.” As a content creator, Mills chooses to use his position to encourage people to care for their mental health and to spread a message of body acceptance coming from a somewhat unexpected source: a mid-size mental health professional who happens to be a man.

The body positivity movement in its current form began to emerge around 2012, initially focusing on challenging unrealistic feminine beauty standards. As the movement grew in popularity, the original focus on acceptance of weight began to shift toward a message that “all bodies are beautiful.” While this is most certainly the case, body positivity is still primarily geared toward women. Men are often excluded from the narrative, which is unfortunate because men can struggle just as hard as women to feel at home in their bodies. Nobody knows that better than licensed professional counselor (LPC) and body-positive content creator Will Mills. Based in New Jersey, Mills originally wanted to pursue a career in theater and performing. Due to life circumstances, his path led him to mental health and counseling. “Most of us who pursue this kind of work did not necessarily grow up with perfectly charmed lives,” he explains. “This is kind of a common theme with therapists. A lot of us go into the idea that we’re going to learn how to heal ourselves by getting an education in psychology or something related. My intention was to understand myself and the things that happened to me, and I’ve also always had a passion for helping others.”

He initially thought he was too old to join TikTok but soon changed his mind after his friend Megan kept sending him videos. “Funny enough, one of the first videos I saw from a mental health professional was one of Katelyn’s,” Mills says. “She is a gem of a human being, and she and Megan inspired me to make videos. Then they said I should inject more of myself into my content because my early videos are very dry. They don’t show my personality at all. Everyone has that fear of being dragged online or being shamed publicly, but they were like, ‘You’re on a computer screen. What’s the worst that’s going to happen?’ That’s a fair point.” After making some slight changes, Mills quickly gained popularity on the social media platform. In addition to a positive message, his love of crop tops has become another staple of his videos. “It’s very normal for women to wear crop tops, but I was like, that looks so comfortable,” he states. “As a therapist, comfort items and being comfortable are so important. Clothing is a big part of that, especially when you’re trying to be more body-accepting and positive. Sometimes, we don’t want to leave the house because we feel like we don’t have something to wear, and it’s because we sometimes

Currently, Mills works overnight taking crisis calls and helps people get into detox, rehab, residential treatment programs, and inpatient programs, as well as providing immediate support. He works with community mental health and primarily helps people dealing with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness. Because he specializes in several different areas, this is what led Mills to work for himself and start up a coaching business called Mental Wealth Coaching with fellow bodypositive creators, Dr. Katelyn Baker (@thatfatdoctor) and Taylor Masters (@truly_tay). “I want to be accessible to people everywhere throughout the world,” Mills says. “We launched last year, and it’s been great. I never thought of myself as a business owner or a private practice outpatient person. It’s not therapy, but it’s very similar and has this virtual component. We are all o u t f r o n tm a g a z i n e. co m 45

just don’t have clothes that fit us because we’re still trying to be someone that we’re not, and we aren’t appreciating our current selves. I wanted to do something that looked comfortable. I’ve never worn a crop top before, let me try it.” When Mills first wore one for a video, he was surprised by the response. “I was like, ‘People aren’t being mean to me?’” he laughs. “I have been bullied since conception, so it was weird for people to be like ‘yas’ and reacting in the way they did. I was very confused at first because they were acting the same way I have reacted to other creators. For it to happen to me, like, is this real? Of course, anxiety then sets in, imposter syndrome, and you think people are just being nice, but no. This is helpful. This is impactful. Then I gained the confidence to wear them outside of my house. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not wearing crop tops to go grocery shopping in 40-degree weather—That’s just not a great life choice.” By being vulnerable and putting himself out there, Mills has learned to embrace himself a lot more, rather than hating himself for his insecurities. As a member of the queer community, Mills has noticed some patterns of body negativity that can be perpetuated in LGBTQ spaces, and he hopes to see that change.

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“There is a lacking and not a lot of discussion about body positivity in queer spaces towards male identified or male adjacent,” he says. “It is mostly female-driven. I think I follow maybe three men who do body positivity, and they’re all mid-sized. They’re like me or smaller. There’s just not a lot of males out there advocating or showing this kind of thing, and that lends into the narrative that men are overly confident, which is true in some cases, but there are a lot of who have eating disorders and no not feel desirable in these queer spaces.” At the end of the day, Mills sees that the positives outweigh the negatives, and he is happy to be a part of the change and help people fight against stigma. “I wasn’t necessarily going to go out and be super body positive, but Katelyn kind of inspired a lot of that,” he says. “The connections I made on TikTok have helped me grow as a person, which has also helped my content grow. It’s important for people to see mental health professionals, and I would love to continue to grow and inspire more people. They need to realize that their relationship with themselves is the most important.” Stay up-to-date and connect with Mills by following him on Instagram @counselor.will, TikTok @counselorwill, or visit mentalwealthcoaching.org.

‘Hypochondriac’ Tackles Mental Illness from a Queer Horror Perspective by Denny Patterson

Making its world premiere at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW), Hypochondriac is a queer horror film that will most certainly give viewers nightmares. Centered around a young potter named Will, his life devolves into chaos as he loses function of his body while being haunted by the physical manifestation of his childhood trauma. Although this may be a work of fiction to audiences, unfortunately, this story is very much a reality to director Addison Heimann since it is based on his own mental breakdown. Heimann struggled with mental health for the better part of a year, and his goal with Hypochondriac was to visually capture what he felt like during this time of darkness. “My mom’s bipolar, and I was experiencing these symptoms of tingling and dizziness when she was being particularly emotionally abusive to me,” he explains. “Of course, I Googled, and it told me I was dying of ALS, so I clutched on to that because no one could tell me otherwise. I was convinced that was happening. Then I was working as a production assistant at the time and carrying 70-, 80-pound sky panels up and down stairs with no freight elevator, trying to prove to myself that I wasn’t dying. Basically, I injured my arms to the point where I couldn’t type, text, lift a fork, or shave.” One day while in physical therapy, Heimann joked with his therapist saying he should write about this. “My physical therapist was like, ‘You’re a writer, right? You should write about this.’ I was like, ‘OK.’ So, I put two pillows on a desk and ice packs on my arms, and I wrote. That was like a form of therapy in itself. The more I pushed through, I thought, ‘This is something that I need to tell, and this is especially something I need to direct because it’s my story.’ The more I would tell this story to others, the more people got on board. There was something there, and I thought it was good to explore, so that kind of pushed me to create the film.”

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Well-known for his fun and goofy shorts and web series, Heimann says he is proud to have Hypochondriac be his first feature film, and that it was wild to have it screen at SXSW. In addition to making audiences feel like they’re experiencing a mental breakdown, Heimann also hopes the film is giving a clear message that it is OK to ask for help. “Hypochondriac tells the story of everything that was happening before the moment I asked for help,” he says. “While we can see and understand the tragedy, I think I was so hesitant to tell people about it because I didn’t want to be a burden on anyone. I just wanted to survive in my own little hold and keep my problems to myself. The moment I reached out, help came. You need actual people to help you survive and move forward, and hopefully people see that message in the movie.” The film’s cast includes Devon Graye (Dexter, I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore), Madeline Zima (The Nanny, Californification), Marlene Forte (Knives Out, Fear the Walking Dead), Chris Doubek (Boyhood, Bacurau), Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds, Community), and Zach Villa (American Horror Story, Destroyer), who plays Will, the character based on Heimann. According to Villa, he had no clue what the film was about prior to auditioning but found the material to be very relatable. “Similar to most auditions, you just get the sides, material, and look it over,” he says. “When I read the sides for this, I was immediately like, ‘Oh, I think I know this scenario.’ This person spoke to something in my history, and I think Addison and I have parallel experiences in mental health. Of course, I didn’t go through what he went through, but this spoke to me because my half-brother has been diagnosed with a multitude of things throughout my life. He’s currently a treated schizophrenic. I think the stuff that I experienced with him growing up and how my

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family dealt with it, it was like the universe was sending me this project.” Like Heimann, Villa believed that this story needed to be told. “When I realized this was more autobiographical, that was a gift. I believe in this film, and I believe in what it’s trying to say. It’s so raw, but also artistically accessible and gives you a fantastical medium and an adaptation to experience it, opposed to just a guy’s crazy story, which we see all the time in Hollywood. This is adapted in such a way that people can relate to it and see themselves in the story. The script was brilliant, and the truth was there, and it made my job very easy.” Although there are several movies out there that focus on mental health themes, both Heimann and Villa think they are more prevalent in dramas and comedies. Queer mental health, on the other hand, not so much. “Maybe it’s because we’re told not to talk much about mental health growing up, but we’re going far in the other direction being like, no, we’re going to talk about it,” Heimann laughs. “I sometimes feel that mental health can be used almost like a horror tactic, and I want to throw an opinion on that. Like, is it real or not? For me, the type of stories I want to tell, and the ones that are probably lacking, are the ones that are in our heads, but in a way that’s scarier. When I was going through my mental breakdown, people would be like, ‘It’s all in your head.’ Cool, but that doesn’t help me because I still feel what’s happening to me. I want to dive more into that.” Hypochondriac is currently on the festival circuit and will be released through XYZ Films this summer. Stay up-to-date with Heimann by following him on Instagram @addybear5, or visit his official website, addisonheimann.com. Connect with Villa by following him on Twitter and Instagram @zachvilla.

Beyond The Binary By Keegan Williams

“I’m nonbinary, and I use they/them pronouns.” Addressing “health” in relation to the trans experience feels kind of like answering a loaded question. It’s hard to give out some neatlypackaged wisdom on how to foster your mental health as a trans person when many of us can’t afford therapy to process the trauma we might have endured (or be enduring) through our lives, or even just a queer-affirming party who can help us to sort out our experiences That doesn’t even cover the slew of anti-trans bills hitting states across the country, not to mention the fact that some of them are passing, and how that affects our mental well-being. We also can’t pretend optimal physical health is something that all trans people can just go and seek out. Many trans people can’t afford the medical procedures to feel affirmed in their gender, and others are not in living situations where they can safely live out and proud, which takes a mental toll. There are also abundant intersections of experience that further exasperate this conversation within our trans community. I am a trans person who is still learning how to foster this conversation with myself. I’ve known I’m nonbinary for a long time, but I’ve only been fully out for a little over a year, much of that spent alone and processing it by myself, with the help of my writing, reading, the internet, and a very limited digital and IRL trans community.

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Though, in trying to figure out a “healthy” middle ground in traversing the world in my newly embraced transness, I will say I’ve learned a lot about keeping myself, my thinking, and my gender journey the most productive it can be. My focus is typically around what I can control, and obviously I can only speak in the scope of my own experience. One thing I had to learn very quickly about my gender and the way people perceive it is that there are always going to be people who don’t understand, or who are actively working against understanding. To a certain extent, I had to sort out the people whom I cared that “got it” and whom I didn’t. On the other side, I also implore folks to remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation on your gender. I often found, during those first few months of living out, I would over-explain to people, as if I had to prove my gender and how I felt about it. Anymore, I often just limit it to, “Yeah, I’m nonbinary, and I use they/them pronouns.” That’s all people need to know. They don’t need to know my entire relationship to my gender, and if they ask, I’m not entitled to answer. I mean, are cis people expected to give us a dissertation on why they’re cis every time their manhood or womanhood comes up? I can be a pretty impassioned speaker about these topics, and often spoke up on issues within the trans and nonbinary community on TikTok last year, opening myself up to a flood of comments from

people essentially throwing quick jabs at me, my gender, my queerness. While I surely spent a good amount of time initially replying to those comments initially (and pain-stakingly arguing with hateful strangers online), I eventually decided that if the other party doesn’t want to actually engage in a productive conversation, it’s probably not a conversation I want to be a part of. This marries itself to my next bit of advice: Take a step back when you need it. I actually don’t use TikTok anymore. There’s a number of reasons why, but one is surely because, any time I went live, or any video that got remotely popular (especially about topics related to gender and sexuality) the content also found its way to people who were more interested in berating me and whatever it was that I said in the video. As much as I appreciated the LGBTQ folks I met on the app and the community I fostered, I found it exhausting inviting some of the most scathing transphobic and queerphobic comments I’ve ever received into my life on a regular basis. I think about my role as associate editor here at OFM, in which I’m often writing about or assigning content about the worst things that happened to queer and trans folks that week. It’s heavy. When I get done with my day, I’m not always racing to my news app to double down or do a 15-second standup on my story about the latest anti-trans legislation and why my cis friends should care.

Fostering a 'Healthy Gender Journey The trans community continually advocates for ourselves and our livelihoods, and as much as our voices are needed, it is exhausting. We also can’t fully do it on our own. (Hey cis folks, that’s your cue to speak up if you’re not already!) What I know for sure is that we won’t have the continued energy to keep up this fight if we wear ourselves out constantly engaging in the trans violence surrounding us. My resounding thought on a “healthy” outlook for trans people, and really anyone, is giving yourself the grace to grow or change your identity however it naturally happens. As much as we don’t love to admit it, the LGBTQ community can sometimes feel very sectioned off and divided by those individual letters. It can feel intimidating when you have lived in a certain way for a while and realize, “Wait a second; I don’t feel that way anymore.” As I’ve been able to sit with this part of myself openly, or address it in forums like this, over that time, I’ll admit: I’m more affirmed in my gender than ever, but my perception of my own gender has already shifted from that initial coming out day. Often, I don’t even bother to try to explain it all to myself because I feel like I constantly learn new things about my gender and identity, or even how my lived experience as a boy and man throughout my life may or may not inform some of those elements, whether I want them to or not.

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People are far too complex to remain stagnant and unchanged throughout their entire lives. I want to have space for whatever changes come in the future, and it’s OK that I might not know what that looks like right now. It hearkens back to that true magic in being queer and trans, that ability to completely morph and shift into your best self, sometimes in ways you may not even expect. To my trans community, I love you so much. I am in awe of us. We are in the midst, and at the forefront, of a major shift in understanding around gender and identity. We have to watch out for each other, and we must watch out for ourselves.

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Queer Girl Q&A with Eleni Stephanides

: I’m a woman of color whose Q body type doesn’t fit the culturally prescribed ideal, and I sometimes feel

out of place in wellness circles because of this. In my experience, there seems to be this particular (limited) aesthetic that dominates these spaces. Most of the influencers I see are thin, ablebodied, and white. How can I become more involved with wellness while minimizing my chances of coming up against microaggressions, unsolicited advice, and comments that leave me feeling worse about myself ? : Being A country, dealt with

a woman in this while I, too, have my own share of appearance-based insecurities, I know that weight is a particularly common metric used for harshly judging women and their value. Even though Lindy West’s blood tests, for instance, have always come back normal, still the steady tide of unsought advice from friends and strangers alike has continued unendingly (as she wrote about in her book Shrill). And in the medical appointments I interpret for Spanish-speaking patients, numerous times, a doctor has told a patient with chronic pain that if only she just lost weight, maybe then she’d be able to return to work. Other times, the judgment is implied, coming across in valorization of thinness. (A line I once read in the book The Silent Patient really floored me: “Alicia, darling. I’ve missed you. You’re so thin, there’s nothing left of you. I’m so jealous.”) The wellness community isn’t immune to the western beauty standards that pervade our dominant culture. Much of it is, admittedly, still heavily populated by mainly clear-skinned, cis, white, 5 2 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

thin, and able-bodied individuals. The way writer Amira Rasool has described feeling unseen within these spaces reminded me of how I felt when I Googled “love” as a teenager only to unearth pretty much exclusively images of heterosexual couples. “The dozens of photos that pop up are, truly, overwhelmingly white,” she writes. “White women doing yoga. White women smiling over green juice. White women posed serenely with plants. If you’re a white woman looking for advice about your hair, skin, mental health, lifestyle changes, or selfcare, you have a seemingly endless stream of content at your fingertips. “If you’re a young Black woman, there are far fewer opportunities to find the type of beautifully curated content on Instagram related to our hair type, skin type, or overall well-being. There are far fewer opportunities to feel seen in the wellness world.” Our specific body insecurities may manifest differently, reader, but what I can say is that your feelings are 100% valid. It’s challenging out there for women—not because there’s anything wrong with us, but because of how our youth-obsessed, thin-valuing culture treats those who don’t fit the ideal. Try as we might, it’s hard not to internalize these widely circulated messages that tell us we are lesser. I do think there’s a distinction between wellness itself and capitalist systems’ commodification of it. Wellness at its basest, in my view, is less about appearance than it is about truly inhabiting your best and healthiest self—for your sake and no one else’s. I recommend seeking spaces that appear driven by the latter mission. Pay less attention to the

figures who seem to focus more on weight loss, the exterior, and finding “hacks” than on feeling good (overall) in your skin. Try to focus instead on those prioritizing internal experience over external results. They won’t promise quick fixes or use shame-based language. You won’t feel like they’re trying to hustle you. They’ll be more gentle and holistic in their approach. The figures I trust the most place greater emphasis on general, ageold tenets than on chasing the latest trends. For example, eat veggies is timeless wisdom I can confidently say won’t ever change. Fad diets might come and go, but truth in the benefit of supplanting processed foods with as many plants as possible will persist. Lindy West is one body-positive role model whom I really respect and admire. Both her book and the TV show Shrill derived from it explore these topics in such a raw and spot-on way—So I definitely recommend checking out her work if you haven’t yet! For POC influencers, look for Lauren Ash ( founder of black Girl in Om, Deun Ivory, Zehra Allibhai and Eva Gomez. As Rasool has written, “The wellness influencers that do cater to Black women have served as a source of refuge and learning for Black women like me.” Above all, try to think of navigating the wellness scene as similar to buying a fresh bushel of lettuce. You might have to wash out some dirt and pesticides, but once you do, you’re left with something undeniably nourishing. You can follow Eleni on Instagram @eleni_steph_writer.

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By Angel Omar Rivera

Beauty Beat Get the Look: A Clean Summer Makeup

s the cool spring air brings us into the season, A warm summer nights will soon be our norm. With that being said, we always want to look our best, but a full beat may be out of the question for many of us. That is why I am here to help you learn how to do a “clean” makeup look, or the “no makeup, makeup” look. This look, to many, may be the epitome of how some want their makeup to appear: effortless, dewy, and expensive. Keep these tips and products in mind when you want to try a fresh face.

Now, you can’t get started without some serious glow. First and foremost, a primer to bring out your real glow is the pinnacle of a “clean” look. The Charlotte Tillbury WonderGlow primer will bring out an amazing glow from you with its light-diffusing properties help redistribute light around the face and reduce the look of lines and wrinkles. Another great primer to bring out a glow is the Beauty Supernova Celestial Skin Elixir. This primer can also be used as a serum to help skin glow without any makeup! Any illuminating primer or even moisturizer will keep that glow. With the base set, you need to do the concealer first. I know, I know—How old school, but you want to lay down the /fuller coverage before your foundation. Trust me, it will be for longevity’s sake. Something with a natural finish will do the trick, like the MAC Studio Fix 24-hour Smooth Wear Concealer gives you instant brightness and a smooth seamless blend for under eyes and color correction. Make sure you blend out any harsh lines before you put down the foundation; the smoother the canvas, the more effortless the look will be.

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Before we finish, we need a good foundation to really keep your skin glowing. One great foundation to use as your base is the tried-and-true MAC Studio Radiance Face and Body Foundation. This product is waterproof and won’t break you out, great for any skin type. Another beautiful foundation to turn up the base is the Estee Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Foundation. This foundation has a natural matte finish that brings out an internal glow. For sheer foundations, your fingers or a damp sponge will give you the best coverage. Finally we have our face on, so highlighting the eyes and brows will be the final step. A brow boost and groom is all you need. The Benefit Gimme Brow+ is a quick and easy to use brow groomer that instantly tints the brows while also volumizing them. Don’t fret: This also doubles as an eyebrow gel, so it can be used in tandem with your favorite brow pencils. Another makeup artist staple is the Mac Big Boost Fibre Gel. This product gives you all the benefits of the Gimme Brow will, but it’s also sweat and humidity proof for those beach days. Finally dusting any of your favorite highlighters underneath the brows arch and on the eyelid will complete the glow. Finish this look with your favorite setting spray and a fresh scent to get you ready for your day, event, or to lounge around the house. Your clean makeup look should look easy, but it takes several steps and products to make yourself look fresh and fun.

A Look into Fab Fit Athleisure By Angel Omar Rivera

here are we headed with what we wear? Is athleisure here to stay or fading into bargain bins? Let’s face it: We are all guilty of wearing the baggy jumper and sweatpants out and about. We have even dolled it up a bit, with the occasional graphic tee and some joggers. Even with all the clothing options we have to wear, comfort is king. In recent years, the term “athleisure,” a mixture of “athletic” and “leisure,” took off. Originating in the 70s and skyrocketing in popularity circa 2018, athleisure refers to the simple and functional form of athletic wear and turning it into leisure or fashion wear. It can be a little odd, but if the Juicy Couture sweatsuits of yesteryear are any indication of what the future would hold, then it’s no surprise the American public love comfort and looks. Many brands have taken full advantage and capitalized on the trend, which is becoming a staple around the world due to its performance and comfort. For example, Nike has continually designed running shoes that can be worn for their intended purpose or even around the office, introducing colorways and silhouettes that complete outfits without sacrificing performance. Nike, however, is not solely focused on blurring the lines of fashion but has upped their design game for their athletic wear, even offering an expanded size range for people who want to wear something comfortable for fun or fit activities. As big as it is, Nike does not hold the monopoly on athleisure. Adidas, known for its own footwear and athletic wear,

“Where are we headed with what we wear? Is athleisure here to stay or fading into bargain bins?”

has recently gotten into the elevated fashion game using design techniques and repurposing silhouettes and shapes seen on the runway, even going so far as to partner up with Beyoncé and reintroducing her Ivy Park line—a partnership match made in chiffon heaven, showing that you don’t have to relinquish fashion to be comfortable. With the two biggest athletic wear producers in the world making capital gains in athleisure, smaller ventures have even seen some great success. The brand Skims also pounced on the chance to get people to wear comfortable and fashion-forward garments with little-to-no corporate assistance, as Skims is backed by none other than Kim Kardashian herself. The brand not only focuses on athleisure clothing, but undergarments as well. They are complexly woven into her clothing line, and what better thing to lounge around your house in than your underwear? I believe we are going to see the continued growth of athleisure. A core detail is that athleisure is making companies money, and people love to look effortless. Especially with the summer months coming soon, for the time being, the “fab fit” look of athleisure is here to stay. There are many things we can look toward in the future, including the evolution of the way we wear comfort and the way we perform in it. Our obsession with athletic leisure does not seem to be slowing down, but that is not stopping designers and fashion brands from creating things that look elevated without the compromise. outfrontmagazine.com 55

Cannabis Reviews : High and Healthy If you’re a cannabis consumer, you feel good when you use good ganja, but the wrong product can impact mental and physical health and generally ruin your whole day. Here are a few products we can’t live without when it comes to fitness and feeling good.

Wana Live Resin Gummies Wana has come out with a line of live resin gummies to keep up with all their competitors who are doing the same, and I must say, they blew many of those competitors out of the water. Here is the breakdown of their new flavors:

Citrus Sorbet Bright, citrusy terpenes found in our top-shelf, ice water-extracted live rosin are the star of these refreshingly tart gummies.

Watermelon Slushy Chill out with the ice-water extracted earthy pine-dominant terpenes perfectly complemented with a succulent watermelon flavor.

Good Chemistry Small Batch Strain: 5280 Gravy

Tropical Smoothie These mouth-watering tropical gummies pop with fruity, floral terpenes preserved by ice-water extracted live rosin.

Berry Gelato Designed for the lover of funky, gaslike terpene profiles found in many iconic cannabis strains, these gummies elevate the edible experience with their fast-acting technology and ice-water extracted live rosin.

I try to consume cannabis via edibles and vaping as much as possible to save my lungs, but sometimes, there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned strain of flower to really dig in, taste, and smell all the notes and terpenes. If you also save your flower splurges for a special occasion, the May 23 drop of 5280 Gravy is definitely one. The company has been honing their technique to produce the very best with this strain, and for those who tend toward anxiety, it is one of the most calming, relaxing ones I’ve tried. Don’t sleep on this one!

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Photo by Savanna Morales 5 8 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

The Aquadolls

By Keegan Williams

Forge Their Path with Empowering, Energetic Surf-Rock Bops he Aquadolls Founder Melissa T Brooks answers the phone in late March, in the midst of the band’s

first tour of the year, just a week after breaking the news that they will tour with Sublime with Rome and Incubus later this year. Needless to say, it’s a busy time for the band, and this day is no exception. “We just stopped at a gas station to go to the restroom, and it’s pouring rain,” Brooks says. “Oh yeah? Where are y’all at right now?” “Oh God, I don’t even know. I think we’re in—Are we in North Carolina?” Brooks poses, waiting for a reply from a tourmate. “Yeah, we’re passing through North Carolina all the way to Washington, D.C.” Though it’s been busy for the California beach rock band, Brooks shows no hesitation in describing 2022 so far as simply “fun,” explicitly noting that they are “just honored we get to be playing live music again.” Brooks started The Aquadolls back in 2012, “just recording demos on Logic and not really knowing what I’m doing.” It started as a creative side project, but Brooks began taking it more seriously once they got more shows. The lineup has changed over time, and after a brief hiatus from releases, the new era of the Aquadolls commenced in 2018, with drummer Jacqueline Proctor and bassist Keilah Nina. “It’s been a really great evolution of sound ever since,” Brooks says. “We still try to maintain that OG surf rock kind of sound, that surf punk sound from the early stuff, but mixing all of our musical influences together.” Like many bands, the pandemic hit The Aquadolls hard, just about to start the second leg of a six-week tour that ended up getting canceled. They took time apart, Brooks worked on a solo record, and once protocols were easing up, she met up with her bandmates to get practicing again. They covered the millennial favorite “Take Me Away”

from Freaky Friday, and it ended up going viral, which Brooks says “basically got us through the pandemic” until last summer. In 2021, The Aquadolls signed with Enci Records and released the single, “Disappearing Girl,” and while Brooks says they just did what they could to stay afloat during the time, they’re happy to be back on the road. The Aquadolls put out their first single of the year in February, “Cry Baby,” which featured a cameo from Sitting on Stacy, who also toured with them early in the year through mid-April. “(‘Cry Baby’) lyrically is about going to a concert, and you’re watching a band play, and you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, I think I might marry this person, and we’ve never met. They don’t know I exist, but I’m gonna stare at them really hard, and I’m gonna imagine my whole life with them.’ So, just kind of like a fangirl perspective of going shows and then crying about it later,” she laughs. Brooks says they definitely want to keep playing with the sound they’ve cultivated. She doesn’t like to make songs that sound the same either, so listeners can also expect a bit of variety as The Aquadolls share more music. As they’ve introduced new music over the years, with more still to come later this year, Brooks reflects on the past decade of The Aquadolls. “For me, music has definitely been really fun and it’s kind of cool to hear the evolution of songs. If you go to the very first recordings of We Are Free to ‘Disappearing Girl’ or ‘Cry Baby,’ I feel like we’ve grown a lot sonically. So, I’m excited to see our evolution, you know?” As a group of all women and femmes, that reflection also comes with the realities of forging space in an industry dominated by men; their song “Suck On This” documents that very experience. While this tour has been much better, Brooks nods to past experiences on tour, like working gigs and having to explain they aren’t just fans; they’re the actual band that’s been promoting and posting about selling tickets.

Brooks says it’s not just about creating space for themselves but also fostering an environment for other artists and those who are coming to see them. “We want to help represent for the women and nonbinary people in the music industry, just because it is so male dominated,” Brooks says. “We want all the women and nonbinary people to feel like they have a voice and can be seen and heard through music, and we try to do that with not just our songs, but with the shows that we throw. We like to create safe spaces and make sure that everyone feels welcome and safe, and any sexist jerks will be kicked out.” Though, especially looking back and recalling the beginning of the pandemic and longing for live music again, the future is bright for The Aquadolls. Brooks says they plan to put out a new record this year, a collection of songs they’ve written since their last record, The Dream and the Deception, came out in 2018. Leaving just a few months in between tours for the band to recoup, it bears repeating that The Aquadolls are heading out on another tour this summer with Incubus and Sublime with Rome. “So crazy,” Brooks says. “I grew up listening to both bands, so it’s truly an honor that we get to share the stage with them.” Though, when looking forward, Brooks says it’s bigger than the tours and the new tracks. “I just want to continue growing our message and keep growing the Aqua fam, for more people to find out about our message, and hopefully we can make them smile and make them happy,” she says. “That’s all I really could ask for, getting to travel and play music and sing songs that maybe people might relate to. It’s the best thing I could ever do, so I’m really grateful that I get to do this.”

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Please Don’t Kill Yourself: HEALTH on Their Message of Mental Wellness and Redemption Photo Courtesy of HEALTH If you’re a fan of prolific rock/pop/metal/noise/ everything band HEALTH, you know that being a fan of the band is more like being in a fun fan club than just being a listener and appreciator. Between their cool merch, imagery, and recurring themes that begin to seem like an inside narrative with the band, they definitely give fan club vibes. I purposely say fan club and not cult because cults are bad for your mental health, and HEALTH are not. “We’re accessible,” admits vocalist and guitarist Jake Duzsik, not the kind of revelation you’d expect to readily come from a band that have the hip, queer crowd in their back pocket. “We started printing some hats that have reverse text on the hat, and in reverse letting, it says ‘Don’t Kill Yourself,’ so if you’re standing in front of a mirror, it reads in proper order. And it’s like an aesthetically cool, edgy, kind of fashion trope thing, but it also really, genuinely is a good thing for if you’re having a really bad day. Maybe you’re not actively thinking about killing yourself; maybe you are, but it’s just sort of a reminder not to let yourself go that dark.” Much of HEALTH’s merch, aesthetic, and even music, is like that—on the surface, a fun example of culture jamming, cool, metalthemed imagery paired

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By Addison Herron-Wheeler

with more accessible fashion tropes and poppy melodies, bits of electropop, dubstep, black metal, really anything you can imagine, creeping in between the riffs and melodies. while initially, that just seems like a really good way to throw conventions out the window and have fun with music and art, there is a deeper message as well.

a professional, but there are many people that will call him and ask him for help or just kind of just as a support structure of just like ‘Hey, I don’t really have anybody else to talk to,’” Duzsik admits. “I think they’re just like, ‘I really like this just fucking weirdo, underground band, and I feel like I can interact with this person.’”

“We’re an underground band, and even though we’ve been lucky to keep doing this and continue to grow and get more fans, it still feels like this very cohesive, underground thing where we’re all connected, so we care about our fans,” Duzsik continues.

He has also noticed that in that group of people who call themselves fans of the band, and maybe even those who reach out to the band for help, many are members of the queer community.

He comments that, when he realized that fans of the band were responding well to the merch with positive mental health messages, and also resonating with their lyrics that touch on mental health issues, they needed to provide an actual outlet for folks to reach out if they needed to. They began to provide a number at the end of music videos for those who needed to talk, and to their surprise, the number got called. “John (Famiglietti, bass, pedals, electronics) has, at certain times, made me a little anxious just because there are legal ramifications, and you don’t want to give someone psychiatric advice that should be handled by

“I think over the last couple years, we have really noticed that our fan base is pretty extensive in the LGBTQ community,” he says. “You’re putting out records, and you’re playing your shows, and you don’t know exactly how people are interacting with your music. And when you start to get a sense that there could be some way that your music is touching people in a positive sense that you couldn’t have anticipated, I feel like that’s probably one of the better things that can ever happen to anyone who’s putting art, or what would be seen as entertainment, into the world. “We’ve even had experiences recently where we didn’t know the records were resonating in the trans community, but then we had actual fans who met

on Discord and that sort of helped them come to be more comfortable with coming out to their friends and family, which is, like, an incredibly moving thing to see that happening. We’re not actively taking part in it, but it is somehow related to the music we’re making, and that is very, very moving.” Overall, the band aren’t here to preach to you or convince you to make a positive move, but they are here to put both their darkness and light out into the world, and then provide a safety net for those who need help recovering from the darkness. “We like to sort of present two different sides,” Duzsik concludes. “We can have those elements that are seemingly dystopian, nihilistic, existential lyrics or videos, but also, because we know that we have this close relationship with our fans, and we know that they’re real people, we like to sort of provide the other side of that, which is to say, like, ‘Hey, we also know that like, people really do have these feelings about life. It’s not just, like, a fucking a cool t-shirt. So, if you’re feeling really, really bad, we would hope that we could help in some way.” Look out for a new collaboration record out last month from HEALTH, and catch them on their U.S. tour as they stop by and finally get to play post-pandemic in some of their favorite cities, including Denver. .

Metal Meltdown Catharsis and Release By Addison Herron-Wheeler

If you’re a metalhead like me, you might have heard this type of narrative your entire life: “How can you listen to such negative music? Isn’t it making your depression worse? No wonder you’re so dark and negative all the time; look at the music and imagery you’re surrounding yourself with.” It’s almost a cliche at this point—The goth kid sits in their room, wallowing in sadness, listening to sad music and wearing all black. And jokes about emo kids and sad or angry music are nothing new. But despite how mainstream that line of comedy has become in our society, it doesn’t stop the fact that people seriously still think consuming dark media makes mental health worse. Don’t get me wrong: There is something to be said for needing to take a break from the darkness to consume something more like a familiar comedy (thanks depression, I will watch Seinfeld in its

entirety again for the 400th time); a goofy set of memes, joyful music to dance to; even a bright; cheerful spring day. But there’s also something to be said for using metal to wallow in and release negative feelings. As a bassist and vocalist in a death metal band, I find it extremely good for my mental health to take time out after a long day of work at OFM to have band practice. I get to hit the strings as hard as possible and scream out aggressive lyrics with no concern that someone is going to come along and ask me to check myself in somewhere for help. Society has deemed it acceptable—at least underground society— to scream and aggressively play an instrument, as long as it’s part of a performance. And that’s not to say that I just scream and hit notes randomly. The fact that my band can take all of our negativity (all of us are pretty open about suffering from mental health issues and how

we try and heal from it), all of our pain and sadness and anger, and express it together in a way that comes out as a song other people can then listen to to get out their sadness and anger, is— well, actually pretty cool, and one of the best feelings out there. You don’t have to get into metal and join a band to get this kind of release. I also experience this when writing, and artists talk about something similar. The same feeling can be achieved from physical movement as well, and pushing yourself in a way that maybe feels extreme but still good and not harmful for your body. So, next time someone tries to give you a hard time for your “dark” interests, be they metal, TV show choices, horror movies, or even your daily aesthetic, I hope they remember— What society sees as negative expression could actually be healing you every day.

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Horoscopes May 2022

By Alanna L.P. Welcome to Alanna L.P.’s Uplifting Horoscopes. These are very general readings that will resonate with many but not all of you. That’s OK! Take away what makes sense, and leave what doesn’t behind. If you want a deeper understanding of what to expect this month, read your sun sign, your rising sign, and your moon sign. You can find what these are by going to cafeastrology.com to get a free birth chart reading.

Aries Your empathy will make you a peacemaker this month, dearest Aries. This newfound talent will bring you exciting opportunities. It’s time to grow, grow, grow, and there’s no slowing down. You’re going to get the attention you need to make it all work out. Mantra: Speak and then listen.

Taurus Happy birthday, Taurus! It’s time to celebrate that wonderful, romantic, sensual, decadent person that you are! Dress to the nines, and know that you are divine. Mercury will be in retrograde until June 3, so if your mind is racing between then and now, get out, and get active. What goes around comes around, so if you get called out, be the bigger person and apologize. Mantra: Gratitude is an attitude.

Gemini If your birthday is in May, Gemini, happy birthday to you! Let’s celebrate that witty, charismatic, curious, playful person you are. The time of your life is just around the corner, so use this period to take out the emotional garbage. Relax, have fun, and don’t take life so seriously. Everything you do affects others, so be of service, and it will all come back to you in the most beautiful way. Mantra: “Lean on me / When you’re not strong / And I’ll be your friend / I’ll help you carry on / For it won’t be long / Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.” -”Lean on Me” by Bill Withers

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Cancer You may not know where your feelings end and others’ begin this month, dear Cancer. It’s time to teach and learn, expand, and grow, and for goodness sake, write that book! Even if you’re not a writer, people want to hear what you have to say. You may impress someone with clout, but these encounters could end ugly. Think about giving that opportunity a hard pass in favor of connecting with the warmth of friends. Trust me, you’ll be in much better company! Mantra: My passions are my purpose.

Leo Shape up, or ship out! If you know you need to get your health in check, now is the time, dearest Leo! Use your new found energy in your job search. It may feel more like a quest than a search, but tracking the treasure down is worth it. Hold those you love close, and cry it out. And for those who jump ship, wish them the best. If someone confesses a deep, dark secret to you, be empathetic and slow to judge. Feel, don’t think, and take good care of yourself, sunshine. You’re the only you you’ve got. Mantra: My wisdom is valued.

Virgo Breathe a sigh of relief, dear Virgo. It’s all about to start going your way. Another way to say, “I’m sorry” is to say “I love you.” A new opportunity in business may present itself, but give it until after Mercury retrograde ends (June 3) before you make a move on that offer. Mantra: “I’m sorry; I love you; please forgive me.” -Ho’oponopono, a Hawaiian Forgiveness Mantra

Libra Have fun working out with your friends to keep the good energy flowing—body, mind, and spirit. A new opportunity in love is manifesting. Speak it into existence. Mantra: No one will know unless I speak up.

Scorpio If something feels off, now is the time to restructure your fundamental belief system. If you are looking for a special partnership, a spiritual union is on the way. But be careful not to idealize relationships. Heaven forbid if you become codependent this time around! Keep friends and family near and dear to stay grounded. If you’re struggling, know you don’t have to go it alone, Scorpio. A good therapist could help you out a lot. Mantra: I’m not afraid of love.

Sagittarius What do you see when you look around your house? Your possessions often reflect your values. Now is the time to get a financial safety net in order. You may find that you are creating deeper bonds with your loved ones. Be yourself, and know that you are never too much. The lovely thing about being a Sagittarius is being wild and free! You could experience a strong call to service in your community that will bring a lot of joy to your life. So even if it feels right to get back in the dating game, you may not have much time for that just yet. Mantra: Helping others helps me.

Capricorn Be the change you want to be in the world this month, Capricorn. Your mind is powerful. What you say and think shapes reality. In the end, there is nothing wrong and you are not alone. Mantra: You are special. Believe it!

Aquarius You certainly have come a long way this year, Aquarius! The more you give up, the richer you feel! The more love you give out, the more that comes back! Know that you are exactly where you need to be right now. There is no need to take any action. You are well on your way. Mantra: Less is more.

Pisces You’re used to flowing through life. But you may feel that somewhere along the way, you lost track of who you are. This is a time to do some soul searching and touch base with yourself again. Money will flow to you, but be mindful of your spending because you are not your possessions. Meditation and talking with a counselor can get you on the right track to healing deep, emotional scars. Mantra: I love who I am becoming..

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OFM

BAR TAB | Colorado Nightlife

BLUSH & BLU

ICONS

1526 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 484-8548 bluebludenver.com

3 E. Bijou St. Colorado Springs (719) 300-7863 Instagram- @icons_colorado

BOYZTOWN

LI’L DEVILS

WILD CORGI PUB

255 S. Broadway St. Denver (303) 733-1156 Facebook- @lildevilslounge

1223 E. 13th Ave. Denver (303) 832-7636 wildcorgipub.com

LIPSTICK DISCOTEQUE

CHARLIE DWELLINGTON’S 1103 N. 1st St. Grand Junction (970) 241-4010 charliedwellingtons.com

5660 W. Colfax Ave. Denver (720) 669-3470 Facebook- @lipstickdiscoteque

829 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 832-2687 xbardenver.com

CHARLIE’S NIGHTCLUB

MILLERS & ROSSI

900 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 839-8890 charliesdenver.com

3452 Walnut St. Denver (720) 257-5342 millersandrossi.com

#VYBE 1027 N. Broadway St. Denver (720) 573-8886 303vybe.com

776 N. Lincoln St. Denver (720) 598-5648 denversweet.com TUE: Solve That Puzzle 7p-9p w/$5 House Margs WED: Music Bingo 7p-9p w/$4 U Call It At The Bar THU: Karaoke 9p-1a w/BOGO well & drafts to 7p

16 T

ST .M

PA R

AH AP

AV E

TRI A N GL E 17TH AVE.

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31ST AVE.

T H A M B U RGE R M A RY’S

STO N E Y'S X BA R

COLFAX AVE.

TI GH T EN D

OGDEN ST.

CLARKSON ST.

WASHINGTON ST.

1ST AVE. L I ’ L D EV I LS

BROADWAY

BOYZTOW N

PENNSYLVANIA

8TH AVE. DE N VE R 6TH AVE. SW E ET

TRADE

WILD CO RGI

11TH AVE.

B LUS H & B LU

R + R DE N VE R

C H AR L I E ’S

V YB E

YORK ST.

C LO C KTOW E R

THE TRIANGLE BAR 2036 N. Broadway St. Denver (303) 658-0913 triangledenver.com

U LN AR

VD BL

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M I L L E RS & ROSS I

TRAC KS

1336 E. 17th Ave. Denver (303) 993-5812 hamburgermarys.com/denver

TRADE 475 Santa Fe Dr. Denver (720) 627-5905 Facebook- @tradedenver

. ST

HAMBURGER MARY’S

TRACKS 3500 Walnut St. Denver (303) 836-7326 tracksdenver.com

SANTA FE DR. KALAMATH ST.

FUSIONS BAR & GRILL 3053 Brighton Blvd. Denver (303) 862-7376 Facebook- @fusionsbardenver

TIGHT END BAR 1501 E. Colfax Ave. (303) 861-9103 tightendbar.com

VD BL

4501 E. Virginia Ave. Glendale (303) 388-8889 Facebook- @elpotreroclub

COLORADO BLVD.

EL POTRERO

F US I O N S

4958 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 320-9337 Facebook- @randrdenver

BROADWAY

SUN: Beer Bust 4p-8p & Showbears 7p-10p

R&R LOUNGE

DOWNING ST.

DENVER SWEET

X BAR

DOWNING ST.

117 Broadway St. Denver (303) 722-7373 boyztowndenver.com

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A Legwarmer Workout

By Alex Burnell

’ve wanted to get back into working out for a while now, and there was this fun, 80s-type workout class I was thinking of taking. I read the description outside the class, and I suddenly started to smell a woody musk cologne. I turned my head to see this man who was built like a Greek god. He asked if he could help me, and I noticed I was staring at him way longer than I should be. I apologized and said I was just reading about the class and thinking of possibly taking it. He leaned closer—our noses were slightly touching, and he said, “Oh you you should definitely take it.” He smirked and said he hoped to see me there. There’s no way I wasn’t taking this class now, knowing he was going to be in the same class. I walked in and glanced around the room and noticed I wasn’t seeing the beautiful man I saw minutes ago. I got into my spot, started stretching my legs, and heard that lower voice again above me saying, “Glad you made it.” I looked up, and there he was, and in even fewer clothes. He was wearing tight, short gym shorts; knee-high socks; and a tight, bright-blue shirt. I could see every ripple on his chest and even what he was working with between his legs. My jaw dropped when I noticed he wasn’t getting into a spot as a student but instead walked up front of the class to teach it. His shirt was getting sweatier and sweatier, and I started seeing his beautiful chest hair poking out over his neckline. I noticed the hair on his body starting to glisten. I knew he was teaching the class, but I started to feel he was looking at me a little more than just an instructor looking at their students. I wasn’t sure if was my imagination or not, but I thought he was checking me out. His eyes moved up and down when he looked

6 6 OFM MAY 2 0 2 2

my way. I noticed the more I checked him out, the more excited I was becoming. He started to look down at my legs, and I think he knew very well I was getting turned on. As the class started to wrap up, he had us stretching and working on our breathing. Everyone started to collect their mats and put things away. I walked over and grabbed a small towel and started drying off my face. I heard that sexy voice again, and I pulled my head away from the towel. He thanked me for coming today and said he hopes to see me at the next class. I told him I had a great time and that he’d definitely see me at the next class. I looked around and noticed that we were now the only ones left in the class. I said I’m sorry for taking so long and hoped I wasn’t keeping him. He said not to be sorry and that because we’re the last ones in the building, all he has to do is lock up. He was in no rush. I started to say I could get out of his hair, but he interrupted and repeated, “I’m in … No. Rush.” As he said “No rush,” he leaned in close to my ear. I could feel the warmth of his breath and heat from his body. I asked if that was so, and he moved in closer, and as he traced the side of my face with his finger, he said just one word: “Definitely.” I could suddenly tell I wasn’t the only one who was turned on. I knew in that moment he did an amazing job concealing the massive snake hiding in those tiny shorts. He pulled my shirt of, and as I turned around, he pulled his shirt off and showed off his beautiful body covered in fuzz. He traced my chest with his finger, from my nipple down to my waistline. He slid off my shorts with my underwear and then his own. He walked me over to the wall with more room as we started to kiss. We got to the wall, and he quickly turned me around, placed my hands on the wall, and pulled my ass out a bit more as he got on his knees. He started to explore my

hole with his talented tongue. With every moan I let out, the deeper he went. With one hand, he started working his fingers in my hole, and with his other hand, he began stroking himself. He stood up and teased my hole with the head of his cock. With that sexy voice, he asked me if I wanted him to stop teasing and slide it in. I reached my hands back and pulled him close, and as I let out an almost faint growl, I said, “Yes ... So, so much!” He grabbed some lube from his coat and told me to show him my upward dog pose on my mat. He walked up and teased my hole again, but only for a moment before he gently slid in. He grabbed my hips and pulled me in as close as possible, and I let out the loudest moan I’ve ever made in my adult life. His stamina knew no limits, and I was extremely OK with that. This was the first time the pleasure I was getting lasted more than an hour. He thrusted harder and faster and pulled in close each time. I was lucky we were the only ones in the building because I was shouting and moaning louder and louder. He shouted my name and let out the heaviest sigh as his body shook from the pleasure. The very moment he finished, I reached the best climax I’ve ever had. We both were now covered in sweat as he gently slid out and laid onto his back. He pulled me in close, and I wrapped my arms around him and placed my head on his hairy chest. I told him I hoped I get to see him again, and he said, “Count on it!”