Diversity Rules Magazine - December 2018

Empowering Humanity With Its Diversity â—? December 2018

David Hernandez Keeping It Real

See Story Page 4

ISSN: 2372-2207

Photo Credit: Bobby Quillard

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Diversity Rules Magazine December 2018

Jim Koury

Editor/Publisher Diversity Rules Magazine

Diversity Rules Magazine

PO Box 72 Oneonta, NY 13820 James R. Koury, Editor/Publisher 607.435.1587 Website www.diversityrulesmagazine.com Blog diversityrulesmagazine.com/blog E-Mail diversityrulesmagazine@gmail.com Copyright 2018 Diversity Rules Magazine All Rights Reserved Disclaimers If you have a question or comment regarding this issue or future issues of Diversity Rules Magazine, the publisher would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact Diversity Rules using the e-mail above or mailing address listed above. Content submission are always welcome too!

All submissions become the property of Diversity Rules Magazine. However, originating authors reserve all rights to their creative works.

Diversity Rules Magazine’s physical offices are located at 189 River Street, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Diversity Rules Magazine will not knowingly publish or advertise text which is fraudulent or misleading. The publisher reserves the right to edit, limit, revise, or reject any text without cause.

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Welcome to the December issue of Diversity Rules Magazine. It’s hard to believe we are doing the last issue of the year already. Crazy fast year, huh?

I have made it my goal to revamp the magazine in 2019. I have had some ideas for going forward and it’s time to bring a new look, a new name, and a new focus. While it still will be publication with a queer focus, it will begin to evolve into an empowering publication, celebrating stories of achievement and fulfillment of dreams and goals. Stay tuned...

In addition to American Idol, David has showcased his talents on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, EXTRA, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Teen Choice Awards, TV Guides’ Sexiest Stars 2008, Idol Tonight, Idol Gives Back and FOX-TV. I hope you enjoy David’s interview.

Why don’t you email him and let him know you saw him in Diversity Rules Magazine! :-)

This month’s feature interview is with David Hernandez. David gained national attention with his powerful voice and affable personality as an American Idol finalist.

We also have a great election to celebrate. It was a wonderful achievement with results that bring hope to LGBTQ Americans and other minorities that made great electoral strides. We need to keep working hard and long to get rid of the filth that governs us and return to some semblance of normality again.

He began acting and singing at age six, starring in musicals and performing with various theatre companies throughout Arizona.

We will see you all next year! Have a Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season. Spread the love.

Peace!

Inside This Issue (partial listing)

Pride Journeys: Indianapolis .................................... Page 3 Keeping It Real ....................................................... Page 4 Live Read of Casablanca .......................................... Page 6 Drag Race ................................................................ Page 10 Amazon Trail ........................................................... Page 11 Dealing With Holiday Stress ................................... Page 13 Boystown Installment 9 Released ............................. Page 14 Resources and Diversions ........................................ Page 22

Diversity Rules Magazine December 2018 Joey Amato is the publisher of Pride Journeys, the premier source for LGBT travel. Joey publishes destination reviews in addition to lifestyle content that is both insightful and engaging to LGBT readers. Joey has spent the majority of his career dedicated to the LGBT community, having contributed to numerous publications around North America. In addition, he owns Agency33 Public Relations, a full-service firm specializing in LGBT outreach.

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Pride Journeys Indianapolis

Indianapolis has always felt like a second home to me. I used to publish a gay magazine there called UNITE a few years ago, so I was frequently visiting the city. This time, I wanted to experience things that I may not have had the chance to see on previous visits.

One event of major interest was the Lambda Legal Indiana Benefit gala which took place at the Indy Public Library, a stunning building located in the heart of the city. The Indiana Benefit was conceived in 1999 by a group of visionary individuals seeking to advance the civil rights of LGBT people and those living with HIV, in Indiana. That vision and dedication to Lambda Legal’s mission and work in Indiana have yielded some of the most important and strategic legal victories our community has experienced in the past decade, including the freedom to marry.

In 2017, it was an Indiana case that won a federal court victory affirming that workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation violates federal civil rights law. This year, the benefit honored philanthropists Neil Bagadiong and Kevin Warren, the Indy power couple who was instrumental in the Pence Must Go campaign that was enacted during Mike Pence’s final term as Governor of

By Joey Amato

the state. They also host a weekly pool party for the community at their home during the summer.

After the benefit, the party continued at Tini on Massachusetts Avenue, a gay-owned martini bar which has become the city’s hotspot for the see-and-be-seen gay crowd.

Mass Ave., as it is called by the locals, is a vibrant street lined with restaurants, boutiques and nightlife establishments catering to both a gay and straight audience.

A few blocks away is Forty-Five Degrees, a beautiful gay-owned restaurant and sushi bar, which hosts numerous drag shows and LGBT benefits throughout the year including a fashion show leading up to Indianapolis Pride.

After a night of partying, I headed back to my hotel, the newly renovated Hyatt Regency. The centerpiece of the property is their openair atrium but also worth visiting is their swanky rooftop restaurant offering unobstructed views of Indianapolis. The rooms at the Hyatt were spacious and comfortable, with some rooms offering separate sleeping and living areas in addition to huge bathrooms.

The next morning, I woke up early to head to The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields for an LGBTQ photography exhibition of renowned, American photographer George Indy - Con’t on page 7

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Diversity Rules Magazine December 2018

David Hernandez gained national attention with his powerful voice and affable personality as an American Idol finalist.

Keeping It Real A Chat With David Hernandez

He began acting and singing at age six, starring in musicals and performing with various theatre companies throughout Arizona. As a teenager David began writing original music and recording his material. A Phoenix native, Hernandez recently moved to Hollywood where he is writing new songs, working in the recording studio producing his newest music, and pursuing his passion for acting. He has already completed his first feature film as the lead in the movie Synthetic Truth.

By Jim Koury, Editor/Publisher

In addition to American Idol, David has showcased his talents on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, EXTRA, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Teen Choice Awards, TV Guides’ Sexiest Stars 2008, Idol Tonight, Idol Gives Back and FOX-TV. David just released his debut video (and single) for the song “Beautiful.” The video was directed

by Printz Board (producer of the Black Eyed Peas).

David counts Stevie Wonder, Ne-yo, Donnie Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson and David Foster among his musical influences.

David lives in Los Angeles, CA. JRK: Before we get into the interview, can you tell readers a bit about David Hernandez, your background, where you are from and all that other good introductory stuff?

DH: I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. I started singing when I was about 6 years old in musicals. I went to college for Broadcast Journalism but dropped out to sing on cruise ships in an acapella quartet.

I signed to Universal when I was 22. I was Dropped and then auditioned for American Idol. The rest was history after that! I have been touring for the last 10 years. I just released my 2nd full length album. I love to write and produce my own music.

JRK: You have just released a new studio album entitled, “Kingdom: The Mixtape.” Can you tell us about that?

DH: I’ve been sitting on a lot of this music for years. I just decided that i was tired of waiting and I wanted to release it.

There’s a lot of great material on the album that I wrote and produced. Why just let it sit on my laptop? It made no sense. When I put the music together it all sorta flowed and told a story. Even though some of the material was recorded 10 years ago, it was still relevant.

JRK: One of your songs, “Break,” is about a personal struggle and overcoming that struggle. Can

Diversity Rules Magazine December 2018

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you enlighten readers a bit about that in hopes of touching someone who may be dealing with the same thing?

DH: Well I started taking Xanax years ago to help me sleep. I didn’t realize my body was building a tolerance to it so I started taking more. Eventually it all caught up with me and my body started shutting down. I decided it wasn’t how I wanted to live and I needed help.

So I checked into a facility and got the help I needed so I never had to take it again. It literally saved my life.

I wouldn’t recommend getting through that on your own. It was very hard. I also think people should be more educated on prescription drugs. Just because a doctor prescribes it, doesn’t mean it’s right for you.

JRK: Being a finalist on American Idol must have been an exhilarating experience. Can you tell us about that and how it changed your life?

DH: Totally! American Idol was a huge platform for me. It totally changed my life. It made me more professional and disciplined. It was like boot camp for singers. I also learned about different aspects of the entertainment industry.

JRK: Which performers have influenced you and how so?

DH: I was influenced by great singers like Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Aretha, Mariah Carey. But I was also influenced by great songwriters like Dianne Warren and David Foster.

JRK: When you first started your singing career you had some record label challenges related to meeting someone else’s expectations. Can you tell us about that? What advice would you give to struggling artists, as well as anyone coping with meeting another person’s expectations?

DH: I’ve learned to do what is best for me.

Being true to yourself is the biggest favor you can do for yourself.

You’ll be happy with your

decisions and walk away knowing you were authentic.

People can tell a fake from a mile away so it’s important to keep it real. When people impose an image of a sound on you, just say no...this doesn’t work for me... this isn’t serving me.

JRK: What have you been doing since the release of your first album in 2011 entitled, “I Am Who I Am?” DH: I have been touring and making music. I also write for film and television so that’s been an awesome creative outlet.

JRK: What is next for David Hernandez?

DHL More music! lol. I also started acting again so hopefully a TV show or a feature film in the near future. Of course touring will always be a part of my life too. I’ll always keep making music and I’ll always keep singing.

JRK; What are some parting thoughts you’d like to leave Diversity Rules readers?

DH: Spread love and acceptance. Be nice to people.

You never know what someone is going through. We all have our struggles so be understanding towards others.

Photo Credits: Bobby Quillard Artwork for Kingdom Cover: Stephen Lind

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Diversity Rules Magazine December 2018

Writer, director Jason Reitman, in collaboration with Academy Award nominated actress Ellen Page, present a Live Read of Casablanca (1942) with a diverse cast of A Benefit For The ASTRAEA LESBIAN artists reimagining the classic 1940s film. The FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE event will take place on Thursday, December 13th at the historic Presented by Jason Reitman in collaboration with Ellen Page Ace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The festive evening will include true CasablanPage. “In times of uncertainty and turmoil, it is can style cocktails and inspiring to see people come together to support one-of-a-kind memorasomething bigger than themselves. Last year’s bilia, all benefiting LGJuno live-read was one of my most special expeBTQI grassroots activists riences, I can’t wait to see the cast and evening through Astraea Lesbian that Jason and his team put together for such an Foundation for Justice. iconic film, Casablanca, I hope you’ll join us.”

The Live Reads Series Tickets available for purchase at: https://www. has provided an opporaxs.com/events/365584/casablanca-live-readtunity to reimagine clastickets sic screenplays with creatively updated casting. The series ran for five-consecutive sold out seasons, with Press Contacts: Court Barrett | 323-822-4889 | cbarappearances at the Toronto International Film Festirett@id-pr.com val and Just For Laughs in Montreal. Titles have included The Apartment with Steve Carrell and Natalie Portman, Reservoir Dogs with Cuba Gooding Jr and Laurence Fishburne, The Breakfast Club with JK Simmons and Patton Oswalt, and Ghostbusters with Seth Rogen and Jack Black.

Live Read Of Casablanca

Last April, Page and Reitman reunited to raise money for Planned Parenthood, with an all-female Live Read of Juno. Page reprised her role and was joined by Jennifer Garner, Alia Shawkat, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Kristen Wiig.

“I’m so grateful to collaborate with my friend Jason Reitman for an important cause that is near and dear to my heart. Astraea supports the bravest and most radical organizations fighting for change and equality, I am truly humbled by the work they do,” says Ellen