contrIbUtors Joshua Adamson Pickett, Diane Anderson-Minshall, Chris Azzopardi, Paul Berge, Jeff Berry, Paul Campbell, Laurie BennettCook, Roger Cox, Stephen Dark, Jennifer Dobner, Jack Fertig, Greg Fox, Oriol Gutierrez Jr., Tony Hobday, Blake Howell, Ashley Hoyle, Joshua Jones, Christopher Katis, Alpha Mercury, Sam Kelly-Mills, Craig Ogan, Peter Reynolds, Mikey Rox, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Gregg Shapiro, Petunia Pap Smear, Steven Petrow, Ed Sikov, Justin Utley, JoSelle Vanderhooft, Ben Williams, D’Anne Witkowski
dIstrIbUtIon Roger Cox
pUblIsher
Q Media Group
222 S Main St, Ste 500 (by appt. only) Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 tel: 801-997-9763
The top national and world news since last issue you should know
BY CRAIG OGAN
Diss-United Kingdom
“GENDER IDENTITY”, DISSED: The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court has ruled that the “concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man.” The case was brought by an anti-transgender group in Scotland. The group lost its case in Scottish courts, but Wednesday’s decision overrules the Scottish court’s decision. Judge Patrick Hodge of the High Court said transgender people are still protected from discrimination, but the U.K. government did not say how it would secure trans rights.
HATE SPEECH LAWS, DISSED: An anonymous, but believable, claim says the United States is reportedly telling the United Kingdom to repeal its hate speech protections in order to get a trade deal. The vice president will demand that the British government roll back laws against hateful comments, including abuse targeting LGBT groups. The source said that the vice president is “obsessed by the fall of Western civilization,” and believes that free speech is supposedly being suppressed in the U.K. through such laws.
HIV services DOGED at HHS
It took 20 years to get it right. Now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will fix what ain’t broken by integrating HIV services into a newly created entity called the “Administration for a Healthy America.” This new division will consolidate several existing agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, and others. The AHA will oversee key areas, including primary care, maternal and child health, mental health, environmental health, HIV/AIDS, and workforce development.
Santos sentencing
The hope that the name George Santos would never appear in these columns again has been dashed. In a sentencing statement urging a sentence of seven years in prison, Federal prosecutors called him a “pathological liar and fraudster” who “made a mockery of our election system.” Santos pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The prosecutors detailed his “assortment of fraudulent schemes,” from stealing the identities of elderly donors to submitting falsified campaign finance documents and fabricating most of his biography using lies “to enrich himself and capture one of the highest offices in the government of the United States.” He was expelled from Congress in 2023. He has been appearing on late-night shows on Fox News, no doubt hoping to earn a pardon or a cabinet appointment, but so far, no such luck.
YouTube hate speech changes
Without much fanfare, YouTube eliminated the phrase “gender identity and expression” from its public-facing hate speech policy. GLAAD and other acronymical advocates warn that the change removes clarity around protections for transgender and nonbinary users. The company claims there has been no change in policy. Previously, YouTube’s policy barred content that promotes violence or hatred based on “gender identity and expression.” The revised policy now groups “Sex, Gender, or Sexual Orientation” as protected categories, making no reference to gender identity. The policy change came just after a presidential executive order declaring that the U.S. government would only recognize two sexes — male and female — determined at birth. YouTube said it was a routine edit for clarity, and should alarm no one. GLAAD forecasts, “Real-world harm. YouTube and other platforms should be protecting LGBTQ creators and users during a time when right-wing extremists and others are seeking to harm them.”
Gay U.S. Rep. announces Senate bid
As New Hampshire’s longtime senator Jeanne Shaheen shut the door on her senate career by announcing retirement, she opened the door for Chris Pappas, who represents New Hampshire’s First Congressional District. Pappas would be
the first out gay man in the U.S. Senate since President James Buchanan’s long-time roommate and rumored love interest, Sen. William King, who was vice president of the U. S. and represented the states of Alabama and North Carolina in the Senate. He was called “Aunt Fannie” by people who knew him and served with Buchanan in the Senate in the 1840s. Lesbians and bisexual women have held seats in the Senate, now and in the past.
Beloved lesbian takes over Gill
Kate Kendell, who sprung from the Brow of Zeus in Utah has been named the new CEO of the Gill Foundation. Tim Gill founded the foundation in Colorado in 1994, following the success of Quark Software. Since then, it has invested more than $446 million in programs and nonprofit organizations nationwide, with a focus on LGBT issues. Grant recipients have included NCLR, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, GLAAD, the GenderCool Project, PFLAG, GLSEN, many state-level LGBT groups, and many that worked for marriage equality. Kendell was in private law practice in Utah and became the beloved staff attorney of the Utah ACLU. She left Utah to helm the National Center for Lesbian Rights and was recently the CEO of a health care foundation in California. She accepted the job at Gill Foundation because she says the time is right for her to get back into the fight for queer equality. She left the NCLR in 2018, “Thinking the LGBT movement was in pretty good shape. But I have watched with growing dismay to see some of those hard-won gains pushed back on, undermined, or in peril.” She will split her time between domestic bliss in San Francisco and LGBT warfare in Denver.
Pride bans proliferate
It’s a sign of the times that Pride Celebrations are experiencing pushback in some venues.
WASHINGTON, D.C.:
The “World Pride Celebration” scheduled for this summer in Washington, D.C., has canceled performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and issued a travel warning to transgender individuals considering attending to take precautions in the city.
NAPLES, FLORIDA: The municipal government of Naples, Florida, has refused to grant Naples Pride an event permit, citing increased security costs due to a probable rise in anti-transgender protests. The city also asked event organizers not to allow admittance to anyone under 18 years of age, which could force the event “indoors.” Pride-related “drag shows” were held indoors in 2024 at the city’s request, citing the, since ruled unconstitutional, “Drag Ban” passed by the Florida Legislature. The city wants Naples Pride to pay $36,000 for security. The amount is higher than what’s required for similarly sized events or what Naples Pride has paid annually since 2017.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: The pushback got particularly intense in Hungary, as the Parliament passed a constitutional amendment disallowing any public events, rallies, marches, or gatherings related to LGBT events, Pride or otherwise. Parliament passed the “Assembly Act” by a vote of 140 to 21. The Amendment solidifies a law passed earlier banning public events held by LGBT organizations, making it much harder to change if a friendlier government comes to power. That may happen in the next parliamentary elections, if the huge protest marches against the Amendment are any clue as to voter behavior. The majority party pushing the amendment is behind in the polls for the 2026 elections. The debate centered on the measure’s effect on chil-
dren who observe Pride celebrants’ stereotypical behavior at the festivals. The Assembly Act declares that a child’s rights to moral, physical, and spiritual development trump any right other than the right to life, including peaceful assembly.
Marriage equality ban lifted
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed legislation repealing the state’s same-sex marriage ban, which was added to the Colorado Constitution about the same time as Utah voters approved a constitutional referendum defining marriage as a strictly heterosexual affair. These bans were passed by 30 U.S. states in the first part of the 21st century. Twenty-six state constitutions, including Utah, still contain the anti-marriage equality language even though the U. S. Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional in 2015. In signing the legislation, Polis said, “Colorado is for everyone, no matter who you are or who you love.” Colorado citizens voted out the language in the 2024 election. Follow the link for a full explanation of the states whose constitutions contain anti-marriage equality language: https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/U.S._state_constitutional_amendments_banning_same-sex_unions
‘Invisible Histories,’ seeks visible address
“Invisible Histories” is a nonprofit set up to preserve the history of LGBT com-
munities in the U.S. South. The group, founded in 2016, has a significant digital site, but scattered physical archives. The group is seeking a permanent brick-andmortar location in Charlotte, North Carolina. The U.S. Federal government is revising how it expresses, stores, and portrays LGBT history. Many of the Federal Government’s digital and physical assets are removing references to transgender people’s participation in LGBT historical events. Dr. Maigen Sullivan, co-executive director of Invisible Histories, said the Fed’s action has given urgency to Invisible Histories’ effort to establish a permanent archive, “In a time when our histories are at risk of being erased, we are doubling down on our commitment to safeguarding and amplifying the voices of Southern LGBTQ people.” The facility in Charlotte will house the archives and will become a research center.
Billie Jean King scores star
Billie Jean King is the first woman to be honored in the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s new category for sports entertainment. The 81-year-old tennis legend’s star is the 2,807th on the Walk of Fame, located near the intersection of Hollywood and Vine across from the Pantages Theater. “The important thing is, I don’t want to be the last one,” King told a crowd which included her friends, wife Ilana Kloss, NBA star Magic Johnson, and Oscar-winning actor Jamie Lee Curtis.
When buying or selling real estate, you don’t want a part-time agent working a side hustle, but a professional who’s versed in winning multiple offer battles, marketing strategies to get the best price, knowing LGBTQ vendors and allies for mortgages, inspections, attorneys, etc. With four decades as a full-time agent/broker and the first ‘out’ REALTOR® in Utah, I’d love to help you with this huge financial decision. I sell downtown condos in Salt Lake, homes with casitas in St. George, homes of those who have passed, and 1031 exchanges on income or commercial properties. Text or call anytime. exchanges on income or commercial properties. Text or call anytime.
Babs De Lay, Urban Utah Homes and Estates 801.201.8824
Still Standing: How SLCC’s Gender & Sexuality Center adapted in a shifting political landscape
As colleges across Utah and the nation shutter LGBTQ+ resource centers under mounting political pressure, Salt Lake Community College chose a different path: to adapt without erasing.
While state and federal mandates have forced dramatic changes in how diversity, equity, and inclusion programs operate, SLCC’s Gender and Sexuality Student Resource Center remains open — evolving, but still deeply committed to serving students of all identities.
At the heart of this work is Peter Moosman, who helped open the center in 2019 and now serves as both its manager and the college’s assistant director of cultural programming. From the beginning, the center has provided a welcoming lounge space, campus and community resources, and a wide array of events celebrating LGBTQ+ and women’s heritage.
“We’ve always served everyone,” Moosman told LGBTQNation in a personal capacity. “We were never checking IDs at the door. We’ve had straight students, cisgender students — any-
one seeking support or connection.”
But change came fast and hard. In October 2024, the Utah legislature passed H.B. 261, banning any state-funded college from practices perceived as favoring one identity group over another. Just months later, the U.S. Department of Education issued a letter threatening to withhold federal funds from institutions with DEI-specific programming.
Under these new rules, even the celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month could be considered controversial if it highlights oppression or systemic power structures — concepts central to queer history.
Instead of closing its doors, SLCC made strategic shifts. Programming now focuses on the historical contributions and cultural achievements of LGBTQ+ people, rather than the discrimination they’ve faced.
“We can talk about how these communities are thriving. We can celebrate achievements,” Moosman explained. “We just can’t say, ‘Queer people are oppressed and need to be recognized.’”
It’s a frustrating reality, but one that Moosman and his team are meeting with creativity. The center’s previous LGBTQ+ awareness training has evolved into “Gender and Sexuality 101” — a program that explores cultural and biological aspects, building understanding before introducing queer-specific language.
“When we open with concepts like
‘power’ or ‘privilege,’ some people shut down,” Moosman said. “But when we use terms like ‘accessibility’ and ‘opportunity,’ people stay engaged. It’s a different entry point into the same conversation.”
Moosman knows not every institution has been able to pivot. Across the country, LGBTQ+ centers have been defunded, renamed, or completely eliminated. But he sees SLCC’s response as a potential blueprint — one that doesn’t ignore the law, but also doesn’t abandon queer students.
“These centers save lives. They serve students in ways they may not get anywhere else,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking to see them disappear. But it’s even more heartbreaking when institutions don’t even try to adapt — when they just give up.”
Moosman cites philosopher Cornel West’s idea of being “protean” — able to change form while holding true to purpose.
“That’s what this moment calls for,” he said. “To still show up. To still serve. To still exist — even if the language we use has to shift. We can still make impact. We just have to get creative.”
In a time when legislative mandates seek to erase conversations about identity and equity, SLCC’s Gender and Sexuality Student Resource Center offers a powerful counter-narrative: resilience, adaptability, and a continued commitment to belonging for all. Q
Trump Administration’s cuts to HIV prevention programs spark outcry
In a move that has shocked the public health community, the Trump administration has gutted several critical offices within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focused on HIV prevention. Entire teams responsible for public health communication, behavioral surveillance, capacity building, and non-laboratory research have been dismantled, prompting widespread concern that years of progress in the fight against HIV may now be reversed. At the center of the controversy is the abrupt reassignment of Dr. Jonathan Mermin, a highly respected figure in public health and the former director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Mermin has
been transferred to the Indian Health Service, a move widely interpreted as part of a larger restructuring effort that has led to thousands of staff layoffs across the Department of Health and Human Services.
Joining Mermin in reassignment is Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, Director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. These personnel changes coincide with the elimination of entire HHS offices, including the Office of Infectious Disease & HIV Policy and the Office of Minority Health — entities central to coordinating infectious disease responses and addressing health disparities nationwide.
In another major blow, the National Institutes of Health has terminated at
least 145 HIV-related research grants, cutting nearly $450 million in funding. These cuts, implemented in phases over the last month, have left researchers scrambling to secure alternative resources and salvage their work. Many of these projects were focused on expanding access to lifesaving prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), particularly within high-risk communities such as transgender individuals and Black men.
Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, issued a stark warning about the implications of these decisions: “In just a few days, we are losing our nation’s ability to prevent HIV. The damage to staff expertise and leadership is profound and likely irreversible.”
Experts are also raising red flags over the justification be-
hind some of the grant terminations, which cited concerns about research tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some termination letters claimed such studies could “support unlawful discrimination,” a rationale strongly challenged by health equity advocates who argue that these programs are essential for closing racial and social health gaps.
The research community is already feeling the fallout. Clinics are laying off staff, long-running studies are being shuttered, and patient services are being suspended. UCLA epidemiologist Dr. Pamina Gorbach, who has been studying treatment patterns in men living with HIV for over a decade, said her program is now at risk. “It’s devastating,” she said. “When people living with HIV don’t get treatment, they get sick and die.” Q
Utah’s
Equality Profile slides to ‘Low’
The Movement Advancement Project released its latest Equality Profile for Utah, providing a comprehensive assessment of the state’s policies and laws affecting the LGBTQ community. The profile reveals a complex landscape where certain advancements coexist with significant areas needing improvement. Utah is home to approximately 104,000 LGBTQ individuals aged 13 and above, representing 3.7% of the state’s adult population. Notably, 40% of LGBTQ adults over 25 are raising children, highlighting the importance of family-related policies in the state. LGBT Map MAP’s evaluation assigns Utah an overall policy tally of 9 out of a possible 49 points, reflecting a “Low” rating. This score is derived from a Sexual Orientation Policy Tally of 7.25 out of 23 and a Gender Identity Policy Tally of 1.75 out of 26, indicating a disparity in protections afforded to different segments of the LGBTQ community. LGBT Map+1
The Pros:
Utah has made notable progress in several areas:
MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Following the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples in Utah have the right to marry and access associated benefits. LGBT Map
EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING PROTECTIONS : The state enforces nondiscrimination laws that protect individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing sectors. LGBT Map
CONVERSION THERAPY BAN : Utah prohibits conversion therapy practices for minors, safeguarding LGBTQ youth from these harmful interventions. LGBT Map
The Cons:
Despite these advancements, the Equality Profile highlights several critical areas where Utah’s policies are lacking:
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS : There are no statewide nondiscrim-
ination protections for LGBTQ individuals in public accommodations, leaving gaps in coverage. LGBT Map
PARENTAL RECOGNITION : The state lacks provisions for second-parent adoption by unmarried couples and does not recognize voluntary acknowledgment of parentage (VAP), complicating legal parentage for LGBTQ families. LGBT Map
RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS : Broad religious exemption laws, including a state-level Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), allow for potential discrimination against LGBTQ individuals under the guise of religious freedom. LGBT Map
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS : Utah imposes restrictions on transgender individuals, such as:
HEALTHCARE : Bans on best practice medical care for transgender youth and exclusions in health benefits for state employees. LGBT Map
IDENTITY DOCUMENTS : Challenges in updating gender markers on identification documents, with negative laws affecting changes on birth certificates. LGBT Map+1LGBT Map+1
YOUTH PROTECTIONS : Policies preventing transgender students from participating in sports and using facilities consistent with their gender identity. LGBT Map While state-level protections are limited, local ordinances play a role in safeguarding LGBTQ rights. However, Utah’s state and local nondiscrimination protections only cover employment and housing, excluding public accommodations. Additionally, there are no local ordinances prohibiting conversion therapy for minors, as the state law provides comprehensive coverage in this area. LGBT Map
Utah’s latest Equality Profile from MAP underscores a landscape of partial progress intertwined with significant challenges. While strides have been made in areas like marriage equality and employment protections, substantial work remains to ensure comprehensive rights and protections for all LGBTQ individuals in the state. Advocates emphasize the need for continued efforts to address these gaps and promote an inclusive environment for Utah’s LGBTQ community. Q
Cougar Pride brings ‘Pride in Progress’ to downtown
Provo, Utah
On April 12, a vibrant and history-rich part of Provo came alive with color, music, and an unshakable sense of purpose as the Cougar Pride Center hosted its fourth annual Pride March and Music Festival — Pride in Progress 2025.
What began in 2021 as a small grassroots effort to carve out a safe space for LGBTQ+ students at BYU has blossomed into a full-fledged movement. This year’s Pride, themed “Pride in Progress,” was a celebration of how far the community has come — and a bold reminder of the road still ahead.
The afternoon kicked off at the Utah County Historic Courthouse with moving speeches that underscored the theme of progress, resilience, and collective power. Former Cougar Pride president Julia Sasine addressed the crowd, saying, “Today in this unlikely haven, we illuminate the path for the future with unyielding courage and contagious joy. Today and together, let us celebrate, unite, and advocate for a better tomorrow.”
Over 200 attendees marched through downtown Provo, waving rainbow flags, holding handmade signs, and walking proudly down Center Street. As cars passed by honking in support, it became clear that visibility — long denied — was finally being reclaimed.
Among the marchers was Mike Mcleroy, a BYU alumnus who reflected on his time at the university.
“Being gay was something you didn’t actively show there at that time,” he told The Daily Universe. “It takes courage. Any individual coming out can be the spark for someone else. So I’d say: be yourself.”
The celebration continued at Memorial Park, where a joyful, affirming atmosphere awaited.
Local artists including Dune Moss, Talin Everett, and Liam Lars graced the stage as food trucks served hot eats and community members danced and connected in the spring sunshine. Booths from the RaYnbow Collective, Utah Pride Center, and other affirming organizations lined the park, offering resources, support, and smiles.
for her tireless advocacy and uplifting presence in Utah’s queer spaces.
The Cougar Pride Center, which officially gained nonprofit status in January 2024, has become a cornerstone of support for LGBTQ+ BYU students and their allies. With initiatives like the Safe Housing Project, Open Closet, and on-campus career fairs for minority students, Cougar Pride is redefining what inclusion looks like in a traditionally conservative setting.
“We’ve helped almost 400 people find safe housing,” said Executive Director David Shill. “The whole idea is that pride is in progress. We haven’t arrived, but we’ve come a long way.”
Shill expressed optimism about continued collaboration with BYU and community groups. “I’d love for more people to be able to know about all the resources out there for them,” he said. “This event shows them they’re not alone.”
The Cougar Pride Center’s official statement on this year’s event echoed
Gracee Purcell, president of the RaYnbow Collective, called the event “one of the only safe spaces in Provo,” and added, “It’s really exciting for BYU students to come and just be themselves.”
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of Cougar Pride Center’s inaugural Progress Award, given to local activist and drag icon Charity Heels
the heart of the day: “Pride is a demand for equality. Pride is a fight for love.” The march may have ended at Memorial Park, but the spirit of the day — the unity, the courage, the unapologetic joy — will keep marching forward through the work of Cougar Pride and those it uplifts.
Because in Provo, in 2025, Pride isn’t just a parade. It’s a promise. Q For more information or to access resources, visit cougarpridecenter.org.
2025 Queer Food Festival serves up flavor, community, and pride
Salt Lake City’s most deliciously queer event of the year is back — and it’s spicier, bolder, and more fabulous than ever.
On a spring Friday evening this year, the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to raise a glass, grab a fork, and gather around the table for the 2025 Queer Food Festival, a one-of-a-kind celebration of community, cuisine, and connection. In collaboration with local LGBTQ+ and ally-owned restaurants, breweries, and spirit-makers, the festival will showcase the best bites and beverages that Queer Salt Lake has to offer — along with a hearty helping of entertainment.
“This isn’t just a food event — it’s a FEAST,” said Chamber CEO Liz Pitts. “It’s about nourishment in every sense of the word: delicious food, creative drinks, vibrant music, and above all, the joy of being together in queer community.”
A Taste of Queer Salt Lake
Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur, a foodie fanboy, or just here for the vibes, the Queer Food Festival promises something to savor. Expect bold flavors, inventive pairings, and dishes that reflect the diversity and creativity of Salt Lake’s LGBTQ+ culinary scene.
Alongside the edible offerings, guests can expect live performances, DJ sets, and the kind of energy that only happens when queer joy and local flavor collide.
Support Local, Celebrate Loud
The event isn’t just a party — it’s a platform for supporting LGBTQ+ and allied small businesses in Utah. Participating vendors, entertainers, and creators will get a chance to shine, connect with new audiences, and share their talents in a space that celebrates inclusion and authenticity.
And for those who want to take their support to the next level, the Chamber is still seeking sponsors for the event. Sponsorship tiers range from the exclusive presenting sponsor ($5,000) to supporting and in-kind sponsors ($250 and above), each offering opportunities for recognition, perks such as complimentary tickets, and shout-outs from the DJ booth.
“This festival is a reflection of the abundance in our community — not just in food, but in spirit,” Pitts added. “Every sponsor, every vendor, every guest becomes part of that shared table.”
Get Your Tickets Now
Tickets for the 2025 Queer Food Festival are officially on sale — and if history is any indicator, they won’t last long. Past events have sold out quickly, so foodies and festival lovers alike are encouraged to grab theirs now.
Don’t miss your chance to toast, taste, and thrive with your community. Because in Salt Lake City, we don’t just eat — we feast fabulously. Q
Event is May 9 starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets at utahlgbtqchamber.org, sponsorship info at connie. zeller@utahlgbtqchamber.org.
views
quotes
“In 12 years as the Roman Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis transformed our theology of the environment and recognized the need for LGBTQ+ people to feel heard, seen, and included in their church.”
—Sean Rowe, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
“Being homosexual isn’t a crime... Laws criminalizing homosexuality are unjust.”
—Pope Francis
“He was one of the great popes... welcoming everyone, regardless of background or identity.”
—Whoopi Goldberg
“Progress isn’t perfect... but [Pope Francis’] willingness to engage and evolve is significant.”
—Sarah Kate Ellis (GLAAD CEO)
“Trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love.”
Lady Gaga at the 2025 Grammy Awards
“[There’s an] unbelievable showing of resilience and strength. I think we have to look out for each other and have each other’s backs at the moment.”
—Troye Sivan on the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community
Trump, Project 2025, and the LGBTQ+ community
BY MICHAEL AARON
The Trump
administration has made swift progress in enacting portions of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 blueprint — particularly those aimed at reversing federal support for LGBTQ+ communities. Despite publicly disavowing the plan during the 2024 campaign, President Trump has embraced many of its policy goals, including rollbacks that disproportionately harm queer and transgender Americans. Among the most significant impacts have been changes to protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as dismantling HIV prevention and treatment initiatives.
In March, Trump signed an executive order redefining “sex” in all federal anti-discrimination policies as strictly biological male or female. This interpretation removes federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people in healthcare, education, housing, and employment. At the same time, the Department of Health and Human Services has begun rescinding Obamaera requirements that ensured coverage of gender-affirming care. Medicare and Medicaid programs are being reviewed to potentially eliminate such coverage altogether. These moves go hand-inhand with the administration’s revival of the transgender military ban and its directive to strip funding
from public schools that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. LGBTQ+ student groups and inclusive curricula are now considered non-essential — and in some cases, grounds for federal defunding.
The administration’s stance has also taken direct aim at HIV-related programs. Under Project 2025’s call to “streamline” global health and domestic aid, Trump has halted funding for several HIV prevention efforts, including those serving LGBTQ+ populations and communities of color. Key grants to community-based organizations were suspended, and international HIV/AIDS programs were cut, including portions of PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which has historically enjoyed bipartisan support.
USAID, which had been instrumental in delivering HIV medication and education abroad, has met 100% of Project 2025’s goals — including the elimination of programs that reference LGBTQ+ inclusion or address HIV among marginalized groups. The administration redirected some of this funding to Christian humanitarian groups, drawing outrage from global health advocates. In the wake of these cuts, multiple lawsuits have been filed, and the Supreme Court recently ordered the administration to pay $2 billion in damages to termi-
nated USAID contractors.
Perhaps the most incendiary moment came in April when Trump declared in a National Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation that gender-affirming care for minors constitutes “child abuse.”
Medical experts and LGBTQ+ advocates slammed the language, noting that it fosters stigma and puts trans youth at increased risk of mental health crises, homelessness, and HIV vulnerability.
While Trump’s campaign insists Project 2025 is “not associated” with the president,
his administration’s alignment with its policy recommendations tells a different story. Dozens of Project 2025 architects have been appointed to key positions, fueling a rapid and coordinated rollback of LGBTQ+ rights and public health support.
Civil rights and HIV advocacy groups warn that the damage could be long-lasting. “These aren’t just culture war policies,” said one advocate. “They are life-anddeath decisions, especially for LGBTQ+ people living with or at risk for HIV.” Q
Where Joy Blooms and Nature Reminds Us that We All Belong
Fascism
BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI
passed a constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQ+ events and has given the green light to facial recognition technology to catch anyone who dares to attend such an event.
You’d better believe that the Trump Administration is taking notes. It sounds dystopian, but this is where we’re headed.
Pride events are already seeing a mass exodus of sponsors. The Republican attack on D.E.I. (which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, all good things) has led corporate sponsors of Pride events across the country to pull out, fearing reprisal from
the Trump administration.
“We will remember who stood by us and who didn’t,” Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride, told NBC News. “When it was politically popular, they were lined up.”
And there is good reason to fear Trump. Because he’s clearly demonstrating that he does not give a single fuck about things like human beings and the law.
I mean, Trump is literally kidnapping people off the street and sending them to concentration camps for the crimes of having tattoos and for having opinions he doesn’t like. It doesn’t get much more dystopian than that. Republicans seem, by and large,
a-OK with this, by the way. Trump even deported a dad from Maryland — by accident. Kilmar Abrego Garcia is now sitting in a concentration camp in El Salvador, and Trump has no intention of bringing him back, even though the Supreme Court says he has to. Instead, Trump invited El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the Oval Office because they’re buddies now. A relationship, as The Advocate puts it, “built not only on shared culture war politics but on a brutal approach to immigration and incarceration.”
When asked by reporters if Garcia would be released and sent back to his family in the U.S., Bukele said that would be “preposterous.”
Hurry, Google “Constitutional Crisis.” Are we in one?
The answer is yes. Yes, we are.
Right now, as it stands in the United States, you can be kidnapped off the street and sent away without any kind of judicial oversight. You don’t have to be undocumented. You don’t have to be charged with a crime. You don’t even have to have a criminal record. Trump just has to say you’re a criminal, and it’s a done deal.
This should scare the living shit out of everyone, especially LGBTQ+ people.
Oh, at that little tête-à-tête between Trump and Bukele where they said Garcia would never see the light of day again? They also took time to trash-talk transgender people.
Seemingly out of the blue, Trump asked Bukele, “Do you allow men to play in women’s sports? Do you allow men to box your women and box? Because I know you have a lot of boxers.”
In response, Bukele said, “That’s violence.”
According to The Advocate, “Trump went on to repeat long-debunked claims about trans women dominating women’s sports.”
But then he stopped. Not out of decency, mind you. “I don’t like talking about it because I want to save it for just before the next election,” Trump said. Let that sink in. How transgender people are merely political cannon fodder. How Trump believes that transgender people playing sports will scare voters much more than disappearing a man legally in the country.
Trump is proud of his concentration camps. In fact, he told Bukele to build more prisons so that he could send “homegrown criminals” to El Salvador next. But in Trump’s sick mind, transgender people existing is a bridge too far.
And then there’s Andry José Hernández Romero, a gay man from Venezuela who was seeking asylum in the U.S. He was also forcibly removed and sent to the concentration camp in El Salvador. Why? ICE deemed that he had gang-related tattoos. The tattoos in question? Crowns with “Mom” and “Dad” above each. Rachel Maddow had Romero’s lawyer, Lindsay Toczylowski, on to talk about what happened to him. “These are not the tattoos of somebody who is involved with gangs,” Toczylowski told Maddow. “Our client’s life is at risk. We’re concerned for his safety. And the fact that he was forcibly taken from the United States with no due process — it’s just… it’s something that really shocks the conscience.”
We are in danger. What Trump did to Garcia and Romero, he can do to you. Or me. Or anyone for any reason. That is, if we don’t die of measles first.
The only thing that is safe to say right now is that we are not in a good place. Q D’Anne Witkowski is a writer living with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBTQ+ politics for nearly two decades. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.
Former
Mia Love is dead
BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS
Represen
tative Mia Love died in March. She made history by becoming the first Black GOP woman elected to the U.S. House back in 2014. She painted herself as a new type of Republican. But when it came to LGBTQ+ rights, she sang the same tired song.
More than a decade since she was elected, the Republicans are still fighting against equality. This year, five states proposed measures for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn marriage equality. Another four want a new category, “covenant marriage”, exclusively for one man and one woman.
Meanwhile, companies like Target, Comcast, and Anheuser-Busch have pulled out of Pride events around the country. And in Utah, a new law bans the display of Pride (and other) flags on state government properties.
That’s a lot of hate. It’s difficult for LGBTQ+ people to digest, and even more difficult for queer parents to explain to their kids.
“There has always been hate in the world, and at many points in history it has been aimed at the LGBTQIA+ community,” Dr. Katie Moore, PsyD, a licensed psychologist with Affirming Psychological Services in Irvine, Calif., says. “It’s not whether we view it as hate, it’s how we respond to that hate that is the bigger issue.”
One suggestion she offers is to avoid allowing all the
negative news to become paralyzing. Instead, look for appropriate ways to “resist and persist.” None of these attacks against the queer community and our families are new. Whether it’s banning books featuring two moms or the Defense of Marriage Act, we’ve been through this before and eventually, we came out as the winners.
But the latest actions coming out of Washington and Corporate America can be a lot to handle. Dr. Moore adds, “Limit your exposure to things that are overwhelming. While we still need to know all of the big, scary things, we don’t need to read every article on every single news story. Read one or two, and if there is no new information, move on rather than overwhelming yourself with reading through difficult details over and over again.”
Also, don’t feel like you have to be involved in every action against these dehumanizing attacks. Sometimes, just surviving is a show of great strength and resistance.
And if the state of the world right now is anxiety-evoking for LGBTQ+ people, imagine how it is for our children. For older kids, it may be helpful to have a frank discussion about America’s history. Dr. Moore believes that explaining the juxtaposition of the ideal of equality on which the country was supposedly founded against the reality of 300 years of oppression of various groups can help put the current
situation into context.
For younger kids, this is an opportunity to remind them of how truly awesome queer families are – even if not everyone understands that. Talking about how real friends always want the best for you will also help them realize they likely have their own strong community of support. By the way, that goes for companies too. “A company that truly cares about your community won’t only care during Pride month,” Moore adds. With so much hate
currently directed at the LGBTQ+ community, it’s easy to respond with our own hate. Forgiving those whom we believe have hated us says far more about us than it does about them.
Mia Love always refused to answer questions for this column. Her policies and votes in Congress hurt my family and the LGBTQ+ community. I admit, I didn’t like her, but I never hated her.
May her memory be eternal. Q
You can contact Dr. Katie Moore at heraQ. org or AffirmingPsychologicalServices.com
Preview to Utah Pride 2025
Get ready
to celebrate authenticity, community, and joy—Utah Pride Festival 2025 is just around the corner.
Taking over Washington Square Park on Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, June 8, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., this year’s festival invites Utah’s LGBTQIA+ community and allies to show up in full force under the bold and affirming theme of “Radical Love.”
Utah Pride organizers described the theme as “a powerful reminder that love, in its purest form, is unconditional. It challenges us to show up for one another with compassion, courage, and authenticity — and to build a community where everyone belongs, no exceptions.”
Hosted at the historic Washington Square Park around the Salt Lake City and County Building (450 S State Street), the festival is promising two days of vibrant performances, meaningful connection, and unapologetic celebration.
And that spirit of inclusivity and defiance is especially timely this year.
Pride in the Face of HB77
The backdrop to this year’s celebration includes the passage of HB 77, a controversial Utah law that bans the display of altered or non-government flags — including Pride flags — on public property such as schools and government buildings. Critics argue the bill is a direct attack on LGBTQIA+ visibility in public life.
Chad Call, Executive Director of the Utah Pride Center, didn’t mince words in a public statement:
“This is more than just a policy decision — it is a deliberate attempt to erase LGBTQIA+ visibility from the public sphere. It is government overreach at its worst… But let’s be clear: this law cannot and will not erase the spirit of Pride.”
While HB 77 may limit municipal displays of support, it does not impact individuals, businesses, or private properties from flying the Pride flag
or showing visible support in other ways. Organizers are urging supporters across the state to raise their flags high — on porches, in windows, at businesses, and everywhere in between.
Schedule
Utah’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration stretches across four powerful days in downtown Salt Lake City, offering a dynamic mix of joy, protest, and community. The festivities begin on Thursday, June 5, with an INTERFAITH WORSHIP SERVICE . On Friday, June 6, LGBTQ+
youth take center stage at the high-energy PRIDE YOUTH DANCE . Saturday, June 7, kicks off with the annual RALLY AND MARCH , a cornerstone of the weekend rooted in advocacy and visibility, followed by Day 1 of the Pride Festival on Washington Square, featuring live entertainment, vendors, and food trucks. Sunday, June 8, opens with the colorful and empowering UTAH PRIDE PARADE , followed by Day 2 of the Pride Festival, continuing the celebration with performances, community booths, and plenty of Pride spirit. The weekend offers something for everyone, uniting thousands in support of equality and love.
Festival and Parade Details
Despite legislative headwinds, the Utah Pride Festival and Parade are moving forward as planned. The festival will once again bring music, food, community resources, entertainment, and celebration to the heart of Salt Lake City.
TICKET OPTIONS:
1-Day Admission: $20 for adults (18+), $18 for seniors/military, $5 for youth under 17
2-Day Admission: $35 for adults
Unicorn Ticket Donation: For $20, you can donate a ticket to someone who cannot afford entry
PARADE
The Utah Pride Parade steps off Sunday morning, June 7, with a slightly
2025 PRIDE PARADE ROUTE - JUNE 8TH, 2025
shortened route: beginning at 1st South and West Temple, heading east to 4th East, and turning south to 300 South. As always, the parade promises showstopping floats, marching bands, community groups, and enough glitter and pride to light up the entire city.
VENDORS
Vendors planning to participate in this year’s Utah Pride Festival will be pleased to find that booth prices have been significantly reduced compared to previous years. Thanks to new negotiations between Utah Pride and Salt Lake City agencies, vendors now have the option to bring their own qualifying tents, eliminating the previous requirement to rent professionally installed tents. This change makes booth participation more accessible for small businesses, artists, nonprofits, and community organizations. Booth registration fees vary depending on the size and type of vendor, with 10x10 spaces starting at $300 for social groups and going up to $1,000 for large businesses. All vendors are still required to have a covered booth, but they can now choose between renting a tent through Utah Pride’s preferred vendor or supplying one that meets the necessary specifications. To take advantage of the lower pricing and avoid additional late fees, vendors must register before May 1.
A Call to Action
In his statement, Call reminds the community that public spaces like Washington Square Park “belong to all of us,” and that showing up to celebrate Pride is more important now than ever.
“We lost a battle, but we have not lost the fight… Our right to gather, to celebrate, and to be seen is not up for debate. We will march. We will celebrate. We will take up a tremendous amount of space, as we always have.”
So mark your calendars, bring your fiercest outfit, and join your Utah LGBTQIA+ community as we celebrate Radical Love—because we are worthy, we are visible, and we are not going anywhere. Q
For full details, ticket purchases, volunteer opportunities, and parade information, visit utahpride.org.
The Third Coming: ‘Gay Jesus’ is returning to Utah Pride
In2023,
Ryan Barlow did something that would have shocked his former self.
Dressed in flowing white robes and a rainbow sash, he walked through the gates of the Utah Pride Festival not as a protestor, not as a devout Mormon, but as Gay Jesus — and the LGBTQ+ community welcomed him with open arms.
“And it was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had,” he said.
This year, he’s coming back.
What began as a personal act of healing has transformed into a symbol of hope for countless Utahns carrying the weight of religious trauma. Ryan, who was once a deeply committed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now walks with a different mission: to reclaim compassion, visibility, and queer joy — dressed as the very figure once used to shame and silence LGBTQ+ people.
“I grew up Mormon, like, strict Orthodox LDS,” Barlow recalls. “I was attending BYU in 2008 when the church told us to support California’s
Proposition 8, so I did. Didn’t question it. I didn’t need to; the church was the source of eternal truths.”
But several years later, everything changed. It started with an essay, a deep dive into the church’s teachings on LGBTQ+ issues. The more he read, the more cracks formed in the theological foundations he once trusted completely. What emerged from that unraveling wasn’t just a new perspective — it was a calling, even as a new ally to the community.
“One thing I am passionate about now is queer pride. And that’s partially because now I understand that gender and sexuality is not black and white; it’s a spectrum, a colorful spectrum, that we all fall on somewhere,” he said.
From Doctrine to Dissonance
Ryan’s personal faith shift began with his growing awareness of the harm being done to others.
“I started to really see people’s pain,” he says. “The kind that’s wrapped in sermons and scrip-
tures. And it was everywhere.”
That empathy turned into activism. And in 2023, it took on a visual form: Gay Jesus, an embodiment of radical love, holy mischief, and a divine reminder that queer people are sacred.
Miracles in the Crowd
What Ryan didn’t anticipate last year was just how deeply that costume, simple as it was, would resonate.
“Jesus was a celebrity! I had what I would estimate at least 300 individuals ask to take their photo with me, maybe as many as 500. Probably 100 people just wanted a hug from Jesus. I had a couple dozen separate people approach me to thank me for doing what I was doing. One lady embraced me in a hug and just stayed there for close to a minute, and when she finally pulled away, tears were rolling down her face. She said, ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t be crying.’ I told her, ‘No, you really should. There’s plenty of religious trauma to go around.’”
For many at Utah Pride, Ryan wasn’t just a performer or a spectacle — he was a mirror, reflecting back a Jesus they wished they’d met growing up. A Jesus who embraced the marginalized, who flipped tables on oppressive systems, and who led with love, not judgment.
So was it controversial? “No. Not in the slightest,” Ryan says. “The people at Pride love the Jesus of the New Testament. The Jesus who taught to love one another, the Jesus who taught that the two Great Commandments are both to love, the Jesus who said that the blessed are those who are meek, who are lowly in heart, those who are peacemakers. They may not believe in his divinity, or even his existence, but they live his teachings — better than most Christians do.”
Utah Pride 2025: The Return of Gay Jesus
This year, Ryan returns to the Utah Pride Parade not just as a one-man act, but as part of something bigger. He’ll be marching with the Exmo
community and Conversion Therapy Survivor Network—two groups leading efforts to support LGBTQ+ people harmed by high-demand religions, especially Mormonism. Together, they’ll walk in honor of those still carrying shame that never belonged to them. They’ll walk for the kids who think they’re broken, for the
Ex-Mormons, Conversion Therapy Survivor Network, Gay Jesus are coming to Utah Pride
Former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and survivors of conversion therapy are uniting to attend Utah Pride 2025. For the first time, Exmo and the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network are co-organizing a booth and parade presence designed to uplift, educate, and inspire queer Utahns — especially those who have been deeply impacted by harmful religious ideologies.
Behind this grassroots effort are Sarah Jones and two other dedicated organizers, driven by lived experience and a shared mission: to create visibility for queer ex-Mormons and offer a lifeline to those still navigating their path out of shame and suppression.
“Many of us grew up being told that we were broken, unworthy, or unlovable because of who we are,” Sarah says. “We’re here to say the opposite is true. You are whole. You are sacred. You are worthy of love exactly as you are.”
The booth will serve as an educational hub and safe space where survivors of religious trauma and conversion therapy can find community and connection. Through printed resources, survivor
stories, and real-time podcast recordings, the booth will raise awareness about the lasting harms of SOGICE (Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Change Efforts) — a reality still cloaked in religious language within many Utah communities.
The Exmo group, a collective of former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, works year-round to support queer folks leaving high-demand religions. By teaming up with CTSN — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by conversion therapy survivors for conversion therapy survivors — they’re building something bigger than a booth. They’re building a movement of healing through shared truth.
CTSN’s mission is rooted in solidarity and storytelling. “Our hope is that by telling our stories, we help others feel less alone,” a CTSN representative shares. “There is immense power in saying ‘me too’—and even more in saying, ‘you can heal, because I’m healing too.’”
In addition to their booth, the group will be marching in the Utah Pride Parade with none other than Ryan, the Exmo Rainbow Jesus — a
adults still trying to unlearn self-hate, and for everyone who’s ever prayed to be someone else—just to be loved.
“There’s
Nothing Wrong With You”
Ryan Barlow’s presence at Pride is more than clever cosplay. It’s a theological reclamation, a healing presence, and maybe even a little bit of holy disruption.
“I wanted to bring smiles,” he says. “But what I didn’t realize is how healing it would be—for them and for me.”
So if you see Gay Jesus at any of Utah’s Prides this year, including Davis County Pride in Layton on May 3 — stop him. Ask for a hug. Take a picture. Tell him your story. Because he’s not there to save you. He’s there to remind you that you never needed saving in the first place. Q
beloved, glittering figure from the last few years of Pride whose message of radical love and affirmation sparked joy and selfies all along the route.
Also joining the booth festivities: An Exmo and a Nevermo Walk into a Bar Podcast will be recording a live episode onsite. Expect laughs, vulnerability, and some hot takes. Chris David Proud, author of Worthy: The Memoir of an Ex-Mormon Lesbian, will be signing books and donating proceeds to CTSN. As a survivor herself, Chris’s story is one of resilience and triumph that resonates deeply with many in the community.
The organizers are currently raising funds to cover parade registration, booth setup, literature, supplies, and accessibility accommodations. Any leftover funds will be donated directly to CTSN to support future local Pride events and ongoing survivor outreach.
“This isn’t just about showing up at Pride,” says one organizer. “It’s about reclaiming our stories, creating visibility for those who still feel trapped, and holding space for healing. We know what it’s like to feel alone in this state. And we’re here to say: You are not alone anymore.”
The fundraiser can be found at BIT.LY/EXMOBOOTH
Barlow and Jake Boyle at Davis County Pride last year
‘The Biggest Little Festival in Utah’ Davis County Pride returns with Disco Fever
On Saturday, May 3rd, something groovy is happening in the heart of Davis County. From noon to 6 pm at Layton Commons Park, the trees will sway to music, kids will cut loose in the grass, and more than 4,000 people will gather under the theme “Shimmer, Shine, and Show Your Pride!” If you’ve never been, this is the year to go.
Admission is completely free, and in just one afternoon, festivalgoers will experience more than 100 vendors and community booths, a dozen food trucks, live entertainment, story sharing, poetry, and — more than anything else — an atmosphere of belonging.
“We’re the biggest little festival in Utah,” says Jake Boyle, Davis County Pride treasurer and board member. “We’re surrounded by amazing, multi-day pride festivals in Salt Lake City and Ogden, but we do something unique. We jam-pack all the energy and love of Pride into one powerful six-hour celebration.”
Born from activism, Davis County Pride began just four years ago as a response to a school district ban on Pride flags in classrooms. “We threw a rally in the park to show support for LGBTQ+ students and teachers,” Boyle recalls. “That one event grew into what we have now — a full-scale Pride festival that brings together people from all over northern Utah.”
“We like to think we kick off PRIDE Season in Utah,” says Boyle. Davis County Pride appreciates the support of many who make the festival possible.
“Project Rainbow Utah provides us with a matching grant of $3,000 each year.” Boyle said. “We couldn’t do much of what we do without the support of Jacey and Project Rainbow.”
Additional support comes from On Pitch Performing Arts, who is providing sound equipment and managing the Rainbow Stage this year. Other supporters of the festival include QSaltLake Magazine, Imperial Rainbow Court of Northern Utah, Gearn Storytelling, and Ascent Signs.
This year introduces exciting new elements, including a second stage hosted by Gearn Storytelling, where guests can hear personal stories and enjoy live poetry. And for the first time, the festival welcomes The Lavender Menaces, Utah’s first queer marching band guaranteed to turn heads and crank up the celebration.
But even with all that shimmer and shine, the festival’s heart is unmistakably human.
“One year, a teenager ran over from the nearby pool and shared, ‘I’m not out yet and I can’t stay — but thank you for being here,’” Boyle shares. “That alone was enough. But there are so many stories — people have told us the
festival saved their lives. Some found love here. We even had a wedding proposal at the park during the festival.”
Perhaps no moment captures the spirit of the festival quite like the “Hell Together” Mom & More Hugs.
Inspired by singer David Archuleta’s emotional tribute to his mom, who embraced him when he came out, the festival invites moms, dads, siblings, and supporters to gather and share a hug.
“Strangers hug like family,” Boyle says. “It’s incredibly moving. Last year, I cried. A lot of people did.”
This year’s disco-inspired theme — “Shimmer, Shine, and Show Your Pride!” — was born from a desire to shift the focus from survival to celebration.
“Someone originally suggested a disco theme around ‘Staying Alive,’ which is very real in today’s political climate,” Jake says. “But we wanted to focus on light. A disco ball is made of mirrors. We may not always be in the spotlight, but we reflect each other’s light. That’s what our community does.”
This year, the festival is taking that idea of reflection and connection a step further. Color-coded bracelets will be handed out by city so attendees can spot neighbors from across Davis County. “We want people to build community — not just celebrate Pride, but actually meet the people who live near them and care like they do.”
Jake emphasizes that Davis County Pride is about more than a single day. It’s about challenging assumptions, creating safety, and promoting joy through visibility.
“PRIDE isn’t something scary,” he says. “It’s about visibility, love, and acceptance.”
So whether you’re a longtime ally, newly out, or just curious what a disco-themed afternoon in Layton feels like — this is your invitation, Boyle says. Put on your shimmer. Let yourself shine. And show your pride.
BRANDON STAUFFER On Pitch Performing Arts Exec Director, Emcee
DAKOTA WURTH, Clearfield City Council, Speaker
1:15 pm OPPA! Theater Performances
1:30 pm IMPERIAL RAINBOW COURT OF NORTHERN UTAH Drag Performers
2 pm AITCH ALEXANDER Military Veteran speaker
2:15 pm IMPERIAL RAINBOW COURT OF NORTHERN UTAH Drag Performers
3 pm OPPA! Theater Performances
3:15 pm CHEER SALT LAKE Cheer Squad
3:30 pm OPEN INVITATION TO RECEIVE MOM HUGS David Archuleta Song, “Hell Together”
3:45 pm LAVENDER MENACES Brass Band
4:15 pm PRIDE MARCH March around Constitution Circle to song ‘Love Train’ performed by Lavender Menaces
4:45 pm OPPA! Theater Performances
5:30 pm DJ Disco Music
5:45 pm FESTIVAL CLOSING Davis County Pride Board
Dakota Wurth is a lifelong Davis County resident, growing up in Layton and graduating from Layton High School in 2014. In 2023 he decided to get involved in civic advocacy by running for Clearfield City Council where at 27 years old he became the youngest person ever elected in Clearfield City, and Davis County’s first ever openly gay elected official. Dakota and his husband Cole are passionate about making a difference in our community, and when they aren’t trying to change the world, love to spend time at home relaxing and enjoying life with their two dogs.
CHEER SALT LAKE
AITCH ALEXANDER
Aitch Alexandar is an openly queer, trans- masculine human originally from Walla Walla, Washington. Aitch is a Navy veteran who currently resides in the Salt Lake City metro area with his family of felines and his elderly, eccentric father. He’s awkward, funny, and probably too obsessed with pizza & cats. Aitch would love to hear from you so please reach out on Instagram @aitch_writes_stuff
LAVENDER MENACES
1 pm GEARN Storytelling
3 pm GEARN Storytelling
Cheer Salt Lake is made up of members of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as allies. Their mission is to raise money for LGBTQIA+ communities through charitable cheerleading. Cheer Salt Lake includes founding members of the Pride Cheerleading Association. Cheer Salt Lake, along with sister teams, has raised almost $20,000 locally and $1.4 million for LGBTQIA+ causes around the world.
A new Salt Lake City-based performance artist collective dedicated to the empowerment of women, non-binary, and trans people. The group welcomes all marginalized artists to freely express their creative talents in breaking society’s expectations for who is allowed to take up space by fiercely and unapologetically bringing high energy brass music and visual arts to the streets and to our community.
The collective draws its name from “Lavender Menace,” a term originally used in 1969 by activist Betty Friedan to describe the perceived threat of lesbian feminists to the women’s movement. This term was later reclaimed by lesbian activists in the 1970s as a symbol of resistance and solidarity.
DAKOTA WURTH
Prides across Utah this summer
Utah’s 2025 Pride season is brimming with vibrant celebrations across the state. Here’s a chronological guide to the regional Pride events, each offering unique experiences and opportunities to support the LGBTQ+ community.
Davis County Pride Festival – May 3, 2025 (Layton)
Kicking off the season, the Davis County Pride Festival invites everyone to “Shimmer, Shine, & Show Your Pride” at Layton Commons Park from noon to 6 p.m.. This free, family-friendly event features over 60 local artists and crafters, 40+ nonprofits and resource providers, drag performances, storytellers, a flash mob, a walking parade, and more. It’s a joyful celebration of community and creativity.
MORE INFO
Daybreak Pride – June 1, 2025 (South Jordan)
Daybreak Pride returns on Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Highland Park North Fields (6050 W Lake Ave, South Jordan, UT 84009). This vibrant, community-focused event invites everyone to celebrate in a welcoming and inclusive space. The application process is now open for performers, general vendors, and exhibitors (note: all food vendor spots are currently full).
MORE INFO
Utah Pride Festival – June 5–7, 2025 (Salt Lake City)
Utah’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration stretches across four powerful days in downtown Salt Lake City, offering a dynamic mix of joy, protest, and community. The festivities begin on Thursday, June 5, with an Interfaith Worship Service. On Friday, June 6, LGBTQ+ youth take center stage at the high-energy Pride Youth Dance. Saturday, June 7, kicks off with the annual Rally and March, a cornerstone of the weekend rooted in advocacy and visibility, followed by Day 1 of the Pride Festival on Washington Square, featuring live entertainment, vendors, and food trucks. Sunday, June 8, opens with the colorful and empowering Utah Pride Parade, followed by Day 2 of the Pride Festival, continuing the celebration with performances, community booths, and plenty of Pride spirit.
MORE INFO
Blooming with Pride – June 13, 2025 (Salt Lake City)
Red Butte Garden hosts “Blooming with Pride” from noon to 7 p.m., celebrating the resilience and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community through nature and art. Attendees can enjoy botanical art exhibits, hands-on activities, self-guided garden tours, and contribute to a collaborative community art piece. It’s a day where joy blooms, and everyone is welcome.
MORE INFO
Helper Saturday Vibes – June 14, 2025 (Helper)
Join the town of Helper for a special Pridethemed edition of their Saturday Vibes series from 5 to 10:30 p.m.. The evening features live music performances by DERM and Ginger & The Gents, local vendors, and a welcoming community spirit. It’s a perfect blend of smalltown charm and Pride celebration.
MORE INFO
SLC Pride Festival – June 28–29, 2025 (Salt Lake City)
SLC Pride returns to The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City for its second annual festival, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community with a weekend full of joy, inclusivity, and empowerment. The festival kicks off with Genderfuq, a trans-centered punk rock event on Thursday, June 27, at Sugar Space Arts Warehouse. The main festival runs Saturday and Sunday, featuring live performances, a variety show, local vendors, and community organizations. Attendees can also enjoy the Transcake Breakfast on Sunday morning, a special event celebrating transgender individuals and their allies. SLC Pride is committed to creating a safe, accessible, and family-friendly environment for all.
MORE INFO
West Valley City Pride – June 28, 2025 (West Valley City)
West Valley City hosts its inaugural Pride event at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.. This free celebration includes live performances, local vendors, interactive art experiences, and a reflection of the city’s diverse and dynamic community. It’s a historic moment honoring pride, progress, and unity.
MORE INFO
artists, businesses, and community organizations. It’s a day to connect, dance, and celebrate who you are in a space filled with love and acceptance.
MORE INFO
$45 CHAMBER MEMBERS $55 GENERAL PUBLIC $25 ACCESSIBLE RATE. MUST PREORDER TIX, NO SALES @ DOORS. MUST PREORDER TIX, NO SALES @ DOORS.
Defying
BY BLAIR HOWELL
gravity, ‘Wicked’ soars
WICKED
is the fifth-longest-running show in Broadway history and earned three Tony Awards. It has amassed over $5 billion in global sales.
And Salt Lake audiences can join the over 60 million people worldwide who enjoy the thrilling musical that includes the rousing “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good.”
Based on the “Wizard of Oz” prequel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
and a book by Winnie Holzman. Elphaba was born with emerald-green skin and is smart, fiery, and possesses a unique talent. When she meets Glinda, a popular blonde, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships — until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”
WICKED has the central theme of “Are people born wicked, or do we have wickedness thrust upon us?”
Though not entirely clear, Elphaba has wickedness thrust upon her, and we know the wicked have much more fun.
An exceptionally talented Lauren
Samuels defines the role of Elphaba and clearly has a fun time on stage — whether it’s her yearning softly that “I’m Not That Girl” or the epic rendition of the first-act finale, belting “Defying Gravity.” No one is gonna bring her down.
Austen Danielle Bohmer is serviceable as Glinda, as she struggles initially to fully capture the bubbly persona, though her performance gains strength. Bohmer hits all the right notes and is most enjoyable with “Popular.”
Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who originated the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, are now defined by their breakout, career-defining on-stage roles, and fans and critics alike agree that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were the best choices for their on-screen representations. (Wasn’t the Tony’s opening WICKED medley an ultimate delight as performed by Grande and Erivo?)
The film had the biggest ever opening weekend for a movie adaptation of a Broadway musical (more than $160 million globally).
The stage play feels rushed now as compared to the pacing of the film, and naysayers see how the film version was correctly broken into two parts, with much of the business of Act 2 to be fully fleshed out. We must be patient as we wait for the second act of the film adaptation, “Wicked: For Good,” scheduled for November of this year.
This tour production is a welloiled, heart-filled carbon copy of all the WICKEDs that have come before, so while nothing has been altered here, it remains polished, professional, and the two pleasurable leads and the crackerjack ensemble.
As Fiyero, Xavier McKinnon sizzles in “Dancing Through Life,” and Aymee Garcia’s Madame Morrible stands out with “Thank Goodness.”
WICKED has been captivating audiences for more than 20 years, and there’s no doubt it will keep dazzling for another 20, including at the next Salt Lake tour date. Q
Eccles Theatre, through May 25
REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
‘The Cost of Fear: Why Most Safety Advice is Sexist and How We Can Stop GenderBased Violence’
BY MEG STONE, C.2025, BEACON PRESS
$26.95, 232 PAGES
The footsteps fell behind you, keeping pace. They were loud as an airplane, a few decibels below the beat of your heart. Yes, someone was following you, and you shouldn’t have let it happen. You’re no dummy. You’re no wimp. Read the new book, “The Cost of Fear” by Meg Stone, and you’re no statistic. Ask around.
Query young women, older women, grandmothers and teenagers. Ask gay men, lesbians, and trans individuals, and chances are that every one of them has a story of being scared of another person in a public place. Scared – or worse. Says Meg Stone, nearly half of the women in a recent survey reported
q
scopes
MAY
BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS
ARIES March 20–April 19
Change has always been cleansing to you, and this is a great time to refresh and renew. Time alone will do you good but make time for those who make you laugh. A big surprise could come in the form of an explosive force. Enjoy letting go of some tension.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20
The time for sleep will elude you this month. With a calendar filled to the brim, you may find life overwhelming. Mix a little fun into your obligatory activities to keep your spirits high. A relationship or close friendship will expand your vision of the world if you take the time to look.
GEMINI May 21–June 20
Blow off some steam by jumping into an amazing project. A short trip or adventure will be very desirable. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and embrace
the bookworm sez
having “experienced... unwanted sexual contact” of some sort. Almost a quarter of the men surveyed said the same. Nearly thirty percent of men in another survey admitted to having “perpetrated some form of sexual assault.”
We focus on these statistics, says Stone, but we advise ineffectual safety measures.
“Victim blame is rampant,” she says, and women and LGBTQ individuals are taught avoidance methods that may not work. If someone’s in the “early stages of their careers,” perpetrators may still hold all the cards through threats and career blackmail. Stone cites cases in which someone who was assaulted reported the crime, but police dropped the ball. Old tropes still exist and repeating or relying on them may be downright dangerous.
As a result of such ineffectiveness, fear keeps frightened individuals from normal activities, leaving the house, shopping, going out with friends for an evening.
So how can you stay safe?
Says Stone, learn how to fight back by using your whole body, not just your hands. Be willing to record what’s happening. Don’t abandon your activism, she says; in fact, join a group that helps give people tools to protect themselves. Learn the right way to stand up for someone
challenging people. Networking will get you what you are looking for, though be prepared for some added responsibilities.
CANCER June 21–July 22
When you spill the milk, don’t cry. Find some cream instead! The loss of something plain leads to something better. Love is always abundant, and your popularity will ensure a good time this month. Keep your chin up, Cancer. Things are about to get very interesting.
LEO July 23–August 22
Stop stressing about things you can’t control. Don’t fear the self-expression of others, and start expressing some of your own creative inclinations. It’s not the end project but the process that counts. A career choice could leave you questioning if your head or heart will prevail.
VIRGO August 23–Sep 2
You’ve been questioning your path. Now is the time to try something new. A difference of opinion with a friend will challenge your perceptions, and a fond discovery could set you in
who’s uncomfortable or endangered. Remember that you can’t be blamed for another person’s bad behavior, and it shouldn’t mean you can’t react.
If you pick up “The Cost of Fear,” hoping to learn ways to protect yourself, there are two things to keep in mind.
First, though most of this book is written for women, it doesn’t take much of a leap to see how its advice could translate to any other world. Author Meg Stone, in fact, includes people of all ages, genders, and all races in her case studies and lessons, and she clearly explains a bit of what she teaches in her classes. That width is helpful, and welcome.
Secondly, she asks readers to do something potentially controversial: she requests changes in sentencing laws for certain former and rehabilitated abusers, particularly for offenders who were teens when sentenced. Stone lays out her reasoning and begs for understanding; still, some readers may be resistant and some may be triggered. Keep that in mind, and “The Cost of Fear” is a great book for a young adult or anyone who needs to increase alertness, adopt careful practices, and stay safe. Take steps to have it soon. Q
motion. An obligatory release of information is bound to cause a mess if revealed to a loved one.
LIBRA Sept 23–October 22
A flash of inspiration strikes this month. Your artistic medium of choice is your mind, and speech is your canvas. Share ideas with others. A family member who rarely speaks to you may make an appearance. Don’t let the lost time be a burden. It’s time to bond again.
SCORPIO Oct 23–Nov 21
A sense of confusion has been a recurring theme lately. Take a deep breath and clear your head. Don’t worry about being right all the time but put your focus on what is right for you. Make love to a lover or share a good romp with a friend. You shouldn’t be alone.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22–December 20
Your family life is currently incompatible with your career, or so it seems. Find a balance by getting your priorities straight. The inclination to fight will lead to some passionate times. Channel passion into positive goals, and results will follow.
CAPRICORN
Dec 21–Jan 19
Falling off the wagon is never fun, so hold on tight. Keep fiscal responsibility in mind and save your resources for something truly desired. A sleepy period has crept upon you, but a spicy time is right around the corner. Get some rest and be ready for when things heat up.
AQUARIUS Jan 20–Feb 18
Questions are bound to be plentiful while seeking for better understanding of a perplexing person. A dynamic with a co-worker or friend doesn’t go smoothly; it’s time to make things creamier. You may be more alike than you think. Good times will come in the form of a social affair.
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19
Express yourself and enjoy expressions from others. Resist the need to issue decrees to friends. Experience simple pleasures, like listening to music or reading a book. Inspiration for your own work will be found. An authority figure will offer resistance; be aware. Q
Luke Macfarlane: Hammering
Hallmark’s beloved gay pioneer on carpentry and Hallmark’s LGBTQ+ inclusivity
BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI
Ifyou
were to hear an offhand reference to “wood,” where would your head go? If you’re Luke Macfarlane, it goes to what else but actual woodworking.
A trailblazer at the Hallmark Channel for over a decade, Macfarlane has helped transform perceptions of the network by demonstrating that its “strong brand can still hold all these different voices,” as he told me recently. That includes the voice of Gay Man Working a Saw, a role he’s not here to embody, but one rooted in his true family history and personal experience of carpentry. In the new Hallmark+ reality series “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” Macfarlane puts his own special touch on old homes, maintaining their historical charm but gently restoring them in contemporary ways.
“It’s a real passion,” he says. “It’s not pretend. It’s not make-believe. It’s not drag.”
Beyond carpentry, Macfarlane has spent the last 20 years supporting authentic storytelling through acting projects like his role in the gay-inclusive ABC family drama “Brothers & Sisters,” which premiered in 2006 and ran for five seasons, and films like Billy Eichner’s “Bros” and the popular Netflix Christmas comedy “Single All the Way.” Since starring in Hallmark’s “The Memory Book” in 2014, he’s been a fan favorite on the network, where he’s played both straight and gay romantic leads.
With “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” he’s already looking forward to shooting more episodes beyond the six debut episodes now airing. Though there aren’t out LGBTQ+ couples featured during this batch, he says, “That is something we would love for the show. I mean, LGBTQ+ people do own homes.”
I’ve seen words like “dirty” and “wet” used to describe your presence on this show. And naturally, there’s been a fair number of wood references that aren’t just referring to lumber. As a gay carpenter, have you come to expect these kinds of jokes? It is a vocabulary that lends itself well [to that]. I was lucky enough to be on “The Sherri Shepherd show,” and I wanted to demonstrate building something for her, and I built her this little box and the kinds of joints, they were not dovetail joints, as people sometimes incorrectly identify. They were tongueand-slot joints, and as soon as I said, “You need to fit your tongue into the slot,” it just was pandemonium. And Sherri picked it up like that and I was like, “Oh my god, this is my biggest nightmare.” It’s something about the vocabulary.
As a carpenter, you’re thinking of carpentry. Actual wood. I really am. Look, I appreciate innuendo as much as anybody, but no, it’s just a different vocabulary. It totally is. Every profession has a vocabulary. Most of my woodworking friends would not squirm at “tongue and slot.”
For you, what’s the significance of being an out gay person on Hallmark? Well, it’s really interesting because I think my first movie for Hallmark was over 10 years ago and it had this reputation that I never really totally agreed with. People were like, “Hallmark is white and heterosexual and Christian.” Hallmark is not that. And I am one piece of the evidence that we are not that and that Hallmark is a big tent. There’s room for our stories and those stories can still fit inside the brand of Hallmark, which has a really strong sense of identity, and I would say a stronger sense of identity than almost most network brands. You kind of know what you’re going to get when you get a Hallmark movie and the amazing thing is you know what you’re going to get when you watch a Hallmark movie, but you’re also going to get gay and you’re also going to get all the other colors too. So it is comforting to know that this strong brand can still hold all these different voices.
It’s exciting for me to come to understand Hallmark in this way. Growing up as a
gay kid, it felt like it wasn’t a channel where I could find people who were like me. Look, we all know that “Saturday Night Live” skit, and I could probably repeat the entire thing verbatim, so I know it very well, but I don’t think it’s actually accurate and bless ’em for continuing to grow with me. They hired me when I was an [out] gay actor. I was coming off of “Brothers & Sisters.” There was no line about who I was. There was no pretending. There was no double-reverse reveal. On my mind right now is what’s happening in the U.S. politically and the importance of authentic representation. What do you feel you can offer to both this generation of young queer people and the broader public by, perhaps, reaching across the aisle through your work and by being a public figure? It’s hard to know how to even begin to answer that question, but I want to start by saying [that I reach people through] good design. I’m getting very emotional. For some reason, it’s hard. I’m sorry, Luke. No, it’s OK. So good design. Good design is about listening. You don’t come in with an idea about what’s good and bad. Very few designers have that privilege of like, “I’m going to design you a house that looks exactly like what I think good designers do.” Who are you? What do you value? What is important to you? Where do you come from? Where do you live? How do you live? And then we adapt and we make something for them that’s special. And that doesn’t mean I erase myself in the process. We begin to have a conversation and I do feel like the conversation we’re having in politics right now is, this is what’s correct. This is what’s right. This is what I’m going to impose upon you. And just to get maybe a little more political than anybody wants me to get,
I’m fascinated by the idea that Donald Trump is taking over the Kennedy Center. This just boggles my mind, but specifically I wanted to talk about the comment that he had about the facade of the Kennedy Center. The architect was working in the international style at a time and out front you have slender columns. So many designers at that point were trying to redefine this sort of Greek and Roman nomenclature and Corinthian, Ionic columns.
So [Donald Trump] says, “I’m going to build these slender steel columns.” And I was fascinated listening to Trump talk about them as if they were incomplete. [He] was talking about them as if they had never bothered to wrap them in marble because he thought a building that has meaning needs to have marble columns out front. And again, this is just to further this idea that design is not about imposing your idea on somebody else. It’s about thinking about different ways of interacting with the world and hearing different people’s ideas of things. I wanted to bounce back to 2006 and tell you that I have fond memories of watching every episode of “Brothers & Sisters” with my mother. Scotty and Kevin’s relationship really helped me see a future for myself as a gay man. How do you reflect on that show’s contributions to the conversation around visibility? Gosh, it was such a different time. Proposition 8 was being debated in California during the filming of that show, and marriage equality had not yet been fermented. And so it is amazing to think of it as a very different time. It was also a very different time in that I [was] less aware of the broader world. We didn’t have Instagram back then. I was not on social media. It was harder to see the impact you were having on people.
I remember years after the show finished, this kid called me… I shouldn’t call him a kid. He was getting his PhD and he was looking at queer representation in media and he wanted to talk to me for his thesis. And I was just baffled that it had reached people in that way. So I’m incredibly proud of that. But I will also say we were just going day by day, and we were telling the stories of the writers and the people I knew and [feeling] just
blessed that it connected. The number of stories of young gay men watching with their mothers was pretty profound. I heard that a lot, because good art is the beginning of a conversation, like I was saying before, and what better way to begin a conversation than by seeing Sally Field love her gay son?
I still defend that “Bros” really deserved a bigger audience. What do you think or hope the legacy of that movie will be as time passes? It just is really funny and I think it will always be funny. I mean, comedy is such an interesting thing. I feel comedy as an art form is the most
of movies like “Bridesmaids” and “Train Wreck,” as movies that people will return to. So I’m really proud of that movie.
And what about “Single All the Way”? “Single All the Way” was fasci
there that people in a moment all want to watch and bam, it happens so quickly. It’s been a couple of years since “Notes of Autumn” came out in 2023, during which you played half of a gay couple. Will we see you return to Hallmark in another gay role? I certainly hope so. It’s actually something that I’m really committed to now, sort of trying to work with Hallmark as not just an actor, but also as a producer. So I’ve been developing a script with a dear friend — actually, a dear friend that I met on my “Brothers & Sisters” days — to tell a Christmas LGBTQ+ story. So stay tuned. We’re
Nathan Lane and the ‘MID-CENTURY MODERN’ creators on their very gay new sitcom
‘This friendship is my love story’: The heart behind Hulu’s new adult streamer
BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI
On Hulu’s new comedy series “Mid-Century Modern,” longtime screen and theater actor Nathan Lane brings a familiar effervescence to his swishy character. Like his iconic turn as Albert in “The Birdcage,” he embodies Bunny with the exuberant flair of a diva hitting the high note of a showstopping number — each step a flourish, every gesture a work of art.
But during a recent video call, when I asked Lane about his impromptu moves — sometimes a shuffle, sometimes a glide (and sometimes, of course, in a kimono) — he genuinely seemed surprised by the fact that he was moving at all. It’s as if Bunny simply takes over him without effort. “Was I?” he asked, grinning. In that moment of unguarded charm, it became undeniable just how much of Lane’s performance might be effortlessly natural rather than meticulously crafted.
This sense of authenticity permeates the show itself, particularly in its poignant exploration of gay loneliness and the concept of chosen family within the queer community. Bunny’s emotional epiphany in the pilot serves as a defining moment that anchors the entire series. After watching his closest friends Jerry (Matt Bomer) and Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham) navigate their relationship, Bunny confronts his own status as the “unluckiest in love” among them.
“I thought long and hard about it, and then right before you came here today, it became obvious to me,” Bunny tells them, teary-eyed. “I have found the love of my life. It’s you two. This friendship is my love story.” Then, in true multi-cam sitcom fashion, the punchline lands: “Yes, it’s sexless and annoying, but what long-lasting love story isn’t?”
In “Mid-Century Modern,” Lane’s Bunny is the blueprint for what aging gracefully as a gay man can look like — close friends and all. Opulence in Palm Springs in your 60s? Absolutely. The show reminds you that nothing’s off-limits.
Beyond ‘The Golden Girls’
The premise of “Mid-Century Modern” — three friends navigating life’s complexities, along with Bunny’s mother Sybil (played by the late Linda Lavin, who died in December, while the show was in production) — was initially pitched as a gay “Golden Girls.” When I spoke with Lane, it was clear he didn’t want to draw too many comparisons to the legendary sitcom — after all, the original is in a league of its own.
Still, camaraderie, humor and affection were at the heart of what creators David Khan and Max Mutchnick, who brought “Will & Grace” to life 27 years ago, envisioned for Bunny, Jerry, Arthur and Sybil. As Kohan put it, Rose, Blanche, Sophia and Dorothy weren’t meant to be a “point of departure.”
“It was a shorthand,” he said. “The comparison was only as a way to say, it’s kind of like this, but it’s not this. It has those elements, that sense of camaraderie. Men of a certain age, a mother in the house. But that’s where the similarities ended, and it was not our intention to do that. It just sort of worked out that way.”
Some viewers aren’t just seeing a relationship between the two sitcoms —
they’re seeing one between Bunny and Albert in “The Birdcage.” Lane told me they’re at least different enough to not be the best of housemates. “I don’t think so,” he said about whether they could live together. “Albert’s too conservative for Bunny.” He added with a chuckle, “They might be kind, but I’m not sure they’d ask him to move in.”
While Bunny and Albert’s dynamic may be more unlikely, Lane acknowledged that “The Golden Girls” paved the way for pushing boundaries in primetime TV. And in today’s streaming era, there’s even more space to get edgy. Lane suggested that the “G-rated” trailer misrepresented the series’ raunchy bawdiness, knowing that the actual show, he said, is more like “an R-rated, outrageously gay multi-cam.”
From the very first scene, the show establishes how Kohan and Mutchnick dive right in without hesitation. At their friend’s funeral, after Bunny feigns sobbing, Arthur delivers a zinger: “You don’t look sad. You just look like a reluctant bottom.”
“It was liberating,” said Kohan about the freedom to be edgier. “I mean, because on ‘Will & Grace’ you always said, ‘OK, here’s what we want to say. Now, how do we say it in a way that’s acceptable?’ And here we just say it.” Mutchnick added that the jokes now have the ability to “end up on TikTok, and hopefully open a door for a new generation of people that want to watch multi-cams.”
One suggestively hilarious scene features Bunny and his pal Carol (Richard Kind) at a bar called Fisty’s. Together, they reminisce on Bunny’s romantic chases, including one nicknamed “Prolapsed Pete.” “I hate to think what time and gravity has done to that guy,” Bunny quips.
“There was a lot that didn’t make the cutting-room floor,” Lane said about that scene, acknowledging that it was particularly difficult to get through filming some of the more explicit jokes without breaking character, especially those containing colorful language.
“One of the many gifts of this experience has been making Nathan Lane laugh and watching him enjoy getting new words on show night has just been totally thrilling,” said Mutchnick. “We also brought Prolapsed Pete back at one point, and it was Nathan Lane that stopped it. He likes to say that it’s the two of us that defang these episodes, and it really isn’t. It’s a group effort.”
As for the trio of Lane, Bomer and Graham, Mutchnick said the friend group began with Lane in mind from the early stages of writing. Ryan Murphy pitched the idea to Lane while the actor was playing journalist Dominick Dunne in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” another Murphy production. “He was kind of our muse throughout the process,” Mutchnick said.
For Bomer, 47, working with Lane, 69, presented a special chance to work with a personal teenage hero. “I remember one of the first scenes I did in high school is from ‘The Lisbon Traviata.’ People were like, who is this kid? What is this 14-year-old doing right now? He’s just been hugely formative to me, and he’s so generous of spirit as an artist.”
On set, Bomer said Lane “helped me find my voice as the character and set a beautiful tone for all of us on the set that was loving and fun and joyful, where we could laugh at ourselves and take risks in front of each other and fall on our face in front of each other and shine in front of each other. It was just the kind of gift you dream of. Sometimes it takes 30 years to get there, but then there you are, and it’s not lost on me.”
Political resonance in challenging times
Lane added that it’s a “good time” for this kind of show, but joked, “I have no idea if Donald Trump will try to have it taken off the air along with MSNBC and CNN.”
At one point during our interview, Lane spoke more directly about his concerns: “The gay community, immigrants, we’re all going to have to fight for everything.” The weight of current political realities hangs in his words. “It’s hard to believe it’s only been seven weeks, and it’s already more destructive than I imagined,” he continued, referencing the rapidly shifting landscape under the new Trump administration. Yet even facing uncertainty, Lane’s optimism persists: “People are fighting back. Judges are stepping in, saying, ‘This is illegal.’ There’s a glimmer of hope.”
This raises the question — is “Mid-Century Modern” a political show? Kohan and Mutchnick are reluctant to draw explicit connections, even in this political climate, instead inviting viewers to interpret for themselves. Still, one episode, called “Love Thy Neighbor,” tackles a timely occurrence: how to approach your neighbor when that individual is a Republican congressperson endorsing harmful anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
“We were encouraged to move away from politics,” Mutchnick said. “People are going to come to the show to not think about politics. And then it really came down to a question of, how do we make this sort of inclusive? How do we make it so that there’s not this unbridgeable gulf between these people, but that there’s actually an understanding?”
Still, he added, “I hope that this show does what ‘Will & Grace’ did for the community.” That landmark series helped normalize gay characters in American homes during the late 1990s and early 2000s, contributing to shifting attitudes about LGBTQ+ acceptance. “I hope that this show bolsters the LGBTQ+ community and takes care of them and makes them feel like they have a voice.”
From ‘The Birdcage’ to now: Lane’s enduring impact
Though Lane has been an indelible part of the entertainment world for decades — and an inspiration to many gay men who were coming of age in the ‘80s and ‘90s — his legacy in LGBTQ+ representation traces back to one of his most iconic roles in the 1996 hit “The Birdcage.” When our conversation inevitably turned to this pivotal film, which cemented Lane’s place in cinema history, he acknowledged that
“it was, in some ways, ahead of its time.”
The film, a remake of the French classic “La Cage aux Folles,” brought to life Albert, a character whose flamboyance and vulnerability transcended the stereotypes often relegated to queer characters at the time. Lane’s portrayal of Albert, a campy yet deeply human figure, didn’t just provide comic relief; it opened doors for more nuanced and joyful portrayals of LGBTQ+ people in mainstream cinema. Would we have
“Mid-Century Modern” on one of the biggest streaming platforms without it?
“At the time, it was a great success,” Lane recalled. “I think it was [director] Mike Nichols’ most financially successful, and he wanted a commercial success, for sure. But it had a mixed reaction. But I would say it stood the test of time, and there’s not a day that goes by that people don’t bring it up to me and want to talk about it. Every day somebody brings it up.”
With the expertise of someone who’s lived inside the story, Lane traces the film’s lineage from the French “La Cage aux Folles” with actors Jean Poiret and Michel Serrault to finally becoming the screenplay that would introduce Albert — and Lane — to a wider audience.
Lane spoke with particular fondness about two pivotal scenes added for the film adaptation. “They’re two of the most crucial scenes,” he noted. The first: Albert’s poignant moment on an oceanside bench, devastated at the thought of life without his partner. “It’s about their love story,” Lane explained simply. Lane described the second addition — where Albert appears in a conservative dark suit but can’t help wearing bright pink socks — as “a beautiful scene.” These moments, where vulnerability and authenticity peek through societal constraints, capture the heart of what made “The Birdcage” revolutionary.
“There was a lot of criticism from the gay press at the time. Now, of course, they write pieces about it, calling it groundbreaking.” His laughter carries a hint of vindication: “Sometimes it’s just about survival,” he said, almost as if he is actually Bunny, settled into Palm Springs in a flowing kimono and maybe even some bright pink socks of his own, relishing the view. “If you hang around long enough, people start to think you’re wonderful.” Q Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media
Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.
Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.
When you’re comparing plans ...
Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.
Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.
Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.
Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1
That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.
Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones. The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.
Previous dental work can wear out.
Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2
Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.
Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.
1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025. 2 “Aging changes in teeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov, 4/17/2022. 3 American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2020 Survey of Dental Fees, Copyright 2020, American Dental Association.
“Absolutely love”
“I absolutely love my dental insurance. My dental office files the claims, leaving me with very little balance to pay.”
Dorothy P., TN
Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast
1 Verdon, who portrayed Lola in “Damn Yankees” 5 Leather band
Sally portrayer of “Cabaret”
Deep pink
Madrid museum
“Tearoom Trade” author Humphries
Jungle warning
One of the “Maneater” singers
Lascivious look 20 Start of a Chamberlain quote
Boo-Boo’s buddy
Manly man
Cross-dresser Joan of 28 Dick, for short
Help out
West of Hollywood
Experimental place for ocean bottoms 35 Shrek’s girlfriend 37 More of the quote
Italian wine center
Streisand nickname, and namesakes
by Greg Fox
43 Look at a hottie in a bar
44 “Faboo!”
Disencumber 47 Mother-and-son piece
48 Services for metrosexuals
51 End of the quote 54 Actor Chamberlain (1934-2025)
LGBTQ+ meetings: Sun. 3p Acceptance Group, All Saints, 1710 Foothill Dr
Tues. 7p Live & Let Live, Mt Tabor Tues. 7p Pride in Recovery, Narcotics
Anon. UPC, 68 S Main
Wed. 7p Sober Today, 1159 30th St , Ogden
Wed. 7p Bountiful
Men’s Group, Am. Baptist, 1915 Orchard Dr, Btfl
Fri. 7p Stonewall Group, Mt Tabor Lutheran, 175 S 700 E
Crystal Meth Anon
crystalmeth.org
USARA, 180 E 2100 S Clean, Sober & Proud Sun. 1:30pm
Leather Fetish & Kink Fri. 8pm
Genderbands
genderbands.org EQ @genderbands
LifeRing Secular Recovery
801-608-8146
liferingutah.org
Weds. 7pm, Sat. 11am
How was your week?
First Baptist, 777 S 1300 E
LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapists Guild
lgbtqtherapists.com
* robin@lgbtqtherapists.com
YOUTH/COLLEGE
Encircle LGBTQ Family and Youth Resource Ctr
encircletogether.org
EQ @encircletogether
91 W 200 S, Provo, 190 S 100 E, St. George 331 S 600 E, SLC 81 E Center, Heber City Gay-Straight Alliance Network
gsanetwork.org
OUT Foundation BYU
theout.foundation
fb.me/theOUTfoundation Salt Lake Community College LGBTQ+
slcc.edu/lgbtq/ UofU Student Pride Ctr Q uofupride
USGA at BYU
usgabyu.com
fb.me/UsgaAtByu Utah Valley Univ Spectrum
linktr.ee/spectrumqsa
uvu.edu/lgbtq/ * lgbt@uvu.edu
801-863-8885
Liberal Arts, Rm 126
Youth Discord Virtual Hangout 6p Wednesdays
Open to all youth 14-20. Email jay@ utahpridecenter.org to get access
Our Vision is to reduce social isolation and loneliness, improve the health and well-being of older adults and to empower them to lead meaningful and connected lives in which they are engaged and participating in the community. Our Mission is to reimagine aging by empowering older adults to live life to the fullest potential guided by these five pillars:
• Cherish the Journey
• Encourage the Body
• Inspire the Mind
• Nurture the Spirit
• Empower the Future
BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE
Lena Waithe soon to be in the ‘Place to Be’
Chances are the last glimpse you got of Lena Waithe was when she made her entrance as a new cast member on the now decades-spanning “Grey’s Anatomy,” or sitting in the front row of the Academy Awards ceremony with her partner, “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo. Well, the next time you see her may be in “Place to Be,” the new film from Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó (the Oscar-nominated “Pieces of a Woman”). Waithe takes her place alongside cast members Ellen Burstyn, Taika Waititi, Pamela Anderson and Edgar Ramirez in an oddball road movie that centers a no-nonsense senior (Burstyn, who’ll be 93 later this year) and divorced man (Waititi) whose life is messy enough to involve a lost racing pigeon. They pile into the car and haul it halfway across the country for… reasons. In other words, indie film narrative quirk in overdrive. We’ll allow it for the cool cast, of course.
Who wants to taste Forbidden Fruits’?
The true importance of independent cinema is its power to launch new voices into the filmmaking world. Enter Meredith Alloway and her feature debut now in production, “Forbidden Fruits,” and its buzzy young cast: bi queen Lili Reinhart (“Hustlers”), Lola Tung (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”), Victoria Pedretti (“The Haunting of Hill House”), Alexandra Shipp (“Straight Outta Compton”) and social media personality Emma Chamberlain. Co-produced by Diablo Cody and based on the play “Of the Woman Came the Beginning of Sin and Through
deep inside hollywood
Her We All Die” from Lily Houghton (co-writing the screenplay with Alloway), it’s a horror feature about a secret witch coven operating out of a shopping mall. We see a future double-feature with “The Craft.” Currently in production, IFC Film and Shudder are handling it, so brush up on your hexes for the 2026 release.
Is Colin Farrell about to enlist as ‘Sgt. Rock’?
Colin Farrell won so many awards for “The Penguin” that you can imagine DC is very excited he’s interested in taking on another new character in their stable. Earlier we reported that Daniel Craig, who recently starred in “Queer” for Luca Guadagnino, might be taking on the lead in Guadagnino’s new feature for DC, “Sgt. Rock.” Now, we don’t know who walked away from whom here, but if Craig was close to the project he isn’t anymore. That’s Farrell’s job to steal at the moment, and he’s already proven he’ll put on any amount of prosthetic gear to get into character. The character in question? A stoic mid-20th-century war hero — we daydreamed about making him gay for this iteration, but that seems unlikely — and his super powers are of the street-fighting mortal variety. Gay hero or not, with Guadagnino at the helm you can at least count on a queer “vibe.” Updates as this develops.
Tyler the Creator and Sandra Bernhard’s Safdie ‘Supreme’
Yes, the headlines about Josh Safdie’s follow up to “Uncut Gems,” “Marty Supreme,” are all about the sex scenes between Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, and that’s amusing in the way that straight people usually are (Gwyneth, for her part, was new to the concept of an on-set intimacy coordinator). But we’re queer and the cast inclusions we care about are hip-hop star Tyler the Creator (who’s been in a couple of “Jackass” films but always as himself) and bisexual Scorsese superstar Sandra Bernhard, who helped pave the road we all walk on. The film is about a 1950s professional Ping Pong player named Marty Mauser (Chalamet) and his dangerous affair with a woman whose
husband is part of the Ping Pong mafia (whatever that is, but it does indeed appropriately weird and rough). Speaking of weird, the cast also includes “Shark Tank” main man Kevin O’Leary for some reason, as well as magician Penn Jillette, indie film legend Abel Ferrara, and “The Nanny” goddess Fran Drescher. It comes out this Christmas. Take our money.
Joan Rivers: forever ‘Dead Funny’
“Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me. Well, it’s about time,” predicted Joan Rivers in a letter written later in life to her daughter Melissa. And she was correct, because on May 13 NBC will air the celebrity-stacked comedy special “Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute.” Shot in November 2024 – 10 years after the pioneering comic’s death at age 81 – at the New York Comedy Festival at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, the special will feature a who’s who of contemporary comedy: Margaret Cho, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, Sarah Silverman, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Tracy Morgan, Joel McHale, Patton Oswalt and Rachel Brosnahan (who played a 1950s-era Joan-alike on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”). It is indeed about time, and we’re hoping for a balance of reverence and roast (more roast, though, please because
think of the honoree’s wishes). Anyway, are you queer? Then you’re watching.
‘Merrily We Roll Along,’ now and much later
You may recall filmmaker Richard Linklater’s announcement that he’d be directing an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Merrily We Roll Along” starring Beanie Feldstein, Ben Platt and Blake Jenner. After a cast shakeup that saw Jenner replaced by Paul Mescal, it’s rolling again, and will be finished in 20 years – per the show’s timeline that sees old and unhappy friends returning to their younger optimistic selves by final curtain — allowing the actors to age backwards naturally. Can’t wait that long? You’re in luck: Sony Pictures Classics will release a filmed version of the recent Tony Award-winning Broadway revival starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez. No word yet on when it hits theaters, but if you enjoyed the stagemusical-in-a-movie-theater hits “Hamilton” and “Come From Away,” here’s your shot at seeing it before 2040something.
Lilly Wachowski presents Cassie Workman
New trans television coming our way, and not a moment too soon. Principle photography wrapped last month on a new series, “Cassie Workman is Witchy AF,” from executive producers Lilly
Wachowski, Sarah Marie Flores, Will Battersby and Philip Gelatt. But who is Cassie Workman, you ask? An Australian trans comedian, writer, actor and musician, now lead of the comedy docuseries that will dive into the history of occultism and magic with Workman playing herself running a fictional occult bookstore. It also has practical SFX monster makeup and puppets. See, you weren’t on board with the whole Aleister Crowley of it all until they promised puppets, but now you’re in. Ritual magic, tarot, demons, hexes, monsters: what more could a witchy queer viewer want? No word on when it hits the usual viewing platforms, but good magic is worth the wait. Gather your viewing coven.
Come home to ‘Project Runway’
Admit it, you fell off and stopped watching “Project Runway” after devoting most
of your early 2000s viewing life to it. But it never left you, fickle style maven, and season 21 is around the corner, ready to fill your face with fashion and fabric. Heidi Klum waits to welcome you back into the sewing room with a roster of aspiring designers, alongside veteran judge and queen of “Elle” magazine Nina Garcia, queer wunderkind Christian Siriano (who now dresses Michelle Obama, Oprah, Jennifer Coolidge and Lady Gaga), and stylist of the moment Law Roach, whose work with Zendaya helped her become a red carpet slayer. This season has the feeling of a brand refresh for the competition, and it will drop this summer weekly on Freeform, and streaming on Hulu. Time to take another look. Q
Romeo San Vicente is a big fan of uncut gems.
AWARD WINNER
positive thoughts
Gerald Garth Is Keeping People of Color Happy and Healthy
As the executive director of AMAAD, the writer and health advocate continues to bring positivity and hope to the Black queer community and beyond
BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO
Inthese
turbulent times, caring for one’s mental and emotional health is more vital than ever. However, avoiding unhealthy coping mechanisms that can lead to addiction issues and other forms of self-harm can be hard under stress. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people are even more at risk, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
One respected grass-roots organization in South Los Angeles is focused on changing that narrative. Originally founded by Dr. Carl Highshaw as a recovery program, AMAAD (Arming Minorities Against Addiction & Disease) has expanded to provide multiple programs, events and services for Black, Latine and LGBTQ+ communities.
AMAAD’s executive director, Gerald Garth is a devoted advocate for the health and wellbeing of people from marginalized communities.
“I moved to Los Angeles in April 2013 from Baton Rouge, La., originally relocating to write and to act after working years in accounting. While still writing and acting, I wanted to deepen my impact. And with a complete career change at 30 years old, I joined the Black AIDS Institute [BAI] as a part-time administrative and finance assistant,” Garth says. “My role soon expanded into communications. As a writer, I was thrilled for the opportunity to write and eventually served as contributing editor
of the Black AIDS Weekly, then the nation’s most read HIV/AIDS newsletter.
Before long, Garth began contributing to magazines like Essence, Sheen and a standing column in Heart & Soul called “Positive,” which highlighted Black women doing great work within the HIV movement. He went on to serve as the award-winning editor in chief of Chill magazine, “the premiere print, digital, and social brand for the millennial man of color, for its entire run,” he says.
During his time at BAI, Garth’s role expanded. He eventually established and oversaw the organization’s first HIV testing program and traveled the country, “collaborating on groundbreaking work, bridging gaps, and building relationships with other dynamic leaders.”
Garth joined the AMAAD team in October 2017 and has since helped grow its services portfolio to include support for housing, substance and addiction, behavioral and mental health, HIV services, reentry services, policy and advocacy, and programs centered on building community. He’s held several positions there, working up to his current role as executive director. Under his leadership, AMAAD has grown from a team of three people to 40 — and it continues to grow.
“AMAAD takes a whole-person approach. That is a holistic method that considers all aspects of a person’s well-being. AMAAD goes beyond only looking at physical symptoms and needs, but looks
to address emotional, social and spiritual factors that contribute to overall health,” Garth explains. “We also recognize that all these elements of a person’s life intersect, and the same can be said of service provision. One cannot have sustainable recovery support without sustainable housing. One cannot have sustainable HIV care without strong mental health. Housing is HIV care. Behavioral health is recovery support, and the list goes on.”
“For so long, providers and organizations have aimed to serve conditions, but to be most effective, we must see people as full human beings with rich and meaningful intersections,” he says. “Providers and community-based organizations must look at the intersection of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, class and the host of other identities in which people navigate the world. I say all the time, ‘We are the experts of our own experience.’”
This year, AMAAD celebrates 10 years of service and launching “Health, Housing, and Hope,” a yearlong campaign of programs and opportunities to support.
“We all have a role in the health, wellness, celebration and sustainability of our communities. Find yours,” Garth concludes. “I live by the phrase, ‘None of us have to do everything, if all of us do something.’” Q
Desirée Guerrero is editor-in-chief of Plus. This column is a project of TheBody, Plus, Positively Aware, POZ and Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ+ wire service. Visit their websites (thebody.com, hivplusmag.com, positivel
the perils of petunia pap smear
The tale of The Love Boat
BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR
The road
to the Love Boat is fraught with danger and excitement.
We continue the story I began two months ago with part three of my Caribbean Cruize. After several treacherous hours trying to maneuver Queerteeny, my bedazzled mobility scooter around airplanes, airports, and shuttles, our van finally reached Port Canaveral. There were several ships parked by the lot. As we got closer to the ships, my gaze was drawn upward to lofty heights. Coming from an Idaho farm background, I was shocked and amazed at just how huge modern cruise ships are. These ships towering over the parking lot seemed like a bunch of skyscrapers. Hell, they were even taller than my beehive wig!
As I took in the tremendous view, my jaw fell agape, wide enough that a passing casting agent for porn films thought I was auditioning to be a fluffer on his next film, “Ship’s Aboy,” the story of a lonely ship’s steward finding love and passion with a shy farm boy tourist from Idaho along with the entire engine room crew. After pulling out a measuring tape and taking a quick measurement of my mouth, the casting agent determined that my jaw would not open sufficiently wide enough to be the fluffer. Not wanting to pass up such an opportunity of a lifetime, I offered to be a consultant about all things Idaho farm boy. Sadly, he unceremoniously dismissed me. Dejectedly, I mounted Queerteeny and drove away from him, becoming lost in the crowd. But I promised myself that I would keep watch for him and his crew, as they were going to be filming onboard this ship.
I reconnected with the group from Utah, and as we joined the maddening throng of tourists attempting to board, I was yet again separated from my group because I was riding Queerteeny. They instructed me to board by a separate gangway from my friends. I was utterly confused since this was my very first time going on a cruise, and I was
unfamiliar with the boarding procedure. In the congested commotion, while trying to find the right door, I inadvertently plowed Queerteeny right into a stack of luggage, and just like a gigantic Jenga game, they came crashing down. Thus, I was delayed while I stopped and apologized to a tour group of ‘Golden Girls’ to whom the scattered luggage belonged. The angry group of grannies was advancing towards me, waving their canes menacingly in the air and yelling foul words in my general direction. I was saved at the last minute by a very helpful and even more handsome ship’s steward, who risked his life by stepping into the line of fire and restacking their luggage. He indicated by a subtle head nod that I should just drive away. So, I quickly took my chance and drove Queerteeny as fast as she could possibly go, disappearing into the crowd. In doing so, I went past the entrance that I was supposed to use and was forced to make a U-turn.
I noticed that in all of the commotion, somehow, the left rear tire on Queerteeny had gone flat. Therefore, I was forced to lean my substantial buttockus rotundus to the right side of the scooter to lessen the weight on the afflicted tire. Subsequently, while heavily listing hard to starboard, I was finally able to drive Queerteeny up the gangway and onto the ship.
At the first opportunity, I spotted another very handsome ship steward (one of the hiring criteria for the cruise ship industry must be good looks) who was directing traffic among the boarding masses. Demonstrating my best ‘damsel in distress’ act, I drove Queerteeny right up to his side. He looked at me with a quizzical expression. Shifting into flirting mode, I began to bat my eyelashes faster than a telegraph operator can tap out the Morse Code, while simultaneously holding my hand to my forehead in a gesture of distress. Breathlessly, I explained to him that I had a flat tire.
I then blushingly inquired of him if there was an air compressor anywhere on the ship, and could I possibly get a ‘blow job’ er, I mean, get my rear topped off, er, I mean, have my tire inflated.
The steward looked at me as if I had a potato growing out of my ear. Obviously, he had never been asked this before. He grabbed a phone and made several calls. He explained that he didn’t know if they had a compressor, but he was willing to take Queerteeny and try to help out my situation. So, I dismounted Queerteeny and clumsily lurched to my stateroom. After several hours, I was so pleased that just before it was time to head to dinner, the steward brought Queerteeny back. He apologized that he was unable to blow up the tire. Neither snow nor rain nor flat tire could keep me from dinner. Therefore, this little piggy leaned starboard all the way to the dining room.
Stay tuned next month when the ship actually sails. This story leaves us with several important questions:
1. How fast must I drive Queerteeny to be able to outrun a mob of angry grannies?
2. What would it take to get the ‘Golden Girls’ to throw cookies at me instead of menacing me with their canes?
3. Should I develop a new ‘bowling’ game where drag queens on scooters knock over piles of things?
4. I had much anxiety about being on a ship. Was it because of worrying about Queerteeny’s flat tire, or wondering how I could become part of the crew for the porn film, or because I had recently watched the movie Titanic and was having nightmares about sinking?
5. Will I ever get another chance to be in porn?
These and other eternal questions will be answered in future chapters of The Perils of Petunia Pap Smear. Q
