TheStandard_Vol10_Issue11

NOVEMBER 2022 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 11 THESTANDARDPS.COM @THESTANDARDPS

ANNUAL HOLIDAY

GIFT

GUIDE

22FHC8708_Nov_StandardAd.indd

CONTENTS VOLUME 10, ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2022 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 11 THESTANDARDPS.COM @THESTANDARDPS

theStandardPS.com ANNUAL HOLIDAY

GIFT

GUIDE

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BOOK REVIEW PAGE 19

Volume 10 Issue 11 COVER ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE DID YOU MAKE THE NAUGHTY OR THE NICE LIST?

DAP UPDATE FIGHTING LONG COVID WHAT TO DO NEXT

FEATURE MATT BAMBERG CELEBRATING DESERT VIBES

FEATURE GET SNATCHED THIS HOLIDAY BEAUTY INFLUENCER LISA OPIE

MUST SEE SHOOTING ADAM INTERVIEW WITH OMAR SALAS ZAMORA

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NOVEMBER 2022 3

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COMMENTARY

The Standard Magazine 400 N Sunrise Way #263 Palm Springs CA 92262 760.831.4869 NINO EILETS Publisher LUCIANO McNULTY Editor MAYA KALABIC Art Director PHOTOGRAPHER David A. Lee CONTRIBUTORS Alicia Green, Ethan Thorpe, Matt Bamberg, Brian Hug, John Stein, Shane Gallagher, Stacy Holmes, Greg Stillwell, Dann Foley, Jill Langham & Terri Schlichenmeyer

www.thestandardps.com EDITORIAL CREDITS : BrandPoint, Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Project Publicity, MSN, Reuters, NBC News & Artsy The Standard Magazine is published monthly. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of the Standard or its staff, advertisers or readers with exception of editorials.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person, business or organization in articles or advertising in the Standard is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person, business or organization. The Standard disclaims any responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Advertising rates are subject to change without notice. The Standard reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any advertisement for any reason including, but not limited to poor taste. It is the policy of The Standard that we only publish letters to the editor that are signed by the author and verifiable by phone number. We can reserve the right of anonymity upon request. The letters need to be original, in good taste and free of libel as well as edited for clarity and grammar. Letters are subject to editing by The Standard that also reserves the right to decline print. Please forward your letters to: info@thestandardps.com The views expressed is not necessarily those of The Standard. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. No portion of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed consent of

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COVER

2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

BY ETHAN THORPE Although it may not feel like it, but the holiday season is upon us and we’re guessing you have no clue what to get those certain special people in your life? While it may seem like the holidays are a long way away, as always, they’ll be sneaking up on us before we know it. And since it’s key to get ahead of the shopping craze, The Standard Magazine Holiday Gift Guide will perhaps give you some ideas with unique and fun items. You will find gifts from the extravagant to the more modest to give; and if you are nice or even naughty, maybe receive. So never fear my fellow procrastinators we are here to help.

MEMORY KEEPING AND SENTIMENTAL GIFTS After years of Covid and separation, people are cherishing moments with loved ones so gifts that help keepsake memories and evoke sentiment will be big. This includes the classics like photo and travel albums, in addition to more unique finds, like personalized coasters, & ornaments. www.personalizedornamentsforyou.com

PIXARTSCO Personalized Glass Art Capture a cherished memory with your boyfriend, best friend or sibling with this unique glass plaque designed to look like a Spotify track. Choose to display their favorite song or use the space to write them a personal message. www.refinery29.com

iMEMORIES If you have a ton of old photos and VHS tapes or DVDs stored away in the attic, you’re going to LOVE iMemories – a new service that helps you quickly and effortlessly digitize all your precious family memories from over the years. All you have to do is pack up your photos and videos in the secure box and send it off to the stateof-the-art iMemories lab in Arizona. You’ll receive the originals back safely, along with access to your digital files in a secure location you can share with the whole family. www.imemories.com

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HYODREAM 3D Moon Lamp. Transport them to another galaxy with 16 color transformations, four flash modes and a dimmable feature — all easy to control with the included remote. Makes a great night light or decorative lamp for anyone on your list, especially your tween or teenage girl. www.amazon.com

MOCUISHLE Shiatsu Massager Super portable, this neck and back massager is a great gift for literally anyone. They’ll love the eight kneading massage nodes, infrared heating and three adjustable speeds — all super easy to control. www.amazon.com

BEVEL Beard Trimmer Chances are he already has a beard trimmer, but does he have one like this? There’s a soft-touch grip and faceted body to give him more control and prevent his hand from slipping as he shaves. Plus, it offers eight hours of cordless power, and the blade repels dirt. www.getbevel.com

SHW ELECTRIC STANDING DESK Do your future self a favor and invest in a standing desk, especially since working from home is becoming the new norm. With so many different brands and options, it’s hard to decide which standing desk is right for you. We did a ton of research and ended up going with the SHW Electric Standing Desk. www.amazon.com

COVER 100 MOVIES SCRATCH OFF POSTER Here’s the ultimate gift for film buffs. Inspire them to watch (or rewatch) 100 classic movies, including The Godfather, Mean Girls, and The Wizard of Oz. It also doubles as wall décor. www.uncommongoods.com

APPLE SERIES 7 APPLE WATCH Celebrate the holiday season with the newest, smartest technology like the Series 7 Apple Watch. It’s built to charge faster, features the most advanced health features (keep an eye on that blood oxygen) and helps them stay connected (they can call you from anywhere). www.appple.com

KORESCALE It’s hard to manage weight at home, No coach can help us to manage our schedule. KoreScale is the world’s smartest scale. Simply step on it with your bare feet and it activates KoreScale’s dual BIA technology, which monitors 13 key health insights allowing you to measure, track, and trend your health data in real time. Including your body fat percentage, muscle and bone mass, hydration levels and more important information that can help you make smarter decisions about your health. www.korehealthofficial.com

MUAMA RYOKO Muama Ryoko is a pocket sized, wireless WIFI gadget that helps you get a high-speed internet connection wherever, whenever! If you’re carrying the Muama Ryoko portable router, you’re connected.

It’s that easy. www.getryoko.com

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INFINITY ORB MAGNETIC LEVITATING SPEAKER The Magnetic Levitating Bluetooth Speaker is a stunning Bluetooth speaker that is suspended magnetically and projects different colors, when activated. The sphere can also be used as a standalone speaker without a base, and the base illuminates continuously with different-colored LED lights. www.capitaloneshopping.com

SQ8 MINI SQ8 Mini Camera Full HD Camera with IRNight Vision Motion Detection Camcorder Mini DV. The SQ8 mini camera is capable of generating high-definition images. You can expect up to 1080p resolution. The SQ8 mini cameras support TV output. www.walmart.com

THE SURROUND SOUND SHOWER SYSTEM Gives you the ultimate musical showering experience, with dual speakers that provide vibrant wireless sound for up to 8 hours.

Onboard controls let you play, pause, skip, and reverse tracks, adjust the volume — even answer an incoming phone call with the built-in microphone. www.sharperimage.com

ORII | THE VOICE POWERED RING No need to check your phone. ORII alerts you of incoming messages and calls. With a voice assistant at your finger, you can send and listen to messages, take, and make quick calls, all while your phone stays in your pocket. https://orii.io/

NOVEMBER 2022 9

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COVER FITBIT BLAZE If you are in the market for an excellent fitness tracker and don’t know which one to get, I recommend checking out the Fitbit Blaze. It’s probably the best alternative to the Apple Watch at half the price.

It has all the features that any fitness lover would want: GPS, heart rate monitor, tracks all kinds of different activities, has an amazing battery life, and can even call, text, and send calendar notifications! www.fitbit.com

KODAK MINI POCKET PROJECTOR The lucky recipient of this gift can easily connect their iPhone or Android phone to watch movie, give presentations or game on the big screen. There’s a built-in rechargeable battery and speaker. www.kodakphotoplus.com

SHIITAKE MUSHROOM LOG KIT Most foodies are excited to serve home-grown food, and with this super-simple, mess-free mushroom log, it’s easy as ever. www.uncommongoods.com

WILLIAMS-SONOMA 3 Months of European Cheese Subscription Allow them to indulge in the finest artisanal cheese from Italy, Spain, and France. Each month, they’ll receive three samples from one of the countries to enjoy on their own or paired with wine!

NOVEMBER 2022 11

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COVER BAZODEE Upgrade their pantry with this collection of dipping, simmer, and hot sauces, full of fresh ingredients and packed with flavor. You can put them on meat when grilling, use as a marinade or mix on a salad or pasta. www.Bazodee.com

SELF CHILLING GLASSWARE Introducing the first glasses that chill themselves! The First SelfChilling Glassware is made from top-quality, lead-free borosilicate glass, with a secret — a removable base that’s filled with non-toxic freezer gel! Simply store the base in the freezer… when it’s time for a cold beverage, insert the chilled base into the bottom of the glass.

Then pour in any room temperature beverage. www.sharperimage.com

The following gifts all either come from LGBTQ-owned businesses or brands making active efforts to support the LGBTQ Community.

BOMBAS Bombas creates our favorite socks during June and year-round, and the brand has since ventured into loungewear as well. While we love the brand’s quality, we’re especially respectful of their mission: donating one pair of socks, underwear, or a t-shirt for every product sold. During Pride Month, Bombas is supporting The Ally Coalition, which advocates for LGBTQ equality. www.bombas.com

GAY GIFT BOXES BY BOXOLOCO Whether it be a Christmas gift for a gay friend or your boyfriend, BoxoLoco has the perfect gift boxes for every gay guy.

Each box contains between 4 to 8 different items, depending on which box you go with. The best part is that you can really customize your gift boxes so that you don’t end up with something that you don’t want. www.boxoloco.com

NOVEMBER 2022 13

COVER BOKKSU SNACK BOXES LGBTQ-owned Bokksu is a monthly Japanese snack subscription that supports small businesses. Anything from mochi to senbei is included, and the variety that Bokksu offers has allowed it to become one of our favorite gift baskets for any occasion. www.bokksu.com

HARRY’S FLAMINGO FACE & BODY SHAVE SET This intentionally genderless shave set comes with two razor blade cartridges — one for the face and one for the body. 100% of profits received from the set are donated to The Trevor Project, a leading resource and support hub for LGBTQ-identifying youth. www.harrys.com

CASETiFY PRIDE CASES CASETiFY’s cases are available for a variety of different devices, all created by LGBTQ-identifying artists. $5 from each purchase will support The Christopher Street West Association, the official nonprofit organization of Los Angeles Pride. www.casetify.com

SOCKS THAT SAVE LGBTQ LIVES Conscious Step specializes in socks whose proceeds support various organizations and communities, including The Trevor Project as one of their year-round partners. www.consciousstep.com

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SOCIETY6 LGBTQ ARTISTS’ PRINTS Society6 is promoting LGBTQ artists from within its community of sellers, highlighting their stories and donating a portion of proceeds to Queer|Art, a nonprofit connecting a community of diverse queer artists. Additionally, and importantly, each purchase will pay the LGBTQ artists behind their designs. www.society6.com

TRANSFIGURE PRINT CO. To some, a T-shirt is just a T-shirt. But to the Transfigure Print Co., a T-shirt is a vehicle for so much more than that. The small Grand Rapids-based screen-printing shop celebrates queer identity, builds community, and actively gives back, with the small business donating $24,500 to date. www.transfigureprintco.com

AUTOMIC GOLD JEWELRY Queer-owned Automic Gold is best known for size-inclusive jewelry. Automic Gold offers both custom-made and pre-designed jewelry, so it makes for an excellent gift for the indecisive and incredibly creative alike.

NOTO BOTANICALS NOTO Botanicals is LGBTQ owned, and its Pride kit comes affixed with an agender oil and a branded logo bag. Best of all, 10% of sales will support SAGE, an advocacy group for the LGBTQ community. www.notobotanics.com

TOMBOYX TomboyX is committed to making underwear, bras, activewear, and swimwear for anybody, regardless of gender or body type. The brand’s business model holds up in both consciousness and comfort. https://tomboyx.com

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COVER HERE FOR THE BURN Here For The Burn is an LGBTQ+ co-founded company that creates super cheeky candles that smell divine! Once you decide on a phrase your giftee would love, you can pick between five different fragrances. Voila! You have the perfect minimalist candle.

SOCIAL GOODS Whenever you buy an item from Social Goods, you’re supporting one of a host of nonprofits. Every purchase you make includes a donation to a nonprofit driving real change for the issue at-hand. And to better support the work happening on-the-ground, we offer the ability to connect directly with that nonprofit. www.social-goods.com

We’ll Drink to That

ATLAS COFFEE CLUB This coffee company sources coffee from all over the world. Choose from 3-, 6- and 12-month options that can be customized by bean type (whole or ground) and roast type (all, light or dark). It was named best value coffee subscription in our tests. www.atlascoffeeclub.com

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AROUND THE WORLD BEER BUCKET A gift basket is a great idea if you’re not sure what kind of beer gadgets they may already have — this galvanized bucket is filled with a dozen brewskis and an assortment of snacks like beef jerky and nuts. www.gourmetgiftbasketscom

ULTRASONIC WINE AERATOR AND WHISKEY AGER The Ultrasonic Wine Aerator and Whiskey Ager uses vibrating sound waves to enhance the flavor and smoothness of your favorite red wines and spirits. Simply place your glass bottle in the chamber and press a button. Red wine is aerated in just 5 minutes.

And in just a few hours, whiskey is “aged” the equivalent of 5 years or more. www.sharperimage.com

THE BUCKET LIST: 1000 ADVENTURES Here’s an adventure your beer lover can get behind. This book maps out 1,000 different trips to craft breweries, pubs, festivals, and hole-in-the-wall bars around the world. www.amazon.com

SECURA Electric Wine Opener They’ll thank you for gifting them this handy kitchen gadget. It removes corks in seconds and opens up to 30 bottles on a single charge. www.thesecura.com

UV SELF-CLEANING BOTTLE Purify your own drinking water with the UV Self-Cleaning Bottle. A powerful UV-C light in the cap sanitizes municipal tap water in 1 minute, or lake water in 2 minutes, reducing germs by up to 99.9% without heat, tablets, or chemicals. www.sharperimage.com

WHISKEY AND RUM MAKING KIT You don’t need to work in a distillery to age and season your favorite spirits like a pro. Fashioned in timeless style, this handsome barrel is more than just an eye-catching centerpiece: like its big siblings found in professional distilleries, it can age your spirits to peak flavor. Take mixology into your own hands and create your own signature Highland malt scotch whiskey, spiced rum, or full-bodied Kentucky bourbon. www.uncommongoods.com

SLOW GIN Relive Prohibition without all the pesky illegalities, bathtub hooch, and glamorous parties hidden behind secret speakeasy doors--okay, that last one sounds great.

Filled with hand-selected and aromatic juniper berries, mixed spices, and more, this DIY gin kit lets you brew your own batch without a flurry of distilling equipment. www.uncommongoods.com

COMPLETE BLOOMING TEA SET If you’re giving a gift to a guy who loves tea, this option is right up his alley.

Not only does this tea set include an elegant glass pot with glasses, but it comes with several flowering tea canisters that bloom into beautiful tea flowers once submerged in hot water. www.teaposy.com

CLASSY AGAVE TEQUILA DECANTER WITH 6 SHOT GLASSES Yes, it’s true – the gays LOVE tequila. If your friend is also a tequila lover who’s looking to take his home bar to the next level, consider this uniquely styled tequila decanter and shot collection. Each shot, in addition to the decanter itself, features a beautiful glass agave plant in the middle of the piece, which appears to emerge from the liquid as the tequila level decreases. www.thewinesavant.com

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BOOK REVIEW

ALWAYS OVERBOOKED

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Take a left at the first road, then right and right again.

It’s always a good idea to know where you’re going – but then again, getting lost can have its benefits, too. Veering off an easy path gives you a chance to see things, maybe even something better. You can get all kinds of directions for life but sometimes, as in “Gender Pioneers” by Philippa Punchard, you just gotta step off the road.

In 1912, French audiences were thrilled by the talent of a trapeze artist known as Barbette. The lovely Barbette flew over the heads of Parisians solo, gracefully, and the best citizens followed those performances avidly. By 1919, Babette added to the end of the performance the revelation that “she” was really Vander Clyde Broadway, a male performer.

We might think that being transgender is “new” and just “a Western thing,” but Punchard has reason to disagree: history is dotted with men passing as women, and women living as men. As Christine Burns says in the foreword, “Trans people are not a new thing.”

Some seemed to do it as a means to an end: Ellen and William Craft wore clothing of the opposite sex to escape slavery in 1848.

Betty Cooper may have worn men’s clothing for the same reason in 1771. Neither case, says Punchard, indicates “classical” trans behavior, but we’ll never know for sure.

Biawacheeitchish, who grew up to be powerful, wealthy, with four wives, was kidnapped as a young girl and was encouraged by their Native American adoptive father to engage in male activities, perhaps because he’d lost two sons; in another time and place, Biawacheeitchish would’ve been called a “female husband.” Dora Richter, the first woman to receive vaginoplasty, was killed by “a Nazi mob.” Dr. James Barry, a highly renowned surgeon, used “builtup shoes and... padding to appear more masculine...” James Allen and Billy Tipton were both married to women before death revealed that they were female. And Mary Read was a girl, until their mother lost her only son...

In her foreword, Burns says that there are “two awkward challenges” when we talk about trans people in history: were they intersex, rather than trans; and were they people – mostly women – who presented as the opposite gender to gain the benefits of the opposite gender? The questions demand more study, and “Gender Pioneers” offers a launching point.

Open this book anywhere and you’ll see that the theme here is serious, but author Philippa Punchard also lends a bit of breeze. There’s no certain order to what you’ll read, and while the entries reach back

to ancient times, they focus more on the past three hundred years or so; each of the articles are short and to-the-point, and the soft illustrations invite browsing. For readers who want a quick read, this works. Be sure to keep going through both appendices of this book, where you’ll find a wealth of further information and dates to remember. Historians and readers of trans history will find “Gender Pioneers” just right.

“Gender Pioneers: A Celebration of Transgender, Non-Binary and Intersex Icons” by Philippa Punchard, foreword by Christine Burns MBEc.2022, Jessica Kingsley Publishers $22.95 / 118 pages

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FEATURE DESERT VIBES CELEBRATES DIVERGENCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY GENRES

BY MATTHEW BAMBERG

The West offers us vast deserts dotted among glittering towns of kitsch architecture. Taking all of this in through the lenses of cameras, Palm Springs’ photographers Delphine Bordas and Matthew Bamberg present the stark contrast between the two—a black and white rendition of Joshua trees and soaring Washingtonian palm trees and the blasting colors of Googie highway fly paper signage spread among streamlined shapes of steel and glass.

Like their photography, Bordas and Bamberg offer a juxtaposition of contrasting backgrounds. The former, a European with 20 years of corporate experience and the later, a Floridian with two decades of experience teaching courses in diversity and inclusion. Both artists unite at the exposition, “Desert Vibes” at the Desert Art Center in Palm Springs from November 18-20.

After Bordas left the international corporate world of Europe five years ago, she made the move to Palm Springs where she fully immersed herself into photographing the surrounding desert. “I knew very early on that black and white was the medium where I could express myself best and where I could “render” more than a photograph,” she comments, lighting up as she speaks.

Moving through two contrasting worlds brought Bordas to new dimensions of awareness of the world around her. “My learning path taught me to look at black and white and color in different ways; two years ago, I embarked on a new series of photographs taken in the desert, that included close ups of cacti,” she revealed.

“Then I started experimenting with color” she says. “Cacti came alive, bright, energized, and fun.”

BORDAS / WINTER LIGHT SHADOWS

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A long-time resident of Palm Springs, Bamberg, who is a native of the Miami area, has been a writer, photographer, and educator, juggling the three occupations throughout the 2000s. Early on, he wrote articles for the Desert Sun and Palm Springs Life about popular

MATTHEW BAMBERG / GHOST BUILDING

world-famous destinations for mid-century modern architecture and kitsch, taking photographs to accompany the articles. In 2000, he learned the art of “picking,” a process that took him around the country on a hunt for gems of the mid-century to sell in Palm Springs.

After giving up “picking,” Bamberg had a novel idea— photographing retro motel signs throughout the West on a Route 66 mission to frame and display them at mid-century stores (think A-LaMod on Palm Canyon, as the owners there encouraged him to travel throughout the West to shoot them and then come home quickly to make and then sell them at their store.) Then he had another brilliant scheme—to write a book that documented his travels, along with writing a step-by-step process to shooting and making sellable photography to market on the ground and online. The book ended up being “for dummies,” titled Digital Art Photography for Dummies, published by Wiley.

Bordas’ fascination with landscapes began with viewing images in National Geographic. “I was always so impressed with photographs from nature and wildlife magazines and was also attracted to modern vivid artistic shots in fashion magazines,” she reminisced. “I loved that photography was rendering the present.”

Photographing is an adventure for Bordas. She models her expeditions in the same way as Ansel Adams. “I generally go on hikes in the desert or countryside. When I see a good composition, I

BORDAS / CACTUS AGLOW

NOVEMBER 2022 21

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FEATURE start taking photos. The light might not be right, so I take notes to go back to the same spot and try different times of the day. Sometimes I am successful after 3 or 4 attempts.”

Bordas is not into capturing reality. Her black-and-white prints focus on the variation of light beams and the shadows that follow them through sparse landscapes of cacti, mesquite, and sage. It’s as if one is immersed into the image, experiencing the unique sundrenched solidarity and kinship. “My landscape photographs are my own vision of nature’s best. I am looking for them to display a sense of evasion, serenity, and warm spirit.”

Conversely, Bamberg transports viewers back in time to a campy universe of urban color that once was. His vision developed as part of a graduate school experience where he discovered the importance of photographing subjects and objects to preserve history for future generations. A search ensued for durable steel and neon structures that have survived the elements before removal and/ or destruction. He found throughout the developed desert lands that the primary structures prime for the wrecking ball were design gems that have grown out of touch with state-of-the art technology.

Both artists reveal a transformation. Bordas reflects, “I am strictly a nature and landscape photographer. I am amazed by both the strength and fragility of nature, especially as it relates to us.”

Bamberg’s transformation relates to the focus of photography as documentation. “America is the land of the new, which eliminates the old with a broad disregard for preservation that results in destruction.”

As Bordas maintains, “we must maintain our respect for both the destructive power of nature and our own destructive tendencies,” Without hesitation, Bamberg agrees, with a mind-jump relating to humans acting out their destructive tendencies. “Yes…and here in the U.S. that is carried out through a wrecking ball war between a tearit-down mentality and a pro-preservation one.”

Any layperson can agree that in other places in the world the exquisite desert scenery could be ruined if some city officials and developers had their way. “Palm Springs is the center of preservation lobbying to save our mid-twentieth century architecture’s harmony with the natural world, which opens the ears of city leaders to listen and contemplate what organizations such as the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation urgent call for taming the wrecking ball.

Celebrating preservation is Palm Springs’ lifeline to prosperity.”

While Bamberg looks to the city’s preservation, Bordas looks to the surrounding area. “In the last few years, I have shot a lot of macro

botanicals, small plants, and insects, searching for the geometrical abstracts they offer. They are fascinating! Protecting our natural surroundings is a personal responsibility I need to exercise every day.

IF YOU GO: WHAT: Desert Vibes. Featured artists Delphine Bordas and Matthew Bamberg present duo architecture and landscape photography exhibition WHEN: Wine reception from 5 to 7 pm, Nov. 18, 2022.

Desert landscape and mid-century modern architecture/ signage at Desert Art Center.

Gallery also open 10 am to 4 pm Nov. 19 to 20, 2022.

WHERE: Desert Art Center Studio Gallery, 550 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

NOVEMBER 2022 23

INDESIGN

THE HOLIDAYS ARE HAPPENING IN PALM SPRINGS!

BY DANN FOLEY

It is finally here, Halloween is in the review mirror and Thanksgiving is on the horizon. Here in the Coachella Valley the summer heat has broken and all I want to do is get busy with my Holiday shopping and decorating. This year I have decided to redo and refresh a lot of my holiday décor and I thought I would share some of my best tips & tricks to getting your home and your gift giving into the best shape ever.

Holiday décor for me easily falls into the “more is more” category! I look for interesting pieces all year long and wait for a chance to create something new each Christmas season. When I am out shopping I am usually in sticker shock over what a decorated wreath can cost. With a little bit of effort and creativity you can create really beautiful and personalized décor that will last for years. Let me help get started with a few tips on both finding and using holiday décor.

We all learned during Covid, how to shop on the internet and www.Amazon.com has become a new favorite starting point for me.

It doesn’t matter if I am looking for gifts or décor items, it is really simple, easy and budget friendly…plus the shipping is free!

• Start with a good quality wreath. Once you get it out of the box, go thru with your hands and “fluff” every branch individually. It will make the wreath appear fuller and larger.

• First, I add some additional picks of evergreen in a different variety of green to give the wreath some visual texture and dimension.

• Before you start adding your decorations, decide what type

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of wreath you want to create. There are top centered wreaths, bottom centered wreaths and asymmetrical wreaths. The choice is yours.

• Before you attach anything, lay your wreath on a flat surface and place your decorations to get a preview of what it will look like when finished. Take your time, move pieces around, be playful.

• If you are going to wire balls or ornaments on your wreath, be sure to wire them tight from the top stem. Insert the ball stem all the way into the wreath and tie if off on the frame. You don’t want the ornaments dangling from the greens.

The bow is your crowning glory. It also happens to be the trickiest part of the wreath.

• Start with a wired ribbon so you can manipulate the loops easily and keep them in place. I loop the ribbon at least 6x to make the bow full. You can build a bow by wiring a few layers of ribbon loops together as well. I always make one last small loop in the center to mimic the knot.

• Once you wire that in tight, cut lengths of the same ribbon and weave it in and out of the sides of the wreath like streamers from the bow. Start by wiring long lengths to the underside of the main bow and then begin weaving out and down.

• You can use a bit of wire in the folds to secure your undulating bow, or even wrap a wired evergreen tip around the ribbon to hold it in place just where you want it.

• Battery operated LED lights will allow you to illuminate any wreath, anywhere. And the LED lights last a long time. No more extension cords!

So here is the interesting thing about many of the ideas that apply to bow making…you can use them again when wrapping

gifts! Bow making can sometimes be very frustrating and seem too difficult to master. I have another tip for you, go to www.YouTube. com and search for Dann Foley Bow Making. You will get a full-scale visual tutorial on wrapping and bow making, including my tips for buying ribbon, tissue paper and wrapping papers. I also show you how to work with those collapsible boxes that are so thin, they fall apart when you put your gifts inside. I promise your gifts will be most gorgeous under the tree this year.

I cannot let you leave without giving you a couple of my go-to gift locations. So, consider the incredible retailers and restaurants below and give a gift that counts. These are the places that will help to make your gifts memorable and personal.

• For the fashion-conscious guy in your life or, the guy you want to upgrade, take a look around Frank Clothiers, Palm Springs.

They opened just in time for Christmas last year and I have gone back time and again. their hashtag is #dressbetter and their website tells you, “Frankly, it’s about F@%#$& time.” Cheeky I know but, it gives you some idea of their approach to men’s fashion. Their mottos is, “Refined Style, Adaptable Comfort.” They have everything to outfit you from head to toe. Don’t miss it, I know I won’t. Frank Clothiers is located at: 272 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs • If something more lasting and artsy is on your list, you can never go wrong with framed photography from GaryDorothy/ Imageville in downtown Palm Springs. Gary is a famous and ubertalented photographer with a gallery full of gorgeous images specializing in everything Palm Springs. For your desert vacation

home or for your main residence as a reminder of chic Palm Springs, they are always in style. Imageville is located at: 128 La Plaza, Palm Springs. Right on the corner of Indian Canyon and La Plaza.

Directly across the street from Hotel Zoso.

• Wil Stiles, Palm Springs. No gift buying list would be complete without them, I have them on my shopping list every year!

There is something for both the man and the woman in your life.

Classic or trendy, they have it all. You can also find the coolest selection of gym & tote bags and the very best selection of designer sun glasses. Don’t miss their signature Wil Stiles shirts for men. The patterns are pure Palm Springs, and so is the cut. They specialize in some really unique and emerging designers you won’t find anywhere else, so don’t wait until the last minute or, I will have already gotten all the good stuff! You can find Wil Styles at: 875 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, in the heart of the design district.

• If you love the gift of food, why not give a gift certificate to some of Palm Springs best restaurants. There are many to choose from but, 2 of my favorites happen to come from the same husband & wife team of restauranteurs, Mark & Liz Ostoich. They are the foodies behind both Farm and Tac/Quila. They offer 2 completely different experiences, from the food to the settings. Both are known for their great service and memorable moments. They also happen to be 2 of the most popular restaurants in town, so be sure to make a reservation.

Farm is found at: 8 La Plaza, Palm Springs, in a dream like garden setting. Tac/Quila can be found at: 425 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, featuring a lively bar, patio dining and a truly custom interior that celebrates the style and art MidCentury Mexico City.

NOVEMBER 2022 25

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NOVEMBER 2022 27

MUSTSEE

SHOOTING ADAM

BY BRIAN HUG

In the provocative, gritty drama, Adam in Fragments, a young man returns to his former life as a sex worker where he quickly re-engages with his seedy and often dangerous male clients. All appears status quo until his urge to guide a young and naïve aspiring adult film starlet and protect her from their terrorizing handler, Felix, triggers a series of events that send violent ripples through the Los Angeles underground sex-trade.

The series starring emerging young actors Beau Swartz, Keiva Bradley, and Ryan Ruffing premieres on the gay streaming service Dekkoo on November 17.

“Most television shows about sex work either glorify the trade or exploit it,” out filmmaker Omar Salas Zamora explains. He wrote and directed the series with Calvin Picou. “In Adam in Fragments, we aim to examine the profession, not by sensationalizing it, but through exploring the main character and his interactions with drug dealers and johns.”

We spoke with the filmmaker on set in Los Angeles.

How true-to-life is Adam in Fragments?

Omar Salas Zamora: Santa Monica Boulevard as a hub for sex work is pretty much extinct today. The sex industry has gone completely digital. It’s done through location-based apps. That’s great for the safety of sex workers but it is not exactly cinematic to look at cell phone screens, so we leaned into our own reality.

Interesting. So, it takes place in modern day Los Angeles, but as if we were back in the 1990s.

Omar Salas Zamora: Yes, maybe even earlier. Adam in Fragments is a hustler’s odyssey with a grim 70s cinema aesthetic.

Santa Monica Boulevard was so much more of a community in the 70s and 80s. Hustlers protected each other and especially looked after the teenagers that would join them. They shared condoms and kept violent johns away. Now, sex workers operate on their own terms, inside whatever safe space they’ve created for themselves.

So, the need for comradery isn’t there anymore.

From where did you draw inspiration for the series?

Omar Salas Zamora: Calvin (Picou) and I studied the photography of Eve Fowler and Philip-Lorca diCorcia who framed their hustlers in a romantic, otherworldly way. We also watched as

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many documentaries as we could get our hands on. It was fascinating to witness the subjects trying to grapple the situation they’re in.

The series is reminiscent of My Own Private Idaho.

Omar Salas Zamora: Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho is so iconic that you can’t really escape it when you’re dealing with material about hustlers. Also, Pasolini directed a fantastic movie called Attacone, about a pimp that becomes destitute when his only prostitute is sent to prison, which though not the story of Adam, has some parallels.

Who is Adam?

Omar Salas Zamora: Adam is an actor. He must be to survive.

He decompartmentalizes himself and shows only pieces of himself to the person paying for his company. He is someone that has shed his own personal desires and goals and has become a cypher for the enjoyment of others. The goal was for the audience to observe him at arms-length until the final moments, questioning his choices but understanding that he must do what he does to survive.

Why does he hide his identity from johns?

Omar Salas Zamora: Practically, it’s for his own safety. But Adam also protects his anonymity so fiercely because he likes his ability to transform into the most desirable version of himself to each john.

Is he gay?

Omar Salas Zamora: I don’t think anyone could really know.

Adam was abused from a young age. He never had a say on his own sexual preferences. Someone that’s struggling so hard just to survive another day doesn’t have time for such desires.

Why does he reveal himself to Lucy?

Omar Salas Zamora: He finds a real human connection with her. Lucy’s younger, with a faith in the future. She hasn’t been poisoned yet by the business. Every other relationship in Adam’s life

is transactional but he finds a friend in Lucy and for the first time in his life, puts another human being before himself. He begins to question his place in the industry.

How did you to choose Beau Swartz for the role of Adam?

Omar Salas Zamora: It was never not going to be Beau. I collaborated with him on the short film version of Adam In Fragments in 2019. Even though the short is its own encapsulated story, it always felt like that character had more to him. When this project became more realistic, I called Beau because if he wasn’t on board, I would have never done it.

What were some of the challenges in making Adam in Fragments?

Omar Salas Zamora: Timing; or rather lack of it. Everyone, the actors, and crew, have such busy schedules and it’s difficult coordinating everyone’s schedules in a way that allows us to create a world on film. We were lucky we had the caliber of actors we had who took the material seriously and were determined to produce a stellar project.

Did you have an intimacy director on set?

Omar Salas Zamora: It was discussed but we opted to have a minimal crew instead. Any scene that involved nudity would be

NOVEMBER 2022 29

MUSTSEE

directed from another room, leaving only the cinematographer and boom operator in the room. When it comes to filming nude scenes, the most important thing is to make sure the actors are comfortable with every movement.

What is one lesson you learned about the sex industry from the filming of Adam in Fragments?

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Omar Salas Zamora: Just a few years ago, sex workers were impulsively characterized as wounded people and victims. As a society, we’re beginning to understand there’s a healthy side to this world. The sex trade has been destigmatized in recent years and that’s a good thing for the Adams of the world.

Adam in Fragments is available for streaming on Dekkoo on November 17, 2022. For more information, visit Dekkoo.com.

From Safety Net programs to Life Enrichment

we are here for you visit us online at

www.thecentercv.org 1301 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262 1515 Sixth Street, Coachella, CA 92236 NOVEMBER 2022 31

DAP UPDATE

FIGHTING LONG COVID

BY ALICIA GREEN

Dr. David Morris, DAP Health chief medical officer, discusses what it is and next steps following a diagnosis.

When most people get COVID-19, they tend to recover once the infection leaves their body. But some adults have been experiencing what scientists and doctors call “long COVID,” which can drastically change a person’s life and health.

“Long COVID is the syndrome that people can experience after three months of having had COVID, and they continue to have symptoms after that,” says Dr. David Morris, chief medical officer at DAP Health. “The recovery can be for the rest of their lives or for another six months to one year.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40% of U.S. adults have reported having COVID-19.

Of those adults, 19% report that they still have symptoms of long COVID. (The condition is also known as long-haul COVID, chronic COVID and post-acute COVID-19, among other names.)

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THE SIGNS Because long COVID can affect multiple organs, there are a wide range of symptoms and signs. The most common ones are fatigue, the worsening of symptoms after physical or mental exertion, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. In addition, respiratory and heart symptoms include cough, chest pain and heart palpitations.

“Cardiomyopathy is one of the biggest ones,” Morris says. “It can affect the heart and cause it to not be as strong as it was prior to infection.”

There are also neurological symptoms like headaches, sleep problems, changes in smell and taste, lightheadedness and difficulty thinking or concentrating, also called brain fog. Some people experience diarrhea, stomach pain, rashes and joint or muscle pain.

The CDC reports that people who have had COVID-19 are more likely to develop new health conditions such as diabetes and heart or neurological conditions.

COVID-19 has even led to impairment and disability. Being in the hospital, in the ICU or on a ventilator for months has caused muscular damage for patients. Some people have had to learn to walk again and still struggle with their movement.

Morris points out that a University of California, San Francisco study found that the COVID vaccines improved symptoms of people that had long COVID. It’s another reason people should get their vaccines and boosters, he says.

RISK FACTORS So, what causes long COVID? Morris says there are many factors. Research shows that most patients with long COVID were on ventilators and had prolonged hospitalization, he explains.

It’s also important that people begin to pay attention to the signs and signals in their bodies. Any symptoms that persist or form months after COVID should be reported to a primary doctor. For example, if a person can’t exercise anymore or has trouble remembering names, they need to tell their physician. The same goes for struggling with balance or newly developed high blood pressure.

“It was probably the trauma of those hospitalizations, complications of being on a ventilator, an impaired immune system or multisystem organ failure,” Morris says. “Their body just never quite recovered from it.”

Long COVID is also more likely to develop in people who had underlying health conditions prior to COVID-19 and are immunocompromised. For example, patients with asthma or other lung conditions, cancer, or transplant patients on certain treatments, and those with inherited diseases that affect the immune system, according to the CDC. Morris explains that patients with HIV have the same risk of long COVID as the general population, which was a surprising finding to him. “Most people with HIV these days are not really immunosuppressed,” Morris says. “They have T cells that are high enough, viral loads that are suppressed and their own medications, so they don’t have depleted immune systems.”

Minorities and people living in poverty are also at greater risk of developing long COVID than the general population. Morris attributes this to income disparities, a lack of proper health services and higher rates of disease among these communities.

In addition, Morris was surprised to find that more women have long COVID than men and that more people in their 40s and 50s have the condition than older adults. That’s why he wants people to know that even the healthiest of individuals can develop chronic COVID. It affects anyone and everyone.

“Work with your clinician to make sure it’s not something else,” Morris says. “Because long COVID is truly a diagnosis of exclusion.

That might mean your clinician would begin doing diagnostic workups.”

Primary care doctors at DAP Health are on a mission to look out for long COVID in patients. That means they are actively listening to patients and the symptoms they report. Once they conduct blood work and scans to figure out what the problem is, they get patients into specialty care. That could mean a referral to a cardiologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, or an infectious disease doctor.

There is also a social services department onsite that helps people who are struggling in other areas of their life because of long COVID. The department assists with financial and physicals concerns, such as being unable to afford gas and having trouble cleaning the house or buying groceries.

“It goes beyond just the physical and medical limitations,” Morris explains. “Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are huge in post-COVID.” That’s why it is important to have a behavioral health specialist, clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist to assist people with their mental health while struggling with long COVID. Morris adds that patients can utilize such services at DAP Health as well.

PROTECT YOURSELF Morris encourages people to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help protect themselves from getting moderate to severe disease and being admitted to the hospital.

His advice to DAP Health patients is simple: use masks, use common sense and wash your hands. DAP Health employees continue to wear masks and conduct COVID screenings for visitors. He also encourages everyone to follow the health regulations for California and Riverside County.

“We’re on the fifth dose [of the vaccine],” Morris says. “It’s called Bivalent. It now covers the Omicron variants that have become resistant to some of the other treatments. It is very important for this flu season and COVID season that is getting ready to come up.”

“Don’t let your guard down,” Morris says. “People have been so tired of doing this for so long. We are tired of COVID, wearing masks and talking about it, but it’s still here. We expect that probably yearly we’ll all be needing to get a COVID vaccine.”

NOVEMBER 2022 33

Please apply on-line at https://familyhospicecare.com/Career | 760-674-3344

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FEATURE

GET SNATCHED THIS HOLIDAY

BY JOHN STEIN

Beauty influencer Lisa Opie is a protégé of Jeffree Star, and she says everything is better with a lot of color. Her cosmetics line, LadyCode, is all about glitz and glam and has become a favorite among drag queens. The SNATCHED face palette is a particular stand out. It features pigments that can be used for blush, highlight, contour, and eyeshadow. “People should have fun with their makeup,” Opie contends. “There are no rules. All ages, races, and genders should live limitlessly and confidently.”

She says make-up, used correctly, boosts confidence. We spoke with Lisa Opie to learn more.

What inspired your love of make-up?

Growing up, I was fascinated with OG influencers like Tila Tequila and Jeffree Star, especially Tila Tequila because she is Asian like me. I was drawn to how their use of make-up; it became a tool to alter their personalities. I feel like Lisa with makeup on is my alter ego and she really becomes a different person in glam.

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Tell us about your collection!

I launched LadyCode in 2016 with a small collection of lashes.

They sold out the first day! It inspired me to create more products.

Today, LadyCode offers a full range of cosmetics including the original face palette, eyeshadow palettes, brow products and more.

Are you surprised by your strong drag following?

Not at all. Ladycode is very inclusive in the beauty field. We create products for everyone. In addition to being an early follower of Jeffee Star, a lot of my inspiration today comes from following the RuPaul’s Drag Race queens. I love how they can apply heavy makeup and transform a face but still make it look soft and natural.

What is on trend today?

Cat eyes. I, of course, have put my own twist on it by blending it out for a soft, smokey look. Check it out on my YouTube page.

What new make-up trends are you seeing this season?

The “W” blush trend is definitely here to stay. Instead of applying blush just on your cheeks, bring it across your nose in the shape of a “W” for a cute youthful look with a natural glow.

What’s your favorite color to use at the moment?

I’m loving shimmers, specifically the RICH Pressed highlighter from the LadyCode Shop in the shade Jasper. This copper shade is incredible on the eyes and perfect for fall and the holidays.

Do you have a favorite product this holiday?

My “Beauty and the Beach” eyeshadow palette! I partnered with partnering with beauty influencer Brandi Pope, AKA the Glam Belle, on it. The limited-edition palette includes 18-shades with seven high pigment mattes and eleven shimmers that will deliver endless possibilities of dreamy, glam looks throughout the season.

It’s only $39!

Final message for your gay fans?

Beauty and confidence go hand in hand. And I know it’s cliché to say, but beauty is truly something that comes from within. When your inner beauty shines, your outer appearance will reflect it.

Visit LadyCodeShop.com. Follow Lisa Opie on IG @ Lisa Opie

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PSP FOCUS

>> ALOHANA: A CELEBRATION OF PALM SPRINGS TIKI CULTURE ALOHANA Palm Springs is back on November 13, 2022, for the Fall edition of the bi-annual celebration of tiki culture. The celebration will be held noon-5pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs) and will feature a Tiki Artisan marketplace with new and vintage art, apparel, tiki carvings, and more.

“ALOHANA was created to experience the welcome of ALOHA and the spirit of OHANA,” said ALOHANA co-producer Maureen Thompson. “This time we look forward to introducing some new vendors to our marketplace with their original creations and we welcome Slack Key ‘Ohana, an award-winning musical group whose music has a way of transporting you to the Polynesian islands.” Returning for the Fall edition of the tiki marketplace will be Tiki marketplace returning faves are Smokin’ Tiki’s with tiki carvings, signs, and masks, Volcano Designs featuring original caftans, playsuits, dresses and cabana wear for both sexes, Ms. Formaldehyde with tropical tiki couture and Teeki Togs with her one of a kind must have jewelry designs. Live entertainment will be scheduled throughout the day, including returning favorites: Kūhai Palm Springs performing hula, drag performer Miss Bea Haven’, and Master of Ceremonies DJ Modgirl. New to the festival are Slack Key ‘Ohana - an award-winning group performing traditional Hawaiian tunes with a modern vibe! Mildred’s will be open during the festival with food and tropical cocktails available for purchase. Other food

vendors will be on site, including Popping Off Pies with hand-tossed pizzas, and The Kookee Batch with fresh baked craft cookies.

Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at bit.ly/Alohana22

>> BROTHERS OF THE DESERT 4TH ANNUAL WELLNESS SUMMIT Brothers of the Desert will be conducting our 4th Annual Wellness Summit focusing on Black gay men and our allies in the Coachella Valley and beyond in-person on Saturday, November 12th at Margaritaville Resort in Palm Springs from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Each year we have grown in attendance, and we plan to make this year’s summit the best yet!

“Our Rhythm, Our Power: Living Our Best Black Gay Lives” is the theme of the summit. Join us as we consider how to navigate in our continued period of renewal with an enhanced consciousness to truly live our best lives. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Broadway singer, actor, and author, Alton-Fitzgerald White and Bishop Yvette Flunder will offer inspiring keynote remarks. Workshop presenters include psychiatrist, Dr. Curley Bonds, physician, Dr. Leo Moore, author and activist Dante King, sexual health expert, Dr. Alex Del Rosario, historian, Micah Lubensky, musical artist, Nhojj, community leader, Dr. Stephan Scoggins, financial planning expert, Chauncey Thompson, renowned facilitator, L. Trey Wilson, and healer Trevor James.

We will also feature panels on aging considerations and writing as an

expression of overall health. The event will be hosted by the funny and talented actor, Ralph Cole Jr. The summit begins with a meet-and-greet at 8:30 AM and the program starts promptly at 9:00 AM. Participants will be able to choose to attend concurrent workshops at three different times during the day and meet and connect with new people. Lunch will be provided, along with raffle prizes and entertainment. Space is limited, and registration is required. A donation of $25 is suggested and any amount given will be accepted.

For Wellness Summit tickets visit https://www.brothersofthedesert.org/wellnesssummit

NOVEMBER 2022 39

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2022 EVENTS

DATE

EVENT

Oct 27–30

PSLOD Leather Pride

Oct 28–Nov 6

Choir Boy / A Palm Springs Pride Event

Oct 29

Desert AIDS Walk: Walk Out Loud

Oct 30

Palm Springs Halloween on Arenas

Nov 3-6

LGBTQ Archives:Telling Their Stories

Nov 3–6

Celebrate Palm Springs Pride at Boozehounds

Nov 4

Outfest Under the Stars An Evening in Palm Springs

Nov 4

KGAY's Arenas District Dance Stage Kickoff

Nov 4–5

Pride on the Page & Sharon Gless Book Talk

Nov 4–6

Hotel Zoso Say Gay Pride Weekend Parties

Nov 5

Palm Springs Pride 5K Run and Walk

Nov 5

Palm Springs HRC Garden Party

Nov 5

Art of Pride - Palm Springs Art Museum

Nov 5

Rainbow Splash Pool Party - CCBC

Nov 5–6

Arenas District Block Party Presented by KGAY 106.5

Nov 5–6

Palm Springs Pride Festival

Nov 6

Pride Parade 10 am

Nov 9

One Night Only - New York, New York

Nov 11–13

Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival

Nov 19

Palm Springs Dance Project - The Main Event

Dec 3

Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade

Jan 5

Palm Springs International Film Festival Award Gala

Jan 6–16

Palm Springs International Film Festival 2023

Jan 28

Palm Springs Health Run & Fitness Expo

Feb 16–26

Modernism Week

Feb 23–27

International Bear Convergece / IBC

Mar 4–May 7

Desert X

Mar 6–19

BNP Paribas Open

Mar 25

The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards/ DAP Health

Apr 14-16/21-23

Coachella Fest Weekend 1 and 2

Apr 28–30

Stagecoach

May 12–14

White Party Global Palm Springs

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Your Insiders Guide To All Things LGBTQ+ In The Coachella Valley!

GayDesertGuide.LGBT KGAYPalmSprings.com

NOVEMBER 2022 43

MUSIC

TOM GOSS’ BEAR-Y MERRY CHRISTMAS

BY SHANE GALLAGHER

Tom Goss isn’t a fan of Christmas music, but that isn’t stopping him from recording his first holiday album! His new EP, Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas, is Christmas-themed, but with songs like “Santa Slay,” “Put that Ass in Christmass,” “Sassy Santa,” and “Ho Ho Homo,” it’s not a traditional holiday album. “I want people to laugh and smile, then strip down to their undies and dance,” he says. “That’s the Christmas I’m most looking forward to this year!”

my music sounds like, and so much more. It’s been a constant state of second-guessing, carefully carving out a life that is unoffensive, in hopes that everyone will love me. But that’s not real. With my first holiday EP, I wanted to make something that was big, fun, unapologetic, body positive, and queer as f**k.”

Joining Tom on the EP are some of the biggest names in gay hip hop, rock-and-roll, and country music: Benjamin Koll, Big Daddy Karsten, Keith Lawrence, de ROCHE and more. “They are all a part of my queer family,” Tom explains. “We may sing in different music genres, but we are the same in that we live our lives joyfully, exuberantly, and as authentically as possible!”

Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas begins with “Santa Slay,” a dance/ ballroom track that Tom wrote with Jake Castro about a Santa who is big, confident, queer and in touch with his feminine side. “This Santa is not only delivering toys, but he is also throwing it down in bed,” Tom explains. Ned Douglas mixed and mastered the record. Drag queen Roxy Wood is the lead vocalist, Tom sings the chorus, Ryan Satyr provides background vocals and Drake Jensen serves the sexy deep-voiced Santa.

At first glance, the songs on Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas appear tongue-in-cheek, but those who look deeper will recognize a serious side to the record. “I have spent a lot of my life censoring myself,” Tom laments. “Censoring what I say, what I write, how I dress, what

The second track on the EP is “Put that Ass in Christmass,” a song about celebrating Christmas with a booty shake. Big Daddy Karsten raps the first verse and Keith Lawrence raps on verse two.

“I’ve been a fan of both guys for years,” Tom reflects. “I just love

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how aggressively big and queer Karsten is. As soon as I wrote the song, I knew I wanted him on it. As for Keith, we were casually texting and I asked “hey, do you rap?” I sent him the track and he immediately called me, excited. Like me, Keith loves a big boy, so it was wonderful to get giddy about ways we could paint men of size in a positive light.”

Tom Goss wrote “Sassy Santa,” the third track on Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas, with hopes of getting Benjamin Koll on the EP. “I have a huge crush on Benjamin,” Tom confesses. “I love the joy and positivity he brings to the bear community.”

Knowing Benjamin’s affinity for funk and dance runs, Tom worked both sounds into the song’s rough mix that he sent to Benjamin with fingers crossed. To his delight, Benjamin agreed to perform on the record! He added instrumentation, vocals, mixing, and mastering, turning “Sassy Santa” into a slamming retro dance/funk track that Tom loves.

Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas concludes with “Ho Ho Homo,” a beautiful track Tom recorded with his frequent collaborator, de ROCHE. He credits de ROCHE with bringing the song to life with vocals that sound like a group of carolers on the doorstep. “De

ROCHE and I have been making music together for over a decade. I want her to be a part of everything I do until the end of time.”

The album’s cover art is by Joseph Fortuno. “Joseph created something so much edgier, cuter, gayer, and more visually stunning than I ever could have imagined,” Tom raves. “It’s the perfect wrapping for this big, fat, gay ass gift of an EP.” Tom Goss was raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a small city on Lake Michigan, between Chicago and Milwaukee. Much of his youth was spent focused on his studies and on wrestling. He didn’t feel much in the way of sexual and emotional desires growing up. In fact, he didn’t go on his first date until he was 22, while in seminary, training to be a Catholic priest.

That was when Tom realized he did have an appetite for sex, only it wasn’t towards women or even the men that society deemed as handsome. His attraction was toward plus-sized men, known as “bears,” in the gay community. Many of his biggest pop hits today are odes to the large, furry men he loves.

Tom Goss’s Big Fat Gay Ass Christmas will be available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all major digital platforms on November 18. Visit http://tomgossmusic.com

NOVEMBER 2022 45

the3D’s

DINE | DRINK | DANCE

RESTAURANTS CHICKEN RANCH 515 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.6682 www.eatchickenranch.com

SHERMAN’S DELI & BAKERY 401 E Tahquitz Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.1199 www.shermansdeli.com

RICK’S RESTAURANT 1973 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.0090 www.ricksrestaurant.biz

KOFFI NORTH (3 Additional Locations) 515 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.2244 www.kofficoffee.com

849 849 N Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.8490 www.eight4nine.com

PINOCCHIO IN THE DESERT 134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.3776 www.pinocchiops.com

BOOZEHOUNDS PALM SPRINGS 2080 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.656.0067 www.boozehoundsps.com

THAI SMILE PALM SPRINGS 100 South Indian Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.5503 www.thaismilepalmsprings.com

BLACKBOOK BAR 315 E Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.8497 www.blackbookbar.com

1501 UPTOWN 1501 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1501 www.1501uptown.com

TRIO RESTAURANT 707 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.864.8746 www.triopalmsprings.com

BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS

ROOST BAR LOUNGE 68718 E Palm Canyon Dr #203 Cathedral City CA 92234 760.507.8495 www.theroostcc.com

TAC/QUILA 415 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.417.4471 www.tacquila.com

THE TROPICALE 330 E Amado Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.866.1952 www.thetropicale.com

HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB 302 East Arenas Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0700 www.huntersnightclubs.com

ONE ELEVEN BAR 67555 E Palm Canyon Dr A103 Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.537.3111 www.oneelevenbar.com

PS AIR BAR 611 S.Palm Canyon Dr. #22 Palm Springs CA 92262 760.327.7701 www.psairbar.com

ZIN AMERICAN BISTRO 198 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 760.322.6300 www.pszin.com

TOUCAN’S TIKI LOUNGE 2100 North Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.7584 www.toucanstikilounge.com

BARRACKS BAR 67625 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.464.0957 www.barracksps.com

TOWNIE BAGELS 650 E Sunny Dunes Rd #5 Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.459.4555 www.towniebagels.com

LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO 200 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.5858 www.lulupalmsprings.com

CHILL BAR 217 E. Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.1079 www.chillbarpalmsprings.com

RUNWAY 68300 Gay Resort Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.537.7800 www.runwayccbc.com

ON THE MARK 111 N Palm Canyon Dr. #155 Palm Springs CA 92262 760.832.8892 www.onthemarkpalmsprings.com

EL MIRASOL 140 E Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0721 www.elmirasolrestaurants.com

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STREETBAR 224 E. Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1266 www.psstreetbar.com THE TOOL SHED 600 E. Sunny Dunes Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.320.3299 www.toolshed-ps.com QUADZ 200 S Indian Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.4326 AMP SPORTS LOUNGE 68-718 E. Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.699.7090 www.ampcatcity.com

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