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COMMENTARY
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Daniel Vaillancourt, Jeff Dorta, Ilich Mejia, John Stein, Gino Gonzales, Greg Holden, Bryan Hollisworth, Josue Lombardo, Duncan Obermein, Max Jimenez, Mike Nelson, Jacquelyn James, Trevor Garrison, Stacy Holmes, Greg Stillwell, Dann Foley, Jill Langham & Terri Schlichenmeyer www.thestandardps.com
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 the publisher.
COVER
THE MOD WORLD OF JOSH AGLE
A.K.A. SHAG
BY GINO GONZALES
COVER
Josh Agle, widely known by his nickname “Shag,” is an American artist whose distinctive style has made him a prominent figure in contemporary pop and retro-inspired art. Based in Southern California, his work is especially associated with the visual culture of Palm Springs, a city known for its strong ties to mid-century modern design. Agle’s nickname, “Shag,” is derived from a combination of letters in his first and last name, and it has become synonymous with his artistic identity.
Agle’s artwork is instantly recognizable for its bold colors, clean lines, and stylized compositions. Drawing heavy inspiration from the aesthetics of the 1950s and 1960s, he often depicts scenes of leisure and sophistication, cocktail parties, tiki lounges, poolside gatherings, and modernist interiors. His figures are typically elegant and poised, placed within carefully constructed environments that evoke a sense of nostalgia for a glamorous, idealized past. At the same time, his work often carries a subtle sense of humor or satire, gently commenting on social rituals and lifestyle culture.
Rising to prominence in the mid-1990s, Agle gained attention through gallery exhibitions that showcased his unique interpretation of mid-century design. Over time, his work has been exhibited internationally, reaching audiences in Europe, Japan, and Australia. In addition to gallery pieces, he has collaborated with major brands and contributed to large-scale design projects, further expanding his influence beyond the traditional art world.
One of the defining aspects of Agle’s career is his connection to lifestyle and environment. His art does not simply depict retro scenes; it actively contributes to the revival and celebration of midcentury modern culture. This is particularly evident in Palm Springs, where his aesthetic aligns closely with the city’s architectural heritage and social identity. Through his dedicated retail and gallery spaces, (Uptown Design District in Palm Springs) his work has become integrated into the local culture, offering both residents and visitors a curated vision of this stylized past.
Ultimately, Josh Agle’s work stands out for its ability to blend nostalgia with contemporary sensibility. By reimagining mid-century modern life through a vibrant and polished lens, he has created a body of work that is both visually striking and culturally resonant. His art invites viewers to step into a world that feels familiar yet idealized, where style, leisure, and design come together in a timeless and playful harmony.
We had the pleasure to speak with Josh about his inspirations, his popularity in Palm Springs and sneak a peek into the mind of the artist himself. Here’s what had to share
Hi Josh, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us, let’s get right to it.
Where do you get the inspiration for your work? What motivates you to create?
Visually, my work is inspired by commercial art and illustration from the 1950s and ‘60s, but thematically I draw from a wide range of inspirations. Sometimes real-life events prompt a piece of art, like me seeing something unusual happening at a cocktail party or seeing a strange object at a flea market. Regardless of what inspires a piece of art, I try to tell a story beyond that thing which sparked the idea.
When developing a concept for a painting, what steps do you take from beginning to finished piece?
I start by collecting reference photos of what I want to paint. It could be photos of a specific mid-century house or the poses of people in the painting. I do a lot of pencil sketches in the attempt to come up with something that I’m satisfied with. Once I’m happy with the composition, I decide the color scheme and size, then just start putting paint on canvas. A painting can take two days, or two months, depending on the size and complexity.
How has your artistic style changed and developed throughout the different phases of your career?
I think my style is recognizable across my entire career as a painter, but my work has gotten larger and more complex over time. I spend a lot more time on the concepts and compositions now than 20 years ago. My early work had more creatures: wolves wearing, tuxedos, beatnik birds drinking cocktails, skeletons riding scooters, etc. How I pretty much stick to painting, humans (and house pets).
What do you consider to be the biggest challenge in creating a work of art?
The biggest challenge for me is trying to figure out how to put forth the theme I have in mind, and make it visually, appealing and engaging. I might have a great concept for a piece of art, but sometimes it’s a lot of work getting the final painting to a state that conveys what I want it to say. There is usually a main narrative in a piece, and then a B story, which could be something happening in the background, or a small detail in the foreground. Getting it to all balance out can be tricky.
What message do you try to convey with your art?
I try to convey a variety of messages with my art, but one of the recurring themes is embracing hedonism and the pleasures of the flesh, and through that process finding a pathway to deeper meaning beyond the material world.
You are a renowned and successful artist, what have been some of the obstacles you have had to overcome before you became that?
Once I started working as an artist and no longer had a day job, the biggest obstacle was trying to stay focused on creating art and not get distracted by other things. I overcame that by agreeing to do more gallery exhibitions than I had time for. In that way I was forced to make the time to finish the paintings that I had promised to the galleries. Consequently, there was a period of my career where I was a complete workaholic. I’m better at balancing my time between work and pleasure now.
Have you ever considered what you might be doing if art weren’t your passion? If so, what would it be?
I think it would have to be something creative - maybe a writer of novels or screenplays. Because I tell stories with my art, I feel like I would need another outlet to convey those ideas.
Have you ever received any unique or unusual requests? If so, can you share who made them and what they were about?
The wife of a famous movie director commissioned me to paint a family portrait in an attempt to keep her husband from leaving. I found out a year later that they had divorced, so a Shag painting wasn’t powerful enough to save a failing marriage. But the husband kept the painting.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming young artists?
I have two pieces of advice for up-and-coming artists. First, never say no to any opportunity while you’re trying to establish your career. You need to make a name for yourself before you can start charging real money for your art.
The second piece of advice is: meet your obligations. If a gallery tells you to have your painting there on Tuesday, get it there on Tuesday. Artists are notoriously flaky, and galleries build a cushion of extra time to get the art from an artist, but they will remember the artists who turned their work in on time.
Lastly, what can your fans and admirers look forward to next?
I’ve just completed an animated title sequence for a movie that John Travolta wrote and directed. I don’t allow my work to be animated very often, but this seemed like a fun and rewarding project.
Visit The Shag Store at 745 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs. www.shagstore.com
because where you matterswork
COVER MAKING AN IMPACT
BY GREG HOLDEN
The art world is buzzing with anticipation, ready to embrace fresh perspectives, innovative techniques, and thought-provoking creations. These trends are not just passing fancies; they are the markers of a dynamic shift, blending the charm of traditional art with a fresh, modern twist. We have gathered a small group of artists who have expressed these exact ideals. They express their innermost feelings and thoughts. When language just won’t cut it, art fills the void.
SHADI AL-ATALLAH
Shadi Al-Atallah’s paintings feature figures engaged in violent, passionate struggles. The viewer could see these characters as individuals or as symbols of the psyche in conflict. Their movements are inspired by the queer ballroom scene and folkloric dance traditions from the African diaspora. The space around the figures is off-kilter and unsettling. In some works, a fire rages in the background, while in others, scenes melt into a void. Al-Atallah’s most recent work explores holes as places of possibility, including black holes as opportunities for infinite transformation, and space in the human body as a genderless realm. His work touches on the experience of transitioning, inspired by queer art theorists such as Paul B. Preciado and Leo Bersani.
PAUL ANAGNOSTOPOULOS
Desire is a passage to reverie in Paul Anagnostopoulos’s sun-kissed paintings. Depicted in captivating neon hues and grandiose silhouettes, his subjects—alluring, idealized men—are engulfed in erotic musings. In Release The Weight (2024), a nude man is shown in a “golden hour” moment, peering at the melting sun and anticipating its descent. In Too Late to Beg (2023) a rose’s lush charm captivates a youth, painted in fluorescent, Grecian form, who is pierced by its spiky thorns. In these works, there’s an interplay between human beauty and the mundane— these naked bodies are juxtaposed with earthly delights.
After solo shows at Dinner Gallery and Leslie Lohman Project Space, Anagnostopoulos has participated in group shows at Mama Projects, RYAN LEE, and Hollis Taggart. The Hunter College MFA graduate mostly paints on wood panels, along with terracotta Grecian-style urns, all odes
SHADI AL-ATALLAH
PAUL ANAGNOSTOPOULOS
to a queer lineage that defies traditional links bound by geography and time. These works weave lifelines between men across history, united by a commitment to red-hot lust and devoted love.
DANIELLE BRATHWAITE-SHIRLEY
Elsewhere, for the online project Black Trans Archive (2020), the artist explicitly created a pro Black trans space. Players are asked to state their identity as a condition of entering the site, and those who indicate that they are cis are shown a series of terms and conditions. “This is not a place where we make you feel better,” the game asserts, in Brathwaite-Shirley’s typical lo-fi aesthetic. Another work, Trans and conditions (2025), includes a website that asks users to fill out their reasons for supporting trans people as well as a ’90s-style animation currently on view on the video screens in London’s Piccadilly Circus. “Trans rights are human rights,” it yells, in letters as high as a double-decker bus.
MILES GREENBERG
Through acts of intense physical endurance, Miles Greenberg is pushing performance art into new territory. Take Sebastian (2024), a defining piece staged during the Venice Biennale: For eight hours, Greenberg stood pierced with silver arrows, slowly rotating on a plinth as sugar syrup streamed down his painted body, a reference to the saint of the same name. The experience was unforgettable— equal parts agony and grace—and affirmed his place as a leading voice of his generation.
HUGH HAYDEN
Hugh Hayden knows his way around a block of wood. His surreal sculptures of school desks, dining table sets, and whole, habitable cabins all appear to sprout branches, but are carved from continuous timber blocks. These works route the viewer through the thorniest patches of our collective unconscious via psychoanalysis, popular culture, and folklore: references to Pinocchio and Grant Wood’s American Gothic (1930) bump up against props from sports and policing. The sex and violence of American society are symbolically magnified as giant wooden truncheons and guns, or skeletons hung up like uniforms from a rail upon the wall.
HORTENSIA MI KAFCHIN
Vibrant strokes of paint sweep through Hortensia Mi Kafchin’s surreal scenes, which bring together the fantastical and the everyday. The Romanian artist’s paintings are full of hybrid forms, reflecting on contemporary experiences of transness, technological advancement, and environmental collapse. Some paintings viscerally depict transitioning, as in Battle Bots and Deep Anaesthesia (2023), which features a rainbow-hued body lying on a surgical table surrounded by giant steely implements. Others present a more symbolic transformation, like the
DANIELLE BRATHWAITE-SHIRLEY
HUGH HAYDEN
MILES GREENBERG
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angelic wings sprouting from the subject’s back in Years of Bad Hair Day (2022–23). The surrounding terrain is often chaotic, full of human-made structures, with hot pink landscapes implying global warming.
WYNNIE MYNERVA
Bodies swirl like liquids and gases across Wynnie Mynerva’s canvases; sometimes the canvas itself swoops off the wall and drapes across the floor like the train of a gown. For the artist, these beautifully fluid human forms are a liberating vision of embodied sexuality and a powerful rebuke to the bias, homophobia, and harassment they’ve experienced. Mynerva’s art engages frankly with gendered and sexualized bodies, not only on the surface but internally: For a solo exhibition at New York’s New Museum in 2023, they included their surgically removed rib bone in a piece depicting a feminine alliance in the Garden of Eden. A 2024 exhibition of paintings and sculptures at London gallery Gathering, meanwhile, challenged the stigma associated with the bodies of people living with HIV, responding to the artist’s own diagnosis. Embracing self-expression, body modification, diversity, and connection, Mynerva’s organic forms call on our shared humanity without being prescriptive about the many shapes it takes. —Anna Gaca
LA CHOLA POBLETE
Painter, performer, and multidisciplinary artist La Chola Poblete’s exhilarating watercolors have room for everything, from religious icons
and Andean motifs to pop culture imagery and calligraphy. In these lively transhistorical remixes, cartoons and abstractions crowd into the frame and vibrate in negative space. The artist draws on ancestral memory and personal taste to critique colonial history, reclaim her Bolivian roots, and demand consideration for Indigenous, trans, and nonbinary artists like herself. (Greeting Spanish royalty at the art fair ARCOmadrid in 2022, the artist told the queen: “We meet again after 530 years.”)
LEONARD SURYAJAYA
In Leonard Suryajaya’s rich and sensuous photography, thousand-textured objects and colorfully attired people enact tableaus with meanings hovering just out of reach. The scenes, which often feature Suryajaya’s partner and family members as models, are sometimes humorous or incongruous. Some are contemporary updates on religious imagery; others picture surreal, seemingly inscrutable power dynamics. Teeming with novelties and ripe with possible interpretations, Suryajaya’s work grabs the viewer at first glance and is stocked with underlying themes about how people like himself—openly queer, an immigrant, and a member of racial and religious minorities—define and redefine themselves in relation to their families and communities over time.
CHIFFON THOMAS
In his sculptural assemblage works, Chiffon Thomas uses diverse
HORTENSIA MI KAFCHIN
LA CHOLA POBLETE
materials to create a tactile language that speaks to cultural memory, personal history, and transformation. His casts of faces, torsos, feet, and architectural fragments draw parallels between bodies and buildings—both subject to cycles of deconstruction and reconstruction; both affected by their environments. These characteristics reflect the complexity of queer identities, where the body is both a site of strength and tenderness. Thomas’s practice is robust, spanning sculpture, collage, and drawing. Recently, the artist began incorporating stained glass into his bronze work, layering fractured panes into casts of faces to symbolize the complex and dynamic nature of selfhood. Other materials in his work include clay, metal, wood, and found objects like home furnishings that carry a sense of history and relatability. In this way, Thomas builds connections between memory and reality, visibility and understanding.
ZOE WALSH
Visibility is often a unifying thread for queer artists—a gesture of bold defiance against the policing and shaming of our bodies, sexuality, and communities. Zoe Walsh’s technicolor canvases, though, rely equally on presence and absence. Their subjects are hidden between shimmering layers of silk-screened landscapes, shadows, and architectural motifs, from which queer scenes emerge with ghostly qualities.
For years, Walsh has pulled visual references from queer photography archives at the One Institute, the longest-running LGBTQ+ organization in the U.S. Currently, they are creating new
work for an ongoing series inspired by gay rights activist and filmmaker Pat Rocco’s covert photographs (often featuring nude figures) taken at parks and other cruising spaces across L.A. in the 1960s and 1970s. Blending mediums and processes, Walsh digitally cuts and layers these archival images with photographs they take with their partner and friends in their garden. Here, scenes from L.A.’s queer past and present collapse, creating a sense of cross-generational community that would otherwise exist only in imagination. —J.J.
TYSEN KNIGHT
Tysen Knight, renowned as an International Artist, Muralist, and Award-Winning Filmmaker, captivates audiences with his vibrant pop and street art style. Starting as a teenager, Tysen expressed his artistic vision through street art, adorning walls and vacant buildings with his creations. His journey began with hands-on experiences, drawing cartoons and airbrushing designs onto denim, even crafting business logos. At the remarkable age of fifteen, Tysen clinched his inaugural national art competition award, the NAACP: ACT-SO Achievement Program Award of Merit, a testament to his extraordinary artistic prowess.
Beyond his artistic endeavors, Knight’s heart beats with compassion. Collaborating with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, he contributes to building homes for the less fortunate. He lends a helping hand in feeding the homeless through initiatives
LEONARD SURYAJAYA
ZOE WALSH
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like Midnight Mission and spearheads The Tysen Knight Scholarship Fund, offering young talents the opportunity to pursue art without financial barriers. Partnering with RCOE (Riverside County Office
of Education), Tysen initiated a program in California, utilizing his street art brand to mentor at-risk youth, fostering self-expression and reducing dropout rates.
CHIFFON THOMAS
TYSEN KNIGHT
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BOOKREVIEW
ALWAYS OVERBOOKED
BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
They’re among the world’s greatest love stories.
You know them well: Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Abelard and Heloise. Phoebe and Langley. Cliff and Nina. Jesse and Angie, Opal and Palmer, Palmer and Daisy, Tad and Dixie. Now read “La Lucci” by Susan Lucci, with Laura Morton, and you might also think of Susan and Helmut.
When she was a very small girl, Susan Lucci loved to perform. Also, when she was young, she learned that words have power. She vowed to use them for good for the rest of her life.
Her parents, she says, were supportive and her family, loving. Because of her Italian heritage, she was “ethnic looking”, but Lucci’s mother was careful to point out dark-haired beauties on TV and elsewhere, giving Lucci a foundation of confidence.
That’s just one of the things for which Lucci says she’s grateful. In fact, she says, “Prayers of gratitude are how I begin and end each day.”
She is particularly grateful for becoming a mother to her two adult children, and to the doctors who saved her son’s life when he was a newborn.
Lucci writes about gratitude for her long career. She was a keystone character on TV’s All My Children, and she learned a lot from older actors on the show, and from Agnes Nixon, the creator of it. She says she still keeps in touch with many of her former costars.
She is thankful for her mother’s caretakers, who stepped in when dementia struck. Grateful for more doctors, who did heartsaving work when Lucci had a clogged artery. Grateful for friends, opportunities, life, grandchildren, and a career that continues.
And she’s grateful for the love she shared with her husband, Helmut Huber, who died nearly four years ago. Grateful for the chance to grieve, to heal, and to continue.
And yet, she says of her husband: “He was never timid, but I know he was afraid at the end, and that kills me down to my soul.”
“It’s been fifteen years since Erica Kane and I parted ways,” says author Susan Lucci (with Laura Morton), and she says that people still approach her to confirm or deny rumors of the show’s resurrection. There’s still no answer to that here (sorry, fans), but what you’ll find inside “La Lucci” is still exceptionally generous.
If this book were just filled with stories, you’d like it just fine. If it was only about Lucci’s faith and her gratitude – words that happen to appear very frequently here – you’d still like reading it. But Lucci tells her stories of family, children and All My Children, while also offering help to couples who’ve endured miscarriage, women who’ve had heart problems, and widow(ers) who are spinning and need the kindness of someone who’s lived loss, too.
These are the other things you’ll find in “La Lucci,” in a voice you’ll hear in your head, if you spent your lunch hours glued to the TV back in the day. It’s a comfortable, fun read for fans. It’s a story you’ll love.
“La Lucci” by Susan Lucci with Laura Morton c.2026, Blackstone Publishing $29.99 196 pages
THURSDAY
BRANDON WOLF
HARVEY MILK DIVERSITY BREAKFAST
The Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast Coalition invites you to take your seat at the table where progress begins. This isn't just a breakfast; it’s a powerful gathering of leaders, allies, and advocates dedicated to the relentless pursuit of equality. Come honor Harvey’s legacy and help us fuel the next chapter of the movement.
JUDI & DENNIS SHEPARD
Harvey B. Milk Legacy Award
Advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights and gun safety. Survivor of the tragic 2016 mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub.
Tickets
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Advocates for parents’ unconditional love for their LGBTQ+ children. They lost their 21-yearold son, Matthew, to a hate-motivated murder.
FEATURE ARTISTS WHO HAVE SHAPED THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
BY BRYAN HOLLISWORTH
Art has always been more than aesthetic expression; it is a powerful force that shapes culture, challenges norms, and inspires change far beyond galleries and museums. Throughout history, certain artists have made profound impacts not only within the art world but also across society at large. Their work has influenced politics, identity, technology, and global conversations, demonstrating that creativity can be a catalyst for transformation.
One of the most influential figures in modern art is Pablo Picasso. As a co-founder of Cubism, Picasso revolutionized the way people perceive form and perspective. His groundbreaking painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon shattered traditional artistic conventions, paving the way for abstract and experimental art. Beyond technique, Picasso’s work often responded to political events, most
notably in Guernica, which powerfully condemns the horrors of war. This painting became an enduring anti-war symbol, illustrating how art can influence public opinion and collective memory.
Similarly, Frida Kahlo left a lasting impact by blending personal narrative with cultural identity. Her self-portraits explore themes of pain, resilience, gender, and heritage, resonating deeply with audiences worldwide. Kahlo’s unapologetic exploration of identity has made her an icon in feminist movements and discussions of representation. Today, her influence extends beyond art into fashion, politics, and popular culture, proving that deeply personal work can have universal significance.
Another artist who transformed both art and society is Andy Warhol. As a leading figure in the Pop Art movement, Warhol
PABLO PICASSO/ LES DEMOISELLES DAVIGNON
FRIDA KAHLO
blurred the boundaries between high art and commercial culture. By elevating everyday objects like soup cans and celebrities into art, he challenged traditional ideas of originality and value. Warhol’s work anticipated today’s media-driven world, where branding, repetition, and celebrity culture dominate. His influence can be seen in advertising, digital media, and even social media aesthetics, making him a pioneer of contemporary visual culture.
In the realm of street art, Banksy has made a significant global impact. Known for his provocative and often political graffiti, Banksy uses public spaces as his canvas to critique authority, consumerism,
and social injustice. His anonymity adds intrigue, but it is his message that resonates most strongly. Works such as Girl with a Balloon have become cultural symbols, sparking conversations about hope, loss, and resistance. Banksy demonstrates that art does not need institutional validation to reach and influence millions.
Contemporary artist Ai Weiwei exemplifies how art can intersect with activism. Through installations, sculptures, and documentaries, Ai critiques government oppression, human rights violations, and censorship. His work often carries personal risk, as he has faced imprisonment and surveillance. Nevertheless, Ai continues to use his platform to advocate for freedom of expression and social justice.
ANDY WARHOL / MARLYN
BANKSY
FEATURE
His global influence highlights the role of artists as not just creators, but also as voices of resistance.
Another notable figure is Yayoi Kusama, whose immersive installations have captivated audiences worldwide. Known for her use of repetition and polka dots, Kusama explores themes of infinity, mental health, and self-obliteration. Her Infinity Mirror Rooms have become cultural phenomena, attracting millions and reshaping how audiences interact with art. Kusama’s openness about her psychological struggles has also contributed to broader conversations about mental health, demonstrating art’s ability to foster empathy and understanding.
These artists, among many others, show that art is not confined to galleries or aesthetic appreciation. It is a dynamic force that reflects and shapes society. Whether through political commentary, personal storytelling, or cultural critique, impactful artists challenge viewers to see the world differently. Their work inspires dialogue, sparks movements, and leaves lasting impressions that extend far beyond the canvas.
Ultimately, the influence of these artists underscores a fundamental truth: art has the power to transcend boundaries and connect humanity. By pushing creative limits and addressing real-world issues, they remind us that art is not just something we observe—it is something that can change the way we think, feel, and act.
AI WEI
YAYOI KUSAMA
MUSTSEE BLACK, QUEER, AND IN LOVE
‘ALMOST US’ IS THE
SPRING ROM-COM WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR
BY JOHN STEIN
With humor, chemistry, and heart, Almost Us explores what happens when desire collides with power—and when love becomes inseparable from legacy and community survival.
Premiering April 17 on Watch VIM, the new romantic comedy from filmmaker Anthony Bawn opens with a fiery one-night stand between Darren, a closeted and politically connected real estate developer, and Jason, an openly queer and charismatic community organizer.
What begins as a moment of passion soon becomes far more complicated when Darren’s luxury redevelopment project threatens
the Baldwin Cultural Center, a beloved sanctuary and organizing hub for Phoenix’s marginalized communities.
“There are awkward run-ins and plenty of laughs along the way,” says Bawn, who also stars as Jason. “The connection between Darren and Jason forces them to face what they’ve both been avoiding: the difference between wanting someone and being willing to be seen with them.”
Speaking from his Phoenix-based studio, Bawn shared more about the film, his streaming platform, and the personal experiences that helped shape Almost Us.
What inspired you to launch your own streaming platform, Watch VIM?
Anthony Bawn: What inspired me to launch Watch VIM was the need for ownership and access. I got tired of creating stories and always feeling like we had to wait for permission from someone else to be seen. I wanted to build a home for original content, independent films, and voices that don’t always get prioritized by the larger platforms. Watch VIM became bigger than just streaming. It’s about creating opportunity, visibility, and a space where our stories can live on our own terms.
How extensive is the Watch VIM catalog right now?
AB: We have a growing catalog of films and series, and a strong portion of that content comes directly from my own productions and projects developed under VIM. A lot of what’s on the platform
reflects the kind of stories I care deeply about telling: characterdriven, emotional, bold, and rooted in communities that deserve more screen time. At the same time, the goal is to keep expanding so the platform becomes a home for other filmmakers who need a place to showcase their work.
What inspired the story behind Almost Us?
AB: Almost Us was inspired by the emotional gray areas in love—relationships that feel real, deep, and meaningful but still somehow never fully become what you hoped they would. I wanted to explore timing, vulnerability, fear, and connection, especially through the lens of Black queer men, in a way that felt honest but still entertaining. It’s a romance comedy, but underneath there’s a lot of heart. It’s really about the tension between what we say we want and what we’re actually ready for.
ALMOST PHOTO BY HASSAN RASUL
ANTHONY BAWN PHOTO BY HASSAN RASUL
MUSTSEE
The Baldwin Cultural Center plays an important role in the film. What do spaces like that mean to you personally?
AB: Community centers represent safety, connection, and possibility. They’re places where people can show up as they are, find resources, build relationships, and feel seen. That’s especially important in communities where people may not always feel supported at home, at work, or in society in general. Including that in the film was intentional because those spaces really do matter. They can be the beginning of healing, growth, friendship, and even love.
At its core, the film asks what people are willing to risk for love. Is that something you personally relate to?
AB: Absolutely—100 percent. There are so many moments in life where you know what you want, but going after it means being honest, vulnerable, and sometimes risking comfort, relationships, or the version of yourself people are used to. As a creative, as a business owner, and just as a person, I’ve had to make decisions that required faith and courage. So that theme is very personal to me.
Have you ever dated someone like Darren—or do you see a
little bit of him in yourself?
AB: I think most people have either met a Darren, loved a Darren, or at some point been a little like Darren themselves. Fortunately for me, my husband was the first guy I dated—and I married him! (Laughs.) That’s a whole other story. What makes Darren interesting is that he’s layered. He may care deeply, but he’s also dealing with his own fears, walls, and emotional timing. I can understand parts of that because none of us are perfect when it comes to love.
What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
AB: More than anything, I hope audiences walk away feeling something real. I want them to laugh, reflect, and maybe even see themselves in the story. I hope the film reminds people that love is complicated, timing matters, and honesty with yourself is just as important as honesty with someone else. On a bigger level, I hope Almost Us shows that Black queer love—along with the joy, confusion, and vulnerability that come with it—deserves to be centered on screen in a full and honest way.
Almost Us premieres April 17 exclusively on Watch VIM.
DAPHEALTH
DINING OUT FOR LIFE® RETURNS APRIL 23 TO SUPPORT HIV CARE IN GREATER PALM SPRINGS
BY DANIEL VAILLANCOURT
The popular foodie fundraiser is presented locally by Desert Care Network, with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce as community partners.
DAP Health invites residents and visitors across the Coachella Valley to participate in Dining Out For Life® Greater Palm Springs on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The event brings together restaurants, cafés, bars, and bakeries across the desert that pledge a portion of their day’s and/or night’s sales — not just profits — to support HIV services and other health care programs provided by DAP Health.
Community members can participate by dining at participating establishments for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, late-night bites, or just by going out for drinks or coffee. Between 33% and 100% of each bill will benefit DAP Health at no additional cost to the customer.
“Dining Out For Life shows how local businesses and community members can work together to support access to care,” says DAP Health CEO David Brinkman. “By participating, diners help ensure people in our region have access to HIV prevention, treatment, and other essential health services.”
A Local Event with International Reach
Dining Out For Life is an international fundraising event held in cities across the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1991, the initiative has raised more than $100 million for local HIV service organizations, with funds remaining in the communities where they are raised.
In recent years, Greater Palm Springs has consistently ranked among the top three fundraising cities in North America. In 2025, 65 local establishments participated to raise nearly $240,000 from more than 20,000 hungry, humanitarian diners.
How the Event Works
On April 23, participating restaurants will donate between 33% and 100% of their total sales for that day and/or night.
Palm Springs’ Townie Bagels has donated 110% of its sales during the event each year it has taken part. “From the day we opened in August 2015, the Greater Palm Springs community has supported us,” says Townie co-owner Bill Sanderson. “Participating in Dining Out For Life is one way we can give back to the community.”
With restaurants serving throughout the day and night, supporters are encouraged to visit participating establishments multiple times, and to invite friends, family members, and coworkers to join them.
Supporting HIV Prevention and Care
Funds raised through Dining Out For Life support DAP Health’s services for people living with or affected by HIV, as well as other safety-net health care programs in the region.
These services include:
Free HIV testing
HIV specialty care and treatment
HIV prevention services, including PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
Mental health services
Dental care
Housing assistance and other supportive services
DAP Health serves nearly 80,000 patients across Riverside and San Diego counties, including individuals who face barriers to care, such as lack of insurance, housing instability, and limited access to transportation.
Raising Awareness About HIV Prevention, Too Organizers say Dining Out For Life also helps increase awareness about HIV prevention and treatment.
Today, effective medications allow people living with HIV to achieve an undetectable viral load, making it impossible for them to transmit the virus sexually to others — a concept known as U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).
Preventive medications such as PrEP can help prevent viral transmission in HIV-negative individuals even if exposure occurs.
“With the tools we have today — education, treatment, and prevention — new HIV infections are preventable,” Brinkman says. “Events like Dining Out For Life help raise awareness while supporting people who need care.”
How to Participate
Community members can participate by dining (or ordering takeout) at any participating restaurant on April 23.
Supporters Are Encouraged To:
Make reservations early
Share information about the event with friends and family, and on social media. Visit participating restaurants multiple times throughout the day and night.
For more information, including a list of all participating establishments throughout the Coachella Valley — or to learn more about how to become a participating location in 2026 — please visit www.daphealth.org/dofl
Presenting Sponsor
Desert Care Network
Community Partners
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC)
Dezart Performs (dezartperforms.org) presents LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! by Terrence McNally, April 9 - 19 at the Dezart Playhouse, 605 S. Riverside Drive, Palm Springs. Directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! centers around eight gay men as they confront their lives, loves and friendships over three weekends at a farmhouse in Dutchess County, New York. LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! runs 165 minutes with two intermissions.
Winner of the 1995 Tony Award for Best Play and hailed by many critics as Terrence McNally’s finest play, LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! explores friendship, betrayal and the power of community in the face of loss as the men confront and analyze their lives, relationships and friendships in 90s America. As infidelity, AIDS, romance and death infiltrate their friendship group, the men must decide who and what is most important when reality hits home. LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! finely treads the boundary between comedy and tragedy with themes anyone can identify with loneliness, jealousy, need and generosity.
“When Michael Shaw approached me to direct the play Love! Valour! Compassion! I had no hesitation.” says Director Philip Wm. McKinley, “This play has long been celebrated as a powerful exploration of the human experience. Its honest portrayal of love, vulnerability, and friendship continues to resonate with audiences today. It is an honor to be making my directorial debut at Dezart Performs with this Drama Desk and Tony Award-winning, prestigious play.”
Perry (Michael Shaw) and Arthur (Matt McConkey) are a professional couple of long standing, whose relationship, while strained, always manages to settle into the loving routine of a couple grown too familiar with one another, but happily so. The owner of the summer house, Gregory (J.Stephen Brantley), is an aging choreographer who dotes on his younger lover, Bobby (Tim Frangos), who is blind. Their relationship seems solid, until an irresistible dancer, Ramon (Chris Carranza), callously flaunts his sex appeal and manages to seduce Bobby on the first night in the house. Trying to keep Ramon to himself is John Jeckyll (Jamie Pierce), a soured expatriot Brit with a taste for melodrama and cruelty. Finally, there is Buzz (Oscar Fabela), a maniacal lover of the musical theater. The play does contain adult content and on-stage nudity.
All performances take place at the NEW Dezart Playhouse, 605 S. Riverside Drive, Palm Springs. Individual ticket prices are $69 - $78 (includes fees) and can be purchased online at www. dezartperforms.org or by calling (760) 322-0179. Showtimes are Thursdays at 7:00 PM (NEW OPENING NIGHT), Fridays at 7:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. The Opening Night performance includes an after-show wine and dessert reception provided by Lulu California Bistro where audience members can meet the performers.
Dezart Performs, Palm Springs’ only Equity theatre and one of Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding, and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting-edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.
For additional information about Dezart Performs’ 2025/26 season, visit www.dezartperforms.org or call 760-322-0179. PLEASE NOTE: Only tickets purchased from dezartperforms.org are valid. Do not purchase tickets from an unknown or third-party ticketing service.
Caliente Casinos, held March 6–8, 2026. As California’s first Pride celebration of the year, the 10th-anniversary milestone saw a historic
Montage Events is proud to announce the monumental success of the 10th Annual Cathedral City LGBT+ Days presented by Agua
surge in participation, drawing over 12,000 attendees to Downtown Cathedral City and solidifying the city’s reputation as a premier LGBTQ+ destination in the Coachella Valley.
Under the theme “CommUNITY Strong,” the 2026 event blended high-energy entertainment with vital advocacy. Headlined by global pop sensation David Archuleta, who performed at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater to the largest single-day crowd in the Amphitheater’s history, the weekend of events emphasized community impact:
INAUGURAL COMMUNITY STRONG WALK: Participants marched two miles to raise significant funds for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The City was also honored by receiving the HRC Community Leadership Award for its consistent perfect 100 score on the Municipal Equality Index.
THE PRIDE DRONE SHOW: Viewed from the record-breaking watch party at The Roost Lounge, the show became a viral sensation within hours.
SIGNATURE SUNDAY BED RACE & PARADE: A fan favorite, the event featured 17 competing teams—including city officials and local business owners—and drew over 6,000 spectators to the vendor marketplace and parade route.
Local merchants reported a significant spike in sales, driven by a diverse demographic: 60% local residents, 20% Southern California visitors, and 20% out-of-state/international guests.
While the primary demographic remained LGBTQ+ adults, the expanded Youth Zone saw a marked increase in family and ally attendance.
CINEVISTA: A CINEMATIC TOUR OF ICONIC HOTELS
Pack your bags and check in for a cinematic getaway!
You’re invited on a globe-trotting journey through some of the most memorable hotels ever captured on film. Enjoy exotic locales, tour guides, and Big Screen Cinema! Each evening begins at 5:00 PM with a vintage-style pre-show featuring trailers, newsreels, and cinematic ephemera from the year of the film.
At 6:00 PM, the main feature lights up the big screen of the Historic Camelot Theatre, with local film historians introducing each film and sharing insights into the movie, the hotel, and the fascinating stories behind both.
TOURS
April 6
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel- Tour Guide: Nathan Wyckoff
April 20
Key Largo - Tour Guide: Richard L. Edwards
April 27
The Grand Budapest Hotel - Tour Guide: Devin Orgeron
May 18
The Shining - Tour Guide: Nathan Wyckoff
May 25
Grand Hotel - Tour Guide: Corey Roskin
June 1
Some Like It Hot - Tour Guide: Vanessa Theme Ament
CATHEDRAL CITY SENIOR CENTER TO HOST A NIGHT TO REMEMBER GALA
Tickets are now available for Cathedral City Senior Center’s (CCSC) A Night to Remember fundraising gala on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 6:00 pm in the Cahuilla Ballroom at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, 32250 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. The event is presented by Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa & the Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation,
News Channel 3’s Chief Meteorologist Patrick Evans will serve as Master of Ceremonies and the gala will raise the funds necessary to continue the center’s mission of delivering accessible, bilingual, and dignity-driven services that nourish the body, stimulate the mind, and connect people to the support they need to live well. Cathedral City Senior Center, along with their Wellness Coalition, meet people where they are and walk with them toward stability, health, and belonging.
This year’s honorees are Patrick Payne (Community Impact Award), Sue Townsley (Heart of the Community Award). Additional awards go to Robert McKechnie (Legacy Leadership Award) and Greg Lindell (Legacy Volunteer Award). Special posthumous recognition will be given to Jane Rasco and Diane Gill for their longstanding dedication as members and supporters of the Center, memorialized by a legacy gift.
The evening will feature a performance by The Boy Band Project, the ultimate boy band experience with all the moves, music, and magic of the best millennial boy bands and beyond. Direct from Broadway, the show features the music of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, One Direction, Jonas Brothers, The Beach Boys, and more.
The event also includes an exciting online auction featuring unique experiences, one-of-a-kind packages, and exclusive opportunities— all in support of the center’s vital programs and services.
Geoff Corbin, President & CEO of CCSC says “We’re grateful for a night of joy, but we’re also being very real: in a time when federal shakeups are hitting families and seniors fast, our community
needs a steady front door more than ever. Cathedral City Senior Center is the place that knows your name, where you can show up for food, fun, and friendship, and also get a helping hand when life gets heavy. Our donors make that possible. This one night helps keep the lights on, the pantry stocked, and the support system moving, so people in the Mid-Valley are not left isolated, hungry, or trying to figure it all out alone.”
The Gala’s Presenting Sponsor is Steve Tobin, Johnny Krupa, and the Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation.
For additional information visit www.theccsc.org, or call (760) 321-1548.
EVENT PASSION OF THE CRUST
BY JOHN STEIN
On May 17, traditionally observed as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia but recently reframed by the Trump administration as a day rededicating the United States to God—artist Cosimo Cavallaro will unveil Passion of the Crust, a provocative new installation in his Chocolate Jesus Melts series, a life-sized chocolate sculpture of a Transgender Jesus.
The work features a life-sized chocolate sculpture of a transgender Jesus placed atop a heated aluminum plate, where it will slowly melt over three hours. Filmed by seven cameras and streamed globally as a live pay-per-view event from an undisclosed Las Vegas location, the performance unfolds to the hypnotic strains of Maurice Ravel’s Boléro, whose steady crescendo mirrors the sculpture’s gradual dissolution.
“The melting of the chocolate-crusted figure reflects on embodiment, vulnerability, impermanence, and the cultural narratives projected onto the figure of Christ,” Cavallaro explains. “In dissolving,
the body sheds its boundaries and returns to substance. What we witness is not destruction, but transformation—a return to something elemental beneath the surface of image and icon.”
Transgender fashion model Rain Batingana served as the muse for the sculpture. “When I saw Rain, I saw timelessness—and when I heard her voice, I heard Jesus,” says Cavallaro. The artist created the work using a silicone mold of Batingana’s body and a laser scan of her face, combining the two before casting the figure in chocolate.
As the sculpture slowly dissolves, viewers are invited to reflect on faith, identity, and the fragility of cultural icons.
The performance coincides with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, which marks the decision by the World Health Organization on May 17, 1990, to remove homosexuality from its classification of mental disorders and serves as a global day of awareness for LGBTQIA+ rights.
The date has also been designated by the administration of Donald Trump as Rededicate 250, a national faith gathering of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving at the National Mall intended to celebrate the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States by symbolically rededicating the nation to God.
Cavallaro is no stranger to controversy surrounding religious imagery. In 2007, his life-sized chocolate sculpture My Sweet Lord sparked international media attention and debate over artistic freedom, religious sensitivity, and censorship.Nearly two decades later, Passion of the Crust revisits—and expands—that conversation for a new cultural moment, as debates around gender, faith, and representation remain deeply contested.
The Passion of the Crust livestream will be available globally as a live pay-per-view event on May 17.
$9.99 at https://chocolatejesusmelts.com
RAIN BATINGANA
PERSPECTIVE UNDERSTANDING YOUR BODY THROUGH AI, PART 2
BY JILL LANGHAM
I hope that you have all survived the heat of the last two weeks and are making sure to stay well hydrated. Let’s hope this El Niño is not going to make our summer unbearable! Fingers crossed.
Last month, I was sharing my experience with AI and wanted to continue with my dilemma of having low ferritin which caused my hair to fall out in patches of small circles. I used AI to better understand the process and what I needed to do to naturally grow the missing hair back and simultaneously got recommendations about how to take my iron pills as well as my thyroid medications.
I learned that I needed to wait at least two hours after my thyroid pills before taking any iron. I had been taking a multivitamin, magnesium, and calcium every morning at the same time as my thyroid. I now learned that this was self-defeating and was affecting my body’s ability to fully utilize the thyroid medication, thus my TSH level (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) which was also out of whack
and had risen to over 2.0, which is not ideal for someone who is on thyroid medication. I am now taking my multivitamin, magnesium, and calcium with my last meal around 6 PM.
Another suggestion from AI was for me to take my thyroid meds in the middle of the night having shared that I usually woke around 3AM. I am lucky that I can fall back asleep after waking, leaving plenty of time before my 6 AM meal for the medication to be metabolized.
In 7 weeks, my ferritin increased 66% to 33 and my TSH dropped back to under 1.0 which has always been ideal for me.
The best news is is that my energy is beginning to come back. One weekend in mid-January I was able to go out Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon where I enjoyed dancing with my community. Over the last couple of years, I was lucky if I could make it out one night!
I was beginning to talk myself into the fact that I was aging and that is why I did not have the same amount of energy. I now realize that this was not at all the case. Simultaneously, my hair is beginning to grow back in although it will take up to 6 to 8 months before the hairs are of the same coarseness as the rest of my head.
These are negligible changes that had a huge effect on me, and I would’ve not known anything about them had I not used AI. Please don’t get me wrong. I believe in the medical system to a degree and do trust my doctors, pharmacist and friends who are nutritionists, but there is no way that any one of them would have known what AI did because it keeps a history of everything you share with it.
Now, I can already hear some of you saying that that is the problem, the government knows too much about us. Well, I for one think that they already know and choose to share my information to be a better me. That may not be a care or concern for you, but if you are like me, I think you may be surprised at how invaluable it can be.
As personal trainer, who is instructing people all day, I did not
realize how comforting if felt to have someone tell me what to do. I have had many coaches in my life and had always able to give more to them then I had been able to give to myself.
As a result of the coaching that I am getting from AI, I am so much more motivated to fully engage with myself and the plan that I have for myself in 2026. I am so grateful to to be learning, exploring, and challenging myself again.
I am suggesting that you give up on your doctor, health care provider or specialist, but am hoping that you will utilize the vast spectrum of information that it is drawing from to guide you in making the best decisions for yourself and your loved ones. We are lucky to have free-will, intuition, and spidey-sense as our guides.
I will be keeping you posted as to all the changes that have come out of my experience, so please stay tuned.
XOXO, Jill, your ever-evolving, DQ
foleystinnette.com 760.322.2268
Brilliant design for every lifestyle. Your personality, our expertise.
2026 EVENTS
DATE EVENT
April 1
April 2-6
April 5
April 11
April 10-12 & 17-19
April 14
April 17-19
April 21
April 21-26
April 23
April 24-25
April 24-26
April 24-26
April 25-26
April 26
April 30 - May 3
May 3
May 3
May 14
May 14-17
May 16-17
May 29-June 1
May 29-June 7
May 30
June 5
June 5-7
June 12-13
June 14
June 18-21
June 23-29
Oct 29-Nov 1
Nov 5-8
Rock the Park / Songbird, Tribute to Barbra Streisand
Desert Legends - Legendary Women’s Weekend
Vanity’s Gospel Brunch: Easter Eleganza / One Eleven Bar
World Art Day
Coachella 2026
Pops at the Plaza - Disco Inferno 70’s / Plaza Theatre
Modern Men Presents “Sing Out!”
Palm Springs Speaks / Jennie Garth
Lesbian Visibility Week
Dining Out For Life / DAP Health
PSGMC Rhinestones & Rainbows / Plaza Theatre
Stagecoach
Center Ride Out, an AIDS / Life Cycle legacy
Big Gay BBQ
Metropolitan Fashion Week / Sinatra House
Palm Springs Hot Rodeo
Desert Winds Freedom Band “From Book to Stage”
Cinco de Mayo on Arenas
Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
Joshua Tree Music Festival
Long Beach Pride
Marilyn 100
Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
Riverside Pride
Pussycat Dolls at Acrisure Arena
WEHO Pride 2026
Catalina Island Pride
LA Pride 2026
Tidal Wave 18: SPACE!
Short Fest Film Festival 2026
Palm Springs Leather Pride
Palm Springs Pride 2026 - 40th Anniversary
PLAYLIST
CLAYBOURNE ELDER RELEASES DEBUT SOLO ALBUM IF THE STARS WERE MINE
BY RYAN TURRIN
Queer Broadway and television actor Claybourne Elder released his anticipated debut solo album If The Stars Were Mine on April 3. Produced by Claybourne Elder and Andrew House and co-produced by Bryan Perri, the album is defined by its inventive arrangements and range of material. Familiar songs are reimagined in ways that are often surprising—sometimes intimate, sometimes daring—inviting listeners to hear well-known material through a fresh lens. The track list moves effortlessly from Whitney Houston to Sondheim and the Great American Songbook, unified by Elder’s singular ability to blend storytelling, humor, and emotional candor with a voice critics consistently praise for its warmth, clarity, and expressive power.
Regarding his inspiration for the album, Elder says, “To me, the songs feel like journal entries. I’ve always lived somewhere between a song and a punchline, and this album holds those contradictions without apology: faith and queerness, humor and longing, Broadway and Whitney Houston. It’s not a playlist—it’s a map of my heart. If someone listens and recognizes a piece of themselves, or feels a little less alone for three minutes at a time—that would be enough for me. I’ve gotten to hide inside some great characters in my career–someone else’s feelings, someone else’s story. Now I’m taking those words and making them my own.”
Throughout his career, Claybourne has received nominations from award bodies including the Grammys, Screen Actors Guild, Drama Desk, and Lucille Lortel. Recently, Elder is widely known for playing John Adams on HBO’s hit series The Gilded Age and for his recent turn on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company. His extensive stage career includes Bonnie and Clyde, Sunday in the Park with George, Torch Song, Wild Party and Sondheim on Sondheim, among many others.
Beyond the stage and screen, Elder is the founder of City of Strangers, an initiative that provides free Broadway tickets to people
who might not otherwise have access. The program has given away more than 3,500 tickets and has received national attention from This American Life, CBS This Morning, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Of the album, Elder continues, “If the Stars Were Mine’ started as a song I sing to my son at bedtime—something I’ve done almost every night of his life. I had gotten so used to singing in front of people that sitting in the quiet dark with him and singing reminded me of how lovely and intimate a song can be. When I set out to make this album, I wanted to make music that had that intimacy and felt more like me than a character.”
PHOTO CREDIT SAM PICKART
GRAG QUEEN AND ARTIST BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT EMBARK ON COSMIC LIGHT TOUR
BY ILICH MEJIA
Grag Queen, singer, songwriter and winner of drag queen singing competition Queen of the Universe, will be joined by Welsh electro-pop music artist and DJ Bright Light Bright Light for the Cosmic Light North American Tour, kicked off in Nashville on March 31. The tour aims to bring queer joy to 17 cities across the U.S., celebrating the community that these two artists are so proud to be part of and continue to uplift.
The fierce duo is excited to invite audiences on an energetic cosmic adventure across North America featuring some of their biggest hits, including songs from Grag Queen’s 2025 album Cósmica and Bright Light Bright Light’s latest album Enjoy Youth.
The Queen who conquered the Universe, Grag Queen is a singer, songwriter, presenter, and one of the most influential drag queens in the world. Winner of the American reality show Queen of the Universe and presenter of Drag Race Brazil, she has established herself as a complete artist, combining charisma, vocal power, and representation in each new phase of her career. Now, Grag begins her Cosmic Era, marked by the release of Cósmica, her first album, and a new artistic phase with Warner Music Group where she made history as the first drag queen signed by the label in Brazil. With over 2.6 million followers on social media and 19 million views on YouTube, Grag Queen reaffirms her position as the true Queen of the Universe, expanding her art and taking Brazilian drag culture to an even more vibrant, sophisticated and cosmic dimension.
Bright Light Bright Light is an award-winning independent artist from Wales, UK living in New York City. His colorful, cinematic dance pop albums have taken him around the world and seen him collaborate with a wildly impressive list of A-list artists including Sir Elton John, Erasure, Scissor Sisters, Justin Vivian Bond, Alan Cumming and Madonna’s iconic backing vocalists Niki & Donna. He has also
toured with icon Cher, performed at Prides and festivals across Europe & the U.S. and has become renowned for his energetic live shows full of joy, humor and hope. His most recent album Enjoy Youth was a Top 10 selling album in the United Kingdom.
More info and tour schedule visit https://www.brightlightx2.com/cosmiclight
PHOTO CREDIT MIKE RUIZ
the3D’S DINE | DRINK | DANCE
TOWNIE BAGELS
KOFFI NORTH (3 Additional Locations)
515 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.416.2244
www.kofficoffee.com
BOOZEHOUNDS PALM SPRINGS
2080 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.656.0067
www.boozehoundsps.com
1501 UPTOWN
1501 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.320.1501
www.1501uptown.com
TAC/QUILA
415 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.417.4471
www.tacquila.com
650 E Sunny Dunes Rd #5 Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.459.4555
www.towniebagels.com
ON THE MARK
111 N Palm Canyon Dr. #155 Palm Springs CA 92262
760.832.8892
www.onthemarkpalmsprings.com
THAI SMILE PALM SPRINGS
100 South Indian Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.320.5503
www.thaismilepalmsprings.com
TRIO RESTAURANT
707 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.864.8746
www.triopalmsprings.com
SHERMAN’S DELI & BAKERY
401 E Tahquitz Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.325.1199
www.shermansdeli.com
849 849 N Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.325.8490
www.eight4nine.com
ZIN AMERICAN BISTRO
198 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA
760.322.6300
www.pszin.com
LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO
200 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.327.5858
www.lulupalmsprings.com
EL MIRASOL
140 E Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.323.0721
www.elmirasolrestaurants.com
PINOCCHIO IN THE DESERT
134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.322.3776
www.pinocchiops.com
BLACKBOOK BAR
315 E Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.832.8497
www.blackbookbar.com
HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB
302 East Arenas Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.323.0700
www.huntersnightclubs.com
TOUCAN’S TIKI LOUNGE
2100 North Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.416.7584
www.toucanstikilounge.com
CHILL BAR
217 E. Arenas Road
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.327.1079
www.chillbarpalmsprings.com
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
ROOST BAR LOUNGE
68718 E Palm Canyon Dr #203 Cathedral City CA 92234
760.507.8495
www.theroostcc.com
ONE ELEVEN BAR
67555 E Palm Canyon Dr A103 Cathedral City, CA 92234
760.537.3111 www.oneelevenbar.com
RUNWAY
68300 Gay Resort Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234
760.537.7800 www.runwayccbc.com REFORMA
333 S. Palm Canyon #2 Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.902.6630 www.reformaps.com
DICK’S
301 E Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.327.0753
www.dicksps.com
JAKES
664 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-327-4400
www.jakespalmsprings.com
OSCAR’S
125 E.Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-325-1188
www.oscarspalmsprings.com
TOAST’D
190 S Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262
442-268-5525 www.toastedinps.com
BROKEN YOLK CAFE
155 S Palm Canyon Dr.B-21 Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-656-9655
www.thebrokenyolkcafe.com
TRILUSSA
68-718 E Palm Canyon Dr 201 Cathedral City CA 92234
760-328-2300 www.trilussarestaurant.com
For advertising inquiries please contact Nino@thestandardps.com
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE STANDARD PLEASE GO TO THESTANDARDPS.COM
If you are an artist and would like to be considered for our ART VIEW - Artist Profile, please email us at info@thestandardps.com.
LGBTQ people are among the many subgroups of Americans known to experience high rates of food insecurity.*
*The Williams Institute
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert provides food for 30,000+ people annually.
PHOTO REWIND
MODERNISM WEEK OPENING PARTY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE
PHOTO REWIND
MODERNISM WEEK OPENING PARTY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE
IBC 2026
PHOTO REWIND
PHOTOS COURTESY OF STOCKY PHOTOS
IBC 2026
PHOTO REWIND
PHOTOS COURTESY OF STOCKY PHOTOS
PHOTO REWIND
SPARKLES PROM
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE
PHOTO REWIND
SPARKLES PROM
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE
PHOTO REWIND
RED DRESS/DRESS RED PARTY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE
PHOTO REWIND
RED DRESS/DRESS RED PARTY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE
Enjoy a ordable, well-planned group travel designed especially for mature travelers. Our guided tours include accommodations, transportation, baggage handling, sightseeing, entrance fees, a professional Tour Director, and select meals—so you can relax and enjoy the journey. Airfare can be added from your gateway city at an additional cost.
Choose from guided vacations across the U.S., Europe, Asia and beyond. With just one call, your next unforgettable adventure is ready!
MUST BOOK BY 6/30
MUST BOOK BY 6/30
• Witness the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
• Soak up the history & culture of New Mexico in Albuquerque and Santa Fe
• Tour Roswell with its fascinating exhibits of the alleged UFO crash
• Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park & Bandelier National Monument
Timeless Italy
10 DAYS STARTING AT $2,299 $2,049*
BASED ON OCT 1, 2026 DEPARTURE
• Go on guided tours of Rome, Florence, and Venice
• See the Sistine Chapel & Michelangelo’s frescoes in Vatican City
• Take a funicular up to Orvieto
• Explore the impressive sights of Bologna
• Experience autumn in New York
• Tour one of Newport’s famous mansions
• Discover the Freedom Trail in Boston
• Enjoy a guided city tour of Philadelphia
• Take in the laid back charm of Cape Cod
MUST BOOK BY 6/30 MUST BOOK BY 6/30
Rose Parade & Los Angeles tour
5 DAYS STARTING AT $2,149 $1,899* BASED ON DEC 29, 2026 DEPARTURE
• Experience the Tournament of Roses Parade from your reserved grandstand seats
• Enjoy a pre-parade viewing of the Rose Parade floats in Pasadena
• Learn the traditions and history of the Rose Parade during a private dinner and presentation by the Tournament of Roses Committee
