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Learn more about our accreditations and recognitions at EisenhowerHealth.org/Awards.
COMMENTARY
The Standard Magazine
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NINO EILETS Publisher
LUCIANO McNULTY Editor
MAYA KALABIC Art Director
PHOTOGRAPHER
David A. Lee
CONTRIBUTORS
Daniel Vaillancourt, Shawn Lester, Josh Evanton, Robin Gray, Bob Bogard, Jeffrey Norman, 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
EDITORIAL CREDITS :
BrandPoint, Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Project Publicity, MSN, Reuters, NBC News, Artsy, Forbes, Time.com, xtramagazine, ITV, Psychology Today & Homoculture
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.
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GREATEST LGBTQ+ ANTHEMS OF ALL TIME
BY SHAWN LESTER
What makes a song a gay anthem? Is it an earth-shattering key change? A diva who could belt the phone book? A dance beat that practically demands a strut? The truth is, there’s no secret recipe and that’s exactly the point. Like the LGBTQ+ community itself, our soundtrack is gloriously eclectic, delightfully unpredictable, and impossible to squeeze into a single genre or generation.
From disco dance floors and underground ballrooms to Pride parades, karaoke nights, and solo bedroom concerts armed with nothing but a hairbrush microphone, these songs have been there for every triumph, heartbreak, reinvention, and celebration. They’ve sound tracked our coming-outs, our first crushes, our chosen families, and our biggest nights out. Along the way, they’ve also preserved our history, amplified our voices, and honored the trailblazers whose courage made today’s celebrations possible.
Defining what makes a song “gay” is a fool’s errand but you’ll know the vibe when you hear it. Expect shimmering disco classics, euphoric house bangers, larger-than-life diva moments, deeply personal ballads from queer artists and allies, and the kind of songs that somehow make everyone feel like the main character. Some ruled the Billboard charts. Others became cult favorites through word of mouth, dance floors, and drag performances. Some were instant icons; others took the scenic route before earning their place in the queer canon. Together, they prove that a great anthem isn’t measured by chart positions alone it’s measured by the lives it’s sound tracked.
To keep this celebration as wide-ranging as the community it represents, each artist appears only once. That wasn’t easy, trust us. This list will continue to grow, evolve, and spark spirited debates because LGBTQ+ culture has never stood still—and neither has its music. Alongside these unforgettable tracks, we also encourage you to support the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality. While antiLGBTQ+ legislation continues to challenge our communities, joy remains an act of resilience, visibility is powerful, and dancing has always been one of our favorite forms of protest.
Whether you’re revisiting an old favorite, discovering a hidden gem, or finally understanding why everyone loses their mind when that chorus hits, this playlist is a celebration of the songs that have made us laugh, cry, vogue, heal, flirt, lip-sync for our lives, and dance like nobody’s judging (even when they definitely are). So, cue the playlist, turn the volume all the way up, and remember: when life needs a little more glitter, music always delivers.
BROTHERS OSBORNE, “YOUNGER ME” (2021)
Brothers Osborne singer TJ Osborne made history when he publicly came out in early 2021, thereby becoming the first openly gay artist in music history signed to a major country label. To help tell his story, the sibling act released “Younger Me,” an emotional anthem penned as a loving letter to TJ’s younger, closeted self. To make the moment all the more special, the song also turned Brothers Osborne into first-time Grammy winners when they clinched the award for best country duo/group performance with the song the following year.
PET SHOP BOYS, “GO WEST” (1993)
After performing the song — originally by The Village People — at an AIDS benefit in Manchester, the duo recorded it as a single in 1993. The music video, which features slightly dated CGI, was Grammy-nominated for best short form music video.
THE KINKS, “LOLA” (1970)
“Lola” was nothing short of a boundary-pushing revelation when The Kinks released it in the summer of 1970. Detailing a night of lusty infatuation between a man and the titular bombshell who “walked like a woman but talked like a man,” the song became a top 10 hit around the world. And while front man Ray Davies never explicitly delineates how Lola chooses to identify, that detail doesn’t ultimately matter all that much to the besotted narrator — who just might’ve discovered something new about his own identity by the song’s end — or to generations of music lovers.
THE WEATHER GIRLS, “IT’S RAINING MEN” (1982)
Izora Armstead and Martha Wash were introduced to each other singing backup for Sylvester, who gave them their group’s original name: Two Tons o’ Fun. While the duo saw a handful of their songs hit the dance chart, “It’s Raining Men” was their only Hot 100 entry (charting at No. 46).
ORVILLE PECK, “DEAD OF NIGHT”(2019)
Orville Peck may have burst onto the country music scene as
a masked Wild West desperado at the end of the 2010s, but the deep-voiced crooner never kept the unabashedly queer themes coursing through his particular brand of outlaw country a mystery. Just take “Dead of Night,” one of his earliest singles off 2019’s Pony, which finds the midnight rider cruising for boys not in the gay meccas of Hell’s Kitchen or West Hollywood, but under the dreamless lights of Carson City, Nevada.
SARA BAREILLES, “BRAVE” (2013)
The singer-songwriter revealed she wrote this catchy ode to courage as a love letter to a friend who was struggling to come out as an adult.
DAVID BOWIE, “BOYS KEEP SWINGING” (1979)
Though RCA decided not to release this song stateside, Bowie performed it on Saturday Night Live wearing a puppet body suit via special effects. The line “other boys check you out” was excised, but censors failed to notice his puppet’s bouncing erection at the close of the song.
CRYSTAL
WATERS, “100% PURE LOVE” (1994)
Crystal Waters became a household name in the ’90s for her house music hits like the hypnotic “Gypsy Woman.” Among the LGBTQ+ community, though, she is perhaps best known for the sensual “100% Pure Love.” Since its 1994 release, the song became an anthem embodying queer joy and resilience, peaking at No. 11 on the Hot 100 chart.
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SISTER SLEDGE, “WE ARE FAMILY” (1979)
This song plays during the famous scene in The Birdcage where Gene Hackman dons drag to avoid being noticed by the paparazzi. While the four members of Sister Sledge are actual sisters, the song took on a deeper meaning with the gay community being one big family. The smash, written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic, reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in June 1979.
CECE PENISTON, “FINALLY” (1992)
The euphoric gay staple — which reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in January 1992 — is one of many songs featured in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert — both the movie and stage adaption.
ABBA, “DANCING QUEEN” (1976)
Fun fact: Former Republican presidential nominee John McCain listed this classic (which hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in April 1977) as his favorite song during the 2008 election cycle.
KYLIE MINOGUE, “ALL THE LOVERS” (2010)
Minogue recorded this jovial anthem specifically as an homage to her large gay fan base. The video depicts a peaceful flash mob taking over the streets of downtown Los Angeles, symbolizing — quite literally — an uprising of love.
P!NK, “RAISE YOUR GLASS” (2010)
The outspoken ally’s toast to underdogs was a Hot 100 No. 1 in December 2010 and features scenes from a gay marriage in its music video, inspired by her best friend’s wedding. Cheers!
JANET JACKSON, “FREE XONE” (1997)
Janet Jackson channeled one of the most dark and difficult moments in her personal life into a liberating and cathartic LP. The pop icon continued to push boundaries with her sexuality in 1997’s The Velvet Rope, while pushing back on the status quo. Jackson especially used her album to speak out against homophobia and stand with the LGBTQ+ community. She normalized sexual pairings and relationships of all kinds in the euphoric “Free Xone.” With her sultry whisper, Jackson declared: “One rule, no rules / One love, free zone.”
CHRISTINA AGUILERA, “BEAUTIFUL” (2002)
Aguilera was given a GLAAD Media Award for the song’s accompanying music video, which featured moving portrayals of a gay couple and a transgender person. The song, which peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in February 2003, was written and produced by out-and-proud Linda Perry. Aguilera won a Grammy for her performance of the song. Perry received a song of the year nod for writing it.
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BRONSKI BEAT, “SMALLTOWN BOY” (1984)
This heartbreaking piece of ‘80s synth-pop tells the story of a runaway whose family rejects him for being gay.
ERASURE, “A LITTLE RESPECT” (1988)
In what appeared to be a response to the British government’s damning Section 28 act (which criminalized the promotion of
homosexuality, resulting in the closing of lesbian, gay and bisexual support groups across British schools and colleges), the song questions “What religion or reason could drive a man to forsake his lover?”
DOVE CAMERON, “BOYFRIEND” (2022)
Sure, the lyrics to Dove Cameron’s breakout solo hit “Boyfriend” are explicitly LGBTQ, but the music itself — a vamping mixture of
because LGBTQ+ health matters
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high camp and seductive drama with a villainous touch – is just as queer. And that cooing “plus all my clothes would fit” line is just the cherry on top.
QUEEN, “I WANT TO BREAK FREE” (1984)
The gayest song from Queen’s catalogue was surprisingly not written by Freddie Mercury, but rather bassist John Deacon. This anthem had the whole band dress in soap opera-inspired drag characters for its music video.
GRACE JONES, “PULL UP TO THE BUMPER” (1981)
As a powerful Black woman in pop that broke all the rules, Grace Jones has also helped shape LGBTQ+ culture. The genderbending icon channeled her rebellious spirit into club anthems that resonated with her queer listeners. One of the boldest and daring songs in her vast catalog is her 1981 hit “Pull Up to the Bumper.” Backed by a unique fusion of reggae and disco music, Jones gives an unforgettable retelling of a car collision of sensual proportions.
WHITNEY HOUSTON, “IT’S NOT RIGHT BUT IT’S OKAY
(THUNDERPUSS REMIX)” (1998)
The original version of this 1998 single placed Whitney Houston’s inimitable voice at the center of Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins’ skittish, plinking R&B production, but Thunderpuss’ frankly superior remix transformed the world-class vocalist into a certified LGBTQ+ icon with what one Billboard writer referred to back in 2018 as “the gay national anthem.”
CHER, “IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME” (1989)
It’s impossible to put a finger on when Cher became a gay icon, but this music video didn’t hurt her reputation. In an outfit design that was surely based on The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the pop star boarded a U.S. Navy ship and treated herself to her own personal Fleet Week. “If I Could Turn Back Time,” written by Diane Warren, reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 in September 1989, becoming Cher’s highest-charting hit of the 1980s.
GLORIA TREVI, “TODOS ME MIRAN” (2006)
Throughout her career, Gloria Trevi has weathered several storms of controversy. In 2006, the Mexican pop icon decided to embrace the media circus around her with the defiant “Todos Me Miran.” Trevi found solace with her fans in the LGBTQ+ community and paid tribute to them with the melodramatic music video, which starred a man who becomes a fierce drag queen. The disco-infused banger peaked at No. 18 on the Latin Pop Airplay chart. Since the song’s release, it has become an anthem of empowerment for the queer Latinx community.
JANELLE MONÁE, “MAKE ME FEEL” (2018)
Before revealing that they are non-binary, Janelle Monáe had come out as pansexual prior to the release of her 2018 critical sensation Dirty Computer. The Prince-esque lead single “Make Me Feel,” accompanied by a video that features Monáe flirting with the Creed actor Tessa Thompson and a man, was their nod to the bisexual community.
4 NON BLONDES, “WHAT’S UP?” (1993)
Out singer-songwriter Linda Perry has penned songs like Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and P!nk’s “Get This Party Started,” which have become anthems in and of themselves for the LGBTQ+ community. But the star songwriter first launched her career in the ’90s with rock group 4 Non Blondes. Though the band was shortlived, their legacy continues to live on thanks to Perry’s iconic howl in “What’s Up?” Questioning the establishment and patriarchy as a queer woman, her battle cry has continued to fuel the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.
GEORGE MICHAEL, “FREEDOM! ’90” (1990)
While it was widely speculated that this was his version
of coming out (“I think it’s time I told you so / there’s something deep inside of me / there’s someone else I’ve got to be”), Michael explained that the song was actually about liberating himself from his former image with the band Wham!. Nearly a decade later, Michael came out publicly. “Freedom” reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 in December 1990.
RUPAUL, “SUPERMODEL (YOU BETTER WORK)” (1992)
With the fierce declaration of “You betta work,” RuPaul pushed drag into the mainstream with her breakthrough smash hit. In 1992, the queen of drag tapped into the supermodel craze to make herself a global superstar while breaking down barriers for queer expression. “Supermodel” is an enduring runway anthem that shows anyone can steal the spotlight with the right work ethic and confidence.
CHERYL LYNN, “GOT TO BE REAL” (1978)
Not only was this disco classic featured heavily in Paris Is Burning and Carrie Bradshaw’s runway debut, but it made an appearance in the first season of Will & Grace as well. Will (Eric McCormack) is singing the song in the mirror while shaving, to which Grace (Debra Messing) quips, “We’re just like 50 men and a mirror ball away from being a gay disco.”
SCISSOR SISTERS, “LET’S HAVE A KIKI” (2012)
While this may not be Scissor Sisters‘ most inventive track, the campy number — and its instructional dance video! — shows the band’s brilliance. Every good gay house party has this song queued up.
JUDY GARLAND, “OVER THE RAINBOW” (1939)
Dating back to at least World War II — when homosexual acts were illegal — the term “friend of Dorothy” was underground slang
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for a gay man. While investigating homosexuality in Chicago, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service discovered that gay men used this term to refer to themselves. They started a massive witch-hunt for the elusive “Dorothy” in hopes that she would reveal names of gay service members. This universal song of yearning from the immortal The Wizard of Oz won an Oscar for best original song.
THELMA HOUSTON, “DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY” (1976)
This Motown Hot 100 No. 1 hit in April 1977 was later appropriated by the gay community as an anthem for friends lost to the AIDS epidemic. As part of a commissioned “public space statement,” artist Nayland Blake juxtaposed the title of the song against an image of a bouquet of flowers with their tangled roots showing.
K.D. LANG, “CONSTANT CRAVING” (1992)
This track garnered three Grammy Award nominations for Lang, including song of the year and record of the year. She walked away with the award for best female pop vocal performance. The song maintained its place in lesbian culture when it was covered on Glee by Naya Rivera, Idina Menzel and Chris Colfer in the episode where Rivera’s character, Santana, came out to her parents.
ELTON JOHN, “I’M STILL STANDING” (1983)
For more than four decades, “I’m Still Standing” has stood the test of time as Sir Elton’s portrait of jubilant resilience. The bespectacled superstar had already publicly come out as bisexual in the pages of Rolling Stone by the time the song became a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1983. And with its swinging rhythm and empowering lyrics, the sunny earworm has encouraged generations of queer survivors to celebrate their own strength, selfdetermination and utter fabulousness in the face of all kinds of doubt and discrimination.
DONNA SUMMER, “I FEEL LOVE” (1977)
There’s ahead of its time, then there’s “I Feel Love.” Any music buff
can tell you that Brian Eno ran over to David Bowie and proclaimed, “this is the sound of the future,” but Eno was still underestimating how influential the song would be on countless dance genres. It’s not just the delayed Moog synthesizer, but the lack of real structure that still somehow always moves, building momentum seemingly effortlessly. “I Feel Love” is liberated from pop conventions, from anything other than pure bliss — an ideal candidate to be a gay anthem, which Bronski Beat did when they covered the song even after rumors swirled regarding Summer’s alleged homophobia. Nearly half a century later, music still hasn’t caught up with Summer and Giorgio Moroder, and who knows if anything can?
CHAKA KHAN, “I’M EVERY WOMAN” (1978)
Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” has often been overshadowed by the immensely successful Whitney Houston cover. Houston’s arrangement, which features a minute-long balladic intro that builds up to a beat drop, earned a nod from Khan, but on the original recording Khan opted for an exuberant string intro that ushered in one of the funkiest disco beats in history. Khan’s proud declaration of “I’m Every Woman” now holds an important place in Roe-era women’s liberation and has since been adopted by queer and trans women everywhere as an unequivocal anthem to fighting for the rights they deserve.
GLORIA GAYNOR, “I WILL SURVIVE” (1978)
In 2014, Gaynor caught heat from the gay community when she delayed a gig at The Abbey in West Hollywood. Citing her religious beliefs, she reportedly insisted that managers remove all the go-go dancers from the room. The song topped the Hot 100 for three weeks in the spring of 1979, received Grammy nominations for record and song of the year and won the only Grammy ever presented for best disco recording.
CYNDI LAUPER, “TRUE COLORS” (1986)
Inspired by her lesbian sister, Lauper has been an advocate
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throughout her career. Years after the uplifting ballad hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in October 1986, Lauper co-founded the True Colors Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth.
MADONNA, “VOGUE” (1990)
It’s quite the task to choose just one track from Madonna’s discography, but the safest bet is this song, inspired by queer vogueing subculture. The tune was originally intended as a B-side but ended up topping the Hot 100 for three weeks in the spring of 1990.
DIANA ROSS, “I’M COMING OUT” (1980)
Even at its conception, this song was a gay anthem: After seeing three drag queens impersonate Ross at a New York discotheque, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were inspired to write something for her gay fandom. Ross almost got cold feet releasing it but Rodgers convinced her to go with it. She took his advice and landed her sixth Hot 100 top five hit on the Hot 100 as a solo artist. (The song reached No. 5 in November 1980.)
“YOU
(1978)
The uber-fabulous Sylvester was so beloved by the San Francisco gay community that they gave him a standing ovation at the 1988 Castro Street Fair that lasted more than 10 minutes. Too ill to attend the event, he looked out at his fans from a wheelchair on his apartment balcony. He planned his own funeral, insisting that he be buried in an embroidered red kimono and matching red lipstick.
LADY
GAGA, “BORN THIS WAY” (2011)
Inspired by the empowering music of the ‘90s, Gaga told Billboard that she wanted to create a “freedom record” that didn’t beat around the bush: “I want to write my this-is-who-the-f–k-I-am anthem, but I don’t want it to be hidden in poetic wizardry and metaphors.” She followed through, with lyrics like, “No matter gay, straight or bi / Lesbian, transgendered life / I’m on the right track, baby / I was born to survive.” Fans responded positively, as the song debuted at No.1 on the Hot 100 and remained there for six weeks.
A Heartfelt Thanks to Billboard Magazine Staff for their contribution to this article.
SYLVESTER,
MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL)”
because health equity matters
BOOKREVIEW
ALWAYS OVERBOOKED
BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
Birds do it.
According to Cole Porter, bees do, too, but it’s not exactly what he imagined. Wild and tame, avian, insects, and mammals all have sex – although not always as you’ve been told or for reasons you might think. Even educated fleas do it and, as in the new book, “Poking the Squid” by Perrin Roosevelt Ireland, humans can learn from them all.
If you read through scientific papers on animal reproduction, you might notice something unusual: for scientists, the word “sex” means a lot of different things.
Says Ireland, “It’s used to describe behaviors, biology, life histories, and more.”
That might be because animals are not simply binary.
Take, for instance, hyenas. It’s easy for the casual observer to mistake a male hyena for a female and vice versa because of stereotypes of anatomy. Mating, for hyenas, requires subordination for the male and a nifty trick on the part of the female’s body to get things done.
Our feathered friends are no birdbrains, either: black-browed albatrosses were once thought to be monogamous but global warming seems to have changed their nesting habits sometimes. Male flamingos have sex with one another, as a territorial thing; other birds and animals form same-sex pairs for other reasons.
The Chinese mantis eats her mate after fertilization. Female snakes, alpacas, guinea pigs, and monkeys are anatomically able to enjoy sex. Genitalia between species varies quite a bit; in fact, the vaginas of ducks “are highly complex.” Lionesses will mate up to a hundred times when in heat. Female damselflies will change into a “third sex” to avoid overly-aggressive mating males. Bearded dragons can change their sex, if needed, as can yellow clown goby fish. And seahorse pregnancy and birth sparked a book-banning in Tennessee.
So, asks Ireland, if animals, including us, vary so much in biology and life, “… why are we using the word sex like it means something, anything, consistent?!”
Pick up “Poking the Squid,” page through it a few seconds, and you’ll see that the information here is largely told through cartoonlike drawings mixed with captions. It seems to be something on the lighter side, but don’t let that artwork fool you.
Author Perrin Roosevelt Ireland offers readers solid information that cozies up to the scholarly, with hard science, philosophy, feminism,
and quotations from researchers to support it, thus furthering the narrative and hitting the points squarely. If you see the art and expect something lighthearted, comic, and small-talk-worthy, you could be disappointed.
On the other hand, if you want solid, wryly-serious facts, you’re in for a treat.
There’s lots of learning to be gleaned here, and some slight nudgewink whimsy to emphasize the absurdity of wrong-headed thinking. This can make readers feel like they’re in-the-know on the jokes, and the playfulness balances the seriousness of the information well.
So, serious, scholarly, or slightly silly, none of these are negative but you’re going to know what you want from a book like this. For the right reader, someone in the mood, “Poking the Squid” is wild.
“Poking the Squid: What We Can Learn from Animal Sex” by Perrin Roosevelt Ireland c.2026, W.W. Norton / $29.99 / 241 pages
FEATURE MUSIC’S MODERN LGBTQ+ ICONS
BY JOSH EVANTON
LGBTQIA+ icons, a community who have opened our eyes to the power of music when talking about identity, embracing individuality and pushing creative boundaries.
The likes of David Bowie, Prince, Tracy Chapman, Boy George, Elton John and many more, the evolution of modern music has long been characterized by LGBTQIA+ figures, whose experimental nature with music, fashion and performing have set the precedent for the hitmakers of today who continue to not just be artists but also activists and trailblazers.
From country rockers to supergroups, pop sensations and pioneers of electronic music, here we explore some of our most adored LGBTQIA+ artists of modern music.
Sophie
The late and dearly missed parent of hyperpop - Sophie Xeon - known famously as SOPHIE, was a music producer and songwriter characterized by experimental sound design, crunchy synth bodies, and disorientating waveforms of sound. A pioneer of a new wave of pop music and described as ‘one of the most influential artists in the last decade’, the Glasgow-born producer worked with the likes of Charli XCX and Madonna. SOPHIE released the Grammy-nominated Oil of Every Pearl’s un-insides in June 2018 - the only album the artist
ever released while she was still earth-side. In 2024 a self-titled posthumous album was released. Completed by SOPHIE’s brother Ben Long, it is a testament to the boundless pop possibility that she embodied as an artist and an important work in her undeniable legacy as one of the most influential artists of the 21st century.
Chappell Roan
On a recent rise into the public eye, Chappell Roan is an obvious choice. Riding a wave of new self-defining and unapologetic queer pop, the singer-songwriter has recently been seen dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the Gov Ball, June 2024 in New York after rejecting an offer to perform at a Pride celebration at the White House. Avant-garde stylistic choices are not a new thing for Roan, however, with strong drag makeup influences ingrained into her image. Taking huge influences from drag queens such as Violet Chachki. You may be familiar with the recent viral single Good Luck,
Babe - an 80s pop-infused breakup anthem, with hints of I Told You So. Explicitly Queer, and unapologetic about it - Chappell Roan offers a safe space for the femme - a ‘Femininenominon’.
Jacob Alon
Discovering Jacob Alon’s debut In Limerence is a breath of fresh air, whilst simultaneously also feeling like you’ve stumbled upon a cult songwriter from the past. Delicate fingerpicking, fragmented drum machines and clicks provide a warm bed for Alon’s hyperemotive timbre, achieving a fragility of tone reminiscent of Thom Yorke and an ethereal quality comparable with Jeff Buckley. The Dan Carey-produced Confession is probably the most beautifully arranged track on the album, a raw and revelatory exploration of Alon’s realization of their queerness.
Benjamin Britten
This late, great composer and pianist penned the score for several classical works, including 1945 opera, Peter Grimes, and ‘The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’ (1946) – a playful piece that was recently adapted for the 100 young musicians in National Orchestra for All.
Although Britten lived in a time and place where homosexuality was illegal, the Suffolk-born composer was an openly gay man. His many love letters to tenor, Sir Peter Pears, were later used in an exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of The 1967 Sexual Offences Act, the law that started the revolutionary process of decriminalizing homosexuality in England and Wales.
Kelela
Kelela takes electronic R&B to new levels, music steeped in queer club spaces, techno and Black-influenced electronic sub-genres; jungle, Jersey club music, R&B and more. Focused on showcasing dance music’s most marginalized figures, Kelela represents individuality and visibility, building a loyal fanbase as an inspiring figure for the queer underground community.
Orville Peck
Daniel Pitout, known more famously as Orville Peck, is a South African-born country musician based in the United States and Canada. Frequently seen (or rather the opposite) sporting an assortment of masks to publicly obscure his identity. Something Peck doesn’t obscure is his identity as a gay man. Building a repertoire of
FEATURE
albums spanning the typical country themes of heartbreak and love, but through a queer lens. Peck’s music videos are also celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, featuring appearances from RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, and actor Norman Reedus as a love interest. (Check out the music video for The Curse of the Blackened Eye).
Frank Ocean
Born Christopher Edwin Breaux, American singer, songwriter, and rapper, Frank Ocean is hailed as a pioneer of alternative R&B. Approaching the genre with a distinct style and carving out a new space, Ocean cements himself as one of the most influential alternative R&B artists of the last 10 years. Frank came out online in 2012, through an ambiguously worded but carefully curated letter stating his first love was a man. This was shortly before the release of the critically acclaimed album Channel Orange. Ocean’s 2017 single Chanel was hailed as a ‘bisexual anthem’. Despite Ocean not publicly subscribing to that sexuality label, it still creates a space of acceptance within the narrative and fanbase it has since found. Ever since then, Frank Ocean has been a haven for LGBTQIA+ fans of R&B. An iconic performance at Panorama Festival in 2017 features Ocean sporting an iconic “Why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic, when you could just be quiet?” t-shirt.
Halsey
Born in New Jersey, Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) first started writing music aged 17. In 2012, the electropop singer took to social media to share her songs and these soon caught the attention of other YouTube and Tumblr users – in particular, a parody of Taylor Swift’s song, ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’. Since then, Halsey has sold over a million copies of her chart-topping albums, which include
Room 93, Badlands and Manic.
As well as regularly donating to pro-LGBTQIA+ organizations, Halsey often weaves her bisexuality into her music and speaks out about the challenges that come with this, such as erasure and the misconception that it’s just a phase. During a GLAAD Media Awards speech in 2018, she said: “I’m a young, bisexual woman, and I’ve spent a large part of my life trying to validate myself – to my friends, to my family, to myself – trying to prove that who I love and how I feel is not a phase. It’s not part of some confusion that’s going to change or could be manipulated.”
Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan found his popularity as a singer on YouTube and in Australian talent competitions. Since then, he has released a series of three albums and five EPs. 2023’s Something to give each other sees the singer-songwriter’s first Grammy nomination. The singles Rush, Got Me Started and One of Your Girls were met with chart popularity. One of Your Girls received online acclaim for featuring Troye in drag makeup, a shirtless Ross Lynch, and taking a huge inspiration from the iconic Britney Spears. This album is an embracement of femininity, something the singer has had to learn to find comfort in, having been in the public eye since his teen years.
Kim Petras
German pop star, Kim Petras, is another singer who recorded her own music as a young person and independently released her debut single, ‘I Don’t Want it at All’, in 2017. After going viral on Spotify, Kim released her debut album, Clarity, and impressed fans by launching a nine-week campaign that involved releasing one new single per week. Winning several accolades, including a Grammy in
2023 for best Pop/Duo Group Performance for their hit “Unholy”, she made history by becoming the first openly transgender woman to win in that category.
The LA-based singer, who came out as trans and began hormone therapy by the age of 12, has said it is crucial for parents to listen to young people when they say they have been born in the wrong body. Petras told the Washington Post: “I want to be a role model for young trans kids. My whole teen life was dedicated to saying, ‘Look, I’m transgender, I’m a normal person.’ I always want to keep fighting for the LGBTQIA+ community because that’s been my home.”
Ezra Furman
With an entirely impressive discography consisting of twelve albums and EPs, the soundtrack for Netflix’s Sex Education and a 33 1/3rd book analyzing Lou Reed’s Transformer, Jewish songwriter Ezra Furman has cemented herself as a staple rock and roll-inspired musician, borrowing from genres of art pop, indie folk, and queer punk. Furman is someone who is characterized by an adornment of colorful fashion choices and makeup, even before she came out as a trans woman (and mother!) in 2021. Arriving in 2022, All of Us in Flames speaks to themes of gender envy, also drawing connections between transgender oppression and Jewish exile. “I watch her flicker on my TV/ The teenage girl I never got to be” (a lyric from Ezra’s song Ally Sheedy in the Breakfast Club).
Rob Halford
With his powerful voice and larger-than-life stage persona, there’s no forgetting Rob Halford –the front man of Brummie heavy metal band, Judas Priest. A pioneer of the pseudo-operatic vocal style, Rob also plays the guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboard and drums, and has performed with other famous bands throughout his career, including Black Sabbath, Metallica and Pantera.
The ‘Breaking the Law’ singer announced that he was gay during an MTV interview, making him the first metal icon to come out
publicly. The musician also documented his initial struggle with his sexuality in his autobiography, Confess, and says that although his announcement was unplanned, it was a “glorious, glorious moment.”
Brittany Howard
Named by Rolling Stone as one of the ‘250 greatest guitarists of all time’ (which is so weird because I wasn’t on that list). Front person of Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard has made a strong name for herself as a prominent solo artist. Lending to genres of Americana, garage rock, experimental rock, and roots rock. The lesbian songwriter received critical acclaim upon the release of her debut solo album Jaime. This is named after her sister Jaime who died at 13 of retinoblastoma, a condition Howard has suffered with, leaving her with only partial vision in her left eye. Having grown up gay, and as a child of interracial parents in the American South, this album covers themes of identity, trauma, and awakenings. In 2024, Howard released her second solo studio album, What Now, in a showcase of absolute ingenuity and evolution as an artist.
boygenius
This American indie-rock supergroup consists of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker; all solo artists of their own right and merit, formed from a simple admiration of each other’s work and strong friendship. All three members of the group are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and exist as a showcase of strong queer friendshipsomething hugely idolized by their fans. The debut album the record was released in 2023, following a long hiatus after their previous and only EP boygenius in 2018. The result? A breakthrough album with three Grammy Awards which saw them claim a space in music previously unclaimed; an all-female LGBTQIA+ supergroup. boygenius are also known for their outspoken nature and unapologetic queerness. At their Nashville show in June 2023, the group performed in drag as a way to protest the recent anti-LGBTQIA+ bill under the drag names Shanida Tums (Julien Baker), Queef Urban (Phoebe Bridgers) and Lucille Balls (Lucy Dacus).
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DAPHEALTH GETTING BACK MUCH MORE THAN THEY GIVE
BY JEFFREY NORMAN
DAP Health’s trio of Revivals Thrift Stores — in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Palm Desert, each of which donates every dollar of profit to the organization (to the tune of almost $2 million a year) — is a success story made possible only thanks to the generosity of its more than 275 dedicated volunteers. We recently spoke to two of them.
Elliott Night, 65, is a retiree who’s been donating her time since March 2023 and has just surpassed 1,000 hours. Her most recent job was running a statewide program for CASA of Contra Costa County, a nonprofit that matches youth in foster care with volunteer clinical therapists for weekly teletherapy. Caleb Calderon — 22, coming up
on five years and 350 hours — works full-time at the Starbucks at Vista Chino and North Sunrise Way in Palm Springs while studying at College of the Desert in hopes of becoming an English teacher. The two had never met before and quickly found out they had much in common.
What motivated you to volunteer at Revivals?
Calderon: Well, to be honest, free college. COD required me to do two hours of volunteering to earn my keep. I did my two hours and decided, “You know, that was pretty fun. I want to keep doing this.” There’s a great group of guys in the clothing department with
ELLIOTT NIGHT AND CALEB CALDERON PHOTOGRAPHED AT REVIVALS PALM SPRINGS BY DAVID A. LEE
me, and I feel like I’m helping my community a little bit and giving people a great deal when they shop at Revivals. I also like history, and when I work in the warehouse, I see all sorts of stuff you wouldn’t see in other places. It’s like a little museum for me.
Night: I’ve known about DAP Health for many years. And I love to go to thrift stores. I was a big customer of Revivals, and I thought, “Wow, what a great place to volunteer.” I love fashion, so I like sorting clothes, but my area is actually men’s underwear, socks, and ties. I have a big tie collection, so it’s right up my alley. I love that the money we make goes to provide health care for people in the community who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.
There are so many places to volunteer in the valley. Why Revivals?
Calderon: The Starbucks where I work is right across from [DAP Health Sunrise], so I get to see how they impact people every day. I like the fact that the money I help them earn goes to a good cause. That really makes me feel good.
Night: The impact the stores can have on funding DAP Health’s programs and services is great. Every month, they tell us how much we’ve helped raise. We hear the impact we’re having.
What stands out about your volunteer experience?
Night: I also volunteer at [DAP Health Sunrise’s] Ms. Dee’s Boutique, which has clothing for people who have an immediate need — perhaps for a job interview or some other important occasion. We also have clothing for people who may just not have a shirt that day. They can come in and shop, and everything is free. Everyone who comes into the boutique is always super grateful. They can’t believe a place like this exists for them. You can see the relief on their face when they see the variety of things available to them.
Calderon: I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping and making somebody’s day. It’s a good feeling knowing you’re doing something that’s benefiting a lot of people you might not ever meet. You’re helping. That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.
Why would you tell people to volunteer at Revivals?
Night: The staff and volunteers at all the stores are all so welcoming and friendly. It’s like a family. I would say just come in and
give it a try. The work is fun and easy. You don’t have to work in the warehouse. You can be a cashier and interact with people more. And there are many other opportunities to volunteer with DAP Health. You can do data entry or meet and greets at events. I’ve volunteered at [fundraising gala] The Chase and Dining Out For Life.
Calderon: I know for people my age, they eat up a lot of time on social media and electronics. I’d say put your phone down for a little while and go make some new friends and help somebody in the process. There are better ways to spend your time than scrolling on your cell phone.
If you’re looking to meet nice, friendly people like Calderon and Night while doing good for your community, please think about volunteering for a few hours a week at Revivals.
To learn more, please visit www.RevivalsStores.com/volunteer.
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FIFTH ANNUAL PRIDE ON THE PAGE BOOK FESTIVAL
The Palm Springs Public Library Foundation (PSPLF) invites you to the Fifth Annual Pride on the Page Book Festival slated for Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Created in 2022, Pride on the Page has grown into one of the Coachella Valley’s premier literary events, bringing LGBTQ+ authors, readers and allies together for a day of thoughtful conversations, diverse perspectives and community connection. This year, organizers and attendees will celebrate the book festival’s fifth anniversary with the theme, “Five Years of Pride on the Page: Our Lives, Our Words, Our Stories,” highlighting memoirs and personal narratives that reflect the many voices and experiences within the LGBTQ+ community.
“This festival is about creating a welcoming space where people can discover great books, hear remarkable stories and connect through conversations,” said Julie Warren, co-creator of Pride on the Page and library services and public relations manager of the Palm Springs Public Library.
Since its inception, Pride on the Page has featured more than 150 LGBTQ+ and affirming authors and moderators while continually evolving to present fresh conversations and new literary voices. This year’s festival continues that tradition with nationally recognized authors, local writers, publishers and community organizations participating throughout the day.
“It’s been exciting to see how Pride on the Page has evolved and become a place where readers can engage with authors, explore different perspectives, and celebrate the power of stories that bring people together,” said Corey Roskin, co-creator and author coordinator for the festival and Palm Springs Public Library Foundation board member.
Among the first authors confirmed for the festival are:
Murray Hill – “Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man”
Phil Branch – “The Double Dutch Fuss”
Sandra Butler – “Now What? From the Frontline of Old Age,” in conversation with Daniel Jaffe, “Russian Silhouette: A Memoir of Activism and Identity”
Additional nationally recognized authors, moderators and special guests will be announced in the coming months.
Throughout the day, attendees will enjoy author conversations,
book signings, an outdoor festival tent featuring local authors, independent publishers, local vendors, and nonprofit organizations. This year, a limited number of books by each featured author will be given to attendees at each presentation, as available. The evening program, also at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, will feature special guests and a reception in celebration of this special anniversary year; more details to come.
“Financial support allows us to offer the entire festival without admission costs, ensuring everyone has access to these important voices and experiences, and reflects the Palm Springs Public Library
Foundation’s mission to increase and broaden the library’s use as a cultural resource and educational institution,” said Jim Gray, president of the PSPLF board of directors. “Our sponsors, the City of Palm Springs and private donations, have made this possible for our community.”
Confirmed sponsors include the City of Palm Springs, Palm Springs Cultural Center, Best Bookstore in Palm Springs, Saguaro Hotel, LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, Stacked Deck Press, Rattling Good Yarns, and Sibling Rivalry Press, with more to be announced soon.
Books by featured authors and moderators will be offered for sale throughout the festival, and authors are available for autographs after each event and at the evening celebration.
Additional author announcements, the complete schedule, and registration details will be released throughout the coming months.
For festival updates, visit www.pslibraryfoundation.org/prideon-the-page-2026
MODERNISM WEEK ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR EXCITING OCTOBER FESTIVAL
BY BOB BOGARD
Modernism Week, the annual festival that highlights midcentury modern architecture, art, vintage culture and interior and landscape design in the Palm Springs area of Southern California, announced the schedule for Modernism Week –October. Running October 1518, 2026, the October event is smaller in scope than the 11- day festival held annually each February and will offer more than 50 activities over four days, including many free and low-cost programs. The full schedule may be viewed online at modernismweek.com and tickets are on sale currently.
New this year, Modernism Week will introduce captivating evening entertainment options, including the Modernism Week Fall Dining Series (an exclusive collection of curated dining experiences), Modernism Week After Dark (new curated social events that will add festive night cap to the evening) and a special wine tasting experience at Hall Winery. Other new events this year include a never-before-seen Charles Phoenix presentation called “LOS ANGELESLAND,” a first-time tour of Blue Skies Village, several exclusive home tours, a progressive dinner at Cotino, and a guided excursion to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
“Modernism Week – October continues to feature a full, fourday event schedule which includes many new and unique activities that are produced exclusively for this Fall festival,” said Lisa Vossler Smith, CEO of Modernism Week. “I am very excited about our new curated events that will allow our guests to participate in dining, social, and exclusive wine tasting experiences. In addition, we are offering exciting new tours, including a first-ever Modernism Week produced tour of the famous Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Of course, we are also bringing back many of the most popular tours and other activities from previous years.”
For further information, schedules and tickets visit www.modernismweek.com
PSP FOCUS
EISENHOWER HEALTH RECOGNIZED AS AN LGBTQ+ HEALTHCARE EQUALITY HIGH PERFORMER
Eisenhower Health has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer in the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2026 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), a national benchmarking tool that evaluates health care organizations on policies and practices that support equitable, inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.
The designation reflects Eisenhower Health’s ongoing commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare in an environment where every patient is treated with dignity, respect and professionalism.
“At Eisenhower Health, we believe every person deserves exceptional health care delivered with compassion, dignity and respect,” says Martin Massiello, President and Chief Executive Officer, Eisenhower Health. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our
physicians, nurses and staff to creating an environment where every patient feels welcomed, valued and supported. We are proud to provide high-quality care for everyone who turns to Eisenhower Health.”
Published every two years by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the Healthcare Equality Index is the nation’s leading benchmarking survey evaluating policies and practices related to the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.
In the 2026 report, nearly 750 health care facilities participated nationwide. Of those surveyed, 46% earned the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer designation, while 44% received the Healthcare Equality Leader designation.
The Healthcare Equality Index helps health care organizations strengthen inclusive practices while serving as a resource for patients seeking providers committed to equitable, respectful care.
For more information about the 2026 Healthcare Equality Index, visit the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
ICONIC BEAR MAGAZINE TO RETURN TO PRINT AFTER 15 YEARS AWAY
BY ROBIN GRAY
BEAR, the iconic magazine that defined a generation of rugged, furry masculinity, is returning to print this September after 15 years away. Pre-orders open at the end of August, giving fans the chance to reserve the first issue and take out subscriptions at the lowest prices they'll ever be offered. The new quarterly BEAR will be available to buy online, at major bear events and in limited retail stores.
The original Bear Magazine was founded in 1987 in San Francisco by partners Richard Bulger and Chris Nelson, and quickly became a defining visual and cultural touchstone for a then-fringe corner of queer life — an aesthetic that still shapes bear culture globally today.
After ceasing publication in 2002, the title was revived in 2008 for a further two years in print before moving online in the 2010s, eventually fading out altogether and leaving a bear- shaped hole in the global community.
In 2024, ownership passed to Richard Jones, an experienced LGBTQ+ media publisher who had also founded and published
the hugely successful Bear World Magazine - an online lifestyle publication for the Bear community. He quickly began formulating plans for a triumphant return for the magazine and in the interim launched a website to begin to ensure the iconic brand was not lost to time completely.
Now, after nearly two years of work and refinement, building a team of photographers, writers and designers, Richard is ready to bring back the iconic title - BEAR is a lovingly reimagined version of the classic Bear Magazine, bringing over the classic features including beautifully shot beefy models, sexy stories and even the classic personal ads, reimagined for a new age. Fans of the original Bear Magazine will be able to clearly see the lineage in the new BEAR, while newcomers to the title will experience a magazine fit for the 21st Century.
Richard Jones, publisher and editor of BEAR, said: “It’s truly an honor to be the latest custodian of this iconic brand. We’re at a point where everything is digital, and I think people are craving something physical again, a magazine you can actually hold, keep,
put on your coffee table. That’s part of why print felt right for this relaunch, not just nostalgia. Our community has always valued that kind of connection, so it made sense to bring BEAR back in a form people can touch. I can’t wait for bears all around the world to hold a copy in their hands. The BEAR is back!”
Released quarterly, BEAR will be a real collector’s dream - each issue featuring exclusive photography, thoughtful articles, and so much more that will last the test of time. This is not a typical magazine which people read once and throw away, this is a periodical that can be enjoyed over and over again, sitting proudly on a bookshelf or coffee table.
Cementing its return to the center of bear culture, BEAR will be attending all major bear events in the US across 2026 and 2027, providing bears with a way to experience the magazine first hand, purchase copies and even meet the cover stars!
Pre-orders open at the end of August, ahead of the first issue landing in September 2026. Fans will be able to reserve the first issue and take out pre-launch annual subscriptions, both at the lowest prices they will ever be offered, and can also book their own
personal ad to share their love with the community. Also launching alongside pre-orders: a limited-edition framed, numbered copy of the first issue cover, available to purchase separately — a genuine collectible marking this moment in bear history.
In the meantime, follow BEAR on all socials for exciting offers and updates ahead of pre-orders opening — including the chance to become a Patron and support the magazine’s return from the very start. Follow BEAR on all socials and sign up for the newsletter: www.linktr.ee/thebearmag
IT’S GETTING HOT OUT THERE… IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
BY JILL LANGHAM
I seriously hope that everyone is dealing with this extreme humidity, dew point and heat that has enveloped our valley, in a healthy way. Our air quality is terrible and it really concerns me when I see people out there running, playing tennis/pickleball, golfing, bike-riding or just walking on days that there is a warning to be careful and avoid exercises that cause you to do deep breathing.
Many of my clients and friends got ill last month with sinus and lung infections, some who were not prone to get that type of sickness, so that just tells me that something nasty is happening in our valley.
When Hurricane Hilary happened back in 2023, it was reported that the winds blew away the protective topsoil on the Salton Sea and as a result, years’ worth of former toxins, DDT and other harmful substances and spores were released into the atmosphere causing what’s now referred to as Valley Fever. It is extremely dangerous involving long hospitalizations and the use of many diverse types of
antibiotics to treat it. So, please be careful with your health and take the warnings seriously. I do not want to lose one more of you!
But my real purpose for this month’s article is to talk about my concern of what is happening here in the U.S., and how we, the residents of Palm Springs can help our community be as strong as we can be during this time of turmoil.
Specifically, I am referring to some of the pettiness and finger pointing that I see online and hear when I am out and about. I am blessed to know so many of our long-term residents as well as many of our new residents, who I jokingly refer to as, “The COVID Kids!”
I have been a resident for over twenty years and have seen and heard just about all that you can imagine, some fantastic, some incredible upsetting. The biggest shock came early in my residence when I heard gay men basing other gay men. I was totally
flabbergasted to think that these men were dissing other men the way that they had been picked on growing up. I was like, “WTF! Are you kidding me?”
But ever since you know who became President, it has gotten even worse and it frightens me because we are supposed to be in the model city with the largest number of gay residents per Capita in the U.S., so for me that means we’re the Role Models of how gay men can live together in harmony. Is that the case? I think not.
It also upsets me to hear how many of you are planning to move away from the U.S., because where you go, I will follow and I am sad to say that I am not in a financial position to do so. So, for me I want to help keep this bubble alive and encourage us to see the forest through the trees. What we have is so unique and so very special and I believe if we step back for a moment to realize the opportunity we have to support one another, understanding that we will not always agree on everything, and can always err on the side of being kind and not ugly, hostile, mean, nasty, or condescending, we will win.
My latest trip to NYC and Madrid opened my eyes to other ways of being. I have traveled to the Empire State as many as 10
times in the past but for the first time was on the streets amongst the people of Manhattan. I saw and experienced kindness and a sense of peace, not only on the streets but in the subways, too.
The same thing was true in Madrid as well. Granted it was Pride in both cities but there were plenty of areas that were not focusing on Pride, and I still felt a willingness to get along. (Maybe it was FIFA, and if that is the case, let’s have these tournaments every year!)
But guys, I am really serious about this. It’s time to stop being petty. Time to see what commonalities we have and put our differences aside. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. I know that you are all capable of being that way because you treat me that way.
If we were all the same it would be boring as hell, but kindness can be shown in so many different ways and you are the creative souls on this planet so, let’s show one another a new side of ourselves and try something new.
I have a lot of faith in you.
XOXO,
Jill, your ever-hopeful, DQ
WELLNESS THREE SLEEP MYTHS THAT COULD BE KEEPING YOU AWAKE
BY BEN RAMIREZ
We have never been more focused on optimizing our health. We wear devices that measure nearly every aspect of their day - from workouts and steps to heart rate and recovery - and increasingly turn to GLP-1 medications as part of the weight management journey.
Alongside these changes, experts are encouraging people to prioritize another key pillar of health: quality sleep, which plays an important role in overall well-being and can support healthy lifestyle habits.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 30% of U.S. adults regularly get less than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
Dr. Stephanie Stahl, Medical Director at Indiana University Health, notes that many people still treat sleep as something they’ll fit in if there’s time. Stahl is the Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program Director and Associate Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine as well as Natrol® Sleep Science Advisory Board member. “Many people think of sleep as the first thing they can sacrifice when life gets busy. But sleep isn’t a luxury. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have to support our health, mental well-being and daily performance.”
That can be difficult in today’s always-on world. Packed schedules, constant notifications and late-night scrolling can all work against the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. In fact, 38% of adults say using their phone or tablet before bed to read the news or “doomscroll” makes their sleep somewhat or significantly worse.
What sleep myths could be keeping you awake?
“One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that sleep starts when your head hits the pillow,” said Stahl. “The truth is that your body has been preparing for sleep all day. Your light exposure, activity, meals, stress and evening routine all influence how prepared your brain and body are for sleep.”
She describes this as your sleep ecosystem - the daily habits, routines and environmental cues that work together to influence your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. One of the most important players in that ecosystem is melatonin, a hormone your body naturally produces in response to darkness. Rather than forcing sleep, melatonin helps signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down.
STAHL IS HELPING TO DEBUNK THREE COMMON SLEEP MYTHS:
Myth: Better sleep starts at bedtime.
Stahl: “Great sleep starts the moment you wake up. Morning sunlight helps regulate your body’s internal clock and supports natural melatonin production later that evening.”
Myth: I’ll catch up on sleep this weekend.
Stahl: “Consistency matters more than catch-up sleep. Keeping a regular sleep and wake schedule (yes, even on weekends) helps reinforce your body’s natural rhythm.”
Myth: The eight hours you’re asleep are all that matter.
Stahl: “The hour before bed matters, too. A consistent winddown routine, like dimming the lights and avoiding screen time, helps prepare your brain and body for quality sleep.”
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What small habits lead to better sleep?
The good news is that improving sleep doesn’t require overhauling your lifestyle. Stahl recommends focusing on a few consistent habits: Get outside for natural light early in the day, stay physically active, avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening, maintain a regular sleep schedule and create a cool, dark, quiet sleep environment.
If travel, changing schedules or other temporary disruptions affect that rhythm, melatonin supplements can help support your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Dr. Stephanie Stahl
When healthy habits need extra support that is safe
Healthy sleep habits are the foundation of better sleep, but even the best routines can’t account for everything. Travel, shift work, changing schedules, stress and age-related changes can all temporarily disrupt your body’s natural rhythm.
It’s one reason more than 27% of U.S. adults report using melatonin supplements, making it one of the country’s most commonly used sleep supplements. Melatonin is a well-studied naturally occurring hormone that plays a key role in regulating the sleepwake cycle. When used as directed, it is widely recognized as a safe, effective and non-habit-forming option for temporary sleep support. Backed by 30 years of scientific research and widespread use, melatonin is the No. 1 doctor recommended ingredient for sleep, recognized by experts as a safe, reliable way to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer*.
“Healthy sleep starts with healthy habits,” says Stahl. “Melatonin is a hormone your body naturally produces to help signal when it’s time to sleep. If travel, changing schedules or other temporary disruptions affect that rhythm, melatonin supplements can help support your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. The key is to think of it as one part
WELLNESS
of a broader sleep strategy, not a replacement for healthy habits.” Because sleep challenges vary from person to person, some people may also benefit from ingredients such as magnesium glycinate, valerian root, GABA or L-theanine depending on their individual needs.
The benefits of prioritizing sleep extend well beyond feeling rested - 88% of adults who are satisfied with their sleep, report they are flourishing, compared with just 47% of those who aren’t. Better sleep isn’t just another wellness goal. It’s one of the strongest investments you can make in your overall health and well-being.
Better sleep is one of the strongest investments you can make in your health and well-being.
SOURCES:
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Short Sleep Duration Among Adults. National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db559. htm. Accessed 26 June 2026.
* American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “Americans Are Doomscrolling at Bedtime, Prioritizing Screen Time Over Sleep.” American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2025, https://aasm.org/americans-are-doomscrolling-at-bedtimeprioritizing-screen-time-over-sleep/. Accessed 26 June 2026.
* SleepFoundation.org survey. October 2022. https://www.sleepfoundation. org/sleep-news/how-much-melatonin-do-adults-really-take.
* Based on a survey of doctors who recommend sleep support products.
* National Sleep Foundation. Sleep in America® 2025 Report. National Sleep Foundation, March 2025, https://www.thensf.org/wp-content/ uploads/2025/03/NSF_SIA_2025-Report_final.pdf. Accessed 26 June 2026.
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2026 EVENTS
DATE EVENT
July 31 - Aug 2
Aug 7 - 9 & 14-16
Aug 8
Aug 13
Aug 21
Aug 22
Sept 2
Sept 11
Sept 13
Sept 15
Sept 17 - 27
Sept 18 - 20
Sept 30 - Oct 4
Oct 3
Oct 8 - 11
Oct 10
Oct 10 - 11
Oct 15 - 18
Oct 16
Oct 17
Oct 25
Oct 29 - Nov 1
Oct 30 - 31
Oct 31
Nov 6 - 8
Nov 7
Nov 7
Nov 8
Nov 13 - 15
Nov 20 - 22
Dancing with the Stars Con 2026 @ Acrisure Arena
Splash House
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire @ Acrisure Arena
Big Bear Romp in Big Bear Lake
Out on the Mountain 2026 @ Magic Mountain
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo @ The Show at Agua Caliente
Chicago & Styx: The Windy Cities Tour @ Acrisure Arena
KGAY Big Splash @ The Palm Springs Surf Club
“Weird Al” Yankovic - Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour
International Day of Democracy 2026
Cinema Diverse 2026 / Palm Springs Cultural Center
Gay Days Anaheim 2026
The Dinah
One Night Out: Tokyo / The Foundation for PSUSD
Joshua Tree Music Festival Fall 2026
Paint El Paseo Pink - Desert Cancer Foundation
Head Trip - EDM Festival
Modernism Week October
The Center “Center Stage” @ The PS Air Museum
Pride Under the Pines / Idyllwild, CA
62nd Annual Golf Cart Parade in Palm Desert
Valhalla - Palm Springs Leather Pride
Halloween on Arenas 2026
The B52’s + DEVO: Cosmic De-Evolution Tour
Palm Springs Pride 2026 - 40th Anniversary
Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk
HRC Palm Springs Garden Party
Palm Springs Pride Parade @ 10:00am
Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival
McCormick’s Palm Springs Classic Car Auction
Feb 18 - 22
Jan 7 - 18 RuPaul’s Drag Race
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2027
International Bear Convergence - IBC 2027
CALENDAR
AUG 4-9
PROVIDENCE LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
The Providence LGBTQ Film Festival is an annual sidebar of the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival. Rhode Island filmgoers are able to discover a diverse sampling of over 40 international and domestic films made by and for members of the LGBTQ community. Ranging from romantic comedies, journeys of discover, to concerns affecting the trans community, the Film Festival has been curated to complement the LGBTQ Experience. Info at www.film-festival.org
AUG 7-9
NORTHALSTED
MARKET DAYS CHICAGO
ILLINOIS
Northalsted Market Days® is an annual street festival celebrating community in Chicago’s landmark Northalsted/Lakeview neighborhood. The 1/2 mile long summer festival features all-day lineups of live music on 4 stages, 250+ vendors, food and drink, dance exhibitions, drag performance, and more! Market Days is one of Thrillist’s Can’t
Miss Queer Events, ranked in the top 10 Chicago festivals by BizBash, and a 2023 Best of GayCities Winner for Travel Worthy Festival. northalsted.com
AUG 12-16
TROPICAL HEAT KEY WEST, FLORIDA
Tropical Heat - Key West’s hottest event for men. The temperature is not the only thing that will rise during Tropical Heat. The all-male theme parties, pool parties and entertainment promises to be hot. August on the island is always hot, but during Tropical Heat it promises to be steamy. What can you do for four days of all-male themed parties and gay, adult-oriented entertainment? Come find out on this tropical island. https://gaykeywestfl.com/tropical-heat/
AUG 13 - 16
NORTH CAROLINA GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL. DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF) is the second largest gay and lesbian film festival in the Southeast, bringing in thousands of patrons every year. Since its start in 1995, the Festival features a diverse array of shorts, documentaries and feature films. The NCGLFF celebrates a worldwide glimpse of today’s gay, lesbian and transgender life, helps bring the community together and features entertaining
and sophisticated films and filmmaking. carolinatheatre.org
AUG 20-27
CAMP CAMP PORTLAND, MAINE
Structured just like the sleep-away summer camp that you remember from when you were young (er), Camp offers a full program of great outdoor, athletic, and arts & crafts activities along with a variety of entertaining evening social events. Located in scenic southwestern Maine, ‘Camp’ Camp is the perfect alternative vacation for adventurous members of the LGBTQ+ community looking for a unique vacation option beyond the usual gay cruise or resort. www.campcamp.com
SEPT 3-7
SOUTHERN DECADENCE 54 NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Southern Decadence started as a simple going-away party. As a top gay Labor Day Weekend destination, it has evolved into one of the world’s major annual events. It is one of the largest annual celebrations and festivals in New Orleans, and has become known as the “Gay Mardi Gras.” People begin to arrive on the Wednesday before Labor Day, and generally don’t even think about stopping or going home until the following Tuesday. www.southerndecadence.net
SEPT 18-26
QUEER LISBOA LISBON PORTUGAL
Queer Lisboa is the sole Portuguese film festival with the specific purpose of screening films about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, intersex and other non-normative sexualities and identities, in a genre coined internationally as “Queer Cinema”. This is a genre with an increasing presence in major international film festivals and it is our goal to program the most aesthetic and narrative-wise relevant titles within world cinema, aiming to bridge the fact that these films are of limited access to larger audiences. https://queerlisboa.pt/
AUG 20-25
XLSIOR MYKONOS. MYKONOS, GREECE
One island, over 30,000 people from all over the world all connected by love and the universal language of music. This is who we are and this is what XLSIOR is all about. Old friends, new friends and loved ones. This is where all the magic begins. Bringing you one of the most exclusive international Summer Gay Festivals in the world. As every year, XLSIOR grows bigger and brings you more. For info visit www.xlsiorfestival.com
AUG 28- 30
ITALY’S BIGGEST PRIDE PARTY
GALLIPOLI, PUGLIA, ITALY
Imagine thousands of rainbow colors, breathtaking Mediterranean sunsets, worldfamous beaches, incredible music, new friendships, and the unmistakable energy of an Italian summer celebration. Welcome to Big Pride Party, the largest LGBTQ+ beach party experience in Italy and one of the most exciting Pride celebrations in Southern Europe. Created by Italy Gay Travels, Big Pride Party brings together LGBTQ+ travelers from around the world for an unforgettable long weekend of sunshine, freedom, connection, and pure joy in the spectacular seaside destination of Gallipoli, Puglia. This is more than a party. It is a celebration of Pride, community, friendship, and the freedom to be yourself in one of the most beautiful corners of Italy. www.italygaytravels.com/big-pride-party
AUG 27-SEP 4
ELLA INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN FESTIVAL
PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN
Welcome to the ELLA Festival, a culture, music, art and sports Festival thought for the modern LGBT woman in the gorgeous island of Mallorca, just a couple of flight hours away from your city! Enjoy the sun, the crystalline sea, lay down on the beach, vibrate to the sound of the best international artists and shows, and meet women from all over the world! www.ellafestival.com
SEPT 3-6
RVK REYKJAVIK BEARS REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
RVKBear is not just a bear weekend. It’s an intimate gathering where bears, chasers and admirers from all around the world get to meet the Icelandic community, through exclusive experiences for our event pass holders. Whether it is soaking in our natural hot springs, experiencing the beautiful landscapes of Iceland, or dancing the night away, we make sure to bring a smile on your bear face and to help you meet new friends.www.reykjavikbear.is
SEPT 10-27
VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Illuminating queer lives through film; Out On Screen has proudly presented films that showcase the transformative moments in the lives of queer people. Telling stories of the journeys we have taken to find ourselves, each other and our place in the world. For complete schedule of films visit www.queerfilmfestival.ca
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
ZIN AMERICAN BISTRO
198 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA
760.322.6300
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
www.shermansdeli.com 849 849 N Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.325.8490 www.eight4nine.com
www.pszin.com
LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO
200 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.327.5858
www.lulupalmsprings.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
LGBTQ people are among the many subgroups of Americans known to experience high rates of food insecurity.*
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert provides food for 30,000+ people annually.
*The Williams Institute