TheStandard vol6 issue8

FASHION TRENDS 2018 // WHAT’S IN YOUR CLOSET? MAKING A SPLASH // ADDICTED SPORTSWEAR THE POWER OF A WOMEN // SUPERWOMAN LAUREN FOSTER AUGUST 2018 // VOLUME 6 ISSUE 8 // THESTANDARDPS.COM

CONTENTS VOLUME 6, ISSUE 8

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BOOK REVIEW BLAME IT ON BIANCA DEL RIO PAGE 23

Volume 6 Issue 8 COVER LOOKING YOUR BEST FASHION TRENDS 2018 FEATURE MAKING A SPLASH ADDICTED SPORTSWEAR COLLECTION FEATURE THE POWER OF A WOMAN TRANS SUPERWOMAN LAUREN FOSTER PSP FOCUS CV REP / 2018/2019 SEASON MUSIC RAPH SOLO BREAKS FREE IN “BROKEN HEARTS”

PHOTO CREDIT JOVANNI JIMENEZ

AUGUST 2018 3

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COMMENTARY

The Standard Magazine PO Box 2074, Palm Springs, CA 92263 760.831.4869 Nino Eilets Publisher Luciano McNulty Editor Maya Kalabic Art Director PHOTOGRAPHER David A. Lee CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Bond, Steven Boyce, Dann Foley, Michael Khordoc, Jill Langham, Shari Lippman, Christina Vronay Ruggles, Martha Tang & Terri Schlichenmeyer www.thestandardps.com EDITORIAL CREDITS :

BrandPoint, Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation & Project Publicity 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

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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

FASHION TRENDS 2018 WHAT’S IN YOUR CLOSET?

BY FRANCO CARMONA Trends are misunderstood. Stop most men in the street and they’ll tell you they don’t follow fashion trends, but look inside their wardrobes and hanging alongside the timeless classics you’ll see ripped jeans, seventies knitwear, Cuban collar shirts… and those are just the trends he still likes. The preference on clothes and dressing

up has been changing season after season.

Most guys care about looking great, and feeling confident, and sometimes it can get hard to make sense of the trends on fashion shows and the catwalk. We make it simple, and provide some of the latest men’s fashion trends. Pick and choose what works for you.

VERTICAL STRIPES The vertical stripe is officially menswear’s new go-to pattern. Seen on everything from bombers to field jackets at the global fashion weeks, there’s no denying that it was one seriously stripy season. In real life, you’re aiming for Armie Hammer’s effortless Call My By Your Name wardrobe. The best examples are straight, narrow and deployed across T-shirts, short-sleeved shirts and cuffed joggers. When creating your own looks, one vertically striped piece at a time is often enough – the double vertical stripe is an advanced style move that only the most confident of men can pull off.

TONAL DRESSING Think of tonal dressing as spring/summer’s answer to all-black everything, but with way more choice. The real beauty of tonal dressing is that it works for almost any scenario that you can think of. Tonal suiting?

Try it for a summer wedding. Tonal pastels?

Give it a go on your next summer holiday.

Tonal navy? You’ve probably worn that all winter long. Colors you’re already well stocked with are a good place to start – think blue or grey – but don’t be afraid of lighter neutrals and even pastel shades as the weather improves. And three is the magic number for the number of tonal items you should be wearing in one outfit.

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UNSTRUCTURED BLAZER There are guys who just ‘get’ tailoring, and there are those who don’t. The unstructured blazer is pretty much the one piece of tailoring that can unite all men thanks to its softer shape and less rigid styling rules.

You’ll get your money’s worth out of one, too: dress it up for work with separates or wear with a camp shirt and jeans for evening smart-casual styling.

SIDE-STRIPE PANTS The proof that side-stripe pants are no longer unacceptable for grown-ups was the fact that luxury designers went absolutely mad for them this season. There were skinny versions at Balmain; Prada showed them coordinating tops, while Valentino went straight-up retro sportswear. Basically, if you haven’t got lines down your legs, you’re not doing menswear right. The key to making side stripes work is balance. Yes, you can wear trainers with them, but you’ll need to add a smart knit or a slim-fit shirt.

AUGUST 2018 7

COVER DAD DENIM Menswear likes extremes. So, just when it looked like circulation-restricting spray-on jeans were never going to die, we’re gifted with leg-friendly dad denim. Think loose fit, light wash, unfussy and straight up and down. Dad denim unites baby boomers and millennials through a love of unfussy comfort.

It’s comfortable, doesn’t make you look like you’re trying too hard and gives legs everywhere the breathing space they’ve been so desperately craving for the past decade or so.

As for the rules of dressing like your dad (only much, much better): go for cropped designs or pin-roll your jeans (pools of fabric at your feet are still not cool) and team with T-shirts, statement trainers, Chelsea boots and loose-fitting shirts in pastel shades.

Skinny jeans, your vice-like grip is no more.

CHECKS We know what you’re thinking, checks can’t come back because they never really went away. Technically you’re right, but while checks refuse to ever leave the menswear party, the wrong type can make you look, well, square.

We really don’t want you letting yourself down in one of those short-sleeved weekend wonders, but fortunately you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to size, style and color this season. The safest way to make checks work for you is to try larger or more complex motifs on outerwear, knitwear and trousers. To avoid giving innocent bystanders a headache, check yourself and make sure that the rest of your outfit is toned down.

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TECHNICAL JACKETS The winds of change have blown and what’s deemed hot property in men’s outerwear has done a complete 180. Yes, that silkysoft suede bomber you bought last year is still unbelievably attractive, but if you really want to flex your menswear muscle then a technical jacket is your safest bet.

Before you groan, we’re not talking dishwater dull mountain trekking gear. The technical jackets you’re about to see land in the shops have kept their weather-fighting superpowers but are now designed in a way which won’t put you to sleep. They come color-blocked, in pastels or dark and moody shades.

The very best part of this reinvention is that your styling options are broad. Throw one on over jeans, tailored trousers, knits, or shirts… you’d be hard pressed to go wrong.

TROPICAL PRINT SHIRTS Sometimes we think that menswear designers are out to do a number on us. Such is the case with the resurgence of tropical print shirts. Liking a tropical shirt flies in the face of all good reason: they’re usually gaudy, never fit particularly well and are invariably worn by overbearing men as a nonverbal way of communicating that you’re in close proximity to ‘a fun guy’.

Nobody therefore is more surprised when Paris (definitely not tropical) embraced the trend most warmly with Louis Vuitton in particular making us sit bolt upright and admit we were wrong.

Getting on board requires subtlety, something lost on practically every printed shirt wearer to date. Seek out designs in pared-back color palettes and combine with dark tailored chinos or jeans to nail the look.

CHUKKA BOOTS In a world of strait-laced shoes and chilledout trainers, chukka boots happily occupy the middle ground. Being neither too dressy nor informal, a trustier footwear companion you couldn’t find. You’ll need to wear them with jeans or chinos, but they’ll look equally handsome with a pair of shorts.

There you have it, info to assist you in putting together a look that works for your individual style, while looking your best and building a wardrobe that suits you.

AUGUST 2018 9

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FEATURE

KICKING IT RETRO STYLE The best sneakers are often ancient, and older than your dad. Classic silhouettes, often originating in sport and finding their way into casual dress, have remained relatively unchanged for decades (there are some on this list close to seeing out a century). Whether you’re trying to look throwback or not, these designs have stood the test of time – and they’re not going anywhere soon..

THE CANVAS SPORTS SHOE A sports shoe made to play actual sports in. Who would’ve thought it? Yes, before limited drops of overpriced sneakers designed by high fashion’s hype names, people wore sneakers to exercise in. In 1919, Chuck Taylor played his first college basketball game in a pair of Converse hi-tops, and in 1922, was hired by the company as a sales representative, travelling all over the States selling the now-iconic canvas shoes that still bear his name. But Converse isn’t the only brand that produced an all-star canvas shoe in the first half of the 20th century. Italian footwear brand Superga introduced its 2750 model in 1925, Slovakian brand Novesta has been in the game since the ’30s and ProKeds produced its first basketball shoe in 1949.

None of them could be called performance trainers in today’s world of energyreturn soles and fly knit uppers, but they’ll always look good. They can be punk or preppy, hip-hop or rock n roll and they’re one of the few things in your wardrobe that tend to look better with age.

THE MINIMALIST TENNIS SHOE Tennis has been a rich source of sneaker head lust because the sport’s traditional allwhite dress code spawned something most men now have somewhere in the foot locker: the minimalist white sneaker. No Stan Smith, no Common Projects. Most brands have a version of it and even other racquet sports have contributed some retro trainers that have stood the test of time (the Converse Jack Purcell being the standout).

THE RETRO RUNNER With tracksuits and other throwback sportswear very much in fashion, it’s no surprise that the best running shoes from decades past are also jogging to the top of wish lists.

What were once considered performance shoes are now impractical heavyweights, but they look great with cuffed jeans or chinos, even if you’re unlikely to break your halfmarathon PB in them. For styling, think suede and leather patchwork uppers and muted colors that contrast sharply with the bright tones worn by today’s athletes.

THE BASKETBALL HI-TOP For some hype beasts, the best basketball shoes are not to worn, on court or off. They should be framed and hung with pride like your school portrait is in your grandmother’s house. Adidas and Reebok have some cult shoes but Nike’s really the MVP here – and few retro sneakers of any kind have the kind of cult-like appeal of its Air Jordans. The range stretches back to 1984 when they were first made for Michael Jordan. There have been hundreds of iterations since. It’s a classic silhouette and just enough of a blank canvas for continuous updates and collaborations – utter catnip for collectors.

Thanks to Fashionbeans.com for contributing to this article

AUGUST 2018 11

FEATURE

ADDICTED SPORTSWEAR DIVES INTO SUMMER WITH ‘SPLASH’ COLLECTION

BY MATTHEW BOND

In celebration of summer, Addicted, the naughty little sister brand of ES Collection, has unveiled its steamiest swim collection ever, “Splash.” “This summer’s swimwear collection features bright, bold colors with one of a kind prints and tongue-and-cheek slogans,” explains the collections’ founder, Ed Suner. “It’s playful, fun, a bit racy but also sporty, stylish, and designed to last so guys can enjoy the summer sun to its maximum.”

Suits are made from fast drying, high stretch, lightweight fabric that is heat molded for reduced seams and a contoured fit. There is a wide range of designs in the collection from star, graffiti, floral and camouflage prints to shark and warrior motifs. Some are emblazoned with tongue-in-cheek sayings like “Top/Bttm,” “Harder than a Rock,” “Slap Me” and “Slut,” and some contain a removable pack up insert for extra boost and comfort.

“Addicted has never been known for subtle details, and this summer’s collection of swim gear is certainly no exception to that rule,” laughs Nir Zilberman, the brand’s USA agent. “I’d venture to say ‘Splash’ is Addicted’s wildest collection yet!”

As always, Addicted’s superior artisan team finely and meticulously crafts all garments. “As a men’s fashion label, materials and craftsmanship are top priority,” Monforte continues. “More time is put into the sewing of each piece so that they are built to last, even through the roughest summer play. The suits are tailored to fit every body type perfectly.”

“‘Splash’ offers the quality, fit and comfort the Addicted brand is known for,” says designer Carmen Monforte. “All gear is designed with fashionable gay men in mind. They are intended for guys who feel good about themselves, are comfortable with their bodies and are daring enough to flaunt it.”

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The pictorial campaign, directed by the renowned photographer Leonardo Corredor, captures the sexually charged side of Addicted’s “Splash” collection.

Addicted is the sister line from ES Collection, the popular men’s athletic wear company. Since 2009, the brand has been dedicated to the design, manufacturing and sale of men’s underwear, swimwear, and sportswear. It was founded by Eduardo Suner, also the founder of ES Collection, and has distinguished itself by setting trends and pushing the envelope in stylish, sexy and very wearable men’s fashion.

Addicted’s “Splash” collection is sold directly at Addicted.es, as well as at select retail partners worldwide.

ADDICTED SWIM SHOOT CREDITS: PHOTOGRAPHER: LEONARDO CORREDOR PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT: ARISTIDES RODRÍGUEZ PRODUCTION TEAM: HÉCTOR AGUILAR, BELÉN FERNANDEZ, RUBÉN IBÁÑEZ AUDIOVISUALS: PUNT DE GIR HAIR & BEAUTY: TÖN VANGARD MODELS: ANDRÉ HOFMANN CARLOS RUEDA EMANUELE FUSCO JONATAN ARGIZ JACINTO ANGOSTO JUANMA IZQUIERDO JAVIER FADRIQUE MANUEL SUÁREZ

AUGUST 2018 13

FEATURE

THE CATEGORY IS … POSE

Each competition in “Pose,” the boisterous, resplendent drama of the 1980s ball scene on FX, begins with a ritual phrase from Pray Tell (Billy Porter), the M.C.: “The category is …”

also assiduous about hiring transgender actors and creative staff, including the author Janet Mock and Our Lady J (“Transparent”) as producers and writers.

That category — the theme to which teams dress, strut and, yes, pose — might be royalty, or the military or “Dynasty.” The categories are both a competitive challenge and a way of claiming social spaces from which the cat walking combatants, gay and transgender, black and Hispanic, have been excluded.

“Pose” wears its purpose confidently but lightly. Yes, it’s a story of struggle — the AIDS crisis is a constant shadow — but it spotlights its characters’ aspirations. It’s sincere, buoyant and fun, stunningly designed, mindful that a show about balls should be capable of having one.

“Pose,” which begins Sunday, is itself a space-claiming project.

Viewers today might recognize the “category is” phrase from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” or know the slang, if not its provenance. But “Pose” puts its characters, subculture and history stage center. It stands, bold and plumed, and demands attention.

At its heart is an underdog story. Blanca (MJ Rodriguez) breaks away from the imperious ball legend Elektra (Dominique Jackson), mother of the House of Abundance, to form her own house, which she christens the House of Evangelista. (“Game of Thrones” has nothing on the regal nomenclature here.)

Ryan Murphy (the co-creator, with Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals), in his last FX series before founding his Netflix empire, was

A “house” is both a team and, literally, a home, and Blanca assembles a crew of misfits and castoffs in her apartment. She forms

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boss, Matt (James Van Der Beek), personifies the age’s conspicuous consumption and Velociraptor aggression. Mr. Van Der Beek has a gift for playing this kind of cocky boor, but when the show introduces him saying, “God Bless Ronald Reagan” while hoovering lines of coke, it manages to be both on and up the nose.

The two worlds connect when Stan falls for Angel (Indya Moore), a prostitute and house member. (The series’ casting in general is a coup; Ms. Moore, a model, is a relative newcomer to acting but you wouldn’t know it from her presence and shaded performance.)

They begin a long-term affair even as he and his wife, Patty (Kate Mara), build an overspent life in the suburbs; his life, too, is about the cultivation of appearances.

an especially maternal bond with Damon (Ryan Jamaal Swain), a gay teenager and aspiring classical dancer from Pennsylvania who was kicked out of his home.

The pilot, kinetically directed by Mr. Murphy, introduces a world — familiar from the 1990 documentary “Paris Is Burning” but never detailed like this in series TV — without feeling mechanical or over expository. The vogue battles, choreographed by Leiomy Maldonado and Danielle Polanco, are thrilling, art-as-combat duels.

Mr. Porter (“Kinky Boots”) makes Pray Tell a wry guide to both the balls and the larger community around them.

The series feels, like the “Angels in America” revival on Broadway or even (from a different ’80s subculture) the women’swrestling comedy “GLOW,” like an attempt to better understand the present by re-examining the 1980s as an origin story.

At its periphery is a more familiar, heavy-handed story of greed-is-good-era New York City, with a ubiquitous 2018 hook.

Stan (Evan Peters), a social-climbing young businessman from New Jersey, lands a job with, yep, the Trump Organization.

The company’s celebrity leader is spoken of but not seen. Stan’s

“Realness” is a recurring theme in “Pose,” which is nuanced about the conscious and unconscious assumptions the term can involve. Elektra uses authenticity as a cudgel with Blanca, whom she insults for not “passing” well enough; a gay-bar manager ejects Blanca, saying, “I’m not throwing a costume party.” A later episode deals with the pressure to get often-dangerous augmentations and injections.

But “Pose” is broadly empathetic and nonjudgmental. Each character is making complicated decisions about how to define heror himself, including Elektra, who presents herself as unbreakable but is wrestling with getting gender-confirmation surgery that her lover (Chris Meloni) is vehemently against.

The series is not afraid of melodrama, the first four episodes suffer peak-TV bloat (at a full hour and up) and the scripts veer into the kind of speechy dialogue that comes across as read more than spoken. But the rough patches are lofted by its vitality and refusal to draw its characters in terms of tragedy. As a sometimes-competitor to Elektra puts it: “How lucky are we? We create ourselves.”

Like its characters, who sift through a larger culture’s looks and iconography to create a custom-fit expression, “Pose” at its best produces a hybrid — an old-fashioned story of surrogate family and putting on a show, remixed into something novel. It is not flawless, but it defines its own category. A must see.

Courtesy of NYT

AUGUST 2018 15

INDESIGN SUMMER, STYLE & DESIGN

BY DANN FOLEY

Wow! It is already August, as usual the summer has flown by. It is that time of summer when we say things like, “the summer doldrums.” and “It’s too hot to do that.” We know that all too well in Southern California where the temperatures can spend days above the 100 and even 110 degree mark. It’s hard to be fabulous when it just too darn hot to make the effort.

This time of year our clients, no matter where they live seem to be heading out of town. It is what I like to call the Great Get-A-Way Season. But, for many of us, like me, we are home and working. I feel those late summer blues as much as anyone else. But, luckily, I have some really great ideas for jazzing up your home. Why not take a little bit of the time you have trying to beat the heat outside by have some fun with your home on the inside…where it’s cool.

By this time of the season, things have a tendency to look as dry and unappealing as the dried up lawn and flowers outside.

Freshening up your interior is a lot easier and you don’t have to do it in the hot sun! I have a list that I pull out whenever I am feeling like my house is losing its style edge. I know you can find one or two items on my list that will be an easy update for your home as well.

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• Remove the feather fills from your throw pillows and put in a gentle cycle wash with a bit of gentle soap. The cleaning and the gentle dryer cycle will do wonders to enliven the down blend fill and freshen their scent from all those sweaty heads and feet.

• I open the windows every chance I get to let in some fresh air. This also means letting in lots of dust. This is a great time to actually move your furniture around and vacuum under and behind those pieces. It never ceases to amaze me what a truly clean house can do to your sense of well-being.

• This is also a great time to clean and touchup your baseboards, trim and doors from scuffs and marks. My secret weapon for this is the Magic Eraser. This handy little sponge can clean almost any mark on your trim, doors and even walls, without removing the paint. I swear by them and keep them in quantities in my home.

• Speaking of marks on your trim, this one doesn’t have to do with the house so much as all your white sneakers. The Magic Eraser makes them look like new! A wiping with the sponge and a fresh pair of laces and your favorite kicks are ready to take you into Labor Day!

• If you can’t see those flowerpots you planted in spring from your windows or doors, it is probably time to trim the dead and possibly fill in the blank spots. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s inexpensive.

If you don’t want to add more flowers, try some filling around the edges with some green or Spanish moss. It fills in the blanks and makes a lush presentation from inside and out.

• If you’re hibernating inside to escape the heat, this is a perfect time to add that bit of color you have been contemplating.

You do not have to turn this into a full paint job. Pick one room, pick one wall and pick one color…it’s that simple. It is the kind of project you can do in one day and it will change your perspective and might even change your life! It will make your room look like you gave it a full makeover, for the price of a gallon of paint.

• Ok, this one is not the most glamorous but, if you have an open kitchen like I do, you know that sometimes the sink can get a little nasty. That is the last thing I want hitting my nostrils when I’m relaxing in front of the TV for those long afternoons of movie watching. There are several different ways of cleaning and deodorizing your garbage disposal. The easiest one of all is to use lemons. Cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice in the garbage disposal. I let the juice sit for several minutes at least, then I cut up

the remaining lemon into smaller pieces (you don’t want to clog your disposal) and put it all down there, then turn the disposal on while running hot water. It’s quick, it’s easy and the fresh scent is almost as good a citrus diffuser.

The idea here is to make meaningful changes or additions that wont make you work up a sweat or break the bank. It is the kind of work you can while binge watching your favorite cable channels.

Sometimes the best way to update your home is simply to do the kind of maintenance that we may not love but makes a big impact in the way we live.

Clean that room, freshen up those pots, and add a bit of paint.

As I promised at the start, this won’t break your back or break your bank. This is about making the choices that enhance your life and beautify your home. This is all about you!

Live Well!

Dann Foley www.danninc.com DesignerDann on Instagram Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest

AUGUST 2018 17

FILM

INFUSING NEW BLOOD INTO A SHAKESPEAREAN CLASSIC

BY MICHEL KHORDOC

What if Juliet never died? What if she was alive? Would she ever find love again?

Director Ronnie Khalil answers those questions in his brand new feature film With A Kiss I Die. Gravitas Ventures acquired the worldwide rights to the LGBTQ Shakespearean romance that is set for release August 28.

Filmed on the gorgeous Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini, With a Kiss I Die tells the story of Juliet Capulet (of Shakespearean fame) who is plucked from death and turned into a vampire. She is forced to live all eternity without her sweet Romeo. Now, 800 years later, Juliet meets a young woman who captures her heart again. But Juliet’s new family, headed by a bloodthirsty patriarch, disapproves of the pairing. Juliet must once again choose between love and family obligations, terrified that repeating her past mistakes will lead to even more tragedy.

Directed by Ronnie Khalil under his Clownfish Productions marquee, the film stars Ella Kweku (Juliet Capulet) and newcomer Paige Emerson (Farryn), as well as top Greek actors from stage and screen George Kopsidas (Amaltheo) and Iaonnis Papazisis (cousin). The film is a modern take on “Romeo and Juliet” - the most famous love story ever told – with Juliet not only cast as a black lead (playing a historically white character) but also in a lesbian, interracial romance.

We sat down with writer/director Ronnie Khalil to get the scoop on the film and the behind the scenes twists and turns that made the movie take an unexpected direction for the better.

Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I’m an Egyptian-American film director and writer, a professional stand-up comedian, and I also teach motion pictures and screenwriting at the University level. So, I would say I’m a “man with many talents” and my parents would say I have “no clear life direction.”

How would you describe With A Kiss I Die? It’s a dark romantic fantasy about Juliet Capulet, who centuries

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after Romeo’s death, falls in love with a young woman and is once again forced to choose between love and family obligation, terrified her past mistakes will once again lead to tragedy.

What inspired you to focus on this subject matter?

The original premise came from our contributing writers Barbara Leibell and James Orie, who thought it would be great to have Juliet live on and fall in love. They thought of it originally as a “My Fair Lady” type comedy but I loved the darkness of it all, how a woman who found her soul mate so early in life then lost him in the most tragic of ways, and blaming herself for it, would ever be able to open up and find love again.

As the writer and director, what went into your process for creating this narrative?

When you’re dealing with characters that already have a backstory, it really helps in knowing how and why they would react to certain things. Of course the challenge is everyone knows that backstory too so you can only take liberties in how things play out after the events that are known or by imagining what is omitted in the original work and adding to it. This script was written and rewritten quite a few times over just a few months because we were on a quick timetable to shoot. So I would just crank out a draft in 7-10 days, have trusted friends read it, then crank out a complete rewrite in another week or two, and we kept doing that. It was exhausting but when you have great feedback from trusted people, it makes it easier. My characters went from a boy/girl love story to girl/girl love story, and the nurse went from a 55-year old southern woman to a 30-something giant Greek man from one rewrite to the next. The entire ending was rewritten on set too.

How important was it for you to shoot the film in Greece?

And why? Does the landscape play a role in the storyline?

I think Greece plays a vital role in the film, giving it a moody yet gorgeous feel. It’s almost like another character in the film. We needed a location with glorious sunrises and sunsets for our story, and

ELLA KWEKU

when Paola Cétares, my producer, and I had the opportunity to shoot in Greece, we jumped on it. It felt like Juliet would not have stayed in Italy given the history there and Greece provided a perfect backdrop for “young” lovers to finally open up again. Santorini and Mykonos have the magic to make that happen.

The film is described as an LGBT interracial vampire romance that is infusing new blood into a Shakespearean Classic”, what made you want to revisit “Romeo and Juliet”, the most famous love story ever told?

The thought of Juliet living after her ordeal, to have experienced love and heartbreak in such a short amount of time, so early in life, and how to bounce back intrigued me. We’ve all had our hearts ripped out and think we’ll never love again... well, this is the penultimate story of heartbreak and tragedy - if Juliet is able to do it, maybe we all have hope.

How did you find your lead actresses and what was the motivation to cast a black woman as Juliet, a historically white Italian character?

I never intended this to be an interracial romance (or a girl/girl romance for that matter). Ella Kweku was suggested by my director of photography and a producer on the project, Jorge Valdés-Iga, who

said she was incredible. I always had in my head the ‘more typical’ Juliet but having been typecast my whole life as an “Arab Comedian,” I said I’d give her a shot. She blew us away with her talent. There was all this contained emotion and rage in her performance that it was an easy choice. As for Paige Emerson, who plays Farryn, the moment we auditioned her, we really liked her and felt she had this great presence about her. She just lit up the room. My casting director, Ryan P. Shrime, suggested that if we like her so much, let’s try reading the script with two girls. I, somewhat hesitantly, asked Paige if she’d be willing to make this a lesbian role and she was instantly on board and thrilled. The audition was amazing and the chemistry with two women worked perfectly, so we went with it.

What do you hope viewers take away from the film?

That no matter how much heartbreak you’ve suffered, if you open yourself up again, no matter how hard it is, you can find love.

There’s a lot of focus right now in Hollywood on the need to embrace a culture of diversity and inclusion, as an ArabAmerican comedian and filmmaker what have been some of your personal struggles throughout your career, and how are you changing the status quo?

AUGUST 2018 19

FILM

I was co-founder and producer of the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in L.A., along with Ryan P. Shrime, and our goal was specifically to counter the way Hollywood cast Middle-Easterners in film and television. It’s been frustrating, and still continues to be, but I think we’ve made some strides but it’s still an issue. I truly believe that the real change comes from people who are in the minority actively writing, producing, putting money into projects that showcase diversity and especially the culture, race, orientation that you represent. We can’t expect people who either do not know or understand the community to care about it the same way we do. Imprint the need for change into the young people working today and they will eventually be the execs and studio heads of tomorrow. FYI I’m in Egypt right now and nobody understands why I would make an LGBTQ movie. It might even hurt my career here. But I think it’s a great story and needs to be told but it developed not because I had any desire to make a LGBTQ romance but was just open enough to cast differently.

What are some of your favorite moments connected to working on With A Kiss I Die? I want to say it was the scenery but I remember looking up only maybe a handful of times and saying, “Wow, I’m in Santorini.” It was just such an intense shoot that I didn’t fully embrace the beauty of it, even when I was behind the camera. Surprisingly some of my worst moments are also some of my favorites: we lost our lead vampire to a heart attack (he’s fine thankfully) the day before we finished filming, so had to replace him and reshoot, which caused a huge amount of

20 THESTANDARDPS.COM

anxiety on my part and threatened to end the entire production. But the emotional counter to that is how incredible all the cast and crew were in working an insane amount of hours to help us catch up. It really felt like a family coming together for something they all believed in.

I don’t think I’d ever been as emotional at the end of a production.

Where can our readers find out more about the film and keep up to date on the most current release information?

They can visit www.withakissidie.comand definitely join our social media, for Facebook the group is “With a Kiss I Die” and Instagram @withakiss_film. For all Gravitas Ventures films visit www.gravitasventures.com and to learn more about Red Arrow Studios visit www.redarrowstudios.com.

What is the one question that is missing from this interview that you wish I had asked?

I have two projects coming up, one is young adult novel focusing on creativity and magic, the other is a very dark comedy film about a young girl who teams up with a birthday party clown to seek revenge on the society that wronged them for being different. So, like my parents said, “no clear life direction.”

For more info go to: www.withakissidie.com Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bHrPzrqGiY Now available for pre-order on iTunes: https://apple.co/2tzMkRb

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BOOK REVIEW

ALWAYS OVERBOOKED

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

You have no rope left.

You were at the end of yours last week, and you need help.

Advice. Tell-me-what-to-do direction. Even a little hint would be great, and in “Blame It On Bianca Del Rio” by Bianca Del Rio, you might find it.

Or not. Then again, Del Rio adamantly says that she gives “better advice than Dr. Phil” because what she espouses is based on “years and years of insightful prying and corrosive gossip…”

That’s what this “literary goldmine” is based on, but Del Rio cautions that she changed names and circumstances as she wrote this book. In other words, even if you see your name here, it’s not all about you.

Some of the problems here may be yours, though, and Del Rio offers “help” – first on health and grooming. This includes bad smells and what to do about them, rocking a bald look, dealing with serious illness, preparing yourself for a loved-one’s death, and looking one’s best (or lowering one’s standards).

This book wouldn’t be right without Del Rio’s guidance on sex and relationships. She has a lot to say about LBD (Lesbian Bed Death), coming out as gay to your girlfriend of four years, how many cats a queen can have before crossing the line, and what to do about a terrible mother-in-law.

There’s “advice” here on how to deal with neighbors who don’t like you, and neighbors you like a little too much. Find out what Del Rio says about unknown paternity and how to avoid the same situation in the future. Get help on dealing with homophobia, parents that are overly supportive, bad Grandmas, and other family matters.

Learn how to turn down an invitation, how to read an invitation, and how to be rude-not-rude.

Finally, find out what it’s like to be famous, fabulous, and fabulously famous. In a rush of snarky and long answers, Del Rio tells all…

In case you hadn’t already figured it out – whether you are familiar with author Bianca Del Rio or not, whether you know her work or don’t – you need to know that there’s not one single thing about “Blame It On Bianca Del Rio” that’s PC. Nope, in fact, there may actually be parts of this book that could be downright insulting.

Contrary to what you were told in grade school, however, there are some books that need to be judged by their covers and this one

is a good example. With one look, you should know what you’re getting yourself into, and a good insult is half the appeal of what you’ll have once you’re there. Mixed in with that is the occasional usable nugget, a lot of “you-go-girl!” empowerment, blunt MYOBiz answers to authentically sticky problems, and fall-down screaminghysterical laughs hidden in the snarkiest of comments.

“Blame It on Bianca Del Rio” absolutely does not belong on the shelf with other Agony Aunt tomes. Get it, and it might not even need a shelf at all because you’ll want it close, all tied up in fun.

“Blame It On Bianca Del Rio: The Expert on Nothing with an Opinion on Everything” by Bianca Del Rio c.2018, Dey Street Books $21.99 / $26.99 Canada / 272 pages

AUGUST 2018 23

PSP FOCUS

CVREP ANNOUNCES 2018/19 THEATRE SEASON

BY SHARI LIPPMAN Four Intriguing, Entertaining Plays and One Musical…

Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVREP) Artistic Director, Ron Celona, has announced the upcoming 2018-2019 CVREP season to include three dynamic, entertaining plays and one rock opera musical, each with the common theme, “‘A HANDFUL OF… ISMS” - exhilarating, theatrical works that explore such topics as Socialism, Racism, Classism and Sexism (among others).

Opening the 2018-19 CVREP season and running from October 24-November 18, 2018 is Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz, an extremely bold, theatrical fable featuring three actors portraying 40 different characters. The fantasy play stems from the idea that a German Chancellor might, as an act of redemption, invite six million Jews to Germany with the promise of citizenship and jobs. However, when the “new citizens” arrive, the country explodes with anger, grief and shame. Lebensraum follows the varying outlooks of Jews and Gentiles through the eyes of a Jewish dock worker who moves both his son and Irish wife to Bremerhaven in hopes of a new life; a survivor of Auschwitz returning to find the woman who betrayed his family to the Nazis, a young German smitten by a Jewish American teenager, an unemployed German laborer, and scores of others. The logical progression of this artfully written play raises the terrifying possibility that history may repeat itself.

“Powerful and touching.” - New York Times White by James ljames is scheduled to run from January 23, 2018-February 17, 2019. This hilarious, insightful play revolves

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around Gus, a not so famous artist looking for recognition. So, when a major contemporary art museum is looking for “new perspectives from artists of color,” Gus, a Caucasian man—decides to seize his opportunity by hiring Vanessa, a black actress to present his work as her own. However, as the actress gets more deeply into her role, Gus’s scheme spirals out of his control. Award-winning Philadelphia playwright James Ijames challenges assumptions about race, gender, identity and art in this seriously funny comedy.

“This funny…work draws on both life and art to examine racial tourism, power, and identity…White bursts with humor… the best of which come at the expense of the institutionalization of art…The ending adds a surreal twist, driving home Ijames’

exploration of black women’s exploitation by feminism, by contemporary culture, and by white women.” – Philadelphia Inquirer Chess. Scheduled to run from March 13, 2019 – March 31, 2019. The collaborators of Chess (Book by Richard Nelson, Lyrics by Tim Rice, and Music by Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson) are rock music (ABBA) and rock musical giants who have created a complex rock opera that played to full houses and standing ovations on Broadway. In this musical, the ancient game becomes a metaphor for romantic rivalries, competitive gamesmanship, superpower politics, and international intrigues.

The pawns in this drama form a love triangle: the loutish American chess star, the

PSP FOCUS

about deeply relatable issues, albeit this time with more warming doses of humor.” – Hollywood Reporter.

CVREP Mid-Season Venue Change The first two plays of the season, Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz (Wednesday, October 24 through Sunday, November 18,2018) and White by James Ijames (January 23, 2018-February 17, 2019) will run for four weeks and will be performed at CVREP’s current location at The Atrium - 69930 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage.

The last two plays of the season, the musical Chess, book by Richard Nelson, Lyrics

by Tim Rice, and Music by Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson (March 13,2019 – March 31, 2019); and the play Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire (May 1-19, 2019) will have 3-week runs and will be performed at CVREP’s future home in Cathedral City earnest Russian champion, and a Hungarian American female assistant who arrives at the international chess match in Bangkok with the American, but falls for the Russian. From Bangkok to Budapest the players, lovers, politicians, and spies manipulate and are manipulated to the pulse of a monumental rock score that includes “One Night in Bangkok” and “Heaven Help My Heart.”

Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire will be presented from May 1-19, 2019.

The haves and the have-nots come faceto-face in this timeless, Tony-nominated dramatic comedy. Good People centers on Margie, a hard-luck single mother living in a shabby South Boston apartment with her disabled adult daughter. For most people,

this South Boston neighborhood is a place where this month’s paycheck covers last month’s bills — and church bingo is a big night out on the town. Margie has just been let go from yet another job, and is facing eviction. Scrambling to catch a break, she is forced to turn to an old high school flame for help. But he’s now a successful physician living in the suburbs … and Margie is way out of her element there. Is this apparently self-made man secure enough to face his humble beginnings? Margie is about to risk what little she has left to find out.

“Bringing the same clear-eyed emotional observation that distinguished his Pulitzer winner, Rabbit Hole, David Lindsay-Abaire has crafted another penetrating drama

(Previously the iMax/Desert Cinemas) Corner of Cathedral Canyon and Hwy 111.

Evening Performances begin at 7 PM. Matinee performances begin at 2 PM. CVREP is exclusively selling 3-play and 4-play subscriptions with Individual tickets going on sale Sept 5, 2018. Individual ticket prices are $53 / Previews $48 / Opening Night $63 (includes post show reception).

For additional information, please call 760296-2966 or visit the website at cvrep.org.

The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre is a non-profit, professional regional theatre.

It is the only theatre in the Coachella Valley that has Small Professional Theatre (SPT) status with Actor’s Equity.

AUGUST 2018 25

PSP FOCUS

TOMMY BAHAMA MARLIN BAR OPENS IN PALM SPRINGS

BY GREG LUTCHKO

The first California location of its new dining concept the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar is now open in Palm Springs. As part of the city’s deluxe Palm Canyon Drive downtown redevelopment project, the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar is in keeping with the brand’s easy, relaxed spirit and elevated shopping experience. This casual dining and full-service bar is an integral component of the highly anticipated Tommy Bahama retail-shopping destination. This new Palm Springs location is part of 18, full-service Tommy Bahama Restaurant Bar & Store locations, one of which notably stands in nearby Palm Desert.

“The Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar is the distillation of our many years not only serving our guests, but understanding how they relax,” says Rob Goldberg, Executive Vice President of Restaurants, Tommy Bahama. “It’s a place that celebrates the simple pleasures of carefully selected ingredients, gracious hospitality and the company of good friends. The heart of Palm Springs is the perfect place for our take on desert living. We think our guests will appreciate the seamless, relaxed transition of the indoor and outdoor spaces of the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar where they can enjoy the iconic setting of this great resort destination.”

The Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar offers food and cocktails via a new style of service -- orders are placed at a walk-up counter and then delivered by servers to the table on the expansive outdoor patio. The spacious, umbrella-lined patio is an open, continuous, shared space, inviting guests to walk up to the counter and place an order for food and drink. Guests can indulge in tried and true favorites such as coconut shrimp, filet mignon flatbread, chicken and mango salad, lump blue crab salad, Ahi and Mahi bowls, Thai shrimp, a Cuban sandwich and chicken panini. Hand crafted cocktails, on tap wines, keg cocktails and organic soft serve ice cream by The Strauss Family Creamery, a family owned and operated dairy farm in California are also served.

At 7,200-square-feet of retail and dining space including the patio, the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar seats 180 guests and functions as a restaurant and bar within a retail store, adding seamless open air, umbrella-covered spaces. Each umbrella can mist to keep guests cool and comfortable in the desert heat. The décor reflects the

26 THESTANDARDPS.COM

brand’s commitment to outdoor living, with earth tones, sands, khaki and white to echo desert tones and unique art pieces throughout by area-specific artists. The indoor, outdoor nature of the environment allows the store to effortlessly showcase an impressive assortment of the Tommy Bahama men’s and women’s sportswear, swimwear, accessories, capsule collections and home décor items. The Tommy Bahama approach to promoting its relaxed collection in this open flow atmosphere is designed to both engage and satisfy guests, while blending into the local scenery and eclectic Palm Springs vibe. The Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar is an ideal place to shop and recharge as you take in the vibrant energy of downtown Palm Springs.

“There are legions of Tommy Bahama fans already in the area, but this attracts a whole different set of loyalists who visit Palm Springs. For many in Los Angeles, Orange County and surrounding areas, Palm Springs functions as a sort of release valve. With this addition, we have solidified our position, creating our fourth location in Southern California,” adds Rob Goldberg.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Tommy Bahama, the benchmark of island style, combining fashion, food and furniture for the ultimate island lifestyle.

AUGUST 2018 27

FITNESS

FASHIONABLE FITNESS

BY JILL LANGHAM

I recently watched the 2016 documentary titled, “The First Monday in May” at the Annenberg Theater, which happily is on Netflix, in case you missed it. Talk about Fashion!

Wow, is it a powerful visual expression of fashion at its height, not to mention the genius of the curators and the Devil wears Prada, herself, Anna Wintour. The 90-minute doc shows what it took for the Metropolitan Museum of Art to combine their extensive Chinese collection combined with the Costume Institute where some of the best fashion ever created by the giants of the industry is housed.

Seeing these giants, or in the case of Anna, a teensy-weensy giant, at work is nothing short of a miracle. There were moments in the movie when I actually thought that these legends were going to fail their gargantuan task of pulling it all together by the first Monday in May! But, that would have been tragic. Instead, the film exemplifies the reality that one should never give up; should always have faith; should believe in their vision and keep moving forward in the face of adversity.

Then to top it off they invited most influential, wealthy, fashionista’s in the world and gave the people what they didn’t know they wanted! The outcome of that night was beyond the hopes of geniuses. They raised an outrageous and staggering sum of 125

28 THESTANDARDPS.COM

million dollars! Not bad, eh?

But, how does this relate to fitness you might ask? From my perspective it’s one in the same. Taking on your physique and setting out a goal to create the “Best Version of You”, like all things, takes time. In the movie it took 8 months from conception of the project to its completion. In bodybuilding it takes 90 days to start the process of reminding the body of what’s possible.

Reset buttons appear to respond after the first 21 days. Evidently, information that is coded into our DNA gets a wake-up call of sorts after those initial 3 weeks, sending information that nudges us to get going. Our pituitary gland begins to re-send the right messages to our thyroid gland. If our hormones are in balance and we have the proper enzymes, T-4 to be broken down into its usable form of T-3, the metabolism begins to speed up. Fat cells become more efficient in providing us with the fuel that we need to burn calories while the muscles begin the task of tearing themselves under the stress of weight lifting resulting in scar tissue that increases their size. The net result is higher, more efficient metabolism, larger, harder muscles, a leaner physique and more energy and power to clear our minds of stress. All of which makes our internal light shine brighter!

Sounds good to me! How ‘bout you?

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AUGUST 2018 29

TRAVEL

THE BENEFITS OF GROUP TRAVEL

BY FRANCO CARMONA

Many people long to see another part of the world but are reluctant to travel on their own or take on the stress of planning a vacation. Researching destinations, transportation, accommodations and activities can be a lot of work. Expedia research has shown that leisure travelers visit an average of 38 websites to get information and compare prices before finalizing their plans. If this sounds especially daunting, you’re not alone!

To attain that freedom, Menge recommends joining a travel club that offers pre-planned group vacation packages. Group travel provides an opportunity to meet people who enjoy similar activities, and the curated offerings of a travel club relieve the stress of planning every aspect of a trip on your own. Not only do you have an easier way to book your next trip, you also get to create long-lasting memories with a new group of friends.

We reached out to travel industry expert Jim Menge for his insights into overcoming the challenges of solo travel. Menge has visited more than 100 countries and firmly believes in the benefits of making lasting memories with the people you get to know on a trip.

Menge is also the President of Rovia(TM), an industry-leading travel and lifestyle service provider headquartered in Plano, Texas. “Travel is the ultimate expression of freedom,” says Menge. “The freedom to leave home, to roam the earth, to see the world through the eyes of those you meet along the way and to share your world with them.”

So, why don’t more people take advantage of group travel?

Here are a few myths debunked:

30 THESTANDARDPS.COM

MYTH NO. 1: I’LL BE LONELY. While a few in your group may already know each other, plenty of others will arrive solo, looking to meet new people. Unfamiliar settings have a way of bringing strangers together. In fact, a story in The Atlantic magazine revealed that people who share experiences

are happier than those who experience things alone. Between sightseeing and sampling foreign delicacies, friendships flourish naturally between group members.

MYTH NO. 2: I’LL HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING EN MASSE. While there’s typically an itinerary outlined for the entire group to follow, you’re free to explore with a smaller group or on your own. One of the best ways to form new friendships is to connect over shared interests. If you and a few others want to see the same play or museum exhibit, go together!

MYTH NO. 3: IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE. Traveling with a group can actually help you save money.

As part of a group, you can share food and transportation, and purchase reduced admission to popular attractions and activities.

According to timeshareadvocates.org, vacation clubs present a good option for group travel because they offer value-packed trips at discounted rates to their members.

Still unsure? “It is an amazing privilege to be able to travel the world freely, to be able to see different countries and experience new cultures,” says Menge. “When we meet and speak to those around us, it will only serve to enhance our journey. Go ahead and talk to your fellow travelers ... Talk to strangers. I promise it will make you feel more connected and more present while you travel.” What are you waiting for? Put yourself out there. Find the vacation club that best fits your lifestyle and book your next getaway today.

AUGUST 2018 31

MUSIC

KING OF HEARTS RAPH SOLO BREAKS FREE IN BROKEN HEARTS

BY JEFF DORTA

The Word of Love album is Raph Solo’s little notebook on relationships, a “what to do and what not to do” with matters of the heart, which he wrote from experience. In his new single, Broken Hearts, he continues where he left off from the title track. Broken Hearts is about wrestling and coming to terms with the mistakes that led to past break-ups, re-discovering self worth and becoming the

32 THESTANDARDPS.COM

king of hearts every man is meant to be. “I wrote the song a few years ago at around the time I met my partner,” says Raph Solo.

“We were both newly out of major relationships that had left us broken and bruised. While the love making was hot, the baggage I carried from my past caused a lot of friction and undue fear in our relationship.”

Similar to the other songs on the Word of Love album, Raph describes the sound of Broken Hearts as “POPTECSOL,” a new sound he created that combines pop, tech, and R&B soul. However, he sings Broken Hearts in a lower key and adds melancholy strings and anthemlike synth riffs over a lazy throbbing bass groove to give it a dark, edgy and sexy feel that reflects the bittersweet sentiment behind the song. Raph Solo’s Broken Hearts is being released globally through Angel King Musique and is available for sale on iTunes and Amazon and through streaming on Spotify. Its music video is available on YouTube.

“Broken Hearts heal with time,” sings Raph in his new single. He should know. Before meeting his partner, he experienced 7.5 break ups in nine years (one of the splits only scored a 0.5 on his pain-ometer). His hardest failed relationship was with a man he regarded as a father figure. “It crushed me. It changed my perception of love,” he admits. “Though I still believe in love, I don’t view it through rose colored glasses anymore.”

Born to Lebanese/Chilean parents on the Gulf of Guinea in Nigeria, West Africa, Raph Solo is a singer, songwriter and music producer. He has released four full-length albums: Finally/ The Album, Am I Too Much? The Anonymous Icon, featuring the hit singles Star and Good Morning London and Word Of Love which features his smash hit from last summer, Love Lives.

Many of Raph’s songs reflect on his personal journey of finding love. Word of Love features seven songs including some dance inspired grooves, a few mid-tempo songs and an acoustic ballad.

He wrote and produced all of the tracks on the album, with musical arrangement by David Brant and studio programming, recording and mixing by Mr. Darlow.

Visuals are a key element to Raph’s work. The Broken Hearts music video was filmed on the Southeast coast of England and incorporates the famous white cliffs as a backdrop. Raph plays a mythological warrior-turned-prisoner who must conquer his fear and wrestle down his demons to reclaim his crown. Though fantasy, the video depicts the song in the way Raph’s love life truly unfolded. “It’s all shamelessly romantic and heroic,” Raph laughs, “but that’s me.”

The shackles he wears in the video are meant to symbolize the emotional baggage most people carry from failed relationships.

Says Raph, “If you can free yourself from the shackles, you will one day reign over love.”

“Broken Hearts is about letting go of past loves, embracing what is new, and working to extend that love into tomorrow and beyond.”

Raph Solo’s Broken Hearts is being released globally through Angel King Musique and is available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon as well all other online retail outlets. Its music video is available on YouTube. For more information, visit raphsolo.com * Photography by Michele Martinoli Follow Raph Solo on Instagram @ Raphsolo and on Facebook @ RAPHSOLO

AUGUST 2018 33

PERSPECTIVE

WHAT IT’S LIKE RAISING A GAY PRIDE BANNER AT THE RUSSIAN WORLD CUP

When Di Cunningham brought her rainbow banner to Russia, she wasn’t sure what would happen. Cunningham is the co-founder of Pride in Football, an alliance of LGBTQ soccer fan groups across the UK, as well as the co-founder of Three Lions Pride, a group of LGBTQ England supporters.

This year, the soccer fan traveled to Russia with four other Three Lions Pride members to support England as it fought for a place in the finals of the FIFA World Cup (England took fourth overall).

But they also had another mission: to hoist their rainbow banner at matches to represent LGBTQ soccer fans everywhere.

Russia is notoriously hostile to queer people. Though homosexuality was decriminalized in 1993, its 2013 anti-gay propaganda law has been used to target LGBTQ activists. In 2017, the Russian republic of Chechnya reportedly set up concentration camps to detain and torture gay men.

As the World Cup kicked off this month, a French supporter

34 THESTANDARDPS.COM

and his companion were beaten up in St. Petersburg. LGBT rights activist Peter Thatchell was also detained for protesting Vladimir Putin’s inaction on Chechnya near the Red Square in Moscow. (He was later released.)

FIFA’s anti-discrimination advisors, the Football Against Racism in Europe Network (FARE), even warned LGBTQ fans visiting Russia against participating in political protests and to avoid public displays of affection.

Cunningham was feeling understandably nervous about taking the Three Lions Pride flag into the first England match. The banner is a rainbow version of the Three Lions insignia associated with the team, and has been fully backed by England’s Football Association.

“We had spoken to FIFA officials early in the day, and they had made it very clear that this was fine to take in,” Cunningham said.

“They wanted it to be displayed, they wanted there to be a signal of LGBT+ inclusion, as part of the World Cup.”

There were some “exchanged glances” when Cunningham’s bag was searched ahead of entering the stadium in Volgograd. The main steward in charge of the routine baggage checks, she says, “seemed really conflicted.”

“Obviously [they’re] on instructions to be welcoming, and he felt that he had to challenge the banner,” Cunningham explained. “He was very polite and said he’d talk to his supervisor.”

After a nervous wait of 15 to 20 minutes, the Three Lions Group was let in with a big smile and the words, “Please, go in, there’s nothing wrong.”

Once in the stadium, they hung up the banner and were immediately swamped with support from other England fans. “People were coming up and saying, ‘Well done,’ and some said ‘Thank you,’ which was awesome. So that was spectacular—we had hugs and high-fives.”

The rainbow banner even appeared in a photograph posted by the official @England Twitter account. People in Russia also responded well to the banner, Cunningham says.

After it appeared on Russian TV as part of the football broadcast, the receptionist at her hotel stopped her as she was checking out. “She raised her hand in the air as if she was holding a flag and was waving it back and forth,” Cunningham says. “She had this huge smile on her face, and she reached out to shake my hand!”

Cunningham and the Three Lions Pride group traveled with their banner to Nizhny Novgorod for England’s second qualifying match.

They continued flying the rainbow flag at all the matches they attended, and a trip to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup is also in the works.

Like Russia, Qatar has also been criticized for its homophobic policies. Homosexuality is illegal in the upcoming host nation, and is punishable by one to three years in jail.

“We just thought, ‘We need to go to these countries,’” Cunningham says. “If [FIFA] confer on us some kind of safety—some kind of security—through organizing the tournament, then we should take advantage of that and make sure that visibility and that message goes around the world and goes to the host countries too.”

Broadly.vice.com

AUGUST 2018 35

TRANSCENDENCE

YOUTH GONE WILD

BY CHRISTINA VRONAY RUGGLES

I’m mad, hopefully so are you!

It’s been a month. So much has happened. A lot of it good, some bad. I’m a political junkie queer, cause I can’t do regular drugs like a cool queer kid! I blame the hereditary substance abuse issues in my family, and the queer communities’ extraordinarily high rates of substance abuse issues. You see I don’t like being just another statistic, I like being unique! I say this as a transgender butch leaning lesbian, who is nervously tugging on the collar of my girlfriend’s flannel. I would hate to be a stereotype, you see!

Back to being mad though! I’m mad about the world I’ve been given, and following the path of my elders before me, I’m determined to make it better though hopefully I won’t have to beat up some cops Stonewall style (Hopefully right? Hahaha).

I also watched a certain Netflix special: Nanette by Hannah

36 THESTANDARDPS.COM

Gadsby. It was, it is, a feminist rage piece that demands we be better. Demands we get mad, because if you aren’t mad at the way things are, and I know Palm Springs has quite the kink community, but how far are you up your own rear end if you aren’t mad?

But I digress. Just find something reasonable to be mad about.

I think we all need to get mad about the world more often. A lot of good seems to come from lots of people getting mad about the way things are. Be mad for me, for each other, ya? Yell at some trash on your lawn, side-eye that new construction while a homeless camp springs up next to it. Just get mad, pretty please, with a drag queen on top?

The sun, it burns!

I think being transgender made me a better night owl. So did my job at the time when I was starting to make these revelations, but really I blame the queer ideas that were leaking out of me like

a sweating tourist walking through downtown Palm Springs in July.

I, still to this day, don’t trust fellow queer youth if they aren’t night owls. How am I supposed to trust someone so well adjusted?? Clearly not enough trauma to make them cool. Hell, they may even engage in regular bouts of planned heterosexual passing! I would hate for someone to think I’m straight, for someone to think so low of me!

Ok, fine, I’m (mostly) done talkin’ smack about straights. Mostly.

A type of pain even alcohol abuse can’t fix, but that won’t stop us from trying though!

Back to the trauma bit. Cause I think its important we all discuss how us queer people are so often traumatized, and how I think it plays into society. While large instances of trauma exist, I think it’s the little ones that hurt us the most. When something big and truly awful happens, it has an end and a beginning. We can face it and its consequences with ease, it blocks our way, it holds us back, and eventually with hard work, self-care, tears, and probably a little bit of substance abuse (hell, we are the LGBTQIA+ community, right?) we get over it. We get PAST it, we can look back fondly on the emotions we felt.

What hurts us is the little, daily things. The things that are so minor but together form a terrifying mass of hurt. We can’t stop

these things from happening, without changing society, we can’t gather it all up and confront it as one issue (not easily at least, go gadget therapist!), we can’t stop it immediately and we can’t predict when it will come next, we can never steel ourselves for the injury to come. It just slides past us, under our armor, straight into our guts.

So we do the only thing we can, we close off the part that gets hurt. We turn it to stone, so that whenever we get hurt like that, it simply bounces off, ineffectual. We turn it to stone so we don’t feel that hurt. But we’re turning off something vulnerable, something emotional. Something deeply human that in some way defines us.

There are consequences to fossilizing out emotions like this though. It takes away some fundamental ability of ours to be happy.

It lets us identify ourselves not by our strengths, but by our pains, by our hurt. And I think this pain; this foundation of hurt is a huge reason for our queer love of deep-seated drama. After all our love of drama runs almost as deep as our hurt.

I promise, back to baby transgender girl stories next month.

We welcome Christina Vronay Ruggles to The Standard Magazine family. Each month she will be giving us insight into the Transgender community from her point of view.

AUGUST 2018 37

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

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

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

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

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

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HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB 302 East Arenas Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0700 www.huntersnightclubs.com TOUCAN’S TIKI LOUNGE 2100 North Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.7584 www.toucanstikilounge.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 STACY’S AT PALM SPRINGS 220 E Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.620.5003 BLACKBOOK BAR 315 E Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.8497 www.blackbookbar.com QUADZ 200 S Indian Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.4326

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EVENTS CALENDAR TG MONDAYS. TRANSGENDER SOCIAL EVENT Every second Monday of the month, Transgender Social Hour discussing advocacy, transitioning & HRT. Allies, respectful admirers, and transgender umbrella all welcome. Portion of proceeds to benefit the Raina Chessman Fund.

For more info www.transcc.org AUG 10-12 SPLASHHOUSE. PALM SPRINGS Splash House is a multi-venue music festival hosted poolside at three hotel resorts in Palm Springs. GA passes include admission to all three resorts and shuttles running between all weekend. Hotel Packages include rooms at one of our venues along with GA Splash House passes. By night, the Palm Springs Air Museum hosts the After Hours program, a pair of open-air parties back-dropped by vintage aircrafts and the glowing airport tarmac. Info at www.splashhouse.com

NOW THROUGH AUG 19 TASTE OF SUMMER. RANCHO MIRAGE The Rancho Mirage Restaurant Association, the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce and the City of Rancho Mirage have teamed up once again to kick off the 3rd Annual Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage, an event whereby participating Rancho Mirage restaurants and resorts have created cool summer specials. With the purchase of a $10 Taste of Summer wristband, patrons will be able to enjoy $4 offers at participating Rancho Mirage restaurants and resorts during the promotion.

Visit www.tasteofsummerranchomirage.com

44 THESTANDARDPS.COM

DBA EVENTS ONGOING FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.DESERTBUSINESSASSOCIATION.ORG ONGOING >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET MAY - SEPT The Palm Springs Cultural Centers’ Certified Farmers’ Markets have changed their locations to indoors for the duration of the summer season.

Certified Farmers’ Market Palm Springs Pavilion, PALM SPRINGS- JUNE 2 – SEPT 15 The Summer Saturday Market runs from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. inside the Palm Springs Pavilion at 401 S. Pavilion Way (adjacent to Sunrise Park and the City Swim Center).

Certified Farmers’ Market Westfield Mall, PALM DESERT- MAY 6 – SEPT 16 The Summer Sunday Market runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. inside the Level 1 Center Court of the Westfield Shopping Mall in Palm Desert.

For more information, please visit www.certifiedfarmersmarkets.org or call 844-7FARMCV (844–732-7628).

THE JUDY SHOW. PURPLE ROOM SUPPER CLUB PALM SPRINGS The spirit of Judy Garland is alive and well and in Palm Springs at the famed Purple Room Supper Club every Sunday at 7:00! This blend of hysterical comedy and outstanding music explode into an evening of nonstop belly laughs, glamour and high camp, as celebrated entertainer Michael Holmes parodies Judy Garland, who in her 1964 television variety show, played host to some of the greatest female icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood. www.purpleroompalmsprings.com

CHILL BAR PALM SPRINGS A warm and fabulous twenty first century modern venue located on Arenas, suited with multi faceted rooms for any celebration.

The gorgeous island bar is surrounded by hi-definition video entertainment and a comfortable designer lounge. Chill on the patio enjoying music and refreshing beverages with friends after a game of pool, or come by and say hello to our friendly staff. Open for business seven days a week. Get out of the heat, and come join us! Happy Hour (From Open to 7pm) and Late Happy Hour (From Midnight to Last Call) www.chillbarpalmsprings.com

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EVENTS CALENDAR

THE SUNDAY BAND W/ SPECIAL GUESTS. PAPPY & HARRIET’S PIONEERTOWN The Sunday Rock + Roll Service is a Pappy and Harriet’s institution celebrating the healing powers of music and community! Every weekend the club’s favorite singers and players get together and trade songs. Come join us to see Victoria Williams, Gar Robertson, Carol Ann Crandall, Damian Lester, Bob Furgo, Rachel Dean, Ryan Norman, Caleb Winn, Danny Frankel and other talented locals performing for your drinking and dancing pleasure. With a come-as-you-are vibe, Sundays have seen great special guests like Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, Rickie Lee Jones to name a few. www.pappyandharriets.com

BLACKBOOK The sleek industrial styled BlackBook Bar located in the heart of the gay strip on Arenas now has Happy Hour everyday from 4-6pm and NAUGHTY hour from 10:00 PM-midnight.

During these times you cam enjoy specials such as $5 pint glass well drinks, $1 off all bottle and draft beer, and $2 off all wines by the glass! www.blackbookbar.com

OSCAR’S CAFÉ & BAR Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs on the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon, Oscar’s has a huge outdoor patio with lots of umbrellas for shade and misters to keep you cool, too.

You can beat the heat any time of year and enjoy the views of Palm Springs. On Saturday and Sunday from 8am – 2pm, enjoy a $9

Bottomless Mimosas (juice included), a single $2 mimosa or a $5 Bloody Mary with brunch, during which both our full breakfast and lunch menus are available. Also join us for Sunday Funday Weekly Tea Dance 4pmClose! Live entertainment weekly visit our website for details. www.oscarspalmsprings.com

LIPSTICK AT COPA Thursday nights at Copa just got a little hotter with a new show at the new showroom inside Copa. The Hot New Lipstick show is a raucous affair where the audience is encouraged to participate in singing, clapping, dancing, partying and celebrating special events. Featuring performances by Charles Herrera, Pinkie Meringue Shimmer, Marina Mac, Sassy Ross, Dion Khan, and Cherilyn, and emceed by the fabulous Bella Da Ball, this show will not disappoint. For ticket info and schedule of performers visit www.coparoomps.com

HUNTERS NIGHTCLUBS® Palm Springs, Palm Springs’ go-to gay bar and dance club, has been leading the way in full-out fun for 16 years now! And we keep it pumping, making it better for you all the time with our unparalleled event line-up. We enjoy having

the desert’s most sought-after and friendly DJs, full-on themed events, and a staff that has it all without the attitude. And of course, we are proud to hold the longest happy hour in the entire Valley. Remember: Size Matters.

Come by for our happy hour from 10am- 7pm.

Yes, that’s right: 9 hours long! For a list of all events and specials visit www.huntersnightclubs.com

SUNDAYS “The Playgirls” at Toucans Tiki Lounge featuring Tommi Rose. Performances at 8 & 10pm.These darling Divas of drag really deliver with their very own brand of entertainment to packed houses. Special guests appear weekly. DJ in the sound booth. Every Sunday Complete list of events www.toucanstikilounge.com FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS VISIT OUR MEDIA PARTNER, GAY DESERT GUIDE. CLICK ON LOGO

AUGUST 2018 45

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EVENTS CALENDAR

AUG 7 - 12

PROVIDENCE LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND Now in its 19th year, 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 9 - 19

HONOLULU RAINBOW FILM FESTIVAL HONOLULU, HAWAII In its 29th continuous year, the HRFF is one of the longest-running and well-respected LGBT film festivals in the country. The festival has presented hundreds of documentaries, feature films, shorts and animations from around the world, with special consideration given to Hawai’i-based filmmakers. Films programmed at the HRFF have gone to win Peabody and Emmy awards. The HRFF has an excellent reputation in the film festival community and has been the venue for both U.S. and world premieres.

Visit www.hglcf.org

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AUG 15 - 19

TROPICAL HEAT 2017 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. www.tropicalheatkw.com

AUG 16 - 19

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. www.carolinatheatre.org/films/ festivals/ncglff

AUG 19 - 26

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 LGBT community looking for a unique vacation option beyond the usual gay cruise or resort. www.campcamp.com

AUG 30 - SEPT 3

SOUTHERN DECADENCE NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA Southern Decadence started forty-seven years ago 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

Our National Media Partner, Gay 50 Plus is a new online LGBT magazine, proving that being over 50 is cool and your life is just beginning! www.gay50plus.net

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EVENTS CALENDAR

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

AUG 9 - 19

VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA Illuminating queer lives through film for 30 years; 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

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 31 – SEPT 2

AUG 30 - SEPT 2 AUG 14 - 22

GAY LONDON/GAY PARIS LONDON, ENGLAND This 9-day tour includes 4 nights in each city. See London and Paris a whole new way: these are not only Europe’s two great metropolises, they are also its two great *gay* metropolises. From Shakespeare to Stephen Fry, King Henri III to Yves St.Laurent, gay people have had a huge role in both cities’ histories and cultures. Let gay historian Dr. Andrew Lear and his staff of gay guides show you both cities from the gay perspective. www.oscarwildetours.com

AUG 22 - 29

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

BEARS ON ICE. REYKJAVIK, ICELAND BEARS ON ICE is a friendly social event for bears and friends where you get to see a little bit of Iceland and have fun with likeminded guys from all over the world. We also organize smaller social events throughout the year. If you´re coming to Iceland feel free to hit us up and see what happens! For more info visit www.bearsonice.org

AUG 30 - SEP 6

ELLA INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN FESTIVAL PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN Welcome to the fifth edition of the ELLA Festival, a culture, music, art and sports Festival

ITALY GAY SUMMER PRIDE GALLIPOLI ITALY Italy Gay Summer Party 2018 is back.

Bigger, better and with even more fun. Join a select group of avid gay travellers basking in the sunshine and beaches of Gallipoli, Puglia. Italy Gay Summer Party 2018 is a 3-day event packed with fun, sun, laughs and Prosecco, obviously! Held in the heart of Salento, the Southeastern-most tip of Italy, in the so-called Italian Ibiza, Gallipoli. Amazing food, Caribbean like sandy beaches, hot boys and friendly locals: what else do you need? Have a look at the full program of the event and book your event pass now! www.italygaytravels.com

Our international media partner, FNQ Magazine, www.fnqmagazine.com Cairns gay lifestyle and travel publication that gives Australia and the world a taste of gay life in the tropics, sponsors the International Calendar. www.go2gaycairns.com

AUGUST 2018 47

PHOTO REWIND PSIFF SHORTFEST GayLA PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

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PHOTO REWIND PSIFF SHORTFEST GayLA PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

AUGUST 2018 49

PHOTO REWIND TCC STONEWALL HUMANITARIAN AWARDS PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

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PHOTO REWIND TCC STONEWALL HUMANITARIAN AWARDS PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE

AUGUST 2018 51

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Discover Hawaii on this island-hopping cruise tour. Spend 7 nights aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s renovated Pride of America and enjoy freestyle cruising at its finest. Experience Lahaina, the historic whaling village with a near-daily “5 o’clock rainbow”, Kona’s coffee-rich “Gold Coast,” and Kauai’s spectacular landscape. Your land tour includes a Pearl Harbor and Honolulu Tour, and time to relax on world-famous Waikiki Beach.

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A Free Pride Festival located in downtown Palm Springs.

PRIDE WEEK November 1-4, 2018

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