Mr. LA Leather Bear 2018 Ben Kaufher is the new Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2018. BY MARK ARIEL Ben Kaufher of Bears LA won the coveted title of Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2018 last month at the Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2018 Contest which took place at The Globe Theater. The runner ups were Spike,…
Sales of sex toys are up. “People are looking for ways to relieve stress.” BY ORLY LYONNE According to Mr. Hankey of mrhankeystoys.com, the recent political upheaval may have been bad for the country but good for sales in the sex industry. “Our sales are up 200% over last year—however I’m not really sure that…
Mr. Bear LA 2018 Art Berkowitz: “I would like to see the LGBTQ community become more inclusive.” BY VICTOR MELAMED | PHOTO BY ROBERT GREEN Art Berkowitz recently won the title of Mr. Bear LA 2018. (His bear brother, Mr. LA Leather Bear 2018 Ben Kaufher became the new Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2018 last month). Winning…
WeHo Reads celebrates National Poetry Month and One City One Pride. BY ORLY LYONNE The City of West Hollywood’s WeHo Arts program presents WeHo Reads, a literary series at the West Hollywood Library. Past authors who have been part of the WeHo Reads series include André Aciman (Call Me By Your Name), Armistead Maupin, Cecil…
Folsom Street Events announces partnership with legendary artist Clive Barker. BY KIAN KAMATAKI Folsom Street Events announced last month that the 2018 Folsom Street Fair and Magnitude posters will feature original images by writer, film director, painter, and photographer, Clive Barker. The images have been selected from the never before seen photographic series titled Imagining…
An interview with queer dominatrix and dungeon owner Mistress Justine Cross. BY ROXIE PERKINS Mistress Justine Cross is a queer professional and lifestyle dominatrix who also owns, runs, and operates Dungeon East and Dungeon West. As a BDSM educator Cross hosts speaking events and educational performances at college campuses including at UCLA’s “BDSM 101” workshop…
Jeff Wilcox, the outgoing Mr. LA Leather 2017, talks about his past year as a titleholder. BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM Originally from a small farm town outside of Sacramento, Jeff Wilcox, 37, the outgoing Mr. LA Leather 2017 came to LA to finish school and wound up staying in the city…
One trans man’s journey in recovery. “All heroes go through turmoil or hell in order to emerge changed on the other side.” BY SIFU MATHEW CARVER | ILLUSTRATION BY ZOHAR LAZAR We are all heroes, though dormant some times. Waiting, many of us, for something or someone to rouse us from our slumber, to give…
YES SIR Fischerspooner’s Casey Spooner on gay sexuality, his relationship with Michael Stipe and the erotic potential of anonymity. BY PAUL V. VITAGLIANO | PHOTO BY JEREMY AYERS New York duo Fischerspooner (musician Warren Fischer and video-artist and theater performer Casey Spooner) emerged on the music scene in 2001 with their debut album #1 and soon became…
Matt “Bearracuda” Consola and Christeene on promoters, dream tour bookings and what makes a “gay family.” BY PAUL V. VITAGLIANO | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM Chances are, if you’ve been out clubbing over the last decade, you’ve stepped through the doors of a packed Bearracuda party. Created by club promoter Matt Consola in San Francisco…
A report on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer hate violence homicides. BY VICTOR MELAMED Fifty-two LGBTQ people were killed last year as a result of hate violence, according to a new report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). The number represents a trend in rising violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender…
Van Hansis (L), Kit Williamson, EastSiders EastSiders’ Kit Williamson and John Halbach on working together and being in a relationship, spending time on the road and sexual health. BY MARK ARIEL Kit Williamson’s acclaimed LGBT series EastSiders has returned for a six-episode third season after two Daytime Emmy nominations and overwhelming crowdfunding support, with special…
Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, aka The Dinah, welcomes Madame Gandhi to its entertainment roster. BY ORLY LYONNE Kiran Gandhi, known by her stage name as Madame Gandhi, is joining the entertainment line-up of the 2018 installment of Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, aka The Dinah. Commemorating its 28th Anniversary March 28 through April 1,…
Derrick Young (L), Jonathan Allen Gay love story goes viral and inspires. BY TIMOTHY RAY, @FREEMAN.JASPER PHOTO BY@MARCUS.MEDLEY (ANDERSON) Finding love is not always easy. Whether searching for lasting romance on a dating app, online, through mutual friends or randomly in person, it can be daunting. For some, finding true love can take nearly a…
Groundbreaking comedian Bob Smith dead at 59. BY ORLY LYONNE Humorist and author Bob Smith, 59, the first openly gay comedian to appear on prominent national TV showcases in 1990s, died last month in New York City after a 12-year battle with amyltrophic lateral sclerosis, reports The Buffalo News. “I knew this was a big…
Martha Wash Martha Wash headlines the International Bear Convergence (IBC) this month in Palm Springs. BY VICTOR MELAMED International Bear Convergence (IBC), the premier event for Bears and admirers in Palm Springs, takes place this month on February 8-12, 2018. This desert oasis opens its arms and welcomes you to the hip Hard Rock Hotel…
An interview with Derek Young, administrative manager at Bad Dragon, a company specializing in custom, handmade fantasy sex toys. BY VICTOR MELAMED In dealing with the LGBTQ community—what are the most common questions you are asked about your products? It may come as a surprise, but questions that the LGBTQ community have regarding are products…
