By Frank Doll Crush Daddy is a commanding presence wherever he goes. This month, he steps into a new role as one of KinkMen.com’s dominant tops where he exudes the confidence of someone who has spent years mastering both body and mind. A former basketball player, Crush brings disciplined athleticism to his performances. Sports once defined his world, and that foundation, later refined through years as a personal trainer focused on physique as much as performance, now fuels hi

By Gregg Shapiro Gay singer/songwriter Mike Maimone has a soul-crushing story to tell. What better way to do it than in song? Maimone and the late, legendary, gay public relations whiz Howard Bragman, who was renowned for his crisis management skills, met in 2022. The pair began a whirlwind, long-distance relationship, marrying in early 2023, shortly before Bragman died of acute myeloid leukemia. Maimone’s two most recent albums, 2023’s “Mookie’s Big Gay Mixtape,” and his lat

For 88 seasons, Wilmot Mountain located in Wilmot Wisconsin has been the heart of the heartland, the warm hug on a cold day, the place for thousands to play, ski, learn, and tube and toast each other of a hot toddy and relax over a warm fire. Wilmot Mountain offers 22 lanes of tubing, each lane over 1,000 ft long. This year Wilmot Mountain will host a Pride & Ski Day on Sunday, February 8, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This specal event celebrates Wilmot Mountain's dedicati

By Bill Malcom Put Madison, Wisconsin on your radar for a fun winter weekend getaway. Situated between two lakes, it is the one of only two cities on an isthmus. And it has become a foodie’s heaven with lots of new restaurants around the Capitol Square downtown. GETTING THERE The Amtrak train runs six round trips daily, makes three stops and goes ninety mph. And has new cars to boot. WHAT TO DO I took a tour of the beautiful and historic Wisconsin State Capitol. The walls are

By Kevin Wirth For On Mekahel, A Hoe-y Christmas is more than just a collection of songs. It’s a celebration of queer joy and chosen family. “I grew up in Israel, where we didn’t celebrate Christmas,” he explains. “But I always loved the decorations and the lights. When I met my husband, Christmas became part of my life, too. Our first Christmas together was one of the most magical moments of my life, and I wanted to share that warmth with all of my fans this holiday season.”

By Gregg Shapiro Sometimes the arrival of a movie into our lives is so perfect, it feels like a wish coming true. Such is the case with queer filmmaker Julie Jackman’s “100 Nights of Hero” (IFC). A fantastical romance with potent queer and feminist messages, the movie is as entertaining as it is enlightening, equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. The primary cast, including Emma Corrin as the titular Hero, along with Maika Monroe and Nicholas Galitzine (who has more than fe

By Gregg Shapiro Photo By Greg Gorman When it comes to iconic Christmas scenes in movies, none can top the tree-toppling tantrum thrown by cha-cha heels-deprived Dawn Davenport in John Waters’ fifth full length feature “Female Trouble” from 1974. Therefore, it’s not all that surprising that Waters continues to make art out of Christmas, performing his spoken word Christmas tour in cities across the country. Waters has even more reason to celebrate with the release of his new

By Bill Malcolm The Pacific Northwest never fails to amaze. And this trip was no exception. I saw two pods of Orca whales on the ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle. The boat cut power to seven knots while we watched the whales. And “the mountains were out” during my visit meaning I saw Mount Rainier (14,000-plus feet), the Olympics, and the Cascade Ranges plus Mount Baker to the north on a visit to the Space Needle. Next door at the Seattle Center, they were celebrating

By Shane Gallagher Photo By Christian Geisnaes Sauna, the highly anticipated debut feature from director Mathias Broe, makes history this month as the first Danish film to cast a transgender actor in a leading trans role. Adapted from the acclaimed book by writer and activist Mads Ananda Lodahl, the film offers an intimate reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, exploring themes of love, belonging, and identity within Copenhagen’s queer community. At its heart is the story of Johan,

By Bill Malcolm I was in Palm Springs for the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Global Convention. More than 750 attendees from 32 countries attended – a new record. And this is despite the drop in large corporate sponsorship support (as has also been seen at Pride events). A highlight was the IGLTA Foundation fundraiser at the Dinah Shore estate (owned by Leonardo Di Caprio). It sleeps 16 and has six bathrooms and can be yours for around $5,000 a night. WHAT TO DO See

By Gregg Shapiro Gay country music legend Ty Herndon, who came out publicly in 2014, has plenty of reasons to celebrate. He’s been happily married to his husband, Alex Schwartz, since 2023. His forthcoming memoir, “What Mattered Most,” is being published by Harper Collins in March 2026. Herndon is also celebrating his 30th year as a country musican artist by releasing “Thirty: Volume 1” (Club 44/The Orchard), an eight song album on which he revisits songs from his career with

By Gregg Shapiro Photo By Dirty Sugar Photography Not to brag, but we gays do many things incredibly well, including music and comedy. Few gays do both as fabulously as Randy Rainbow. Since the 2016 presidential campaign, and subsequent years, Rainbow amassed a tremendous following via his YouTube videos, with views in the millions, many of which addressed the political situation in the U.S. Not one to rest on his laurels, Rainbow has continued to create content that provides

By Gregg Shapiro Rachael Yamagata and Keren Ann (Zeidel) have more in common than just being singer/songwriters at the back end of the alphabet. They are both gifted artists who put in time on major labels in the early 2000s and have continued to put out music independently. If you lived in Chicago (and possibly elsewhere) during the late 1990s, you probably came across the psychedelic funk of Bumpus, a band that featured Rachael Yamagata as a member and cosongwriter. Her d

By Shane Gallagher Photo By Bob of Finland Justin Jedlica, widely recognized as the “Human Ken Doll” for his pioneering work in body modification, is one of the bold personalities featured in Reflections, filmmaker Michael Hyman’s daring new video series that turns the camera—and the mirror—on identity, beauty, and self-worth. Shot on 16mm film and inspired by Andy Warhol’s iconic 1960s Screen Tests, the sixteen shorts challenge participants representing a diverse cross-secti

By Gregg Shapiro “Plainclothes” (Magnolia), the directorial debut by queer filmmaker and screenwriter Carmen Emmi, is not as simple as the title might suggest. There is also a double-meaning at play as neither of the main characters –Lucas ( Tom Blyth ) and Andrew (out actor Russell Tovey ) – is dressed in their respective “uniforms” when they first meet. Already “certified fresh” on rottentomatoes.com, “Plainclothes” features such stellar performances by Tovey and Blyth, tha

Photo By Eric Magnussen Is it possible for a building to have a soul? For a theater to be a muse? What if every precious brick, every carved cornice, and every hand painted decoration held the echoes of the craftsmen who lovingly held them? What if the building itself soaked in the laughter and joy of crowds, shouldering the weight of epic talents, spanning a myriad of musical genres, to become a grand golden inspirational spirit of music itself? Of course we’re talking about

By Bill Malcolm I visited Boston not once but twice on back to back trips for work recently. Boston is a walker's paradise full of stories about the founding of our country. It’s a vibrant city with many universities, topnotch transit, interesting unique neighborhoods, and part of the entire New England charm. I stayed in the Seaport District which is close to South Boston and filled with new walking trails, beaches, parks, restaurants, and hotels. It reminded me of my former

By Gregg Shapiro It’s likely a testament to the commitment of the members of th B-52s that each of its remaining long-term members; Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, and Cindy Wilson, has only released two albums apiece under their own names over the course of the band’s 45-year recording career. Pierson’s latest album, “Radio & Rainbows” (Long Meadow Music/Crush Music/SongVest Records), arrives 9½ years after 2015’s “Guitars and Microphones” (anyone else see a pattern here?). De

By Gregg Shapiro Photo By Sean Black Even though it’s been 10 years between Andy Bell solo albums (if you don’t count Bell’s “Torsten” side projects), the gay music icon hasn’t exactly been sitting idly by. As one half of Erasure, Bell (and Vince Clarke) released about a half dozen studio albums. But now Bell is back with the fabulous “Ten Crowns” (Crown Recordings Limited). Glittering with Bell’s trademark vocals and enough dance beats to take you on the “galactic journey” h

My Grandma Judy and Grandpa Dave lived in a big brick house on top of Cherry Hill Lane. I always loved the name of their street. Cherry...