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By Gerard Passaro Alexander Ananasso brings his signature blend of soulful intensity and Italian charm to the role of Marco in the eagerly awaited queer romance film, Sex Love Venice. The Rome-born out actor delivers a spellbinding performance as the charismatic Venetian who guides Michael, a man jaded by hookup culture, toward rediscovering intimacy and love. Set against Venice’s enchanting canals and iconic architecture, the film explores themes of desire, patience, and sel

By Bill Malcolm Golden Gate Bridge Francisco, the city by the Bay. The homeless situation has improved, they have a new mayor, and it is the city of the future. Employees of high tech companies now live in “the City” and take premium buses to their jobs on the Peninsula. Rents are sky high. The drought is over. And there’s so much to do. You may not leave your heart in SF, but if you follow my tips, you won’t leave your wallet there either. GETTING THERE I took Southwest thro

By Gregg Shapiro Photo By Nick Spanos The year has just begun, but 2025 is turning out to be a fantastic one for queer multi-hyphenate Margaret Cho. In January, Cho appeared on “Celebrity Jeopardy” where she left fellow contestants Rachel Brosnahan and Seth Green in her dust, winning more than $50k for her charity of choice, Friendly House, and advanced to the semi-finals level of competition. Her successful Live and Livid comedy concert tour, now in its second year, has a se

By Gregg Shapiro Has there ever been a musical genre more deserving of a glorious coffee table book than disco? In his new book “Disco: Music, Movies, and Mania Under the Disco Ball” (Rizzoli, 2024), gay writer Frank DeCaro answers that question with this stunning portrait of the cultural phenomenon that was central to lives of so many, including the LGBTQ community. DeCaro deftly explores disco’s influence which still resonates strongly today. Covering every imaginable aspec

For 87 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 9, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This event celebrates Wilmot Mountain's dedication to f

Fernando Shines in Exteriors, the captivating LGBTQ film by director Mark Schwab By Paul Hutnick Fernando grew up with dreams of making a difference. While he first aspired to become the U.S. president, his realization that this dream wasn’t possible due to his being born in Costa Rica led him to pursue a different path of influence: acting. After graduating high school, Fernando made his way to Los Angeles, where he quickly landed a role on Disney Channel’s Disney 365. It w

By Gregg Shapiro At 81 years old, all-around music legend Joni Mitchell may be more popular and famous now than at any other point in her long and productive career. Feted and honored at multiple music tributes, returning to the stage for limited live performances, showered with glowing praise from a plethora of sources and the subject of an abundance of new books, including “Song So Wild and Blue” (Harper One, 2025) by gay writer Paul Lisicky. Subtitled “A Life with the Musi

(Your WeHo Car Free, Care Free Weekend) By Bill Malcolm I recently visited Southern California and had a fun time. The weather is always good, but the winter is the best coming from cloudy and cold climates like mine. I flew nonstop into LAX and survived without a rental car. It’s a lot more relaxing. I stayed at the Ramada Plaza in West Hollywood (and the Renaissance LAX and the Anaheim Marriott). All three were excellent and affordable – increasingly important in this expen

A Jingle for Singles Spending the Holidays Alone Country music crooner Brian Falduto is bringing a fresh and uplifting perspective to holiday music this season with his first original jingle, “Christmas Solo.” This playful, country-pop tune shines a spotlight on those who find themselves alone during the holidays, reframing solo time as an opportunity for self-love and celebration. Inspired by his own single years, Falduto wrote “Christmas Solo” as a remedy to the seasonal bl

By Gregg Shapiro Dehd and Friko Photo By Pooneh-Ghana Compared to other big cities, Chicago arrived late to the punk rock scene, but when it did, it was first embraced in gay bars such The Greenleaf (which later became Oz) and La Mere Vipere. It was in these venues that bands such as the Effigies and Verböten first got their starts. Praised by the late, great musician and audio engineer Steve Albini, the Effigies return with “Burned” (BFD), the band’s first new album in 17 ye

By Tim Blakenship Once again, Mike Ruiz is combining his love for human and animal beauty with a calendar that’s as compassionate as it is captivating. Mutts and Muscles features an array of top fitness icons alongside 14 irresistibly adorable rescue dogs, presenting images that are both heartwarming and inspiring. Gracing the cover of this year’s calendar is fitness legend Sergi Constance, known for his chiseled physique, social media influence, and his role as Zeus in Zack

By Gregg Shapiro I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing comedy legend Kathy Griffin a few times over the years, but I think our December 2024 interview might be my favorite. Griffin, the very definition of a survivor (much like her dear friend and mentor Joan Rivers), is in the midst of one of the most impressive returns in the history of modern comedy. Her admirably indomitable spirit has allowed her to survive multiple losses (including her beloved mother Maggie), a sec

By Bill Malcom Photo Courtesy of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and the Gordie Howe International Bridge project The rebound of the Motor City continues unabated. The once downtrodden area has transformed itself. A vibrant downtown, a stunning new bridge to Canada, a new food hall in Midtown Detroit, a new hotel in Cork Town, and fun suburbs like Ferndale, Clawson, and Royal Oak are full of things to do. WHAT TO DO Run or walk with Frontrunners on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Th

By Tim Blankenship Born in the industrial UK city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, Smashby’s journey as a music artist has been shaped by the challenges he faced growing up queer in a conservative environment. While bullying was tough in Bradford, things didn't improve much when his family moved to the Yorkshire Dales countryside. Despite the struggles, Smashby found solace in the support of his mother, who he describes as more like a big sister, and his grandparents, who have be

By Gregg Shapiro It must be a testament to the commitment of the members of the B-52s that each of its remaining long-term members, Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, and Cindy Wilson, have 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?). D

By Gregg Shapiro When I did the tally, I realized that, including this one, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Cyndi Lauper nine times since 1997. Of course, that doesn’t match the number of times I’ve been fortunate to see her perform live – that would be 12, beginning in 1984. And now, as I prepare to see her for a 13th time, it’s with a touch of sadness as Lauper is embarking on her farewell tour. One of the best friends the LGBTQ+ community has ever had, Lauper’s multi

By Jamie Booth The Miss International Queen pageant celebrates the beauty and tenacity of transgender women with contestants showcasing their stories of transformation, resilience, and incredible talent. Kataluna Enriquez is the reigning Miss International Queen – USA. She made history in 2021 when she became the first openly transgender woman to win the Miss Nevada USA pageant, ultimately competing in Miss USA. She recently competed in the Miss International Queen pageant in

By Gregg Shapiro I’m just going to say this, James Magruder is the funniest person alive, and he’s not even a stand-up comic. It’s something I learned about him when we first met, and it’s something that comes through in his writing, be it his fiction or his plays. You’ll get a sense of it when you read this interview with him where we discuss his new book “The Play’s The Thing” (Yale University Press, 2024). Subtitled “Fifty Years of Yale Repertory Theatre (1966-2016),” it’s

By Gregg Shapiro A new album by a band you love, especially one that takes its time between releases is cause for celebration. For me, that celebration takes on special meaning when it comes to BETTY, an all-female trio I have been following since the mid-1980s, during the band’s early years. Since that time, BETTY has amassed a sizeable following via its connection to “The L Word,” performing on the HBO/CTW series “Encyclopedia,” appearing in an original off-Broadway musical