By Rick Karlin On a beautiful fall day, with the summer heat finally behind you, the last thing you are thinking of is escaping to the middle of the desert where it’s currently 112°, but trust me, come February, when those cold winds start freezing those nether regions, you’ll be thinking differently. Start planning now to get the best prices (and availability) in Palm Springs most popular resorts. There are so many facets to Palm Springs you could visit it a dozen time

By Paul Hutnick Adult film star Carter Collins may look like the guy-next-door jock type, but there's a naughty side to him that he is exploring in his latest films on KinkMen.com . The young stud with the captivating smile and devilish twinkle in his eyes grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago near Lake Michigan. His was a typical childhood with two parents who are still happily together, three siblings (one brother and two sisters) and lots of time spent battling for su

By Gregg Shapiro When it comes to comedy, everyone has their own ideas about what is or isn’t funny. Things that make you laugh might have the opposite effect on someone else. In the ongoing evolution of stand-up comedy, the presence of LGBTQ+ comics continues to increase at a fast pace. While lesbian comedians have long dominated, gay male comics are making their presence felt, with Matteo Lane being, far and away, the best. Lane, who combines Midwestern and European influen

By Shane Gallagher "Do I Have Your Attention" is more than just an infectious dance track; it’s a declaration of unapologetic confidence. Inspired by the artist’s own experiences with social media and the way it often favors superficiality over substance, the song taps into feelings of being overlooked. “I remember feeling so frustrated that my half-naked picture was gaining more attention than my music,” CERANDA, who is opening for Katy Perry this Fall, recalls. “This song i

By Gregg Shapiro What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of gay singer/songwriter turned fashion designer Steve Grand? Some folks will undoubtedly answer his breakout hit single, “All American Boy,” and the accompanying video. Both were significant in that the song was an unabashedly queer country tune with visuals to match. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Grand was model-handsome and had a flawless body on display. So far, we have his singing voice, songwriti

By Gregg Shapiro Young adult (aka Y/A) fiction has come a long way since many of us were, well, young adults. I’m not just talking about maniacal TERF J.K. Rowling’s inexplicably popular fantasy novel series either. The presence and representation of queer characters in books, including Alice Oseman’s “Heartstopper” series, is central and necessary. This is something of which gay journalist and Lambda Literary Award-winning novelist Jim Provenzano is keenly aware in his debut

By Rick Karlin We all know the Florida we’ve seen on TV and in the movies. From Tampa to Orlando to Fort Lauderdale, Miami to Key West, it’s non-stop partying. Everything’s fabulous: drag queens rolling around in the streets, glitter falling from the ceiling, disco balls spinning, strobe lights flashing, “Yaaaaasss Queeeeeeen!” It’s exhausting. Next time you plan a trip to Florida, add a couple of extra days to your trip and schedule a few days at the Parkway Motel & Marina o

By Gregg Shapiro For the longest time, queer country and folk music fans didn’t have much good music by queer artists from which to choose. Sure, country music provided them with plenty of divas, including Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, to worship. Willie Nelson was the closest thing to a leftie as could be found in the genre. Whereas folk music was a bit more welcoming to both queer followers and performers. Much has changed with more country artists coming out, from Lavend

PrettiBoiRoq Takes Fans on a Wild Spin in New Single, “In My Ride” By Jamie Booth After the success of “Bad Bitch Alert”, his single with trans rapper Chanel Jole, PrettiBoiRoq is gearing up to show a different side of his music and aesthetic. “I’m out to prove that I have more to say than ‘shake your ass and f*ck’,” he says. His latest track, “In My Ride”, is lighthearted, pop-oriented fun. “I don’t feel like we have enough representation of love in gay hip hop,” he continue

By Bill Malcolm GETTING THERE I took Delta through Minneapolis (MSP). Delta now offers free internet to SkyMiles members on most flights. However, don’t buy anything at MSP as they tack on an annoying 4.5 percent “hospitality fee” (a junk fee, a rip off charge). On the way home, I changed planes in Detroit, a much better choice with no surprise fees. Try the salmon at the Zingerman’s (Ann Arbor’s premiere deli) at the airport. Once in Madison, you can walk everywhere or take

ByChristopher Fragnito Pandora Boxx’s new dance album is her most personal work ever. Boxx is fun and quirky, with songs like ‘Pill’, a rock track that depicts some of her real-life struggles; ‘Stars’, her tribute to Star Trek; and ‘Raspberries’, Pandora’s ode to Carol Channing that marks her farewell to the impersonation she famously performed on RuPaul'sDrag Race . The album’s first release is “Dance”, a song Pandora wrote for her younger self who was mercilessly picked on

By Frank Doll On Mekahel is an entertainment powerhouse. He is a model, actor, fashion designer and social media influencer with nearly three million followers. He is best known for starring on the reality show, Putting On, a series that ran for two seasons on Revry TV. It followed the ups and downs of his personal and business life, with viewers watching as the underwear model built his Mounderwear fashion empire from the ground up. Mounderwear continues to thrive today with

By Gregg Shapiro It can be difficult to keep track of all the things for which we owe a debt of gratitude to Bette Midler. Close to the top of the list is when, in the early 1970s, Midler made Melissa Manchester one of her back-up singers, known affectionately as the Harlettes. For many LGBTQ+ folks, it was an introduction to a performer, and lifetime friend of the community, who would go on to have a chart topping career as a singer and songwriter in her own right. For “Re:V

By Gregg Shapiro A new Pet Shop Boys studio album is always cause for celebration, especially because it’s been four years since the last one was released. In the interim, PSB released the extraordinary (and aptly titled) “Smash” 2023 box set, easily the duo’s most complete hits compilation. On the just-released 10-song vinyl LP “Nonetheless” (Warner/Parlophone), Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe get us on our feet and dancing with opener “Loneliness,” “Feel,” and “Bullet for Narci

Fortune Feimster & Jax Smith Named Grand Marshals PRIDEChicago, the all-volunteer organization behind the iconic Chicago Pride Parade for over 50 years, has announced the selection of comedienne, Fortune Feimster and her wife Jax Smith as Grand Marshals for the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30th starting at 11 a.m. Fortune Feimster, a beloved stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, along with her wife Jax, will lead the procession, bringing their infectious energy a

SUNDAY JUNE 30, 11A.M. Parade Starts at: Broadway & Sheridan. LINE UP: North & South Side of Sheridan from Sheffield to Du Sable Lake Shore Drive. East & West Side of Broadway from Irving Parek to Grace. Clarendon East West Side Cuyler to Broadway.East West Side Fremont to Sheridan. ROUTE: Proceeds south on Broadway; then south on Halsted; then east on Belmont; then south on Broadway; then east on Diversey to Cannon Drive. CONTENT & DESCRIPTION: The parade will feature 150

An interview with Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls By Gregg Shapiro The Indigo Girls – Emily Saliers and Amy Ray – are having a moment. Since the release of Greta Gerwig’s“Barbie” movie in the summer of 2023, in which the queer duo’s“Closer To Fine” was heard repeatedly, to today, when they are prominently featured in Tom Gustafson’s “Glitter & Doom” and Alexandria Bombach’s doc “Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All,” Indigo Girls are hotter than ever. That’s just the half of

Pride Journey: Las Vegas By Joey Amato Las Vegas, known for its vibrant and inclusive atmosphere, embraces LGBTQ culture with open arms, making it a thriving hub for the community. Iconic events like the annual Las Vegas Pride Parade and Festival bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity and unity. Las Vegas Pride is typically in early October, so start planning now. The city's commitment to inclusivity is reflected in the diverse range of LGBTQ-frie

By Gregg Shapiro The title of Jim Fielding’s memoir, “All Pride, No Ego: A Queer Executive’s Journey to Living and Leading Authentically” (Wiley, 2023), tells you almost everything you need to know. A queer business leader for more than 30 years, Fielding has worked for some of the most highly recognizable companies in today’s world and is currently the president of Co-Lab at Archer Gray, in addition to being a brand strategist and advisor. However, what sets Fielding’s story

DJ Leo Blanco spins at Furball BY Tom Olah Leo has performed as resident DJ at Privilege (Ibiza) the world ́s biggest venue and played in a big variety of clubs and festivals around the world as The Week (Sao Paulo), We Party (Madrid), GSP (Los Angeles), I:M Party (Seoul),Latin american Pride (Mexico City), Purple Party (Dallas), Destination(Beijing), Score (Miami), Deja-Vu (Sydney), Theatron (Bogota), Formosa Pride (Taipei), Gibus (Paris), Muccassasina (Rome), MEAT (New Yor