Tabla de contenidos para February - March 2018 en The Advocate

AS A JOURNALIST, I’M LUCKY. Sure, 2017 was another tough year to be in the media, since the public’s trust in us is low and strangely divided by partisanship. The most powerful man in the country brands journalists “fakes” and “liars,” and many people don’t realize how hard it is to do what we do. But, after the great magazine die-off of the 2000s, I know I’m lucky to be here, still talking to you. I’ll also never take for granted the great opportunities we get from being journalists—whether it’s access to information or being able to occasionally hob-nob with people the world admires (whom we get to think of as colleagues and friends). No experience, though, has had a greater impact on me, and many of the staffers at…

The sequins were sparkling, the music was pumping, and the models were strutting down the catwalk. Trans style was in full effect this winter at the Annual GARRAS Fashion Show, the “show that transcends borders” in downtown Los Angeles. (GARRAS stands for Groundbreaking Activism Redirecting and Reforming All Systems), which makes sense as the show is an annual event put on by the TransLatina Coalition, a national organization advocating for specific needs of transgender Latinas (many of whom are immigrants without paperwork). The event raises funds for the group’s leadership, wellness, and drop-in programs (including daily food distribution and supporting survivors of immigration detention with rental assistance, transportation, and food). In addition, says Salcedo, the fashion show aims to highlight trans and gender-nonconforming people as high-fashion models and increase visibility…

SINGER-SONGWRITER NIKOLE POTULSKY says her two kids (8-year-old Violet and 10-year-old Oskar) are a constant source of inspiration—and often when she least expects it. On the heels of her debut album, You Want to Know About Me, the country and blues musician recalls a life-changing conversation she had with her son. After a particularly long and exhausting day, Oskar asked his single mom if she had always known she wanted to be a singer. “I was frozen in place and didn’t know how to answer,” says Potulsky, who at the time was working a regular job and only singing as a hobby. She answered him honestly and told him, “Yes,” to which he replied, “You must be so proud of yourself—all of your dreams came true!” Potulsky admits she was…

We’ve been hearing for years now about the importance of doing pelvic floor exercises (aka: Kegel excercises), but many of us still have questions. That’s why we were thrilled when we got the chance to ask Tania Boler, women’s health expert and cofounder of Elvie, a pelvic floor exercise tool and app, some of our most burning Kegeling questions. (Men and trans people can benefit from doing. Kegels, too, but you need a vag for this app.) So, do pelvic floor exercises actually “tighten” your vagina? Your pelvic floor muscles are like any other muscles in your body. They can grow in size and need to be strong, as well as be able to flex and contract. The vagina itself doesn’t actually get “tighter” or smaller, but Kegel exercises do…

BLACK QUEER KIDS growing up in southwest Atlanta, like in many other places, see ourselves as alone. Much later, after we survive childhood, we learn about the army outside the gates: How they were there all along fighting for us to be free. But how can we know that we stand on the shoulders of giants when black queer memory is erased by racist institutions? This does irreparable harm not only to our communities, our movements, but to our very psyches. Atlanta has long been a place—dare I say a spiritual place—for black LGBT artists, activists, and freethinkers. That is a story that desperately needs to be told. Yet, alongside this tradition of black LGBT warriors are also our allies, imperfect though they may be. One ally in particular stands…

We were delighted to discover the latest tome from famed celebrity photographer John Russo (pictured abvove): 100 Making a Difference is an amazing coffee table book highlighting a diverse group of activists, advocates, and entertainers—including many out stars like Elton John and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (along with his partner Justin Mikita), as well as LGBT leaders with less familiar names (like poet Steven Reigns, who is an HIV and LGBT activist). All the folks in Russo’s book are actively using their platforms to make the world a better place. The beautiful black and white portraits shot by Russo are accompanied by essays penned by CNN human rights correspondent Elizabeth Chambers. Gay photographer Russo (who photographed Gus Kenworthy on page 61) has shot some of the biggest celebrities in the world,…

Last fall proved to be a life-altering time for Dan Amboyer, star of TV Land’s Younger. Not only did he marry his boyfriend of 10 years, Eric Berger, but he also came out publicly as gay. Talk about not wasting time! The announcement was covered by media outlets around the world, but before Amboyer and Berger were able to read kind messages, they were off on their honeymoon—“I’ll get to my inbox when I’m back,” Amboyer remembers saying. “It would have been exciting and inspiring as a kid to read about other people like me—and how life could change, how bad situations can grow, and [how] eventually you’ll find happiness,” he reflects. “I came out to my family when I was 13. I was a very young kid, a vulnerable…

Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz are making history as the first out gay couple (and heroes to boot) on Star Trek: Discovery, but the Star Trek canon has had many history makers. 1. The original 1960s-era series was among the first shows to have a multicultural cast, including African-American Nichelle Nichols (as Lt. Nyota Uhura), Japanese-American George Takei (as Lt. Hikaru Sulu), Leonard Nimoy (playing the mixed-race Vulcan Spock), and the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Walter Koenig (as Ensign Pavel Checkov). 2. As the Civil Rights movement marched forward, it was Martin Luther King Jr. (a big fan of the show) who convinced Nichols to stay on the series to show other black Americans what was possible for the future. 3. When Lt. Uhura and Capt. Kirk kissed on…

As a born and raised Houstonian, I’m well aware of the city’s motto: “Houston Strong.” The fastest growing city in the United States (according to the 2016 census) has a culture that bonds its inhabitants like superglue. We’re stronger together. When hurricane Harvey hit the U.S. last August, causing over $180 billion in damage—making it the second most expensive disaster in American history, behind Katrina—it impacted 13 million people across the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In its wake, Houston natives banded together to help their neighbors. Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt raised almost $40 million with his foundation, while Mayor Sylvester Turner’s relief fund has collected more than $100 million from around the world, which it distributed to help with food, housing, education, clothing, home…

In the two months between October 8th and December 9th last year, California was hit with approximately 270 wildfires, which burned more than 250,000 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Dozens died and nearly 10,000 buildings were destroyed, and the hardest hit city was Santa Rosa. One of Sonoma County’s most LGBTfriendly destinations, Santa Rosa lost a lot of homes and businesses—and residents. Just as Santa Rosa (and nearby cities in California’s wine country—Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties) faced disaster, the ambitious remodel of a 1963 motor lodge in Santa Rosa, The Astro motel came to life. Founded by chef Liza Hinman and the team behind her much beloved Sonoma County restaurant, The Spinster Sisters, The Astro was a blight for decades until the recent…

I’d never considered myself much of a cruise person, having only been on one of the massive ships before this year. That experience had put me off cruising completely: the crowds, the buffet lines—the sheer mediocrity of it all. I swore never to return. That all changed this year, when I took five nearly back-to-back cruises: from high-end luxury to expedition style, and ending with a gay cruise. Suddenly I’m addicted. To the Ends of the Earth This year, I checked off two bucket list locations I wanted to visit before climate change irreparably altered them: the Arctic and the Antarctic. The best way to get near Earth’s poles? Taking expedition-style cruises. Starting at the top of the world, Adventure Canada ’s expedition-style cruise to Greenland and the northern territories…

CALLAN CHYTHLOOK-SIFSOF, USA, SNOWBOARDING ADAM RIPPON, USA, FIGURE SKATING JOHN EPPING, CANADA, CURLING JOHN FENNELL, CANADA, LUGE JAYNA HEFFORD, CANADA, HOCKEY ERIC RADFORD, CANADA, FIGURE SKATING (PAIRS) DANIELA IRASCHKO-STOLZ, AUSTRIA, SKI JUMPING BELLE BROCKHOFF, AUSTRALIA, SNOWBOARDING CHERYL MAAS, NETHERLANDS, SNOWBOARDING IREEN WÜST, NETHERLANDS, SPEED SKATING LUIS FENERO, SPAIN, ICE DANCING BARBARA JEZERSEK, SLOVENIA, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING…

A Serial Killer Revisited The second season of the Ryan Murphy-created FX true crime series, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, (@ACSFX) explores the murder of designer Gianni Versace (played by Edgar Ramirez) by gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan (Glee’s Darren Criss). Ricky Martin and Penelope Cruz co-star—playing Antonio D’Amico, Versace’s long-term lover, and Donatella Versace, the sister of the fashion mogul who took over the empire after Versace’s untimely death. You can also get the excellent book it’s based on, Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U. S. History, byVanity Fairspecial correspondent Mauren Orth. (@Maureen_Orth) The Perfect Field Guide Looking for fun but practical Valentine’s Day gifts is easy with Elum Designs. For the master femme in your life, try The…

Certainly 2017 proved to be one of the world’s worst in terms of natural disasters—particularly those hitting top travel destinations—from the fires that roared through California (beginning with wine country all the way to San Diego) to the multiple earthquakes that rocked Mexico, and the numerous hurricanes that devastated portions of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean. The destruction and loss was heartbreaking. In some areas, many of the people impacted most—due to both chronic inequity and discriminatory relief efforts—were LGBT. With plentiful resources, and a self-serving interest in the recovery of these destinations, what role should the travel industry play in helping locals, and specifically local LGBT communities, through these types of crises? And what role should those of us who’ve traveled to these places play? “When it…

42% of men who have eating disorders identify as gay. GAY MEN are seven times more likely to report binging and 12 times more likely to report purging than straight men. GAY MEN are disproportionately likely to have body image issues and eating disorder behavior. LGBT people between the ages of 10 and 24 are four times more likely to commit suicide than their straight peers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TRANS college students are five times more likely to develop an eating disorder than their cisgender peers. LGBT communities have been impacted by the rise of trends such as extremely healthy and clean eating, which can lead to orthorexia, as well as an obsession with fitness and compulsive exercising. Source: National Eating Disorders Association GETTING…

In today’s politicizing climate, representation tends to be a virtue. Standing up as yourself, for yourself, and with yourself, in essence, evokes a response from others to do the same. The conundrum is that it never comes without a wave of controversy. One of the biggest alt-rock bands in the Middle East is Mashrou’ Leila (“Project Night” in Lebanese), and its frontman, Hamed Sinno, is unapologetically queer. Given that all of the band’s songs are sung in Arabic, the Lebanese band—with its anti-homophobia, pro-feminism messaging—is riding a deep wave towards freer speech while challenging social norms and traditions in the East. Their early works targeted homophobia and male predators, and questioned the social pressure for people to marry within their own religion. And in the 10 years since they formed,…

Of writer, director, actor, and comedian D’Lo’s many talents, one seems to be the ability to turn pain into laughter—which in turn, heals. “I think there’s so many ways to tell a powerful story,” says the queer, transgender, Tamil-Sri Lankan-American performer. “But comedy for me is the medicine…. the way that you crush a pill inside some orange juice to give it to a kid. It’s that same thing, it’s that conduit for the medicine.” “I believe it is a sacred art form,” he adds. “I think that if you can laugh about something, it shows you have graduated from the pain.” D’Lo feels he may have inherited some of his comedic chops from his funny father, and explains that being clever and witty in the Sri Lankan community “is…

at the end of the fifth episode of Star Trek: Discovery, Lt. Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) stand side by side at a sink, brushing their teeth in matching red Star Fleet pajamas. It’s a quiet scene at the end of an action-packed episode of the new sci-fi drama on CBS: All Access (the network’s new streaming service), in which an escape from a Klingon attack turns on an act of heroism from Lt. Stamets. His decision to take the place of a possibly sentient being to power the ship’s spore drive not only saves the being, but also every crew member aboard. Heroism aside, it is the simple toothbrush scene that will be remembered for making Star Trek history. For the first time since the…

Watching images of the devastation wrought this past hurricane season, it was hard not to wonder if paradise had literally been lost. When the tons of debris that choked bays and piled on beaches was all cleared away, would it leave behind the sparkling sands and stunning aquamarine waters that had previously drawn travelers from across the globe? Judy Dlugacz, owner of Olivia Travel, known for its lesbian cruises, was also watching those images with a sinking feeling. “For 25 years or more—actually, since 1990—we’ve been going to the Caribbean… we’re very intimately connected, as are many of our cruise passengers. So, on a very personal level it was upsetting.” Fortunately, there’s good news. As Holland America reported in November, “Across the Caribbean, 43 of the region’s estimated 48 ports…

They have a motto in Key West: “One Human Family.” Coined by James Thompson—an HIV-positive activist, organizer, and designer—it represents Key West, the tiny island best known for its queer inclusiveness. “Inclusiveness is part of our heritage,” one tour guide told me when I visited last August. Its embrace of diversity and willingness to set itself apart from the Florida mainland goes back to its origins as a haven for an eclectic blend of Native Americans, Spanish, freed slaves, seafarers (including pirates), queers, and creatives. The island known as the “southernmost point in the continental U.S.” sided with the North during the Civil War and later served as home to famous writers like Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, and Judy Blume. The charm Key West offers is so unlike other Florida…

Finding good Mexican cuisine in Mexico City isn’t hard to do, but narrowing it down to the best of the best, with so many options, can be challenging. Whether it’s super traditional recipes that taste like they came from abuela’s kitchen, or fine dining that has transformed time-honored techniques and ingredients to create delectable new dishes—the city that locals still call “Distrito Federal” (despite it being officially renamed Ciudad de México) offers an inconceivable spectrum of options. We’ve narrowed it down to two must-not-miss restaurants to try while in Mexico’s mega capital city. El Pozole de Moctezuma Don’t let the amateur photos on the website dissuade you from trying their pozole, a traditional Mexican stew made with hominy and pork or chicken, and seasoned with cabbage, chili peppers, onion, garlic,…

FRESH off a three-week stint in Switzerland practicing withTeam USA, Gus Kenworthy feels pumped. The freestyle skier just landed a new trick in the half pipe, a right-side double cork 1440 where he inverts and does four full rotations in the air. If he completes the stunt in PyeongChang, South Korea, this February, it could win him a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, but only if he brings focus and intensity before the judges and makes these superhuman feats look effortless while completing the run of his career. That would be challenging enough, but the freeskier also heads to South Korea as the first out gay man competing in an extreme sport, and he’s now doing it on athletics’s greatest international stage. He will stare down a…