Table of contents for April/May 2021 in OUT

“The best is always yet to come…” Some of my greatest childhood memories are of listening to Willie Nelson. My grandpa was a major fan of the weed-loving country star. A proud LGBTQ+ ally, Willie could always be heard in the car as we drove long distances to visit family or traveled across the state simply for the joy of it. We would drive with the windows down as the hot Texas sun blanketed our faces. I saw bluebonnets for miles, welcome signs from state to state, and a few armadillos from time to time. Traveling is part of the human experience. For many queer people, it’s a leaping-off point toward self-discovery and a larger understanding of our place in the world. The greatest lessons I’ve learned in life came…

With a personality and talent of a star, gender-nonconforming hairstylist-turned-actor Miss Lawrence was made for a city like Atlanta. A frequent player in Lee Daniels’s projects — including Empire, Star, and more recently, The United States vs. Billie Holiday — Lawrence got their start as the go-to stylist for clients like Kenya Moore, Jennifer Holliday, Ciara, Serena Williams, and Angela Bassett. Now they’re merging both worlds in their upscale boutique salon, Lawrence Washington Salon. “The Black culture and the Black gay culture are both very powerful,” says Lawrence, adding that their fondest memory in the city was “opening my first business at the age of 23. Being a Black, gay, genderfluid individual during that time was a very hard thing to accomplish — and I nailed it. Also, standing on the front lines…

In 2014, Nigeria passed a law providing penalties of up to 14 years in prison for couples that enter into a same-sex union, and up to 10 years for those who support LGBTQ+ clubs and organizations. In seven northern states, queer people can be stoned to death simply because of their identity. Despite these challenges, activist Edafe Okporo continued fighting for gay and bi men to have equal access to health care in Nigeria, which he says made him a target and forced him to leave the country to save his life. When he came to the United States to seek asylum in 2016, he was completely alone. There were no friends or family to call when he was taken to a detention center where he waited for days to…

“You can do the long distance thing as long as you see the finish line…” When Alessandra Antenucci and Nicole Marie Arias Baez first met at New York City’s famed lesbian bar Henrietta’s, neither was particularly gungho about the moment. Antenucci had just recently come out when her friends talked her into going out the day before Halloween 2015. Baez was similarly pulled into a trip to the bar by separate friends. But as the night panned out, the two soon found each other. “The friend that I was there with was hitting on her friend so I was taking her, the third wheel, out of the equation so our friends could talk,” Baez recalls. Little did she know, Antenucci’s friend was actually straight. The attempted diversion showed signs of…

manifestation is key… ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Spring is the birth of a new astrological year and you are the leader of the zodiac pack, queer Aries. April charges your star powers with Mercury and the new moon in your sign, and you are feeling your self-worth. But remember, fiery Aries, being a leader also means listening. How can you use your voice to help others? Mars moves into your fourth house in May, shifting your energy to family matters. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) This spring is a chance for you to get in touch with your femme self as playful Venus transits into your sign on the 15th — rock that flower in your shirt pocket or hair! The universe is on your side this…

Time to get that summer swag! SLIDE ON OUT The new plush foam Love and Summer Pop Ups slides are part of a global collaboration with beloved muralist James Goldcrown and feature his iconic #lovewall heart designs. Bonus: For every pair of this artsy update on the summer classic that’s purchased, Skechers will make a donation to the Petco Foundation to help shelter dogs and cats. ($40) dsw.com ON THE RIGHT TRACK One of the first trackers to be compatible with 4G cellular networks, Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker is discreet, compact, and portable enough to be placed virtually anywhere (like in your car, bike, luggage, or beach bag). It works indoors and out anywhere in the U.S., the battery lasts up to four months, and the companion app can track…

“Living in New York is like living three years in the future,” muses John deBary, author of Drink What You Want: The Subjective Guide to Making Objectively Delicious Cocktails. The founder of the zero proof spirits company Proteau explains that the city is “filled with people from literally every corner of the world and with so many different backstories. New Yorkers are always pushing, so it makes sense that an innovative and somewhat counter-intuitive movement would gain a foothold here.” A gay mixologist who served for five years as the bar director of David Chang’s Momofuku (hailed as the “most important restaurant in America” by Bon Appétit), deBary speaks reverently about the alcohol-free movement within the spirits industry. It was at Momofuku that deBary started getting serious about zero-proof drinks,…

Propaganda has been the perfect tool for every authoritarian or totalitarian regime across the world. For many years, Venezuela has attempted to portray its regime as one under which equality and progress were the rule. Huge amounts of money gained between 2003 and 2012 contributed to this purpose. The government proclaimed across the globe that Venezuela was embarking on a democratic socialist revolution, which nourished the sympathy of socialist and leftist movements worldwide. However, warnings given by local activists about the real nature of the regime were mainly unheard — until it was too late. People are still astonished by the fact that no single LGBTQ+ right has been achieved in my country. Many will say this is untrue, but the fact that more than two-thirds of the Latin American…

“…Black cowboys have existed, they continue to exist, and they always will.” Despite the fact that African-Americans, Native Americans, and Mexicans made up a majority of the cowboys in America before the 20th century, their legacy has largely been whitewashed by the contemporary Americana. Photographer Kennedi Carter’s latest series aims to redress that erasure by documenting the ties between agriculture and horsemanship in Black Southern communities. “Black cowboys have existed, they continue to exist, and they always will. These are their lives at the moment,” Carter explains. “While I was living in Texas as a child, I remember seeing horsemen on the highway from the backseat. Being young, I thought it was so strange, but even today I find cowboys so alluring, their energies feeling so free. I think what…

With nearly 20 years in the hair industry, visionary stylist Derek J knows his stuff. The owner of J Spot Salon in Buckhead, J has proven to be a trendsetter time and time again. Having entered the world of television on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta, he has gone on to be featured in Chris Rock’s documentary Good Hair, Oxygen’s Hair Battle Spectacular, and more. It’s no wonder he’s one of Atlanta’s most beloved residents! “Atlanta is an amazing place for people in the LGBTQ community and especially people of color,” says J. “Atlanta was the first place I was able to see gay Black men during the daytime be themselves. It has been a big part of the cultivation of me; I don’t think I would have had the success that…

In addition to being one of the queerest cities in America, Atlanta hosts some of the biggest LGBTQ+ events of the year including Out on Film, Black Gay Pride, the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, and the largest LGBTQ+ Pride event in the southeastern United States. This fall the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) will add another reason to visit when it brings the 37th edition of its global convention to the W Atlanta-Midtown, September 8 to 11. “Atlanta was my home for almost 30 years and I saw it evolve from a conservative, sleepy Southern city to a diverse, progressive Southern city,” says IGLTA president and CEO John Tanzella. “Although Atlanta is a lesser known city globally than the New Yorks, San Franciscos, or Miamis, it has a large and…

“Flying was never part of my original plan,” says Kayleigh Scott. “I was straight out of high school and I was looking for a job. I remember my neighbor telling me, ‘Hey, why don’t you apply for jobs at the airport? They’re always hiring.’” Scott, who knew she was trans at a very young age, had made the decision to start transitioning around this time. Whatever job she was going for, she knew it needed to be with a company that would help provide resources and a supportive community through her transition. When her cousin, a flight attendant for United Airlines, posted on social media that the company was hiring, it felt like kismet. She applied immediately. United Airlines has long led the charge for LGBTQ+ equality in the airline…

The coolest thing about Provincetown, Mass., is that no matter where you lodge, you’re only steps away from the town’s fine shops, enticing eateries, and sandy beaches. As you explore it’s easy to see why queer artists, LGBTQ+ tourists, and lovers of history (the Pilgrims first landed here) continue to flock to the tip of Cape Cod each year. The Bradford offers perfectly positioned accommodations just steps from the start of Commercial Street’s vibrant retail and restaurant scene, and close to The Boatslip Waterfront Hotel and Beach Club, which hosts the world-famous queer Tea Dance, P-town’s largest outdoor dance party. Owned by husbands Patrick Wilson and Stephen Walker since 2019, The Bradford itself has quite the history. The three-story main house was one of the most impressive buildings on Bradford…

My story into the United States starts at the Tijuana, Mexico, border. That day they took my information and assigned me to group number 1464. Because I did not have a visa to enter the country, I was forced to enter illegally. It was not a dramatic entry that included running or jumping over a wall, as many in the United States assume. I simply had to present my passport and other personal identification records to the U.S. Border Patrol. In my initial registration I answered general questions about my country of origin, first and last name, age, etc. They also asked me to identify my preferred gender and sexual orientation. When I reported that I am a gay man, they requested that I be isolated with other gay men.…

“Even to this day, I have no idea what I’ve created…” The invitation to Boman Martinez-Reid’s 18th birthday party was startling. It was 2016 and the Toronto native invited all of his friends to his family home. “I basically just told them, ‘Come prepared. Cameras will be rolling,’” the content creator and TikTok star says. “I didn’t give them any more information, but they showed up and I recorded everything.” Earlier that year Martinez-Reid had told his brother he wanted to have his own sitcom one day. When his brother asked, “Why wait?” an idea clicked with the enterprising teen, who had been editing family home movies since at least 2012. Sometimes those video clips came from a vacation or the annual Christmas show his mom organized that they all…

Fendi’s mens and womens spring-summer 2021 collections are a well of personal memories beautifully curated by Silvia Venturini Fendi (pictured), who stepped into the creative director role following the loss of Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary designer who held the title for over 54 years until his passing in 2019. Fendi, who is now artistic director of menswear and accessories, is the granddaughter of the company’s founders and was born into the fashion empire in 1961. Her unique vision, experience, and family legacy are woven into the latest collection, taking the brand back to its roots using the visuals of traditional Italian craftsmanship as an invitation for introspection and growth. Out sat down with Fendi to discuss the latest collection, some of which is displayed in the following pages in a…

“Hosting and traveling require vastly different performances.” If I had it my way, I would never have sex in my apartment. I’m a travel-only kind of guy. But as a sex worker in New York City, I must occasionally set this policy aside as it would substantially inhibit my business. Many of my clients are partnered and discreet — their spouses are unaware of what they do with me. So, short of finding neutral space (usually a hotel room), I am often required to host. Of course, it’s certainly not only escorts who face this dilemma. The question of who can host is a common part of hooking up, but the reality is…I don’t want to. When I host, the experience I’m hoping to curate is never complete. The sessions…