Table of contents for September/October 2024 in OUT

Dear Out Readers, Welcome to the September/October issue, where we blend the excitement of tech innovation with the creativity of fall fashion. This issue celebrates trailblazers, visionaries, and artists who continue to shape our world and redefine what is possible. We are thrilled to feature the incredible Luke Evans as our cover star. With his remarkable acting career, including memorable roles like Gaston and his upcoming lead in Amazon’s Criminal and his new memoir, Luke continues to captivate and inspire. His journey is a testament to the power of authenticity and perseverance. This edition also spotlights Pose star Angelica Ross, the pioneering founder of TransTech Social Enterprises, whose work revolutionizes the tech industry by providing opportunities for transgender individuals. Her dedication to empowerment and innovation is truly inspiring. Additionally, we…

talent COLTON TRAN @coltontran & BRYCE EBERLY @bryceeberly photographer KAL YEE @kalyee photographer’s assistant CHRISTOPHER VELAZQUEZ @chayotesoup stylist KENN LAW @kennlaw Colton Tran and Bryce Eberly met in September 2023 at a mutual friend’s pool party in Los Angeles. “There was an instantaneous connection,” the pair attest. When Tran discovered that Bryce’s birthday had occurred two days prior, he proposed “a late birthday kiss.” Eberly agreed, and ever since, “we’ve both been growing and exploring life together.” “He brings back this sense of home for me, that is beyond comforting in a city I just moved to less than 12 months ago,” sings Eberly, a marketing professional who graduated from Penn State last year. Tran, an actor and filmmaker known for Seek and The Sex Lives of College Girls, adds,…

Occasionally, I need a brain-off, no-thoughts, just-vibes kind of vacation, and Contiki’s Greek island-hopping trip seemed like it would fit the bill perfectly. I was invited to attend this past summer’s Pride-themed excursion. Our vacation began in Athens before traversing to Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, and Ios. We spent two nights on each island before heading back to Athens for a total of 11 days. Once paid ($2,376+ at Contiki.com), Contiki takes care of the hotels, travel between cities, day-to-day events, and even a handful of meals. Our group of 24 congregated in Athens and caught a ferry to Mykonos the next day. The company crafts these trips for travelers ages 18 to 35 who tend to be more active, so be prepared to socialize. The cool thing about meeting LGBTQ+…

It’s not nice to judge people by what they wear. And really, there are no rules for clothes. Nothing reads the same way in all cultures. Except, maybe, a jockstrap. Even if it’s not gay, it’s still fuckboy. Still hot. In Berlin club culture, where all sartorial rules are thrown out, I still count on the boyish, sporty jockstrap, an American invention, as fairly reliable evidence that its wearer is a gay man like me. The jockstrap has not (yet) been fully co-opted by straights, and I hope it stays that way. Every red carpet now has a straight boy playing dress-up in what was, at one time, a very gay wardrobe. But the jockstrap feels different. It says something about you. Maybe all underwear does. Underwear goes under the…

ON JUNE 27, the White House hosted a Pride celebration on its South Lawn, where First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley Biden spoke to the crowd. “Pride is a celebration, but it’s also a declaration that we will not be silenced. Our victories testify to our strength, and we must continue to stand up for our community and our values,” Jill Biden said. Some of the equalpride team was also there to celebrate! Check out these photos from the joyous event.…

AFTER INTENSE PRESSURE from leading LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, the White House issued a clarification in July about its position on gender-affirming care for transgender people in America. The clarification came after the White House received harsh criticism days after the end of Pride Month when a spokesperson told The 19th that the administration opposes gender-confirming surgery for transgender youth — a medical treatment that is available only rarely and to very few older trans teenagers. Right-wing extremists have pushed false assertions of easy access to surgical care for trans kids, which is not true. In response, Neera Tanden, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, wrote to Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson, assuring that the administration’s policy remains unchanged. “We continue to fight state and national bans on…

The Stonewall riots, in which patrons of a New York City bar that catered to LGBTQ+ people rose up against police harassment and societal oppression, is generally credited with starting the modern queer rights movement. Some of the details about what happened at Stonewall are disputed, and the full story is unknown even to many LGBTQ+ folks. Here’s a look at some of the facts about Stonewall. NOT THE FIRST LGBTQ+ UPRISING There had already been other demonstrations against the oppression of LGBTQ+ people. There were the actions at Cooper’s Donuts in Los Angeles in 1959, then protests at the Black Cat Bar in L.A. in 1967. In 1966, there had been riots at Compton’s Cafeteria in San Francisco. In Philadelphia, gay and lesbian activists marched at Independence Hall each…

FREEWRITE TRAVELER In an age of online distractions — from messaging apps to TikTok — my favorite gadget is my Freewrite Traveler. It’s a drafting tool that allows me to think and write without compulsively checking my email, apps, and browser. Since Freewrite’s interface doesn’t allow copying and pasting, it forces me to write first and revise later, putting the kibosh on my tendency for perfectionism. Though drafting with Freewrite harkens to the analog days of the typewriter, it connects to the internet so I can easily send my drafts to my email or Postbox account for editing on a computer. “Portable” and “compact,” according to the official description, the Traveler uses an e-ink screen that doesn’t stress my eyes with blue light. That came in handy when I was…

It had been a thrilling but exhausting Pride Zurich — as most Prides are. My group and I hit the ground running after our Swiss Air flight arrived Friday morning: a boat ride of Lake Zurich (perfumed with chocolate smells from the nearby Lindt factory), a concert with Eurovision winner Nemo, and a twirl at the city’s main gay nightclub, Heaven. Then on Saturday, we marched through the streets of Zurich as part of its Pride parade, which ended at the festival. There, it was a gay rinse-and-repeat with a lineup of performers followed by a shimmy at Kweer Bar and more after-parties to follow. Suffice to say, when we checked out of the Hotel Motel One Zürich on Sunday morning, we were all pretty beat. But God bless the…

AS WE WENT to press for this issue, we were truly witnessing history in the making. President Joe Biden had just announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place. This happened just a week after an assassination attempt on Donald Trump left two people dead (the gunman and a bystander) and others seriously injured. While these sudden and shocking events can certainly add to already existing fears and anxieties about the state of our country, it also proves that history is constantly being made. Looking back, we’ve seen that even in the most tumultuous of times, change is possible. In fact, this is when change is most likely to occur. What Harris’s position as the Democratic frontrunner for president offers…

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA Harris is now the Democratic frontrunner for president after Joe Biden exited the race in late July and endorsed her. If she wins in November, Harris will make history as both the first woman to be president and first woman of color in the nation’s highest office — the first Black woman and the first one of South Asian heritage. She’d also most likely be the most pro-LGBTQ+ president. Harris began her law career as a prosecutor in Alameda County, Calif., in 1990. She was elected district attorney for San Francisco City and County in 2003. The following year, when Mayor Gavin Newsom declared same-sex marriage legal in the city, Harris conducted marriages for same-sex couples (the marriages were later nullified, however). “One of the most joyful…

WILL FERRELL AND Harper Steele talk about each other the way only decades-long friends can. Interspersed with the effusive praise they give each other and fond memories they share are lighthearted jabs and barbs, always with love behind them. That’s how it’s been since the two met when they both started at Saturday Night Live the same week back in 1995. But when Harper came out as a trans woman during the pandemic, the two comedy legends were afraid that might all change. Would they no longer be able to joke? Would they have to tiptoe through a minefield of hot topics during every conversation? Would they drift apart? The opposite came true. “I’ve never seen her more relaxed, more open, and more outgoing,” Ferrell says of Steele. “She is…

CYNTHIA LEE FONTAINE has more in common with a 1920s trapeze artist than you might think. The iconic drag queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race season eight Miss Congeniality winner began her career in Puerto Rican television, where she was never “masculine enough to be in front of the camera.” It was only after she embraced her femininity through the art of drag that Fontaine began to feel not only accepted, but respected. “In that search to find my own identity and also acceptance in the performing arts area, that’s how I found drag,” Fontaine says. “I found my safe space and niche that I can identify myself with, but also that I could be accepted in the performing arts, being a dancer, being a singer, maybe doing acting, too. It…

The newest royal on Broadway? Michael Urie. The actor — best known for his breakout role as Marc St. James on Ugly Betty, his award-winning performance in the one-man play Buyer & Cellar, and his mainstay character in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking — is now starring in the 2024 revival of Once Upon a Mattress as Prince Dauntless, the show’s leading man opposite Sutton Foster as Winnifred the Woebegone. The beloved musical comedy from Mary Rodgers, with a new book adaptation by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), will run through November 30 at the Hudson Theatre before moving to L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre from December 10 to January 5. Inspired by the 1835 Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea,” Mattress first appeared on Broadway in…

Carissa Rae Martin Singer “I’m Carissa Rae Martin, and I am proud to be queer,” Martin declared in an Out op-ed. Matt Terry Singer, X Factor season 13 winner “I’m very proud [of my sexuality], and I’m no longer afraid,” the “His Car” singer told Gay Times. Reneé Rapp Singer and actor, Mean Girls Lesbian Maren Morris Singer, The Bridge “Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+. Happy pride,” Morris wrote on Instagram. Madame LaQueer Drag performer, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4 Transgender Chappell Roan Singer, “Pink Pony Club” Lesbian Jessica Gunning Actor, Baby Reindeer “Big old gay,” Gunning confirmed to the Reign with Josh Smith podcast. Louisa Jacobson Actor, The Gilded Age “Blessed to be entering the Joyful New Era bb,” Jacobson shared on Instagram in June, with a…

Sitting at an altitude of 9,600 feet and about a two-hour drive from Denver, the quaint eco-friendly mountain municipality of Breckenridge, Colo., is known for providing some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country, along with some of the most breathtaking scenery. Despite it being a smaller town of about 5,000 people, there are endless opportunities for exciting adventures and unique experiences. Founded in 1859, settlers originally came to Breckenridge in search of gold. Though that didn’t exactly pan out, the town still grew and thrived due to its vast natural beauty and potential as a vacation destination. While there are plenty of cozy lodges and private cabins available to stay at in Breckenridge, Gravity Haus is a prime option, as it’s conveniently located across the road from…

Dear Advocate Readers, As the warm summer months transition to cooler autumn weather, we hope this issue of The Advocate fills you with inspiration as we bring you diverse and powerful stories. In this issue, we cover the history of our LGBTQ+ community, one that we should all take pride in celebrating year-round. We are thrilled to present this issue’s cover featuring Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. Their upcoming Netflix documentary presents a heartfelt road trip as the pair dives deep into their 30-year-long friendship and professional partnership, showcasing how Harper’s transition has enriched their journey together. In another exclusive interview, former NFL player Carl Nassib reflects on coming out three years and his new venture as an advocate for queer youth and others. His story is courageous and authentic,…

The history of female politicians running for — and being elected to — the highest positions in our country is limited. While there have been several women over the years who’ve attempted to run for president or vice president, most did not receive widespread support. Margaret Chase Smith, a Maine Republican who served in both the U.S. House and Senate, campaigned for her party’s presidential nomination in 1964, becoming the first woman to seek a major-party presidential nod. Shirley Chisholm, a Democratic congresswoman from New York, broke down doors as the first Black woman to campaign for the presidency in 1972. Several other women have since campaigned for major-party presidential nominations, but in 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton became the only woman in U.S. history to win such a nomination. She…

Transgender and gender-nonconforming people played a significant role in the Stonewall riots of 1969, and the queer liberation movement that followed and continues to this day. While activists Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Victoria Cruz, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy are among the most prominent names mentioned in connection to this historic event, there were many others. The term “transgender” wasn’t around in 1969, and trans people were often conflated with drag queens, but both trans people and drag queens were there, along with others who didn’t fit the gender binary. “Johnson, like many other transgender women, felt they had nothing to lose,” states a biography of Marsha P. Johnson posted by the National Women’s History Museum. “They were not only angered by the police raid but also the oppression and…