When we hear the name “Halston,” our first thought is not likely to be of his status as an LGBTQ hero – except in the sense that he designed clothes for best friend Liza Minnelli.
Yet Roy Halston Frowick, who became the first “celebrity designer” in a career that defined women’s fashion for an era and paved the way for the age of influencers by making his identity synonymous with his brand, can be clearly seen today as a queer pioneer. A gay midwestern boy whose grandmother gave him a love of sewing, he rose to fame after designing the famed pillbox hat worn by Jacqueline Kennedy at her husband’s 1961 inauguration, and spent the next decade building a reputation fueled by the celebrity of a growing list of famous clients while honing a style that combined functionality, elegance and comfort in a way that seemed perfectly in tune with the rising women’s liberation movement.
The empowering ease and “effortless” sex appeal of his designs came to epitomize ‘70s style, a signature feature of the Disco Era that has cast its not-so-subtle influence on every generation since, and the fashion house he started became legendary in an industry that was still tightly controlled (like every other industry) by straight men. It was an accomplishment that might have gone unheralded by most at the time, but which historical perspective reveals as a groundbreaking moment in the LGBTQ community’s rise from the shadows.
Unfortunately, Halston’s fall from glory – marked by his loss of control over the company he started, through a series of corporate acquisitions that might fairly be described as nefarious – and subsequent 1990 death from AIDS-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma still largely overshadows his reputation (if not the fashions he created) in the popular imagination. But thanks to the arrival of the new Netflix limited series “Halston,” which drops on May 14, that is about to change.
Created and directed by Emmy-winner Daniel Minahan, the five-episode biographical portrait stars Ewan McGregor as Halston, and follows the legendary designer as he leverages his single, invented name into a worldwide fashion empire synonymous with luxury, sex, status, and fame, literally defining the ‘70s and ‘80s era New York in which he lives, before a hostile take-over forces him to battle for control of his most precious asset – the name Halston itself. McGregor is joined by a cast that includes Bill Pullman (as Halston’s business associate David Mahoney), Krysta Rodriguez (as Minnelli), Rebecca Dayan (as Elsa Peretti, another close Halston friend), Gian Franco Rodriguez (as Halston’s sometime lover, Victor Hugo), David Pittu (as Halston illustrator and creative director Joe Eula), Rory Culkin (as Joel Schumacher), Kelly Bishop, Sullivan Jones, and Vera Farmiga – and as even a quick look at the publicity shots of each of them in full costume for their roles is enough to verify that the series has gone out of its way to meticulously recreate the look and feel of Halston’s glamorous world.
The series found its way to the screen thanks to Minahan’s interest in “Simply Halston,” a bio penned by Vanity Fair writer Stephen Gaines. Working with producer Christine Vachon, he began work on adapting the book as a feature-length film, but the scope of the story made honing it into a two-hour-ish running time a daunting task, and the idea was shelved. The option on the book then passed through a series of other hands, but when the rights became available again, Vachon approached Minahan with the idea of revisiting the project as a mini-series, and, as Minagan says, “it just clicked.” It wasn’t long until Ryan Murphy reached out (through Alexis Martin Woodall, president of his production company) to express his interest, and things “started moving very quickly.”
“Working with Ryan is a unique experience,” says Minahan, who previously worked with the powerhouse producer on “The Assassination of Gianni Versace.” “He draws the best out of people, and he demands excellence from everyone who works with him. He has an uncanny sense for story, and I’ve been fascinated for years by the tone he’s able to strike in his work and the depth of emotion that he’s able to express.
He also says Murphy had “a unique relationship” with the material that helped inform the end product. “[He] grew up in Indiana […] then he worked building an empire as a gay man in a corporate world as Halston did, so he was really generous with his experience. A lot of that made it into our scripts. We were very lucky to have him be involved.”
As for McGregor, Minahan says that although he had considered a whole list of actors for the starring role, the “one and only meeting” he had was with the popular and prolific Scots actor. Though McGregor identifies as straight, he has long been an LGBTQ ally, with a history of sensitive and insightful performances in gay roles (most notably the fictionalized amalgam of Iggy Pop and Lou Reed he portrayed in Todd Haynes’ glam-era fantasy, “Velvet Goldmine”), and according to Minahan, his work as Halston is nothing short of immersive.
“Watching Ewan transform into Halston was fascinating,” he says. “When he arrived in New York, he asked for a room where he could work undisturbed with some props — True cigarettes, which are the same brand Halston smoked, cigarette holders, Flair pens like Halston used, scissors, fabric, a black turtleneck, a tape measure, and some yellow lined notepads.” The actor also worked with costume designer Jeriana San Juan, acquiring a detailed familiarity with the technical minutiae involved with designing and assembling clothes – even going so far, according to San Juan, as studying her eye movements while she worked “so he could better track his eyeline when he’s designing as Halston in the show.”
Of course, it’s one thing to capture the physical reality of a true-life character, and quite another to infuse that character with an inner life that honors their experience. From the fabulous ferocity he displays in the show’s trailer, the versatile star of movies as wide-ranging as “Trainspotting,” “Moulin Rouge,” and the middle “Star Wars” trilogy looks to have delivered a career-topping performance – and if there’s any doubt whether he can convey the authenticity required to illuminate the drive that took Halston to the pinnacle of the fashion world when it was still run by a conservative and closed-minded “boys’ club,” his delivery of the line, “I’ve been an outsider my entire life, till one day I just stopped giving a flying fuck,” should put it to rest.
With what could become one of the season’s most acclaimed performances at the center, and its sumptuous depiction of an iconic era through San Juan’s costumes and the world-building of production designer Mark Ricker, “Halston” looks to be a benchmark for “prestige” TV in 2021.
In any case, thanks to the enduring fascination its subject and his legacy still hold for millions of fans and admirers, queer and straight alike, it’s sure to be at the top of a lot of “must watch” lists when it debuts on May 14.
Are you feeling like whatever financial progress you might have made in the last five or ten years has been erased this past year because of COVID? If so, you’re definitely not alone.
A recent study by Investopedia sheds light on the economic realities for us, and demonstrates the impact COVID had on so many, especially in the LGBTQ+ community.
Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels
Researchers attempting to put the findings in context told the Philadelphia Inquirer that LGBTQ+ households work in industries that were more severely hit by COVID-19, such as the hospitality sector and the survival gig economy. While there isn’t much data or analysis on these trends yet, reports on the LGBTQ+ community in general hold that COVID-19 exaggerates underlying vulnerabilities: These communities are more likely to live in poverty, more likely to work in industries negatively impacted by COVID-19, more likely to suffer from underlying conditions, and more likely to lack access to medical care or paid medical leave.
A Human Rights Campaign poll from 2020 indicated that, based on the impact of the first wave of the closures, 17% of LGBTQ+ people had lost jobs because of COVID-19, which was higher than the 13% of people who had lost jobs in the general population. People of color in LGBTQ+ communities, particularly Black and Latinx people, were more adversely affected, reporting a 22% job loss for people of color in LGBTQ+ communities and 14% for Whites in those communities. LGBTQ+ people of color were 44% more likely to take a cut in work hours, and transgender people were 125% more likely to do so.
Photo by Gotta Be Worth It from Pexels
Historically, whatever gains that LGBTQ people in the workplace have made economically have been in tandem with advances in employment protections. It stands to reason that if job discrimination, wage inequality, and on the job harassment due to our sexuality or gender are outlawed through legislation and court decisions that we can advance in terms of income and wealth. So it should come as no surprise that the four years of Trump’s presidency which saw a frenzy of rolling back federal protections for our community also coincided with a widening income gap as well.
The landmark Supreme Court case last year, Bostock vs. Clayton County (Georgia), will hopefully stem this reversal since it extends protections against employment discrimination to LGBTQ+ people. Legislative protections for all states against discrimination in housing and employment would have an additional equalizing effect, which is why the Equality Act is such an important bulwark for advancing in the future and needs to be passed.
When the COVID pandemic hit in the early months of 2020, there were certainly more pressing and essential worries for us to grapple with than how it would impact the next season of a TV show. Yet it’s a testament to the power of “Pose” that many among its legion of fans were at least as concerned about the show’s disruption as they were about the possibility of running out of toilet paper.
The powerhouse FX drama — which spotlights the legends, icons and ferocious house mothers of New York’s underground ball culture in the late 1980s — had already made history. Not only did it feature the largest cast of transgender actors in regular roles, it boasted the largest recurring cast of LGBTQ actors ever included in a scripted series. In its first two seasons, the show racked up accolades and honors (including a Primetime Emmy for Billy Porter as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series) while breaking new ground for the inclusion and representation of queer people — and especially transgender people of color — in television, both in front of the camera, and behind it. With the end of its second season in August 2019, fans were hungry for a third — but thanks to COVID, its future was suddenly in question.
So, when word came that the show’s third season would have its debut on May 2, it was the best news since finding out the vaccines were finally going to start rolling out. But it was bittersweet: Along with confirmation of the series’ imminent return came the sad revelation that the new season would also be the last. “Pose” would be coming to an end with a final, seven-episode arc.
As any viewer of show can attest, there were a lot of threads left hanging when last we saw its characters. That means there’s a lot of ground to cover in these last chapters in order to give everyone — characters and audience alike — the closure they deserve.
The show’s official synopsis goes like this: It’s now 1994 and ballroom feels like a distant memory for Blanca, who struggles to balance being a mother with being a present partner to her new love, as well as her latest role as a nurse’s aide. Meanwhile, as AIDS becomes the leading cause of death for Americans ages 25 to 44, Pray Tell contends with unexpected health burdens. Meanwhile, a vicious new upstart house is emerging in the ballroom world, and the members of the House of Evangelista are forced to contend their legacy.
Obviously, there are a lot of details left hidden in that broad overview, and fans are undoubtedly full of questions about what they can expect to see.
Fortunately, the bulk of the show’s main cast convened on Zoom last week (along with show co-creator and Executive Producer Steven Canals and Executive Producer Janet Mock) for a press conference to discuss their “Pose” experience, and while they didn’t exactly give away any spoilers, they definitely dropped some tantalizing hints about what’s in store for audiences in the farewell season.
In truth, most of the discussion was dominated by reminiscences and expressions of mutual appreciation, sure signs that the feeling of family we see onscreen is something that has taken hold off screen, as well. But in between the affectionate banter, the cast and creatives addressed several questions that might be most on viewers’ minds.
Perhaps the most pressing of these — why, after only three seasons, is the critic-and-audience-acclaimed show calling it quits? — was taken on by Canals, who explained:
“I always knew what the beginning and what the end of the narrative would be. And when Ryan Murphy and I first met in September of 2016, we felt really strongly that that particular narrative made sense. And so, while we certainly could have continued to create narrative around these characters and in this world, and we certainly had a conversation in the writers’ room about it … I think we all agreed that it just made sense for us to ‘land the plane,’ if you will, comfortably — as opposed to continuing to give an audience story that just simply didn’t have any real core intention or a real thrust towards specificity.”
Also of interest was the obvious subject of how the parallels between the current pandemic and the AIDS crisis that looms over the show’s narrative might be reflected in the new episodes. While he didn’t hint at any direct connections in “Pose,” Porter used the subject to underscore a theme that has always been one of the show’s most important elements:
“I think the parallels are quite profound. I know that as a Black gay man who lived through the AIDS crisis, I have been dealing with a lot of PTSD during this COVID time. It’s very reminiscent of what it was like then. The best news about that is that I survived. We got through it, and there is another side to it. We can get to the other side.
“I feel like that’s what ‘Pose’ really accomplishes this season, reminding the public that it’s when we come together and when we lead with love [that] we get to the other side.”
Mock elaborated on the theme of resilience by discussing the importance of showing the strength of House mothers like Blanca and Electra (Dominique Jackson), who hold together — and lift up — their entire community:
“It’s that matriarchal power and lineage that I think the ballroom is, and what trans women are to one another, that then feeds everyone else and enables them to shine and have all the things that they want in the world. For me, it is [about] that celebration […] of Black trans women — that they’ve created this space, that they brought everyone else in with them, and that, at the end of the day, they are often the ones most often forgotten.
“I think with this season, I want everyone across the industry, the audience, to realize that. I think it’s essential, and it’s important.”
Mock also talked about the way “Pose” focuses on the small, day-to-day lives of its characters as much as it does the larger-than-life splendor of the ballroom culture in which they participate:
“We wanted to ensure that we show the everyday, mundane moments, as well as the great, grand celebrations. The ballroom is are presentation of what it means to congregate and share testimony and to love on each other, and our show is a celebration of the everyday intimacies. So, for us, while we were plotting these big, grand moments […] we wanted to bring in traditions — weddings, matrimony, all this stuff — that our characters get to engage in. We wanted to be a part of the tradition of that, and all the moments that a family shares together. We wanted to make sure that all of those things were celebrated in this.”
When discussion turned to the unprecedented level of support and collaborative inclusion with which the show’s queer cast were bestowed by Ryan Murphy and the rest of the creative staff — from the presence of trans women like Mock and Co-producer Our Lady J in the writers’ room to the extensive reliance on the insights and talents of real-life members of the ballroom community — Jackson was quick to add that besides giving the show its ferocious authenticity, it gave her an increased recognition of her own worth:
“I will never, ever, ever walk into a space thinking that I need to impress them […] I will never walk into a space being fearful of my identity stopping me from anything. Because of this journey, when I walk into spaces now, my identity is not because I’m an abomination. My identity is a plus. My identity is my value. So, when I walk into spaces now,they need to impress me. You can be the biggest Hollywood director, producer, whatever, but you’re not going to take my story or relay stories that are reflective of my life or my existence and make them into anything you want, because of ‘Pose,’ because of Ryan, because of Steven, because of Janet and Brad [co-creator/executive producer Falchuk), because of Our Lady J, because of my cast members.
“I will never walk into spaces or live a life or an existence thinking that I need to impress anyone.”
Porter concurred, adding:
“There was never, ever a space in my brain to dream what‘Pose’ is, what Pray Tell is. I spent the first 25-plusyears of my career trying to fit into a masculinity construct that society placed on us so I could eat.‘Pose,’ and Pray Tell in particular, really taught me to dream the impossible […] the idea that the little, Black church sissy from Pittsburgh is now in a position of power in Hollywood in a way that never existed before. You can damn sure believe that I will be wielding that power and there will be a difference and a change in how things go from here on out.”
If the cast members themselves have found themselves feeling more empowered thanks to “Pose,” so too have the millions of LGBTQ people — and allies — who have tuned into it since its premiere in 2018. The show is one of those rare entries into the cultural lexicon that simply allows its queer and trans people to live authentic lives, giving long-withheld representation to countless viewers who were able to see themselves reflected back from the screen for perhaps the very first time. It’s that powerful sense of validation provided by “Pose” that keeps it standing tall in an entertainment market now providing so much LGBTQ inclusion that it’s becoming dangerously easy to take it for granted.
Whatever moments of heartbreak, joy, and celebration “Pose” brings us as it plays out its final act — and there are sure to be many — we can all be sure it will leave us with a message expressed through an oft-heard line of dialogue that Mock says she found herself writing “over and over again” during the series’ run:
“You are everything, and you deserve everything this world has to offer.” It’s that nurturing sentiment the “Pose” has been instilling in us from the beginning, like a mother to us all.
And that’s why so many of us can’t wait until the first two episodes of its final season air at 10 p.m. (both Eastern and Pacific), Sunday, May 2, on FX.
The final season of “Pose” will begin to air on FX on Sunday, May 2, at 10 p.m. ET. (Photos courtesy of FX)
BONN, Germany (CNS) — Catholic chaplains in parishes across Germany plan to invite people to “blessing services for lovers” on and around May 10.
The campaign, “Love Wins,” was launched in Hamburg, reported the German Catholic news agency KNA. The campaign’s website said the aim was to celebrate “the diversity of people’s different life plans and love stories” and to ask for God’s blessing.
Gay and lesbian couples are also invited, which is attracting public attention because the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in mid-March that the Catholic Church had no authority to bless same-sex relationships.
KNA reported the Vatican statement has been widely criticized among Catholics in Germany.
“I have blessed buildings and sugar-beet-harvesting machines,” said Father Burkhard Hose of Würzburg. “So why not also people who love each other?”
Father Hose and Father Bernd Mönkebüscher, a theologian from Hamm, have gathered about 11,000 signatures against the ban on blessing same-sex couples, KNA reported.
Birgit Mock, vice president of the Catholic German Women’s Federation, said: “The current discussion could lead to a historic step: a positive appreciation of responsibly lived sexuality in the Catholic Church in Germany.”
Mock and Bishop Helmut Dieser of Aachen head one of four working groups of the Synodal Path reform project. Their group deals with sexual morality, and the church’s approach to homosexuality is among its topics.
Bishop Dieser has made clear that his office does not allow him to give a mandate to bless gay couples, but added: “In the case of requests to bless same-sex couples, pastoral ministers are bound by their conscience.”
Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of the German bishops’ conference, criticized the blessing services. “They are not suitable as an instrument of church-political manifestations or protest actions,” he said.
The Vatican is increasingly critical of the debates in Germany, but grassroots members are becoming ever more vocal in their demands for reforms.
Father Hose, a college chaplain, noted the Orthodox Church commemorates the biblical patriarch Noah May 10. God made a covenant with Noah after the flood — under the sign of a rainbow. That is not far removed from the colors of the rainbow flag of the gay rights movement.
Metropolitan Hilarion of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church has praised the Vatican’s ban on blessing same-sex couples. On this point, the teachings of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches were in agreement, he said.
As the San Antonio Spurs fight to get out of their downward spiral during a brutal stretch of schedule, the same few players continued to carry the scoring load in their 110-99 loss to the Utah Jazz. DeMar DeRozan had his usual 22 points on 10-17 shooting along with 6 assists. Dejounte Murray stuffed the stat sheet with 15 efficient points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists — albeit with 4 turnovers, and Rudy Gay remained the most steady source of points off the bench with 17 points on 7-13 shooting, while Patty Mills and Lonnie Walker combined for just 4 points on 2-7 shooting.
While he didn’t do much after that because of — you guessed it — foul trouble, Jakob Poeltl was a bright spot early, scoring all six of his points in the first quarter while showing that he can still score without dunking.
Sometimes the Spurs capitalize off broken plays too, with Gay hustling to save a loose ball and getting it to Murray for the and-1 as the Spurs fought to stay in the game in the first half.
Gay and Murray continued to be a main source of points in the second quarter with a couple of stop-and-pops. I know fans often want to see more ball movement — although the Spurs did have 25 assists on 42 baskets — but sometimes you just have to take what you can get.
Devin Vassell continues to start in the injured Derrick White’s place, and despite some inconsistent scoring nights, he was the only other Spur in double figures against the Jazz with 11 points on 4-8 shooting, including a nice three after snatching an errant pass that just so happened to be the Spurs’ first of the night.
The Spurs will complete their miniseries against a possible playoff foe — should they make it through the play-in — in Utah on Wednesday while trying to avoid their fifth straight loss. It’s hard to see this tired squad finding their form between now and then, but with this team, you just never know.
A new statewide program aims to provide the LGBTQ community with comprehensive sexual health services.
The program, launched by the nonprofit group Texas Health Action, was designed to help people in the LGBTQ community find information they need.
Harlingen resident Steven James Cano, who works for the Valley Aids Council, says growing up, he put himself in dangerous situations without knowing.
“We’re not really taught LGBTQ exclusive comprehensive science-based education,” Cano said. “As a gay male, HIV is very prevalent.”
Telekind is a virtual resource for at-home sexual healthcare and gender-affirming services, according to its website. They also offer HIV prevention and management information, including access to lab testing and medications.
The site launched last month and is available statewide for those 18 and older, but right now they’re targeting the Rio Grande Valley and offering information in Spanish.
“The majority of people who have new diagnoses of HIV are the Black and Hispanic population,” said Telekind clinician WH Harris. “So, the Black and brown communities that are typically uninsured, unfunded.”
Crafting a new market for the LGBT community is never an easy feat, but doing it might seem a a virtually monumental challenge. Thankfully, Tom Leonardis knows a little something about taking on challenging and inventive projects. The man who has worked in lockstep with the legendary Whoopi Goldberg on numerous projects and initiatives throughout her career is now the man behind Gámos (which means “matrimony” in Greek). The rings are meant to be as individually stunning as the people that will be wearing them, with the creativity behind them truly bringing each story to life. I caught up with Tom Leonardis to chat about how he and his co-collaborators started the line, what Whoopi Goldberg thinks of the idea (their relationship is built on mutual honesty) and Leonardis dishes with me a bit on all things Oscars!
Photo Courtesy-Tom Leonardis
Michael Cook: Tell me about what made you launch Gámos The idea is so inventive and unique!
Tom Leonardis: Two years ago, when one of my closest friends, Woodie, became engaged to his boyfriend & he posted a photo on his social of a ring on his finger. I saw the picture and lost my mind. The ring looked like a wedding band, so I assumed he ran away and got married without telling me. When I called Woodie, he explained it was their idea of an engagement ring and it would be replaced with a wedding band at their ceremony. The problem with this plan was the “throwaway” engagement ring now had significant sentimental value and they weren’t quite sure what to do with this ring after the wedding.
That’s when Woodie and I had the idea to create a ring that could “join” to another ring and be the first engagement ring for everyone. We brought in jewelry designer Elisa Melegari and the three of us created Gámos which means “matrimony” in Greek. The three of us fit – Woodie is an entrepreneur who was one of the first to bring crowdfunding to the forefront, Elisa had just completed a very complicated, intricate, stunning bracelet for Whoopi Goldberg so I knew she was up for the task, and I have had a few companies with Whoopi over the years, so I was pretty confident I could get this one off the ground.
MC: What sets Gámos apart from every other wedding or commitment ring site out there?
TL: There are a few things that set Gámos apart from other wedding or commitment rings. First, it solved the problem for gay folks about what to do for an engagement ring. Woodie didn’t know what to do and another friend was also confused so when he proposed he gave his partner his Bar Mitzvah ring as a placeholder until the wedding. When you ask someone to marry you, it should be a magical moment and the engagement ring should be on your finger forever. This ring has just as much importance as the wedding band. The second way this ring is unique is that both Gámos styles interlock the engagement ring to the wedding band. There’s nothing out there like this and we have patents pending on both rings.
Another important distinction is these are all handcrafted and are customized for you. You like diamonds, we have diamonds, you want to mix and match metals, go right ahead. You’re not walking into a chain jewelry store and getting something out of a box. We believe our rings are as unique as your relationship. And the last thing that is different about this ring is that it’s for everyone. Why can’t all men, straight and gay, wear an engagement ring? Why have we made the engagement ring a woman’s showpiece? If a woman wants something non-traditional, here it is.
MC: As a creative, what are the facets that you truly wanted to capture in the rings?
TL: I think we wanted to capture all the facets that set this ring apart, a beautiful engagement + wedding ring for ALL, a ring that locked together. In the beginning, I remember we would say “we want to lock the rings like you lock your love when you get married”. And we wanted something that was classic but had style and offered options. Woodie and I had an idea and Elisa brought it to life.
MC: Ideas like this always have a story that is almost as unique as the item; what is the story behind Gámos
TL: Well, the story of Woodie getting engaged and not telling me. It’s a good thing he didn’t run away and get married or we wouldn’t be here today. And now he’s married wearing a Gámos ring. When we came up with the name we wanted to look for Greek and Italian words. When we found out gámos was Greek for matrimony it was a no-brainer.
MC: Whoopi Goldberg is counted as one of your nearest and dearest collaborators and friends; what did she think of it?
TL: Whoopi was one of the first people I went to. She’s 100% behind us. After over twenty years together, how could I not go to her? It would be like going behind the back of your mom or best friend. When things get off the ground, we’ll move Whoopi into the mix. There are still more designs ahead. She’s been so good to me over the years I could never leave her out. And she loves the LGBTQ+ community. There’s no better partner than Whoopi.
MC: What advice has Whoopi given you as an entrepreneur that you are taking to heart?
After 20 something years of producing movies, TV, and theater together we always listen to one another. We’ve built her clothing business, her holiday sweaters, our cannabis company together. We’re producing Sister Act 3 now and a few other things so we’re busy and we always have each other’s back. But I know if she didn’t like the concept or the rings she would have told me straight up. Whoopi has impeccable taste. Her homes are stunning. If she thought the design was off, she would have told all three of us. She’s worked with both Woodie and Elisa so she knows what everyone is capable of. She thinks it’s a great idea – Whoopi’s all about love and inclusivity and she thought we hit the mark and she loves the design.
MC: Who do you think the Gámos customer is and what are they looking for?
TL: I think the Gámos customer, first and foremost, is the gay man. We don’t have an engagement ring. But we do think it’s for everyone – anyone else who doesn’t want the non-traditional engagement ring and this can be anyone in the LGBTQ+ community or outside. We’re hoping it makes every person think and know they can wear an engagement ring — gay, straight, blue, yellow – everyone.
MC: The Academy Awards just passed; any thoughts on the show, movies at the moment, or how we start coming back?
TL: The Oscars – Why in the world wouldn’t you have Whoopi host?!? She was needed. Or at least present. She’s an Oscar winner, she works for ABC, she’s on the Governor’s Board of the Academy, she’s female, she’s African-American, she’s funny, she knows how to move a show. OMG! I’m probably going to get in trouble for this but you asked…. I didn’t understand the show. A lot of folks never saw those films so why not show a clip of the movie so you can bring the audience in? Don’t make it so inside. Personally, I would have done it a lot differently. It’s the Oscars! It’s the Oscars!
MC:Gámos is helping people celebrate some of the biggest moments in their lives; what do you celebrate or love the most about yourself?
TL: I think I celebrate that I grew up a simple kid from New Jersey and somehow the universe brought me to a place I never could have imagined. I have traveled the world, had dinners in the White House, flew the Concord, met the Queen – the real one. Whoopi’s given me many of these gifts and opportunities and there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not grateful. Now I hope we have created something that will give others a treasure of love that they can wear on their finger forever.
The recent, tragic death of Chriton Atuhwera, a gay refugee who was the victim of an arson attack in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya, has caught international attention.
Chritron was one of two gay men who suffered second-degree burns after a petrol bomb was thrown near the pair while they slept on a mattress in the open air, during the attack on March 15 in Kakuma.
This unspeakable and avoidable tragedy is just one piece of the puzzle. LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees in Kakuma have faced ongoing violence and discrimination and face elevated rates of economic and social exclusion including barriers to accessing employment and social services and challenges to effective organizing and advocacy for their human rights.
This tragic death and the ongoing threats that the community faces have precipitated the need for a more complete and long-overdue understanding of the situation on the ground for the LGBTIQ refugee community which in turn can lead to more comprehensive and durable solutions to benefit the broader community.
Today, Kakuma refugee camp is home to nearly 200,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers. Many have fled overland from Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The majority of the world’s refugees remain for years, often decades in refugee camps or informal settlements.
In total, there are approximately 300 LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers — perhaps more — currently living in Kakuma, which remains the only country in the region to provide asylum to those fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. The situation they face in Kakuma refugee camp is complex and multilayered.
While the goal of most LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers is to ultimately be resettled to a safe third country, resettlement slots have drastically fallen and are only available to less than 0.6 percent of refugees, a fraction of the world’s refugees. U.S. resettlement numbers dropped to historic lows during the Trump administration, and the Biden administration recently flip-flopped on its pledge to increase refugee resettlement slots. We urge the administration to honor its original commitment, recognizing that it will still only benefit a tiny fraction of refugees globally.
At the same time, LGBTIQ refugees in Kakuma face immediate challenges including poverty, isolation and lack of access to health and social services.
There are a number of groups of LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees scattered in different parts of the camp, and while these communities face many of the same daily struggles of life in a refugee camp, with individuals hailing from a variety of different countries of origin and cultural settings, not all LGBTIQ refugee communities in the camp have the same lived experiences nor do all LGBTIQ groups agree on one basic need and approach to better their lives and safety.
With the increased numbers of LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Kakuma in recent years, the need has grown for a true and complete understanding of the challenges facing LGBTIQ refugees in Kakuma, uncovering root causes and identifying sustainable solutions. It is vital that this is done.
Especially in light of recent incidents, there is a clear need for further action and support, based on facts, taking into account the current situation on the ground and raising the voices of those groups whose needs are not always in the forefront. The lack of clear, detailed and well-rounded information regarding the situation experienced by LGBTIQ refugees in the camp also creates challenges for those interested in helping to ensure the rights and well-being of this community.
That is why, ORAM together with Rainbow Railroad have announced a joint Kakuma research project. The research project, endorsed by the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, will provide accurate information on LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees living in the camp — a critical piece in more effective advocacy on behalf of the community.
In keeping with the organizations’ focus on local leadership, the research will be Kenyan-led. The researcher will conduct first-hand interviews with LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers, as well as community leaders in the camp and lead stakeholders. Based on the information gathered, the report will identify overarching issues facing the community, identify service and resource gaps, pinpoint solutions and make recommendations to address systemic challenges facing the community.
Kakuma refugee camp is a complex and challenging environment for LGBTIQ refugees and asylum seekers. This report aims to provide a deeper understanding that can lead to a number of multifaceted solutions to meet the urgent and critical needs of LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees in the camp, from improved living conditions to expedited resettlement.
We all having a duty to look out for the most vulnerable and marginalized among us. We need to prioritize the safety and protection on LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees and address the challenges they face on their journey to safety, Kakuma refugee camp, in Kenya in general and beyond. We must promote policies and practices that treat the forcibly displaced as fully human and with all the dignity and humanity that they deserve.
Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference, has criticised the plans for gay blessings.
Alamy
More than 10,500 priests have signed a petition put together by a group of German Catholic priests who are against the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s “No” to blessings of gay couples in the 15 March responsum.
The number represents around one third of priests, whose numbers have declined inexorably from 58,534 in 1981 to 37,192 in 2015.
The priests announced that on 10 May they would publicly celebrate blessings for all couples who loved each other – especially gay couples. According to their website www.liebegewinnt.de (liebegewinnt means “love wins”), 93 parishes where such blessings will be held had registered by 2 May.
The German bishops’ conference has criticised the group’s plans for nationwide blessing ceremonies for gay couples. “Blessing ceremonies have their own particular theological and pastoral dignity. They are not instruments for church-political manifestations or protest campaigns,” conference president Bishop Georg Bätzing declared on 28 April. “Public campaigns like those planned for 10 May are not a helpful signal nor a way in the right direction,” he underlined.
A large banner with the words “God cannot bless sin. Roma locuta – causa finita” (God cannot bless sin – Rome has spoken – full stop) appeared on the roof of St Ruprecht, Vienna’s oldest church on 28 April. St Ruprecht had previously flown a rainbow flag in support of gay blessings.
The situation in the German Church was “ominous” Cardinal George Pell told EWTN on 27 April in Rome. “I think that there is a percentage of the German Church that seems to be resolutely heading in the wrong direction,” Pell said. It was the duty of the German bishops to uphold the teachings of the Church, he underlined.
“People’s nerves are in tatters, conversation has become rougher and, instead of discussing controversial issues, rigid opinions are colliding”, Fr Bernd Hagenkord SJ, the spiritual assistant of the German Synodal Path for church reform, told the Linz Kirchenzeitung of 29 April. He called for verbal “de-escalation”. While the majority of German Catholics were in favour of constructive discussion, extremists were quick to speak of schism. “The extremists are very loud and come above all from outside Germany”, he said.
Growing up “brown, gay, and marginalized” in a small Texas town inspired Houstonian Bhavik Kumar to become the activist and physician he is today.
As the medical director for primary and trans-care services at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (and an abortion provider at the Planned Parenthood Center for Choice), Dr. Kumar says his work extends beyond the traditional role of a family physician. “I think it is important that physicians like me get involved in activism.” To that end, he advocates for making comprehensive health care available to everyone.
Kumar was born in London but raised in the United States after his family eventually emigrated from India. Arriving in Corsicana, Texas, in 1994 at age nine, he joined predominantly white classmates in an ultraconservative community that did not accept differences of color, heritage, and sexuality. He felt the sting of racism intensify after the 9/11 terrorist attacks because of his family’s undocumented status, and it was this pain that led him to forge a commitment to pursuing fairness and justice for all people.
Kumar attended medical school at Texas Tech University and completed his training at institutions in New York City that included Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Columbia University. During his New York City training, the aspiring doctor became intrigued with reproductive-health issues and felt a calling to assist disenfranchised populations. “I realized early on that access to abortion allows people to control their lives and destinies. Helping the most marginalized reach justice is the most rewarding life purpose for me,” Kumar says.
While many adventurers who leave conservative states to pursue their careers never return, Kumar saw things differently. He knew life and work would be easier for him in New York City, but he wanted to return to his adopted home state where a more critical need existed. “It was important to me to return to Texas to provide abortion and trans care,” he notes.
For years, Kumar traveled throughout Texas for Whole Woman’s Health to help provide access to abortion care for those in need. He then moved to Houston and went to work at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, which has expanded its services for trans and gender-nonconforming patients who struggle to find appropriate and affordable health care.
With his dangerous work under unprecedented assault by conservative religious groups and the Texas Legislature, Kumar and his associates must remain vigilant about the threat of violence from anti-abortion forces. A quote on his office wall from the Black feminist Audre Lorde helps keep him grounded: “When I choose to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
“Unfortunately, those who oppose the health care we provide to patients go to great efforts to terrorize both the providers and those seeking care,” Kumar notes. “They are relentless, aggressive and, quite frankly, terrorists. As a queer person of color, navigating this type of hatred is not new to me, so the fear never paralyzes me. It’s just there.”
Kumar noted that conservative politicians, at the behest of religious groups, are prioritizing legislation to deny access to abortion services, while none of the proposed bills would do anything to help patients. “They are attempting to pass laws that will really hurt people. It’s the most drastic effort we have ever seen, and it could wipe out care.”
The erosion of access to safe abortions could result in an increase in maternal mortality, which particularly impacts minority and low-income women. In the 1960s and ’70s before the Supreme Court legalized abortion services, women took extreme health and legal risks to terminate unwanted pregnancies. “It really worries me that we are getting closer to that,” Kumar emphasizes.
Kumar says that his work has become his life’s mission, and that someday he wants to participate in training and mentoring the next generation of people who will provide access to safe abortion services. “I really enjoy the work I do. I don’t plan to leave Texas, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Abortion care and gender care brings joy and meaning to my life. I don’t see that changing.”
PinkNews runs down the LGBT+ characters featured in the Star Wars universe including Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra and her romantic-slash-partner, Magna Tolvan, (L) and General Admiral Rae Sloane (R). (Marvel Comics/Doctor Aphra #16/Star Wars)
It is the day that all Star Wars nerds revere – May the 4th/”May The Force” – and it’s time to explore the LGBT+ representation in one of the biggest pieces of pop culture in living history.
The road to more meaningful LGBT+ representation has been a long one for Star Wars, but in recent years, the hit sci-fi series has upped its game. Star Wars has expanded to more than just movies. There are Star Wars novels, comic books, video games and TV series that discuss the expanded universe at length. Within the expanded universe, Star Wars has highlighted characters of various sexualities and gender identities, creating new opportunities for LGBT+ fans to see themselves represented within the series.
This year Star Wars has said it would celebrate Pride month by letting gay and trans artists “pay homage to some of the LGBT+ characters inhabiting a galaxy far, far away” in a special line of comic book covers.
So now it is time for PinkNews to highlight some of the queer characters across the Star Wars universe that even some of the most hardcore fans may have never heard of.
The first canonically LGBT+ character was a lesbian
Delian Mors became the first LGBT+ character in the official Star Wars canon when she was introduced in Paul S Kemp’s 2015 novel Lords of the Sith. Mors, who is a human female, served as a Moff – a rank held by Sector Governors of the First Galactic Empire – in the years after the end of the Clone Wars. If you need a rough timetable, the book is set after the Revenge of the Sith movie but before the Rebels TV series.
Mors is an Imperial (a “bad” guy), and she had a wife, Murra, who was killed in an accident. She wasn’t a major character in the novel, but Big Shiny Robot described her as a woman who “has made some very serious mistakes” but is an “incredibly capable leader”. She spends most of the novel “working hard to prevent absolute failure”.
Sinjir Rath Velus is the first major hero in a Star Wars story to be gay
Author Chuck Wendig introduced the first gay main character into the Star Wars universe in the Imperial turncoat Sinjir Rath Velus. Wendig’s novel Star Wars: Aftermath takes place after the second Death Star has been destroyed, Darth Vader dies and the Rebel Alliance forms into the New Republic. Velus is a human male and former officer of the Galactic Empire, but he abandoned his post after the second Death Star was destroyed.
Did you know? Sinjir Rath Velus, introduced in Star Wars: Aftermath, was the first gay protagonist in a Star Wars story pic.twitter.com/KYZPsHx14O
He eventually joins the New Republic and goes on a mission to hunt Imperial war criminals. In the novels, he even formed a romantic relationship with freelance New Republic slicer Conder Kyl.
The novel also introduced two background characters who are gay. One of the novel’s main heroes, Norra Wexley, eventually returns to her home planet of Akiva and reunites with her sister, Esmelle. Esmelle and her wife, Shirene, raised Norra’s son, Temmin, while Norra was fighting with the Rebels.
Doctor Chelli Aphra had the first actually visible LGBT+ kiss in the Disney Star Wars canon
Chelli Lona Aphra is a female, human archaeologist who was recruited by Darth Vader, but she eventually fell out of favour with the iconic character and faked her death. She lived under the alias Joystick Chevron when she eventually met her on-and-off-again adversary slash romantic partner, Magna Tolvan. Tolvan is an Imperial agent, and she developed a complicated relationship with the rogue archaeologist during their shared exploits.
In Marvel’s Doctor Aphra #16, Aphra and Tolvan passionately kiss in what they believe to be their last minutes. The two survive, but their romance doesn’t end happily as Aphra has to alter Tolvan’s memories to protect her from Darth Vader.
Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra and Magna Tolvan passionately kiss in what they believe to be their last minutes. (Marvel/ Doctor Aphra #16)
Aphra has also had multiple relationships across the Star Wars franchise. In a rundown of Star Wars best-hidden romances, CBR romantically linked Aphra to her “old girlfriend from college”, Doctor Eustacia Okka, and Sana Starros, a character who claimed to be married to Han Solo (though he denied it). Aphra’s comic book series even picked up a GLAAD Award in 2020 for the best “outstanding comic book”.
Star Wars introduced its first trans non-binary Jedi this year
On Trans Day of Visibility (31 March), Star Wars announced it would feature Terec and Ceret on its June issue of Star Wars: The High Republic. The non-binary Jedi are bond-twins who have a linked consciousness, and they made their first appearance in issue two of The High Republic. The series takes place around 200 years before The Phantom Menace in a time when the Jedi are “in their prime”.
It wasn’t until this year that the official Star Wars Instagram announced the pair were trans and non-binary. The account added: “We support trans lives and we are passionate and committed to broadening our representation in a galaxy far far away.”
Grand Admiral Rae Sloane is not only a badass villain but also an openly bisexual, Black woman.
Rae Sloane is a Black, human female who climbed the ranks of the Grand Empire to eventually become Grand Admiral. She was eventually mentored by Armitage Hux, who was played by Domhnall Gleeson in the most recent Star Wars movies. Even though Sloane doesn’t appear in the movies, she has a mighty presence in the Star Wars novels.
She was first introduced in John Jackson Miller’s 2014 novel A New Dawn and was later featured in Wendig’s already pretty queer Aftermath trilogy. In one of Wendig’s novels Empire’s End, Sloane tells Wexley that she’s never had “a husband or a wife die in my hands”, acknowledging her non-heterosexual relationships.
It is the day that all Star Wars nerds revere – May the 4th/”May The Force” – and it’s time to explore the LGBT+ representation in one of the biggest pieces of pop culture in living history.
The road to more meaningful LGBT+ representation has been a long one for Star Wars, but in recent years, the hit sci-fi series has upped its game. Star Wars has expanded to more than just movies. There are Star Wars novels, comic books, video games and TV series that discuss the expanded universe at length. Within the expanded universe, Star Wars has highlighted characters of various sexualities and gender identities, creating new opportunities for LGBT+ fans to see themselves represented within the series.
This year Star Wars has said it would celebrate Pride month by letting gay and trans artists “pay homage to some of the LGBT+ characters inhabiting a galaxy far, far away” in a special line of comic book covers.
So now it is time for PinkNews to highlight some of the queer characters across the Star Wars universe that even some of the most hardcore fans may have never heard of.
The first canonically LGBT+ character was a lesbian
Delian Mors became the first LGBT+ character in the official Star Wars canon when she was introduced in Paul S Kemp’s 2015 novel Lords of the Sith. Mors, who is a human female, served as a Moff – a rank held by Sector Governors of the First Galactic Empire – in the years after the end of the Clone Wars. If you need a rough timetable, the book is set after the Revenge of the Sith movie but before the Rebels TV series.
Mors is an Imperial (a “bad” guy), and she had a wife, Murra, who was killed in an accident. She wasn’t a major character in the novel, but Big Shiny Robot described her as a woman who “has made some very serious mistakes” but is an “incredibly capable leader”. She spends most of the novel “working hard to prevent absolute failure”.
Sinjir Rath Velus is the first major hero in a Star Wars story to be gay
Author Chuck Wendig introduced the first gay main character into the Star Wars universe in the Imperial turncoat Sinjir Rath Velus. Wendig’s novel Star Wars: Aftermath takes place after the second Death Star has been destroyed, Darth Vader dies and the Rebel Alliance forms into the New Republic. Velus is a human male and former officer of the Galactic Empire, but he abandoned his post after the second Death Star was destroyed.
He eventually joins the New Republic and goes on a mission to hunt Imperial war criminals. In the novels, he even formed a romantic relationship with freelance New Republic slicer Conder Kyl.
The novel also introduced two background characters who are gay. One of the novel’s main heroes, Norra Wexley, eventually returns to her home planet of Akiva and reunites with her sister, Esmelle. Esmelle and her wife, Shirene, raised Norra’s son, Temmin, while Norra was fighting with the Rebels.
Doctor Chelli Aphra had the first actually visible LGBT+ kiss in the Disney Star Wars canon
Chelli Lona Aphra is a female, human archaeologist who was recruited by Darth Vader, but she eventually fell out of favour with the iconic character and faked her death. She lived under the alias Joystick Chevron when she eventually met her on-and-off-again adversary slash romantic partner, Magna Tolvan. Tolvan is an Imperial agent, and she developed a complicated relationship with the rogue archaeologist during their shared exploits.
In Marvel’s Doctor Aphra #16, Aphra and Tolvan passionately kiss in what they believe to be their last minutes. The two survive, but their romance doesn’t end happily as Aphra has to alter Tolvan’s memories to protect her from Darth Vader.
Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra and Magna Tolvan passionately kiss in what they believe to be their last minutes. (Marvel/ Doctor Aphra #16)
Aphra has also had multiple relationships across the Star Wars franchise. In a rundown of Star Wars best-hidden romances, CBR romantically linked Aphra to her “old girlfriend from college”, Doctor Eustacia Okka, and Sana Starros, a character who claimed to be married to Han Solo (though he denied it). Aphra’s comic book series even picked up a GLAAD Award in 2020 for the best “outstanding comic book”.
Star Wars introduced its first trans non-binary Jedi this year
On Trans Day of Visibility (31 March), Star Wars announced it would feature Terec and Ceret on its June issue of Star Wars: The High Republic. The non-binary Jedi are bond-twins who have a linked consciousness, and they made their first appearance in issue two of The High Republic. The series takes place around 200 years before The Phantom Menace in a time when the Jedi are “in their prime”.
It wasn’t until this year that the official Star Wars Instagram announced the pair were trans and non-binary. The account added: “We support trans lives and we are passionate and committed to broadening our representation in a galaxy far far away.”
Grand Admiral Rae Sloane is not only a badass villain but also an openly bisexual, Black woman.
Rae Sloane is a Black, human female who climbed the ranks of the Grand Empire to eventually become Grand Admiral. She was eventually mentored by Armitage Hux, who was played by Domhnall Gleeson in the most recent Star Wars movies. Even though Sloane doesn’t appear in the movies, she has a mighty presence in the Star Wars novels.
She was first introduced in John Jackson Miller’s 2014 novel A New Dawn and was later featured in Wendig’s already pretty queer Aftermath trilogy. In one of Wendig’s novels Empire’s End, Sloane tells Wexley that she’s never had “a husband or a wife die in my hands”, acknowledging her non-heterosexual relationships.
Please send your events, meetings, etc., to pgriffin@thedestinlog.com at least 2 weeks in advance.
Destin City Hall
All city meetings are being held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, until further notice. All meetings are subject to change or cancellation. To virtually view the meeting, https://www.cityofdestin.com/. To view/stream is www.youtube.com/CityofDestin.
Wednesday Night Concert Series
Sit back and relax, and enjoy free live entertainment with Sainte Jane from 7-9 p.m. May 5 on the Events Plaza stage at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
• May 12: Shenanigans
• May 19: Chris Alvarado
• May 26: Flash Flood
• June 2: Cadillac Willy
• June 9: Biscuit Miller and The Mix
• June 16: Will Thompson Band
• June 23: Luke Langford
• June 30: Dion Jones & The Neon Tears
• July 7: Boukou Groove
• July 14: Forrest Williams Band
• July 21: Six Piece Suits
• July 28: Rust & Gold
Concerts in the Village
Shania Twin, Shania Twain Tribute, performs at 7 p.m. May 6 at Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s Dugas Stage. Admission is $15/adults, $10/active-duty military, and children (12 and under) and MKAF members are free.Purchase tickets online at Eventbrite. Gates open 6 p.m.
• May 13: M80s
• May 20: A Brother’ Revival, an Allman Brother Tribute
• May 27: Deana Carter
• June 3: The Tams
• June 10: Kara Grainger
• June 17: Petty Hearts, Tom Petty Tribute
• June 24: Air National Guard Band of the South
Art at Destin Library
During the month of May, the expressive pastel work of artist Melody Bogle is on display at the Destin Library. Take a tour through her land and seascapes as you browse the stacks.
Tequila Tasting
Pescado has partnered with BreakThru Beverage Group to host a tasting led by Marc Engel from 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 6 at The Courtyard at Pescado.. Chef Ken Duenas will be preparing Cinco de Mayo style appetizers and guests will also receive a welcome cocktail in addition to the food and tasting. Tickets are $90 plus tax and gratuity. Email events@thelcrg.com to book your place. Limited spaces available
Spring Showcase – A Night to Remember
Alissa Steffens Vocal Academy/Studios presents its Spring Showcase – A Night to Remember from 6-8 p.m. May 6 on the Events Plaza Stage at Baytowne Wharf. Singer/songwriter students age 12 to adult will present an evening filled with various solos and duets in a variety of music styles.
Sew Spring Crafts
Celebrate spring and learn a useful skill with the Sew Springs Crafts Beanstack Challenge presented by the Destin Library. Through May 23, have fun learning basic sewing stitches while creating a new spring-themed craft each week. You can earn badges by completing the challenges or by reading sewing books and logging your reading minutes. Beanstack is available as a free app for your mobile device or through the web at www.cityofdestin.beanstack.org. If you need information, contact Sandee Kelly at 837-8572 or email skelly@cityofdestin.com.
Book Signing
Gail Pallotta, award winning author and longtime visitor to Destin, will hold a book signing for her latest book, “Cooking Up a Mystery,” at Sundog Books, 89 Central Square in Santa Rosa Beach in Seaside, at 11 a.m. May 7. Recipes from Destin’s Mission Love Seeds are in the book.
Cajun Crawfish Bash
The Rotary Club of Destin’s Annual Cajun Crawfish Bash Charity Fundraiser will return this year to The Towne Centre at Seascape with co-host, Mezcal Mexican Grill, from 5:30-9 p.m. May 7.
Proceeds benefit young families in need through Food For Thought, Harvest House, Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s community outreach initiatives and The Rotary Club of Destin Scholarship Fund. The Fais Do-Do Band performs their unique genre of zydeco music. Tickets are now on sale for $30 per person for a large flat of crawfish and fixings, $50 for All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) crawfish and fixings, and $15 for children or a non-crawfish meal (grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and rotisserie chicken). It is free for kids age three and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Newman-Dailey Resort Properties (850-837-1071), from any Destin Rotarian, the Rotary Club of Destin Facebook page or online at www.DestinRotary.com.
Sip N’ Stroll Gallery Night
Enjoy an evening of art from 5-7 p.m. May 7 at J.Leon Gallery and Studio, 13370 U.S. Highway 98 in Miramar Beach, with wine, champagne, and eats.
Music on Main
The Anthony Peebles Trio performs from 7-9 p.m. May 7 at “Music on Main” concert series in DeFuniak Springs. Guests are invited to enjoy a listening room experience at the historic Florida Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Avenue. Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktail hour. Guests can grab a bite to eat before the concert at one of the downtown restaurants or from the food truck setup in front of the theatre. Tickets purchased in advance are $15/adults and $5/children and are available at fcweb.org/musiconmain. Ticket prices increase $5 on the day of the show.
May 14: West Hine
May 21: Longleaf Drive
May 28: The Wortheys
Embroiderers’ Guild
The Sand Dunes Chapter of Embroiderers’ Guild of America will meet for a stitch-in from 12-3 p.m. May 8 in the Religious Education building, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1200 Valparaiso Blvd. in Niceville. Call 496-3466.
Toast to the Coast: A Cocktail & Culinary Celebration
Join in at HarborWalk Village for Toast to the Coast: A Cocktail and Culinary Celebration featuring local cuisine, signature beverages, and live entertainment at 2 p.m. May 8. Area restaurants will showcase matched samplings — a light bite with a complimentary cocktail. Purchase tickets at https://www.eventliveus.com/purchase/event/2204688.
Mother’s Day Victorian Tea
Heritage Museum in Valparaiso will host a Victorian Tea from 1-3 p.m. May 8. Each lady will receive a carnation. Please dress accordingly and space is limited. The price is $20/Museum members and $25/non Museum members. Call 678-2615 to pre-register.
Lionfish Restaurant Week
Emerald Coast Open’s Lionfish Restaurant Week is back from 12-10 p.m. May 9-15 in Destin. Local chefs will highlight lionfish with unique dishes to bring awareness to the lionfish invasion in the Gulf of Mexico. Restaurants include Crab Trap Destin, May 9; Marina Cafe, May 10; Dewey Destin’s Harborside, May 11; La Paz, May 12; Harbor Docks, May 13; and AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, May 15.
Blessing of the Fleet
Destin’s 64 th Annual Blessing of the Fleet will be held May 13 at the docks behind Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer Restaurant on the Destin harbor. The event begins at 4 p.m. with a Captains’ Worship and Prayer Service to be held under a large tent. The public is encouraged to attend. Then local clergy will process to the dock to begin blessing vessels. A community fish fry will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a suggested meal donation.
Grief Class
Beginning at 1 p.m. May 13, Destin United Methodist Church will have grief classses discussing different stages of grief and how they apply to loss. Loss which include life, relationships, health, careers and self worth. For more information and registration, contact Ken Gay at 582 2548 or email kengay.kg@ gmail.com.
Storytime at Destin Library
Cuddlers and Toddlers Storytime is live on the lawn at the Destin Library 10:30 a.m. May 13, 20, and 27 as weather permits. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the grass while Miss Laura reads picture books and leads the group in songs, rhymes, and fingerplays. For more information, call 837-8572 or email library@cityofdestin.com.
Bubbly Baytowne
Enjoy an evening full of free champagne (21+) and shopping during Bubbly Baytowne from 5-7 p.m. May 13 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
Nothin’ Funner Than Summer
Spend a day exploring exhibits before hiking to Camp Longleaf at E.O Wilson Biophilia Center’s Nothin’ Funner Than Summer from 9 am. to 2 p.m. May 15 in Freeport. Free for members-use; code in email. Adults $8 and children 3-12 $5. Pre-registration required at eowilsoncenter.org or call 835-1824. Food will be available for purchase.
Lionfish Festival
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the seventh annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Festival is scheduled for May 15 and 16 at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar and HarborWalk Village in Destin. Come out and celebrate the fight against invasive lionfish with the FWC and Destin–Fort Walton Beach. Activities will include fillet demonstrations; family-friendly games and activities; art, diving and conservation booths; and the world’s largest lionfish spearfishing tournament, the Emerald Coast Open. Satisfy your taste buds by visiting any of the participating locations of Lionfish Restaurant Week May 10-14 for your chance to try this delicious invasive.
Sunday Cinema
Grab a lawn chair or blanket and cozy up at 8 p.m. May 16 on the Events Plaza Lawn at Baytowne Wharf for the free movie “Coco,”:a featured film on the big screen.
May 23: Ralph Breaks the Internet
May 30: Incredibles 2
June 6: Maleficent
June 13: Croods A New Age
June 20: Secret Life of Pets 2
June 27: Moana
July 11: Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
July 18: Pete’s Dragon
July 25: Sing
Hydroflight Monday
Enjoy shows from fly-board extraordinaire Ben Merrell over the lagoon at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Mondays, May 17-Aug. 2.
Boomin’ Tuesday
Turn your eyes on the sky at Baytowne Wharf and watch as the sky lights up with a fireworks show over the Lagoon at 9:15 p.m. Tuesdays, May 18-Aug. 3. Also, a DJ Dance Party with DJ Mike Whitty begins at 7 p.m. in the Events Plaza.
Magical Thursday
Magic, music, and mayhem with Baytowne Wharf’s featured pirate Captain Davy takes you on an adventure with two magic shows at 7 and 8 p.m. Thursdays May 20-Aug. 5.
Memorial Day Weekend
Kick-off the summer season with live music, fireworks and a silent disco party at HarborWalk Village. Events include Flash Flood at 7 p.m. May 29; Cadillac Willy and fireworks at 7 p.m. May 30; and a silent disco party with DJ Chubby and DJ D Funk at 7 p.m. May 31. Parking on-site is $10. All guests are encouraged to social distance and wear masks while visiting HarborWalk Village.
Memorial Day Celebration
Kick off your summer with a free Memorial Day Celebration at The Village of Baytowne Wharf from 7-9 p.m. May 29 and 6-9 p.m. May 30. Enjoy music with Forrest Williams Band on Saturday and TBD on Sunday. Enjoy kids activities and a patriotic fireworks show on Sunday evening.
Memorial Day Program
The Village of Baytowne Wharf will hold a free Memorial Day Program at 5 p.m. May 31. The Sandestin Veterans present a program in honor of our veterans.
Tailgates Down Concerts
The Emerald Coast Parrothead Club will host “Tailgates Down” Phriends All Around on June 12 at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, 4323 Commons Drive W in Destin. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. for tailgating and music from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The concert series benefits Fresh Start for Children & Families. Local musicians Jeff and the Camaros, Brent Burns, trop rock artist Mike Nash and nationally renowned Buffett tribute band Gary Roland and the Landsharks will play. Tickets available thru Eventbrite are $25 in advance, $30 day of show at the gate.
Smoke on the Coast
Destin Commons will host 15 local non-profit organizations at the 10th annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ & Fireworks Festival from 5-10 p. m. July 3. Each non-profit organization teams up with a restaurant or BBQ aficionado. Cast your vote for $1 for your favorite BBQ team, support their mission, and enjoy a day of family fun.
Destin Woman’s Club
The Annual Fashion Show held by the Destin Woman’s Club has been cancelled this year due to the Covid virus. The Fashion Show for 2021 has been scheduled for Nov. 5. As their major fundraiser, net proceeds go toward the Club’s Family Assistance Fund designed to help local families and a local charity.
RECURRING EVENTS
Destin Community Center
All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.comfor information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.
Pickleball: Sessions are Mondays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Fee is $3/session. Racquets and balls are available, just bring your gym shoes.
Table Tennis: Play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Paddles and balls provided. Fee is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.
Senior Programs
All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.
— Destin Senior Membership: Join the Destin Seniors to enjoy multiple festivities including the senior lunch bunch, potluck, casino trips, cruises, bingo, chair exercise, knitting, scrabble, and Mexican dominoes. Members must be a Destin resident.
— Senior Book Club: The Destin Senior Members meet at 10 a.m. the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Destin Library, 150 Sibert Ave.
— Senior Drop-In Hours: The Destin Senior Center at Buck Destin Park, 724 Legion Drive, offers senior drop-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Thursday for Seniors (50 years and older) to meet and enjoy each other’s company, participate in games such as Mexican Train Dominoes, Scrabble, cards, etc.
— Senior Walking Club: The Destin Senior Members walk around the Destin Community Center’s gymnasium from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. All of the miles that you walk will be added to the “team map” as we travel from one region to the next. The team’s miles are reported on the 4th Friday of each month at the Destin Senior Membership’s Potluck.
— Destin Senior Chair Exercise 50+ years: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45 a.m. at Buck Destin Park consists of performing light exercises to help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and circulation. Free/residents.
Book Club
The Destin Library’s Novel Idea Book Club is open to adults and meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Club members can submit book recommendations – primarily fiction with the occasional non-fiction title – and the club will vote on which ones to read. Membership is open to everyone; however, you will need an Okaloosa County Public Library card to check-out materials. Members will need an email address and internet access to join the discussion.
City of Destin Annual Passes
Full-time residents (within the incorporated city limits) are encouraged to submit their request for a 2021 Annual Pass at https://www.cityofdestin.com/342/Annual-Passes. For those who do not have internet access, beach parking passes are only available at City Hall. Henderson Beach State Park and Joe’s Bayou Boat Ramp passes are available at both City Hall and the Destin Community Center. For questions, call 837-4242.
Adopt-A-Street
The City of Destin’s Adopt-A-Street Program allows local families, businesses and community groups to perform a valuable community service by adopting sections of a street to keep clear of litter and debris. Groups who participate in this program will have their name listed on the City’s website and signage installed on their adopted street. For more information, call 837-6869 or email adoptastreet@cityofdestin.com.
Grand Boulevard Farmers Market
Grand Boulevard Farmers Market takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grand Park in the heart of Grand Boulevard in South Walton. Bring your shopping bag and load up on local produce, eggs, jams and pies. Homemade soap, good olive oil, and pickled things are all there for the taking.
Rosemary Beach Farmers Market
Come browse the 30A Farmers Market in Rosemary Beach on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The local farmers market takes place on Sundays year round, and Thursdays throughout the summer months, in North Barrett Square along Scenic 30A.
Dear Ruthie is proudly brought to you by C3 Designs — Award Winning Fine Jewelry. C3 Designs offers a variety of services performed in-house, including custom jewelry design, jewelry and watch repair, appraisal, pearl and bead stringing, engraving and flip guards. C3 Designs is the winner of the Jewelers of America 2019 CASE Award.
Dear Ruthie,
I’ve been with my partner for 13-1/2 years. Early on, we agreed that it was alright to have three ways together, and we did so with no adverse results. Now, however, we’re both older and my partner has trouble keeping an erection due to age, stress and weight.
He told me that I can now have sex outside our relationship and he’d be fine with it. He is retiring soon, so I fear that me stepping out might cause issues with him staying home so much. I’m not sure what I want to do. Any advice would be appreciated.
(Signed)
Stepping-Out Stephen
Dear Stephen,
As tempting as it might be to get a little piece of lovin’ on the side, I’d say keep it your pants for a bit longer. You say he can’t get his willy going due to stress, but you also note that he’s retiring soon. There’s a good chance Ol’ Glory will rise again once his work stress subsides.
Get him an appointment with a urologist as well. There might be a quick fix, making this entire situation invalid. That said, play it cool until he retires and sees a doctor. Depending on what develops, you may not need to butter your buns without him right there at the buffet.
Ruthie’s Social Calendar
May 6—”Divas de la Noche” at Hamburger Mary’s (730 S. Fifth St.): Come see the show that all of Milwaukee is talking about, “Divas de la Noche!” The Latinx performers of Hamburger Mary’s put on this high-energy 8 p.m. show that comes with a side of sass as well as $5 margaritas and discounts on Corona and Modelo beers. This weekly show sells out, so be sure to reserve your seat at www.hamburgermarys.com/mke.
May 7—Jukebox Bingo at Walker’s Pint (818 S. Second St.): Cap off Fish-Fry Friday with this popular night where “Name that Tune” meets bingo. Five rounds of fun, music, laughs, drinks, prizes and friendly faces make this 7 p.m. party a great way to start the weekend. Every night is ladies night at Walker’s Pint…but men are always welcome to join the good times, too!
May 8—30-Minute Art Tour at Saint Kate Arts Hotel (139 E. Kilbourne Ave.): Don’t miss this 11 a.m. art tour of the Saint Kate’s latest installments led by art historian and curator Samantha Timm. To keep things on the safe side, this free tour is limited to 8 people, so it’s first come, first serve, honey. In other words, don’t be late!
May 8—Pet Palooza at Historic Downtown Greendale (5680 Broad St.): I’ve always said that in my next life, I hope to come back as a gay man’s dog, and this event is another reason why. Grab your furry friend and head over to this charming shopping district between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Let your four-legged buddy run the agility course, visit the pet psychic or take in the animal fashion show. There’s plenty for humans to enjoy, too, including food vendors, a marketplace and more.
May 9—The Princess Run at Menomonee Park (W220 N7884 Townline Road, Menomonee Falls): Treat your mom or your little princess to a 5K run or walk this Mother’s Day throughout the picturesque Menomonee Park. Social distancing is enforced but fun is encouraged during the outdoor event. Search for “The Princess Run” at www.runsignup.com, then register for the event that bests you and your group.
May 11—Circles of Recovery 12 Step Anonymous Virtual Meeting: The team at the LGBT Community Center offers this recovery support group to anyone dealing with issues surrounding substance and alcohol use. No matter what stage of recovery you might be in, this group offer a supportive atmosphere, exploring several different models of recovery. Join the 5:30 p.m. ZOOM group with the meeting ID and passcode found on the calendar at www.mkelgbt.org. Contact tdelagarza@mkelgbt.org for more.
Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Simply shoot her a message at DearRuthie@ShepEx.com.
As though the past five years have not been enough, I’ve noticed a trend in recent legislation across Montana. Basically, in response to a Democrat president, Montana legislators have begun targeting trans kids, with bills intended to deny them a wholesome childhood.
I could talk about how these bills address things that do not happen (such as denying surgeries for children that are too young for surgeries), but that would be entertaining the idea that any of these bills are intended to do anything other than escalate an unnecessary culture war. A waste of my time.
Instead, allow me to address parents and any LGBT person still confused by the recent flood of hate: run. Get as far away from this state as you can. It is not safe for your children here. It is not safe for your families here. Montana is a spawning grounds for hate and predatory consumption. As long as the culture war continues, Montanans will always join the powerful in crushing the weak.
Raise your families where your children are free to be themselves. Let fire season have Montana — we deserve it.
