A Conversation With Bruce Vilanch

Bruce Vilanch and Drew Wilson on the 16th Street Mall in 2010

Famous funnyman Bruce Vilanch has worked with everybody, won every award, and he'll be back in Colorado on Saturday, October 14 as part of Boulder Jewish Family Services' fifth annual Reel Hope Boulder. This fundraising event will include a wine and beer reception and all proceeds support the life-transforming work of Boulder JFS, which provides older adults, adults with disabilities, their families, and individuals in crisis with services to enhance their quality of life.

We had a chance to talk to him about being gay and Jewish, legalized marijuana ... and taint.

Drew: Hey, Bruce, it's Drew with MileHighGayGuy.
Bruce: MileHighGayGuy? A gay thing? Good, so we can talk about taint and all of that.

Drew: I’m hoping that the majority of the conversation will be taint-related but first, tell me about your upcoming appearance at Reel Hope Boulder with Jewish Family Services.
Bruce: Well, the Jews have got me. I’m visiting my people. I was wandering in the desert and now I’m visiting my people.

Drew: Your people are both the Jews and the gays. How would you say your Jewishness and your gayness have shaped your life, personality and career.
Bruce: Interesting question. When you’re Jewish you’re kind of automatically in show business and I think that’s because that was what we were allowed to do early on. So we became showpeople. There’s a lot of emphasis on that. Same thing when you’re gay. When you’re gay you’re always kind of in performance mode. At least we used to be, because that’s what made us distinctive. Now that we’ve become so mainstream, not so much.

But what really binds them together is the idea of being outside of the mainstream, a fairly exotic minority. When you grow up Jewish you learn that a lot of people hate you and they’re not going to help you so you have to do it yourself. You have to take care of your own because you can’t rely on anybody else to do that. And that is also a great mantra for the gay community. There’s a joke Jewish people have that every Jewish holiday can be summed up in three lines - They tried to kill us. They lost. Let’s eat. And it’s the same thing with the gay community.

There are valuable lessons to be learned from the Jewish experience by gay people of all creeds. I love that word, creeds. So I guess that’s part of it. Other than all of that, nothing.

Margaret Cho: The Hardest Working Woman in Show Business Brings Her New Tour to Denver!

By Drew Wilson

Margaret Cho returns to Denver with her new Mother Tour on October 18 at the Paramount Theater. In addition to the tour, Cho is also currently starring in the new season of Drop Dead Diva as Terri Lee as well as a new web-series called In Transition where she plays a woman recently released from prison. But wait, there's more! The hardest working woman in show bidness also has a podcast called Monsters of Talk and in her spare time serves as the go-to guest-host on The View. 

I had a chance to chat with Ms. Cho recently and we talked about all of the above in addition to much, much more.

Drew: Hey Margaret, you've got a ton of stuff going on so let's just run right on down the list. The new season of Drop Dead Diva started not too long ago, are you still enjoying that gig after all this time?

Margaret: Yeah, it’s been about five seasons and it’s very cool to be able to go back and play a character after all this time. You really learn who this person is and it’s very interesting.

What do you find interesting about your character?

I think she’s interestingly different, she’s fun and strong. I personally have never worked in an office but I feel like I have worked vicariously through her. She’s cool she’s really like the boss of everybody. She controls everything and calls the shots even though she’s not the boss she is a boss!

You're also doing a web-series called 'In Transition'. What can you tell me about that? 

It's something I wanted to do with all my friends. I wanted to do this thing where it was easy and I could just hang out with people I enjoy and don’t get to see enough. A lot of them are from The Cho Show,which was my reality show years ago on VH1, and we just kind of made the series so we could have fun together and also it’s funny and cool.

It's also kind of timely with this Orange Is The New Black, prison-chic kind of moment in entertainment. Are you watching that?

I haven’t seen it but I loved the book. I’m saving it and planning to watch the whole season all at once. I actually prefer to watch TV like that and I think a lot of people do it nowadays. We just wait and watch the whole thing at one time, which is fun.

Just hang up the Do Not Disturb sign and disappear for a weekend?

Yeah! So cool.

I just found out that you have a podcast and I happen to be in the market for some new podcasts to listen to. I will be subscribing directly after this interview.

Oh good! It’s really great, it's called Monsters of Talk and it's all different people we interview. Recently we had Lady Bunny and Exene Cervenka. We went to a furry convention which was cool. It runs the gamut of entertainment and social stuff and people I run across. My co-host Jim Short it really funny. So we just go everywhere and interview really cool people.

Margaret, how is it you’ve got like 25 jobs and some people ain't got any? Seriously, I know a lot of people who are unemployed or underemployed and it seems like you are someone with some serious insight into how to find work. How do you do it?

I think the key is to start doing a job before you get paid for doing it. Find out what you really love doing. I spent a little bit of time doing comedy before I got paid for it and then when I got paid for it became a different thing. But I think with anything, there’s an investment in time where you have to make it more about the journey and the work and then generally you get compensated after. It can’t be like; oh, I want to be rich. I don’t think it ever works that way. It’s more like deciding 'I want to do this particular job' and then finding out all the ways you can do it. And then just do it.

I know you were lobbying for one of the recently vacated seats on The View. I would have loved to see you nab a permanent spot!

You know nothing is ever for sure and I’m definitely their temp at the moment. I’m kind of on call for that. It’s a great thing, to go on that show. I say that I wanted to be on it so much that I dressed up as Catwoman like Sean Young years ago when she wanted to be in Batman. It was funny. It’s a really great thing to be able to do it whenever they ask me. I’d love that job permanently.

The Mother Tour comes to Denver October 18. Speaking on behalf of longtime fans, is there anything left that we haven’t heard about your mother?

I think that there’s a lot of things left to joke about with her. There’s also a lot to do with my own kind of struggles with aging and my own idea about how old I am and how everybody kind of looks at me as a mother figure. 

There’s a period when you’re a woman in your 40s that everybody assumes you’re a mom and that’s kind of an identity for me as well. 

I have people who call me 'mother' as well so there are a lot of different meanings to the name.

As a longtime LGBT advocate and member of the community, what are your thoughts all of the recent changes and gains in terms of LGBT rights?

I don’t know exactly because it’s just so different all over. I live in Georgia sometimes and I travel all over and I wonder what does it all means for some of the more conservative states. I’m waiting to see how it plays out. I don’t understand exactly how something like marriage is going to work since it’s not legal everywhere. It’s definitely exciting. I’m curious about how it’s going to affect everybody, federal or state-to-state, what does it all mean? It’s an exciting time.

I’ve talked to you many times over the years and what always strikes me is how different your public persona is from your personality in these interviews. You're so bombastic on stage but kind of quiet and soft-spoken in person and in interviews as opposed to, say Kathy Griffin or Joe Rogan who seem, and I could be wrong, the same onstage as they do in their personal lives. Do you see yourself in those terms?

I definitely know that I’ve had to develop a stronger presence as a performer. When I started comedy I was so young and it seemed to be an insurmountable thing. Succeeding at comedy seemed like such a big task that I had to, um, be a sort of like, very strong, very forceful performer. It’s not that I act different, it’s just sort of that being on stage requires that iron will a bit. You just get very strong and unrelenting. I don’t know if it’s a different persona or anything, I’m not sure.

I posted on my Facebook that I was going to be interviewing you and I asked my friends if they had any questions they wanted to ask you. Author Michael Thomas Ford wanted me to ask you if

you think the platypus is an example of intelligent design or a failure of Coco Chanels’ warning to remove one accessory before leaving the house.

(Laughs) Well, intelligent design is not so intelligent all the time so it would probably be answer 'B', Coco Chanel.

And finally, what message do you have for readers of MileHighGayGuy and why should they come see the Mother Tour?

Well, I haven’t been there much recently so this will be exciting for me to come back and hang out. Also, your lungs are stronger than most because of all that altitude so I think that you’ve all got to come out and really laugh it up and show off that lung power. I think that would be amazing.

Margaret Cho’s new standup comedy show MOTHER is a complicated and completely original take on sex, queer politics, drugs, guns, identity and madness, proving time and time again, boundaries uncrossed are meaningless. Nothing is sacred, least of all, this MOTHER. Click here for tickets.

Chris Cali on Being an Openly Gay Artist, the State of Gay Hip-Hop and Pop, and His New Mixtape 'Pharaoh'

By Drew Wilson

Up-and-coming gay artist Chris Cali just released his new mixtape 'Pharaoh', complete with a sexy video for the super-danceable track 'Never Let Me Go' (see below). The video was recently featured on Out.com, as was an op-ed written by Cali himself on what he calls the "limited tropes of gayness" in music.

Cali took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with me about his new music, his favorite artists, and the ups and downs of being openly gay in the music industry.

Drew: Where are you based out of and how long have you been in the music industry?
Chris Cali: I'm based out of New York City and I've been singing my whole life, but I began pursuing music professionally in 2004.

What would you say are the pros and cons of being an openly gay artist?
I'm still figuring this out, but I'm hoping one of the pros will be finding an  audience that is looking for more representation in the media, and will therefore embrace what I'm trying to do, which is simply present myself authentically. The cons I suppose would be that our culture likes to compartmentalize people and judge them based on what category they fall into, so there will no doubt be people out there who will automatically dislike me as an artist simply because I'm open about my sexuality.

Who are some of your favorite gay artists?
I've been a big fan of Cazwell for many years. Mykki Blanco, Le1f, AB SOTO are some other contemporary artists I like. There's a lot of exciting stuff going on in gay hip-hop right now. I hope to see more expansion of a gay pop scene as well.

How would you describe your new mixtape, Pharoah, and what are your musical influences/inspirations?
My new mixtape is basically the culmination of what I've been working toward since I started making music. My goal as a musician has always been to make accessible material. While I draw influences from all types and genres of music, I'd say hip-hop, R&B and pop are my primary influences. And since I'm a Scorpio and I tend to be somewhat emotional, making music is always cathartic for me. So even if it's a pop song I try to write in such a way that even songs that are simplistic lyrically have a deeper meaning to me. For example, the track "Killa" is on one level a veiled reference to sexual prowess, but on another it's like a cautionary tale of my own experience being wounded in love and then inflicting that pain on to others. I don't think that pop music has to be devoid of substance and I hope people who hear the mixtape can see that. And lastly, I'm still growing and finding myself as an artist and as an individual. I basically taught myself how to make music, so every record I've made so far is all part of my learning process, and I hope to be able to continue to progress.

What message do you have for readers of MileHighGayGuy?
One thing I've definitely learned is that not everyone is going to like my shit; that's just the nature of being an artist. I don't expect an LGBT audience to just jump on my bandwagon because I'm gay. But I would hope that people will appreciate the balls it takes to put yourself out there, especially as a gay artist. I think visibility is key for the community, as is a wider range of representation. I think I offer something different than the typical images of gay men we see in the media, and I hope the audience sees that as well.

Deep Inside Pandora Boxx

By Drew Wilson

Pandora Boxx is the drag queen superstar who rocketed to fame as the Susan Lucci of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season two. Since then, she's gone on to become one of the most popular cast members of all time and a full-time entertainer doing shows, making music and starring - alongside a bevy of bulging boy bodybuilders - in the most recent Andrew Christian video, 'After School Special' (NSFW). 

I caught up with her as she was packing for the Drag Stars At Sea Carnival Cruise (you know, the one that scandalized us all a few days ago by banning passengers from wearing drag and threatening to disembark any gay folks who offended the tender sensibilities of their more valuable customers, families with children) and we had a nice chat about her experiences with 'RuPaul's Drag Race', channeling Jessica Lange for her role as a glue-sniffing nun, and how she prefers her cars and penises.

Drew: Nothing like kicking off an interview with an awkward question so let's just get this out of the way. WTF is up with that whole bizarre Carnival Cruise situation?

Pandora: Well, I mean, I got the same email that everybody going on the cruise got at the same time they all got it and I think that the timing was really horrible, because it’s only five days before the cruise, and I’m not sure what they were thinking when they booked a drag cruise to then say that no one can go in drag to the events except for the performers.

There are a lot of drag queens who are signed up to go on this cruise and of course they are planning to do drag. When we do shows anywhere there’s always people who are dressed up coming to the shows. It’s a form of expression and I don’t know if they were thinking much worse things were going to happen or something but, I mean, I just don’t know.

But I will say that the choice of wording was extremely poor. Honestly, I was more offended by that wording; to tell people that they would be "disembarked" if they dressed in drag? I’ve been on cruises before and I've seen people dressed more offensively than any drag queens. I’ve seen heterosexuals doing all sorts of disgusting things … 

And nobody threatens them with having to walk the plank!

Exactly. So it’s disheartening to say the least. But at least they did come through with an almost-complete apology within a 24 hour period and that, for a big corporation is saying something. Whatever. I’m just focusing on the fact that they did come back and say it would be OK to do drag. But it was shocking to me. Drag queens are offensive to children? Anytime I’ve seen a kid who asked anything about it I just tell them it’s like celebrating Halloween every day and they’re totally fine with it.They get it.

Exactly. So with that out of the way, reason I wanted to talk to you in the first place was because I saw you in the new Andrew Christian/White Party Palm Springs video. Despite all of the eye-candy and antics going on in that video, my eye was immediately drawn to you. How'd you get involved in that project and what was filming like? 

Well, I know Brad Hammer over at Andrew Christian and we've been acquaintances and online friends for a long time and that’s how the dialogue started between us. I'm like, if someone promotes me, I promote them! I think their videos are genius because essentially you are watching a commercial but because they’re so good and so hot and just basically the best marketing ever, you never realize that that’s what it is, a commercial. Well, and sometimes soft-core porn. But they do a great job with them and I love them and was excited to do it.

And you play a glue-sniffing nun. How did you prepare for your role?

Well, I’m a huge fan of American Horror Story. Jessica Lange is the most amazing nun ever and I thought of her and said, "Oh, yeah, I can be a nun." It was a lot of fun. Everybody who works there is so nice and it was so fun and I got to molest the really hot gym coach a little bit.

Just a little bit?

A tiny bit.

Well, that's better than no molestation at all.

Yes, it is.

Do you personally own any Andrew Christian panties?

I do. And then they actually loaned me some underwear and models for my new video. I did a cover of Samantha Fox’s "I Wanna Have Some Fun" and it should be out very soon.

Sounds heavenly! You also have another song out right now, "Nice Car (Shame About Your Penis)," which is about you not liking guys with nice cars and small weiners. One of my readers who shall go nameless (Tink) wonders if you do like guys with nice cars and big weiners. Just between you and me, he's got a nice car and a big penis. 

(Laughing) Oh, I very much like those types of guys. But the song isn’t actually just about guys with nice cars and small penises - it’s about douche-bags with nice cars and small penises. I’m not prejudiced against a smaller penis at all. Although, I do like some girth.

Ha! So another big thing you were recently involved in was RuPaul's All Star Drag Race. How do you feel about Chad Michaels snatching the tiara?

Chad’s an amazing entertainer and he's very solid. He rarely messes up and is really consistent and was great all season. I’m happy with it. Actually, everyone in the top four was so good I think they could have gotten it.

Yeah, it's like, whoever you were rooting for, nobody could be mad at Chad for winning. They were all great.

Yeah, and everybody was going to lose except for one person anyway. There were so many fan favorites packed in that little season.

Now, I'm a big Drag Race fan and I was particularly excited to see you come back because you got a little bit of a raw deal on your season …

(Laughs) Just slightly.

Right? So you were looking fabulous and in it to win it but then you got teamed up with Mimi Imfurst and it seemed like you just gave up.

Well, you know I’ve heard that from …

Uh-oh! You've heard that from everybody and their gay uncle? Should I just go ahead and punch myself in the neck for asking?

Oh, goodness no! I just didn’t feel like I was giving up. Well, I guess there was kind of a moment where I was like, “I give up” because I just felt, like no matter what we did, we were never going to go very far. 

Why is that?

I just don’t think they would have allowed her to go very far. She’s campy and goofy and I think she’s hysterical and talented but she just doesn't fit the Drag Race aesthetic at all and she is never going to fit the mold of the things they want and the things they like. 

For me, I was like "Oh, my God." Because I think she was just cast for controversy. I wasn’t mad at her … and by the way, everything I’m telling you now, I told her then. Mimi’s not stupid. She knows why she was brought back and knew it was going to be an uphill battle.

How was All Stars different for you from your first season?

I came in with a lot more confidence this time. I knew I had a better wardrobe because I make more money now. I’m a full-time entertainer and I travel and I have more costumes and stuff. And I’ve played the game before. I felt like I knew what was going to happen and I was ready for it. But then they threw in that twist ...

Ugh! So lame.

Yeah, that look on my face? That stank face? It wasn’t because of Mimi. It was because I knew Jujubee was going to pick Raven. I knew it for a fact. That whole look was because it really felt to me like a punch in the balls. I knew all the hard work I had put in was just … gone. 

But I think what I learned is that I kind of got too in my head and should have just been happier and not made so many stank faces. And there were a lot of times when Mimi and I got along. When we were working on the challenges and after she did my makeup all right we got along fine and worked together but, you know, that doesn’t make for interesting TV.

Yeah. And in addition to that lame twist of having you guys partner up, we only got six effing episodes. I don't get it. Why would you have an all star season with only half the usual number of episodes? Makes no sense.

Yeah, the team idea is pretty much universally hated. Everybody hated it. I think I know of one person who liked it. And I don't know why they only wanted six episodes.

That one person is crazy and if I ever meet him, I will literally kick his ass. It was a terrible decision. Lame. Didn’t let you guys shine, didn't give the fans what they wanted. Ridiculous.

Yeah, I think the viewers really wanted to see everybody be able to compete and do their best. That twist, we weren’t happy about it and the viewers weren’t happy about it. But for whatever reason, they only had the six episodes and they wanted to get as many fan favorite queens on the show as possible. I think they’ve realized that people didn’t like it.

So what's next for you, Ms. Boxx?

You know, I was just asking myself that same question. It’s like, what is next? There’s so much I want to do. I want to work on new projects. I want to stay relevant. I’m working on more music. And I’m putting together a stand up comedy show I want to tour with and I have a short film coming out in January. Hopefully people like it.

Wow, so a little bit of everything.

Yeah, why not? When projects come in, I just say yes!

What would be your dream project?

Oh, my dream would be to have my own TV show but that’s a process and a half. But I’m still holding out for it.

We touched on this topic earlier but I'd like to come back to the topic of the show's aesthetic for a minute. Obviously, that was the judges' issue with you. You were this great, funny, kind of campy queen and they didn't want that so they pretended ...

You know, I was certainly not thrilled to have been portrayed like I had this horrendous wardrobe ... if you go back and watch you will see that I did not even have the worst wardrobe on the show. There were plenty of people in ugly outfits on that stage that never once got called out for them.

I did go back and watch. And yes there were.

And that’s fine. OK, maybe I had some ugly-ass outfits, but that’s what they reduced me to? That's how they portrayed me? Ugly outfits. And I didn’t realize that that’s what I was to them until after I got kicked off and realized, "Oh my god, I was the girl who couldn’t win." The challenge that I got sent home for? I actually for a second there thought I was going to win.

So did I, girl!

The judges had really liked everything I did but when I went out there I realized something else had gone on I wasn't aware of and it was like, OMG! And then when they said it was me and Jujubee on the bottom I knew it was good-bye, Pandora. It didn’t matter what I did, they just loved Jujubee way too much to send her home.

The writing was on the wall and the lipstick was on the mirror.

But Entertainment Weekly said I had the most controversial elimination of the season and that I was their pick for America’s Next DragSuperstar. I honestly think I have a lot of the fanbase that I have because I got kicked off when I did. And I’m kind of happy about that now! Then? No. Absolutely not. I was not happy.

Did you spiral into an all-consuming depression?

You know, I did actually. It’s like, you leave the show you go home, and then there’s so many months before it actually airs. For a long time I was just like OMG, I thought I killed my drag career. I thought I was going to be a total laughingstock. But then when it played, it was like 'Hmm, this is a little bit different'. The audience reacted well to me and people didn’t like the criticisms I was getting so I was like YESSS!!!

They understood the magic and mystery of Pandora Boxx! OK, I know you have to get ready for your cruise but before I let you go, is there anything you'd like to say to readers of MileHighGayGuy?

Just make sure everybody visits my website PandoraBoxx.com! Two exes in 'boxx', because the extra 'x' marks the spot! Womp womp! Such a nasty little joke.

A conversation with Rod Thomas of Bright Light Bright Light

By John Hill

If you were to ask Americans about a musician named Rod Thomas, many would confuse the name with Rob Thomas, lead singer for Matchbox Twenty. 

However, those in the know will instantly recognize Rod Thomas as the man behind UK pop act Bright Light Bright Light. As Rod describes it, the music is “melodramatic 90s tinged pop,” but the sound is fresh and current while still paying homage to the music that inspired it.

 In advance of playing multiple shows in New York this week, Rod agreed to talk about his new single “Feel It,” his Scissor Sisters connection, going on holiday in St. Tropez, and maintaining a fan base in the US. 

John Hill: Your current single "Feel It" has a fun video that was partially shot on the streets of New York. Was that during one of your trips to play shows in NYC?

Rod Thomas: I shot it in NYC in July when I was over yes. It was a blast. It was one of the nicest teams I've worked with.

JH: Early on in the video, (Scissor Sisters member) Del Marquis shows up for a cameo. While a lot of Americans may not know you, a lot more of them know Scissor Sisters. How did the collaborations with Del begin?

RT: We met in NYC back in 2009 when I was over for a few shows and meetings. He'd released some solo material that I really liked, so I emailed him and asked if he was around for a drink while I was in town, and he was. We saw Depeche Mode together and talked about music, what we were working on, and just clicked. I sent him the demo of “Cry at Films” and he liked it so he added vocals and guitar, and so started a great collaboration and friendship!

JH: And then on top of that, you've just been added as an opening act to the Scissor Sisters' UK tour. That has to be a huge bonus for your visibility in the UK.

RT: It's amazing. I mean, it's easy to forget that they have sold MILLIONS of records!! They've been one of my favourite bands since I used to play 'Laura' on its first release on my student radio show. I literally couldn't be more excited. And yes it's a huge bonus - the venues are great and I'm sure the crowds will be super fun and up for a dance.

JH: Aside from Del’s cameo, the revelation in the video is that the diva voice on "Feel It" actually comes from a man. Where did the inspiration for putting Mykal Kilgore on the record come from?

RT: Del sent me a song a few months back that had Mykal singing on it, literally a week after I'd recorded 'Feel It' and when I heard him sing I just thought "he HAS to sing on this track" - so I wrote the answering lines and asked Del if he would put us in touch and Mykal did the most AMAZING job singing those vocals. Del recorded them in his studio, so I was really happy we managed to get all three of us in the video.

JH: How is it trying to cultivate a US fan base when your visibility here is limited?

RT: It's hard. When you come from the UK you really have no idea how vast America is, but I think even at this point I've tapped into a really great kind of fan base. The NYC shows have been really, really important to me - I love that people from the other side of the world have even heard of me, let alone want to come watch, and I've met some great people. I can't wait until I get chance to tour the US properly. It's difficult to properly focus on starting the fan base in the US with so many work commitments over here, but things like Twitter and Facebook have been a really good and fun way to reach out.

JH: It seems you stumbled on an inadvertent way to get visibility in the US this summer when you were on holiday in St. Tropez with Elton John and what seemed like an entourage of hot men. How does something like that even come about?

RT: Haha. Nicely phrased! I've been friends with him quite a long time now. I used to be managed by his management company, and we kept in touch over the years. He's been very supportive of my album, so we've been talking a lot this year. I was in France, he was in France, so we went for lunch. Basically, two friends were in the same country and we met up. It just sounds insane to say that when one of your friends is one of the most iconic musicians in the world!! I'm amazed that someone as busy and as established as he is has time to constantly listen to new music, but he does. I guess it's a great way to make interesting new friends!

JH: I remember you saying a year or so back that you were working with different people to eventually have a video for every track on (BLBL’s full-length album) Make Me Believe in Hope. Is that still a thing?

RT: Yes it's still a thing. It takes time, but it's very close.

JH: What's the plan once the Scissor Sisters tour is over with and "Feel It" runs its course?

RT: There's plenty more to come don't worry.

JH: Last question...will there be a full-fledged US tour?

RT: Yes, it's just a case of when. And it can't really come soon enough!

Bright Light Bright Light is making three appearances in New York this week: October 9th at Westgay (a dance pop set); October 10th playing a solo piano set at Mercury Lounge and premiering a brand new song; and October 11th DJing at Nowhere Bar. The official release of “Feel It” is on October 29^th, but his full-length Make Me Believe in Hope is out and available now. For all things Bright Light Bright Light, check out the website at www.brightlightx2.com.

PORNSTAR: A conversation with Dominic Sol

By Drew Wilson


Manhunt and DJ Tatiana's PORNSTAR Party (every second Friday at Bar Standard) has made a name for itself as the steamiest, sexiest gay party in Denver.

And tonight's party - The Fetish Party - might just be the sexiest yet with beats by DJ/Pornstar Tristan Jaxx and porn superstars Cavin Knight and Dominic Sol. I had a chance to catch up with Dominic Sol - the first Latino star to be featured at PORNSTAR- and find out his favorite fetish and what he likes most and least about working in the wild world of adult entertainment. 


Drew: You're the first Latino star to come to PORNSTAR, how do you feel about that and what do you think makes Latino guys hot?
Dominic: I'm excited to be the first Latino porn actor that is coming to PORNSTAR! From my experience what makes Latino guys hot is the passion that most of us exude and thrive on, making sex a connected and hedonistic experience.

What's your favorite part of working in the adult industry?
My favorite part is getting to meet different people and fulfill my exhibitionist side of sex.

What's your least favorite part of working in the adult industry?
I would say not being able to eat food for an extended amount of time, especially when you are the bottom.

Tomorrow is The Fetish Party - what's your favorite fetish?
My favorite fetish is role-playing different scenarios and living out a fantasy, especially ones where one is dominant over the other.

What's fetish would be your least favorite?
My least favorite would be blood, piss or scat play.

Why should gay Denver come out to see you tomorrow? What do you have planned for the party?
Denver should come out to have fun, dance their asses off and watch Cavin and I put on a sexy and erotic show.

What are some of your favorite scenes or movies that you've been in that we should all see?
A couple of my favorite scenes have been one with Jesse Santana in the movie Suited for Sex and a scene I did with my boyfriend, Morgan Black, for a website called Parolehim.com - but I believe that the site is not out yet.

What message do you have for readers of MileHighGayGuy?
Love yourself, take care of yourself and enjoy what is happening right now rather than worrying about what has happened or what will happen.

PORNSTAR: The Fetish Party takes place tonight at Bar Standard. Doors open at 9pm with 2 for 1 drinks and cover until 10pm. $10 cover after 10pm. First 100 people through the door get a Manhunte.net surprise gift and a picture with the headliners. Also, The Hanky Code will be in full effect. Wear your color, and feel free to dress according to your fetish.

A Conversation with Project Runway's Mondo Guerra

A Conversation with Project Runway's Mondo Guerra

by Drew Wilson

31-year old Mondo Guerra from Denver made a splash as the first-ever Coloradoan to appear on 'Project Runway' and (spoiler alert!) while he didn't win he was definitely a favorite with viewers. I had the opportunity recently to talk to him about 'Project Runway', being a "weirdo", his plans for the future, and what bothers him most about Denver.

So Mondo, you're a Denver native?

Yes, I grew up in Arvada and have been in Colorado all my life.

Congratulations on getting so far in the competition. You’re probably already sick of being told you got robbed so I won’t even say it ...

Yeah, exactly. It's true. And thank you.

What was your fashion background before the show and what did hope to accomplish by going on 'Project Runway'?

Well, you know I was always interested in fashion but being here in Denver it can be hard to reach a large audience. I was working at the Arvada Center as a stitcher in the wardrobe department and I thought 'Project Runway' would really be a way for me to show my creative talents. I really wanted to make it onto the show. Not only to prove something to myself but to show others that there’s always something to aim for and accomplish.

Other than being the home to Crocs, Colorado's not generally known as a fashion capitol. Did you feel like you had something to prove as a native?

I will say that there were several times on the show that I wanted to throw in the towel and give up,  because it’s a high stress situation, but I knew that I was representing so much more than just myself as an individual and an artist. I was also representing Denver, which is where I come from. And I’m the first contestant in eight seasons of the show to be from Denver and I always kept in mind that I was representing Colorado and Denver as much as I was representing myself.

Speaking of representing yourself, I've interviewed a lot of reality TV contestants over the years and a lot of them have expressed concerns about how they were edited to appear as, say, a victim or a villain. Do you feel like you were represented fairly on the show?

Everybody asks me that. I think that everybody on the show had a really strong personality and it could have gone different ways but, personally, I felt like they really captured me and my story and the way it all unfolded during my time there. It’s amazing to me, even though I already lived it, to see how much growth I went through on the show.

I imagine that kind of growth is as important as a person as it is for a designer. So what's next for you?

There were earlier interviews where I said I was going to move to LA but, after being back for awhile, I really feel like it’s important for me to stay in Colorado and try to launch my line out of Denver. I feel that there’s a great emerging fashion scene here in Denver and I want to help get it on the map any way I can.  I want to help break the stigma that Denver doesn't have art or culture. We do. We have a lot of it.

Yeah, like I said, Denver isn't really known for its fashion. And I'm part of the problem, I'm afraid. I'm wearing cargo shorts and a t-shirt right now and that's pretty much my uniform year round. What are you wearing right now and what would be your advice for someone like me to make my wardrobe a little more interesting and stylish?

Well, I’m wearing a pair of pink Converse with silver laces, jeans, an army coat with lace material that says 'Love' all over it, a little scarf, a pair of sunglasses, and my signature pompadour. 

For you, maybe you’re wearing cargo shorts and t-shirts and that’s your uniform but you could start introducing other things into your wardrobe. Instead of a t-shirt you could wear a dress shirt and an actual pair of shoes. The thing that bothers me most about Denver and that whole uniform is flip-flops in the winter. I don’t understand that. You know what else I’ve started to notice? People actually going out in their PJs. Like, shopping at the grocery store. In their pajamas. It bothers me. It really bothers me. 

But I would remind people that they don’t have to play by the rules in terms of fashion. It’s really important to play with your clothes and your look and to experiment and figure out what works and what doesn't work for you. Fashion really contributes to not only how you look but how you feel on an everyday basis and every day is a new opportunity to be who you want to be.

I saw you at the Margaret Cho meet and greet and you were wearing a rainbow jumpsuit. Margaret said "that rainbow jumpsuit is fierce, girl!' and it was the gayest thing I've ever seen. In a good way. How does an outfit like that express Mondo Guerra?

I think when you wear something outrageous you really have to be able to pull it off. You have to have the confidence. I mean, I don’t really think of myself as a very cool guy but before I started experimenting with clothes and fashion I was this really bookworm nerdy guy. I used fashion as self-experimentation and self-exploration and it really teaches you how accepting people can be. For the most part people are really interested in new ideas and fashion is a great platform for that.

People appreciate someone who takes risks …

Yes, and taking risks really builds your confidence. I felt great in that rainbow jumpsuit.

What about the flip side? Have you ever experienced any negative reactions to your clothing or your flamboyance?

You know, here’s something that's always bothered me. I've always been outlandish and I would say that most of the hate and condemnation I received growing up has actually come at me from the gay community. I've been called a faggot and a weirdo and this and that and told I'm strange and people have not wanted to be my friend. And it really saddens me because this is my community and we're all supposed to be in this together. But the thing about it is that if you stick to your guns people will eventually come around. 

In light of your experience and the recent spate of anti-gay bullying suicides, what message do you have for gay youth?

To the younger gay community I would just be yourself one hundred percent even though it might be hard growing up being different. You might feel like you have a secret and secrets can be hard but it's ok to tell your secret and tell your story because eventually someone will listen and someone will love you. You just have to find the people that you can trust and care about and find yourself in the community and in the world. 

Well said. Now, as for new projects, I know you have a fashion show coming up for the Alexander Foundation ... 

Well, it’s none of my fashions but I’m a special guest for the Alexander Foundation Benefit Fashion Show. It’s at Saks Fifth Avenue here in Denver on November 5 from 5-8 pm and a percentage of the proceeds go to Alexander Foundation which is a wonderful charity that helps gay people in need.

What are you gonna wear?

Um, I think a grey sharkskin suit with an orange dress shirt, brown shoes, and my glasses. Just something simple. No tie. A little more casual. 

Do you like attention from the public? I’ve seen it happen a couple of times at the Wrangler. People get so excited to see you.

You know, I really can’t go anywhere now without people recognizing me which is fine. It’s kind of cool. I’ve kind of gotten used to it. The weird thing is that people know me from the show and will call my name and I’ll turn around expecting one of my friends but it will be someone I don’t know. I really appreciate it because obviously they connected with me and felt something they could relate to with me and I like that people feel safe and comfortable approaching me for some human connection. People are always looking for that in life. There’s so much pain and sadness in the world that it’s good to have this kind of human connection.

I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about how coming out on the show as HIV positive has worked out for you. I know you were concerned about how your family would take the news.

You know, everything’s fine with my family. More than anything they're proud of me for speaking out and moving forward and being honest. 

You know how you mentioned getting a lot of negativity from the gay community about being outlandish? Something I’ve also noticed is that there seems to be a lot of anti-HIV discrimination in the gay community as well ...

Exactly. I have experienced that. A lot of people living with HIV are scared to come out because of the stigma. There is a lot of discrimination in our community and it can be based on anything from what we look like to the color of our skin. HIV positive people are looked upon as being dirty or bad. And to put that label on people living with HIV, especially from our own community, is that much worse and just makes it that much harder to talk about. 

I’m part of an organization called AHF - AIDS Healthcare Foundation - and they help people living with AIDS and HIV. One of the things they're doing is a jean trade called Jeans For Life.org. It's a very simple and easy way to help some people in need.  

Do you have a message for members of Denver's gay community about HIV?

Yes, I encourage everybody gay, straight, bi, and transgender to get tested at least every six months. Don’t be afraid. There are medications that can help but the longer you wait the worse it can be. And that can be very scary. Trust me. I’ve experienced that myself. I just encourage testing and taking care of ourselves. Love yourself. You can’t really love anybody else until you love yourself. It's something that's taken me a long time to do but it’s so important. 

Find out more about Mondo Guerra at his website LoveMondoTrasho.org.