GET THE LED OUT at Red Rocks

It’s time to wake up and rock the house with GET THE LED OUT – A Celebration of “The Mighty Zep”.  Come relive the passion and fury of the timeless rock anthems and intimate melodies that spans the mythic career of rock ‘n’ roll royalty that is Led Zeppelin. 

 

The Get The Led Out phenomenon, embraced by critics and fans alike, will be heading west to conquer the rest of the country and take its place as the foremost Led Zeppelin tribute. This 6-piece band will take you back to the ‘60s and ‘70s as they re-create the legendary British group’s distinct studio sound, with all the bells and whistles, and brings the Led Zeppelin experience to the big stage.

 

With a whole lotta love, Get The Led Out has established themselves as professional musicians, whose passion for the classic Led Zeppelin song catalog, brings to the stage a stunning two-and-a-half hour concert, performing with all the grandeur and flash such hits as Rock and Roll, Black Dog, Since I’ve Been Loving You, Ramble On, Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, Dazed and Confused, Your Time is Gonna Come, Going to California, Battle of Evermore, Heartbreaker, Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, and many more.

 

Come celebrate the music that defined the rock era, through  their acclaimed note-for-note scrambling on the solos and fills, frenetic soloing, impeccable harmonies, pitch-perfect vocals complete with spot-on wailing, staging, state-of-the-art quadraphonic sound and lighting, all coming together to create a genuine reincarnation of Led Zeppelin.

 

Led Zeppelin held its legendary concert debut in Denver.  Barry Fey, Rock Promoter, said of the Led Zeppelin performance on December 26, 1968 at the Denver Auditorium Arena:  "It's said that the unsuspecting audience at the concert had absolutely no idea that this new 'heavy metal' band from Britain was added to the gig. This historic night marked Led Zeppelin's smashing American debut."  And now, 53 years later, fans of Led Zeppelin get to relive rock history with GET THE LED OUT at Red Rocks.

Jake Wesley Rogers - Momentary

 

Jake Wesley Rogers’ bold music is queer storytelling refracted through a universal lens. His songs are for everyone, but they’re special treats for those who know and share his experiences. And now he has turned his most formative years into some of the most stunning and evocative music you’ll hear this year - like his new single and music video “Momentary” via Facet Records/Warner Records. 

On the track, strings stir in between cinematic piano chords. He pays homage to a bevy of classic figures before the powerful admission, “I thought that love could set me free, but it was momentary,” recognizing the fleeting nature of passion. Meanwhile, the Se Oh-directed music video serves as the perfect complement as it highlights Jake’s inimitable presence with a vignette of his provocative performance on a crucifix.

About the single and visual, he commented, “‘Momentary’ is a funeral and celebration of life. As a queer person, I think it’s important to recognize the complex tapestry that began before I was here and will continue after I’m gone. In the song, I pay respect to my heroes, both fictional and actual, from Marsha P. Johnson to Peter Pan, who didn’t get a chance to grow old. In the music video by Se Oh, I boldly sing in fishnets and a loin cloth while being crucified on a cross, a powerful representation of the impermanence of love and life. Everything truly is momentary.”

Getting It Together - An Inclusive New Graphic Novel

GLAAD Media Award-nominated, bestselling writer Sina Grace (Iceman, Sensational Wonder Woman) and popular writer/producer Omar Spahi (Code 8, Ben 10) are proud to announce the collected edition release of their hit Image Comics series, Getting It Together! 

A fresh, updated spin on twenty-something, found-family dramedies like Friends, Getting It Together follows best friends Sam and Jack. Sam is dating Lauren—Jack’s indie rocker sister and roommate—and when Sam and Lauren open up their long-term relationship, skyrocketing tensions send social shockwaves through their friend group and the entire Bay Area. And Jack, just trying to find the bear of his dreams and caught in the middle of it all, may be forced to take sides in a conflict he never wanted to be a part of. Life gets pretty messy when you’re in your 20s and your friends are your family.

Created by a group of IRL friends, Grace and Spahi have known each other since high school, while series artist Jenny D. Fine and Grace met through the local comedy/illustrator scene. Rounding out the team with colors, Mx. Struble and Grace spent the best part of their 20s collaborating on the fan-favorite series The Li’l Depressed Boy. “The only way that Omar and I could truly capture the everything-ness that your found family represents in a comic book was by enlisting our nearest and dearest to bring Getting It Together to life,” says co-creator Sina Grace of the creative camaraderie. “The love we have for each other, and our cast, shows on every page.” 

On top of providing readers with a hilarious and unflinching look at modern, LGBTQIA+ relationships, co-creator Sina Grace collaborated with Feels front woman Lana Myers-Ionita to produce songs for Lauren’s band in the book, Nipslip! The Lauren’s Demos EP can be enjoyed here.

 

The perfect new series for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me and Tales of the City, Getting It Together is available at comic book shops and with all major booksellers today.

Apple Music Invites You To "Come Together"

To say that these are challenging times is an understatement. But wherever you are and whatever you're experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, we're all in this together. 

Whether you're trying to find distraction while working, living, and playing at home or struggling to find a positive outlook under major life upheavals-music can be an escape and a salve for yourself and whoever you're hunkered down with. Because social distancing doesn't need to mean antisocial. Beginning today Apple Music invites you to COME TOGETHER, a special space where you'll find brand new playlists to suit your situation and to help provide comfort, motivation, focus-or just something to dance to and get your mind off all of this. New playlists span multiple genres and include: 

Isolation Icebreakers - Sometimes it takes challenging circumstances to reveal what someone means to you. But how to go about expressing that without making it feel like an ambush? A little music, perhaps. May this playlist-which features tracks from rising R&B stars like Snoh Aalegra, H.E.R., and Daniel Caesar, be the tie that binds-letting that special someone know that there's no one else you'd rather be cooped up with. Embed: Work From Home Hustle - For those fortunate enough to be able to work remotely, motivation isn't always the easiest thing to come by. Lucky for us, hip-hop is filled with the type of inspirational screeds that push us to go get it-no matter where we are. Let these songs by Drake, Kanye West, and Ace Hood put you in the right headspace to handle business from home. Embed: Virtual Hugs - Sometimes you just need to switch up the mood, to shut out the noise and feel the love. Especially in times like right now. Let these huge pop tunes-some upbeat, all uplifting-from the Jonas Brothers, Ariana, and more bring warm and fuzzy vibes to whatever corner of the world you might find yourself isolated in. Embed: Home-School-Strumentals - With schools closed and learning going remote, it's pretty easy for homework to get completely derailed. Help keep the studying on track with some lo-fi, low-key hip-hop and electronic beats from KAYTRANADA, Pueblo Vista, and more-'cause a little background rhythm never hurt anyone. Embed: Living Room Dance Party - The beauty of the living room dance party is that it works whether you're with the family or hanging solo-and even if you don't have a living room. Blast these feel-good pop and dance tunes from Tones and I, Maren Morris, and other stars to transform any space into an impromptu, social-distancing-friendly Saturday night throwdown. Embed: Astral Escape - You may be stuck inside, but there's more than one way to go on a journey. This heady mix featuring electronic, indie, and R&B visionaries like Flying Lotus and Tame Impala will take you places-even if you're not going anywhere for a while. Embed: Social Distancing Social Club - A big, fat chorus can do something that's hard to come by these days: make people feel closer together, like we're all experiencing the same emotion at the same time-no matter if we're all stuck at home miles apart. This playlist full of hits for the whole family can make any living room feel like an arena. Embed: COME TOGETHER launches today in the US and will be rolling out globally throughout the week. Additionally, Apple Music released The Get Up! Mix, a brand new personalized mix full of happy-making, smile-finding, sing-alonging music that you love, and the Home Office DJ playlist, the perfect soundtrack for all those working from home.

The Gay Vegans: Comida vegana en Tijuana

By Dan Hanley

Vegan food in Tijuana.

Tijuana (TJ), Mexico is a quick 2 1/2 hour drive from LA. I have come to love Tijuana, for many reasons. I recently spent a couple of days there to drop off donations to some nuns there serving migrant women and children, to speak Spanish and to check out some of the amazing vegan food options there.

A couple of things to know before going from California to Tijuana. First, you need your passport. I also recommend purchasing insurance for the amount of days you’re there, if you’re driving. Bring pesos. Your bank can help or you can get them at the last exit before entering Mexico. Traffic can be crazy, and if it makes you uncomfortable to drive there it’s easy to Uber around or use the local buses. If you want to stay in Tijuana there are a lot of great Airbnb options all over and in the central part of town some nice hotels, like the Lucerna.

Also, activism of all kinds is alive and well in Tijuana. This trip for me was to bring donations to the Centro Madre Assunta, and there are literally dozens of nonprofits doing amazing work for humans, animals and the environment.

Playas de Tijuana is the area of the city along the ocean and the US border. Super relaxed with beaches, a boardwalk and work out spaces along the boardwalk. I love it. While here there are three spots I suggest. Luwak Cafe is on the main boulevard and is a small cafe/coffee shop. And they serve vegan waffles! I love them mainly because of their staff, and vegan waffles help. Head south and you will find The Green House. Mostly sandwiches, tacos and veggie burgers, add smoothies. I tried the tacos and the agua fresca of the day which was lime. Number three is La Veggicheria, right on the boardwalk maybe two blocks south of the border. The view is gorgeous, all ocean. Sitting outside with that view and delish food is pretty perfect. Their burger is pretty popular and I loved their mole.


Alma Verde is a spot I didn’t get a chance to go to but heard good things about. Two locations in Tijuana. I will report back once I go here next trip.

My favorite spot in Tijuana to eat is Mazon Vegano. It’s near the southern part of the Avenue of the Insurgents (Avenida de los Insurgentes) in an inside area of placed food trucks. Their quesadillas were so good! I started with two and had to try a third. Fresh and flavorful, with a great salsa to go along with them. The mind-blowing part of the meal was the blueberry cheesecake, the best cheesecake I have ever had!

You’re probably hungry now. And if you are like many people I tell that I love Tijuana, you might be thinking about safety. I have never felt unsafe in Tijuana. I have heard the stories, and like any city with crowds you want to be careful, and use common sense. Tijuana is a wonderful place, and add in all of the delish food options and you’ll have a great time.

Pride Journey: Kansas City

By Joey Amato

The only things I knew about Kansas City prior to visiting, were the tales of legendary BBQ and the Chiefs. I went with an open mind and little expectations. The city has been generating a lot of positive buzz as of late, so I thought I’d see what all the talk was about. I found the city to be on the cusp of a breakthrough so to speak. A sleeping dragon ready for its day in the sun. The next “It City” - Nashville being the current “It City” and where I reside.

For starters, Kansas City airport is literally the smallest international airport I’ve ever been to. But that will all change in the next few years as it undergoes a major transformation. Icelandair just began flying direct routes to its capital city of Reykjavik and other routes are being added regularly.

The 21c Museum Hotel served as my home for the weekend. The small chain is known for embracing the LGBT community and is located in cities that aren’t always known for being LGBT-friendly destinations (Des Moines, Lexington, Fayetteville, among others), so staying here is always a safe and comfortable option. This particular property is located in the historic Savoy Hotel in downtown Kansas City. The hotel opened this summer and is led by a welcoming, knowledgeable, and quite attractive staff. The one downside of the property is the fitness center, which is has serious acoustic problems. Furthermore, the free weights are located in a dark corner of the gym, a problem that can easily be fixed but is a bit uncomfortable currently.

Having arrived a bit later in the day, I decided to stay on property for dinner. The hotel’s restaurant, The Savoy, doesn’t serve your standard hotel fare. I began my meal with a delicious steak tartare, followed by the fish of the day, which was cooked to perfection. The most exciting part of the meal however, was the Baked Alaska. I have not seen that item on a menu outside of a cruise ship and even though I tend to skip dessert, I felt the need to give it a try. I’m glad I did. It was absolutely delicious. I even convinced the table adjacent to me to order some. The only thing it was missing was the tableside flambé.
 

Funny Or Die Announces Comedy Channel Partnership with LGBTQ+ Global Streaming Service, Revry

From a whirlwind affair coming off the success of their joint release, Gay of Thrones (the queer-themed comedy recap series), Funny Or Die and premiere queer streaming network, Revry, are making their “love official” this Valentine’s Day by committing to showcasing the best in queer comedy and birthing a Funny Or Die “lovechild” channel on Revry’s streaming platform.  Revry will be the official “Baby Papa” and host this specially curated Funny Or Die Channel on it’s online, mobile, and OTT platforms with FOD comedy selected by and for queer audiences.    

“We're excited about this branded channel partnership.” said FOD Vice President of Programming, Chris Michael. “Revry has such a fresh, progressive audience. It made perfect sense to showcase our vast LGBTQ+ content with such an innovative network.”

Revry’s subscribers will be treated to a specially-tailored Funny Or Die Channel featuring comedy gems such as Gay of Thrones, Throwing Shade Podcast, Mariah Carey’s Holiday Sketchtacular, Jared & Ivanka Series, and hilarious Funny Or Die Originals like parodies of The Handmaid’s Tale, Sexual Assault Survivor’s Toolbelt with Tatiana Maslany, the Mike Pence Shame Cube, Tegan And Sara’s Haircut History, and more that LGBTQ+ audiences will love.

“Given Funny Or Die’s stellar reputation in pushing edgy, young comedy voices, a content partnership with our youth-driven, boundary-pushing brand was a natural fit,” replied Damian Pelliccione, CEO of Revry. “We are excited to be FOD’s official queer ‘Baby Papa’ and highlight their best queer comedy on our platform.”

Revry’s Funny Or Die Channel launches live Wednesday, February 14th across Revry’s streaming apps and website.  New and original content from Funny Or Die and will be updated regularly.

You can check out REVRY’s Funny Or Die Channel Here on Revry, where you can also get caught up on Gay of Thrones.  And check out these two new original comedy series on Revry:

The Gay Husbands of San Francisco - February 9^th (Original Series)The Gay Husbands of San Francisco takes a no-filter, hilarious look at the contemporary gay scene as it chronicles the lives and loves of six multi-ethnic gay men in the City by the Bay. Link: Gay Husbands of San Francisco

In the Dollhouse with Lina - February 16^th (Original Series)  In the Dollhouse with Lina is a Weekly Talk Show.  Think pop culture, fashion and throwbacks.  “Laugh-In” meets “Madame's Place” dazzled with "Bewitched" and sparkles of “I Dream of Jeannie” all inside a type of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and a lot of New York sass with the infectious Lina, hosting within her DollHouse surrounded by her very own collection. Every week the mystery guest is revealed that day by Magical 8 Ball…so you never know who's going to pop in!  Guests include Whoopi Goldberg, Carson Kressley, Candis Cayne, Sherry Vine, Lady Bunny, Justin Vivian Bond, Bevy Smith and Shequida.

The Gay Vegans: 22 Years Vegan

By Dan Hanley

As in many things, if you don’t die, you get to celebrate more and more anniversaries.

This week I celebrate 22 years of being vegan. If you stay vegan and don’t die, this is what can happen.

I became vegan because of animals, in that I wanted to be as least complicit as possible in their torture and suffering.

The world has obviously changed since I became vegan. I recently heard ona podcast that from 1996 to 2016 dairy milk sales dropped 25%. That’s intense. And that makes me happy.

The bigger changes in my life since becoming vegan are not so drastic. I’m married to another vegan, although he was not vegan when we started to date. We cook more at home than going out. We try, and mostly succeed, in eating more whole foods and less processed foods, although I must say that I love some processed foods. And desserts.

I’m not a perfect vegan and that is not my goal. I want to be the best I can be, be an amazing husband, be a voice for the voiceless, and share things I learn through this blog. I want to do as little harm as possible to animals, humans, and the earth and I want to be of greatest service to others.

My veganism continued beyond a few weeks because of kind people, vegan potlucks, learning to cook, and keeping in mind that my veganism is bigger than me, that my food choices prior to being vegan included paying people to kill animals who did not want to die just for my taste buds.

On this blog I try to provide some helpful websites. If you’re interested click the page at the top.

Thanks for reading.

P.S. The photo is of me and Lilly, the day we adopted her from the Pasadena Humane Society in September of 2017. She is not as terrified these days.

Nice To See StevieB: Hockey Star Turned Cop Finds A Yellow Lab

By StevieB
 
I am being haunted by my bad choices.

In the time frame of terminating my last relationship and my current dating-my-boyfriend status I made some really bad choices. You can see this reflected in my lack of blogging as well. It was a time of re-thinking and reflection of what made Steve, Steve.During this time I was also doing traveling for work, and I needed some sort of comfort. Now, a more exotic man would have turned to drinking. Or, maybe an investment of a tattoo. As many people have demonstrated in life, getting inkinjected into their skin is a perfect way to come to terms with change in their lives. If I would have been more cleaver, I would have inked a dragon onto my bulging upper arm. Instead, it turned to something much worse and self-destructive.

Audiobooks.

Okay, not just your standard audiobooks; Gay. Romance. It pains me to even admit it here, but yes.I was addicted to Audible.com and their painfully wide selection of gay romance novelas. I can’t really remember much about this time span. It was thankfully short-lived.I also cannot re-tell any plots, other than that they were painfully formulaic.It would typically be a straight identifying hockey player who owned a farm,or maybe a cop who had his wife die. Sometimes it would be a ranch owner, maybea ranch owning cop that played hockey in college. In these stories there was alsowas a buddy; maybe they played together on the college team, or went through the academy together. The buddy was always heterosexual identifying as well. Long story short (pun intended) never knew…. feelings…. explore… implied betrayal…. reconciliation….adopting a stray yellow lab (so fake, like a yellow lab would ever be a stray) and then the most perfect Christmas would happen. Anyway, these books taught me to love again. Blah.blah.blah.

I have recovered from my days of dark habits. And have gone on to become a functioning member of society. But, it seems my choices will never be free of me. As I skim through my Audible account I am constantly reminded. See,with an Audible account you can delete books from your phone, or table, but they will never be truly gone. They are always list under “Your Account Books.” The only way to destroy any trace is to delete my account and start over. But,this means I will delete many good books. To remove The Truth as He Knows It I must also delete all of my Aldous Huxley.

I would have kept this my private shame. But, then I borrowed my Boyfriends car. Well, he was out of town and I was driving it to get detailed. I synced by phone via Bluetooth to listen to some tunes while driving. This meant that when he returned and we hopped into his car, months later. My phone somehow usurped his phone. My phone did not start playing Rammstein, no. It decided to play chapter twelve of The Heart as He Hears It. A touching scene of Chad coming to terms that a hockey player/cop can really love his best friend on many levels including a level based upon anal.

I have not heard the end of it. A constant reminder of how I have gay romance at my fingertips is fed to me on a daily dose from many friends. It may have been easier if I had just covered my arms with ubiquitous and played-out tribal tattoos.

Finalists Announced for the 29th Annual Lambda Literary Awards

Lambda Literary, the nation's oldest and largest literary arts organization advancing LGBTQ literature, announced the finalists of the 29th Annual Lambda Literary Awards - or the "Lammys," as they are affectionately known. They were chosen from nearly 900 submissions and over 300 publishers. Submissions came from major mainstream publishers and from independent presses, from both long-established and new LGBTQ publishers, as well as from emerging publish-on-demand technologies. Visionary and Trustee Award honorees, the master of ceremonies, and celebrity presenters will be announced in April. The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Monday evening, June 12, 2017 in New York City.

  

"Never in my lifetime have LGBTQ stories felt so important as a means of being recognized and counted, as a form of resistance to this dangerous political climate we find ourselves in," said Lambda Literary Executive Director Tony Valenzuela. "The Lammys are a celebration of great queer literature, and this year they're also a reminder that our community of writers, publishers, and readers is not only strong, but part of a vital pathway to asserting our humanity." 

  

Now in their twenty-ninth year, the Lambda Literary Awards celebrate achievement in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer writing for books published in 2016. The awards ceremony on June 12, 2017, will be held at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Pl, New York, NY 10012). The red carpet and specially ticketed VIP cocktail reception will be held before the ceremony. The after-party, open to all with a general admission ticket, will follow at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012). For more information and to buy tickets, please visit Lambda's website.

 

75 literary professionals, including booksellers, book reviewers, librarians, authors, academics and previous Lammy winners and finalists volunteered countless hours of reading, critical thinking, and invigorating discussion to select the finalists in 23 categories.

29th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists:

 

Lesbian Fiction

• A Thin Bright Line, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, University of Wisconsin Press
• Another Brooklyn, Jacqueline Woodson, Amistad
• Bull & Other Stories, Kathy Anderson, Autumn House Press
• The Day After Death, Lynn C. Miller, University of New Mexico Press
• Here Comes the Sun, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Liveright Publishing Corporation
• Pretend I'm Your Friend, MB Caschetta, Engine Books
• Tears in the Grass, Lynda A. Archer, Dundurn
• They May Not Mean To, But They Do, Cathleen Schine, Sarah Crichton Books

Gay Fiction

• The Angel of History, Rabih Alameddine, Atlantic Monthly Press
• Black Deutschland, Darryl Pinckney, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
• The Cosmopolitans, Sarah Schulman, The Feminist Press
• Hide, Matthew Griffin, Bloomsbury USA
• Jazz Moon, Joe Okonkwo, Kensington Books
• Moonstone, Sjón, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
• The Rope Swing, Jonathan Corcoran, Vandalia Press
• What Belongs To You, Garth Greenwell, Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Bisexual Fiction

• Beautiful Gravity, Martin Hyatt, Antibookclub
• Marrow Island, Alexis M. Smith, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Mouth to Mouth, Abigail Child, EOAGH
• When Watched, Leopoldine Core, Penguin Books

Transgender Fiction

• Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir, Kai Cheng Thom, Metonymy Press
• If I Was Your Girl, Meredith Russo, Flatiron Books
• Small Beauty, jia qing wilson-yang, Metonymy Press

LGBTQ Nonfiction

• Conflict Is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility and the Duty of Repair, Sarah Schulman, Arsenal Pulp Press
• Gay Gotham: Art and Underground Culture in New York, Donald Albrecht, Skira Rizzoli
• Ghost Faces: Hollywood and Post-Millennial Masculinity, David Greven, State University of New York Press
• How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS, David France, Knopf
• Pride & Joy: Taking the Streets of New York City, Jurek Wajdowicz, The New Press
• Spill: Scenes of Black Feminist Fugitivity, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Duke University Press Books
• The Estrangement Principle, Ariel Goldberg, Nightboat Books
• The Feminist Bookstore Movement: Lesbian Antiracism and Feminist Accountability, Kristen Hogan, Duke University Press Books

Bisexual Nonfiction

• Black Dove: Mamá, Mi'jo, and Me, Ana Castillo, The Feminist Press
• The Body's Alphabet, Ann Tweedy, Headmistress Press
• I Have Devoted My Life to the Clitoris, Elizabeth Hall, Tarpaulin Sky Press
• Women in Relationships With Bisexual Men: Bi Men By Women, Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli and Sara Lubowitz, Lexington Books

Transgender Nonfiction

• Life Beyond My Body: A Transgender Journey to Manhood in China, Lei Ming, Transgress Press
• Outside the XY: Black and Brown Queer Masculinity, Morgan Mann Willis, Riverdale Avenue Books
• Outspoken: A Decade of Transgender Activism and Trans Feminism, Julia Serano, Switch Hitter Press
• Trunky (Transgender Junky): A Memoir, Samuel Peterson, Transgress Press
• You Only Live Twice: Sex, Death and Transition, Chase Joynt and Mike Hoolbloom, Coach House Books

Lesbian Poetry

• Bestiary, Donika Kelly, Graywolf Press
• Complete Works of Pat Parker, edited by Julie R. Enszer, Sinister Wisdom/A Midsummer Night's Press
• Journal of Ugly Sites, Stacy Szymaszek, Fence Books
• Night, Etel Adnan, Nightboat Books
• play dead, francine j. harris, Alice James Books
• Swarm Queen's Crown, Stephanie Adams-Santos, Fathom Books
• The Old Philosopher, Vi Khi Nao, Nightboat Books
• You're the Most Beautiful Thing That Happened, Arisa White, Augury Books

Gay Poetry

• DIG, Bryan Borland, Stillhouse Press
• Night Sky with Exit Wounds, Ocean Vuong, Copper Canyon Press
• Primer, Aaron Smith, University of Pittsburgh Press
• Rapture, Sjohnna McCray, Graywolf Press
• The Halo, C. Dale Young, Four Way Books
• The Taxidermist's Cut, Rajiv Mohabir, Four Way Books
• Thief in the Interior, Phillip B. Williams, Alice James Books
• Trouble the Water, Derrick Austin, BOA

Transgender Poetry

• even this page is white, Vivek Shraya, Arsenal Pulp Press
• The Romance of Siam: A Pocket Guide, Jai Arun Ravine, Timeless, Infinite Light
• Reacquainted with Life, Kokumo, Topside Press
• Safe Space, Jos Charles, Ahsahta Press
• Sympathetic Little Monster, Cameron Awkward-Rich, Ricochet Editions

Lesbian Mystery

• Blood Money Murder, Jessie Chandler, Bella Books
• Bury Me When I'm Dead, Cheryl A. Head, Bywater Books
• Collide-O-Scope, Andrea Bramhall, Ylva Publishing
• Final Cut, Lynn Ames, Phoenix Rising Press
• Pathogen, Jessica L. Webb, Bold Strokes Books
• Requiem for Immortals, Lee Winter, Ylva Publishing
• Under Contract, Jennifer L. Jordan, Clover Valley Press
• Walk-in, T.L. Hart, Bella Books

Gay Mystery

• Bitter Legacy by Dal Maclean, Blind Eye Books
• Homo Superiors by L. A. Fields, Lethe Press
• Lay Your Sleeping Head by Michael Nava, Korima Press
• Nights in Berlin by Janice Law, Head of Zeus
• Speakers of the Dead: A Walt Whitman Mystery by J. Aaron Sanders, Plume

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

• A Body, Undone: Living On After Great Pain, Christina Crosby, NYU Press
• A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder, Ma-Nee Chacaby, University of Manitoba Press
• I'm Just a Person, Tig Notaro, Ecco
• Indomitable: The Life of Barbara Grier, Joanne Passet, Bella Books
• The Wind Is Spirit: The Life, Love and Legacy of Audre Lorde, Gloria I. Joseph, PhD, Villarosa Media

Gay Memoir/Biography

• Books For Living, Will Schwalbe, Knopf
• Boy Erased, Garrard Conley, Riverhead Books
• Capsid: A Love Song, Joseph Osmundson, Indolent Books
• Cursed Legacy: The Tragic Life of Klaus Mann, Frederic Spotts, Yale University Press
• Lust & Wonder, Augusten Burroughs, St. Martin's Press
• One Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin, Michael Schreiber, Bruno Gmuender Books
• Proxies, Brian Blanchfield, Nightboat Books
• When We Rise, Cleve Jones, Hachette Books

 

Lesbian Romance

• The Scorpion's Empress, Yoshiyuki Ly, Solstice Publishing
• Coils, Barbara Ann Wright, Bold Strokes Books
• Finding Lizzie, Karma Kingsley, NineStar Press
• Little Lies, Lila Bruce, Self-Published
• Lost in the Starlight, Kiki Archer, K.A. Books
• Loving Eleanor, Susan Wittig Albert, Persevero Press
• Perfect Pairing, Rachel Spangler, Bywater Books
• The Liberators of Willow Run, Marianne K. Martin, Bywater Books

Gay Romance

• Into the Blue, Pene Henson, Interlude Press
• Pansies, Alexis Hall, Riptide Publishing
• Femme, Marshall Thornton, Kenmore Books
• Rank, Richard Compson Sater, Bold Strokes Books
• Country, Jeff Mann, Lethe Press
• Adulting 101, Lisa Henry, Riptide Publishing
• Rented Heart, Garrett Leigh, Riptide Publishing
• Caught Inside, Jamie Deacon, Beaten Track Publishing

LGBTQ Anthology

• ALPHABET: The LGBTQAIU Creators from Prism Comics, Jon Macy and Tara Madison Avery, Editors Stacked Deck Press
• Building Fires in the Snow: A Collection of Alaska LGBTQ Short Fiction and Poetry, Martha Amore and Lucian Childs, Editors, University of Alaska Press / Snowy Owl Books Imprint
• No Tea, No Shade: New Writings in Black Queer Studies, E. Patrick Johnson, Duke University Press Books
• The Remedy: Queer and Trans Voices on Health and Health Care, Zena Sharman, Arsenal Pulp Press
• Queer, David J. Getsy, MIT Press

LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult

• Beast, Brie Spangler, Alfred A. Knopf
• Girl Mans Up, M.E. Girard, Harper Teen
• Gravity, Juliann Rich, Bold Stroke Books
• Highly Illogical Behavior, John Corey Whaley, Dial Books
• Not Your Sidekick, C.B. Lee, Duet
• Our Chemical Hearts, Krystal Sutherland, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Symptoms of Being Human, Jeff Garvin, Balzer + Bray
• The Midnight Star, Marie Lu, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

LGBTQ Drama

• Barbecue/Bootycandy, Robert O'Hara, Theatre Communications Group
• Freda and Jem's Best of the Week, Lois Fine, Playwrights Canada Press
• Perfect Arrangement, Topher Payne, Samuel French, Inc.

LGBTQ Erotica

• Camp Rewind, Meghan O'Brien, Bold Strokes Books
• Roped In, Marie Sexton and L.A. Witt, Amber Quill
• Steel and Promise, Alexa Black, Bold Strokes Books
• Soul to Keep, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Bold Strokes Books
• Skyscraper, Scott Alexander Hess, Unzipped Books

LGBTQ Graphic Novels

• Active Voice The Comic Collection: The Real Life Adventures Of An Asian-American, Lesbian, Feminist, Activist And Her Friends, Written by P. Kristen Enos with Heidi Ho; Illustrated by Derek Chua, Leesamarie Croal, Casandra Grullon, Beth Varni, Dan Parent, Furia Press
• The Case of Alan Turing: The Extraordinary and Tragic Story of the Legendary Codebreaker, Eric Liberge and Arnaud Delalande, Translated by David Homel, Arsenal Pulp Press
• Wuvable Oaf: Blood & Metal, Ed Luce, Fantagraphics Books

LGBTQ SF/F/Horror

• All Good Children, Dayna Ingram, Lethe Press
• The Devourers, Indra Das, Del Rey
• Irish Black, David Lennon, Blue Spike Publishing
• Kissing Booth Girl, A.C. Wise, Lethe Press
• Lily, Michael Thomas Ford, illustrated by Staven Andersen, Lethe Press
• A Little Queermas Carol, Sassafras Lowrey, PoMo Freakshow
• Style of Attack Report, By Ras Mashramani, Rasheedah Phillips, Alex Smith, and M. Eighteen Téllez, Metropolarity
• Will Do Magic for Small Change, Andrea Hairston, Aqueduct Press

LGBTQ Studies

• Asegi Stories: Cherokee Queer and Two Spirit Memory, Qwo-Li Driskill, University of Arizona Press
• Homintern, Gregory Woods, Yale University Press
• Indian Blood: HIV and Colonial Trauma in San Francisco's Two-Spirit Community, Andrew J. Jolivette, University of Washington Press
• Melodrama: An Aesthetics of Impossibility, Jonathan Goldberg, Duke University Press
• Not Straight, Not White: Black Gay Men From The March on Washington to the AIDS Crisis, Kevin Mumford, University of North Carolina Press
• Out in the Periphery: Latin America's Gay Rights Revolution, Omar G. Encarnación, Oxford University Press
• Queer Clout: Chicago and the Rise of Gay Politics, Timothy Stewart-Winter, University of Pennsylvania Press
• Sex Museums: The Politics and Performance of Display, Jennifer Tyburczy, University of Chicago Press

What Should You Do If Your Dog Doesn’t Like Your Date?

If you’re single and in the market for romance, you probably know at least two things: Online dating is a viable and efficient way to find a potential partner, but dating sites cannot guarantee a perfect match.

While a third of all married couples started their romance online – including on social networks like Facebook, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, only 23 percent of those who went on a date through a match-making site say it resulted in a long-term relationship, according to the Pew Research Center.

“Really, that’s not a bad success rate – I imagine it beats the club scene,” says Kris Rotonda, founder and CEO of www.YouMustLoveDogsDating.com, a website devoted to singles who’ve already found their canine companions, but have yet to find true human love.

“Still, that’s a lot of scrolling and dating before you find the right one. I think it’s important to narrow the search by letting users start with what’s most important to them.”

Rotonda, who has four beloved dogs including one he’s had since age 8, says his commitment to his furry family became a problem in his dating life. He’s happy to report he has now found true love – she loves his dogs and they love her back.

What should you do if your dog doesn’t appear to like the new love interest in your life?

• So, you’re dog reacted negatively to a girl or guy you really like … Of course, how your dog reacts matters if you love your dog, but he or she may be picking up on something that’s nonessential to the character of your date, who may be nervous, not used to dogs or simply wearing the wrong perfume or cologne that day. While dogs are very intuitive – and, you want your canine companion to get along with a potential long-term partner – realize that the chemistry can improve. Give it a little time and proactively look for ways to help your dog and your potential love interest relax and get to know each other.

• Different reactions can have different meanings … Did she bark for several minutes? Did he run and hide under the bed? If your dog barked in what sounded like a hostile or aggressive way, she’s likely just trying to protect you. While you may have had plenty of time to get to know your date over long dinners, he or she may still be a stranger to your dog. If your dog ran and hid, he may be afraid. That doesn’t necessarily mean that his fear reflects a real threat – something rotten about your new love interest. What else was going on at the time? If a plane was flying overhead or thunder rumbling outside, that may have been the source of anxiety. Don’t try to pet or sweet talk your pet while he’s in hiding as that will encourage the behavior. Instead, reward him when he emerges.

• Mending fences between your canine and human companion … When you are planning to re-introduce your dog to your date, start before they actually meet in person. This can be done by introducing the person's scent with an unwashed article of clothing. You can also add your scent to the clothing by rubbing it on your arm and then placing in a spot where your dog spends a great deal of time. This will help your dog get used to the person's scent over time and you are not introducing the person to your dog by invading all his senses at one time.

Ask Frankie Anything: What's the Deal With Denver Guys?

By Frankie Silverstein

In a Comment of the Day in Westword, commenter 'seerclearly', made some strong points:

“I wonder if my experiences as a gay man who recently moved here are similar. What I've noticed is that Denver men seem to connect and disconnect randomly. I'll have some guy drooling over me and then he disappears for 3 months...6 months...two years and then comes back like nothing happened. And, a lot of them are narcissistic (focused only on themselves). Quite a few I've meet I'd have to classify as simply nutty: paranoid, ADD, Tourette's. Maybe it's all the Meth. There's a LOT of Meth. Which leads me to the great number of er... limp Johnsons. A lot of those too and all that it implies. But at least they look hot with their Lumbersexual outfits and beards.”

Drugs are prevalent everywhere you go; plain and simple. Meth and other drugs in Colorado will eventually find their way into the lives of those who welcome it. “Seek and you shall find,” I always say. I strongly believe we are magnets that truly attract that which we desire. In truth, drugs are prevalent in many cities, and in many communities. Not just the gay community, and not just Denver. 

I have met the nutty Denver men, the guys who will promise to come over and watch Buffy and never do. And I have also met the others - the curious, the gentle, students, brokers, the health-conscious, and the ones we overlook. Seerclearly, clearly had an unsavory experience which has molded his perspective of gay culture and gay men in this city. 

I would tell seerclearly to choose his company wisely. We all have dark periods in our lives; whether we choose to admit it to ourselves or not, it’s true. Instead of judging others based on their life experience and their unhealthy habits, focus on the positive and move forward. The majority of folks I've encountered with substance abuse problems suffer from low self-esteem and come from a past of broken homes and shattered dreams. Who are any of us to judge? Supposedly we are here to help each other instead of criticizing a few guys for wanting to have sex after they get blitzed. That sounds to me like a privileged and arrogant, entitled attitude. The LGBT community has suffered enough at the hands of homophobes and unaccepting families. If you're simply not into the dude, be polite about it. There's no need for rudeness and attitude. Instead of hurting each other with our ignorance, why not reach out and be a source of good in the world?

Seerclearly goes on to say:

“These wounds turn into feelings in their adult lives they can't deal with, so they cover them with Meth and alcohol and maybe 420. And the connect/disconnect? I think it comes from the religious idea that there is one right person for each of us who is perfect, a form or earthly eternal salvation. So when these guys start dating, the moment they see something even slightly wrong in their mate, they bail.”

We all have ways of dealing with our problems. So what if you drink a beer or smoke a joint to mellow out? Big deal. The problem isn’t just the act of substance abuse, or that meth, cocaine and other drugs are used to suppress life’s pains or amplify the most joyous. The main problem is that people are suffering and are being overlooked. Of course we all want a perfect love life, yet be advised, leaving your house will expose you to the tired, the listless, and the nutty.

Seerclearly’s perspective is valid, because it is his. But it's not the only perspective. Generalizations created out of fear can limit what you allow yourself to experience. Howard Schultz said it best, “We must learn to lead through the lens of humanity.” We must continue to be honest, human and kind. How else can you expect to land the right guy?

Aquarian California native, Frankie Silverstein, 33, currently resides on the central west-coast, enjoys being a full time life enthusiast with a zest for the finer things in life which include positive thinking and manifesting a wonderful day each day. He is multilingual and fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language. Frankie's passions allow him to bridge the gap from community to community, whilst leading through the lens of humanity and holds a BA in Speech Communications from San Francisco State University. 

With a passion for writing and performing, Frankie uses his honed skills, psychic gifts and intuition to guide, communicate and connect with the people around him. 

The best advice he can give is, “Grow from light and always find truth within you. Reach for the galaxies, shoot beyond the stars and always aim with your heart." You can find Frankie on Twitter @SilversteinLife, Like page on Facebook: Frankie Silverstein and on Instagram @FrankieSilverstein. Frankie wishes you a blessed day!