What black history means for POC, Notable Black LGTBQ people, and how we can unite as one.

Each year in February, the United States honors Black History Month to celebrate Black/African American individuals’ achievements, recognizing the Black/African American community’s central role in America’s history and highlighting the importance of racial justice, diversity, inclusion, and equity. Particularly for our African Americans community, it reminds us not to give up on hope.  Knowing our past opens the door to our future.

Growing up as a young boy living in the projects of Henderson, Texas, I didn’t have the resources or the opportunity to really learn a lot about Black History.  Unfortunately, this is the story and generational curse of many black people. We were just taught how to survive. I am grateful to be in a better position now. As a black gay male, I will continue to learn more about my culture to better myself and inspire others.    I am hopeful that you will continue to learn more about black history and use it to bring healing and unity to all black lives and our nation as a whole.  For this, WE UNITE AS ONE.

In 1915, in response to the lack of information on the accomplishments of Black people available to the public, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, the group declared the second week of February as “Negro History Week” to recognize the contributions of African Americans to US history. Few people studied Black history, and it wasn’t included in textbooks prior to the creation of Negro History Week. This week was chosen because it includes the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and former US president Abraham Lincoln. The week-long event officially became Black History Month in 1976 when US president Gerald Ford extended the recognition to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States every February since.

While February was declared Black History Month to recognize the many accomplishments and contributions of African Americans, the lives of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people are often left out of the picture. From 1960s civil rights activist Bayard Rustin to Chicago’s first Black female and lesbian mayor, Lori Lightfoot, Black LGBTQ Americans have long made history with innumerable contributions to politics, art, medicine, and a host of other fields.

“As long as there have been black people, there have been black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving people.”

 – David J. Johns, National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director

Notable Black LGBTQ Historical Leaders

Gladys Bentley (1907-1960)

Bentley was a gender-bending performer during the Harlem Renaissance. Bentley was a gender-bending performer during the Harlem Renaissance. She was known as “Harlem’s most famous lesbian.”

Bayard Rustin (1912-1987)

Rustin was an LGBTQ and civil rights activist best known for being a key adviser to Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He organized the 1963 March on Washington and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2013 for his activism.

Stormé DeLarverie (1920-2014)

A biracial, butch lesbian, DeLarverie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was always a performer. As a teenager, she joined the Ringling Brothers Circus.ds, here she rode jumping horses. She was known as the “guardian of lesbians “in the Village.” Beyond her LGBTQ Activism, DeLarverie also organized and performed at fundraisers for women who suffered from domestic violence and their children.

Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) 

Alvin was a choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the most prominent dance companies globally, in 1958. His signature work, including “Cry” and “Revelations,” continues to be performed all over the world. In 2014, Ailey was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his influential work in bringing dance to underserved communities.

RuPaul (1960- Current) 

RuPaul is an Icon for us all. RuPaul Andre Charles was born in San Diego, California, on November 17, 1960. RuPaul made a name for himself, first as an underground filmmaker and then as a singer, before breaking into the drag scene. in 1993, he recorded a dance album called Supermodel of the World, which spawned the popular single “Supermodel (You Better Work).” It became a hit in the US and the UK, and was played heavily on MTV. In 2008, he started producing the reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race for Logo. The series, which has run thirteen full seasons as well as a few all-star seasons. RuPaul has won two GLAAD Media Awards: one for promoting equality nationwide and one for his program RuPaul’s Drag Race. His reality program has also won an Entertainment Weekly award once and was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award twice.

Black History Month is a layer we can use for cultural, spiritual and historical understanding of Americans and Unity in America. Black history supports our country’s quest to understand itself as a collective. And this history tells a story. The story of Black life experiences and contributions to this country is rich. It is beautiful. It is complex. It is diverse. It is Black. It is multiethnic. This beautiful, complex mosaic truly is significant. And it bears repeating and celebration. I am hopeful that as we learn, love, and appreciate all cultures’ diversity, we will unite as one. 

—

Joshua Neal is a national fitness professional & life coach, blogger, and writer. With more than 23 years of experience in the fitness industry, Josh is devoted to serve and inspire people to be their best and overcome life’s obstacles through a holistic approach to fitness.

By Mike Bahr

J.R. Price admits he’s had a hard time connecting with Cupid’s arrow in his life.   “Growing up poor, with no friends and a family who didn’t love me enough, left me feeling unworthy of love,” he reflects.  “I was gay, overweight, and never felt like I was the prettiest…”

He explores many of his early challenges in “Daydream”, his upcoming album that he refers to as pages from his younger self’s diary.  “All of the songs are windows into very personal experiences but I don’t tell them in a sad way.  The album is mostly fun Top 40 ear candy.”

In “Dance with Me”, the fourth release from the album, JRP (as fans call him) teams up with his boyhood idol, singer Tom Goss, for an impassioned love song that he hopes will inspire the next generation. 

Is the young JRP dying right now?  I can’t imagine what it would be like to sing a duet with my childhood crush.

J.R. Price:  I’m literally dead! Tom Goss is on my album!  I never thought I would get to this level, where I’m working with people I respect, but here we are, a duet with Tom and produced by Freddy Freeman, another one of my childhood heroes.  Life is a daydream. 

Does Tom have any clue what his song, “Bears,” meant to you?

JRP:  I’m not sure if Tom is aware what “Bears” means to any of us! I mean every time I talk to him, I’m too starstruck to say anything about it. I mean without his video for “Bears,” there wouldn’t have been my debut video, “Body Positive.” That’s just fact. I look up to so many gay artists from my youth: The Gay Pimp Jonny McGovern, Cazwell, Adam Joseph, Colton Ford… sooo many, but Tom was the one who showed big men being sexy.  Tom showed me I could be sexy. I credit a lot of my confidence to him. I don’t think anyone gives pop music the credit it deserves! There is no way for Tom to know his true impact, but it is indeed great and I am so grateful.

What was it like to grow up as JRP? 

JRP:  I was bullied for a lot of things. I was very feminine, we were poor, I was too passionate about school, and, of course, I was big.  Deep down, I knew what I was doing when I ate junk food for comfort, or when I would hide bread under my bed to snack on at night.  It was a choice. I was more upset about the things I couldn’t control, like what I was wearing or how feminine I was, or who I had crushes on. Looking back, I know that kids are kids. We all make mistakes. Their hateful words gave me a really thick skin. 

Did your parents try to help you to lose the weight?

JRP:  They definitely let me know that my weight was a problem, if that’s what you mean.  My father made cute nicknames for me like “Stubby” or “Haus” which was referring to an overweight character on a show he watched. My mother was worse though.  She is very vain. I remember her locking the fridge up to keep me away from food. I think things would be different if I felt like their constant comments about my weight came from a place of love or care, but it was always clear that it was judgement and disappointment, which of course made me want to eat more. I think it’s important that any parents reading this know the impact of everything they say.   Even a slight “are you sure you want another roll?” can haunt someone for the rest of their life. Instead of judging, encourage healthy eating, and lead by example! “Maybe we should all cut bread out, let’s try cauliflower rolls maybe? Together? It will be fun!”  There can be a scoreboard with gold star stickers for healthy treats.  Think positive! 

What do you know now that you wish you knew then?

JRP:  It sounds so cliche, but I really wish I knew all of the things that made me different were what made me special. I know everyone says it, but you don’t believe it until those bullies are still where you left them behind while you’re thriving and chasing your dreams. I wish I knew that family means more than blood.  It is the people who are standing beside you through every obstacle. Mostly, I wish I could go back to that ten-year-old baby JRP, the one with Britney Spears magazine cut outs covering his wall, and Cosmo’s Hunk of the Month issues hiding under his bed… I would tell him that one day you are going to be in magazines just like these, and it’s only because of what makes you different. If you were the same, well, that would be a very boring headline. 

Has it gotten easier as an adult? 

JRP:   It has gotten easier as an adult, but only because I absolutely do not care what anyone thinks of me anymore. I have learned that the only opinion that matters is the one you dream with. I never go to bed without reminding myself that this is all temporary, so only hold on to the good daydreams, never the bad nightmares! 

How are bears treated in the gay community today?

JRP:   The “community” is changing every day.  There is so much progress to celebrate! Praise gen z, yo, for real!  That being said, the way gay people talk to each other is absolutely unacceptable. I’ve personally heard deplorable things from skinny people in the queer community, but I’ve also heard hurtful comments from fellow bears. I do not think the hate is just coming from twinks, or otters, or bears, or even straights, or skinny, or fat… forget all of that. The judgement is actually coming from within. Any time someone says anything, just remember they are only speaking out of insecurity. Own your body, it doesn’t matter how people treat you. It matters how you treat them, and more importantly, how you treat yourself! We are all in the alphabet mafia together. 

What are your thoughts on those who fetishize bears? 

JRP:   If you listen to my album, you will hear that I don’t mind if things get a little N.A.U.G.H.T.Y.! I am never one to kink shame. If you fetishize bears, cool, that’s you bro.  There is nothing wrong with appreciating a beautiful man for their girth. I think that twinks are just as fetishized, or any body type, ethnicity, gender identity, anything that classifies someone can be fetishized.  That’s fact. I think that it’s actually empowering. I know everyone doesn’t feel that way, but hear me out.  A fetish is really just owning a specific thing that makes you special and letting yourself admit it’s sexy! I’ve had some Chubb lovers make me feel very special and I’m not mad at it.  Of course, now that I’m healthy and lost weight, they lost my number, but that’s the game we are all playing.  It just usually goes the other way. If a skinny person got fat and someone stopped texting them, we wouldn’t be questioning if they were fetishized when they were skinny, would we? That being said, there isn’t a negative connotation to the word fetish! It’s a yaaaaasssss, I’m fetishized, yay, from me!

What was the big a-ha moment that made you realize you are beautiful just the way you are?

JRP:   I mean, I know I sing “Body Positive” and I’m supposed to have some big inspiring answer here but the truth is, every day is a struggle to see my beauty. You always hear those voices from your past: “fatty fatty two by four…” “Stubby, do you really need another roll?” “You know pop stars are supposed to be skinny.” Also, every time I look in the mirror, I see that wrinkle, I notice I’m losing my hair and the extra skin from weight loss…. Even being healthy and losing weight makes me ugly!  But those are all surface flaws.  I’m beautiful just the way I am because I treat people with respect when they deserve it. I help anyone I can when I am capable of helping them. I support people, I’m loyal, I’m honest, I’m funny and I make people smile.

What is your message to fans this Valentine’s Day?

JRP:   Love has so many beautiful meanings, it can be applied to all kinds of relationships. I am single, so very single, but I use V Day to spread love to all of the special people in my life. Make it your mission to make someone smile today. Pick a total stranger and show them love. I know a great gift idea: my album!

Visit jrprice.org.  Follow on Instagram @joshuarandalprice.

With all the excitement and hope generated by Trump’s departure from office, pop diva Ultra Naté is putting a new spin on an old Pride anthem with the re-release of her #1 smash hit, “Free (Live Your Life)”, featuring fresh new remixes and a video.

It’s been twenty years since the clubhouse songstress hit the dance floor with the LGBTQ anthem, yet the uplifting and empowering message of “Free” still resonates around the world today.  The newly curated “Free (Live Your Life)” E.P., featuring reworks by KDA, Fracture, Ibitaly & Gregor Salto, B-Sights, John “J-C” Carr, Wendel Patrick and more, is being distributed by BluFire/Peace Bisquit.

“For many years I wouldn’t even consider re-imagining and re-releasing “Free (Live Your Life),” says the 52-year-old singer, recently named among Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time” dance artists.  “But there comes a time when the universe forces us to stop, pay attention and recognize that we are in a defining moment. That moment is now. There are so many around the world that need the energy, hope and empowerment that ‘Free’ embodies.”

Ultra Naté is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, DJ, producer, label owner and promoter.   She has toured the world extensively, released numerous albums and multiple international hits.

The “Free (Live Your Life)” music video is available now on YouTube.  It was crowdsourced by friends and family and features some of the principal collaborators.  “I’m really excited to share this with the world in this time of crisis and revolution,” Ultra continues, adding that “While it may not be possible to dance with each other in a club setting just yet, like the songs says, we can raise our voices in solidarity because we’re free!”

Visit peacebisquit.com

Chalamet and Guadagnino finally get it together

While you wait for that “Call Me By Your Name” sequel that may or may not ever happen, Luca Guadagnino is lining up another collaboration with Timothée Chalamet. The project is called “Bones & All,” written by Dave Kajganich (“A Bigger Splash,” “Suspiria”) with Guadagnino directing. Under super-secret wraps at the moment, it’s being referred to as a horror-love story, and those lovers look to be Chalamet and up-and-comer Taylor Russell. She starred in the indie drama “Waves” and in the Netflix reboot of “Lost in Space,” both of which earned her critical acclaim. It’s all still in the talks stage right now, no production dates are set, and no other casting has been discussed, so this is one to put on your 2022/23 calendar. In the meantime, for all we know, that wait period might involve Guadagnino independently fast tracking the “CMBYN” sequel, shooting it over a weekend and dropping it by surprise on HBO Max. We wouldn’t complain.

Luke Evans and Tom Hanks pull no strings in Pinocchio

There’s yet another “Pinocchio” on the way. You remember it, right? The 1940 classic Disney animated film, the story of a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy? Well, after the strange debacle of Roberto Benigni’s live-action version, and then a 2019 version that somehow also starred Roberto Benigni, Robert Zemeckis (“Back to The Future”) has a live-action take in the works for Disney+. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto in this one, and now Luke Evans (Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast”) has joined the cast, as well. Evans is a busy one these days, starring in “Crisis” opposite Gary Oldman, and the Hulu series “Nine Perfect Strangers” opposite Melissa McCarthy and Nicole Kidman. He’ll play The Coachman here, perhaps opposite an animated Pinocchio (we assume anyway, if we can glean anything from Zemeckis’ tech-obsessed output over the years). But the question remains: will Benigni be offered a role? That man needs a hat-trick.

Trans filmmaker Isabel Sandoval sets up ‘Tropical Gothic’

One of our favorite movies of 2020, Isabel Sandoval’s “Lingua Franca” (you can still watch it on Netflix), brought the trans Filipina filmmaker’s work to a wider audience after her previous films “Senorita” and “Apparition.” And now she’s back with a follow-up feature, “Tropical Gothic.” The premise sounds ambitious and suggestive of a happily larger budget: A surrealist drama set in the 16th century, it involves a Spanish conquistador who finds himself haunted in the Phillippine islands. In other words, exactly the sort of colonizer comeuppance tale we want from popular culture. Sandoval is heading to the European Film Market at the Berlin Film Festival with the title for those all-important production money meetings and promises of sales to non-U.S. markets. In the meantime, we’ll settle in and wait for this promised ghost story to revise history sometime in the future.

The long, slow return of ‘American Gigolo’

It’s taking forever, this resurrection of the classic ’80s fashion/sex/murder mystery/sunshine-noir “American Gigolo,” but we’re committed to seeing it through to its destination as a series on Showtime. Maybe it’s because Richard Gere taught us about Giorgio Armani and male frontal nudity in 1980, or maybe it’s because we’re still addicted to that film’s homoeroticism and simultaneous homo-fear. Whatever the case, there’s a casting update, as Lizzie Brocheré (“Falling Water”) and Gabriel LaBelle (“Dead Shack”) are joining as regulars alongside Jon Bernthal, Gretchen Mol and Rosie O’Donnell. Coming 40 years after the original yet only spanning an extra 18 (huh?), the story continues as formerly in-demand sex worker Julian (Bernthal), whose life was never the same after being accused of murder, tries to find his way in the world of contemporary gigolo-ing. They’re still adding cast, as you can see, so cameras haven’t rolled yet. But they should, and soon, because we’re impatient. But while they’re taking their sweet time making this thing happen, could someone put a call in to Gere, Lauren Hutton or Debbie Harry for some throwback cameo appearance/soundtrack love? At this point, why not?

Romeo San Vicente is forever pro-gigolo.

Pop Quiz: Which of the following are things that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Prepper Bunker, Ga.) believes?

Forest fires are started intentionally by Jewish space lasers.

COVID-19 is a hoax.

Democrats are part of a global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles.

House Speaker Nancy Polosi (D-Calif.) deserves to be executed.

The 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Wisc.) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) should go back to the Middle East to be with their goats.

The Sandy Hook and Parkland school shootings were “false flags,” meaning they were fake and part of a conspiracy to convince Americans to give up their guns.

Hillary Clinton once cut the face off of a child and wore it as a mask.

Hillary Clinton has murdered many people.

The Georgia election in 2020 was riddled with election fraud, but apparently not her own race, which she won.

All of the above.

The answer is, of course, all of the above. She is, as my dad was fond of saying, “Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”

Obviously Republicans are furious, demanding that MTG be expelled from Congress and embarrassed that she considers herself one of them.

Ha, ha, ha, that is a joke. Republicans are doing no such thing. This is the party of Donald Trump, after all. They’ve spent the past four years becoming the party of right-wing conspiracy theorists and liars. They aren’t just going to throw all of that away. [Note: Republicans have actually spent decades becoming a fringe party, but this column can only be so long.]

A video surfaced recently of MTG chasing Parkland shooting survivor and gun law advocate David Hogg down the street in D.C. shouting conspiracy theory nonsense. She wants him to tell her why he supports “Red Flag Laws,” which confiscate guns from people deemed to be dangerous and can be the difference between life and death in domestic violence situations. She wants him to tell her why he’s hurting gun owners like herself. And she wants him to tell her where he’s getting money from. And of course he’s getting it from the Deep State cabal of Democrats for being a “crisis actor.” That’s what she’s implying, anyway.

In a country that had its shit together, a woman who harassed a young man advocating for common sense gun protection after kids got murdered at his school would be shunned publicly and completely. She would not be deemed a serious person. She would not be deemed a good person. She sure as hell would not be a Congressperson.

But that’s not the country we live in. Trump didn’t begin America’s obsession with conspiracy theories, but he helped to normalize it. He helped to make people like MTG electable. After all, when you have a white supremacist clown for a president, why not fill up the rest of the government, too? Beep beep. It’s the Q-Anon clown car.

The media has not helped things. They treated Trump like the celebrity he is, never like a dangerously anti-democratic racist and misogynist who had no business running for president, let alone running the country. The media tried so hard to be “balanced” that they both-sides every argument as if “voter suppression is the real problem, not voter fraud” and “Hillary Clinton wears toddler skin masks while she flies plans releasing chem trails over the country” are two sides of a definitely very normal argument people can have.

Enough. The Republican Party is a party of radicalized extremists whose batshit crazy positions on things are literally killing people. Exhibit 1, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol for example. Exhibit 2, the COVID-19 denialism.

The Democrats need to step it up now that they have control of the House and Senate and Presidency. Kill the filibuster and stop pretending that bipartisan is possible with a party who embraces someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Trump Administration caused a lot of damage. The Democrats need to charge ahead like this country’s life depends on it. Because it does.

D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer, and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBTQ politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

By Chad Conroy

“The perfect image should capture the attention of the viewer for at least three to five seconds,” says Angel Cintron. “That is when we know it has made an impact.”

Cintron and his husband, Steve Nava, are the men behind CiNava, one of the leading teams in fashion model photography.   The duo has become known for crafting highly produced editorial images that are creative, edgy, artistic, fresh, and often drawn from their own environment.  “We notice everything around us,” Nava explains.  “People, locations, lighting, colors, wardrobe… We combine them all to develop a story that is told within a single image.” 

CiNava’s work has appeared in many fashion and style books including MOD, HUF Magazine, L’Officiel AU, and Cool America Magazines.   Their most recent celebrity shoots include WWE Superstar diva Lae Van Dale, influencer Mimi G Style, television actress Tia Carrera and movie actress Natalie Ganzhorn.

We caught up with them on the set of their latest shoot with creative director and former judge on Rupaul’s Drag Race, Mike Ruiz.

Shooting male models sounds like a tough job, but someone has got to do it. 

Angel:  Yes, it’s exhausting!   We love the high energy of fashion.

How did you get started?

Steve:  Angel began in wedding photography and he would get a gig and need someone there to assist with lighting, holding bounce cards, or someone with a second camera.  I was there to help. Essentially, I became free labor. However, it was such a great experience working together, we decided to create CiNava, a fusion of both our last names.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned from working together? 

Angel:  We have learned to celebrate our successes, no matter how small, and to give ourselves permission to fail.  Listen, we’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way to becoming successful fashion photographers.  We’ve learned to own the mistakes and to grow from them.  We also learned to appreciate that we have one another to lean on.

Do you go prepared into a shoot or do you let the mood and the energy of the day guide you?

Steve:    We go into a shoot with a concept or story in mind.  There is a definite game plan; but then the environment dictates the scene as we seldom have props on set. On shoot day, the excitement of the studio becomes electric as we engage with the stylists and talent. As photographers, it’s important we keep the energy going to bring out the best in everyone, especially the model.

What keeps you engaged in a shoot?
Angel:   First and foremost, the mood and the vibe. Everyone on set needs to have a positive state of mind. They need to be ready to give their all.  That is the only way we are assured a flawless, successful shoot.   

What if a guy that you are shooting is having a bad photo day or is emotionally vacant? Maybe his dog just died or his partner dumped him.  Is there anything that you can do?

Steve:  That is a great question!  We find that music is a fantastic ice-breaker in most any situation. A simple gesture of asking the model what they want to listen to can go a long way in changing the dynamic of a shoot. If his mood is impacted by the loss of his pet or being dumped by his boyfriend, we’ll throw on some survival music like “I will survive,” by Gloria Gaynor or “It’s not right, but it’s ok,” by Whitney Houston.

Who shoots better still images, models or actors? 
Angel:  It’s a tossup.   We’ve come to realize that models have their stock poses for each situation.  They can serve the fierce, mad, and sexy looks like no one’s business.  Actors are expert in all emotions. They can change from one emotion to another with such ease.

Are male models as big of divas as their female counterparts? 

Angel:   Female models have certainly cornered the diva market, but male models are quickly learning that tapping into their inner divo is effective as drama grabs attention on and off the set.

Is dealing with demanding agents and pushy publicists a part of the job?

Steve:  You know, we really have not had too many experiences with pushy publicists. Obviously, we try to work collaboratively with the talent’s team, but they can’t dictate how we execute our vision for the shoot. I can think of one situation where the publicist did not allow for the talent to wear certain clothing. As a result, we cut the story way short and did not work with the publicist again for any future shoots.

Tell us about shooting the cornfield images. 

Steve:  The cornfield shoot was so much fun.   We encouraged them to use the corn stalks as props, place some of the weeds in their mouth, and do whatever felt natural.  The guys got really into it.  

What inspired the shoot?   

Angel:   The inspiration came from our incredible Creative Director, Mike Ruiz. After shooting other projects in studio for two days, we needed to do something different and fun.  Nothing says fun like hot men in a cornfield!

What’s next for CiNava?
Steve:  2020 has been a roller coaster for us, just as it has for everyone else.  We have no plans of slowing down.   We’re super excited about shooting Ed Quinn in the extremely near future. Ed is an actor and musician who has appeared in several film and television roles, including One Day at a Time, Young Americans, and True Blood.

Angel:   In addition to more fashion shoots, we’re working to raise awareness for the Equality Federation, an organization that amplifies the power of the state-based LGBTQ movement.

Visit https://www.cinavaphotography.com

The Sexy Dallas DJ Headlines District’s Pride Kick-off Party

By Doug Booth

“Despite all the negativity going on in the country currently, I am proud of how our community has become closer during this pandemic,” says Dallas DJ Nick Stracener.  He arrives to Atlanta this week to spin District’s kick-off to Pride “Shine” party on October 8^th.

“This will be my first gig back at a club,” he continues.  “I’ve done a couple private socially distanced events, but nothing like what we have planned for Pride.”

To describe his current mood as excited would be an understatement. He says he has been longing to feel the energy of a dance floor full of people enjoying his music for months. 

Nick’s unique sound is best described as a combination of indigenous rhythms with lots of sultry uplifting, female vocals.  He aims to take revelers on a journey with high energy beats mixed with slow moments so that they can fully experience different emotions.  To him, circuit music is therapy.  “It is powerful and liberating and the ultimate escapism,” he explains. 

“A lot of people are going through hard times right now, mentally, and Pride will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to reach out to one another.” 

His pride message to fans this year is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. “It’s hard enough being gay in this world, especially now with how the economy is and all the other outside factors. You never know what someone is going through, and a small gesture like a “How are you?” and a “Are you alright?” shows you care and might be exactly what someone needs to hear.” 

Experience DJ Nick Stracener live when he spins District’s kick-off to Pride party on October 8^th.  Tickets: $20-$35. Face shields and hand sanitizer provided and strictly enforced.  Portion of Proceeds Benefiting Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.

Follow Nick on Instagram @thenickstracener

Brian Gibson Stars as the Young Hollywood Bad Boy of Adult Film

By Phil Bessimer

Since making his debut five months ago in a solo film on HelixStudios.net, 19-year old Brian Gibson has made a splash in the adult world, winning fans with his pouty lips, sly smile, floppy hair and innocent baby blues.  Brian’s boy next door looks mixed with his seemingly disaffected attitude have been likened to hunky Hollywood pinups from River Phoenix to James Dean, but he says he’s not as rebellious as people assume that he is.  “When I’m not filming you can catch me doodling or singing in the shower,” he laughs.  He believes an eventual move to New York is in the cards, but for now, Wisconsin is his home and that is where we caught up with him. 

How do you feel about being called the James Dean of adult film? 

It’s flattering! A little embarrassing, too, as I’m not very familiar with his work. When my hair was longer, I would often be told that I look like Leonardo DiCaprio, but I never saw it.

James Dean is best known for the film, Rebel without a Cause.  Would you consider yourself rebellious? 

I think I feel a lot more rebellious than I actually am. Joining Helix Studios is pretty much the most rebellious thing I’ve done. 

How did you find your way into adult film?

It was all very sudden. I started webcamming to pay rent, and the next thing I knew, I was flying out to Helix Studios in Las Vegas. 

Why Helix, specifically? 

I was familiar with their films.  The guys are hot and I thought I would be a good fit. 

Before appearing in adult film, did you watch it? 

Yes!  Brandon from SeanCody is one of my all-time crushes.

Were you a cool kid growing up?

No, growing up I was such an oddball.   I attended private, religious schools my entire educational career.  It was a strange environment for a queer kid to grow up in.   I think people thought I might have a couple screws loose but I never cared. I was definitely a target for bullying, though.

Would friends from home be shocked to know what you do today?

Word spreads fast, so I’m sure many people know and are shocked, but I honestly don’t keep up with many of them. Today, I’m so grateful to have open minded people around me.

Where do you call home these days? 

I’m still living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where I was born and raised, but I’m on my own, living with roommates. 

What is like to be a young, gay guy in the age of COVID?

There isn’t too much going on at the moment. Pride was always something I looked forward to and this summer has felt a little empty without it, but I’m managing to have some fun. 

What do you do for fun?

I’m pretty creative, so I’m kind of always doing something different. I like to always have little projects going on to keep me motivated. 

What would your fans be most surprised to learn about you?

I didn’t lose my virginity until I was 18.  I was a late bloomer. 

Which of your films are you most proud of?

We just filmed a fun double penetration scene and I feel like a real badass now.  Like I have earned a bit of a bragging rights (laughing).

Do you have a bff at Helix? 

I don’t have a best friend, but I will say that Alex Riley is the most fun, energetic person you’ll ever meet.  I don’t see the guys as much as I wish I did.  It’s always really fun when I do and easy to pick up where we left off.

Who would you like to have a scene with? 

My lips are sealed! But I will admit that I’d rather film with someone down to earth than someone mega-hot.

Will you stay in adult film or is Helix a step to something else?

I can definitely see porn leading me to other things. I’d love to have my own business in the future but for now, I like having the flexibility and freedom.

Do you have a special message for your fans this Fall?

Just be true to yourself and live authentically.  It’s worked so far for me!

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