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GED SIDELINES

Volume 14 Issue 4

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING Christopher Jackson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Daniel Hirsch

Kevin Perry Michael Westman Sister Roma Steve Gottfried Stan Jenson

SUMMER IS COMMING TO AN END...ENJOY IT!

Here we are, the last few weeks of summer and preparing for the Autum months and, yes, the Pumpkin Spice Lattes. So, enjoy your September with Greater Palm Springs Spa Month, Cinema Diverse LGBTQ Film Festival, Bow Wow Bingo, and Ethyl’s Place Bingo. October will be here soon enough beginning with a new bumper crop of events, ranging from Modernism Week MOD BINGO, Red Dress Party San Diego, various Halloween events, and on its heels, PRIDE in Palm Springs. And speaking of Pride, GED has an ENTIRE WEEKEND of PRIDE MASSIVE coming to you at the ACE HOTEL PALM SPRINGS for Pride Weekend (November 6-8) from DRAG-A-LICIOUS, to LOCKER ROOM AFTER HOURS, to our signature event - COLOSSAL POOL PARTY. Stay tuned to GEDmag.com for all the upcoming events, information, VIP Passes, and tickets. Enjoy this Entertainment Issue with features on FASHION, MOVIES, STAGE, and WELLNESS. Spotlight articles on the new film REDLINING, an exclusive interview with DIVA Frank Marino, and an our cover interview with literary icon David Sedaris.

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GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

GEDMAG.COM OCTOBER 2023

CONTENTS

Volume 14 Issue 4

12 DAP HEALTH It’s Time for Men to Tell Their Gal Pals That PrEP Is for Them, Too

14 Can We Talk? FRANK MARINO Shares the Memories

20 The Distinctive Style of DAVID SEDARIS 28 PANTS V. SHORTS Neil Cohen Gives Us a Leg Up on September Styles

32 HUNKY JESUS San Francisco’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

34 ON STAGE 36 MOVIES ARE SO GAY! 38 UNWIND IN THE SPRINGS Greater Palm Springs Spa Month

42 REDLINING Puts Empowerment on the Map

46 DIRECTORIES COVER: David Sedaris Photography by: Anne Fishbein

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

Because your health matters. Wherever You Are, We’re Here for You. From the San Diego coast to the Coachella Valley — and with telehealth available anywhere — expert care is always close to home. Our Services Include: Family Medicine & Pediatrics OB-GYN & Prenatal Care Mental Health Counseling Adult & Pediatric Dental Care Telehealth & In-Person Visits Need Help with Medi-Cal? We’ll guide you through enrollment or renewal — at no cost.

GEDMAG.COM OCTOBER 2023

IT’S TIME FOR MEN TO TELL THEIR GAL PALS THAT PREP IS FOR THEM, TOO

For years, HIV prevention has been marketed primarily to gay and bisexual men — and to a lesser extent, some transgender communities — leaving far too many cisgender women unaware that PrEP could benefit them too. It’s time to officially extend the invitation. BY DANIEL HIRSCH

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

hen Yucca Valley’s Alyssa Delgado first learned about PrEP — AKA preexposure prophylaxis, a daily pill or long-lasting injectable that’s been proven to be 99.9% effective for the prevention of HIV — getting on it made perfect sense to the 36-year-old. “It just gives you a little bit more peace of mind,” she says. “It’s what you do. You take care of yourself. You only have one life.” However, when Delgado asked her women’s health care specialist about getting injectable PrEP Yeztugo, she was met with a blank stare. They suggested she go to DAP Health’s Orange Clinic in Palm Springs, a bastion of comprehensive, no-shame-no-stigma sexual wellness services. Delgado’s story illustrates what’s true for many cisgender women who are straight, bisexual, lesbian, or queer and could benefit from PrEP. Even though the medication has been an essential tool for preventing new HIV infections for over a decade, many physicians are still uninformed about it or don’t bring it up with their female patients. Likewise, public health about PrEP often leaves cis women out. Delgado first learned about it on TV. None of her doctors had ever previously mentioned it. But the fact is that HIV doesn’t discriminate. Sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or relationship status are irrelevant. Risk is shaped solely by behaviors, biology, community prevalence, and access to prevention. Recent CDC data highlight the real impact of leaving women out of the conversation. According to the agency, women represented nearly 19% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022 but made up only 9% of PrEP users in 2024. Analysis of HIV risk by race shows Black women have much higher lifetime risks than white men, yet white men make up most PrEP users in the U.S. Experts all agree that, given PrEP’s overwhelming effectiveness, more women becoming aware of and obtaining prescriptions for it could greatly reduce HIV’s spread.

UNIQUE BENEFITS FOR WOMEN DAP Health Director of Specialty Programs Dr. Jason Halperin has two questions he asks every patient to determine if PrEP is right for them: “Are you sexually active?” and “How are you protecting yourself against HIV?” “We should ask those two questions to every single patient that comes into DAP Heath, no matter their gender, gender identity,

race, or body type,” Halperin says. “We have enough options that there’s no one I can think of to whom we cannot prescribe PrEP.” If a patient is sexually active and isn’t in a totally, 100% trusting monogamous relationship with a confirmed HIV-negative partner, the HIV expert recommends they get on PrEP. For women and anyone who can become pregnant, PrEP options include daily oral pills or long-lasting injectables. Of important note: Historically, the oral pill Descovy was not recommended for preventing HIV via vaginal intercourse, but new panel guidance has updated recommendations so that it’s approved for patients who may be unable to take Truvada. “You can create a bubble around yourself and take total control of your sex life,” suggests DAP Health Nurse Practitioner of Sexual Wellness Anna Daymon of the Orange Clinic, who cares for Delgado. She adds that for women who rely on a partner to correctly and consistently use a condom, control over their sexual health has been in somebody else’s hands. “In taking PrEP, the power lies completely with the woman. Now, you’re taking care of yourself, keeping yourself healthy, and living your life.” FIGHTING THE STIGMA AND MISCONCEPTIONS Both Daymon and Halperin say many patients arrive with misconceptions and cultural baggage that create barriers to PrEP access. “I have women who come in and say, ‘Women can’t get HIV,’” Daymon reveals. “But once we get patients in here and we talk about it, they realize PrEP can be for everyone.” Halperin often hears from patients who say they would know if a sexual partner was HIVpositive just by looking at them. He’s quick to remind them that the virus knows how to hide in the body, and that it’s typically 10 years post-infection before symptoms manifest. He also notes that a common misconception around HIV prevention and women’s health is that a routine pap smear will detect HIV infection. To be clear, vaginal swabs only test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Syphilis and HIV require blood draws. “I’ve had multiple patients diagnosed with HIV who say, ‘This is impossible! I’ve been seeing my gynecologist every year,’” Halperin says. “It’s really important for women to know they have to request a full STI panel.” These misconceptions emerge from a culture and medical system that refuse to prioritize sexual health and often stigmatizes those — especially women — who do. “Look how

regulated birth control is,” Daymon offers. “If there are pockets of society that judge women as ‘promiscuous’ for being on birth control, the same label gets applied to PrEP users.” Daymon explains to patients that getting on PrEP is a responsible, safe part of being a health-conscious adult, but shame and stigma can be hard to shake for many women. AN OFTEN-AFFORDABLE OPTION Some patients assume PrEP is a costly addition to their health regimen. However, DAP Health PrEP Navigation Manager Andrew Glorioso is here to say there are many reasonable means of ensuring protection. “Truvada is readily available,” he says, noting the pills are almost always covered by insurance and that uninsured patients can make use of lowcost generic versions and may even qualify for PrEP assistance programs. Injectable forms of PrEP can be more expensive and aren’t always covered, but Glorioso says DAP Health’s navigation program exists “to look for solutions and options for individuals to access the type of PrEP they want to access.” Newer telehealth services can also deliver PrEP directly to patients, often for free. Since 2018, the platform MISTR has been offering free, online PrEP consultation and delivery to patients across the country. In 2025, it launched a companion platform called SISTR, which specifically tailors its sexual wellness and PrEP services to women. “HIV prevention has historically been marketed to gay men, but HIV affects many communities, and women — particularly women of color — continue to be disproportionately impacted,” says gay entrepreneur extraordinaire Tristan Schukraft, the owner of West Hollywood’s The Abbey and of boutique luxury hotel The Tryst in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He’s also MISTR’s founder. “We created SISTR to make sure women have a platform, community, and conversation built specifically for them.” For Delgado, who’s been on PrEP since earlier this year, that access hasn’t radically changed her life or behavior, but she will talk to anyone who’ll listen about her rightful decision to protect herself against HIV. “I’m a true believer that people should have information and education,” she says. “Ultimately, let them decide what works for them.”

Visit daphealth.org for more information and for patient care and resources. GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

PA G E S 14 - 17 : P H OTO S CO U R T E S Y O F F R A N K M A R I N O

“IF JOAN RIVERS AND I WERE TO HAVE A BABY, IT WOULD BE HER CHARACTER IN HACKS.”

CAN WE TALK?

FRANK MARINO SHARES THE MEMORIES

OSCAR’S PALM SPRINGS WELCOMES FRANK MARINO! BY KEVIN PERRY ou think you can tell a story? Child. Sit down. Frank Marino can tell a damn story. Case in point: “I was 16 at the time,” Marino narrates, sounding part Goodfellas and part Dreamgirls. “My idol was Diana Ross. To this day, I stalk the woman around the world. She must think I’m a stalker. But I went out on Halloween as Diana Ross, and then I met a manager that night, and everything started evolving. But I realized, here’s two problems. One, you’re not Black, and two, you can’t sing, so you better find a white comedian. And my choices at that time, back in the day, were Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers. And I took the more glamorous of the two.” That’s how a young Mr. Marino became Ms. Rivers, an act that would launch him into stardom - with a little nudge from Joan herself. “I went to see her in Atlantic City,” Marino continues. “She let me come backstage to take a picture and introduced me to these producers of a show called La Cage. And when I went back there, she initiated the conversation and introduced me around.

So, she really is the one to give me my start in that way. And I did end up getting the show.” One problem: Marino was about to step on Rivers’ Manolo Blahnik-clad toes. “When I was doing Diana Ross I was singing Diana Ross songs, so I thought doing Joan Rivers, I should do Joan Rivers’ jokes, not knowing that comedians don’t take other comedians’ jokes, but I’m not really a comedian. I’m a female impersonator impersonating a specific character.” It was a very pricey oopsie. “I guess it was too close for comfort. I was at the Riviera. She was two doors down at Caesars. And she wasn’t thrilled about it. So, yes, she sued me for $5 million in 1986. And we, thank God, settled that. I used to make a joke that I was like 80 bucks short, but then we became very good friends after that, I did all her TV shows. And right before she passed, like, I think it was a week or a month before I was on Fashion Police with her. And we were back to normal.” Wrapping up with a fiercely Frank flourish, he adds: “If Joan Rivers and

I were to have a baby, it would be her character in Hacks.” This is just a tip of the niceberg. That’s right: Frank Marino is as nice as he is hilariously brash, and you’ll be able to experience his bonkers bravado at Oscar’s in Palm Springs on September 5th. “It’s called Frankly Speaking and it’ll be me coming on with a moderator. We’re basically going to talk about my life. I have two books. I have His Majesty the Queen, which is my first 20 years in Vegas. And I have Drags to Riches about the second 20 years. So, 40 years total. And we’re going to talk about a lot of the old-time celebrities. I love Palm Springs and I love going there because the general population is basically my fan base, you know what I’m saying? So every time I go there, I get to meet nice people. And I’m not gonna lie, it’s an ego boost.” Marino knows a thing or two about egos, having navigated the likes of Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. “I have all these old anecdotes about me and Shirley MacLaine, she was a good friend. Liberace, hanging out and everything. So we’re going to talk about all that kind of stuff and the history of Las Vegas GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

as well. My favorite thing to do is take questions. So if anybody has a question about somebody or something that I was involved with, I would love to discuss it… I will stay ‘til every question is answered. I will not leave somebody hanging. I enjoy talking to people.” Ooh, we have a doozy of a query: who are you wearing? “I’ve had a lot of lucky breaks in my life, but the best thing was we went to P-Town,” recounts Marino. “Well, first you would have died because I show up thinking I’m a diva with my Louis Vuitton luggage. Like, who I was right? So, I have all this baggage and they say there’s no elevator. Now this diva’s lugging these stupid suitcases up to the top floor. Right? But the best thing happens that day. I draw the curtains in the room and Bob Mackie is sitting on my balcony.” Gay gasp time! “Yes. This is what we would call a drag queen’s dream. There’s no better drug to get you into a better high because this was the pinnacle, it was the top. So, I shut the drapes and I go to my partner ‘Bob Mackie’s on our balcony!’ So apparently the two top floor rooms shared a balcony. That poor man, he had to wring out his ear before I got done talking about how much I loved him and respected him and all that. So we became great friends so early in my career that I was very lucky throughout the years to have all those beautiful gowns designed by him. I probably wore more Bob Mackie than anybody else.” Still gay gasping over here! In addition to donning fab threads galore, Marino has racked up (booby pun intended) an astounding number of accolades. He has earned two stars on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame, and the city also named a street and a day after the iconic performer. But when asked which amazing achievement makes him most proud, Frank gives two answers. “For my 40th anniversary doing the Diva show, they took the light bulbs on the famous Las Vegas sign that are normally white, clear, glitter lights. And they changed them all to ruby, because ruby’s the color for 40 years. And

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

they put up a big metal sign that said, ‘This sign has been changed for Frank Marino’s 40th anniversary of performing in Las Vegas.’ Which, to me, was the biggest thing. I mean, to literally take the Las Vegas sign and change the colors for me was the biggest honor. And it was the first time it was ever done… It was probably my biggest accolade out of getting the streets and the stars and the keys and all that stuff. But what makes me the happiest of my achievements is that for 40 years, I was able to get people to forget their troubles for an hour and a half. And even if things were going wrong in their daily life, I got to have the opportunity to try to put a smile on their face. And 99% of the time, that worked.” After 40 years of delivering joy, Frank is now doling out advice, social media style. “I got to go to so many top restaurants for free and shows for free and this for free and travel around the world for free. I want to use that knowledge - most people don’t have that opportunity,” admits Marino. “I want to share that knowledge… So, I want to be an influencer in that realm where I could give travel experience to people.” Followed! But before we let this legend go, he gives a quick shout-out. “If you want to really boost his ego just quote me: ‘My best friend is in Palm Springs, Larry Atello.’” For those of you who don’t recognize the name: gay shame on you! Larry is the host with most at The Tool Shed (bingo, underwear night, etc.), and he immediately clicked with Marino on a cruise. “Larry comes up to me, goes, ‘Frank Marino? I love Diana Ross, too.’ Me and him stalk that poor woman around the world. She’s gonna put us away, I’m telling you.” Well, there you have it: we’re bookending our conversation with double the love for Ms. Ross the Boss. Frank Marino (and Larry Atello) will be proud. To witness the wit and wisdom of this wonderful (wo)man, be sure to go to Oscar’s Palm Springs on September 5th. It probably won’t result in another lawsuit… probably. GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

GEDMAG.COM OCTOBER 2023

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s a writer, I’ve admired David Sedaris from afar ever since hearing a live reading from one of his earliest seminal essays Santaland Diaries (circa 1992) recounting his experience applying for a job as an elf at Macy’s during the Christmas holiday when he was in his early 30s. At a mere 5’5”, Sedaris was a shooin for the job and despite the meager income it generated at the time, the story paid dividends beyond Sedaris’ wildest imagination, forming the foundation of a career that would go on to span decades. The essay (recorded for National Public Radio) is re-aired annually and has become a staple of the holiday season, much like the Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. It catapulted Sedaris to the forefront of the literary scene as a wry humorist who could mine the humor out of mundane often soul-crushing experiences. Thirty-some years later, Sedaris is still at it, churning out collections of essays which routinely grace the New York Times bestseller list with headscratching titles like A Carnival of Snackery and When You Are Engulfed in Flames turning the dross of quotidian minutiae into gold. Despite his low-key persona or perhaps because of it, Sedaris has emerged as a cultural icon, known for his unassuming manner and dry delivery. Back in the day, Sedaris was a frequent guest on David Letterman, bested only by his famously kooky sister Amy Sedaris best known for Strangers with Candy. He was awarded the prestigious Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2001 though he has groused [in jest I suppose] at being passed over for the illustrious Mark Twain Prize, though he certainly doesn’t want for fame or accolades. He has authored 13 books over the course of his career filled with enough biographical data to justify a university curriculum in Sedaris-ology. Through it all, his trademark humor has remained remarkably consistent. During our hour-long phone conversation (as he was being driven to his next live read-

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

THE DISTINCTIVE STYLE OF

DAVID

SEDARIS PA G E S 20 - 23 : P H OTO S B Y A N N E F I S H B E I N

BY STEVE GOTTFRIED

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

ing on a multi-city national speaking tour), I had a chance to speak with him about his latest book The Land and Its People, his creative process, some of his pet peeves (there are many), cancel culture, politics, his whimsical sense of fashion, Jesus’ teeth and whether or not there’s an afterlife. I just finished reading your book The Land and Its People and I particularly enjoyed the chapter where you talk about your relationship with your godson. Having no children of your own, you’ve really made an effort to involve yourself in his life, sending gifts and offering advice, despite his seeming disinterest. You’ve tried to instill the importance of work ethic. Well, I had a job when I was his age. My parents made us all get jobs. But none of the people I know now who have kids have jobs. Or if they do, they’re just fake jobs. Like they’re consulting at a summer camp. It’s not a real job. They’re not putting on a McDonald’s uniform in the trenches, you know. It’s really important to have that experience, I think, because it gives you life-long empathy. In the chapter “Friends,” you and your friend Dan had a few jobs together, right? We sold popcorn, peanuts and drinks at the Dorton Arena [in North Carolina]. We had to say “Popcorn, Peanuts, Ice Cold Drinks.” We had to yell that over and over and over again. Every job I got fired from, I just cried and cried. It seemed so unfair to me, even if I hated the job. It’s one thing to quit, that’s your idea. But being fired is their idea. I was fired once from a job as a bicycle messenger in San Francisco. I had just moved there so I didn’t know the streets. It was a different time; you had to have a map with you. If I just had another week, I swear I could’ve gotten it. Having authored some 13 books over the course of your career, it seems like you’ve excavated every aspect of your past, and yet you keep coming up with new material. Do you ever have a fear that you’ll run out of stories? I’ve been keeping a diary for 50 years. I’m always struck by the detail. Do you include that level of detail in your diary entries or is some of it from memory. Quite often I do. Especially if it’s something that I think might lead to something. If

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

“I DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT I’VE ALWAYS HAD BOYFRIENDS WHO WERE SO MUCH BETTER LOOKING THAN ME.”

it’s something that feels special to me. My friend Austin told me recently that he went to a Mexican restaurant in the suburbs of Seattle and the waiter referred to him as Bro-tato Chip. Austin told me about Bro-tato Chip. And then I made it a point to write down the name of the restaurant we were at, and what we had ordered. And what he was wearing. Because I thought this might come in handy. Bro-tato Chip. I never thought it would get any worse than “Bro.” But apparently, it can. You’re very honest in your stories. And I think that’s what makes your writing so captivating. Are you as honest and direct in real life as you are in your writing? No, it’s pretty hard for me. Like if I were uncomfortable and someone asks me, are you uncomfortable. I would say, not at all. I wouldn’t want to hurt somebody’s feelings. Like if they said, do you think I look good in this jacket. I would never say… you look awful in that jacket. I mean, if it were my sister Amy or Hugh, I would. But when it comes to other people, I probably wouldn’t. It’s not a good quality. As a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, I wondered what you think of the whole controversy with Bari Weiss and her allegiance to the Trump administration. A lot of people have suggested that I quit. I’m just not sure who that serves. I’m not even a big enough presence that anyone would even know that I quit. I don’t understand what she’s doing there. And I don’t understand why she’s messing with something that works. I don’t see the point in it. You talk about your mom in the chapter titled “Cool Mom” and the impact she had on your writing. I tend to be like my mother in that

when I was a child, they’d go to the drycleaner and my mother would talk to everybody. So, she would have a conversation with the person at the dry-cleaner. And then you’d hear her talk about it later in the day, and you’d think oh, she made it more interesting than what it was. And then you’d hear her talk about it again, and then all of a sudden there was dialogue – things that she’d wished she’d said. You would hear her work a story over the course of a day until the end of the day it was all polished. I tend to do the same thing. So, I repeat myself a lot. Hugh [Sedaris’ boyfriend/husband] will say to me, you told that story 4 times already today. And I’m like, yeah, and I’m gonna tell it eight more times, so get used to it. How long does it take for you to workshop your material? Like for this book, how much did you read it in public before you said, okay this is ready to publish. There were things in the book that were read on stage 50 times at least. And they’re rewritten like 16, 17, 18 times. There was something I rewrote from my last speaking tour that was about feeding crows. And I think I’m on the 18th draft. And so now, I’m ready to send it to my agent and have her send it to The New Yorker. Cause I’ve learned everything I can on my own. There’s nothing else I’m gonna learn without a professional. I like to do it that way. Do you get interesting feedback from The New Yorker? I get my best feedback from the audience. It’s not that we talk about it. I can read on stage for an hour and a half, and then I can sign books for you know, three hours. But no one’s going to mention anything I read on stage. It’s like that never happened. They’ll ask me questions, but not about that. Whether they laugh or they don’t laugh, or whether they make a sound, they go aww. Or they groan. So, they tell me that way. Or else they just check out. And I know they’ve checked out. I can feel it, you know. Then I think, okay, it gets boring here on the top of page four, I’ve gotta do something about that. GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

Do you have any favorite chapters from this current book? Yeah, I think that the essay “Good Year” about my friend Dawn. I like that. Because I think it’s really hard to write about friendship. And I think I really captured our friendship. I captured the love that I feel for her. We’ve never discussed whatever love she feels for me, but I think I captured that too. And I think so many people have a “Dawn” in their lives. I’ve had a lot of people come up and say that. “Oh, this is my Dawn.” That makes me feel good. That makes me feel like I connected with people. That I did my job. I also really liked the chapter about your first boyfriend who was so goodlooking and you felt self-conscious about the disparity. Can you talk a little about that? You mentioned that you’re still in touch with him. Yeah, I see him from time to time. I don’t know why, but I’ve always had boyfriends who were so much better looking than me. No one could ever believe we were together. And I don’t know why or how I’d get them. But you know, it does a number on you. I would want to accuse him of being shallow. But then I thought, wait a minute, aren’t I the shallow one? The one who has to be involved with a beautiful person. Doesn’t that make me shallow and not them? And you don’t want to admit that either. That doesn’t make you look good. Like, someone said to my current boyfriend [husband] Hugh, they said he was handsome and he’s like “Me? Really?” And I was like, oh c’mon, you hear that all the time. I think you can drop the act of being shocked by it. It would be the same as people saying to me that I’m funny. But Hugh has never weaponized his beauty. Whereas my ex-boyfriend did. And boy, that’s a powerful weapon, you know? How did you and Hugh meet? When I first moved to New York, I only knew one person. And she was doing odd jobs and hired me to paint an apartment. We needed a ladder, and she knew a guy who had a ladder. And it was Hugh. So we went to his apartment and borrowed a ladder from him.

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

Did you hit it off pretty quickly? He was still seeing someone at the time, a French guy. For me, personally, when I saw him, I thought, oh, okay, that’s settled. He is going to be my boyfriend. That was October, and then we got together in February. I was not part of his breakup with the French guy. Hugh didn’t break up with him because of me or anything. They were in a long-distance relationship, and it wasn’t working out. So, when we met up in February, he was single by then. Because I didn’t want to break up anybody’s relationship. But it was all a part of my plan, you know. Hugh had no idea I’d been thinking he was my boyfriend for months. We hadn’t even seen or spoken to each other. When you say that was your plan, did you manifest it? There was a book that came out like 20 or 30 years ago. I can’t remember the name, but it was about wishing something into existence. Sometimes people will wish for something just for ten minutes. I’m talking about really investing in it. Like hours a day. I would get on my bike and fantasize about this life that I would have. How I would move to New York City, and I would live in another country and I would have this boyfriend and write books. I never asked anybody to give me a reading or read my writing. I always waited to be invited. So I didn’t go out of my way. I didn’t promote myself. Never anything like that. I just daydreamed, you know. Harder than anybody else. Let’s talk about fashion. When you appear on talk shows, you seem to be fearless about your outfits. You have a very distinctive style. I love dressing up. You know, any excuse to dress up, I’ll dress up. It’s just fun for me. I’ve got a closet full of clothes, so I might as well wear them. I wake up in the morning and I lie in bed and think about what I’m going to wear to my desk. And I change clothes, sometimes four to five times a day. Because, like I said, I’ve got a lot of clothes, and I like swapping them out. I went on Bill Maher the other day and a friend of mine said I looked like I should’ve been hovering above a

city in flames. I thought, that is exactly the look I was going for. Like a warlock. I like to dress now like I’m in a cult. I went to that afterparty for Stephen Colbert’s last show, and there was a rumor that the Pope might be there. And several people thought I was the Pope because of what I was wearing. At first I was insulted. And then I thought, well no, the Pope’s my age, so it wasn’t an age thing. But I was wearing like a burlap skirt that came to my ankles with this white – I can’t even call it a jacket – it was a white kind of a thing over it. And then I had lots of these different layers hanging down. And the layers were alternately beige and white. So actually, then I thought well that’s great. If someone says, I thought you were the Pope, that speaks highly of your clothing I think. And I don’t want to make people uncomfortable. Like sometimes people think, oh, what are your pronouns? But it’s different. I don’t wear makeup. I don’t want to be a woman. I just want to wear what I want to wear. I’ve heard that when fans write to you, you respond. Do you still do that? Yeah. I’ll get a sack of mail and I’ll answer it. And then I turn around and there’s another one. So then I started thinking, what if I just respond to interesting ones, or memorable ones. As it is now, I answer all my mail. Before I was writing professionally, I wrote to an author after reading a book I’d checked out from the library. She wrote me back and it just meant the world to me. It’s not hard to do. To my surprise, and I daresay delight, I received a handwritten postcard in the mail a few days after our phone call from Sedaris himself. It was an unexpected gesture even though he’d asked for my address at the end of the interview. It was not the perfunctory type of missive but included a few personal questions for me based on our conversation which gave it that personal touch, so rare in this digital age.

The Land and Its People is now available at booksellers nationwide.

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GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

GEDMAG.COM OCTOBER 2023

e all come out of one closet or another. Your closet might involve orientation, gender expression, or an affinity for argyle. Regardless of how you change, you *do* change. And yet, you’re still the same person at your core. Neil Cohen explores that same dynamic in fashion. “What I love about a lot of brands,” he explains, “they have such strong DNA. And I have great respect for brands like Ralph Lauren. Their look is so identifiable. Year after year, it evolves, but it’s not revolutionary… If you’re spending that kind of money, it’s sort of timeless. Some people say, ‘oh, Ralph never changes.’ It does change. If you look at the silhouette, it changes. The changes are small, though. And I think that’s the beauty of Ralph Lauren. That’s what people love about it. They feel like if I’m investing in this price point that I really am gonna have it for 10, 20 years.” So, treat yourself by taking a tour of trends and timelessness, courtesy of Mr. Cohen…

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE Autumn signifies rebirth. Kids go back to school with new personas, adults go to the back of their drawers for old favorites, and fashionistas go back to the drawing board to rediscover what we love about this stylish, spiced-latte season. “By September, the stores are filled with fall,” narrates Cohen. “It’s always fun, right? New sweaters, maybe a new jacket, and corduroy jeans. But in the desert, it’s a little different for us. Although the stores do get fall clothing, they try to keep it a little lighter... Certainly they’ll have velvet jackets. Mr. Turk always does some great velvet blazers for the holiday season. And J. McLaughlin does tartan pants, which feel so Christmassy and holiday-like. So we address the seasons in the desert, but I like to say we tippy-toe, because of the enormous amount of visitors we get. If you’re coming to Palm Springs as a tourist, you want warm weather, and you’re bringing warm weather clothes.” So, hold off on the bulk and hold on to those summer vibes as long as you can… by going short. THE LONG AND THE SHORTS OF IT “Believe it or not, shorts have been on the runway now for every season,” Cohen exclaims. “It’s actually a huge trend, the short-shorts, or I call them the Harry Styles

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

PANTS V. SHORTS NEIL COHEN GIVES US A LEG UP ON SEPTEMBER STYLES

BY KEVIN PERRY

CARGO YOUR OWN WAY “I still love a cargo short,” beams Cohen, “whether it’s a short-short, a long short, a medium length short, a pleated short. There’s still a lot of cargo pockets being incorporated into all of these lengths. And also a big difference in the longer shorts is you’re seeing fabrics that we didn’t usually see in shorts, like a tropical wool. So that is dressier looking. Years ago, on the red carpet at the Grammys, you saw Pharrell in a blazer with shorts, and everybody was talking about it the next day, and everybody had a different opinion. But those things start trends. And we see a ton of blazers on the runways with shorts.” Cohen is a material witness to what makes magnificence. “We’re using so many different fabrics now for shorts. Denim, khakis, print shorts, and then the more serious materials. Thom Browne is a hugely influential designer in the men’s market for the last 20 years. And he always, always shows shorts every season with blazers and shirts and ties with, like, a classic wingtip shoe and socks. And again, it’s sort of like a nerdy preppy thing that’s become very high fashion. He dresses a ton of ball players.” Game on! “We’re seeing tons of long, full shorts above the knee, below the knee, pleated or not pleated. So again, the beauty is, wear what you like, wear what looks best on you. But my gosh, I mean, there’s no end to what’s happening right now in shorts and in pants.” Let’s get into those pants!

shorts, which have become hugely popular. I’m not wearing them at my age, but for the right guy, I think it’s hot. It’s very 1970s, athletic inspired shorts with a shirt and maybe even throw on a sweater, like a little vest or a cardigan with it, with a loafer and a white little sock. It’s sort of like this preppy, nerdy, retro vibe. But short-shorts are everywhere.” But what if we’re not all androgynous Brit heartthrobs? Cohen has us covered. “I love Harry Styles. And obviously, he has a huge influence on fashion right now. You see him in all these little shorts, and he’s adorable. So if I was still in my 20s, I’d probably be wearing that. But I stick to a more classic short, so I wear them right above the knee.” And Neil’s got even more advice in his pocket - read on…

SLIM/SHADY “The whole pants debate,” declares Cohen, “is the biggest conversation in men’s fashion right now. Because we’ve been in a fuller pants cycle and pleated pants and baggier pants. And then, of course, Prada for next spring showed the skinniest jeans you’ve ever seen. So everyone’s like, what’s going on with men’s pants? What’s happening? Are we wearing baggy? Are we wearing pleated? Are we wearing skinny? Because men like to be told this is what’s happening. And the truth is we’re just getting more options the way women have for decades.” Rock star or rocking chair? You decide! “One day, you might want to rock a pair of skinny jeans with a pair of Vans and feel like you’re Mick Jagger. And one day, you want to be in an 80s Armani, softer drapier suit, which really was the dominant look this season and for next spring. So, it’s choices and options, which I think is fun.” GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

PANT PREDICTIONS It doesn’t take a crystal ball to determine the future of fashion; it just takes sparkling creativity. “If you talk to people in the industry, it’s almost like they’re calling it pant panic. Because for the last few seasons, all the men’s brands have been pushing a baggier, slouchy cut,” Cohen explains. “Then we got a major curveball from brands like Prada, who of course is a hugely influential brand. They showed a very limited collection as far as style. They basically sent out one pant like 50 different times and versions in color and leather and denim. But it was just a five pocket, really, really skinny, skinny jean… As far as the fashion world, it threw them in a complete tizzy.” But the proof is in the product consumption. “Just because it’s on the runway does not mean that the consumer accepts it. And if we don’t see it worn in real life, well, then it’s really not fashion. They tried.” Cohen understands that fellas can be fickle. “Men still don’t move as quickly as women with trends,” he announces. “If you’re on social media a lot, you know that all the young Gen Z people, everyone’s like, ‘no to skinny jeans. No, no, no.’ And then of course, now Prada comes back with all these skinny jeans. So we’ll see.” PANTING IT ALL TOGETHER “It’s about having choices,” concludes Cohen. “I’m 66 years old now. I look best in a straight leg pant. And that is 90% of men, right? Not too baggy, not too skinny… I’m almost positive what we’re going to see is that happy medium… It’s probably the best way to spend your dollar.” When in doubt, chill it out. “The word I keep reading so much is ‘ease’ - like ease on down the road. There’s a certain ease to tailoring right now... We just need the confidence to say, ‘I can rock a skinny pants, or no, I can’t. I’m going to stay with my softer, easier pants.’” So, how does it all add up? “My favorite look in the world: a white Levi’s in the winter with a black turtleneck,” decrees Cohen, though he also explores some alternate ensembles. “Either wear a printed pant with a solid on top or wear the printed jacket with a solid on the bottom - breaking it up is really fun. Very, very Palm Springs… And there’s nothing like throwing on a pair of linen drawstring pants with a white sneaker or a flip flop and maybe like a vintage Hawaiian shirt. We have so many great vintage stores in the desert, which I love. I’m going to be using

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

“BECAUSE MEN LIKE TO BE TOLD THIS IS WHAT’S HAPPENING. AND THE TRUTH IS WE’RE JUST GETTING MORE OPTIONS THE WAY WOMEN HAVE FOR DECADES.” the vintage stores for the fashion show.” What a perfect segue - thanks, Neil! THERE WILL BE PANTS Get ready to wag your tongues… classily. The Men of the Desert gala is ‘walkies’ its way to the Palm Springs Air Museum on December 6th and Neil Cohen serves as their Fashion Director. “I’ve broken the show into different categories, and preppy will be one. With some fabulous disco music. I grew up in New York. I was definitely a disco kid. So I’m having a ball choosing the music. It’s so joyous. That music was so happy and joyous and free. And that’s how we’ll work the theme.” And some dashing locals will be working the scene! “Most of the guys have never modeled before. This is their first time. So that’s exciting. I think we have about 20 models.” Cohen describes how authenticity sets Men of the Desert apart from the rest of the worthy shindigs in Coachella Valley. “You could go to a charity event every day of the week in the desert, and they’re all really good. I certainly think we are a huge community of

animal lovers, dog lovers. So I think this one really hits close to home and people want to participate.” PANTING ALL THE WAY So, what will YOU be wearing to the doggy disco? “After looking at all the trends, find what registers for you and then try to find your style,” Cohen advises. So give up your inhibitions, give in to indulgence, and give back to a doggone great cause. Men of the Desert tickets are on sale now! Men of the Desert has grown into one of the Coachella Valley’s most celebrated philanthropic traditions, a sold-out afternoon of fashion, laughter, and generosity. Over the event’s history, funds raised have helped save the lives of more than 16,000 animals in the desert region. This year’s event will be held on December 7 and introduces an electrifying new theme, Disco Dogs, with acclaimed stylist Neil Cohen as the event’s incoming Fashion Director. Learn more at AnimalSamaritans.org.

GEDMAG.COM OCTOBER 2023

HUNKY JESUS BY SISTER ROMA

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

ello dear readers, it’s me, Sister Roma, The Most Photographed Nun In The World!™ It’s been a while since my last column, but I am back, and just in time for GED’s Entertainment Issue. This time around rather than writing from the perspective of fan of entertainment I am coming to you from the other side of the camera, if you will. That’s right friends, I am officially a movie star! I know, I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to reach this pinnacle in my career either, but it’s true. I owe it all to filmmaker Jennifer Kroot and her new documentary Hunky Jesus. For the uninitiated, “Hunky Jesus” is the affectionate name for “Easter in the Park”, an annual outdoor event celebrating the anniversary of San Francisco’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Every year thousands of people venture to Dolores Park on Easter Sunday for a colorful, very gay day that can only be described as equal parts festival, picnic, and costume party. Sisters come from around the world, creating endless opportunities for blessings and photoops. The stage show is jam-packed with programming featuring drag, live vocals, burlesque, a grants giveaway supporting LGBTQ+ nonprofits, and a Sainting ceremony where celebrities and local heroes get their flowers. There are three contests throughout the day. The Easter Bonnet contest, The Foxy Mary contest, and the main attraction, the infamously irreverent, undeniably iconic Hunky Jesus Contest. Hence the moniker for our party in the park and the inspiration for the film, Hunky Jesus. I should clarify that I am not the star of Hunky Jesus, but merely one of many. The stars are my co-hosts of “Easter in the Park” and the Hunky Jesus Contest Sister Dana Van Iquity and Honey Mahogany, our founder, Sister Vish-Knew and Sister Bella Donna Summer who give good interview while serving good face, DJ Jimmy Strano, the contestants, the performers, all of the Sisters and Guards who make beautiful cameos and provide hilarious soundbites, and the vibrant people of San Francisco. Hunky Jesus is a glorious explosion of queer joy! The creativity, diversity,

brilliance, and fearless authenticity of the LGBTQ community fill every frame, creating an impactful and powerful story of celebration and the reclamation of systems and doctrines that opress us. Hunky Jesus is a pie in the face to anyone who would choose to weaponize their religion in an attempt to silence, criminalize, and eradicate queer and trans people. The film takes viewers on a brief, informative journey back to the origins of the Order, showcasing the work of our earliest members as radical drag activists and pioneers in HIV/AIDS education and prevention then returns to Dolores Park where 10,000 people jump to their feet, screaming and cheering for their favorite Hunky Jesus. Now THAT’s Entertainment! Hunky Jesus made its world premiere at BFI Flare, the British Film Institute’s LGBTQ Film Festival in London. I was fortunate enough to be there with an international contingent of Sisters. It was a spectacular whirlwind of sold-out

screenings, red carpets, Q&As, and celebrity guests including Armistead Maupin! One of the highlights was a surprise ceremony where we cannonized Hunky Jesus filmmaker Kroot “Saint Jennifer H. Christ, Sacred Cinematic Scribe of Drag Deities & Sexy Saviors, Lover of Italian Cities and Corndogs.” Since making its debut in London, Hunky Jesus has been featured in film festivals in San Diego, Fire Island, Provincetown, Durham, NC, Little Rock, AR, Toronto, Canda, Manchester, England, Sydney, Australia, and in San Francisco at the iconic Castro Theater for Frameline 50. We knew it would be well received at home but I’m thrilled to share that it has been resonating with audiences around the globe and we’re just getting started! To find out if Hunky Jesus is coming to a screen near you, follow @hunkyjesusfilm and @sister_roma on Instagram. I’m doing my best to follow the movie so save me a seat and I’ll buy the popcorn! GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

BY STAN JENSON

ON STAGE

September is the month that most California theatre companies start their 2026/2027 seasons. Following is a list of some of the upcoming season’s productions. A few of the shows will require early booking, so see what piques your fancy. Dates are opening performances.

THE BENT (TheBent.org)

Palm Springs’ LGBTQ+ Theatre Company Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 10/9 Dada Hot Papa Woof 11/13 Jeffrey 1/22/2027 Bad Dog 2/26/2027 Mother Play 4/23/2027

DIVERSIONARY THEATRE (Diversionary.org)

San Diego’s LGBTQ+ Theatre Company NI MI Madre 8/13 Arrowhead 11/12 Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions 2/18 Take Me Out 5/20

OH, MARY – Various: Oh, Mary is the funniest, campiest, silliest, and gayest production to hit Broadway in many a moon. Now it’s on its way to California and the tickets are being grabbed up by the handful. The play, written by comedian Cole Escola, opened off-Broadway in February 2024 with a planned closing date six weeks later. However, ticket sales were so high that they extended through May. On April 24, 2004, the producers announced the show would be transferred to Broadway for a limited run. Instead of a limited run, it is still playing today to sold-out houses. They play is primarily about Mary Todd Lincoln, originally played off- and on-Broadway by the playwright, Cole Escola. In the two+ years since it’s opening, the role has been handed by men and women including Jane Krakowski, Betty Gilpin, Titus Burgess, Jinx Monsoon, Mya Rudolph, and numerous others. Bowen Yang is scheduled to don Mary’s curls in New York later this month. Mary’s dream is to return to her previous life as a cabaret artist, and when that doesn’t happen, she turns to taking a drink or five on a regular basis. Mary’s deeply closeted husband doesn’t offer her anything she needs, in fact, his Assistant seems to be getting all his attention. The California tour will be headed by Drag Race’s Alaska Thunderfuck as Mary, and J. Harrison Ghee alternating as both Mary and Her Husband. Ghee was the first non-binary actor to win a Tony which they received for Some Like it Hot. They are also the first actor to play both the leading male and female roles in this show (at different performances, to be clear). Oh, Mary is a one-act musical, and as I recall, runtime is 100 minutes. That’s a good thing because the laughs are so nonstop, anything longer might cause serious damage! Playing at San Diego Civic 9/29 - 10/4; San Francisco Curran 10/13 - 11/1; and Los Angeles Ahmanson 11/10 - 12/6. MARY’S DREAM IS TO RETURN TO HER PREVIOUS LIFE AS A CABARET ARTIST, AND WHEN THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN, SHE TURNS TO TAKING A DRINK OR FIVE ON A REGULAR BASIS. MARY’S DEEPLY CLOSETED HUSBAND DOESN’T OFFER HER ANYTHING SHE NEEDS, IN FACT, HIS ASSISTANT SEEMS TO BE GETTING ALL HIS ATTENTION.

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

BROADWAY IN HOLLYWOOD BroadwayInHollywood.com)

Dates listed are for Hollywood Pantages – Most of the same shows will tour to San Francisco, Orange County’s Segerstrom Center, and San Diego Civic Water for Elephants 9/8 The Outsiders 9/30 The Who’s Tommy 10/27 Elf the Musical 121 Disney’s The Lion King 12/17 Jersey Boys 2/16 The Bodyguard 3/2 Buena Vista Social Club 3/9 Opearation Mincemeat 3/30 Waitress 4/20 The Simon & Garfunkle Story 4/30 Maybe Happy Ending 5/4 The Great Gatsby 6/1 Death Becomes Her 7/6 Hamilton 7/28

THE AHMANSON THEATRE (CenterTheatreGroup.org) Part of the Los Angeles Music Center Clue 9/8 The Music Man 10/27 Oh, Mary 11/10 Christmas Carol Goes Wrong 12/12 Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish) 2/13 John Proctor is the Villain 3/17 Riverdance 2/13 Boop! The Musical 7/6

THE McCALLUM THEATRE (McCallumTheatre.org)

Palm Desert’s Home of Touring Productions & Juliet 10/27 The Who’s Tommy 11/24 The Wiz 12/8 The Bodyguard 2/16 The Simon & Garfunkel Story 4/22 The Sound of Music 5/5 Mama Mia! 6/1

COACHELLA VALLEY REP (CVRep.org) Professional Regional Theatre in Cathedral City The Minutes 10/28 Around the World in 80 Days 12/2 Million Dollar Quartet 1/13 Les Miserables 2/24

DEZART PERFORMS (DezartPerforms.org) Intimate Professional Company in Palm Springs Come From Away 11/18 Hurricane Diane 1/20 Primary Trust 3/3 The Remains 4/14

PALM CANYON THEATRE (PalmCanyonTheatre.net)

Palm Springs’ Longest Continually Operating Theatre Joseph & The Technicolor Dreamcoat 10/9 Del Shores’ Sordid Lives 10/30 The Producers 11/27 Evita 1/22 Beautiful: The Carol King Musical 2/9 Titanic 3/12 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 4/16 Seussical, the Musical 7/28

REVOLUTION STAGE CO. (RevolutionStageCompany.com) Palm Springs’ Most Inventive Theatre Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors 10/22 Urinetown: The Musical 11/13 Pig Butchered 12/10 Merman’s Apprentice 1/16 Merrily We Roll Along 2/12 Sweet Charity 3/12 Extremities 4/8 Lucky Stiff 4/30 The Mother F**ker with the Hat 5/28

BEGIN AGAIN – San Diego: For those of you who regularly read this column, you know I’m a staunch fan of San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre. Last month I saw their productions of North by Northwest and Cyrano, and each of them blew my mind. I could easily sit through either one of them again and again. This month they are presenting a world premier pre-Broadway production called Begin Again. The musical is based on the film of the same name, written and directed by John Carney (Once, Sing Street). It features music and lyrics by Pat Monahan and the band Train and a book by Jenna Clark Embrey. It will be directed by Lorin Latarro (Waitress, Chess), and choreographed by David Neumann (Hadestown, Swept Away). In a city alive with possibility, two unlikely dreamers discover that music has the power to change everything. Gretta, a gifted but heartbroken songwriter crosses paths with Dan, a record producer on the brink of burnout. Their chance encounter sparks an unexpected collaboration that transforms them both. Set against the exhilarating backdrop of New York City, Begin Again is a world-premier musical about rediscovering passion, purpose and the courage to start over. Old Globe Artistic Director said, “Based on the delightful movie by the great John Carney, the production features extraordinary new music by Pat Monahan and the band Train. Their distinctive voices will bring a vibrant sound to our stage that our audiences haven’t heard here before.” He continued, “Through music and creativity, the magic of New York City will come alive with thrilling theatricality and fun. Director Lorin has assembled a stellar cast of 19.” The Old Globe has been the nurturing ground of several Broadway hits, including Into the Woods. Their main stage only seats 580 people, so obviously production money for shows with full casts, orchestra, sets and costumes comes from somewhere other than ticket sales. Producers round up money aimed at a Broadway production and recognize that out of town productions are a necessary part of the production birthing process. Playing 9/6 – 10/11, www.TheOldGlobe.org. IN A CITY ALIVE WITH POSSIBILITY, TWO UNLIKELY DREAMERS DISCOVER THAT MUSIC HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

MOVIES ARE SO GAY!

WITCHES AND ZOMBIES AND SEPTEMBER RELEASES, OH MY! BY KEVIN PERRY

abor Day is a time for reflection, rebirth, and righteous pool parties. It might be your last chance this year to whip out those swim trunks and simmer in queer camaraderie and communal cocoa butter. Or you could skip the norovirus buffet and head to the cinema instead! Air conditioning awaits! Silky popcorn aromas beckon you to ditch your diet! And they also have films! Sure, this month’s movie menu is a mixed bag of meh, but remember all that stuff we said about A/C and popcorn? Focus on those perks and get your sweet behind to the theater… just remember to sit on a towel if you’re coming from an aforementioned pool party. Lights, camera, adequacy!

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

SEPTEMBER 4TH

When a lifelong bigot says they’re not racist, it’s as believable as when your ‘straight’ buddy claims “I’m not gay” while prying open all of his orifices simultaneously (and seductively). So, pardon the heck out of us if we’re not buying Marky Mark Wahlberg’s progressive potboiler By Any Means. This throwback thriller involves a 1960s mobster who helps a beleaguered Black FBI agent - played by the sublime Yahya AbdulMateen II - as he investigates the murders of several civil rights activists. The plot sounds promising, but casting Mark “Daddy’s Home 2” Wahlberg makes the film as fake as Marky’s prosthetic nose. S’not for us, thanks. Things don’t go swimmingly for The Girl in the River. In other words: she’s dead. Small town law enforcers chase a big time criminal, but they just can’t seem to bring him in. We know this because of the movie’s utterly cliched trailer, in which characters breathlessly and redundantly warn, “He’s out there!” and “He’s still out there!” and “What are you doing in here? He’s out there!” So, maybe it’s safer to avoid this theatrical release and wait for streaming instead. After all, HE’S OUT THERE! Which leads us to the most promising premiere of the weekend: Onslaught. It’s a feel-good yarn about a mega-awesome mother protecting her daughter from a squad of Nazi-esque assailants. Sounds like a preview of this year’s midterm election! So, vote like hell in November and check out Onslaught in the meantime.

SEPTEMBER 11TH We’ve been drinking midnight margaritas in anticipation of Practical Magic 2 and now it’s finally here! Please ignore the fact that we’ve imbibed 28 years’ worth of late-night booze, because that’s how long it took for this bewitching sequel to rise from the dead. You owe us a new liver, Warner Bros! The Owens sisters are back and they’re bringing sass, class and ass to PM2 - most notably, they splay a naked hunk on their kitchen counter in hopes of ‘resurrecting’ him, but they have trouble finding unmarked flesh on his tattooed bod. Oh well, they can always grab his magic wand! Penile references aside, the cast is abraca-awesome, so we’ll steer our brooms to the nearest multiplex. In other movie news: yikes. The Fix tells the tale of a troop of disillusioned Afghanistan vets who decide to infiltrate Tehran and steal 25 million dollars. Because things are so peachy in Iran? Runner stars professional boner-maker Alan Ritchson (rawr) as a courier trying to deliver a liver (hey, that rhymes) to a dying little girl… until black market profiteers hijack his mission. And The Uprising is about a bratty king who taxes his people to their breaking point. Sensing a pattern here? Even in the face of abject human suffering, there are always a-holes attempting to exploit the situation. Humans kinda suck…

SEPTEMBER 18TH

…That’s why we prefer cuddly cartoon creatures! Aardman Animations presents Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom… NGL, we totally thought the title said ‘Bossy Bottom’ at first blush. Cheeky indeed! Packed with sight gags, subtle humor, and savagely cute characters, this sequel depicts Shaun as a Dr. Frankenstein type who accidentally unleashes a furry monster on the public - kinda like that time you brought your drunk bear friend to a dinner party. Bad Shaun! We’ve heard of mad cows, but mad-scientist sheep? EWE gotta be kidding! Zach Cregger effed our brains last year with his Oscar-winning horror hit Weapons, so we’re ghoulishly excited for his reboot of Resident Evil. A hapless medical worker drives a donated organ into the snowy wasteland for a few extra bucks. Don’t judge - you’ve made worse decisions while trying to get your hands on an organ. But surprise! The area is lousy with mutant zombie thingies. Atmospheric, suspenseful, clever… and that’s just the trailer! We can’t wait for the full, freaky flesh-feast. Desperation is a common thread tying several of this month’s releases together. Thanks, economy! Filmmakers are inspired to harken back to the Great Depression to create movies like The Weight, a harrowing misadventure about a group of downtrodden men duped into transporting gold through unforgiving terrain. There’s a lot of brooding and bare-knuckle fighting, but we’re most excited for the rickety ropebridge scene that reminds us of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Wheee! Depression over!

SEPTEMBER 25TH Oops, spoke too soon. Our depression is back with a vengeance, courtesy of this week’s bleak blockbusters. Heart of the Beast stars hunky Brad Pitt and his even more adorbsies co-star: a German Shepherd. Sounds sweet, right? Wrong. They both have PTSD. Oh, and to add the icing on the s*** cake, they crash land in Alaska and have to fight for survival. Did we mention the dog has a prosthetic paw and teeth due to past abuse? Damn, what else is in theaters? Primetime charts the rise of one of tv’s biggest success stories. This could be promising! Wait, it’s about Chris Hansen and To Catch a Predator. What are you doing to us, Hollywood?!? It’s hard to believe that the true story of a suicidal daredevil would be the cheery pick-me-up of this week’s offerings, but The Stunt Driver delivers offbeat charm by the mile. Ken Carter attempts to jump the St. Lawrence River in a rocket-powered Lincoln Continental that keeps exploding in trials. But that doesn’t stop Carter from racing forward and running his mouth to anyone who doubts him… which is everyone, basically. Will this lovable loser beat the odds and best his rival, Evel Knievel? Don’t hold your breath. Oy, is there any end to the ennui? Why, yes! Yes, there is. But the full title of our final film is longer than the armpit hair at Lilith Fair. Here goes – You Had To Be There: How the Toronto GODSPELL Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (In a Canadian Kind of Way). Inhale! It’s astounding that one production could launch the luminary careers of Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Jayne Eastwood, Victor Garber and Paul Shaffer. Inhale again! This documentary uses interviews from several of the aforementioned legends as well as icons like Mike Myers, Lin-Manuel Miranda and the eternally amazing Catherine O’Hara to chart how the stage smash hit spawned talent that would make Saturday Night Live and Schitt’s Creek possible. Oh, Canada - adopt us, please! While we wait patiently for our neighbor to the north to take us under its poutine wings, we’ll stay vigilant, stay entertained, and stay way gay. Toodles! GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

SOAK IN THE DESERT’S HEALING WATERS

UNWIND IN THE SPRINGS

GREATER PALM SPRINGS SPA MONTH OFFERS THE ULTIMATE SELF-CARE ESCAPE BY MICHAEL WESTMAN reater Palm Springs has long been a place where the LGBTQ+ community comes to relax, reconnect and simply be themselves. The desert is famous for its mid-century architecture, dramatic mountain views, legendary pool culture and vibrant nightlife, but there’s another side to the destination that deserves just as much attention: wellness. With natural hot mineral springs bubbling beneath the desert floor and some of Southern California’s most impressive spas and resorts, Greater Palm Springs practically invented the art of the wellness escape. That makes Greater Palm Springs Spa Month, September 1–30, the perfect excuse to slow down and indulge a little. Throughout September, participating spas across the Coachella Valley offer special treatments, discounted day passes, wellness experiences and hotel packages designed to make a little luxury more accessible. Whether you’re planning a solo reset, a romantic weekend for two or a few recovery days around September events like The Dinah, here are some of our favorite ways to experience Spa Month.

The Spa at Séc-he

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort

The Spa at Séc-he | Downtown Palm Springs thespaatseche.com Right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, and only a few blocks from the gay nightlife mecca of Arenas Road, The Spa at Séc-he offers an experience you simply can’t replicate anywhere else. Owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the spa is built around the sacred Séc-he hot mineral spring, waters that have been central to the Tribe’s culture and traditions for generations. The vibe here is modern, expansive and welcoming. During Spa Month, keep an eye out for weekday specials and “Taking of the Waters” experiences. A day here can include private mineral baths, outdoor mineral pools, acoustic wellness experiences, cryotherapy, grounding rooms and plenty of places to disappear from the world for a few hours. Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort | Desert Hot Springs azurepalmhotsprings.com For something quieter, head north to Desert Hot Springs, where mineral water and sweeping views of Mount San Jacinto set the tone. Azure Palm is the kind of place where your shoulders seem to drop the minute you arrive. Spend the day moving between mineral pools, relaxing in the Himalayan salt room or simply finding a quiet spot to enjoy the desert scenery. The vibe here is peaceful, unhurried and restorative. Spa Month is a great time to look for Stay & Spa packages, wellness experiences and special access to the resort’s mineral-water facilities. If your idea of self-care involves doing absolutely nothing for a while, this is a very good place to start.

A LITTLE BOUTIQUE GLAMOUR Estrella Spa at Avalon Hotel & Bungalows | Palm Springs avalon-hotel.com/palm-springs/estrella-spa

Tucked inside the lush grounds of the Avalon Hotel & Bungalows, Estrella Spa feels wonderfully removed from the activity of downtown—even though you’re just minutes away. There are secluded garden spaces, intimate treatment rooms and plenty of old-Palm-Springs glamour. The vibe here is chic, private and effortlessly Palm Springs. Spa Month specials can make it easier to turn a massage or body treatment into an entire afternoon escape. Pair your treatment with some pool time, find a cabana and embrace the very Palm Springs tradition of having nowhere else you need to be. Dive Palm Springs | Palm Springs divepalmsprings.com Palm Springs meets the French Riviera at this stylish little boutique hideaway. Dive is playful, romantic and unapologetically photogenic, making it a fun choice for couples or friends who want their wellness day to include plenty of pool time. The vibe here is flirty, stylish and relaxed. Look for Spa Month wellness and day-pass offers that let you enjoy the property without necessarily committing to an overnight stay. Settle into a daybed, order something refreshing and add an outdoor massage for maximum vacation mode. Terra Palm Springs | Palm Springs terrapalmsprings.com For travelers who prefer wellness with a more holistic approach, Terra offers an intimate alternative to the traditional resort spa. This small Ayurvedic-inspired retreat focuses on slowing things down, with treatments and wellness facilities designed around restoration rather than simply pampering. Intimate, holistic and deeply relaxing. Spa Month offers may include savings on body treatments and access to Terra’s hydrotherapy experiences, including a cold plunge, Himalayan salt sauna and rain room.

Estrella Spa at Avalon Hotel & Bungalows

GO AHEAD—INDULGE

Dive Palm Springs

Terra Palm Springs

L’Horizon Resort & Spa

Spa Rosa at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort

L’Horizon Resort & Spa and The Colony Palms Hotel | Palm Springs lhorizonpalmsprings.com and colonypalmshotel.com Sometimes self-care calls for a little extravagance. L’Horizon and The Colony Palms deliver two distinctly Palm Springs takes on luxury, combining historic architecture, beautiful grounds, privacy and a decidedly grown-up atmosphere. With a sophisticated, romantic and highdesign vibe, these properties scream “indulgence”. September packages may include spa or resort credits that make it tempting to turn Spa Month into an overnight getaway. Book a massage, linger by the pool and follow it with dinner at SOPA or The Colony Club. After all, wellness doesn’t have to mean green juice and an early bedtime. Spa Rosa at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort | Indian Wells tommybahamamiramonte.com/spa-rosa Spa Rosa feels like a Mediterranean retreat dropped into the middle of the desert. Surrounded by gardens and resort grounds, it’s an easy place to spend several hours moving between a treatment room, steam room and quiet outdoor spaces. Spa Month specials may include reduced pricing on signature 50- and 80-minute treatments, giving you an excuse to add eucalyptus steam, garden lounging and hotand-cold experiences to your day. GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

Spa Rosa at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort

MAKE THE MOST OF SPA MONTH

Go midweek. Monday through Thursday is often the sweet spot. You’ll generally find quieter pools, more appointment availability and, depending on the spa, better access to special rates and day passes. Make it part of a bigger gay-getaway. September has plenty happening around Greater Palm Springs. Recover from a late Saturday night with a massage before heading back out for Sunday drag brunch. Ask specifically about Spa Month. Don’t assume the regular treatment menu includes the promotion. Some offers require direct booking, specific treatment selections or a Spa Month promotional code, so check the current offer when making your reservation. And most importantly: give yourself time. If your treatment is 50 minutes, don’t plan to arrive five minutes beforehand and leave immediately afterward. The best spa days are the ones where the treatment is only part of the experience.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT DURING SPA MONTH?

Participating spas typically roll out a mix of special offers throughout September, including: • Signature treatment specials: Reduced pricing on massages, customized facials, body treatments and hydrotherapy experiences. • Day passes: Select resorts offer access to pools, steam rooms, saunas, relaxation areas and fitness facilities without requiring an overnight stay. • Stay & Spa packages: Turn your treatment into a getaway with hotel packages that may include spa credits, resort credits or other wellness perks. • Wellness experiences: Look beyond the massage table for yoga, sound baths, guided outdoor experiences and other opportunities to recharge.

There’s something about Greater Palm Springs that has always made it easy to exhale. Maybe it’s the mountains. Maybe it’s the sunshine. Maybe it’s being somewhere with such a welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ travelers. Whatever the reason, Spa Month gives you one more excuse to come to the desert and take care of yourself. Book the massage. Order lunch in your robe. You deserve it!

Looking for more? Visit GEDMAG.com for even more spa and wellness destinations to explore throughout Southern California.

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

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INJUSTICE DELAYED

REDLINING PUTS

EMPOWERMENT ON THE MAP BY KEVIN PERRY

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

o matter how strong, smart, or successful we become, there’s always that quirky, queer kid within quivering at the big, bad world towering over our heads. Society wants to convince us that we’re just funny or just artsy or just weird, but here’s the truth: we’re just everything. “As a gay man, you get limited,” assesses Jason Stuart, creator and star of the groundbreaking new short film Redlining. “People think of you as limited. And I’m anything but.” Indeed, Stuart is a mega-accomplished actor, writer, director and comedian with hundreds of credits to his name. Check him out on IMDb and bring a sherpa to navigate his mountain of mentions. But he wasn’t always so confident. “I’m dyslexic and I was browbeaten and bullied as a kid for being gay and a little bit for being Jewish. And I would go into the theater, and I could see a movie or watch something on television or see a play and see something in a completely different light. I could see a story, and that was my education. So, the idea that somebody goes in this room and doesn’t know about redlining and doesn’t know about generational wealth. This is a big, big subject matter, redlining, but it’s a very small story about two families.” The narrative spans 40 years in the lives of neighbors who must maneuver the racist realities of redlining, a discriminatory method of denying marginalized communities the ability to build and keep a home. “I wanted a quiet film. And I wanted to film in the style of Terrence Malick,” Stuart explains. “I’m a talker and nobody talks in this film very much… I feel like I’m watching somebody else. This character is not like me at all.” The multitalented filmmaker discovered that once he closed his mouth, he opened his consciousness. “What my job is is to take my shoes off, put on the shoes of my Black siblings, and shut up and listen. It’s not my place to give my opinion. Because it’s not my experience.” Stuart tapped into the universal injustices we all face, crafting a tale of two star-crossed men who pit a bigoted system against itself to carve out their life together. “I wrote the film originally myself,

PA G E S 42 - 45 : P H OTO S CO U R T E S Y O F R E D L I N I N G

and I did a reading of it with my friend Lee Garlington, and I thought, ‘What can I do to make this better?’ Because she’s a wonderful writer, as much as she’s such a prolific actress. She’s been in over, God knows, 200 films and TV shows... And she said, ‘Look, I’ll write it with you.’” Once their script was rock solid, it was time to cast the film. In classic Jason Stuart fashion, he hands this interviewer his phone and casually invites me to chat with Baywatch legend Alexandra Paul. Though I was woefully unprepared, she disarmed and dazzled in our brief, exclusive conversation. “I always like to do homework on characters, and she was interesting because she ages and I’m actually taking care of my mother, who’s 90. So, when Jason said, ‘I want you to play her when she’s in her 80s,’ I’m like, well, first I was concerned because I was worried the makeup would look cheesy.” But cheese was not on the menu, thanks to the brilliant makeup work of Amy Lederman. She allowed the actors to truly become their characters, losing themselves behind a tableau of seamless cosmetic effects. Ms. Paul was able to focus on the deeper themes of the film, commenting, “Most of white people’s wealth comes from homes that they inherited from their families. So Black people didn’t get that opportunity because of redlining, and it’s one of the reasons that there is an income disparity in our country now. All those people like Trump who say, ‘Whoa, you should pull yourself up by your bootstraps and yada, yada,’ it’s like, okay, yeah, well, their bootstraps were cut and they couldn’t even pull on them.” As our chat winds to a close, she can’t help but share her endless admiration for Stuart. “Jason being such a close, close GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

“THE FACT THAT QUEER AUDIENCES AND BLACK AUDIENCES SHARE A VORACIOUS APPETITE FOR REDLINING SPEAKS TO BOTH ITS UNIVERSALITY AND AUTHENTICITY.” friend of mine, we know each other so well that actually I felt very comfortable with him and so I was able to connect with him immediately. It was really about my love for Jason. That was able to inform the mother character, even though he’s older than me, by the way. And also, he’s a wonderful director because he’s an actor, so he knows how to speak to actors, and he cares about motivation and moment.” From the next room, Stuart interjects playfully that he’s not older. Their dynamic is sibling-rivalryesque, which makes their on-screen chemistry so compelling, and it all reaches a fever pitch of emotion in the mother/son deathbed scene. “During my close up, she was in complete tears, she couldn’t even talk. She was in such tears and during her close up, I was in ugly tears. And if we used it, it would have been just way too self-indulgent. So, I used the other angles to show we were there for each other. Right? It worked better. The tears were there, but not in the same way, yeah. Not like a faucet.” Stuart coins a phrase for the maudlin, overdramatic thespian theatrics he avoids. “I love that you can’t see the acting. There’s no schmackting.” Schlove it! Even though the subject matter may be heavy, the creative team found the silver lining in Redlining. Despite the government’s best efforts to keep folks down, they rise up by fudging their paperwork and finding gay romance in the deep south. As Stuart describes it: “Everybody grows an inch or two in this quiet story of people who are not telling everybody everything they do.” Kareem Ferguson triumphs in the role of Stuart’s lifelong love interest, and the actor brought his real-life partner into the crew as lead hairstylist. “Kareem actually got his husband, Dennis Bailey, who’s nominated for an Emmy for Fallout,” narrates Stuart. “Susan Hopper did our sets, and she redid that house for four different decades, just by changing little things... I don’t know what to say

GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

about Shon LeBlanc - he had two and three outfits for every person. He had extra clothes. What is he doing? That’s just too much. But he was right. He was so prepared. Just wonderful. So, I had an incredible team of people.” Striking a hushed, reverent tone, Stuart continues, “Billy, who was my editor and my DP [director of photography], Billy Clift, a filmmaker in his own right. He said, ‘Yeah, this is great and it’s just intimate.” His shout-outs reach a crescendo as he turns his attention and affection to Redlining producer Steve Campbell. “Steve, for me, was my right-hand man,” beams Stuart. “When things didn’t work out, I could go to him, and he was terrific that way… He was indispensable. And he’s my friend, and I love him. He was there to hold my hand quite a bit. Because there were a lot of people, and a lot of personalities, and a lot of stuff to do in a very short amount of time. It was only a three-day shoot. But we rehearsed for one day with the company… Steve was very instrumental in helping me organize all of that.” Campbell felt the urgency to bring Stuart’s vision to vibrant life. “Obviously, we had a timeline that we had to stick to, and we got it shot. I have to give credit to Jason, and I’m not just saying it because he is my friend. I truly think he has a great mind… I was skeptical because I thought, ‘These things take forever.’ I mean, I’ve been working on projects for years that haven’t happened.” But failure wasn’t feasible once Campbell got hooked on the project. “When I read the script, I just thought it was so beautiful, and I related to it,” recounts the producer. “The story is important, and I think anyone that’s had any kind of adversity should be able to relate to it.” While Stuart was in the weeds as director and star, Campbell was able to provide a big picture perspective. “When it’s a short film, you’ve got to get the point across quickly,” he argues. “Give people a chance, make everything fair. I believe in that.”

The proof is in the production. Campbell compares Redlining to one of the great gay filmmakers of all time. “It makes me kind of think of Todd Haynes, you know, that kind of feel.” Well said, well earned. Stuart is unveiling his opus at events ranging from the Hip Hop Film Festival in New York to Cinema Diverse in Palm Springs. The fact that queer audiences and Black audiences share a voracious appetite for Redlining speaks to both its universality and authenticity. But for Stuart, the bottom line is entertainment. He’s positively giddy over the reaction he received at his first screening. “People were there for two and a half hours after it. It was a school night… That was my first sign.” And it won’t be the last. Redlining is poised to take awards season by storm, but Stuart refuses to take himself too seriously. He’s headlining a standup show at Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, noting: “Stephanie Hodge from The Comeback and my friend Ethan Herschenfeld will be my special guest comedians on September 18.” But the true star of the show will be Stuart’s real-life mom. “There’ll be more antics about my mother and her newfound stardom in the AT&T commercial that we’re in together. She actually said, ‘If they used me more in the commercial, people would like it better.’” He is a whirlwind, he is a wit, he is a wonder, but when asked for a final comment to tie together all of his fabulous philosophies, Jason Stuart grows contemplative. After an earnest pause, he says simply yet profoundly, “Remember where we came from.” History is written in the margins. We can’t be erased, we can’t be silenced, and we can’t be wiped off the map. Redlining reminds us that every time they try to eradicate us, they only succeed in empowering us. Our bonds are stronger than their boundaries. Catch Redlining at a film festival near you! Screening soon in New York, San Francisco, Tarzana, Hollywood, Palm Springs, and more. For tickets and details visit JasonStuart.com/ Redlining. GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

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CASA OLIVER 535 S Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-323-7505 casaoliverhotel.com DESCANSO 288 E. Camino Monte Vista Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1928 descansoresort.com DESERT PARADISE 615 S. Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.320.5650 desertparadise.com EL MIRASOL VILLAS 525 Warm Sands Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.327.5913 elmirasol.com

EL TUGGLE 388 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.880.4338 eltuggle.com GAYMART 305 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.6436 GEAR LEATHER & FETISH 650 E Sunny Dunes Rd #1 Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.322.3363 gearleather.com ROUGH TRADE LEATHER 321 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.699.7524 roughtradegear.com

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PALM SPRINGS DIRECTORY GIFTS DESTINATION PSP 170 North Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.354.9154 destinationpsp.com GREETINGS PALM SPRINGS 301 N Palm Canyon Dr # 102 Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.5049 greetingspalmsprings.com JUST FABULOUS 515 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.864.1300 bjustfabulous.com MISCHIEF CARDS & GIFTS 226 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.8555 mischiefcardsandgifts.com PEEPA’S 120 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.318.3553 peepasps.com PS HOMEBOYS 108 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.318.7388 pshomeboys.com Q TRADING COMPANY 606 E Sunny Dunes Rd Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.416.7150

HAIR SALONS CUT BARBER 1109 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.2999 cutbarber.com DADDY’S BARBERSHOP 192 S Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.537.1311 daddysbarbershop.com MEN’S GROOMING SPOT 68487 E Palm Canyon Dr Suite 43 Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.992.0028 mensgroomingspot.com

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PS FINE MEN’S SALON 750 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3 Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.904.0434 psfinemenssalon.com

REALTORS 3 BEARS REALTY 2905 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.699.6175 3bearsrealty.com PALM SPRINGS HOME TEAM Conrad Miller (DRE #01973983) 760.464.9559 Brandon Holland (DRE # 01986968) 760.413.1220 Palmspringshometeam.com

RESTAURANTS 1501 UPTOWN GASTROPUB 1501 Uptown Gastropub 1501 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, 92262 760.507.1644 1501uptown.com BLACKBOOK 315 E. Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.8497 blackbookbar.com BOOZEHOUNDS PS 2080 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.656-0067 boozehoundsps.com EIGHT4NINE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE 849 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.8490 eight4nine.com FARM 6 La Plaza Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.2724 farmspalmsprings.com JOHANNES 196 S. Indian Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.0017 johannespalmsprings.com

RICK’S DESERT GRILL 1596 North Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.2127 ricksdesertgrill.com THE SOCIAL CAFE AND PLAY LOUNGE 2825 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Bldg C, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-808-8588 thesocialcafeps.com TRILUSSA 68-718 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.328.2300 trilussarestaurant.com TRIO RESTAURANT 707 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA. 92262 760.854.8746 triopalmsprings.com

PALM SPRINGS FRONT RUNNERS & WALKERS frontrunners.clubexpress.com PALM SPRINGS TEST 140 N Luring Drive, Ste D Palm Springs, CA 92262 760-299-6487 healthypstest.org STONEWALL GARDENS 2150 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.548.0970 stonewallgardens.com LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE DESERT 1301 North Palm Canyon Dr, 3rd Floor Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.7790 thecentercv.org

WILMA & FRIEDA’S 155 S Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.992.5080 wilmafrieda.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES DAP HEALTH 1695 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.2118 daphealth.org DESERT CARE NETWORK 760.561.7373 desertcarenetwork.com DESERT OASIS HEALTHCARE 275 North El Cielo Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.DOHC (3642) mydohc.com EISENHOWER HEALTH 39000 Bob Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 760.340.3911 eisenhowerhealth.org PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.416.5718 psanimalshelter.org

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SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY BARS & CLUBS 440 CASTRO 440 Castro, San Francisco, CA the440.com BEAUX 2344 Market St., San Franciso, CA beauxsf.com HI TOPS 2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA 415.551.2500 hitopsbar.com LOBBY BAR 4230 18th St. Unit A, San Francisco, CA lobbybarsf.com LOOKOUT 3600 16th St., San Francisco, CA 415.431.0306 lookoutsf.com MAC’S CLUB 39 Post St., San Jose, CA 408.288.8221 MIDNIGHT SUN 4067 18th St., San Francisco, CA 415.861.4186 midnightsunsf.com MOBY DICK 4049 18th St., San Francisco, CA 415.294.0731 OASIS 298 11th St., San Francisco, CA 415.795.3180 sfoasis.com RENEGADES 501 W Taylor St., San Jose, CA 408.275.9902 renegadesbar.carrd.co SF EAGLE 398 12th St., San Francisco, CA 415.200.2002 sf-eagle.com SPLASH 65 Post St., San Jose, CA 408.292.2222 splashsj.com THE CINCH SALOON 1723 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 415.776.4162

THE MIX 4086 18th St., San Francisco, CA 415.431.8616 thesfmix.com WHITE HORSE BAR 6551 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA 510.652.3820

HAIR SALONS HEALING CUTS 2350 Market St., San Francisco, CA 415.286.2970 healingcutssf.com SPUNK SALON 4147 19th St., San Francisco, CA 415.701.7865 spunksalon.com THE CASTRO BARBER LOUNGE 2265 Market St., San Francisco, CA 415.678.5942 thecastrobarberlounge.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES HEALTH/COUNSELING/SUPPORT API WELLNESS CLINIC 726 Polk St. SF LGBT Center 1800 Market Street San Francisco, CA apiwellness.org BILLY DEFRANK LGBTQ CENTER 938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 408.293.3040 defrankcenter.org LYRIC CENTER FOR LGBTQQ YOUTH 127 Collingwood St (@ 18th St), San Francisco, CA 415.703.6150 lyric.org OAKLAND LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER 3207 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, CA 510.882.2286 oaklandlgbtqcenter.org

PACIFIC CENTER FOR HUMAN GROWTH 2712 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 510.548.8283 pacificcenter.org QUEER LIFESPACE 2275 Market St, San Francisco, CA 415.358.2000 queerlifespace.org RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER 2380 Salvio St., Concord, CA 925.692.0090 rainbowcc.org SF AIDS FOUNDATION 470 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 415.437.3400 strutsf.org SF LGBT CENTER 1800 Market St, San Francisco, 415.865.5555 sfcenter.org STONEWALL PROJECT 1035 Market St, #400, San Francisco, CA 415.487.3000 stonewallsf.org THE TREVOR PROJECT 866.488.7386 Text: 678.678 thetrevorproject.org UCSF ALLIANCE HEALTH PROJECT 1930 Market St, San Francisco, CA 415.476.3902 ucsf-ahp.org

LEGAL AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL 1663 Mission St, #500, San Francisco, CA 415.701.1100 alrp.org

HOTLINES THE GLBT HOTLINE OF SAN FRANCISCO: 415.355.0999 GLBT NATIONAL HOTLINE: 1.888.843.4564 GLBT NATIONAL YOUTH TALKLINE: 1.800.246.7743 TREVOR PROJECT HOTLINE (Queer Youth Suicide Prevention): 866.488.7386 CALIFORNIA AIDS, STD, & HEPATITIS HOTLINE: 1.800.367.2437 SEXUAL ASSAULT - COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS: 800.670.7273 CONTRA COSTA CRISIS CENTER for Suicide & Crisis Intervention: 800.273.8255

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OASIS LEGAL SERVICES 1900 Addison St, #100, Berkeley, CA 510.666.6687 oasislegalservices.org TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER 510.587.9696 transgenderlawcenter.org GEDMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2026

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