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2 OFM JANUARY 2026

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JANUARY 2026 Volume 49 Number 10 Photo by Zack Hartman

Con tent s 06 Word Search

From The Editor:

07 Happy New Queer

of the State: 08 State Healthcare 2026

T he House of God Has No Outsiders

Will 2026 Be a Year of Trans formation or Turbulence?

Minerva at the Edge: Denver's Punk Princess on Claiming Space and Refusing to Shrink

I'm Going Cold 22 Why Turkey in 2026 Scene Report:

26 Vallejo Hype, Castro Heart

4 OFM JANUARY 2026

SERVING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS SINCE 1976 PHONE / 303-477-4000 WEB / OUTFRONTMAGAZINE.COM FACEBOOK / OUTFRONTCOLORADO INSTAGRAM / @OUTFRONTMAGAZINE

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KEEGAN LEITCH, OLIVIA SMITH ART ART@OFM.MEDIA DESIGNER JOAN HERTING COVER PHOTO ZACK HARTMAN PHOTOGRAPHER ZACK HARTMAN SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER MICAH HOWELL WORD SEARCH KERRY SHATZER ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR VOID PHLUX

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OFM IS PUBLISHED BY OFM PUBLISHING, LLC, A COLORADO CORPORATION outfrontmagazine.com 5

RuPaul’s/Drag/Race

Diversions W Word Search - RuPaul’s Drag Race S18

Find the words in the list below hiding across, backwards, up, down and diagonally Season 18 in the grid. Wor W ds separated by a slash “/” are ffound individually in the puzzle. Michelle/Visage W ds in parentheses “( )” are not in the puzzle. The unused letters starting at top Wor Ross/Mathews R left and going down by row will reveal more about the show!

L R O S S E A S O N 1 8 D

S G R J T S M A D I S O N

K E E U M P L E A S E R 2

E P N D A R E N J O A I Y

6 OFM JANUARY 2026

D T C E I T G I M I A S T A R R

L A L M S C E L O E J S D N U A

R C 0 Y O L S V L N R D E E P U

O W 9 O M N E D D E G R Y E L G O P E L W H I S K C H T A U N A

M B L U S H L U G R R C U A L J

Y A R N C A S E F A E O T T S M

K D T I O I S S E D R R N I T C

I D M H A S E T N E D D U V M E

F A D T E R R Y G

I M O T X W K A Y

C S N G E E S D C

R O T N N I N I I

V H C Y V A A R U

S A A O M R M F J

K R E W A R O O M

Carson/Kressley TS Madison (Contestants) DD Fuego / Kenya/Pleaser Mia Starr / Jane/Don’t Ciara/Myst / Myki/Meeks Briar/Blush / Mandy/Mango Athena/Dion / Nini/Coco Discord/Addams Juicy/Love (Dion) Darlene/Mitchell Vita/Vontesse ita/Vontesse (Starr) ita/V (R (Returns to) MTV Friday/January 2nd World (of)/Wonder onder (By) W orld (of)/W 90-Minute/Episodes Untucked (follows) Guest/Judges Werk/R Werk/Room erk/Room America’s/Next (Drag) Superstar V Visit DiversionsPuzzles.net for more free puzzles & book info!

Welcome everyone gs, and in 2026! Many glad tid

Happy

Photo by Zack Hartman

DITOR FROM THEto E the first issue of

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. e probably thinking I know what you’r in ill st is p um it. Tr New year, same sh is still in the toiy om on ec e th ; office ly ill on fire; it’s bare st is rld wo e th ; let g in dl ud m all still snowed yet; we’re yet? sed through … depres st up, inherently raci I get it. A madeg in go ’t isn r change and sexist calenda ything. If you’re er to magically fix ev lized, recently na gi ar m , ed oy pl unem ary 1 didn’t fix it. nu Ja single, etc., etc., positivity isn’t But, while toxic w Year's resNe y exactly my bag, m is to keep trying olution this year of a difference to make as much at a time, one as possible. A little can all keep e day at a time. W king up for ea sp pushing, keep d no matter our community, an , aspire to look how bleak things that we can ar ye a 26 20 e mak up, and we ve gi say we didn’t g. tin gh fi didn’t stop e plan here At least that’s th has been g in at OFM. Fund , but we are tougher than ever ep bringdetermined to ke ws you ne r ing you the quee e won’t W . ed want and ne ur back yo ve ha we stop, and New Year! all the way. Happy heeler -Addison Herron-W

outfrontmagazine.com 7

State of the State:

Healthcar L et’s set the scene: a trans man at the very beginning of his transition, seeking affirming care, sitting in a waiting room surrounded by posters that do not reflect his life whatsoever. The smiling mothers, the cis-centric messaging, the pastel reminders to schedule your next “well-woman exam”—all of it reminding him that this place was not built with him in mind. It starts with the name. He gets called in by his dead name, loudly, in front of every stranger in that room. First, this outs him publicly, and second, it sends him into fight-or-flight because his safety suddenly feels questionable. A simple appointment now becomes a battlefield of microaggressions. Once the nurse is in charge, she invasively and monotonously asks if he is menstruating or on birth control as she checks boxes on a clipboard that is very obviously the women’s intake list. Not only does that checklist contradict his identity, but it also reinforces the harmful idea that his gender is irrelevant and his body is the only thing they see. And oh boy, if he says he is not on birth control, here comes the big lecture—how it’s better for “women’s bodies,” how there could be an accidental pregnancy (like you’re going to catch it like COVID), blah, blah, blah. Everything said in 8 OFM JANUARY 2026

that room so far has actively chipped away at his dignity. We haven’t even seen the doctor who supposedly specializes in affirming care, yet the system has already tried to erase the identity he is finally confident standing in. This experience alone could traumatize a trans person into avoiding doctors altogether. For some, it can be worse: pushing them into unhealthy mental states just to get the medications they need to feel human again. This long-term discomfort around doctor visits puts LGBTQ+ people at a higher risk for disease, disability, and preventable health crises simply because they aren’t comfortable getting constant care.

Now is the time for reform within healthcare to be aware of these sensitive issues. Yes, there is medical necessity behind some of these questions, but being pressured to be or do something you aren’t or don’t believe in is the exact boundary we steer clear from crossing in so many other areas of life—so why not when it comes to health and well-being too? The person who knows the most about someone is the person living in that body. When doctors standardize pressure based on outdated norms, they create unnecessary harm, and with any further pushing, they turn routine appointments into emotionally unsafe situations.

Denver is a place of curiosity and discovery, so it’s natural to have many options for everything you experience—from food to shopping to recreation. Colorado has a plethora of variety in many ways, and the healthcare gap for the LGBTQ+ community isn’t lacking either. You could go to Denver Health, but not all employees hold accepting views. You could go to Achieve Health if you need basic general care. If you’re physically disabled, the Chanda Center for Health is incredible for physical rehabilitation and holistic support. There’s UCHealth for broader and more structured care, Planned Parenthood with an emphasis on reproductive health and historically female-centered clientele, and STRIDE, which focuses on whole-body healthy living and accessible community medicine rather than just gender-related issues. But within all these options, there are different values, different priorities, and different office cultures—and that impacts the entire experience. The one universal thing doctor’s offices, dentists, eye doctors, and even everyday coffee shops can do is have uncomfortable conversations about how to treat these people. Saying “treat them like everyone else” is not enough to unlearn the narratives fed to professionals from childhood. It’s not enough to break long-held habits. We need to open the floor and

advertise meetings to the individuals these decisions impact, the people who live with this discomfort every day. The source—the lived experience—is always where the best information comes from. Trust me, I’m a journalist. It’s my job to find sources. We need intake forms designed with gender variance in mind. We need to talk openly about the pressure nurses put behind care that doesn’t pertain to a gender-variant person’s lifestyle. Clinics need to prioritize relational care, not just efficiency, because every time efficiency becomes the priority, the most important details are overlooked. And if you involve the people who are suffering, we can all work together to bridge the gaps as soon as we see them.

Photos by Adarsh M.P. & Tima Miroshnichenko

re 2026

By Keegan Leitch another. Let’s all hold the hands of our LGBTQ+ people so they don’t have to brave these waters alone, because they are dark, murky, and full of piranhas—but teamwork, shared struggle, and connection through that struggle is what builds a boat strong enough for all of us to stand on.

Denver is great at coming together in community with love for one outfrontmagazine.com 9

The House of God

Nova Church At Nova Church in Denver, Co-Lead Pastor Katie Fowler describes their approach to connection this way:

“Practice warm welcoming; honor Pastor Hannah Thom of Denver Comstories by being a good listener; offer munity Church (DCC) frames Christian life differently: “The call of Jesus is attunement and presence.” compassionate and generous, and we This, to her, is what love your neighbor should be that too.” looks like in real time—not theory, but practice. Fowler speaks openly about She adds a guiding value at DCC: “Any a transgender member of her commu- action toward any group of people that nity, saying, “Our community wouldn’t doesn’t come from compassion and be the same without him.” Nova inter- generosity misses the heart of God.” prets Scripture through cultural and Denver Community Church fosters historical context, allowing room for belonging by implementing a group nuance and growth while remaining for their LGBTQ+ congregation, Thom adds, describing their community: “The rooted in Jesus. ones that go to the group are the ones Because Nova is a church plant through that will show up when the community Corona Presbyterian Church, pub- is in need, like if someone is moving.” licly adopting the “affirming” label brings challenges. Yet the congregation Following the True Teachings remains deeply relational and open, even as Fowler navigates additional This challenges the narrative that barriers as a woman in ministry—from churches are universally hostile toward unfamiliarity with female pastors to LGBTQ+ people or that LGBTQ+ peo1 0 OFM JANUARY 2026

der W olf

This ideology invites communities of faith to cultivate peace, compassion, and genuine welcome, and if a church claims to be Christian, this should be a guiding principle. As Christianity experiences a fresh movement rooted not only in Scripture but in living like Jesus, more churches are reconsidering what it means to be a healing presence in today’s world. Let's look at some of these local churches that are accepting of all.

lingering misogyny in church culture. ple being in the church creates hostile Still, the church’s actions speak loudly. environments. In fact, 59% of Chris“Come and rest in the love of Jesus.” tians in the U.S. believe in full equality, even though only a small percentage A transgender congregant at Nova (7%) of pastors publicly identify their told me: “This church has always been churches as fully affirming. Denver, accepting. I’ve never felt a community with its progressive values, is fortunate like this before—not expecting me to be to house many churches that are movsomeone I’m not or to have a revelation ing toward greater visible acceptance, that I should change. It’s a place where and finding those churches is still easy I can feel at home and build genuine even without rainbow advertisements friendships.” at the door, though the “all are welcome” stickers do build that conNova Church meets on Sundays at 5 fidence. p.m. at 8th and Downing for anyone looking to visit. There are Christian Denver Community Church traditions— particularly Jesus is the central doorway through the Archwhich faith becomes action. Too often, diocese Christians influenced more by cultural tradition than by Christ’s teachings use faith to justify exclusion. I’ve lost count of how many times someone told me, “I love you because of Jesus, but I don’t agree with your lifestyle.” Statements like this are harmful, stigmatizing, and deeply disconnected from Jesus’ example.

Original Photo by J an van

hurches that embrace all human beings are urged to identify themselves as such—not for branding, but for belonging. That doesn't just mean affirming, but safe for all. I get that there are complications with branding as affirming that makes it impossible for some sects of Christianity, but as Jesus invites us to live like Him, He asks of us, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Has No Outsiders

By Keegan Leitch

of Denver and many Catholic institutions—that maintain non-affirming doctrines. But across the broader landscape, countless communities are seeking to embody Jesus’ example of humility, justice, and radical love. We LGBTQ+ Christians are paving the way by pushing the societal boundaries into discomfort until we can stand together and become part of the norm. True growth happens out of discomfort, so sit in it and create those uncomfortable moments so that we can grow together as a whole again.

baptizes the Egyptian Eunuch, a bedside server to the queen, without any hesitation, and even within the two years following Jesus’s crucifi xion. Jesus specifically calls on eunuchs during his pastoral reign, stating their acceptance no matter the reason they are different. Churches that are non-affirming or not open don't take all of Jesus's teachings to heart, and that stems the issue. Throughout history, Jesus overturned harmful norms—literally flipping tables when the temple became corrupt. He washed the dirty, calloused feet of His disciples, a job considered lower than cleaning toilets today. Disciples following Jesus through animal-filled dirt streets in only thin sandals paints the picture of how degrading yet necessary this task was. His message was clear: leadership is service, and love is lived. Pastor Thom echoes this call to a faith of compassion, mercy, and generosity.

As writer Kiki Judith beautifully puts it, “Just because something was painful doesn’t mean there’s not beauty in your becoming.” Jesus’ inclusion of gender-diverse people in the earliest Christian communities shows that LGBTQ+ people have always belonged in the kingdom of God, like when Philip For churches wanting to foster a safe space for all, a simple “All Are Welcome” decal or joining networks like the Reconciling Ministries Network provides clarity and safety for seekers who fear being rejected at the door. These visible signs create a foundation for community, trust, and growth, and it opens the door wide enough for the LGBTQ+ community to feel like the door won't hit them on the way out. Humanity was not created for isolation. After the pandemic, rebuilding the community is essential for our collective healing. When churches openly declare welcome, they become places of refuge—fountains of abundant love. The more we share, the more blessing flows. The more the Congregation grows, the more people in the movement are able to scoop lost souls along the way to the next life of Jesus.

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here is no denying that 2025 was a complete dumpster fire! I am sure most of us are glad that the year is over. While we let out a sigh of relief and attempt to remain optimistic about the fresh new year, I know, for me at least, I struggle to find hope that 2026 will be any better. I have to keep reminding myself that, as with any year, we can make predictions based on our past or our intuition.

debris and outdated structures, which opens up space for innovation, courage, and more transparent forms of communication. Uranus entering Gemini indicates that we will see rapid growth in communication and technology, which we will touch on later. In 2026, Neptune continues to move into Aries, which will allow for a shift from passive idealism into more activism. Pluto’s deeper setting into Aquarius supports the breakdown of old structures so that new structures can be built in their place. Saturn in Aries is associated with a rebuilding of identity, leadership, and personal responsibility after times of difficulty. This personal agency is important for us to remember individually during the difficult times this year.

We could also turn to other sources, such as science, mysticism, astrology, or a countless number of things. For this article, we tried to compile predictions from multiple sources about multiple things that our readers might be wondering about. These are just predictions, and none of this is guaranteed to happen, so take everything we say with a shot This planetary alignment is where pressure catalyzes of reality. transformation. Transformation isn’t quick; it isn’t easy, but it will be worth it. What do the stars have to say What should about 2026? we expect in terms of healthcare?

Healthcare will still be available, though at the time of writing this, no definitive decision has been made about ACA by Congress. Without a definitive ruling from Congress on the ACA, it is unclear what the impact will be on individuals, families, and the healthcare system. According to astrology, the energy in 2026 will likely feel turbulent and destructive, which aligns much with the other predictions that we will address in this article. However, astrologists are framing it as the clearing of 1 2 OFM JANUARY 2026

This being said, it is predicted that health-

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Individual landlords can choose what to do with rent. Though on a positive note, state minimum wages went up at the start of the year.

By Crystal Goddard and Olivia Smith

E C N E

n o i t a m r o sf OR

Ca Tarotr,d Images S illustr o ated burced from y Pam ela CRoider–Wait e lman Smith

care will still be underfunded and understaffed, which has been an issue for many years. This is mostly due to budget cuts year after year. Advances in healthcare-related technolog y are expected to expand which, over time, will make treatments for previously hard-totreat diagnoses or incurable diseases possible.

Cost of Living & Affordability

The Congressional Budget Office projects that inflation should decrease in 2026, which will slow the increase in price hikes on everyday items. That doesn’t mean that prices won’t climb at all.

Will we be in an economic recession in 2026?

Additional Illustrations by Joan Herting

EA R

There are so many factors involved in the costs of daily life that we cannot give an educated prediction without more information.

Despite the increased cost of living we are seeing and the 4% unemployment rate, our GDP is in good standing, which is a good indicator for this year. The high unemployment rate is in part due to organizations preemptively laying off labor because of uncertainty caused by the shutdown and unpredictable policy changes.

Are we heading toward WWIII? Hopefully not. Worrying about war during financially difficult times is common. The current global conflicts also intensify this fear for outfrontmagazine.com 13

extraterrestrials in November of 2026—Maybe we’ll be able to invite a space guest to our family Thanksgiving this year.

Is AI going to become our overlord? many people. As of right now, it may feel like WWIII is inevitable; however, as stated previously, our GDP is moving in the right direction, decreasing the likelihood of the U.S. military involvement in any global conflicts. There is also hope that during the midterm, we are likely to see a shift in Congress to favor the Democratic Party. This shift will hopefully be able to create pushback against the current administration’s actions that have already occurred and that are planned for the future. The pushback against the administration will hopefully diffuse global tension with our allies.

Alien Contact

Scientists haven’t been able to confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life forms, so the predictions regarding first contact are largely from prophecy. The blind Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga has predicted first contact with 1 4 OFM JANUARY 2026

rity activism. As we have already started to see, 90s and Y2K nostalgia will meet 2026 innovation, likely with more reboots of millennials’ favorite shows and characters and more musical throwbacks. Maybe we can get an Invader Zim reboot for the ending the original show deserved. *** Unfortunately, no, GIR will not be replacing parts for tuna in 2026. Artificial intelligence isn’t all bad; it can help in fields like science, healthcare, and creativity. However, it is not to be relied upon as if it has all the answers. Human intervention is still necessary, so we must continue to use the brains that exist in our noggins. We must also remember that AI in the wrong hands could be a safety and security hazard, and that it uses a ton of water to create a cute little meme or cut corners on an email. So use AI responsibly this year.

What can we expect to see in pop culture and media this year? Both sports and fashion will continue to move in the direction of sustainability. We will also continue to see an increase in celeb-

Of course, none of this is guaranteed to happen. These are just predictions based on current situations and patterns at the time of writing this article. Is 2026 going to be the best year ever? Probably not. Is it going to be the worst year? Probably not. It’s just like every new year. Take it day by day. Breathe, and don’t forget to make your bacon soup yourselves.

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v r e n i M e h t at

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s ’ r e er v n nv De

c n i Pr

d n a e c a p S g n k i n i m r i on Cla ing to Sh s u f e R

Words & Photos by Zack Hartman

rvada Skate Park glints under the winter light like a relic from a louder decade. A ll concrete cu r ves a nd br u ised metal rails, it feels pulled straight from the era of low-rise plaid pants and studded belts when Avril Lavigne 1 6 OFM JANUARY 2026

ruled MTV and P!nk made rebellion look like a birthright. It is the perfect arena for Minerva, who arrives dressed not as nostalgia but as the evolution of that lineage. A punk princess reimagined for a generation that has more to fi ght for and far less patience for nonchalance.

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1 8 OFM JANUARY 2026

The shoot snaps into motion as skaters roll past, and Minerva settles into the space with the confidence of someone who has never waited for permission. She explains early on that being queer in general is a protest, and the words carry the weight of lived truth. For her, visibility is not a luxury. It is a responsibility sharpened by the moment we’re living in. She calls for more queer people, more trans people, more people of color, more of every identity that society tries to shrink. Her presence at the skate park feels like a living answer to her own demand. A flare of defiance on wheels. As she talks about femininity, her tone softens but never weakens. Embracing her divine femininity reshaped her from the inside out, giving her a sense of grounding she had never accessed before. Drag became the language that allowed her to let every facet of her identity live on the surface. Punk drag in particular lets her express every piece of her soul while taking up space as a trans individual. Then she drops the line that defines the era she is standing against. “You cannot be conservative and alternative at the same time.” It lands with the clarity of a lyric everyone should already know.

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! p m u r T ! k E C c u I F " Fuck p Wh en s U i d g n n i a t S o me thn g!" S W ro Her idea of punk is layered. It is not only attitude or fashion but also inheritance. She speaks with reverence about Marsha P. Johnson and the Black trans women whose courage built the rights the community holds today. She reminds us that alternative culture itself was born from Black artistry. To her, being punk means standing with the people who forged the culture in the fi rst place and refusing to be silent and look away when their stories are erased. Punk is not chaos for chaos’s sake. It is a structure built from rebellion. A steady, fi rm spine. Minerva carries that ethos into her work at Tracks Denver, where she

2 0 OFM JANUARY 2026

hosts and produces Colorado’s Drag Royale every Thursday. It is a proving ground and a sanctuary and a place where performers can risk everything without apology. She holds the door open for newcomers who might never step onto a stage like Tracks without someone insisting they belong there. Her legacy extends beyond her mullet, sharp glam, and gravity-defying gymnastics; however, it resides in the myriad artists she makes room for. Risk is a familiar companion to her. She describes the drag industry as a career where safety, sanity, and livelihood all sit on the table at once, and she shows up anyway. She works

relentlessly under the belief that the universe owes her absolutely nothing. Every part of her history shaped her into someone who refuses ease. Growing up in a military family in Tennessee, fi nding drag through early YouTube uploads of Drag Race, watching Adore Delano, and seeing a reflection of possibility rather than fantasy. These moments built the artist she is today. During the shoot, she talks about the young people who approach her after shows. One recently told her they were queer and being bullied and didn’t know what was wrong with them. She holds that memory with a quiet grav-

ity. She remembers exactly what it felt like to search for proof that someone like them could survive and even thrive, that they could overcome the shame, the guilt, and the rage at being judged just for who they are. She has become that proof for that person and so, so many others. It may be the most radical performance she's ever pulled off, and that is saying something. As the sun drops behind the skate bowls and the fi nal shots settle into the camera, Minerva looks straight ahead and speaks without fl inching. “Fuck Trump. Fuck ICE. Stand up when something is wrong. Vote with more than your own experience in

mind, and support local drag because supporting local drag is supporting drag.” It is not a closing statement. It is an instruction manual for the era ahead. Minerva is not resurrecting the punk princess archetype. She is forging a new one built on truth, grit, and refusal. She is the sound of wheels on concrete racing forward with no intention of stopping, and she expects the rest of us to keep pace.

PHOTOGRAPHER

ZACK HARTMAN MODEL

MINERVA

outfrontmagazine.com 21

By Ixora Cook

W h y

I ' m

G o i n g

Cold Turkey

2026 IN

Recently, I have been trying to take charge of my vices. I’ve never been a person who enjoys things “in moderation.” If I drink alcohol, it’s not cute little sips. It’s drinking to get drunk and fall into some bushes, having to be dragged down the hallway back to my apartment. It’s when smoking a pack of cigarettes a day is less than my usual. It’s week-long benders and functional addiction. Enjoy responsibly, the fi ne print of beer ads warns you, the minuscule text just barely visible below the visage of a crisp, chilled bottle dotted with condensation. Moderation. I’ll never be a moderate person, though. I’m the type that likes to go to extremes. I like the yin and yang, being sober or being intoxicated. Well, intoxication hasn’t been doing me too many favors lately. The different layers of having multiple addictions intermingle, as well. Trying to cut off different vices can start feeling like you’re trying to disarm a bomb. Cut the red wire, or is it the blue one? If I fuck it up, the results could be catastrophic.

After a decade of smoking cigarettes, I have decided to kick the habit. My dad has been smoking for over half his life, and he’s still alive, but he’s worn well beyond his years. No offense when you read this, Dad, but I don’t want to look

2 2 OFM JANUARY 2026

like you when I’m your age. So, quitting smoking is now a part of a larger self-overhaul I am trying to embark on this winter. Activating my winter arc, if you will. I’m hoping that if I take the next few months to improve myself and level up, I’ll stop meeting as many people who do everything they possibly can to ruin my life. Or, those people who are just such bad influences on me that I ruin my life in order to please them. It’s some fucked up shit, and I don’t want to do that anymore. What’s that quote everyone is always saying Albert Einstein said? Insanity is when you do the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. So here I am, trying to get a different result. I’ve been walking a lot lately, because depression has a harder time hitting a moving target. When I was younger, I loved to explore. For some reason, I have always really enjoyed walking to places that you’d typically only see driving past. Railroad yards, ditches by the interstate, run-down industrial parks. Call me crazy, because I truly just might encounter Machete McStabface on one of these excursions someday. But I do carry a taser. Sometimes, if I let myself imagine it, I can almost hear the angry buzzing of my taser when I use it to counter-attack

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Original Photos by Eric McLean, H&CO, Kevin Malik, & Magda Ehlers

Photos by Cottonbro Studio & Magda Ehlers

some rapey weirdo. Maybe it smells like burning hair when you do it. Maybe you can hear your assailant’s flesh sizzling as the electrical current enters their body. I think the nicotine withdrawal is causing me to daydream about violence. It’s never not on my mind that creeps like to hang around out by the BNSF rail yard. The lack of nicotine makes me want to just throw things across the room and scream. So, I leave the house instead. I have found a spot by the river that I particularly like, so I go there and write in a journal. What the fuck is the matter with me? is the fi rst thing that occurs to me to write down, every time without fail. I have to stop myself from making that the fi rst sentence in every entry. Sometimes it takes me a while to think of something more constructive to say about myself in this little pink book. The empty pages seem so wide open, waiting and ready for some deep words of self-reflection to be written down in them. What the fuck is the matter with me? Nope. Try to think of something a little more encouraging to write down. Finally, I start to write a list of things that are the fucking matter with me, not to shame myself, but because they are things I want to improve on. I have always been so focused on romantic relationships and fi nding a partner. It’s always been treated like some sort of DEFCON-4 level emergency, for some reason. When I’m alone? MAYDAY, MAYDAY, RED ALERT, my brain on fi re, my heart soaking wet. Nuclear meltdowns every time I fi nd myself alone with my thoughts. Sometimes I do feel quite radioactive, like the aftermath of my volatile expressions is corroding the

2 4 OFM JANUARY 2026

emotional states of those around me. The irony is not lost on me; all I really want is to fi nd a partner, but my lack of having a partner is making me an even less desirable suitor in the dating world. I hate when people say you have to love yourself to fi nd a solid relationship. I just picture myself in some therapist’s office, tearing my hair out and bashing my head against the wall when they say that stuff. It’s true, and that is why I hate it. Just love yourself! Give me a break. It’s such a bullshit, empty platitude that only those who have never struggled will share with you like it’s some earth-shattering revelation that no one has ever heard before. What the fuck is “loving yourself”? I picture some lady in a shaving cream commercial, grinning and looking radiant in the shower as she shaves her already-hairless legs. Oh, she is so beautiful, surely she loves herself, right? Is that what it is to love yourself? To feel beautiful? To be beautiful as you perform your hygienic self-care rituals? When I try to do that, I feel like that scene from Euphoria where Cassie obsessively gets ready for four hours every morning so that Nate Jacobs will notice her. I’m trying to reframe this sort of bottomless pit desperation within myself as a good thing. It’s always a good idea to work with what I have, rather than against it, even if it isn’t necessarily healthy. I’ve started to think about it a little more than just “loving myself.” Those words just ring hollow and make me feel stupid, like I’m obviously just doing something wrong, and that’s why I don’t love myself. What an idiot, it comes so naturally to everyone else, why can’t I figure it out?

Exploring has helped. Something about sitting there and listening to the water of the “mile wide and inch deep” South Platte River rushing by has helped me start to break through. Is this what meditation is? I’ve come to the conclusion that if I want someone good to come into my life, I need to be just as good as I expect them to be, if not better. So, I’ve created a list of goals for myself to fulfi ll before I will allow myself to begin another foray into the dating world. I’m going to start HRT later this month, and I’m going to start exercising more. These long walks to Globeville and back aren’t a bad start. I’m going to fi nd a really good therapist and work hard to learn about healthy attachment and shedding layers of traumatic experiences. Another goal, which I have already started and not by choice, is to detox from social media. I don’t have an iPhone anymore, and since my cheap Android replacement repulses me with its laggy, buggy software and plastic touchscreen, I haven’t touched Facebook in a week. Instagram, viewed only on my computer a few times a week, is on thin ice as well. Most importantly, I’m going to quit smoking. That’s where this all began, this striving for self-improvement. “Quitting smoking is harder than quitting heroin,” people keep helpfully reminding me when I tell them about this goal. Well, I’ve worked hard the past six months to curb my meth addiction, and I’ve fi nally reached a point in my recovery journey where it feels good to be back to normal. If I can do that, I can do whatever it is I need to. And right now, I need to go cold turkey.

outfrontmagazine.com 25

SCEN

REPO

VALLEJO HYPE, CASTRO HEART By Rose Eden

he first time JP Breganza hit my feed, I thought I was watching a floor-shaking warehouse set on the industrial edge of the Bay. Bodies jumping, phones in the air, a bass line heavy enough to rattle a parking garage. Then the camera pulled back, and I realized the whole crowd was dancing between the fish counter and the bakery at Seafood City in Daly City. Shoppers holding bags of rice were getting swept into a scene that felt part house party, part family reunion. Seafood City itself is a Filipino-American grocery chain found in pockets of the West Coast and beyond. It is the kind of store that doubles as a cultural hub, where you can buy fresh bangus, grab a merienda snack, stock up on childhood sauces and snacks, and run into half your extended family in the frozen aisle. For many Filipino

2 6 OFM JANUARY 2026

families in the States, it anchors the neighborhood the way an H Mart or Ranch 99 does for others. JP is the spark behind the chaos. Vallejo-raised, now living in Folsom, he is a videographer, editor, DJ, and competitive Street Fighter player who built his own lane by choosing not to play the usual club circuit. The whole phenomenon started as a casual comment online. Someone joked that he should DJ at Seafood City. JP reposted it, tagged a few chains, and kept it moving. Within hours, Seafood City reached out and asked him to come in. “When I saw that reply, I knew it was real,” he tells me. “It felt like a chance to bring back everything from those old Filipino house

parties. The music, the chaos, the feeling of home.”

ORT

His sets are stitched together from OPM classics, diaspora deep cuts, and the kind of edits he finds through latenight rabbit holes and old Filipino DJ Facebook groups. If it is Filipino, it goes in the crate. The mission is intergenerational joy. Aunties two-step in the aisles. Kids climb onto the check stands for a better view. Cashiers dance at their registers. Employees break into choreo the second a certain hook drops. Confusion turns into celebration. What really keeps the room moving is JP’s instinct. He reads a crowd the way he reads an opponent in Street Fighter, adjusting in real time until everything locks in. The nights have grown so big that some now double as fundraisers for typhoon relief in the Philippines and other community needs. The mood never dips. “I have not seen the energy die down at all,” he says. “I want to convert the hype into awareness. I want people to feel proud and seen.”

Photos Courtesy of JP Breganza

His metric for success is simple. “Did everyone leave with a smile?” he says. “Did people feel like they got a piece of home, whether that home is the Philippines or Daly City?” Seafood City has started trying the concept in other stores. Other DJs are picking idea. JP is already ing beyond the He talks

up the thinkBay. about bringing this energy into the Sacramento suburbs and smaller towns where Filipino families do not always have a scene of their own. Backyards included. “It might cost a little more to go out to all these random places, but it can be done. I

outfrontmagazine.com 27

2 8 OFM JANUARY 2026

Photo by Nicole Sabilia

Photo Courtesy of JP Breganza

just want to play everywhere that feels Castro in 2024 felt like a quiet course like home.” correction. Right now, the most joyful dance floor on the West Coast might still be the one under the fluorescent lights at Seafood City.

“Rikki loved sports. She loved community,” Sara says. “You do not hear a lot about women’s history in San Francisco. We wanted to speak to that.”

CASTROS

The walls reflect that intention. Gay Games posters, team photos, memorabilia, and snapshots of a queer sports lineage that rarely gets center space share the room with plates of food and pint glasses. It feels lived in, even in its first year.

THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT BAR RIGHT NOW IS

A WOMENS

SPORTS HAVEN:

RIKKIS

WOMENS SPORTS BAR A few miles away in the Castro, another kind of community heat is building. On game nights at Rikki’s, the windows glow like a warm TV screen, and inside, you can hear a full room breathing in sync with whatever is unfolding on the monitors. It is the city’s first women’s sports bar, and it is already settling into the neighborhood like it has always belonged there. Co-owner Sara Yergovich tells me the idea lived in the “wouldn’t it be cool” phase for years. She and her business partner met on a queer women’s soccer team and spent a long time crawling bars, taking mental notes on what felt right, what felt tired, and what they wanted to create if they ever built something themselves. They hosted watch parties. They talked to friends. They circled the idea until the only thing left to do was act on it.

Rikki’s also embraces the art of joy. Their now infamous Lesbian Pie Eating Contest, created with Curve founder Franco Stevens and the Curve Foundation for Lesbian Visibility Week, brought whipped cream, laughter, and donations into one room with an ease that only queer spaces manage. The eighty-one-year-old contestant named Babs stole the show and became a small internet legend. Sara missed most of it because she was barbacking the rush. On regular nights, the mix shifts with whatever sport is on. College athletes, community elders, queer families, new transplants, and sports fans who never had a place like this growing up all drift through. Different games bring different crowds. Stanford basketball skews local. Valkyries' games draw a packed, buzzing chorus. Hockey nights bring more men who love the vibe. “The thing that surprised me the most is the different types of people who come to different events,” Sara says. “It shows how many ways people can be connected to women’s sports. It is not just one bucket.”

“We ummed and aahed about it for a long time,” Sara says. “It finally felt like no one else was going to do this in San Francisco. With Bay FC coming and the Valkyries growing, it seemed like a really awesome opportunity. It was a Rikki’s is part bar and part restaurant, moment of, if we are going to do this, with nonalcoholic options that actuwe better do it.” ally matter and a daytime-friendly energy that stands out in the Castro. The bar’s name honors Rikki Stre- It is a space where you can scream at icher, the late owner of iconic lesbian the TV or eat dinner quietly and still bars like Maud’s and Amelia’s and a feel like you belong. It also feels genufounding force behind the Gay Games. inely comfortable, which is not a small Streicher built sports leagues for thing. queer women in the sixties, sponsored teams, fought for community space, “Our goal is coziness,” Sara says. “A and helped create a global athletic place where you can hang out and be movement. Bringing her name into the yourself in a way that is organic and

not as heavily influenced by alcohol.” When she talks about success metrics, her answer lands close to JP’s. “It feels kind of silly, but smiling,” she says. “At some lesbian nightlife spaces, people are not always joyful. At Rikki’s, when it feels successful is when people are genuinely happy and having a good time, even if their team is losing or they did not win the pie-eating contest.” The year ahead is lined with big moments. Rikki’s is partnering with a larger group for a Super Bowl watch party that highlights women who love football. The Winter Olympics are on their radar, along with Unrivaled hockey, the new pro volleyball league, March Madness, NWSL season, and the WNBA stretch. Recognition is already finding them. At the Academy SF’s recent Legends Awards, Rikki’s received the Architect Award, a nod from another Castro-based queer space that understands the work of actually building community. Put that together with the crowds, the conversations, and the warmth in the room, and the shape of the place becomes obvious. Rikki’s stands on its own as a home base, a spot that feels strangely familiar even on your first visit. What struck me after talking to both JP and Sara was how their measures of success were almost identical. Neither talked about numbers or lines out the door. They both circled back to smiles. Real ones. The kind you notice when a room feels safe, joyful, and fully itself. That is the heartbeat of any real scene. You can outgrow the darker parts of nightlife and still want to go out, dance, watch a game, meet people, or just feel held by a room for a couple of hours. The Bay keeps inventing new ways to do that. One night, it is a dance floor between the fish counter and the bakery. Another night, it is a women’s sports bar that feels like a living room. Different settings, same North Star. If the room is smiling, the work is working. outfrontmagazine.com 29

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