He impersonates Queen Elizabeth II, gives pro foot massage, and is right on the hot beauty trend of operating a private home spa studio, ME MaleEsthetics. With a profile like that we  just had to find out more about this Toronto newbie and so made Doug Coburn take our Too Much Information questionnaire:

JUST THE FACTS:

I’m a: Pisces.
I’m:47, but feel 27.
I was born in: The nation’s capital, Ottawa.
I am: an aesthetic professional, a reflexologist, massage tech, a teacher & an actor.
My fave colour: Blue.
Passion: People.
Inspiration: My Father – an educator, pilot and brilliant business man. David Batson taught me to respect myself as a gay man through the eyes to Haida Culture. My daughters Katria and Celestin also inspire me just because I got to watch them grow. Even though they are women now and not little girls, I still get to be Dad.
My Canadian icons: Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas and Maureen Forester.
Fantasy entourage: Patsy and Eddie of Ab-Fab.
Turn-ons: I love men that are different from me, darker skin and taller (or shorter). Love men that are confident and sexy.
Irresistible in a mate: Affectionate in private and public arenas. In other words, someone who feels free to express their love in public.
Phrase I most overuse: “Whatever.”
Most people would be surprised to know I: Can be super cool!
Talent I wish I had: Play the violin.
The celebrity I most closely resemble is: When I am performing my impersonation, Queen Elizabeth II.
The one word my best friend would use to describe me is: (So so) sweet.
My parents wanted me to be this when I grew up: Anything I wanted to be.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: Manhattan in the winter, gin & tonic in summer!

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Modern Family, Weeds.
Song: Love chill lounge sets like Budda bar.
Greatest extravagance: a gay cruise.
Candy: Licorice.
Last impulse-purchase: Puma jacket.
Last regretted purchase: a winter coat –I don’t want to accept the fact winter is coming!

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Energie –man my butt looks so hot!
Footwear: Penguin and Teva.
Underwear: Ginch Gonch.
Watch: Seiko.
Casual: Love my leather jacket
Formal: I HATE TIES.
Cologne: Burberry.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Whatever my stylist demands.
Face wash: Anti-Pollution Mousse, Laboratory Dr. Renaud.
Moisturizer: Pro-Science VO2, Laboratory Dr. Renaud.
Body Lotion: Thaly Spa Anti-Age Body Milk, Laboratory Dr. Renaud.
Make-Up Line: Mann.
Indulgence: CelClock anti-age Serum by Laboratory Dr. Renaud  – IT WORKS.

GOTTA-GET GADGET

Stereo: Love my surround sound.
Sexy car I love: OMG I want a Mini Cooper.
On my music player now: Max Chill Lounge.
Best app ever: If I had a new phone… Grinder or a GPS… or is that a GPS that finds men?

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Violin by Anne Rice.
Last movie seen: Cowboys and Aliens.
Last concert: Montreal Pride.
Last play: I was in it – Dickens of a Christmas –I was Eb Scrouge.
Last song sung in the shower: “Where’er You Walk,” Handel.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Working out.
Past obsession: Getting myself set-up  in Toronto.
Future obsession: Finding my man and still working out.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: Being in a relationship.
I see myself in this place in ten years: Very successful with MaleEsthetics and teaching all year round part-time.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Friends are precious, more precious than any jewel. Wake up every day and live every hour and love yourself first before you love another. When we were born , if we were lucky enough to be born at all, we get a ticket to ride mother earth. Never ever give your ticket away to anyone else. You can sit beside someone you care about if they have their own ticket but never trade. Remember that your ticket has a secrete expiry date so enjoy its power, its freedom and where it can take you on this great journey of life all over this great planet called earth.

RAVE :: So, my day job is hosting morning radio in Toronto. It’s great. We get a lot of bands and artists in to promote this and that, like you do. It’s not often that I hear someone sing live in front of me, most of them don’t and I can’t blame them. It’s freaking early.

Well, the other day The Boom Boom came in to promote their new iTunes EP: ‘Booty and the Beats’. They sang live in the studio and let me tell you, they don’t sound good,  they sound freaking fantastic! They are so great in fact, that they recently won Perez Hilton‘s “The Best Thing I Never Had” cover contest where anyone and everyone could enter by covering Beyonce‘s song. Well, The Boom Boom did…and they won! Suck on that, America! It’s obvious they’re destined for Pop Greatness. Don’t believe me? See for yourself:

Super sexy Christopher Aaron Slade is one half of LoveShot – a “dirty rock n’ roll” group based in Toronto. He likes to break shit, wear make-up, lie about his age, and also loves himself a lot. He has no regrets, and just wants to have a good time. Perfect Man of The Hour, in other words. Slade takes our TMI Questionnaire, but first, enjoy the yummy he is in the new video for LoveShot’s single, Love Assassins:

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Virgo.
I’m: 34, but according to my band’s bio, I’m 22.
I was born: Not that long ago.
I: like to break things.
My fave colour: Red.
Passion: Breaking things and making music that inspires people to break things!
Inspiration: Myself, but as a blonde.
My Canadian icon is: Marilla Cuthbert.
Fantasy entourage: Joan Collins (of course!), Lucius Malfoy and a doped up Mariah Carey.
Fictional best friend: Santa Clause or Luigi from Super Mario Bros.
Turn-ons: Humour, Honesty and the ability to honestly break things with humour.
Irresistible in a mate: The ability to do exactly what I want.
Phrase I most overuse: “Hells ya!”
Most people would be surprised to know I: love to surprise people.
Talent I wish I had: The ability to shoot lazers out of my eyes that cause people to immidiately undress!
The celebrity I most closely resemble is: Paul from The Wonder Years.
The one word my best friend would use to describe me is: barfy.
My parents wanted me to be this when I grew up: Well-behaved (jokes on them!).
When I order a cocktail I ask for: Vodka and Gingerale.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Housewives of Atlanta.
Song: “Snowbird” by Anne Murray.
Greatest extravagance: my overuse of cologne.
Candy: Dairy Milk.
Last impulse-purchase: A copy of Vogue with Resse Witherspoon on the cover (ech!). I was drunk at the grocery store at 3am.
Last regretted purchase: I regret NOTHING!

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: The Gap.
Footwear: Converse.
Underwear: CK.
Watch: I keep breaking them, so no watch. If I didn’t break them as often, it would be a Swatch.
Eyewear: Cheap and nothing fancy since I would just break them.
Casual: Gap kids- no tax, and the t-shirts are nicely fitted!
Formal: Century 21 in the states.
Perfume / Cologne: Gucci – Envy.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Head and Shoulders.
Face wash: Shiseido Men’s.
Moisturizer: Biotherm Men’s.
Body Lotion: NARS Body Glow.
Make-Up Line: NARS.
Indulgence: Fish and Chips.

GOTTA-GET GADGET

Gadgets: I break gadgets.
On my music player now: Steven Sondheim‘s Assassins.
I always PVR: True Blood.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: 3001 by Arthur Clarke.
Last movie seen: Transformers 3.
Last concert: Kylie Minogue in Montreal.
Last play: Into the Woods.
Last song sung in the shower: Kinda lame, but my band’s song, “Love Assassins” ( I consider it rehearsal).

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: myself.
Past obsession: myself.
Future obsession: myself and possibly my pet dog from the future!

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: Shirtless hockey, or any sport with more male shirtlessness (fingers crossed!).
I see myself in this place in ten years: Hanging with Sinbad and Joan Collins, trash-talking Imelda Marcos.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the rest is commentary!

Singer Novie likes expensive haircare products (just look at those locks!), singing her own songs in the shower, and is a potty-mouth! Sounds like she’d fit in perfectly with the GayGuideToronto.com team and we triple-love her animated video. Take a look and read her TMI Questionnaire!

Novie – Funk 3 (Get Next To You) Official Music Video from novietheoneandonly on Vimeo.

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Scorpio.
I’m: Grown enough that I should know better…
I was born in: Toronto.
I am a: Singer-Songwriter.
My fave colour: Lilac.
Passions: Life & love.
Fantasy entourage: Josephine Baker, David Bowie, Grace Jones.
Turn-ons: Samurai-sword wielding vengeance.
Irresistible in a mate: Spontaneity & humour.
Phrase I most overuse: Not a phrase, but the word “like.” It’s, like, so annoying when I do that…see what I mean?
Most people would be surprised to know I: have a sailor’s mouth.
Fictional best friend: Beatrix Kiddo.
Talent I wish I had: Mathleticism.
The celebrity I most closely resemble is:
 Zoe Saldana…I wish!
The one word my best friend would use to describe me is: Cryptic.
My parents wanted me to be this when I grew up: They let me be myself.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: The biggest umbrella they have and a hazmat suit.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: I don’t have a TV, but I love Boardwalk Empire.
Song: “Chick Habit” by April March.
Greatest extravagance: Oysters.
Candy: Cotton candy.
Last impulse-purchase: Hair-care products.
Last regretted purchase: Hair-care products.

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Topshop skinny jeans.
Footwear: A pair of Steven Madden multi-coloured ballet flats.
Underwear: What’s that?
Watch: I’m on Island Time.
Eyewear: Barton Perriera.
Casual: Vintage.
Formal: I love classic old Hollywood a la Grace Kelly.
Perfume / Cologne: Au naturel.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: At the moment it’s Body Shop’s Rainforest Moisture, but I’m always flipping things up.
Face wash: Radiant Skin Care.
Moisturizer: Sigrid Natural Skin Care.
Body Lotion:
 Nature’s Gate Papaya Moisturizing Lotion.
Make-Up Line: Mac Cosmetics.
Indulgence: Elixir Organic Spa.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets I love and / or covet: iPhone 4.
On my music player now: The Weekend.
Best app ever: SoundHound.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Plague 99 by Jean Ure.
Last movie seen: Columbiana.
Last concert: We Were Lovers.
Last play: Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire at the Toronto Fringe Festival.
Last song sung in the shower: A lot of my song ideas come to me in the shower, so I tend to sing my own songs. “Kites”, a new song I’m working on, is in current rotation.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Hair/Fashion blogs such as Urban Bush Babes & Le Coil.
Past obsession: “Videogames” by Lana Del Rey.
Future obsession: Boardwalk Empire Season 2.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: Toronto.
I see myself in this place in ten years: Enjoying the ocean view from my villa in the South of France.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: “No matter. Try again.  Fail again.  Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett.

Erin McLaughlin is the Editor-In-Chief at two of Canada’s most recognized magazines: Style at Home and Canadian Gardening… but she’s also disorganized and messy? Take a look at her amazing world of family, television, food, and literature (just don’t ask her to dance!).

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Taurus.
I’m: 39 years old.
I was born: [in] Toronto.
I am the: Editor-In-Chief at Style at Home and Canadian Gardening magazines.
My fave colour: mauve grey.
Passion: horseback riding.
Fantasy entourage: husband and my stepkids.
Turn-ons: matte black anything.
Irresistible in a mate: intelligence.
Phrase I most overuse: “It’s in my mental filing cabinet.”
Most people would be surprised to know I: am very messy.
Fictional best friend: Jenna Lyons of J.Crew.
Talent I wish I had: Rhythm.
When I order a cocktail I ask for a: Mock Mojito.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: PLL (also known as Pretty Little Liars)
Song: “Getting Jiggy With It,” Will Smith.
Greatest extravagance: Travel.

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Nudie.
Footwear: Prada Sport.
Watch: Don’t wear!
Eyewear: Oliver Peoples.
Casual: BCBG Max Azria.
Formal: BCBG Max Azria.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Aveda Colour.
Face wash: Lancome face milk.
Moisturizer: Clinique.
Body Lotion: Aveeno.
Indulgence: Cow Shed body oil.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: Matte black Rolls Royce.
On my music player now: CBC Radio One.
I always PVR: Any episode of Law & Order.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Room by Emma Donogue.
Last movie seen: Hanna.
Last concert: David Sedaris.
Last play: A Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute in London, England.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Quinoa.
Past obsession: Brown Rice.
Future obsession: Israeli Couscous.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: A 25-hour day (I need that desperately!).

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Yesterday doesn’t matter, it’s all about today and tomorrow.

So, Jabba the mayor and Mr. McGuinty are meeting today to discuss the city of Toronto‘s 774 million dollar budget shortfall. Does anyone else feel a disturbance in the force?

REVIEW :: I was privileged enough to experience Britney Spears’ two-stop performance of her Femme Fatale Tour at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre this past weekend.

I know what you’re thinking: twice? In a row?

I would have thought the same thing about 48 hours ago, but please hear me out. This concert was one of the absolute best concerts I have ever seen, and I have seen plenty in my day. Spears was in top form as she went through a non-stop, almost two hour performance of a slew of her hits from the past decade and a half. She looked amazing, and had state-of-the-art technology incorporated into the set design, lighting, video screens, and stage itself. Laser-beam flashes, pyrotechnics, lifts, a movator, and flying set pieces, mixed with some unexpected celebrity appearances made the Femme Fatale concert one for the books.

From Jersey Shore fame, DJ Pauly D (Paul DelVecchio) got the crowd going (only Sunday August 14^th), spinning some beats as people began to trickle in.  Teenage girls and their mothers alike were in a state of heat I’ve never experienced to that capacity. If you think that didn’t get the crowd excited, up next was Nicki Minaj, with her big, blonde wig that can be seen for days. Her high-energy, long-winded set made the crowd go nuts. She performed all of her top hits, and even brought out Toronto’s own Drake out for two songs. Immediately following her set, I was already drained and exhausted from it all. Spears hadn’t even made the stage yet.

Spears opens the night with a very visually-stunning video/light/smoke trifecta. She looks visibly healthier and happier this tour, seeming genuinely much happier to be performing again. Spears went through a vast majority of her hits, from her first album “…Baby, One More Time,” to her most recent studio album “Femme Fatale,” in a flawless sequence that left you at the edge of your seat. A storyline about The Sexy Assasin gave you something to watch while Spears was changing for the next section of the show. And she actually sang a majority of the songs live (due to a slip-up here and there). Some may argue that this is only because the Toronto shows were filmed for the tour DVD (to be released in November), and so she would have to go above and beyond her limits to impress the home viewers. More research needs to be done as to whether or not Spears does this in every show, or if she simply is much more comfortable singing live these days. Either way, Toronto captured Spears’ best live performances as of late. Spears’ dancing has also vastly improved since her last tour (The Circus Tour 2009), and it’s almost like she doesn’t stop moving the entire duration of the concert.   Although I wasn’t originally impressed with the set-list of the tour (see here), Spears amazed me with the song arrangements and interpretations. From trancy club hits, to Egyptian voguing, to R&B, to pure, fun pop – the show was a great mix of worlds. The stand-out performances on both nights were definitely “Up and Down,” “3,” “Gimme More,” “Womanizer,” and the very last song of the show, “’Till the World Ends” (where Spears is joined with Minaj).

It was definitely worth the double-viewing. Like most concerts these days, it’s hard to fully absorb the entire show in one sitting, but here are the things that you do remember from the concert that you may want to forget: Spears only recently cut Madonna’s “Burning Up” from the set-list. I was looking forward to this performance the most! Perhaps the large guitar that she rides while performing it was too large to tour with any longer, but it was disappointing to have no Madonna points of reference. Oh, wait: Spears clearly takes an entire Madonna performance from her Sticky and Sweet Tour 2008 with “How I Roll,” and basically recreates Madonna’s “Beat Goes On (featuring Kanye West and Pharrel Williams).” I guess that’s what happens when you work with Madonna’s long-time tour director/choreographer (Jamie King). There are also some filler songs on the set list that make you wonder why they were even included in the first place. “Piece of Me” and “…Baby, One More Time” were less than two minutes each, and didn’t serve any purpose in the concert whatsoever. She also cut the only ballad of the show short, “Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know,” which doesn’t leave too much of a gap between emotions. Nonetheless, the concert was very well-done, and I applaud Spears for her endurance, stamina, stage presence, live singing voice, and spectacular concert performance.

What made the night even better was how engaging Spears was with the audience. She threw out a couple “What’s up, Toronto?” ‘s and made sure to giggle, scream, and make sure we were paying attention to how hard she was working. She was in amazing spirits, and I wish this tour nothing but the best of success. If there was a third performance of the show tonight, I’d be there, too!

Philip Tetro is our resident Madonnaologist, and sometimes remembers that there are more musicians than Madonna out there. He is also a resident panelist on MTV’s 1 girl 5 gays.

Reviewing my personal experiences and those I’ve witnessed of other individuals and groups on a whole through one-on-one contact or mass media exposure, I’m coming to a conclusion: queers are suffering an existential crisis. To wit:

We are always on the lookout for the next crisis of identity, expression, politics, sexuality, gender, and socio-sexual-gender-politics and how they do or do not conform to the written and unwritten rules of homosexual behaviour as deemed by those guarding the flame on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. That’s not only a mouthful, but also a hell of a responsibility!

Instead of fighting for our rights and freedoms, we are fighting each other.

Almost every year, without fail and usually timed around the culmination of the great queer ho-monic convergence known as Pride, we find ourselves thrust into a community-sundering crisis of epic proportions that tilts at our very identity and existence as queer (or however you choose to self-identify) people. Years ago it was typically threats and attacks from outside the community by those who wished to degrade, dehumanize and destroy us either through violence, active prejudice or legislation. For the most part we have beaten those swords into plowshares and come a cropper with human rights that—argue this if you will—are they envy of most queer people around the world. Yet, still we are not satisfied.

With hardly a lion at the door and most of the Trojan horses swapped for Trojan condoms, we have directed our existential angst inward. Yes, folks, instead of fighting for our rights and freedoms, we are fighting each other about how we label ourselves (oh, how I long for the days of Gucci versus Versace). We are now too gay, not gay enough, straight-identified, post-gay, post-mo, pre-fab, rebels, hausfraus, fatties, skinnies, piggies, vanilla, new-and-improved, fortified, fabulous, finished, or just questioning. I’m certainly scratching my head a lot, so I guess I fall in the questioning category (but I do vacillate depending on mood, company and situation).

This year we are all up in each other’s pooches about The New Gay. While this may sound like a branding exercise or a new product launch, it’s about how young queer people are identifying themselves and finding alternatives to their alternative lifestyle; Post-mo’s, as they are calling themselves. This has got a lot of Pre-mo’s in a tizzy and the queer cognoscenti firing off letters and emails and Tweets and Facebook posts at break-nail speed. The Qwerty is mightier than the sword. It has taken the issue from a local, Toronto level to a national discussion (props to the author!).

As usual, when someone comes out with a dissenting opinion, there is an almost choreographed firestorm of rebuttal and retribution. I like the rebuttal part as healthy dialogue and discourse is a good thing. I just think we can leave the snide comments and name-calling and assumption out. But I ask myself each time this happens: why are we all so upset? Why is someone’s perception or experience so jarring as to bring out the daggers? Why do we turn ourselves inside out, upside down and scream at the top of our lungs about our right to free speech and then attack someone in our community who uses their free speech to express an opinion that may not be popular? Who’s agenda are we adhering to and who’s free speech are we protecting?

Why are we afraid of the brave new world we’ve fought so hard to create for ourselves?

Certainly we are all allowed to share our opinions. Certainly we are not all expected to agree with these opinions. I have found myself in the crosshairs once or twice over things I have written and was rather shocked at the vitriol for stepping off point, not following script and not toeing the line. While being called names wasn’t fun, it opened dialogues and provided a forum for differing points of view.

We keep touting diversity in out community. We call for unity and celebration of ourselves as a whole community made up of individuals. Well, individuals have individual life experiences and POV and opinions. Are we going to attack every one who says something that challenges our preconceived notions or bumps us out of our comfort zone for a minute? Why the seeming existential crisis? Why are we afraid of the brave new world we’ve fought so hard to create for ourselves?

Photo: Kris Krug. Featured photo on GGT homepage: iO Tillet Wright

Three words: Force. Of. Nature. More words: Driven, authentic, shoe-a-holic, frontman for The Cliks, who are set to take to the stage this Toronto Pride. Lucas Silveira is our new Man of the Hour and takes our TMI Questionnaire:

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Leo.
I’m (age): Hell no girl- a tranny never tells.
I was born: July 30th in Toronto.
I am: A musician/songwriter/rock star.
My fave colour: Black.
Passion: Music.
Fantasy entourage: Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie.
Turn-ons: Confidence. I love it when a woman hits on me first.
Irresistible in a mate: Passion and focus.
Phrase I most overuse: I need coffee. Now.
Most people would be surprised to know I: Am a psychic intuitive. Scoff but it’s true.
Fictional best friend: Snoopy.
Talent I wish I had: Cooking.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: What dark chocolatey roasty beers do you have?—or a Heineken.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: The Facts Of Life.
Song: Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!
Greatest extravagance: Buying $350 Fluevog Boots- but I was about to perform a duet with Cyndi Lauper at Radio City Music Hall in New York so, need I say more?

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Nudies, Diesel, Levi’s
Footwear: Fluevogs, Timberland, Vans, Converse, Pony, Adidas, Penguins, I have an addiction to shoes. I could go on. No joke.
Watch: Don’t wear one
Eyewear: Ray Bans- Aviator & Wayfarer
Casual: Jeans, Tshirt, kinda guy but it’s all gotta come together with the shoes.
Formal: Suit, tie, leather, black boots baby.
Perfume / Cologne: Man – Calvin Klein.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Whatever is at the hotel or whatever I brought home from the hotel. Or Dove.
Face wash: Neutrogena.
Moisturizer: Kheils Jet Fuel w 15 SPF.
Body Lotion: Vaseline Body Lotion (unscented).
Indulgence: Can’t say I really have one.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: Everything Mac makes. I have 2 iPhones but I always want the newest one. A black Mercedes Benz.
On my music player now: The Strokes – Angles.
I always PVR: Never. Barely watch TV.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Reading- Naked- David Sedaris.
Last movie seen: Black Swan.
Last concert: A great funk band in New York city at Rockwood Music Hall called Aabaraki.
Last play: Something w my ex girlfriend and her parents in Niagara On The Lake but I can’t remember.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: My career.
Past obsession: My career.
Future obsession: My career.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: I want to write a book.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Have the courage to make mistakes. That’s how you learn to never make them again.

I have a new solo CD called “Mockingbird”. It’s available on iTunes. Amazon and at www.indiepool.com, and I will be performing with The Cliks on Friday, July 1st at the post Trans Pride March festivities at 10 PM.

For all upcoming shows please visit thecliks.com

I never thought I’d make for a pretty girl. I mean, I’m really good-looking (what?), but I never thought I could be a showgirl. That was until yesterday, when I was asked by my good friend and MTV Canada Make-Up Artist, Lucky Bromhead, if I would be her model (victim) for a Pride make-up tutorial video on MTV Fora – MTV’s beauty and fashion blog sister-site.

The video (which will be out next week) chronicles my bitching and whining over her tweezing my eyebrows, applying false eyelashes, getting glitter in my eyes, and whether or not Madonna would be pleased with my new appearance. I really had a new appreciation for the effort and energy drag queens and Cher must have every day. After an hour of a few Madonna impressions, laughs, curse words, and discussing our One Wish For Pride all recorded in HD, I was transformed into a bearded hybrid of Boy George and Roseanne Barr. I couldn’t have been anymore thrilled when I was presented with a red, feathered headpiece that Gaga would lose her shit over.

I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to know that in case this TV stuff doesn’t work out, I could easily be a showgirl in some underground, kinky Vegas nightclub. Very underground. For the blind.

So, here’s a sneak-peek at what I looked like. Isn’t Lucky just the prettiest? Happy Pride, y’all!

- Philip Tetro