Since my May 18 column, I have been a busy beaver (pardon the expression)! May 17 marked the No Place Like Home luncheon at the Crown Center Hotel ballroom, a fund raiser for Save Inc., which helps find affordable housing for people with HIV/AIDS. The ballroom was filled with invited guests of the many hosts. My hosts, Larry R and Lewis G, graciously welcomed us to dine on a surprisingly good banquet lunch (banquet food is usually not my favorite), followed by a welcome address by Mark Anderson, director of Save Inc. Two Save Inc. residents gave a heart-rending talk on how their lives have been turned around by the organization, and a poignant video followed that outlined the programs and projects under the umbrella of Save. My thanks to my gracious hosts for inviting me and the speakers for enlightening me at an educational and worthwhile fund raiser. Also that evening, I was invited to a fashionable cocktail party given by the “Gay Travelers,” Donald Pile and Ray Williams, at the Writers Place, just off Valentine Road.
The next day, May 18, found me, my sister, her partner and my best friend Evie attending a concert given by the one and only Marilyn Maye, hosted by bar Natasha. Believe me, this Kansas City native can still belt out a song with the best of them. Being a devoted fan of Marilyn’s who remembers her beginning performances at the old Colony Steakhouse in the Ambassador Hotel, it was wonderful to experience her performance in a room that seemed to be “made for Maye.” JD and Missy, I hope you are listening and will invite Marilyn back again and again! The next evening it was time to dust off that white wine bottle I had been saving since the last round of Christmas open houses, and head on over to Marbelle and David’s home for their annual wine party. As usual, I ate way too much food and indulged in too much wine tasting, followed by a trek down the street to Missie B’s for a nightcap.
The following weekend, Memorial Day weekend, saw me, my boyfriend Jason, my sister Andy and her partner Helen and best friend Evie flying to Denver for the International Gay Bowling Tournament. The weather was perfect, the hotel we stayed at was grand, the food we ate was superb, but the bowling … I need to remember that my puny average of 141 pins per game will not win me any trophies, just a sore back! Two bowlers scored perfect 300 games, and one poor individual bowled a 299! We managed a side trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and the views were spectacular, with snow still in abundance. There was a beautiful lake where we had a bite to eat on the way to Black Hawk, Colo., to finish the trip with some gambling. This was another mistake for me and Jason as we lost, but my sister-in-law, Helen, managed to win $4,500 -- on a penny machine, no less! Needless to say, we made her pay for the drinks that evening. Speaking of that evening, we attended a wonderful drag show put on by the Demented Divas. These girls glittered up their mustaches and goatees and entertained us for over two hours. If you are ever in Denver on a Tuesday night, stop at the Clock Tower on 16th Street and catch their act. You won’t be disappointed.
GAY PRIDE 2007
The weekend of June 1-3 saw all of us celebrating our gay pride with Street Blast on Friday night and then the festival on Saturday and Sunday. In the words of the event’s chairperson, Flo, it was “flawless, my dear, simply flawless.” One small wrinkle occurred at Street Blast when the sky opened up and things got rather wet. Everyone scattered to find shelter until Flo took to the stage and had the DJ play Martha Wash’s “It’s Raining Men.” The crowd went wild, and everyone was dancing in the rain and having a gay old time. Leave it to Flo to find a way to make a rainy situation into a party. The festival on Saturday and Sunday went off without a hitch. The weather was almost perfect, even the families who brought their children had a great time. I hope that you were able to make it out to the Liberty Memorial to experience this event for yourselves, because there is nothing during the year that can top it. Here is a picture of those delicious boys called Nemesis, who entertained us not only with their voices, but also their gorgeous good looks (see photo). I cannot give enough praise to John Koop and his Pride committee for providing what has to be the best Pride ever for Kansas City. Entertainment the likes of Chaka Khan and Martha Wash headlined the Saturday and Sunday night lineup, but all the entertainment was wonderful, including the Heartland Men’s Chorus and the Freedom Band. The Rev. Kurt Kriger even performed a commitment ceremony for over 40 couples on Sunday. I was impressed with the way the quilt was displayed in a setting surrounded by lush evergreens and artwork. It really makes one realize that we have come a long way from the Stonewall riots.
FUTURE HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 16, for the Good Samaritan Project fund raiser, A Gourmet Dinner Under the Tuscan Moon to be held at the Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ in Brookside. You can order tickets at www.gspkc.org. The KC Waves will hold their second annual swimsuit fashion show at bar Natasha on Friday, June 22, and if this year’s event is anything like last year’s, you all are in for some serious eye candy. Also on tap for this month is a fund raiser for the KC Pride Democratic Club on June 29 at Side Kicks Saloon. On July 21, the first-ever Zoey Awards presentation and show will be held at the Athenaeum Club on Linwood Boulevard. This event will be a fund raiser for the Missouri Gay Rodeo Association, so let’s all support Zoe Kelly, the reigning Miss MGRA. Tickets are $20 at Mama’s Restaurant on 39th Street, or you can call 816-863-4974 to order.
IN CONCLUSION
Again, I cannot say enough about the fabulous weekend of Gay Pride this year. What a perfect opportunity to see old friends, meet new friends and do a little networking. Camp Newspaper is privileged to be a major sponsor of this event and also the Pride Guide. In this capacity, we handed out more than 5,000 copies of Camp over the weekend, in addition to the 5,000 distributed in advance of Pride. Attendance was estimated at over 50,000 people for the three days, breaking all attendance records for this event. All of the Pride weekend activities were absolutely free. I understand that Chaka Khan cost more than $100,000 to bring in for a half-hour stint on Saturday night. So please support your Pride committee’s efforts to raise money for next year’s event by attending the fund raisers throughout the year. Till next time…
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.