Cosmo Sez…Got Pride?

Well, it's that time of year again and I hope everyone out there is taking this time to celebrate what Pride means to him or her. What I've realized is that it's not just a celebration; it's also an opportunity for us to publicly demonstrate who we are rather than just what we are.

It's also our opportunity to shake some of those negative stereotypes that have been long obsolete and demonstrate that we are greater than the sum of those stereotypes. People are curious and watching us at these annual events that grow larger each year. Before recently moving to Nashville, I had lived in New York for about twelve years and, oddly enough, for being in one of the largest meccas where Pride is celebrated, I never attended a Pride parade. That is until 2004, in Manhattan, on a beautiful sunny spring day, I decided to attend.

It was amazing; it was camp, and it was an education. The Pride parade was something to see. I spent the day walking around, meeting people and I sensed a real community. It was a lot of fun. There were families in attendance and it seemed as though anyone, despite their orientation, could be there and not feel threatened in any way. I thought this, until I heard about all of the events that were taking place later in the evening. It was like every good feeling that I had experienced during the day was about to be overshadowed by darkness.

As the night progressed, I must have been approached and invited to twenty or thirty sex parties that were going on, non-stop, over the weekend. Not to mention the openly advertised sex club scenes that would be packed all weekend. Many people were doing drugs or looking for drugs. I thought, "Is this really the message of Pride that we want to share?" As I walked through Chelsea, the heart of the gay community, I noticed an ad that stood out. The ad featured a young gay male, sitting naked at the computer, viewing porn, with a crystal meth pipe in his hand. The ad read: WHERE'S THE PRIDE IN THIS?

This ad, put out by the gay community, for the gay community, encapsulated what I was starting to feel about the event that I had waited so long to attend. However, it was re-assuring to me to see that other people in the gay community were putting out a clear message to their own and that message was that they didn't believe that this was what pride was all about either.

I believe that Pride originated from a much more noble cause. I believe that, in the beginning, this cause was more about tolerance and acceptance rather than sex and drugs. It's a cause that unites and creates support for people that have not always found this support, not even from their own families.

I must say that after attending Nashville Pride last year, I noticed we are far ahead of the game in regards to the sense of community that we now have. I'm originally from here and I can't tell how proud I was to return home and see the progress that has taken place.

Kudos to the Nashville gay community! Let's continue celebrating our diversity, while being tolerant and accepting of others! This is our time to shine and just like the rainbow, love has many colors.

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

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.

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by Spectrum Medical Care Center

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.

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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.

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