Remember those tanned, talented and tantalizing fairy-tale princes we dreamed about when we were younger? That description also applies to Mike Munich — a rising star on the club music scene. Having recently released a new single and music video titled “Love at War,” Munich is proving that his abilities as a singer, dancer and performer are impressive as well.
Munich says he feels just as comfortable serving as backup for artists like Christina Aguilera at last year’s American Music Awards ceremony as he did stepping into the spotlight last month as one of the featured acts at the Los Angeles Pride Festival. And a few days later, he opened for Taylor Dayne at Denver’s Pridefest. Sharp-eyed viewers will also recognize Munich from his recurring role on the hit TV show Glee as a member of the rival show choir, Vocal Adrenaline.
“Working on Glee has been incredible,” he says with a smile. “I’ve worked on the show since the pilot, and every time I go back, it’s like a family reunion!” (Munich joined other castmates out on the road as part of the “Glee! Live in Concert” tour.)
Among other milestones Munich experienced last year was being named one of The Advocate magazine’s “Forty Under 40” in its 2012 list of the most influential budding powerhouses in media, sports, politics and science.
Munich is insightful and understandably pleased about being considered part of a new breed of young, out and proud personalities who are at the forefront of entertainment today.
“You can’t live your life afraid of what other people are going to think of you,” he said. “I’m so, so happy that it’s no longer taboo to be gay in the media or in entertainment. Almost every network television show has at least one gay character, and we finally have openly out, mainstream musicians like Adam Lambert and Frank Ocean. I get labeled as a gay recording artist, but the fact is, I am a recording artist who happens to be gay.”
A native of Minneapolis, Munich recalls that he had his first experience with dancing when he was 6 years old.
“My mom started taking adult jazz classes at a nearby studio,” he explained, “and she would take me with her.”
He said he fell in love instantly with this new form of movement, and soon she had signed him up for classes of his own. By the time he was 12, he knew that he wanted to dance professionally. At age 15, Munich signed with a local modeling agency, but even then he knew that if his lofty ambitions were to be realized, he needed to relocate either to New York or to Los Angeles.
“I had traveled to New York when I was 14 and never wanted to leave,” he remembered.
So after graduating, he tried a semester at New York University. He soon realized, though, that if he was ever going to land a spot dancing for a recording superstar like Britney Spears, Los Angeles was the place to be.
“Britney is the reason I do what I do,” he says. “She changed my life.”
Munich has also worked with Kylie Minogue, and he counts her as a similar wellspring of influence. “My sister introduced me to Kylie’s Fever album when I was in high school,” he said, “and again, my life was changed.”
Munich, who specializes in a dance style he calls jazz-funk, has gone on to work with many of those who previously had been merely faces on CD covers to him. He counts dancing for Lady Gaga in videos for her hits “Born This Way” and “Alejandro” among his career highlights. Yet his involvement with both of these productions almost didn’t happen.
“I can only describe it as fate” he said. “I got called on the audition for ‘Alejandro,’ but skipped it because they wanted us to shave our heads.”
Almost immediately, he regretted his choice, but the next day, while out with a buddy at a popular West Hollywood restaurant, he ran into another mutual friend who was working on the video.
“He told me they were still looking for one more dancer and asked me if I could video myself ‘freestyling’ some moves to the song. … The next day I was booked.”
Munich also found his experience with “Born This Way” to be memorable.
“Being a part of that one was so surreal because it was one of the most anticipated songs and records of the moment,” he said. “I practically gagged in rehearsals when I heard the line ‘don’t be a drag, just be a queen’ — and I couldn’t tell anyone about it! What was even crazier was that I was double-booked on the Glee tour at the same time, but somehow the stars aligned and the schedules allowed me to do everything.”
When it comes to the deeper substance of his work, “I have a voice and a message that I want to be heard,” Munich says. “I incorporate some depth to my songs, but it’s hidden. As I’ve progressed though, the songs have become more honest.”
Munich’s solo projects, including his previous releases “If We Do It,” “Beat the Beat,” and “Referee,” each combine catchy, super-charged vocals with high-fashion homoerotic visuals, set to a lively electro-pop beat.
“By becoming an artist,” he said. “I have been able to combine fashion, movement and music on my own terms.”
Now, along with being seen in ads supporting the new Friend Movement anti-bullying campaign (www.friendmovement.com), Munich’s time is taken up promoting his latest song, “Love at War,” whose video was shot by noted videographer Shawn Adeli. He’s just completed a number of high-profile appearances in New York City, a tour that he calls incredible.
“I gave some of my best performances to date — and every show allowed me to give a different type of performance,” he said.
But when all is said and sung, perhaps the reason Munich is so triumphant both in his life and career boils down to his core philosophy, which many in the LGBT community would do well to adopt: “For us, our life doesn’t really begin until we come out,” he said. “I think dance music allows us to forget all that has happened before that time and just have a great time living in the moment!”
“Love at War” and Munich’s other singles are available on iTunes. For more information or to order online, check out mikemunich.com.
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.
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, 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.