What are the odds? A set of identical twin brothers — both phenomenal-looking, both gay and both ardent fans of singer Dolly Parton. In fact, Gary and Larry Lane, the brothers who fit this description, are so dedicated to Parton that they trekked across the country in an RV named Jolene just to give her a script they wrote with her in mind!
Born and raised in conservative Goldsboro, N.C., the Lanes consider being identical twins a special gift that has opened many doors for them. Their unique bond became practically indispensable as they came of age and began to realize their sexual preferences. Despite fearing the loss of that closeness if the other did not understand or approve, they came out to one another at the same time, when they were 17.
“And it was a great support system,” Larry Lane says. If there were any regrets connected with that decision, he says, it would be that they hadn’t told one another earlier so that they would not have felt as much isolation.
“Growing up Southern Baptist, you can feel pretty alone when you are realizing that you don’t fit the mold as most of the other people around you,” he said. “But after we told each other, we were able to keep each other strong for years.” This included when, at age 25, they jointly told their parents.
When it came time to strike out on their own, they headed up to the Big Apple, where Ben Stiller soon cast them as rap star Lil’ Kim’s matching bodyguards in his film Zoolander. They later realized that California was the place they needed to be to pursue successful careers in show biz, and they relocated again, this time to Los Angeles. Other roles followed in such box-office powerhouses as Spider-Man and The Patriot.
The brothers have also competed as teammates on two of television’s most challenging shows, and they won the contests both times. They won $50,000 on each one — first on NBC’s Fear Factor, then on ABC’s Wipeout. The key to being such an amazing team, they said, was that each offers the other an equal amount of support and pushing in the competition.
As for their latest endeavor, the documentary Hollywood to Dollywood, Gary says, “We grew up listening to Dolly’s music and always thought she was an amazing person.”
“She hit our radar in 1983 with ‘Islands in the Stream,’ Larry said. “Our parents loved her and played that song thousands of times! We also watched Dolly on TV, and when she was asked about her huge gay fan base, she always said, ‘A fan is a fan — gay, straight, black, white, I love everyone. I’m not God; I don’t judge.’ Those things stuck with us, and only made us admire her more!”
Parton’s warmth and empathy made the two yearn to work with her.
“We knew we wanted to write a project for her and be able to work on a set with her,” Gary said.
Big dreams for sure, but these guys have a way of turning their dreams into reality. Their script, titled Full Circle is based on their upbringing, and there was a part written just for Parton.
“We finished it, printed it, and sent it off to Dolly’s management,” Gary recalls. It was sent back — unopened — the following week.
“We were crushed,” Larry interjects, “but then we started seeing info that the following May was going to be Dollywood’s big 25th anniversary.”
Hearing that their idol was planning to appear as part of the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., theme park’s silver anniversary celebration, they concocted the idea of delivering their script to her in person. Moreover, whether the trip was successful or not, filming it from beginning to end would serve as a record of their experience. Hollywood to Dollywood, the award-winning documentary, was born!
“There was over 45 hours of footage that has been cut into 79 minutes, so our director/editor John Lavin did an amazing job!” Gary said.
Larry adds, “John is also from Tennessee, and we have been blessed to play there three times already.”
In fact, it will be screening there again April 21 at the Nashville Film Festival and on the same night in Los Angeles as part of that city’s First Glance Film Festival. One brother is set to host the California screening, while the other will be on hand in Tennessee.
What the Lanes learned from their adventure is how essential it is to chase after your dreams and be true to who you are, and be proud of both!
An incident featured in the final cut gave them this insight and inspired them to broaden their initial intentions for the project. At a roadside rest stop, they met a husband and wife who prayed with them for everyone’s safe travels. Afterward, though, aware that they had deliberately downplayed their same-sex orientation for fear of offending the couple, “We felt like we had misled them,” Gary acknowledges.
They decided to change their mindset and actually seek others like themselves — particularly in the Deep South — and include their stories as well. These are some of the most moving and hopeful moments in the film.
The brothers’ documentary has gone on to be an overwhelming audience favorite wherever it’s been shown – in places as varied as Edmonton, Canada; Glasgow, Scotland; and Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
“We have now played in more straight-themed film festivals than LGBT ones, and those straight ones are mostly where we are winning the Best Documentary awards,” Gary says, noting that at many of those festivals, theirs has been the only gay-themed film entered. “I think it has a lot to do with everyone’s love for Dolly. She just brings all different types of people together.”
Backed by 15 of Parton’s most evocative songs, the magic and majesty of the movie is in the way it touches on things that everyone, on some level, can identify with.
“You just can’t find anyone in the world that can say a bad thing about Dolly Parton,” Gary said. “I feel with the film, we are paying tribute to one of the most amazing ladies of our time!”
Hearing this, Larry smiles. “We’ve continually heard Dolly talk about being in Hollywood and wanting to knock off that H and put a big D up there.” At least as far as these brothers’ riveting and poignantly honest documentary is concerned, they did just that!
For more information on Gary and Larry Lane as well as their film Hollywood to Dollywood go to www.lanetwins.com or www.Hollywoodtodollywood.com.
The KCGayFilmFest will present HOLLYWOOD TO DOLLYWOOD as the next Castro Movie NIght on May 10th at 7:00pm at the Tivoli Cinemas in Westport. Proceeds from Castro Movie Nights the benefit the Good Samartian Project. Learn more at www.KCGayFilmFest.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.
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.