FIRE ISLAND’S FLAME IS LIT THE BEST OF KEY WEST FROM SWIMMING TO SLAYING ISLAND ADVENTURES Natural wonders and a glimpse of pre-colonial Southern California await BY DONALD PADGETT THE CHANNEL ISLANDS National Park, off the coast of Southern Californ

RuPaul is the world’s most famous drag queen, with a reality competition queendom beloved by millions of viewers internationally. But his first and most important audience, as he reminds himself during his dressing-room rituals, was a party of one. “

On October 7, 1966, the legacy of Doris Duke — at the time one of America’s richest women and the most notable heiress in the world — would forever be tarnished. Duke’s involvement in the death of her confidant and interior designer captivated not ju

photographer ANTHONY BARRIOS @anthony__giovanni photographer’s assistant JORDAN FRAME @_jordanframe photographer’s assistant ANDREW BARRIOS @andrewbarrios1 stylist EDWIN ORTEGA @edwin.j.ortega stylist assistant KAREN VELIZ groomer for Satya and Mark

Self-care has come full circle. Decades ago, the majority of our bathroom cabinet was stocked by the five-and-dime or drugstore. As fragrance and grooming brands became more sophisticated, we sought department store excellence in our skin care outcom

FOR OVER HALF a century, The Advocate has remained dedicated to bringing the latest news and stories to our community to help keep each other safe, inspired, and informed. As the decades have gone by, we’ve evolved alongside the LGBTQ+ movement and t

The special California edition of Crotch has Sam Smith to thank for its existence. Frank Strachan, the magazine’s editor in chief, is a London-based stylist and creative director who was touring with the “Unholy” singer through the West Coast last ye

We’re Here, HBO’s Emmy-winning series about drag performers traveling around America, is one of the most important shows on TV now for LGBTQ+ visibility. It debuted in 2020, and since then, drag has emerged as a divisive political issue, with the far

These words resonated with me. Scrolling through social media nowadays can indeed feel like a heartless deluge of AI and algorithms. Where is the authenticity, the realness in a world increasingly dominated by the artificial? In the face of this cris

Although I never considered myself a theater kid, there was a course in high school that allowed students to be part of a program coordinated by a local theater company. In this class, I discovered the wonder of theater: from history to costumes to p

When Willy Chavarria was a child in California’s Central Valley, he would ask his mother to buy him address books from the dollar store. Afterward, “I would draw dresses in them, because I thought they were ‘a dress’ books,” he recalls with a smile.

WHEN MUSHER APAYAUQ (pictured above) competed in the 2022 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race through Alaska, it was an epic journey both physical and emotional. Apayauq had recently come out, becoming the first and only openly trans person to compete in th

LIKE THE IDEA of LGBTQ+ Republicans, the concept of Black Republicans is hard to fathom. The party of Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis is hostile to affirmative action, reparations, and, perhaps most egregiously, the teaching of America’s long history o

Vice President Kamala Harris’s longtime close policy advisor, Isaac “Ike” D. Irby, officially left the White House on January 31, concluding a significant chapter in a partnership that profoundly influenced policy during Harris’s tenure as U.S. senat

EVEN THOUGH QUEER people are often known to be creative and ahead of the curve, they’ve been blocked from positions of power in Hollywood since the dawn of the film and television industries. Studio and network reticence — and even the public’s disda

When Carlos Munez came out to his wife Ella as a trans man, the future of their family was his biggest concern. “At the start of my medical transition, I made the decision to not keep my eggs,” he says. The couple have been together since they were t

What’s a key ingredient to hosting Top Chef in Wisconsin? A love of dairy. “I started thinking about all the cheese and I was like, ‘I think they’re all my favorite,’” Kristen Kish smiles. “I don’t love super stinky cheeses, but…there’s really a chee

Emmy winner Jim Parsons was a freshman in college when he was introduced to playwright Paula Vogel’s The Baltimore Waltz. In that play, a sister imagines the European odyssey she’d have made with her terminally ill brother, Carl, as she keeps vigil a

Hate crimes have been going up across the board, but a new FBI report is shining a light on a setting that’s seen a particularly alarming rise in violence in recent years — schools and college campuses. The Federal Bureau of Investigation findings, r

Depression is weird. Sometimes, you have to sweat it out. The reps, weights, and endorphins of gym life pushed me through bad months. Some years ago, a meme went around of a cartoon man flexing his arms in a mirror with a thought bubble over his head

Dear Advocate Readers, Welcome to a significant milestone in our publication’s history – the Out|The Advocate flipbook launch. This innovative format is a testament to our commitment to adapt and grow, bringing together two iconic brands and ensuring

Kara Swisher doesn’t like all the things lesbians are allegedly supposed to like — that’s if you listen to all the stereotypes. She loves a nice hotel (like the luxurious Aman chain), and she appreciates fashionable apparel. But really, she just laug

NASHVILLE-BASED MUSICIAN MORGAN Isaac Karr, better known as Morgxn, is best known for his viral duet “Wonder” with Sara Bareilles and his distinctive vocals on two Tiësto tracks. With soaring hooks, alt-pop production, provocative lyrics, and powerfu

Jason Sellards was born in Arizona in October of 1978, then relocated to the Seattle area while still a youngster. These days, you’re more likely to know this person as Jake Shears, former lead singer of the award-winning pop band Scissor Sisters who

Model and adult content creator Kyle Krieger announced on social media in December that he’d be donating money earned from his OnlyFans page to AIDS/LifeCycle 2024, as well as participating in the arduous 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco

Dear Out Readers, I am overjoyed to introduce you to our groundbreaking Out|The Advocate flipbook launch. As part of our ongoing mission to innovate and expand our reach, this new format brings together two iconic brands while allowing us to share ou

Yes, of course we all want to look and feel our best. With the pressure Valentine’s Day puts on most of us, we must remember that self-love must always come first. So if that means getting in better shape, landing on an alluring, signature scent, or

Gay men’s clothing-optional resorts have made a resurgence in recent years but, like the community to which it caters, there’s no one-size-fits-all blueprint for success. While many gay men seek elevated amenities and services while on vacation, some