Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 402 January 23, 2018

MNSTR CYCLE PRESENTS
BE MONSTROUS.
END AIDS.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
2 – 5 pm
182 Lafayette Street, NYC
(between Broome and Grand Streets)
Join us for three indoor cycling classes
with badass music and videos!
To sign up to ride or donate, visit
https://give.classy.org/bemonstrous2019
For more information, email KrishnaS@gmhc.org
Benefiting
Photo: Courtesy of MNSTR Cycle
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articles, should not be construed to be an indication of the sexual orientation
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BY IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
@ianmichaelinwonderland
While waiting 15 minutes
for a treadmill to free
up at Equinox Highline,
I decided that instead
of being angry with the
throngs of new members
getting their “New Year,
New Me” body, I’d be
inspired and go out to
get some “New Year, New
Me” hair.
After changing out of my
Puma gym sweats and into
my Calvin Klein lounge
sweats (don’t worry, my
Fenty sneakers go with
both), I walked to the
nearest Duane Reade and
scanned the shelves.
I began to see my past
in each different shade.
When I moved to New
York I was Champagne
Blonde, and I went by
the name “Christopher.”
I’m not entirely sure why
I changed my name: I
suppose I wanted to keep
everything about myself
that I liked and ditch
the things that I didn’t,
thinking, “That was Ian-
Michael, not Christopher.”
Christopher lasted a few
months before I realized
I was the exact same
person, just in a bigger city
where nobody cared what
my name was anyway, and
I vowed to never pick up a
box of Champagne Blonde
again.
Blueberry Jam was the
first color I ever dyed my
hair, in middle school. It
shone jet blue in sunlight;
I looked just like an anime
character. My mom was
mortified; I was liberated.
I went Cinnamon Whiskey
while dating my last
boyfriend, AJ, who didn’t
like that we both had light
brown hair buzzed on the
sides. (Well, his was light
brown, mine was Toffee
Nut.) (And yes, I giggled
every time I read “Toffee
Nut” on the box.) I thought
Cinnamon Whiskey made
me look like Ariel from
“The Little Mermaid”; AJ
did not, because it was
around the time I changed
my hair that he stopped
kissing the girl (sha-la-la-lala-la),
and even lightening
up to Apricot Jam couldn’t
keep him from falling for
Ursula instead of me.
Most recently, I went Scarlet
Bronze, doing my best to
imitate young Nicole Kidman
in “Practical Magic.” (I’m fully
obsessed with the scene where
she holds a black cat, stroking
it softly, and says to Sandra
Bullock, “What wouldn’t I do…
for the right guy?” before
Stevie Nicks starts singing
about feelings.)
Looking at all the different
shades, shades of past Ian-
Michaels, shades of potential
future Ian-Michaels, I thought
about this “New Year, New
Me.” We can get a new gym
membership, we can change
our hair color, we can even go
by a new name, but we’re still
the same person. We won’t
convince New Yorkers to like
us, or our boyfriends to stay
with us. We have the same
personality, the same character
flaws and the same unique
quirks that make us who we
are.
Quirks like changing our hair
color every couple of months.
I decided to go back to my
roots, literally, with Nude
Brown (the hair color formally
known as Hot Chocolate). I
decided I didn’t want to be
Christopher, and I didn’t want
to be Nicole Kidman: I just
wanted to be me. I may not
have a magic cat or a singing
crab, but so far I’ve gotten
along just fine.
TRUE COLORS
PHOTO: STEVE BRENNAN
WEARING: VALENTINO ROBE

JUNE 2019
NYCPRIDE.ORG/2019
PRODUCED BY
HOST PARTNER
WORLDPRIDE LICENSOR
HOST PARTNER

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Melissa Mark-Viverito
FIRST PUBLIC ADVOCATE CANDIDATE TO FILE
PETITION SIGNATURES, TRANSPORTING
HER TO THE TOP OF THE BALLOT
Former New York City
Council Speaker Melissa
Mark-Viverito was the first
candidate to file petition
signatures allowing her on
the ballot for the position of
Public Advocate. Securing her
position on the “top of the
ballot” could possibly get her
some extra voter attention.
Running on the platform “Fix
the MTA,” Mark-Viverito is
a candidate worthy of voter
attention.
Born in San Juan, Puerto
Rico, the liberal democrat
moved to New York to attend
Columbia University. She
received her master of public
administration degree from
Baruch College. In 2005 she
was elected to the office of
the City Council in District 8,
during which time she passed
legislature regarding tenant
harassment, building safety
and green buildings. In 2014
she was elected Speaker of
the City Council, the secondmost
powerful political post in
New York City.
As City Council Speaker
she introduced a collection
of eight bills known as the
“Criminal Justice Reform
Act,” which reduced the
penalties of violating park
rules, littering and public
urination from misdemeanors
to a civil process. She is
currently fighting to improve
the subway system and public
housing. She has worked
with the LGBTQ community
in schools, in businesses
and regarding the homeless
situation among gay youth.
Her endeavors to help the
people of NYC are endless.
She is a strong woman and
often achieves what she steps
out to do.
Mark-Viverito wishes for the
public to get to know her
as a person. I spoke with
her regarding her political
views, what she hopes to
accomplish and what she has
already cultivated in New York
City. She is the first political
candidate interview that Get
Out! magazine has done, and
was chosen with good reason.

PHOTO CREDIT: GREG KESSLER
What exactly does a Public Advocate
do?
Pretty much what the name says. It’s an
independent watchdog at a city-wide
level that makes sure that the government
agencies are being responsive to the
needs of the constituencies in New York
City. When there are issues of concern
with regard to the Mayor and the
administration, we look at them and see
what solutions we can provide. So really
the position has a direct relationship with
the constituency of New York. I would
be responsible to the needs that the
constituents are expressing. It’s about
making sure the government is more
responsive and effective for all New
Yorkers.
What made you decide to run for this
office?
The reality is that we had the vacancy, and
so many people didn’t expect to have
this. We had that unfortunate situation
with Attorney General Schneiderman,
and our Public Advocate Tish James
became interested in running for that
seat. I served with her—she’s a friend, a
colleague—and when I understood that
she was serious about running, and I
knew that she had a really good chance
of winning, I started to think, “What
happens when her position becomes
vacant?” We don’t have any women in a
city-wide leadership position in New York.
We see a dwindling of women running
for office in the City Council. We have
less women in the City Council than we
did when I came in. I started thinking as a
woman and as a constituent of New York,
we had to have a woman in that seat.
That’s when I started having consultations
with my advisers and people that I trust.
I have a track record of success, and I
decided to run based on the fact there
would be a woman in a city-wide office,
in a city that has a majority of people of
color; otherwise it would be three white
men that would be leading the city of
New York. So that really had me revisit
commitments that I made to public
service, and I wanted to be able to serve
in this capacity and to continue to voice
the concerns of New Yorkers and to be
able to make sure the government was
most responsive to their needs.

As a political person, do you have a
desire to perhaps run for mayor or
governor or even president in the
future?
No. I mean, look, nobody thought this
seat would be vacant. I had no interest
in running for Public Advocate. It was
not in my sights. I was in private life
doing the work that I was doing. Now
my focus is completely on this position.
There is just a tight window, and I don’t
have time to think of anything else. I
am committed to serving the term of
Public Advocate and being the best
Public Advocate that I can be. I only
have until February 26 to raise money.
I don’t have time to think about what
is happening five or six or eight years
from now. I want to serve, I want to be
a voice for New Yorkers, I want to make
sure the government is responsive, and
that’s what public service has always
been to me. That’s why I decided to
enter, so that I could work again on
behalf of every New Yorker. We have
to be able to accommodate diverse
interests and diverse needs. That’s
what government is geared to do, and
I have a track record of having done
that as City Council Speaker. Now,
this is a monitoring, kind of watchdog
position, where we can ensure that the
commitments that we have made to
New Yorkers are being fulfilled. We have
laws that we have implemented that
are not necessarily being fulfilled in the
way that they are meant. We have to
make sure that the government will be
responsive to what we committed to. As
Public Advocate, I can be a watchdog
and make sure that the commitment
government made to the people is
being fulfilled.
What is your focus on the LGBTQ
community?
We laid out a platform of about 10
things that I would advocate for the
LGBT community. There was a lot
that I have done as a Councilmember
and a Speaker to demonstrate my
commitment. I am an unapologetic
progressive whose approach to
government, and my whole approach
to life, is that we have to be inclusive
and accepting and responsive to
everybody. The same rights that I want
for myself, I want for everybody else.
I am a really strong ally of the LGBT
community. For example, the municipal
ID for New York allows for people to
self-identify when it comes to gender.
That was really important, to make sure
that the municipal ID that represents
our city demonstrated that we are
a city that belongs to everybody by
allowing people to have an ID that truly
represents them. Under my Speakership,
we also did legislation on genderequal
bathrooms. I’ve also extended
opportunities for LGBT seniors, making
sure that we provide more services to
that community [and] extended beds
for homeless youth—we know a large
percentage of those youths are LGBTQ.
We allocated funding to make sure we
had a dedicated staff member at the
Department of Education to serve as an
LGBTQ liaison. That has been extremely
powerful to have a person assigned to
make sure that young people, students,
that identify as LGBTQ had a welcoming
environment to be educated. That really
helps. We thought about expanding on
that concept onto other city agencies
as well. I’m hoping to present that
in a platform. It’s a great model to
take to other cities as well. I made a
recommendation in support of LGBTQ
entrepreneurs in businesses, supporting
an order that prohibits groups that
discriminate against the community,
and for more funding for HIV testing
and support services for homeless LGBT
youths.
This is the one of the first, if not the
first, political articles that Get Out!
magazine has endeavored to do; it’s
an entertainment magazine.
Really?
Yes, it’s a weekly print magazine
recently named the #7 LGBTQ
magazine blog on the planet by
Feedspot, so you had to be a strong
candidate for my publisher to
consider your interview.
That really does mean a lot. I did not
know that.
So the thing is, as an entertainment
journalist, is there anything else that
I should be asking you, or that you
wish to talk about?
I think that just capturing the essence
of who I am as a person and how that
transfers over to whom we want to elect.

My role in government has always been,
how do we ensure protection and send a
message out with our policies and our laws
that demonstrate that New York belongs
to all of us. We are not going to tolerate
abuse or any political discrimination or bias
or hatred towards our brothers and sisters,
whatever your religion, whatever you are.
I just want people to get to know me as
a person and know that this is a part of
my essence and my core values, and that
having an elected official in any position
that possesses these values is in the best
interest of any New Yorker, because I’m
going to fight for everybody in the same
way. I’ve demonstrated that with my
immigration reform, I’ve showed that to my
LGBT allies and everybody else, whether
they are Muslim or Jewish or whatever. I
am unapologetic, I speak out and make
sure that our city government continues to
uphold those values as well. That’s why I’ve
decided to run, and I think my trajectory
is very clear about what my position is.
That’s why I work so much with the LGBT
community, despite the fact that I’m not
gay—the fact that I believe in these issues
at my core, people know that I’m going to
be a fighter. That’s someone you need to
see in a position like this; you need a fighter
and someone progressive.
What made you so aware of human rights
and so willing to stand up for them?
It really does stem from my upbringing.
My mother was a young mother. I was
raised in the early ‘70s during the feminist
movement in Puerto Rico. I was raised in
an environment of strong women, very
vocal women, women that would fight for
their rights as women. Within that struggle
there were lesbian women that would fight
for that movement, for gay rights during
that time. For Puerto Rico, that was a very
difficult and challenging time. So I was
always raised in an environment of inclusion
and acceptance. My mother had values
that we loved everybody regardless of who
they are or what they looked like. So that
was probably the beginning, the way I was
raised. That always stuck with me. I am
also a survivor of sexual abuse. I don’t see
myself as a victim, but the idea of being
a fighter and demanding respect, and to
have my voice heard, is something that I’ve
gotten from my personal experiences. It’s
part of who I am. I’ve been very hopeful,
very outspoken, and I carried it over when I
came to New York. What I want for myself,
I want for everybody else. I can’t demand
respect for me as a woman if I’m not going
to give that respect back. That carries on to
everything that I do.
PHOTO CREDIT: WILLIAM ALATRISTE

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
RENT
VALENTINA TO PLAY ANGEL IN LIVE PRESENTATION
OF ‘RENT’ ON FOX TV, JANUARY 27
Valentina, a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season nine contestant, will be appearing in
Fox’s live presentation of the iconic hit Broadway play “Rent” on January 27. She
will portray the role of Angel, one of the most controversial characters in the
entire show. Angel is a kind, sensitive and caring character who some believe is
transgender or a drag queen, a perfect role for Valentina.
The cast includes
Kiersey Clemons,
Brandon Victor Dixon,
Jordan Fisher, Vanessa
Hudgens, Brennan
Hunt, Mario, Tinashe
and Valentina. “Rent”
was originally produced
in New York. The
television adaptation
will be broadcast live
from Fox Studios in Los
Angeles.
Valentina was a fan
favorite on season nine
of “Drag Race.” She
has appeared in many
publications, including
Vogue.com as well as
Andy Cohen’s “Watch
What Happens Live.”
Aside from “Rent,”
Valentina has recently
put out a new single
and is working on a
one-woman show. I
spoke to Valentina
regarding “Rent” and
“RuPaul’s.” She was
absolutely candid and a
blast to speak with.

“Rent” is my favorite
show ever, and Angel is a
great role. How did you
get the role?
By just auditioning.
Somebody from the casting
agency was a fan of mine
from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
The “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
platform has given me some
visibility as an artist. He
was a fan of mine, and he
considered me to audition
and to present me to the
director and
all that. It was
really interesting,
because he
brought me not
knowing if I knew
how to sing or
dance or any of
that. So he really
took a chance on
me. Even when I
auditioned I was
very nervous and
very excited. I
didn’t really know
if it was going to
be the right thing,
a big iconic role
like Angel. The
audition process
was more like
work sessions. I
wasn’t necessarily
hitting the notes
that I had to hit
in order to be the
best, perfect fit
at the audition.
But there was
something that
they saw in me,
they believed in
me, and saw the
potential. With
the right training and the
right direction I could be
the Angel that they were
looking for. Even myself, I
had my doubts, but now
I put in the work, and
the process has been so
amazing, from the audition
process until now.
When you found out that
you got the role of Angel,
how would you compare
that to the feeling you got
when you found out you
were accepted in “Drag
Race”?
Well, both of them, I think
they were both pivotal
moments in my life. I feel
so grateful to “RuPaul’s
Drag Race,” because it
was the first moment to
finally go from being any
Joe Schmoe, working their
weekend job, to being
able to have a platform
and to have a following as
a respected artist. With my
character Valentina, I’ve
been able to have fans, an
image, and go on tour on
stages all over the world.
So I’m really grateful to
them. When that moment
happened, I just could not
believe it, because I knew if
I was given the opportunity
I was going to squeeze
every last ounce of juice
from it. And I have. When I
got “Rent,” I was in a place
where I was touring, and I
was exhausted from shows
every single day, getting
into drag every single day,
and there was something
about my life that was
wanting to be a respected
performer and not just a
nightclub sensation. When
I got the opportunity, I
knew it was going to be
something for me to really
study and learn and to go
to the next level as an artist.
I studied acting and vocals
and all of those things that
I get to do
now. So they’re
both equally
as important;
they’re just
different
moments in
periods of time
in my life and
in my career
that are like
stepping stones
to achieving
my dreams. So
they are both
valuable to me
and important
to my heart.
That’s a really
great answer.
Yeah, I can’t
chose one,
because I’m
grateful to both.
What made
you do drag in
the first place?
Well, I guess
it just came
naturally. Since
I was a little boy
I was getting
dressed up with my towel
getting out of the bath. I
would dress up in different
kinds of silhouettes, like an
asymmetrical Greek gown,
with a big old train or a big
turban on my head. I was
playing and fantasizing
and learning makeup, and
I did some modeling. I
saw “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
when I was in high school
and going out to see drag
shows when I was 21.

When I actually started
to see drag in person,
I started to curate this
character and putting
together all of these things
that I studied, all of these
items into one persona,
into one character. I
wanted to be the model,
be the designer, the
makeup artist, and kind of
all blend them together. I
want to say I’ve always kind
of been doing drag without
knowing.
Aside from studying
acting and vocals, how
did you prepare for your
role as Angel?
During the audition
process I was meeting with
a friend of mine who is
like a vocal coach. That’s
how I started preparing.
Then once I got the role
they connected me to my
vocal coach, who works
with Ariana Grande, Bette
Midler, and I’ve just been
really working at building
my voice. I have a personal
trainer who teaches me
cardio, so I will be able to
have the stamina to get
through all the movement.
I have a dermatologist
who is working on my face,
because the face has to
be flawless: no bumpies,
no lumpies. It has to be
perfect skin. Then aside
from that, on a personal
level, I have a dear friend
of mine that I’ve been
studying the heart and
soul of. He’s very caring
and thinks about other
people before himself, and
he’s always really happy
to lend you his house, or
feed you, or make you
feel comfortable. If you’re
sick he will think of how to
make you feel better and
make you soup. That’s very
much like Angel. When
I study the work and the
situation, I think, “How
would my friend react to
this?” I haven’t even told
my friend that I’m studying
him. I’m going to tell him
the day of the show. It’s
my little secret project.
I did a lot of studying
about the AIDS epidemic
in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s.
I’m definitely working
really hard; I’m trying to
be authentic, and I’m
challenging myself a lot.

There are times when I do not have
a clue of what I’m doing, because it’s
so new to me. I get frustrated, and it’s
really challenging and really hard, but
it’s so exciting. Every day when I come
to rehearsal I get better and I improve. I
grow from the challenges and learn from
them. From the audition process to now,
I can say that I have grown so much as an
artist.
When “Rent” first appeared, you were
probably a baby,
I was 5.
So from your point of view, what do
you think of “Rent”?
Well, I love it. I learned about “Rent”
when I was in high school. In my choir
class we did a show with all kinds of songs
from Broadway musicals. When I heard
“Seasons of Love,” I loved that song. I
went on to study the rest of the music.
Then I watched the movie, and I loved
the story. Ever since then I just loved
“Rent.” The fact that I got to audition for
Angel was just shocking to me. It’s a big
opportunity for me and a big challenge
that I have to take on, but it’s very exciting.
You were voted Miss Congeniality for
your season in “Drag Race”?
Yeah, the fans voted me Miss Congeniality.
They wanted me to win something; they
wanted me to get that title. Although I do
think I am congenial at times, it’s kind of a
big pressure to live up to that. You always
have to be very diplomatic. But I don’t
hold that title anymore. I am totally fine
being the fan favorite.
Aside from “Drag Race” and “Rent,”
what are you up to?
I released my single. My music is available
on all digital platforms, and it’s in Spanish.
It’s a Latin love song about being fearless
against all odds. No matter how much
people try to bring you down, you’re
always going to get back up, and when
you get back up you’ll be stronger,
because you’ve already learned from that
experience. I’m also working on creating
my own show here in Los Angeles. I have
a show early February, and I’m trying to
get that going and get it started. It’s me
singing live, and I’m hoping to have a
live band. I want to see what will become
of it and if I can tour with it. I’m excited
about all that is to come from this “Rent”
experience. I would like to be part of a
special project that I can’t speak about,
but I’m excited for what the future holds.
I’m running with the win, and I’m not
looking back. I hope people will enjoy
“Rent,” because we work really hard
at rehearsals every single day to bring
something so magical on the day of.

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Cover: Melissa Mark-Viverito
Photo Credit Greg Kessler
ISSUE 402 - JANUARY 23 2018
PUBLISHER
MIKE TODD
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
(646) 761-3325
DESIGN
AGOTA CORREA
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM
NATIONAL ADVERTISNG
REPRESENTATIVE
RIVENDELL MEDIA
(908) 232-2021
CONTRIBUTORS
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
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