Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 539
Featuring content from the hottest gay and gay-friendly spots in New York, each (free!) issue of Get Out! highlights the bars, nightclubs, restaurants, spas and other businesses throughout NYC’s metropolitan area that the city’s gay a population is interested in.
Featuring content from the hottest gay and gay-friendly spots in New York, each (free!) issue of Get Out! highlights the bars, nightclubs, restaurants, spas and other businesses throughout NYC’s metropolitan area that the city’s gay a population is interested in.
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Model: Jodi Mugler Photo: Jai Lennard<br />
Choreographed by Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles<br />
Directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch<br />
Inspired by the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot<br />
THROUGH JULY 28 ONLY!<br />
TICKETS AT PACNYC.org
freeSTDcheck.org<br />
Wellness Centers<br />
Brooklyn<br />
475 Atlannc Ave, Fl 2<br />
(917) 246-7498<br />
Bronx<br />
655 Morris Ave<br />
(347) 736-9046
TOP 10<br />
DJ DAVID<br />
MICHAEL<br />
Facebook /davidmichaelnyc<br />
Instagram @djdavidmichaelnyc<br />
SoundCloud /djdavidmichaelnyc<br />
CURRENT<br />
1<br />
2<br />
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5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
360<br />
CHARLI XCX<br />
ASK & YOU SHALL RECEIVE<br />
(EXTENDED MIX) RITA ORA<br />
BIRDS OF A FEATHER (DAVID<br />
MICHAEL CLUB MIX) BILLIE EILISH<br />
ESPRESSO (AMICE REMIX)<br />
SABRINA CARPENTER<br />
FORTNIGHT (RIVAS EDIT)<br />
TAYLOR SWIFT<br />
FREEDOM (VOCAL MIX)<br />
REVIVAL, PEYTON, GEO GOSPEL CHOIR<br />
HOT TO GO!<br />
CHAPPELL ROAN<br />
LOVE BITES<br />
NELLY FURTADO, TOVE LO, SG LEWIS<br />
MAN IN FINANCE (G6 TRUST FUND)<br />
GIRL ON COUCH, BILLEN TED<br />
NASTY X NASTY GIRL (JAE FUSZ MASH-<br />
UP) TINASHE VS. INAYA DAY<br />
THROWBACK<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
Weekly Appearances:<br />
Tuesdays - CURTAINS UP! at The Monster 9pm-11pm<br />
Wednesdays - THE ASSASSINS at Balcon Salon 9pm-2am<br />
Fridays - The Stonewall Inn<br />
Saturdays - SPUNK at The Monster 9:30pm-4am<br />
Follow my social media for announcements.<br />
ABSOLUTELY NOT (CHANEL RADIO<br />
EDIT) DEBORAH COX<br />
BORN THIS WAY (BARRY HARRIS<br />
& MSC 2017 REMIX) LADY GAGA<br />
DEEPER LOVE (ORIGINAL MIX)<br />
STEVE TOSI<br />
FIREWORK (BARRY HARRIS PRIDE<br />
2017 REMIX) KATY PERRY<br />
FREE (SAMUELE SARTINI REMIX)<br />
ULTRA NATÉ<br />
PROUD (JOSH HARRIS PRIDE<br />
EXTENDED MIX) HEATHER SMALL<br />
THIS IS ME (JOE GAUTHREAUX &<br />
LEANH REMIX) KEALA SETTLE<br />
THIS IS YOUR NIGHT (DJ JEFF 90S<br />
POP HOUSE RE-DRUM) AMBER<br />
VOGUE (BIT ERROR CLUB MIX)<br />
MADONNA<br />
WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER (DAVID<br />
MICHAEL VS. ALMIGHTY 2020 PRIDE<br />
REMIX) KELLY ROWLAND
NEW BLOCK<br />
ON THE WATER<br />
Luxury studio, 1 & 2 bedroom<br />
rentals in Hunter’s Point South<br />
2-20 & 2-21 MALT DRIVE<br />
LEASING THIS SUMMER<br />
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“I CAN’T WADE TO<br />
MOVE IN”
FROM THE PRODUCERS OF CHUPA - R3VOLVER - QUE MALDITO PARTY<br />
Y&L EVENTS // @NYC<strong>GAY</strong>PARTIES<br />
PRESENT<br />
SUN 06/30<br />
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MUSIC BY<br />
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2 ROOMS // 2 BARS<br />
GOGO DANCERS // DRAG SHOWS<br />
BOTTLE SPECiALS<br />
GET TiCKETS NOW<br />
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21+ TO ENTER WITH VALID IDENTIFICATION<br />
SPONSORED & POP UPS BY<br />
aD BY @jUStlOUiEg<br />
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ENTERTAINMENT
WINNER - LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS<br />
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LAUGH YOUR<br />
ICEBERG OFF! ”<br />
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MATT ROGERS<br />
LAS CULTURISTAS<br />
BOOK BY<br />
MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS BY<br />
Nicholas Connell<br />
CHOREOGRAPHED BY<br />
Ellenore Scott<br />
DIRECTED BY<br />
DARYL ROTH THEATRE<br />
101 EAST 15TH ST, NYC<br />
TELECHARGE.COM<br />
800-447-7400<br />
TITANIQUEMUSICAL.COM<br />
@TitaniqueMusical<br />
#Titanique<br />
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getoutmag.com week in pictures<br />
EAGLE<br />
>> BY WILSONMODELS / wilsonmodels.blogspot.com
#1 PRESCRIBED<br />
HIV TREATMENT*<br />
People featured<br />
take BIKTARVY<br />
and are<br />
compensated<br />
by Gilead.<br />
NOW THERE’S<br />
MORE TO LOVE.<br />
BIKTARVY® is now approved for more people<br />
than ever before.<br />
Ask your healthcare<br />
provider if BIKTARVY<br />
is right for you.<br />
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day<br />
prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in<br />
certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure<br />
HIV-1 or AIDS.<br />
* Note: This information is an estimate derived<br />
from the use of information under license from<br />
the following IQVIA information service: IQVIA NPA<br />
Weekly, for the period week ending 04/19/2019<br />
through week ending 05/19/2023. IQVIA expressly<br />
reserves all rights, including rights of copying,<br />
distribution, and republication.<br />
Scan to learn more<br />
about the latest<br />
BIKTARVY update.
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®<br />
This is only a brief summary of important information about<br />
BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare<br />
provider about your condition and your treatment.<br />
(bik-TAR-vee)<br />
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION<br />
ABOUT BIKTARVY<br />
BIKTARVY may cause serious side<br />
effects, including:<br />
Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV)<br />
infection. Your healthcare provider will<br />
test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1<br />
and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get<br />
worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY.<br />
Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without<br />
first talking to your healthcare provider,<br />
as they will need to check your health<br />
regularly for several months, and may<br />
give you HBV medicine.<br />
ABOUT BIKTARVY<br />
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill,<br />
once-a-day prescription medicine<br />
used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children<br />
who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can<br />
either be used in people who have never<br />
taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people<br />
who are replacing their current HIV-1<br />
medicines and whose healthcare<br />
provider determines they meet<br />
certain requirements.<br />
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.<br />
HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.<br />
Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a<br />
medicine that contains:<br />
dofetilide<br />
rifampin<br />
any other medicines to treat HIV-1<br />
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY<br />
BIKTARVY may cause serious side<br />
effects, including:<br />
Those in the “Most Important Information<br />
About BIKTARVY” section.<br />
Changes in your immune system.<br />
Your immune system may get stronger<br />
and begin to fight infections that may<br />
have been hidden in your body. Tell<br />
your healthcare provider if you have<br />
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Kidney problems, including kidney<br />
failure. Your healthcare provider<br />
should do blood and urine tests to<br />
check your kidneys. If you develop new<br />
or worse kidney problems, they may<br />
tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.<br />
Too much lactic acid in your blood<br />
(lactic acidosis), which is a serious but<br />
rare medical emergency that can lead<br />
to death. Tell your healthcare provider<br />
right away if you get these symptoms:<br />
weakness or being more tired than usual,<br />
unusual muscle pain, being short of<br />
breath or fast breathing, stomach pain<br />
with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue<br />
hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded,<br />
or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.<br />
Severe liver problems, which in rare<br />
cases can lead to death. Tell your<br />
healthcare provider right away if you<br />
get these symptoms: skin or the white<br />
part of your eyes turns yellow, dark<br />
“tea-colored” urine, light-colored<br />
stools, loss of appetite for several days<br />
or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.<br />
The most common side effects of<br />
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diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and<br />
headache (5%).<br />
These are not all the possible side effects<br />
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You are encouraged to report negative<br />
side effects of prescription drugs to the<br />
FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or<br />
call 1-800-FDA-1088.<br />
Continued on next page.<br />
Continued on next page.<br />
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings,<br />
continued on the next page and at BIKTARVY.com.
People featured take BIKTARVY<br />
and are compensated by Gilead.<br />
REAL STORIES<br />
REAL VOICES<br />
ELIAS<br />
CHAD<br />
D’EVA<br />
HUGO<br />
NIKKI<br />
THERON<br />
DIMITRI<br />
ZACH<br />
PHIL<br />
Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY.<br />
Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com<br />
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (cont’d)<br />
Your healthcare provider will need to<br />
do tests to monitor your health before<br />
and during treatment with BIKTARVY.<br />
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY<br />
Tell your healthcare provider if you:<br />
Have or have had any kidney or liver<br />
problems, including hepatitis infection.<br />
Have any other health problems.<br />
Are pregnant or plan to become<br />
pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider<br />
if you become pregnant while taking<br />
BIKTARVY.<br />
Are breastfeeding (nursing) or<br />
plan to breastfeed. Talk to your<br />
healthcare provider about the risks of<br />
breastfeeding during treatment with<br />
BIKTARVY.<br />
Tell your healthcare provider about all<br />
the medicines you take:<br />
Keep a list that includes all prescription<br />
and over-the-counter medicines,<br />
antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal<br />
supplements, and show it to your<br />
healthcare provider and pharmacist.<br />
BIKTARVY and other medicines<br />
may affect each other. Ask your<br />
healthcare provider and pharmacist<br />
about medicines that interact with<br />
BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to<br />
take BIKTARVY with all your<br />
other medicines.<br />
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY<br />
Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with<br />
or without food.<br />
GET MORE INFORMATION<br />
This is only a brief summary of<br />
important information about<br />
BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare<br />
provider or pharmacist to learn more.<br />
Go to BIKTARVY.com or call<br />
1-800-GILEAD-5.<br />
If you need help paying for your<br />
medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for<br />
program information.<br />
Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, above and at BIKTARVY.com.<br />
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and KEEP<br />
BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.<br />
© 2024 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0436 05/24
getoutmag.com week in pictures >> BY WILSONMODELS / wilsonmodels.blogspot.com<br />
HOUSE ON FIRE PREVIEW @ 9 BOB NOTE
BY EILEEN SHAPIRO<br />
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT<br />
Frankie Grande<br />
Does Pride and Announces New Podcast,<br />
“Does This Murder Make Me<br />
Look Gay?”<br />
The iridescently dazzling<br />
singer, actor, dancer, Broadway<br />
producer, television personality,<br />
advocate, and so much more,<br />
Frankie Grande will be flaming<br />
his way to New York City Pride<br />
in a cloud of liquid mathematics<br />
and perfumed smoke. He will<br />
also be featured in an all-star<br />
podcast, along with Cheyenne<br />
Jackson, called “Does This<br />
Murder Make Me Look Gay?”<br />
Frankie is known to the wider<br />
world for his YouTube presence,<br />
as host of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob BingePants podcast, his starring role<br />
of Franz in Broadway’s Rock of Ages, his debut in Mamma Mia!, and his<br />
role in Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger as the first live action queer character<br />
on the network, and as a high-lighted finalist on the CBS reality series<br />
Big Brother. Most recently, he has returned to the lights of Broadway<br />
in Titanique the Musical and now sits on the Board of Directors of the<br />
GLAAD Awards. Frankie is also celebrated for his philanthropic work after<br />
co-founding “Broadway in South Africa”, teaching disadvantaged youths<br />
the performance arts.<br />
As a longtime friend of this exquisite flamboyant, I’ve seen him touch<br />
the lives of so many with his kindness and heartwarming personal caring<br />
towards others. We spoke about his upcoming adventures, including<br />
Pride, the new podcast and also brand new music set to launch some<br />
time next year.<br />
IG: FRANKIEJGRANDE<br />
TIK TOK: FRANKIEJGRANDE
INTERVIEW<br />
WELL, LET’S START WITH PRIDE. WHAT<br />
ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING FOR<br />
PRIDE?<br />
I’m going to be working<br />
with GLAAD. I want to work<br />
on amplifying GLAAD’s<br />
message for this month,<br />
which is a great way for<br />
LGBTQ members to be<br />
handed the microphone<br />
and say what we have to<br />
say. Which is fabulous. I<br />
am starting at L.A. Pride<br />
this weekend. Then I will<br />
be down for New York City<br />
Pride. I’ll be there riding<br />
a float. There are a lot of<br />
exciting things coming<br />
up for me for Pride. I like<br />
to keep preaching the<br />
message of inclusion and<br />
representation and how<br />
important it is, especially in<br />
media. To the whole world. I<br />
just think it’s going to be the<br />
best way for us to educate<br />
the world. Hopefully we’ll<br />
get some people to show<br />
up and support LGBTQ+<br />
rights at the voting booths in<br />
November.<br />
There are so many issues<br />
that people are talking<br />
about for this election. It’s<br />
just like, guys, let’s not<br />
forget we lost abortion<br />
this year and we can lose<br />
gay marriage. We have to<br />
fight for the things that we<br />
have already achieved. The<br />
Supreme Court could turn<br />
it all over if we get any more<br />
conservatives on there.<br />
DO YOU KNOW WHAT FLOAT YOU’RE<br />
GOING TO BE ON IN NEW YORK?<br />
I believe I am on the<br />
iHeartRadio float.<br />
Because my podcast is on<br />
iHeartRadio. I’m excited<br />
about it.<br />
SO, LET’S DO THE REST OF THE YEAR.<br />
WHAT’S UP?<br />
I have a podcast coming out.<br />
I believe we premiere on the<br />
18th, which is just around<br />
the corner. It’s called “Does<br />
This Murder Make Me Look<br />
Gay?” It is a fantastic title.<br />
I’m with the most all-star<br />
cast that I’ve ever been in<br />
anything with in my life. It<br />
has me, Cheyenne Jackson,<br />
Sean Patrick Doyle, Kate<br />
McKinnon, Lea Salonga,<br />
Lea DeLaria Nathan Lee<br />
Graham, Robin de Jesus. All<br />
of these incredibly talented<br />
Broadway artists. This is one<br />
of the funniest things I’ve<br />
ever been in. It’s written by<br />
Ted Malawer, who co-wrote<br />
Red, White & Royal Blue,<br />
which was such a fabulous<br />
movie. This podcast is just<br />
laugh out loud. It’s basically<br />
the game Clue. We are all<br />
locked in a house and there<br />
is a murder and one of us did<br />
it and we have to figure out<br />
who. My character is Kelly<br />
Raymour & Flanigan, who<br />
is very Southern and very<br />
flatulent, and it’s very funny.<br />
I can tell you I have been in<br />
the studio. I am working with<br />
a producer on some new<br />
music, which I am very very<br />
excited about. That will be<br />
coming out sometime not<br />
in the near future because<br />
we’re still working on it. I<br />
should have a new album<br />
to put out soon and when I<br />
say soon, I mean next year. I<br />
am still excited about it. It’s<br />
been such a long time and<br />
I’ve not really been serious<br />
about music, but I think<br />
with the sobriety I realize<br />
I have a point of view and<br />
something to say. I just never<br />
really knew how to say it. I’m<br />
working with a producer that<br />
is new and up and coming.<br />
We just really locked into<br />
a groove. I am writing the<br />
music, so I’m very excited.<br />
PHOTO CREDIT: WES AND ALEX/ @WESANDALEX
ISSUE #<strong>539</strong><br />
COVER:<br />
TRISTAN<br />
SCHUKRAFT<br />
PUBLISHER MICHAEL TODD<br />
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM<br />
DESIGN AGOTA CORREA<br />
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM<br />
CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER EILEEN SHAPIRO<br />
@EILEENSHAPIRO3<br />
NYC’S NIGHTLIFE AWARD WINNING BLOGGER/<br />
WRITER & INTERVIEWER JIM SILVESTRI<br />
NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER WILSONMODELS<br />
JEASO86@HOTMAIL.COM<br />
The publications of MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT, getoutmag.com or any<br />
other related print or Web publications or social media accounts, their images,<br />
quotations or articles should not be construed to be an indication of the sexual<br />
orientation of anyone portrayed therein.<br />
All Content © Copyright 2019<br />
MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT<br />
25-21 45TH STREET ASTORIA, NY 11103<br />
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT EST. 2009
BY BEN NELSON<br />
PRIDE IS A DREAM<br />
DJ John Summit Headlines Dreamland:<br />
Pride in Central Park<br />
“Dreamland: Pride in Central Park<br />
will be more than a party; it will be a<br />
place for every color of the rainbow to<br />
shine bold and bright.”<br />
NYC’s Central Park will be the center<br />
of the LGBTQ universe on Sunday,<br />
June 30 when it hosts Dreamland:<br />
Pride in Central Park.<br />
The festival event will be held at the<br />
city’s most iconic outdoor venue,<br />
SummerStage, located inside Rumsey<br />
Playfield. It will be an immersive<br />
experience, celebrating diversity and<br />
inclusivity, with House and Techno<br />
giant DJ John Summit--best known<br />
for his showstopping performances<br />
at Coachella, Lollapalooza,<br />
Tomorrowland, and EDC Las Vegas<strong>–</strong><br />
headlining. Disco Dom and DJ Suri<br />
will also appear.<br />
“Today’s LGBTQ+ community<br />
seeks events that blend fun with<br />
meaningful social impact,” says<br />
Jake Resnicow, the event’s producer.<br />
The announcement of Dreamland:<br />
Pride in Central Park is welcome<br />
news to the queer community in New<br />
York City, as the city’s other annual<br />
music festival, Heritage of Pride’s<br />
Pride Island, has been canceled<br />
this year due to lack of corporate<br />
investment. “Our choice to remain<br />
a self-funded event was originally<br />
meant to ensure that our core values<br />
and vision remain uncompromised,<br />
however, it has also helped to shield<br />
us from being impacted by right wing<br />
influence,” Resnicow explains.<br />
He doesn’t rule out corporate funding<br />
in the future. “Moving forward, we<br />
are open to partnering with sponsors<br />
who align with our mission of<br />
inclusivity, diversity, and community<br />
support. However, we will need to<br />
get through this spike of anti-LGBTQ<br />
rhetoric in the USA first.”<br />
This year’s Dreamland: Pride in<br />
Central Park follows last year’s debut<br />
that featured Paris Hilton and Purple<br />
Disco Machine, with performances by<br />
Kim Petras and Billy Porter.
According to Mr. Resnicow, DJ John<br />
Summit was selected as this year’s<br />
headliner because of his widespread<br />
appeal in the electronic music scene.<br />
“John Summit’s music is a journey<br />
through sound that encapsulates the<br />
spirit of Pride,” Resnicow explains.<br />
“Music fans are in for a real treat with<br />
an electrifying set, filled with highenergy<br />
tracks.”<br />
He also believes Summit’s decision<br />
to headline this year’s Dreamland<br />
may pave the way for other superstar<br />
artists of his caliber to bring their<br />
unique sounds and stories to future<br />
Dreamland stages.<br />
A portion of the proceeds from<br />
Dreamland: Pride in Central Park<br />
will benefit City Parks Foundation,<br />
an organization dedicated to<br />
invigorating and transforming parks<br />
into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban<br />
life through sports, arts, community<br />
building and education programs<br />
for all New Yorkers. Their programs<br />
— located in more than 300 parks,<br />
recreation centers and public schools<br />
across New York City — reach over<br />
275,000 people each year.<br />
The partner hotel for Dreamland:<br />
Pride in Central Park is Yotel New York<br />
Times Square. New York’s famous<br />
high-tech, cool concept design,<br />
nestled between Times Square and<br />
Hudson Yards, is providing exclusive<br />
accommodations and discounted<br />
rates for Dreamland attendees.<br />
Dreamland: Pride in Central Park takes place Sunday, June 30 at Rumsey<br />
Playfield (E 71st St and East Drive) in Central Park from 3:00 pm to 10:00<br />
pm. Doors open at 3:00 pm. Tickets are available now on Ticketmaster<br />
and at DreamlandPride.com
BY JIM SILVESTRI<br />
PHOTO CREDIT: BRYAN CLAVEL<br />
DRAG QUEEN OF THE MONTH<br />
INITA D<br />
One of NYC’s Favorite Queens was just crowned Miss Stonewall 2024:<br />
The Incomparable Inita D!
Best description of my<br />
drag: Business chic with<br />
a touch of stripper ‘ho<br />
vibes. Like if Ramona<br />
(JLo) from the movie<br />
Hustlers did drag, that<br />
would be me.<br />
How many years I’ve<br />
been at it: Seven years<br />
Original hometown:<br />
Yonkers<br />
Favorite number to do:<br />
“Higher” by VINCINT<br />
A number I will NEVER<br />
do: Anything by P. Diddy<br />
Favorite cosmetic<br />
product: Honestly, been<br />
getting into skincare<br />
more and have been<br />
loving Glossier’s skin<br />
care product. Also Milk<br />
cosmetics and Juvia’s<br />
Place<br />
Reason I started drag:<br />
Hibiscus encouraged<br />
me to do it for a Beyoncé<br />
competition at Rise Bar<br />
and so I did it. Also, I was<br />
tired of being a backup<br />
dancer and wanted to be<br />
in the center, haha<br />
Most important diva<br />
ever:<br />
(singer. actress etc.)<br />
Beyoncé, hands down,<br />
and the Virgin Mary; she<br />
slays, hahaha<br />
A drag performer<br />
I admire: Jujubee<br />
and Brenda Dharling.<br />
Jujubee because of<br />
her kindness and her<br />
wittiness, Brenda for her<br />
amazing talents, while<br />
also being an amazing,<br />
respectful queen--and<br />
her brand is amazing.<br />
The man of my<br />
dreams: Vin Diesel.<br />
Lawd, he was my<br />
original celebrity crush<br />
and always will be,<br />
followed by the Rock<br />
Drink of choice:<br />
Absolute Pears Ginger<br />
Ale<br />
Best thing about drag:<br />
The money I make from<br />
it<br />
Worst thing about<br />
drag: The money I<br />
spend on it, lol<br />
Proudest drag moment<br />
I’ve had:<br />
Winning Miss Stonewall<br />
2024 and also hosting<br />
Yonkers’ first Pride<br />
Festival three years ago<br />
b/c that’s my hometown.<br />
Weirdest drag moment<br />
I’ve had:<br />
Honestly, getting<br />
dragged itself is weird. I<br />
mean I am dressing up<br />
as the gender that I’m<br />
not sexually attracted to<br />
to perform for the white<br />
men’s dollar, that has<br />
got to be weird lol<br />
Best advice to a new<br />
queen:<br />
Have an idea of what<br />
you want your brand<br />
to be. Even if you’re an<br />
artist--that’s great, you<br />
wanna express your art-<br />
-but drag is a business<br />
a lot of times. People<br />
forget that. So make sure<br />
you carry yourself with<br />
dignity and that you’re<br />
easy to work with, you’re<br />
respectful towards<br />
others, and you respect<br />
other people’s spaces<br />
so you can get bookings<br />
and people want to<br />
work with you. Because<br />
you can be the most<br />
sickening performer...<br />
but if your attitude is<br />
trash, no one‘s gonna<br />
wanna work with you.<br />
Where to find me:<br />
The corner of 1/78 and<br />
Pinehurst, but most<br />
importantly, you can find<br />
me on my Instagram<br />
at @THEINITAD, also on<br />
my website at initad.<br />
net, where you can find<br />
events I’m gonna be at.<br />
Also, you can find my<br />
merch as well, if you<br />
want to support me.
if it was me...
BY EILEEN SHAPIRO<br />
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT<br />
TRISTAN<br />
SCHUKRAFT<br />
The Ceo Of Everything Gay:<br />
Tryst Hospitality Chain, The Abbey, Fire Island Pines,MISTR<br />
There is an eloquence in true enthusiasm. Tech entrepreneur turned<br />
hospitality guru and nightlife aficionado Tristan Schukraft is a veracious<br />
visionary whose creativity is pushing open the heavy groaning doorway of<br />
life itself….most especially in the flamboyantly flavored gay universe.<br />
Acclaimed as “the CEO of everything gay”, Tristan is a fearless adventurer<br />
for filling his destiny. He began his journey creating ID90 Technologies, an<br />
e-ticketing platform for airline employee travel and then later established<br />
MISTR, the largest telemedicine platform dedicated to HIV prevention and<br />
long-term HIV care. He then, nearly by chance, acquired the Tryst Hotel and<br />
Circo nightclub located in San Juan Puerto Rico, and the Tryst in Puerto<br />
Vallarta, which is now open for reservations for September, followed by<br />
the Iconic Abbey in West Hollywood.<br />
Most recently, Tryst Hospitality has acquired the legendary Fire Island<br />
Pines commercial district and is celebrating its third location of luxury<br />
brand hotels. His acquisition includes the Pavilion nightclub, the Blue<br />
Whale, the Canteen, a hotel and pool deck, retail shops and docks. The<br />
hotel is set to be renovated and become the Tryst Fire Island….and part<br />
of his global LGBTQ portfolio. The Pines is an iconic queer kaleidoscope of<br />
hot men wearing colorful Speedos, dragging a pink marathon of wagons<br />
behind them with a variety of decadent drinks in hand. It’s paradise<br />
exemplified. After the renovation of the hotel, I doubt if the Meat Rack will<br />
ever be the same.<br />
Tryst Hospitality has also acquired DS Tequila in Chicago’s iconic Boystown<br />
neighborhood, Northalstead. Tristan plans to operate DS Tequila’s for<br />
special events through Pride and Market Days event on August 10th &<br />
11th before transforming it into a new nightlife venue.<br />
Tristan Schukraft is not only salaciously handsome, but kind and fun as<br />
well. It’s as if he’s on a gay spiritual quest and the universe itself propels<br />
his chariot of fire.
INTERVIEW >>><br />
HELLO, TRISTAN. WHAT PROMPTED<br />
YOU TO BUY ALMOST ALL OF THE<br />
PINES?<br />
Glutton for punishment. We’re going<br />
through a lot of change in the gay<br />
community. A lot of our founders and<br />
leaders are in their 60s and looking to<br />
retire. So if somebody doesn’t come in and<br />
take over the reins, so to speak, we will<br />
lose these communities. That’s my number<br />
one motivation<strong>–</strong>protecting such an iconic<br />
community. It is so important in so many<br />
ways. The first tea dance was there. The<br />
Invasion, which is such a fun party but<br />
was very monumental in the beginning.<br />
And yes, it is very complimentary to my<br />
interest, my hotels. There is the hotel<br />
there. You know, I’ve been to Fire Island<br />
a couple of times and it is such a magical<br />
place. I even went this weekend and<br />
even though it was cold and pre-season,<br />
you just get off the boat and there is that<br />
energy and excitement. I know it’s kind<br />
of cheesy to say some places are magic,<br />
but that’s exactly how it felt this weekend.<br />
There’s something in the air and there<br />
are a lot of characters. We started the<br />
acquisition of hotels with the Tryst Hotel,<br />
which is currently open and we’re going<br />
to do a million dollar renovation. We are<br />
launching Tryst Hotel with our flagship in<br />
Puerto Vallarta, which is opening and we<br />
are taking reservations September 15th.<br />
Tryst hotels is a gay hotel brand focused<br />
on the gay traveler. Everyone is welcome,<br />
but it’s not focused on the heterosexual<br />
community. It is a gay hotel. There’s a bar,<br />
there’s a beach club and a pool component<br />
to it. We have Drag Brunch every Sunday.<br />
It is very much a part of the community.<br />
When you are staying at the Tryst, we<br />
make you feel welcome. You have the<br />
freedom to be yourself. You’re going to<br />
meet a lot of locals. Because that is where<br />
the locals go. Locals go there for happy<br />
hour, cocktails, dinner. With Fire Island, the<br />
opportunity came up where somebody has<br />
to take the reins and preserve it. There’s<br />
a hotel there that’s been condemned for<br />
years now and it probably should have<br />
been condemned a few years prior.
I remember I walked around it a couple<br />
times on the first visit and the broker said,<br />
“It’s not that bad”. I was like, “Let’s get on the<br />
same page here. It is not in good shape.”<br />
WELL, LOOKING AT YOU, I COULD TELL<br />
YOU’RE A PINES BOY. BUT THAT BEING<br />
SAID, YOU KNOW THE GROVE IS A LOT<br />
OF FUN TOO.<br />
You know, I went there for the underwear<br />
party. Purely for research purposes. I was<br />
shocked. Because it was pre-season and it<br />
was packed. I am typically into Latinos, but<br />
there were quite a bit of white boys there<br />
that might sway me.<br />
WELL, THE LAST QUESTION I ASK YOU<br />
WILL BE: DO YOU HAVE A HUSBAND?<br />
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING TO<br />
WANT TO KNOW. BUT I’LL SAVE THAT.<br />
I have two boyfriends. But they both know<br />
about each other. Sometimes it could be a<br />
bit challenging. Three different people in one<br />
relationship could be interesting, but it could<br />
be a challenge.<br />
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE FANTASY<br />
REGARDING TRYST HOSPITALITY?<br />
I MEAN, ARE YOU GONNA GO TO<br />
EUROPE? WHAT IS YOUR SOLE<br />
FANTASY?<br />
I kind of got into the hotel business by<br />
accident. I was in Puerto Rico and I was<br />
on the beach. There was this parking lot<br />
and I thought, “Why is there this beautiful<br />
parking lot on the beach? This should<br />
really be a gay beach club.” It really kind<br />
of just started there. I went to Puerto Rico<br />
about four years ago after the hurricane.<br />
It just kind of wiped out the island. It never<br />
truly recovered. There is no gay scene.<br />
Very little gay scene. So I thought that if<br />
I’m going to live here, I’m going to create<br />
the gay scene. It just happened to be that<br />
that hotel was for sale. It was branded the<br />
Tryst. Tryst was my nickname as a kid. So I<br />
thought it was a sign. Or maybe I read into<br />
it too much because I was having too many<br />
mojitos. I’ve always wanted to own a hotel.<br />
I’ve lived in hotels for many years<strong>–</strong>which I<br />
could tell you is much more fun when you<br />
don’t own the hotel because you don’t have<br />
to work 24/7. It was kind of inspired by The<br />
Birdcage. The idea with the Tryst hotels is<br />
that they are kind of an iconic LGBTQ travel<br />
destination. There are several opportunities<br />
internationally. In each case we want to be a<br />
small boutique hotel. Everyone is welcome,<br />
but it is a gay hotel. I think it’s important<br />
to focus on the most sought after popular<br />
destinations and be part of the community.<br />
So two in a room at a hotel in New York<br />
doesn’t make sense. My attorney asked<br />
me, “Aren’t you tired of doing this?” But I<br />
have the ability to do so. It is important work.<br />
Especially when it comes to places like Fire<br />
Island and preserving those gay institutions.<br />
But it’s also a lot of fun. I get this from my<br />
father, who basically worked until he was 75<br />
years old. I kept telling him he needs to relax<br />
and retire but now here I am doing the same<br />
thing.<br />
SO YOU JUST OPENED UP A LOCATION<br />
IN HELL’S KITCHEN FOR MISTR? TELL<br />
ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.<br />
So Hey Mister is actually our handle. We are<br />
the largest provider of PrEP and long-term<br />
HIV care and Doxie care. We also do GI<br />
testing with all the treatments. We serve all<br />
50 states. We just opened up our storefront<br />
in Hell’s Kitchen. We also have one in Wilton<br />
Manor, Boys Town in Chicago, the Castro<br />
West Hollywood and then Oakland in Dallas.<br />
The motivation for these was to be able to<br />
address the injectable market. So you have<br />
the injectable PrEP. You are going to soon<br />
have the injectable HIV medications. And<br />
of course, we are told that it’s the platform.<br />
It’s hard for me to describe it, but those<br />
injections are not self-administered. So the<br />
idea was you go online to MISTR. You scan<br />
a QR code and you get your injection. You’re<br />
in and out in two minutes. It also allows<br />
people to pick up their medications same<br />
day. And it allows us to offer STD treatments<br />
as well as pep which is post exposure. You<br />
take it within the first 72 hours. We used<br />
to offer that in the early days but it was<br />
challenging getting it in the hands of the<br />
people because you were relying on a third<br />
party to ship it.
So we are fully operational. The lobby is<br />
not yet decorated, but it will be.<br />
IT SEEMS LIKE YOU LIKE TO GIVE<br />
BACK TO THE <strong>GAY</strong> COMMUNITY IN<br />
VERY COOL WAYS, SO CAN YOU<br />
RECALL A MOMENT THAT CHANGED<br />
THE ENTIRE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR<br />
LIFE?<br />
That’s a tough question. I have to say the<br />
trajectory of my life has been on overdrive<br />
the last few years. I started mister not as a<br />
business but actually to help friends get on<br />
PrEP. And then friends became 100, then<br />
a couple of hundred. And then I thought,<br />
“We have to expand the platform”. I<br />
launched it six years ago at Palm Springs<br />
Pride. The goal was to get 300 people on<br />
before the end of the year. We ended up<br />
with 375 and we thought that was huge.<br />
But now we do 600 a day. With that, we<br />
have grown so much. It has opened the<br />
door for so many other opportunities. Like<br />
the Abbey. I’ve been going to the Abbey for<br />
over 20 years. I am an entrepreneur. I love<br />
building businesses. The money you make<br />
from your business is great, but you have<br />
to be passionate about it. I think I was<br />
really lucky to stumble upon mister. It’s the<br />
first time in generations that we can truly<br />
eliminate HIV if everyone who is negative<br />
on prep and everyone who is positive is<br />
virally suppressed. The fact that I made a<br />
business out of it is icing on the cake. To<br />
be able to leverage that success and be<br />
able to preserve the LGBTQ institutions<br />
throughout the country is pretty good.<br />
DO YOU EVER GET AFRAID? DO YOU<br />
HAVE ANY FEAR THAT THIS ISN’T<br />
GOING TO WORK?<br />
No. I take calculated risks. I have been<br />
a diehard entrepreneur. The money is<br />
a nice thing, but I’m really motivated by<br />
the challenge. I like building businesses.<br />
If you put me in a corporation, and I<br />
have consulted for corporations, I want<br />
to pull my hair out. Because the C-suite<br />
is typically very diverse. They want to<br />
get their bonuses. They want to build a<br />
business. But they are not real risk takers.<br />
So I think it’s just part of my DNA that I<br />
enjoy taking calculated risks. A lot of times,<br />
people ask, “How do you know how to do<br />
all these things?” But sometimes you just<br />
figure it out along the way. I ran for City<br />
Council and I lost, but you know what? I<br />
tried. I learned a lot from that experience.<br />
If I was on City Council, my life would be<br />
completely different. I was actually talking<br />
to a friend of mine the other day. He’s a<br />
pilot for Delta and he really wanted to work<br />
for United. He lost the interview, but then<br />
he got a call from Delta and thought, “You<br />
know what? This is the best thing that<br />
ever happened to me.” Sometimes what’s<br />
meant to be is meant to be.<br />
IF YOU COULD HAVE ME ASK YOU<br />
ANY QUESTION ON THE PLANET,<br />
WHAT WOULD IT BE AND HOW<br />
WOULD YOU ANSWER IT?<br />
Gosh, I have no idea. I’m an open book.<br />
I tell people “Ask me anything”. I may not<br />
answer, but you can ask.<br />
YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT IS A REALLY<br />
COOL AND HONEST ANSWER. IS<br />
THERE ANYTHING THAT I DIDN’T<br />
COVER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO<br />
DISCUSS?<br />
I will add spending the weekend in Fire<br />
Island, everyone was really welcoming.<br />
It is such an invested community. People<br />
are really excited about change. People<br />
are asking, “What is going to change?”<br />
We are going to upgrade the hotel. I think<br />
that will eliminate the barriers for many<br />
people to come and visit. We are going<br />
to increase the number of establishments<br />
and opportunities for dining. I mean I was<br />
ready for drag brunch on Sunday and<br />
there was no drag brunch. And expanded<br />
gym. We are going to rework the Pavilion.<br />
There’s low-key, mid-key, high key….<br />
there’s more key in Fire Island than there<br />
is in the UK. I know it was off-season, but<br />
I walked around and I think The Pavilion’s<br />
upper deck should be packed all the time.<br />
So there’s a lot of tender loving care that<br />
we will be adding to all of this.
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