GAYLETTER

I have to tell you about this event, it just feels appropriate because it’s getting warmer and Spring is about to finally Sprung — I am desperately waiting for the cum trees to bloom already, more on that later. Daniel Nardicio is bringing us The 6th Annual Mr. Nude York, yes you heard me right it’s a “nude beauty pageant” that’s going to take place at The Cock. Cute right? It’s one of the biggest carry, I went to a past Mr. Nude York event and I had a blast. I don’t know if you know this about me but if you want to make me laugh just show me, or tell me, something inappropriate. I guess naked men competing for $500 is funny to me. Expect music by DJ Scott Ewalk and DJ Nandi. They said clothing is optional, but I’d say, unless you are competing keep your clothes on, it’s not always about you, but then again if you think it is, go ahead and get naked you whore — you have nothing to lose.  —Abi

Bailey House provides housing and medical assistance to people living with HIV. It all started in 1983, when “a group of visionary and compassionate men and women organized the nation’s first response to homelessness among men living with AIDS.” Bailey House were the first to do anything to help homeless people with HIV and AIDS. Dealing with the disease back then was hard enough, but also not having a home, now that’s another level of struggle. We’re so happy we can write up this event. The work they have, and continue to, do is impressive!! Each year they do an auction to raise money for the organization and this year they have some pretty impressive artists involved. “Alan Cumming is hosting the event and art pieces will be available from artists like Robert Mapplethorpe and Herb Ritts but also newer artists like Gio Black Peter and Sean O’Connor.” While you’ll be helping out an amazing charity, auctions like this are often a pretty smart way to buy valuable art at a discount. It’s an auction after all, so they have to sell the pieces to highest bidder. Sometimes that’s a lot less than the pieces are worth on the open market. Of course that’s not the main reason you should go, but just saying, it’s something to think about.  —tom

There’s so much going on this week, I seriously can’t (read this one with a Valley Girl’s voice), like seriously, it’s too fucking much. I just came back from LA, and now we have a magazine to make! OK, let me take a deep breath and let you know what’s happening as part of the NADA Art Fair this week. Gordon Rabichaux Gallery is curating a contemporary drag program. According to Tyler Ashley who is part of it, “everyday of the fair will feature a series of performances, talks, or presentation each day, including film screenings.” For the final day of the fair, Sunday, March 5th, “BABY TEA takes over and features a talk between Hamm Samwich and Me, and performances by Matt Savitsky, Merrie Cherry and Patti Spliff. It will then become a closing gay tea dance. On top of all of this, many of the artists included in the contemporary drag program will also participate in a collab with PAOM (Print All Over Me) from which they have designed something that will be available in limited edition.” Check out their calendar of events from March 2-5. It all sounds very fun!  —t&a

While there have sadly been an uncountable amount of horrific things that have happened since the Brock Turner case (hi Donald), the Committee to Recall Judge Aaron Persky is not just going to let this one go. On Friday night they’ll be putting on Stand Up Against Rape, a comedy fundraiser. The money raised will go towards collecting signatures to get Judge Persky on the ballot in California so he can then be voted off. Otherwise he won’t be back on the ballot until 2022 and most likely never face the consequences of his actions. To remind you, Judge Persky sentenced rapist Brock Turner to only six months in jail, ignoring the minimum sentence of two years. Not to mention his long standing record for biased outcomes in favor of white, male athletes. He’s a real gem! Hosted by Blair Socci and Farah Brook, Stand Up Against Rape will feature comedy from Lane Moore, Janelle James, Marcia Belsky, Giulia Rozzi, Arti Gollapudi and Marlena Rodriguez. There will be raffles, prizes and a chance to celebrate the demise of misogynists. Come join the fun!  —Gayletter

Soooo, we know that this is taking place in Los Angeles but we have some readers on the West Coast, and this is a super special shout out to them. The LA Art Book Fair is taking place this weekend (there’s a press preview Thursday night, and it goes until Sunday Feb. 29th) and we (as in GAYLETTER Magazine) will be there! Come say hi to us at our booth (X11). We’ll have copies of all the issues of the magazine for sale. And also a few other goodies. The fair is taking place at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, which is super exciting as it’s one of my favorite places to visit whenever I’m in LA. Last year they had 36,000 attendees. That’s 3,000 less than attended the last NYC fair (we can’t help but win as a city) but still very impressive. Besides us there’s gonna be booths from all kinds of mags and art book publishes from all over the world. It really is one of the most unique events you can attend, whether in LA or in New York. Come say hi and have a kiki with us — we’re very very very friendly.  —t&a

Sound is one of the most severe senses as it gives us the ability to hear the things we want, when we want, and hear the things we don’t want, when we least expect it. I sound like I’m talking about being politically correct and I am; there are many words in the American lexicon that are dedicated toward degrading immigrants and minorities, and everyone loves to fucking use them. The Ace Hotel and B&O have teamed up for an awesome installation dedicated to providing the space for “stories, sounds and songs of a courageous and pioneering immigrant population” to be heard. The work featured (via an open call) will range from “those of travel, respect, immigration and tolerance and overlapping sounds will create a unified din with moments of interplay, harmony and tension.” The installation’s mission is to evoke the myriad voices that make up the everyday sounds of America and with our current state of foreign affairs (i.e. immigration ban) “B&O PLAY plans to use their voice to advocate for acceptance and celebration of our country’s glorious history as a melting pot. We’ll be quiet and let other stories be heard.” The event will also accept and make donations to the ACLU and The New York State Youth Leadership Council, the first undocumented youth led organization in New York.  —Chris Stewart

I was watching PWR BTTM’s new video and as usual it was queer as all hell. It got me thinking a lot about queer spaces and how having fun in the winter can be hard because you’re carrying, but also literally carrying a coat, which is not cute. Just last week, I was at a party where Abi was feeling himself and touched a stranger’s faux-fur. I’m won’t name the victim, but my point is that coats can be fun, but without one you can overdose on glitter and that’s more fun. The Footlight is having their first monthly queer party and they asking you to “glitter up or die.” The theme is Anti-Valentine’s (amen) and they note they “will party hard in the name of resistance against the capitalist machine that forces us to fall for this bullshit concept of what is love in relation to mula!” Maybe glitter up or die is an extremity, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and if you want looks to be brought, ultimatums are key. People are protesting President Dump every week, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some have been arrested, and legal fees are nuts, so this party is raising funds to help them out. “LET’S DANCE FOR OUR LIVES AND LIBERATION OF ALL PEOPLE. We will rise above our oppression in the outside world and unite this space where radiance and true love always prevail.” I’m with them on that one!  —Chris Stewart

I know you bitches are gonna be watching the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday, it’s always one of the gayest performances of the year. This year it’s Lady Gaga, I know some of you are already gagging, I am not sure why she used to call her fans “little monsters,” for those of you that identified with that, is she still saying that? Please tell her to stop, it just feels so condescending. Why do they have to be little? Anyways, I think she’s gonna turn it out with that pink hat, I am hoping that she comes for pupu caca Trump. Yuasa Men’s underwear is hosting tea at 6:00PM this Sunday at The Monster with Lady Bunny. I asked Yuasa what this was about and he told me “We’re hosting tea at monster in their interior illusions lounge downstairs...it’s not really the interior illusions lounge but they have that mirrored staircase and the fish tank room...” I think it’s OK to call it that, I mean whatever. Expect “boys in YUASA underwear dancing around. Lady bunny playing disco. Lady Gaga Superbowl Halftime Show.” There you have it homos!  —Abi