A Renaissance man who has moved deftly between modeling and music, Stewart Taylor is also an actor and song-writer who earns his first Dazzler of the Day feature with this post. He recently released a new song ‘Favorite Ex’ which can be heard and seen on his website here (along with much more magic).
Australian Olympic gold-medal diver Matthew Mitcham has parlayed his sporting career into multiple career paths, spinning from acting roles to underwear model to dancer to this current crowning as Dazzler of the Day. A true Renaissance man, Mitcham thrills wherever his interests take him, including an OnlyFans account that thus far serves to titillate and stimulate without going too far – the perfect blend of coquettish tease and gratuitous please. Check out his website here for a comprehensive view of his accomplishments.
It wouldn’t be right crowning Joe Locke as Dazzler of the Day without also bestowing the honor upon Kit Connor, and so today marks the latter’s official coronation, as ‘Heartstopper’ wouldn’t be ‘Heartstopper’ with the incomparable Connor forming the other half of the show’s adorable central couple. Besides, anyone with Connor’s fashion sense, as seen in magazines and at fashion shows (and shirtless at the gym, which may be the most fashionable look of all) instantly deserves recognition as a Dazzler.
The only thing that has given me any pause about not having Netflix (yes, I know, I know…) is the fact that I haven’t had the opportunity to watch any of ‘Heartstopper’, which is, I’m told, one of the greatest series for anyone who grew up as part of the LGBTQ+ world. Joe Locke forms one half of the central couple whose hearts beat for each other, and his charming turn handily earns him this Dazzler of the Day, where he joined the likes of Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine as part of same-sex couple idolatry.
Coming back to the music scene in splendid, scintillating fashion after a dozen years, Jim Verraros releases a magnificent return to sexy form with ‘Take My Bow’ today. He was recently crowned a Dazzler of the Day here, and upon listening to the new track it is apparent that Verraros still dazzles. ‘Take My Bow’ picks up where his last album ‘Do Not Disturb’ left off, then charts new territory by obliterating the boundaries of modern dance-pop. With its skittering beats and deliciously-sinister bass-line, ‘Take My Bow’ is the sultry slice of exuberant inspiration that Verraros has been providing since 2005; in many unheralded ways he paved the road for the likes of Sam Smith and Troye Sivan. ‘Take My Bow’ ranks right up there with the most striking releases of unabashedly queer music this year.
Based on the single, and some of the promotional artwork for this venture (see below), Verraros still knows how to put on a show. (Check out ‘Take My Bow’ on Spotify here.)
Writers make the best dazzlers, because they do most of my work for me. Case in point is Matt Baume, who earns his first Dazzler of the Day thanks to a body of work that includes ‘Defining Marriage’ and his latest ‘Hi Honey, I’m Homo!’ But in the words of LeVar Burton, you don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s an excerpt from his enchanting website:
Matt Baume is a writer, podcaster, and video-maker based in Seattle whose work focuses on pop culture and queer history.
His latest book, Hi Honey, I’m Homo!, traces the evolution of LGBTQ+ characters on American sitcoms. His previous book, Defining Marriage, chronicles the personal stories of people who fought for marriage equality over the last forty years.
In his popular YouTube series, Matt shares behind-the-scenes stories about the movies and TV shows that changed the world, and the fascinating people involved. He’s also the creator of the podcast The Sewers of Paris, which explores the entertainment that has shaped the lives of queer people.
A GLAAD award nominee for journalism, Matt’s work has been recognized by the New York Times as “thoughtful and thorough … informative and funny.”
After Matt appeared as a pop culture critic in the Showgirls documentary You Don’t Nomi, Forbes called his observations on the film “potentially intriguing,” which he chooses to interpret as a complement.
Matt has guested on such shows as The Savage Lovecast, Out Chicago, Tomefoolery, No Safeword, and Feast of Fun; he’s delivered presentations on LGBTQ+ culture for employee groups at companies that include Expedia, Sony, Roblox, EA, and more. He’s appeared on panels at South by Southwest, Emerald City Comicon, PAX West, GaymerX, HavenCon, and the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association.
You can find Matt’s past reporting in outlets that include Rolling Stone, Vice Magazine, Slate, The Advocate, The Stranger, and NPR.
When the Boston Red Sox chose to change their logo for June to incorporate the LGBTQ+ Progressive flag colors I was so enthused that I wrote a simple ‘Thank you’ on the FaceBook post which announced they had switched their profile pic. Almost immediately, that innocuous comment received a pair of middle-finger emojis from someone who never did answer whether they were meant for me, or the Red Sox (as we were both tagged in it).
So if you’re pondering the matter of whether Pride Month is necessary, and whether it means anything anymore, I suggest you take a look at the comments section of almost any LGBTQ+-related social media post today. The world hasn’t changed all that much – they just don’t bother to hide the hate anymore.
This announcement of an upcoming Drag Story Hour/Cabaret for Kids at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY is probably the best thing about this year’s Pride Month, and it’s being helmed by two of my favorite performers – Frieda Munchon and Carmie Hope. While the Republican Party is currently doing its best to alienate itself from the most basic tenets of human decency, it has turned its wayward focus to attacking drag performers. The last hundred reports of adults sexually abusing children I’ve heard about were perpetrated by straight white men. Not one of those was a drag queen. But the GOP is going off the deep end and most sane people are beginning to see that, so to be attacked and vilified by them is now a mark of honor and, dare I say, respectability.
As for a drag queen story hour for kids, I only wish someone had taken me to something like this when I was a kid. Children can usually detect authenticity, and they often respond with unspoken respect and adoration to those who are most themselves, even and especially when what they’re doing makes them different from other people. To be a drag queen takes the courage and determination to be what you absolutely have to be no matter how much shit you will inevitably get from certain hateful sectors of the world. To be a drag queen takes the bravery and nobility to stay true to yourself in the face of others who may never understand or accept or simply leave you alone. To be a drag queen is to embrace a spirit of fun and beauty and open-heartedness that makes this world a better place.
I can’t think of a better role model for a child to have.
{The Drag Story Hour/Cabaret for Families and Kids will take place on June 24, 2023 at the Huxley Theater at the New York State Museum, 260 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY. The event is free and runs from 1 to 4 PM.}
“I sometimes think if I wasn’t born as a gay person in a rural area, if I wasn’t a survivor of suicide attempts, if I would be in the role that I’m in and I actually don’t think I would be, I think maybe I’d be… running my Dad’s fly fishing shop with two kids in the Adirondacks, but I think that going through these experiences is what drew me into a life of wanting to make a big difference while I’m on this planet and feeling the urgency… I’ve always felt an urgency to do a lot while I’m here and maybe just being a survivor of suicide, I always felt that life is going to go by very quickly and what am I going to do while I’m here and so I picked what I think is one of the best paths to make the biggest impact while we’re here. Because life goes by like that, it really does if you think about it, and no one ever says at a memorial service ‘He took the best vacations’ or ‘He had the best cars and the best clothes’ ~ No, it’s ‘This is what he did, these are people he touched, these are the people he helped.'” ~ Erik Bottcher
New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher, of District 3, is one of those wonderful people who is so rarely seen in photos on his own that finding the ones here took several tries perusing an endless parade of people on Bottcher’s FaceBook feed – a testament to his authentic care and concern for his fellow citizens. The opening salvo of this post comes from Bottcher himself, and the refreshingly open and honest revelations of experiences that many of us have dealt with and never talked about is what sets him apart from his political cohorts. It also drives him to make a difference while he’s here, and there’s something noble and poignant of someone who can be so authentically and powerfully himself. It sends a badly-needed message to those of us who need to hear we are not alone, that there is a place for us in the world if we want to make one, that every single one of us matters. For that heroic mission, taken one step, one district, one election at a time, Bottcher earns this Dazzler of the Day.
{Check out his Council Member page here, and his social media link tree here.}
Andreas Wijk just released one of the most powerful songs of the past year, thanks to its public delivery to his parents, in which he plays what is basically a coming-out song for them. For that bravery and courage alone (because it’s not always easy to come out, at any point in history) Andreas earns this Dazzler of the Day. Aiding in the dazzlement is his musical talent and body of work, and that song.
A fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to make a difference and do work that matters, the Edie Windsor, Marsha P. Johnson, and Sylvia Rivera LGBTQ+ Fellowship job posting just went up, so if you know anyone interested in a fellowship for the next two years, check out the official link here and read more about it below:
The New York State LGBTQ+ Fellowship was established to support the ongoing efforts in the Governor’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across New York State government. The LGBTQ+ Fellow is awarded every two years to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to social justice, a track record of working on LGBTQ+ equality, civil rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, and a strong interest in a career in public service.
The Fellow will serve in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and assist the Chief Diversity Officer in optimizing New York State agency diversity and inclusion goals, increasing BIPOC representation across New York State agencies, and continuing to build the State’s leadership as a model employer for New Yorkers of all gender identities and sexual orientations. In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, the Fellow will also work to advance LGBTQ+ equity across New York State government, including providing policy and content expertise, project management, strategic communications, and legislative tracking.
The fellowship is named after LGBTQ+ leaders who have—with their courage, tenacity and perseverance—raised awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and made a lasting difference in advancing civil rights for some of the most marginalized within the LGBTQ+ community. The fellowship lasts for two years and is named in recognition of three New York leaders: Edie Windsor for her groundbreaking advocacy successfully challenging the federal defense of marriage act and Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera for their movement leading work against gender identity discrimination and advocacy for transgender inclusion within the larger LGBTQ+ movement.
The Fellow will have the opportunity to network across New York State agencies, with elected officials and industry partners and to participate as an Empire State Fellow in educational and professional development programs, including a week-long orientation session and biweekly evening classes that will help them to serve as an effective government leader and strengthen the network of LGBTQ+ policymakers and leaders in New York State working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Fellow will serve from September 2023 to September 2025 and will earn a salary of $85,000 plus a generous benefits package.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required – advanced degree preferred
- Five (5) or more years of full-time professional work experience
- Demonstrated leadership potential
- Availability to work in Albany, NY with significant travel across the state throughout the two-year program
Applicants who are members of groups underrepresented in policy-making roles in New York State government, which include but are not limited to Black, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander persons; women; persons with disabilities; and gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons, are particularly encouraged to apply. Those currently employed in the legislative or executive branches of New York state government are not eligible to apply.
Time for a celebratory moment in honor of an amazing organization. In Our Own Voices, Inc. is commemorating 25 years of providing programs and services to LGBTQAI+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color! That’s 25 years of building our own tables, strengthening our own voices, and empowering our communities to live authentically.
This is a monumental milestone and we hope to see you at the celebration! Join us at 8pm on Saturday, March 25, 2023, the official anniversary of our founding, for a cocktail party at The State Room in Downtown Albany.
Featuring:
Friends and family, we’ll bring the hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and DJs, all that’s missing is YOU.
One of the Capital Region’s most venerable and vital resources for the community of LGBTQAI+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color is celebrating its 25th birthday this year. In Our Own Voices, Inc. has been providing programs and services to the community for a quarter of a century, and gloriously heading up the helm of that organization is the ever-fabulous Tandra LaGrone. With a warm and welcoming smile that ignites whatever room is lucky enough to have her in it, Tandra is one of those magnetic characters who draws all people toward her infectiously enthusiastic spirit. The sparkle and pizzazz of her personality is matched only by her prowess and power in making things happen. While she is working on preparations for the silver anniversary of IOOV, she also has her eyes keenly focused on this summer’s BlPOC Pride Celebration, with planning sessions taking place in the days and weeks to come. Visit their website here for more information. It’s always a joy to name someone I actually know as Dazzler of the Day – and knowing Tandra is a joy unto itself.
{The 25th Birthday celebration for In Our Own Voices, Inc. will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the State Room in downtown Albany. Tickets for this event are available here.}
Having been an admirer of his artwork for years – decades, actually – it gives me supreme pleasure to crown Brenden Sanborn as this Dazzler of the Day. His watercolor work hangs lovingly around the world, and his focus on the male form has garnered him worthy admiration from the usual, and sometimes unexpected, subjects. Beauty transcends labels and genres, and Sanborn’s work stands as testament to the enduring power and appeal of his skills and talent, rather than any specific subject matter. Does it help that he has an eye for taking his subjects and transforming them into something almost always greater than the sum of their parts? Absolutely – and that’s part of his magic. He can take a simple everyday scene and turn it into a moment of transfixing grace through an intricate dance of shadow and light, masterfully guiding a series of deft strokes delivered with delicate acumen. Visit his website here for all that’s in the works, peruse the gorgeous collection he has for sale, and then check out his YouTube page for a glimpse into how it all happens.
My favorite moment of the Grammys this year (yes, even more favorite than Madonna introducing Sam Smith and Kim Petras, which was epic enough) was Brandi Carlile’s wife and daughters introducing her performance. Carlile is no stranger to the Grammys, having added to her staggering total of wins again this year, and she is no stranger to many of my social media friends, as evidenced by the outpouring of love that happens whenever I see someone post something on her. She earns this Dazzler of the Day honor for a career of determined focus and singular talent, and for being brave and fabulous when it’s not always easy to be either.
