We’re 26 years old this month––old enough to drink, drive, vote, buy cigarettes, and rent a car, but still too young to start getting Botox. But seriously, twenty-six years is a long time to have been in business. We hope you will celebrate with us by taking advantage of some special advertising deals we are offering (see pages 8 and 15 for more details).

We begin our issue with a reminder from Covered California that we all need good healthcare coverage now more than ever. Details on page 2. On page 3, have a peek at the front of the new Marsha P. Johnson Center South and learn about the Okra Project’s collaboration with DoorDash to help feed Black Trans people.

Read all about Lotus Party aka Jonathan Schick and his effort to bridge art, music, sexuality, gender expression, and acceptance on page 5. Heads up for visitors to the INNdulge Palm Springs, you’ll need proof of vaccination to check in at the resort. Details on page 6.

Ready for a book review? Check out the run-down of “The Natural Mother of the Parent: A Memoir of Nonbinary Parenthood” on page 9. If the movies are more your style, Chris Narloch reviews “Three Films to see at the Cinema on page 10, two of them are playing at The Tower Theatre.

Whatever happened to Billie Jean King after she stomped Bobby Riggs in 1973? At 77, she is still alive and well and back with a new autobiography titled “All In”. Read more on page 13. Speaking of icons, David Bowie fans rejoice! A new line of David Bowie aka Ziggy Stardust apparel is being released by LA Pop Art (page 14).

There’s more movies and music on page 16–two Blu-ray reviews of classic movies from Warner Brothers, In the Good Old Summertime (with Judy Garland) and Take Me Out to the Ballgame (with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly)—and some previously unreleased music: a posthumous record from Prince, and a collection of tracks from Barbra Streisand.

Catch the details for “Cinderella Revisited” on page 17 and you’ll understand why we featured Billy Porter on our cover. We could all use a little more flamboyantly fabulous Fairy Godmother in our lives, don’t you agree?

Closing out this issue, read about the CalCap Studios’ Black Box Theatre on page 19. They recently moved into the Old Mills Winery building near Bradshaw and Highway 50 and will be featuring two upcoming productions.

OK, time to blow out some candles and enjoy some cake, people! Cheers to 26 years!