Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 320 – June 14, 2017

HEALTH AND SEX BELONG TOGETHER
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CONTRIBUTORS
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IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
GET OUT! Magazine
TURNS 8!
ISSUE 320 - JUNE 14 2017
Cover: Cherry Pop
www.cherrypopfilm.com
Cover: Vanessa Williams
www.vh1.com
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stories / GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM
BY IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
@ianmichaelinwonderland
THE HUNT
“Hunt” really is an
appropriate word when
talking about looking for a
new apartment.
Sure, unlike a fox, the
apartment isn’t running
away, dodging you at every
turn. (No, that’s what your
landlord will do after you
move in and he doesn’t
fulfill his promise to fix that
leaky sink in the bathroom.)
But it does send you
running through the city at
full speed, wanting to find
the “perfect” apartment
before another wolf
snatches it from under your
nose, bringing out your
most primal instincts.
I had very few rules
when The Ex Fiancé
and I decided to move
in together. I wasn’t too
worried about the living
part - we’d lived together
in Iowa while we were
engaged. (And THAT went
splendidly…) All I needed:
an actual one bedroom
versus a studio. $1,400 a
month. (Not unfathomable
in Washington Heights or
Bushwick in 2013.) And -
most importantly - allows
cats.
We looked at a ton of
apartments. I didn’t like
this one because it was
in Queens. He didn’t like
that one because he said it
was too small. (He was still,
after a year in New York,
stuck in a Midwest state
of mind.) He made a big
point of complaining that
we couldn’t find anything
because my price point
was too low. All seemed
hopeless.
“I found the perfect place,”
he told me one day. He
gave me an address, and I
showed up at noon.
The apartment was in
Astoria - a 10-minute
walk from the last stop off
the NQ. It was a THREEbedroom
railroad. And
it was $1,900 a month.
We walked through the
three narrow bedrooms,
the two between the
living room and the third
bedroom having no
windows/sunlight. “I don’t
understand why we need
three bedrooms,” I said
quietly. “Also, the floors are
slanted.” Worst, the lease
started a month before my
current lease ran out.
“It’s perfect,” he said again.
I wanted him to be happy.
I thought, maybe, if he
was happy, that I would be
too. There was a nice sized
kitchen, a new bathroom,
and I’d get one of the three
rooms to do whatever
I wanted with. (It would
probably turn into a giant
closet.)
“I can afford $1,000 if
you can do $800,” he
negotiated. I borrowed
some money, put down
three months rent (plus my
last month at the current
apartment), and we moved
in together.
This is how it’s supposed
to be, I told myself. Ian-
Michael and The Ex Fiancé.
Fated to be together from
the beginning.
Our first night together,
my cat Maya shit in the
bathroom. It seemed she
didn’t believe in fate or
the “cosmic forces” that
seemed to draw us back
together time and time
again. The Ex Fiancé and I,
we were animals, following
our primal instincts, chasing
the fox (or each other,
rather) simply because it
was ingrained in us.
But Maya - she was smarter
than us. She knew the shit
that was to come.
PHOTO BY STEVE BRENNAN

After my diagnosis, it took me a while to accept the fact that being HIV-positive is
not the end of the world: It’s just the beginning of a whole new way of life. The first
meds I was prescribed gave me some bad side effects. But I worked with my doctors
to find a new one that was better for me. Now I feel great and my viral count is
undetectable. That list of things you wanted to accomplish before you were
diagnosed? It’s still possible if you stay in care and work with your doctor to find
the treatment that’s best for you.

“I’m here.
I’ m living.
I’ m happy.
So take that, HIV.”
Cedric - Baltimore, MD
Living with HIV since 2012.
HIV
TREATMENT
WORKS
Get in care. Stay in care. Live well.
cdc.gov/HIVTreatmentWorks

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BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Cherry Pop:
Bob the Drag Queen
Photo Credit: Preston Burford
On June 19, the new hit film
“Cherry Pop,” featuring Bob
the Drag Queen, Detox, Latrice
Royale and more, will premiere at
NYC Pride at the SVA Theatre in
partnership with NewFest. Without
giving too much away, the film
follows a night in the life of a failing
drag bar and its effervescently
colorful performers. It covers
everything from the onstage antics
to the backstage backstabbing, and
the vicious clique of the queens.
This riotously funny film features
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 8
winner, the hysterically hilarious
Bob the Drag Queen, who I caught
in the midst of her busy schedule to
talk about the movie as well as what
she’s been up to.
Hey, girl. You’ve been
busy.
I have been busy, yes I
have.
So what role do you
play in the new film
“Cherry Pop”?
“Cherry Pop” is about
a bar that features a
brand new drag queen
every week, and I’m the
host of the show. I’m
the show runner, I’m
the show coordinator,
and it’s a role that
I played years ago
under the name Kitten
With a Whip, before I
changed my drag name.
Assaad Yacoub was the
producer and director
of the film. He would go
to Stonewall and always
beg these drag queens
to be in his movies.
He was so sweet and
young, I said yes. Then it
ended up, years later, he
got funding for a feature
film, so luckily I said yes.
So it’s the same
director from years
ago?
Yes, same guy. He
did my “Purse First”
video. He’s remarkably
talented.
I feel like we’ve spoke
about him before.
Yeah, I mention him a
lot. He’s a big part of my
career.

Is the character you
portray similar to Bob
in real life?
Well, to be honest, the
character is really similar
to me. Basically, when I
did it years ago, he said
play yourself. Actually,
before I did “Drag
Race,” I did host several
drag shows here in the
city that featured all the
girls. I also ran a show in
The Monster for years,
and a lot of the issues
that I would go through
on a weekly basis there,
we would run into during
this imaginary world that
we lived in.
What was your funniest
experience while
filming?
Probably, there was a
scene where I had to
break down a door. The
door was really flimsy.
So I had to act like I
was running into it, but
I would hit too hard
and the whole building
would shake. So trying to
act like I’m breaking the
door down was a really
interesting scenario.
Is there a favorite
scene of yours in the
movie?
My favorite scene Is
probably the scene
where Latrice Royale
gets sick during one of
the girl’s performances,
but I don’t want to ruin it
for everybody. It’s really
funny.
So the movie is
premiering during
Pride?
It actually premiered at
the Queer Out Festival.
Outfest has a special
festival for Queers with
Color, and we premiered
it in LA back then. This
will be the New York City
premiere.
Will you be present?
I more than likely will be
present.
Aside from the movie,
what else are you up
to?
Well, you know I
have my standup
comedy documentary
coming out. It’s called
“Suspiciously Large
Woman.”
How exciting!
It’s going to be very
funny, and I’m really
excited about it.
Can you give me a
sneak preview?
Well, it’s basically
my view on Trump’s
America, Beyoncé,
“Drag Race” and white
people.
I love it already! Are
you still doing shows in
the city at all?
I don’t do too many in
the city anymore, but
when I do have a chance
to perform in the city,
I do. I mean, this is the
city that made me.
What do you think the
reaction to the movie
will be? Do you think
everyone will go nuts
over it?
Yeah, it’s got me in it,
Latrice Royale, it’s got so
many great queens in it.
I think it’s catchy and it’s
campy, and I think they
will really enjoy it.
Did you have fun
working with Detox?
Detox is one of the best
actors I’ve worked with.
She is actually such a
good actor it shocked
me. She is so good. I
did not know she was so
good of an actor. She
really threw me. She was
so amazing.
Would you say that you
have the lead role?
No, the lead role is
actually played by Lars
Berge. Of course it
would be lovely to say
I am, but I have a good
role.
Anything else that you
want to add?
Go see “Cherry Pop,”
go see “Suspiciously
Large Woman” and go
to luxvevill.com.
Photo Credit: David Ayllon

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Cherry Pop:
Assaad Yacoub
What promises to be a hysterical
drag fantasy film, “Cherry Pop,”
will premiere in New York City on
June 19 for Pride. “Cherry Pop”
stars some of the grandest names
in drag, including Bob the Drag
Queen, winner of season 8 of
“RuPaul’s Drag Race”; Detox; and
Latrice Royale. The film is all due
to the vision of creator, producer,
director Assaad Yacoub, an
innocent, unsuspecting, dragless
youth from Dubai.
Get Out! caught up with the very
talented filmmaker and had a
conversation about the film, his
inspiration and everything that
could go wrong when filming
a drag movie. He related the stories of how he was forced to
sneak into the bars using someone else’s ID so that he could beg
the queens to appear in his films.
Courtesy Assaad Yacoub/CHERRY POP
At age 26, Yacoub has already accomplished much, including
making Bob the Drag Queen’s video, “Purse First,” and several
other short films, commercials and videos. Soft spoken and with
an original sense of humor, Yacoub answered questions with a
refreshing spirit.
You come highly
recommended by Bob
the Drag Queen.
Thank you so much. I love
Bob. I’ve worked with him
for about six years now.
Bob is amazing.
So tell me about
“Cherry Pop.” How did
it originate?
“Cherry Pop” started four
years ago. It was a short
film and a thesis for my
undergrad. Then we did
the festival circuit with it,
and it did really well, so
then I decided to make
it into a feature. Bob was
with me from the time
it started as a short film,
and she came on with me
for the feature as well.
November will be two
years now that we shot it.
We just got distribution
for it with Wolfe.

What inspired the theme?
What happened was I moved from
Dubai to New York when I was 20. I
never knew what a drag queen was.
In Dubai there is nothing like that. It’s
illegal there. There are no gay bars,
nothing like that there. So I had never
seen that before. A friend of mine took
me to a drag show, and I said, “OMG,
what is this?” I had my thesis coming
up, and I thought, “What can I do
different and interesting, something
that I’d be interested in making?” I have
a writer that I work with and decided to
make a drag film. Together we came up
with “Cherry Pop.”
I use to own a drag bar on Long
Island, so I’m looking forward to
seeing this movie.
So then you know the stress of working
with the drag queens?
I do!
Only a few people know it. Their
schedules...I always planned that
everything would be an hour to an hour
and a half later. You just have to know
that. When you’re working with drag
queens, you’re working with 50 different
personalities at the same time. You just
have to be prepared for that. I had to
learn that real quick!
Yes, they work on drag time. What
was the most difficult situation that
you encountered doing the movie?
The most difficult was scheduling all
the girls to be just available for three
weeks in a row. That was literally hell!
Literally, the schedule changed every
day. Normally you plan it, you get a
good schedule. For example, Detox
could come one day and say, “Oh, I
booked a gig on the 19th, I’m not going
to be available anymore.” I said, “Oh,
you can’t do that, we’re shooting on
the 19th.” I’d have to tell them that
they weren’t in that scene anymore, and
we’d give Bob the lines that Detox was
supposed to say. We just had to roll
with it. It was fun, but that, I think, that
was the hardest.
I’ve interviewed many queens, and
I’ve got to say, Bob is always on time.
I love Bob. She always pushes me in the
right direction. No matter how famous
she got, she still stays humble. I think
that’s the best thing about Bob. I’ve
known him before “Drag race” and
after “Drag Race,” and he’s still the
same. He answers me back no matter
where he is in the world.
Have you ever been to Fire Island?
There are many queens there.
Yes, I have. I was in New York from the
time I was 20 until I was 22. That’s where
I met Bob. Once I went for a week,
and it was so much fun. I stayed on the
Cherry side though. I know a lot of the
queens there. I’d love to go back. I’m
coming to New York for the screening
of the movie.
For tickets: www.cherrypopfilm.com

So are you currently working on
any new projects?
Yes, the writer and I that worked on
“Cherry Pop” are writing a TV show.
We have the pilot ready, so we are
trying to sell it. I have a few music
videos and commercials coming up.
Nothing too crazy.
Assaad, exactly what is it that you
do? In other words, what would
you consider your work-related
title to be?
I don’t write; I’m a horrible writer.
Actually, everything I’ve done I’ve
directed and produced. I do not like
producing. I’ve always had to do
it, but after “Cherry Pop,” I never
want to produce again. I really enjoy
directing, and I love working with
actors. I hate being the producer,
because you are always the bad
guy. You have all the problems, and
then everyone hates you. I always
get sucked into doing it though. I
did a video for the season 9 girls,
and I got sucked into it again. That’s
mainly what I do. I was in school for
the past six years of my life, and I’m
really happy to be done with my
masters. I’ve always been in school
as long as I’ve lived in America, so
I’m really excited to be done with
that.
What did you actually go to school
for?
I went to school for filmmaking.
The first thing that Bob said to me
was that you were so young and
sweet that she couldn’t say no to
you when you used to visit the
bars and beg the queens to be in
your movie.
That is exactly what I did. The thing
is, I was illegally entering the bar,
because I was 20. I used some other
person’s ID. When I approached
Bob, she probably thought, “Who’s
this kid in the bar?” I didn’t know
what to do. I was underage, and I’d
beg them all to be in my movie, one
by one. Bob always likes to tell that
story. I was determined. I was going
to get them to be in my movie
whether they liked it or not!

HEADLINED BY
Patti LaBelle
PERFORMANCES BY
Deborah Cox & DJ Lina

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Cherry Pop:
Detox
Featured in the new drag queen film about to be presented on June
19, just in time to celebrate Pride, is “Drag Race” contestant Detox.
The film also features Bob the Drag Queen and Latrice Royale. The
hilariously funny film premiere will take place at the SVA theatre, in
partnership with New Fest, as part of OutCinema. There will also be
screenings in LA and San Francisco.
What is the character that you portray in
the movie, and how are the two of you
similar?
I play White Chocolate. She’s a long-in-hertooth,
freak nasty bitch with a soft spot for
her African American frenemy, played by
Mayhem Miller. We are the same person.
LOL!
Did you have a favorite funny experience
while filming the movie ?
The entire thing was hysterical. I was making
a movie with some of my closest friends. We
played drinking games. We were all pulling
double duty, too, so the delirium factor was
always funny. Plus, sexually harassing the
straight crew is what we truly lived for.
If you had the power, would there be
anything you would have changed about
your character?
She’s definitely more of a bitch than I am.
Luckily, I’m very familiar with playing one on
TV.
Is there a favorite part of the film for you?
Any time Latrice is on camera. I cannot help
grin from ear to ear.
What did the film mean to you personally?
Honestly, it was great for me to stay home
and spend time with my friends. I rarely get
the opportunity with my schedule. It’s one of
the main reasons I signed up for the project.
What have you been up to since we last
spoke?
Oh my God, I don’t even know where to
start. Filming a TV show, filming my own
show with WOW, the usual constant touring,
in the studio working on new music as soon
as this Werq the World tour culminates at
the end of the month. Desperately seeking
a vacation.
For tickets: www.cherrypopfilm.com

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GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM
The Divas of
DAYTIME DIVAS!
BY SAMARA RIVIERA
SamaraElleRiviera.com
The divas, and
gentlemen, came
out in full force for
the New York City
red carpet event
and screening of
VH1’s latest scripted
series, “Daytime
Divas,” starring the
diva of divas Ms.
Vanessa Williams.
The Whitby Hotel
hosted, and most of
the cast including Chloe Bridges, Fiona
Gubelmann, Camille Guaty, McKinley
Freeman, Executive Producer Star Jones
and of course the grandest diva of them
all, Vanessa Williams, were at hand.
Other notables included trans author/
activist Janet Mock and TV personality
Kelly Osbourne, who was the sweetest
diva of all.
The red carpet came alive when the
fashionable ladies started to arrive.
And of course Star Jones’ date was
her adorable little furry friend Pinky,
who almost stole the show. I must say,
they were all gracious, giving every last
reporter an exclusive. Then came the
screening of the pilot episode. The room
was filled to capacity. Everyone headed
downstairs to the after-party, where
drinks with names inspired by the show
were being served. I, myself, had me a
couple of Satan’s Sisters, which is the title
of the book the show is based on.
We partied the night away with the cast
and special guest stars of the show. It
was a night to remember, and following
are my exclusive interviews with the cast
of “Daytime Divas,” which can be seen
Monday nights at 10 p.m. on VH1. Tune
in for the drama, bitches!
Vanessa
Williams
Samara: How does it feel
being in New York, bringing
“Daytime Divas” here?
Vanessa: You know, the crazy
thing is seeing my picture on the
side of phone booths all over the
place, and people always texting
me like in the subway with my
image as a diva. I mean, it is a
character, but it’s a lot of fun.
Tell us about your character,
the diva Maxine?
Vanessa: Maxine Robinson is
the producer of the daytime talk
show called “The Lunch Hour.”
She’s the producer, she’s the star,
and she runs a pretty tight ship,
but a lot of the women that she
works with are always striving to
be the #1 chair.

Tell us about the rest of the cast?
Vanessa: We don’t have here Tichina
Arnold, who plays the stand-up
comedienne Moe. We’ve got an
evangelist, who the name of her character
is Heather; she has an interesting story line,
‘cause one of her children is transgender,
and that’s a great juxtaposition for
someone who you assume would be one
way and is actually a wonderful, caring
mother on the other hand. We’ve got
Chloe Bridges, who plays Kibby, who’s
a young former child star who’s dealing
with substance issues and has a special
relationship with Maxine. And we’ve got
Nina, who’s played by Camille, who is a
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, hardcore.
And then McKinley who plays my adopted
son who helps run the show.
How do you feel being back on TV?
Vanessa: It’s great. I mean ... it feels
like I’ve really always kind of remained,
because after I finished “666 Park Ave.” I
did “Royal Pains,” I did “The Good Wife,”
I did “Broad City” last year. I just finished
doing “Difficult People,” so I’ve been able
to be in front of the camera every year.
Camille
Guaty
Samara: How does it feel to be in New
York?
Camille: Oh, it feels great to be in New
York. It feels great to have this show finally
coming out. I feel like we held on to this
baby for so long, and now we can just like
enjoy it. You know?
Tell us about your character.
Camille: Well, my character has the veneer
of seriousness. You know, she’s smart. She’s
the reporter. She’s won a Pulitzer. But this
woman is very… vindictive, I should say,
and scandalous, and she really does do
whatever she needs to do to get what she
wants.
Daytime Diva’s
Monday’s 10 pm on VH1
Wow! Sounds like a diva.
Camille: She’s a diva. She’s
powerful.
So you’re the Latina
representing in the show,
right?
Camille: I am the Latina, but you
know what’s interesting? Chloe is
half, but I’m full. My background
is Cuban and Puerto Rican. My
dad’s from Cuba. My mom was
actually born here in New York,
the Bronx. A little shout out to
J.Lo. Same school. My mom’s
older though.
Do you speak Spanish?
Camille: Yo entiendo todo,
pero no puedo hablar bien. [I
understand everything, but I
can’t speak it well.]
Oh, wow. That was good.
Camille: Yeah, I know. I have a
good accent when I say that. I
practice that line a lot.
Any new projects?
Camille: I do. I actually have a
project dropping the day after
“Daytime Divas” premieres. June
6, “The Wedding Invitation” is
coming out, which is a comedy-
-so funny. It’s a comedy that
was produced, directed and
acted by all women. All the
crew was women. … Right now
we’re about women in film and
media; it’s kinda … we need to
employ more. So I feel like with
this project I wanted to become
a part of it, because here we
are women empowerment. You
know? We need to.
Thank you so much. See you
later, chica.
Camille: Thank you, chica.

Samara: How you doing Fiona? The
show takes place in New York right?
Fiona: It takes place in New York.
Where do you guys shoot?
Fiona: We actually shoot in Atlanta.
Daytime Diva’s Monday’s 10 pm on VH1
Fiona
Gubelmann
So how do you feel being here
in New York where the show is
supposed to take place?
Fiona: Well, I mean, come on, New York
is very exciting. It’s very fun. It’s been a
whirlwind, and I’m excited to be here. I
wish the show shot here.
Where do you live?
Fiona: I live in California, in Los
Angeles. Actually, I wish the show shot
there.
So tell us about your character
Heather?
Fiona: Heather is a conservative
Christian who has very different
viewpoints of everyone on the show.
She is a really fascinating character,
because she has issues that you’ll see
in the pilot that are conflicting with her
religious beliefs, and she has to make
decisions in regards to her family and
figure out who she is and what she
believes.
And how was it working with all these
divas?
Fiona: [laughs]
You know, I
think diva is a
compliment.
I mean, it’s
a strong,
passionate
woman who isn’t
afraid to speak
her mind, and
that’s something
I need more of.
I really respect
these women
so much. I’m
a pretty shy
person. I like to
just be at home.
So when I’m
around, and I’m watching these women
command a room and speak their mind
and not take shit from anybody, it’s
inspiring. And they do it in a polite way.
There was no drama on set. It was so
much fun. I learned so much and grew
as a person.
So no actual “diva” attitudes?
Fiona: No, unfortunately not. It was
pretty incredible, because the entire
cast … everyone’s been a lead on a
series at least once, so people were like,
“This is a job, I know how to behave,
I know what to expect.” And that was
great, ‘cause it makes 12 hour days
[work], and everything went smoothly.
Do you have any other projects
coming out?
Fiona: No. This is it right now. ... I’m just
enjoying some down time right now,
and just spending time with friends and
family. I was gone for about a year and a
half out of town. So right now I just want
to see my friends and live my life.

Samara: Tell us about your
character on “Daytime
Divas.”
McKinley: “Daytime Divas”
follows a daytime fictional talk
show, the making, both on
camera and behind the scenes. Shawn
Robinson, the character I play, plays
the day-to-day producer of the show.
Shawn’s responsibility is to make sure
all the pieces are going the way they’re
supposed to, which they normally
don’t, and try to wrangle the people
to do what they need to do, which
they usually don’t. So there is always
something for Shawn to be doing.
How was it working with all these
divas?
McKinley: I loved it. It was easy for
me. When you start with Vanessa and
Tichina, Camille, Fiona, Chloe and all
the fantastic guest stars we had, it’s a
real cool family to be part of. For me,
it’s an important show, because you
have all these divas, so it’s implied
that there is all this drama, which there
is, and the show is about [that], but
ultimately it’s these strong women
coming together to have each other’s
backs no matter what happens. I think
Mc Kinley
Freeman
it’s an important narrative that people
pay attention to.
Behind behind the scenes, who is
the least diva-ish one to work with?
McKinley: Hmmm. Everybody was
cool. There is no one that literally
stands out more than anyone else. I
think when you work five months, and
you’re up early, [and] you’ve been in a
place for a while, there’s always times
[when] things can go wrong, but we
never really had any of those moments.
So it’s been pretty smooth.
Anything else you’re working on?
McKinley: Yeah, I produced a movie,
“ILLICIT,” [which] hit theaters in May
and can be seen [on] video on demand
on Comcast now, and I’m recurring on
Tyler Perry’s “If Loving You Is Wrong”
on the OWN Network, and who the
hell knows what’s gonna happen
tomorrow, but the goal is to stay
hustling.

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