Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 332– September 6, 2017

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
PEPPERMINT
As one of the 14 contestants
selected to compete on “RuPaul’s
Drag Race” season nine, Peppermint
became the runner-up, second
to Sasha. She was a very popular
contestant during her run, and
proclaims her appreciation for having
had the experience.
Peppermint began performing at
New York City nightclub Tunnel,
and soon became a sought-after
queen in New York City nightlife.
She was featured in the Web series
“Queens of Drag: NYC” along
with Lady Bunny, Bianca Del Rio,
Hedda Lettuce and Sherry Vine.
Also a recording artist, she recently
released her new album called “Black
Pepper” and is working on new
music as we speak.
Peppermint is a transgender woman,
and although there have been
other transgender contestants on
“RuPaul’s,” she was the first to have
been already out before the show.
She can be seen at the upcoming
Drag Con on September 9 & 10th.
She is looking forward to meeting
everyone that she can. I spoke with
her in depth regarding her “RuPaul”
experience, how it changed her life
and what her future plans are.

How has being on “Drag
Race” changed your
life?
It’s been amazing! It’s a
dream come true. I’ve
been busier, and it’s been
a dream come true. I’ve
always been performing.
Now I have a chance to
reach a bigger audience,
have a stronger platform,
and that’s been my
dream. I’m really thankful
and grateful to RuPaul
and the show for giving
me that platform. I’m
able to go places that I
wouldn’t have been able
to go, and meet people
that I wouldn’t have
been able to meet, and
have opportunities that I
wouldn’t have had if I had
not been on the show.
Is there anything special
that you wish to do with
that platform?
I’m a queen first! I love
to perform, and I love
to travel. What I’ve
always done, and what
I’ve always wanted to
do - I believe that being
a drag queen you are
given a platform, and
I’ve always wanted to
connect spiritually and
closely with the queer
community. Now that I
have a platform, my voice
will have a farther reach.
I’m excited to talk about
gender issues, LGBT
issues, HIV prevention,
marriage equality -
things like that are really
important to me, to
possibly effect some
change. I was just at a
show yesterday, and a lot
of people came up to me,
young people came up
to me. They talked about
coming out as trans or
gender-nonconforming,
and say that my story
helped them in that
position. That is priceless
to me.
It’s especially cool to
have an influence on
people that possibly
wouldn’t have had
someone to look up to. I
was wondering, did you
have a best friend on
the show?
Our show was really close
knit. I think we got a lot
of flak for being RuPaul’s
best friend race. I think
that people are selling
it short. They are saying
that this season is the
most-watched season
ever, and has the highest
rating. It has the highest
rating; I’m not sure about
the most viewed, because
the older seasons could
have been viewed
more. We have the most
Emmy nominations of
any season ever. No
season has ever been
nominated for an Emmy.
Ours is the first, and we
have eight, including
“Untucked”. There was
also a lot of historical
moments in our show.
So our show provided a
lot. True, it didn’t provide
the drama like the wig
snatching and the drink
throwing that there was
in other seasons. That
being said, our country
was in a particular place
last summer, just like we
are this summer. I think
it’s a trend. There’s a
lot of issues that affect
everybody, including
drag queens. We’d just
come out of the tragedy
of Pulse Nightclub, and
we were dealing with
who was going to be
our president. So that
all affected us. We were
getting news of all this
while we were filming.
So I think the tone was a
really, really genuine tone.
That being said though, I
think the person I was the
closest with might have
been Trinity - Trinity and
Sasha.
Are you looking forward
to being at Drag Con?
Of course. I’m really
excited to go. I’m so
happy that they decided
to do one in New York, my
hometown, my favorite
place. I’m glad to have an
opportunity to participate
in such a wonderful event.
I think it’s going to be
huge.
I do too. It’s a great
opportunity to meet
new queens. There are a
lot of non-”Drag Race”
queens that go. A lot of
local girls go, and some
really talented people
go. Then there are great
products. It’s just a really
great place. It’s a fantastic
time. I loved it in LA, and
I think I’m going to love
it even more in New York.
I’ll have a booth.
Will you be performing?
I don’t know if there are
any opportunities to
perform. Drag Con is
being put up alongside
The Gay Expo, which has
been produced at Jacob
Javits Center for years
now. There will be a lot of
opportunities for people
to go between the two
of them. There will be
people performing at the
Expo.

Peppermint, where are you originally
from?
I was born in Pennsylvania and grew up
in Wilmington, Delaware.
What does your family think about
your being on the show?
My family is very proud, and they are
supportive.
How are you received internationally?
First of all, I love traveling internationally.
They seem to really love “Drag Race.”
It has a huge reach and impact, even
internationally. It’s wonderful to go and
be in another country where people
know your name.
Aside from “Drag
Race” and Drag Con,
what else is going on
in your life?
Well, I just released
a new album, called
“Black Pepper.” It came
out in June. It’s on iTunes
and Amazon—anywhere
you can buy albums.
I’m working on my third
album now in the studio.
I’m also working on
some new music with
Cazwell and with Adam
Joseph. We just released
a brand new song called
“Thirsty.” Also, myself,
Sasha, Alexa and Aja,
the New York girls, are
working on some new
music as well.
Will you be touring
internationally?
I’m headed to Australia
and South America next
week. I’m also going to
the United Kingdom,
all in September. These
are all places that I’ve
been before, and so I’m
excited to go back there.
I’ve been traveling. I
can’t say it’s been one
tour, just a constant
tour. I’m looking forward
to multiple tours,
including The Work
the World Tour. We
already traveled that
internationally, and now
we are bringing the tour
to the states.
Photos by Wilsonmodels

DUPLEX PIANO BAR
Tuesday September 19th 2017
Doors open at 9:30 pm
TOGGO ULTRAROCK
AARON PAUL
Performs his smash hit
"Cannonball"
Birthday Bash & Performs his
new smash hit "Ain't Nobody"
DUPLEX PIANO BAR
61 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-5438
worldstarpublicrelations@gmail.com
http://www.WorldStarPr.com
RUPAUL’S DRAGCON NEW YORK IS SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2017 AT THE
JACOB K JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER. SHOW HOURS SATURDAY 9/9
10:00AM-6:00PM & SUNDAY 9/10 10:00AM-4:00PM

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
MICHAEL
MUSTO
DUETS
Once again, the multi-talented,
astonishingly fabulous columnist
Michael Musto will be flaunting
his captivating flair for song on
Saturday, September 23, at Club
Cumming (formerly Eastern Bloc
and recreated by Alan Cumming
and Daniel Nardicio).
Musto will be joyfully singing
duets with artists including
Tommy Femia, Alexis Michelle,
Molly Pope, Aaron Weinstein,
Rain Pryor, Rob Roth, Kenyon
Phillips and more to be added
to the roster. Songs to be sung
will include “Don’t Rain on My
Parade,” “Maybe This Time,” “I
Got You Babe” and “Anything
You Can Do.”
If that’s not enough, Musto also
will be portraying the vivacious
character of Uncle Ernie in the
rock-opera “Tommy” at Joe’s Pub
on September 11 at 9:30 p.m.
I couldn’t resist the chance to
chat before his busy career heats
up even more, so we sat down
for a catch up on what’s to come.
“Tommy” was one of my favorite sound
tracks and rock-opera movies ever, and
I’m so excited that you’re playing Uncle
Ernie. How did that come about?
Frankie C, who you know, has been
producing evenings at Pangaea, all-star
revues, and I’ve been part of them. I did
one that was a Broadway night, one that
was Motown, and I suggested looking for
a larger venue and doing a concert version
of “Tommy.” Of course the part of Uncle
Ernie appealed to me, because it’s colorful,
it’s crazy, with that incredible song, “Fiddle
About.” We’re even going to add little
snippets of “See Me, Feel Me” to my song
for a little perversion touch to that.
Also, I’m friends with this woman Lisi
Tribble, and she is Ken Russell’s widow. He
directed the movie “Tommy,” which is a
brilliant adaptation of it - totally over the
top and mesmerizing. Lisi is an old friend of
mine; she used to come to my band’s gigs.
So she agreed to co-produce it with Frankie
and to put her late husband’s blessing on it.
We already have three Tony nominees. We
have Cady Huffman, who won the Tony for
“The Producers”; she is going to play Nora,
the Ann Margret role. Cheryl Freeman, who
was nominated for playing the Acid Queen
in “Tommy” on Broadway, is going to play
the Acid Queen. Kenyon Phillips, who is a
dear friend of mine, is going to play Tommy.
This is just a spectacular for all the senses.

Then, a long time ago, I
pitched Daniel Nardicio that
I’d like to do a duet show. I
didn’t mean it would be all
me; I just thought I could do
duets, other people could
do duets. He put it in as “this
is the Michael Musto Duet
Show,” Which is fine with me,
because I’m an egomaniac.
They had torn down Eastern
Bloc to be renovated, and in
September it’s opening up as
Club Cumming. So September
23 at 10:30 p.m. is Michael
Musto Duets. I’m rounding up
incredible people:
Dina Martina, Molly Pope and
Tommy Femia (Judy Garland),
Alexis Michelle from “Drag
Race,” and we’re
all going to sing
duets, or even if
they’re not duets,
we are going to
make them duets.
It’s a way for me
to act out my
schizophrenia to
music by singing
with other people.
So where will
you be doing
“Tommy”?
It’s at Joe’s Pub,
September 11 at
9:30 p.m.
You are on your
way to being
musically famous.
You know, you’ve got to have
a back-up plan. So being a
rock star is my back-up plan.
The next stop will definitely be
Broadway, or Radio City.
I would say MSG.
And I’m not Mariah Carey - I
can sing. I wonder if I should
get a new face like Lady Gaga.
Where do I get it? Do they sell
it at Walmart?
How did the roast turn out?
It was amazing. Jinkx Monsoon
talked for eight hours. I think
she’s still talking. She’s doing
her second set soon. Then
Rosie said she was going to
double the amount made
for the charity, which was the
Callen-Lorde Foundation.
Then this woman Jane
Freeman said she was adding
$30,000 to it.
How much was made?
I don’t know the exact number,
but it was enormous, much
more than we could’ve made
just selling out, which we did.
Scruff was the sponsor of the
event, and Callen-Lorde was
the beneficiary, so I really feel
the message of the evening
was: “Go out and get fucked
by a stranger, and then get
treated for it.” I agreed with all
the horrible things people said
about me, because I have such
low self-esteem. I was very
grateful to them for agreeing
with my low image.
So how are you feeling?
My friends come over with free
food, and I’m at the front of
the line at Trader Joe’s.
Did you get a handicap
sticker for your bicycle?
I’m using all the privileges,
and I’m getting a lot of
publicity, so I recommend this
to everybody. Have fun, get
hurt and have a roast, and get
your emotions hurt, too. That’s
my message

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
JOHN - JOHN PUNKI
John-John Punki, the
reigning Mr. Eagle, will be
giving up his crown and
sash to the new victor
on October 7 after an
extremely successful year;
however, he says, “I’ll still
be around - I’m not going
anywhere!”
Punki has implemented
several new events and
ideas for New York’s
thriving club, The New
York Eagle Bar, while
running various charity
affairs and triumphant
party celebrations. I
spoke with him about
his accomplishments and
feelings as the time grows
near to give up his title.
So John, you had a very
busy year.
I did. It’s been quite the
journey.
I understand that you’ve
done a lot of cool things?
When I ran for this title, I
said that I wanted to bring
things that people wanted
to see for the regular
customers. There’s really
been a range of things that
I have done since last year
when I became Mr. Eagle. I
did a monthly party. It was
called “Bear.”
In the LGBT community,
there are so many big guys.
There are all types of big
guys: chubby big guys,
muscle big guys and all the
people that love them. So
I did this monthly party to
bring that type of crowd
out. That party in particular
has been a big success,
and it happens every third
Friday of every month.
People come out to it, and
they just enjoy themselves.
You can see on the Eagle’s
social media platforms the
different types of people
that come out for this party,
and it’s definitely been a
range of folks. I’m really
proud of that.
What is one of the best
experiences you’ve had
this year?
That’s a hard question.
The thing I love the best
is the fact that Derek, the
owner of The Eagle, is so
open and so flexible when
it comes to the types of
events that I want to have.

For example, I did a Latin
Leather party. I was so
excited to do it. It was the
first time that the Eagle
Bar played Spanish music.
The Eagle is known more
for this dark, sexy music,
or rock ‘n’ roll, like Rock
‘n’ Roll Fridays. So you
wouldn’t think that the
Eagle Bar would play
Spanish music. So I went to
Derek and told him that I
wanted to do a fundraiser
that is a Latin dance party.
When he asked me more
about it, I explained that
the fundraiser would be
for an organization for
transgender Latina women
based here in New York.
It’s a national organization,
and given the fact that
Trump is our president and
the fucked up stuff that
he’s done, I wanted to do a
fundraiser that would raise
money for people that are
deeply impacted. He said,
“Let’s do it.” We did it, and
it was a great success. We
had a DJ playing salsa and
merengue, and people
came out to dance. We
raised a thousand dollars
for the organization. I think
that event is one of my
highlights.
I also worked with Team
Eagle, who are a great
group of guys and raise
money every single year
for the LGBT community,
specifically for HIV/AIDS
services at the LGBT
Center. Every year they ride
in September, I believe
it’s from New York to
Boston. I teamed up with
them and did a vendor
mart, which we called The
Leather Mart. Leather is
so expensive, and to find
different vendors, you
have to go all throughout
the city. So we wanted to
do an event at The Eagle
where the vendors actually
brought their products to
the bar. We did a five-hour
event where the vendors
came to the bar and sold
their products directly then
and there. We wanted to
do something that would
give back to the vendors
to show that we appreciate
them.
How do you feel about
giving up your crown?
Are you going to miss
being Mr. Eagle?
I am going to miss it, but
I’m not going anywhere.
Even though I pass on
the sash to the next Mr.
Eagle, I’m still going to be
around the Eagle Bar and
bring ideas to Derek. I look
forward to working with
the next Mr. Eagle to make
sure that he has just as an
amazing year as I have had.
It was really great.
Outside of the events I’ve
also been able to travel,
and I’ve also been able
to bring workshops to the
Eagle Bar. For example,
I worked with someone
who facilitated a workshop
on food play. It was on
how to use desserts. We
specifically chose brownies
and learned how to use
them in an intimate setting
with someone. How do you
use them for pleasure, and
how you can use brownies
for punishment. That was
a really exciting workshop,
and I’m going to be doing
another workshop on
September 14. I’m going
to have someone come
in and do a wax play
workshop. I’ve never seen
wax used before, but we
have a couple of people
who are excited about it.
So I’ve done these
monthly parties, and I’ve
done charity events. We
did a charity event the
other day. I teamed up
with another title holder,
and we did a jock strap
auction. We had a bunch
of models come onstage
on the first floor of the bar.
They wore jockstraps, and
people bid on them. All
the money that we raised
went to Rainbow Railroad,
which is an organization
based in Canada that
offers assistance to gay
refugees. Especially since
some of the reports that
we have coming from
Russia, for example,
how gay men are being
punished and tortured. We
raised over $800 for that
organization to give them
more resources. It’s been
amazing, and I’ve gotten to
meet so many people: the
regular customers, the new
customers. It’s really been
exciting. I’m going to miss
that part of it, but I will still
be around.
When does the new Mr.
Eagle crowning take
place?
Saturday, October 7. It
is actually a weekend
event. So on October 6,
I’m going to do another
vendor mart, and then at
9 p.m. that evening, on
Friday, the contestants
will do a meet and greet.
So they will come to the
bar. They are supposed to
mingle with the customers
and the judges and get
to know each other. The
next day on Saturday, we
do interviews, and that
evening is the contest.
That evening I will sadly
take my sash off and give it
to the next Mr. Eagle.

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
HARMONICA
SUNBEAM
PERFORMING AT THE DUPLEX
One of the most popular, funniest, well-known and charitable
queens, Harmonica Sunbeam, will be gracing the stage at The
Duplex Piano and Cabaret Theater (61 Christopher Street in New
York City) on September 23 at 6:30 p.m. This will be a fundraiser
for a fabulous project called Drag Queen Story Hour.
Sunbeam will also be co-hosting The Miss Project Active/Columbia
Research Unit Pageant on September 7 at Therapy (348 W 52nd
Street).
Aside from all her wonderful charity events, Harmonica will be
appearing on an HBO series set to air in 2018. Get Out! shared
some questions and answers regarding her upcoming events.

Does your show at the Duplex
have a particular theme, and when
will you be appearing?
It’s a one-woman variety show
comprised of singing, dancing and
comedy. I may do something as well.
It happens 9/23/17 at 6:30 p.m.
What about the show are you
looking most forward to?
Well, the show is a fundraiser, so I’m
looking to raise some much-needed
money for a project that is near and
dear to me called Drag Queen Story
Hour, which offers schools, libraries
and festivals the unique opportunity
to have drag queens read to kids
teaching them about diversity,
accepting each other’s differences
and gender fluidity. The money
would allow for us to do readings at
schools and other institutions that
can’t afford it.
For more info on DQSH, go to
dragqueenstoryhour.org.
Aside from the show, what
else have you been doing
entertainment wise?
As previously mentioned, I’m heavily
involved with DQSH. In fact, I’m the
North Jersey coordinator, so I’m
pretty busy getting folks interested in
the program in my vicinity.
Are you currently working on more
projects?
I have a recurring role on a new HBO
show called “The Deuce,” which
should be airing early January 2018.
If you could say anything to your
fans and followers, what would be
your message?
I’m quite humbled to still be as busy
as I am, and I owe it all to those who
continually attend my gigs and refer
me to new projects. I appreciate the
love and support wholeheartedly.
Order tickets here !
www.purplepass.com/harmonica923

PUBLISHER
MIKE TODD
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
(646) 761-3325
DESIGN
AGOTA CORREA
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM
(347) 776-9568
NATIONAL
ADVERTISNG
REPRESENTATIVE
RIVENDELL MEDIA
(908) 232-2021
CONTRIBUTORS
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
EILEEN SHAPIRO
IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
ISSUE 333 - SEPTEMBER 6 2017
Cover: Peppermint
Photo by Wilsonmodels

stories / GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM
BY IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
@ianmichaelinwonderland
Attention Whore
After a particularly rough
breakup with a guy who’d led
me on for months, I found
myself moping hardcore.
I came straight home from work
every day, locking myself in my
room and watching old movies.
I cried when Holly Golightly
realizes people do belong to
each other, and when Sabrina
sings “La Vie En Rose” while
driving down the countryside.
(Audrey Hepburn movies are a
perfect cure for anything.)
One night, a knock came at my
door. I had just taken a shower,
my super-short velour robe the
only thing hiding my bits and
pieces. I tugged at the hem and
opened the door.
There was my roommate, and
next to him a very cute oliveskinned
boy. “This is X,” he
told me. “He’ll be staying with
me for a few weeks. I thought I
should introduce you.”
“Nice to meet you,” X said,
with a slight accent I couldn’t
place. He extended his hand,
and I took it: His skin was soft,
like his eyes, and he held my
hand a little too long.
“We should watch a movie
tonight,” I blurted out. “The
three of us,” I added quickly,
blushing.
“That sounds nice,” X smiled.
My roommate shot me a look
- I could tell he had a crush on
X, and was clearly hoping that
extending his apartment to him
would lead to something more.
But I didn’t care: X was hot, and
I was lonely.
When they knocked on my door
later that night, I’d undergone
a transformation. My dull hair
was freshly bleached and
conditioned, my skin was
shining from a new body lotion,
and I smelled like citrus - it was
the first time I’d spritzed on
cologne since the breakup. (But
I still hadn’t put on any clothes
under my robe. I mean who has
the time, am I right?)
My roommate sat between us
on my bed, creating a buffer,
but when the first movie (“The
Sweetest Thing”) was over, it
was X who suggested we watch
another. Thirty minutes into
“50 First Dates,” my roommate
gave up,
claimed he was
exhausted and
retreated back
into his room.
X moved closer
to me, and
before I knew
it I was on top
of him, kissing
him, tasting
his spearmint
toothpaste. “Do
you have any
condoms?” he
whispered.
But I realized
I didn’t want
to have sex. I
didn’t even want
to fool around.
I wanted the
attention, the
validation,
someone to
make me feel
special. And
realizing that
just made me feel even more
lonely than I did before.
“I’m sorry,” I said, rolling off of
him. “I don’t wanna do this. I
just went through a breakup.
I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” X smiled, grabbing
my hand and squeezing. Under
different circumstances, maybe
we would have hit it off.
Instead, he went into my
roommate’s room and fucked
him—I could hear them when
I went to the bathroom 15
minutes later. I gave myself a
hard look in the mirror, went
back into my room and finished
the movie alone.
PHOTO BY STEVE BRENNAN

20% OFF
Nails & Waxing
● NAILS
● WAXING & TRIMMING
● MASSAGE
● BODY-SCRUB (TABLE SHOWER)
NEW YORK, NY 10011
(BTWN 6TH & 7TH AVE.)
HOURS:
MON - SAT 10:30AM - 12:30AM
SUN 11AM-11PM

ADVERTISE
WITH
___________________
ANUNCIA
EN
The right price, the right distribution, the right
size, the right quality, the right quantity, the right
service 24/7 - everything is just right! Call us to
get the best prices in the tri-state area.
CALL TODAY & GET OUR
SPECIAL WELCOME OFFER!
MIKE TODD
(646) 761-3325
mike@getoutmag.com
The publications of MJT/GOOTH Magazine, getoutmag.com or any related
print or Web publications or social media accounts, their images, quotations or
articles, should not be construed to be an indication of the sexual orientation
of anyone portrayed therein.
All content © 2016 MJT/GOOTH Entertainment LLC.
MJT/GOOTH Entertainment LLC
47-16 67 St. Woodside, NY 11377
GETOUTMAG.COM
@getoutmag