Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 429 July 31, 2019

BY SHANE CARPENTIER
If You Got a Problem, Yo! Pep and Caz Will Solve It
The Drag Superstar and Out Rapper Launch New Podcast, ‘It’s a Mess’
Miss Peppermint and Cazwell both launched their careers in the New
York underground. Peppermint rose to national fame competing on the
ninth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” where she finished as runner-up.
She then made her Broadway debut last year in The Go-Go’s-inspired
musical Head Over Heels, becoming the first trans woman to originate a
principal role on Broadway.
Cazwell made a name for himself with a steady flow of danceable hip-hop
and club tracks that impressively showcase his hypomanic take on pop
culture. Hits include “Ice Cream Truck,” “I Seen Beyoncé at Burger King,”
“¡Spicy!,” “Cakes,” “Rice & Beans” and his latest release, “I Love You.”
Now the pair are joining forces on an exciting new venture, the “It’s a
Mess” podcast. It’s an advice show that covers everything from how to tell
your coworker their breath smells to how to get revenge on the boss that
f-ed you over. It also touches on more serious topics like trans rights and
gay adoption. Cazwell explains more.

INTERVIEW
How did you and Miss Peppermint
become BFFs?
Cazwell: Me and Pep met a long,
long, long time ago. I got booked
for a gig at NYC’s Tunnel nightclub,
and I was told to meet a drag queen
named Peppermint in the Lower East
Side to help me find dancers for my
show. Peppermint seemed like a very
warm, sweet and extremely helpful
person since the first time I met her,
and I knew we would become good
friends.
“It’s a Mess” isn’t the first time you
two worked together on a project.
Cazwell: We threw a gay hip-hop
party called “Do the Right Thing”
every Thursday at the Ritz in New
York. We’ve also featured each other
in our musical projects.
Most notably, the “Blend” EP.
Cazwell: “Blend” gave us the
opportunity to actually produce
music together and combine both
of our tastes. I also got to write
Peppermint an anthem that helped
tell the story of her transition.
We’re both very proud of what
we accomplished with that EP.
What topics are you covering on
“It’s A Mess”?
Cazwell: A lot of crazy, fun sh*t, but
also some serious topics like trans
rights and gay adoption. It’s an
advice podcast. Our listeners write in
with their issues, so we get a variety
of questions they need advice for.
Do you and Peppermint often share
the same opinion on the right way
to solve a problem?
Cazwell: Me and Pep often have
very different views. She is sweet
and tends to find common ground
when there is a conflict. I tend to be
more argumentative. Our dynamic
definitely gives our listeners more
than one point of view.
How is “It’s a Mess” different from
all of the other podcast shows out
there?
Cazwell: One of the major
differences is that you get the
perspective of not only a gay man
but also a trans woman of color.
Trans people of color don’t get their
voices heard enough in the gay
community.
What inspired you both to
create a podcast?
Cazwell: Since I moved to
Los Angeles three years ago,
I missed working with her.
I thought that if we start a
podcast, it would be a great
opportunity for us to be
able to touch base every
single week. When your
best friend gets on “Drag
Race,” they become so
busy with touring, you
kind of have to create new
opportunities to actually
have a conversation for more
than 10 minutes.
PHOTO CREDIT: BAZ

Will the show feature celebrity
guests?
Cazwell: We have special guests
read the questions that come
in from our listeners. In our first
episode, Willam from “Drag
Race” read one of our listener’s
questions. This week we had Bob
the Drag Queen on the show. We
want to start integrating more
interviews with celebrities into the
podcast.
What do you hope listeners take
away from “It’s a Mess”?
Cazwell: We hope that our
listeners are entertained. I’m pretty
sure they will get a few laughs out
of our banter. But then again, we
also hit on serious topics and offer
real relationship advice, so I guess
we hope our listeners get a good
chuckle but also learn something.
If you need advice from Cazwell
and Miss Peppermint, hit them up
at askcazandpep@gmail.com.
New episodes of “It’s a Mess” release every Thursday on Apple
Podcasts Spotify and all popular podcast platforms. Visit
https://foreverdogproductions.com/fdpn/podcasts/its-a-mess/.

THOMAS
TALKS
ABOUT: GUESSING
and IDK if he’s even
gay. -Male, Gay, 28
GAMES
I have a straight best
friend that I met in
college, and up until
two months ago he’s
never given me any
inclination that he’s
gay. One night we
were hanging at my
apartment, having a
few drinks, and he
made a joke about
kissing me. Then, he
leaned over and did
it. We both laughed,
no big deal. But then
he started to kiss me
again, and we ended
up making out for a
long time. We hung
out the following
week, and neither of
us mentioned it. Then
like a week after that
and we made out
again; he initiated it.
It’s been back and
forth like this, and now
we’ve made out four
times. I don’t know if I
want it to go further…
he’s my best friend,
but I don’t think I’d
want to “date” him,
The issue here isn’t
about if he is or isn’t
“gay,” it’s that you keep
making out but not
talking about it. You
don’t know where either
of you stand on what’s
going on. Acknowledge
the situation (while
you’re not drinking).
He might tell you that
he has feelings for
you, he’s just having
fun, he thinks he’s gay
or maybe he’s curious
and feels safe with you.
Then be honest with
him about how you
feel. Do you want it to
continue? Under what
circumstances (i.e., just
fun, dating, friends with
benefits)?
I’ve been hooking up
with a guy from an
app for the last month,
and after we hung out
last he mentioned he’s
married to a woman
and has a couple kids.
I realize this isn’t
completely unheard of,
but I wasn’t expecting
it, and he could see it
on my face. He told
me that he loves his
wife and would never
leave her, but that
he also “loves dick
so much.” As far as I
know, this the first
time I’ve had sex with
a married guy, and
I feel EXTREMELY
guilty about it. Am
I responsible for his
cheating? I keep
thinking about what
might happen if his
kids found out. I like
the sex, but maybe
I shouldn’t do it
anymore with him?
-Male, Gay, 37
At the end of the day,
you’re not responsible
for anyone else’s
actions. With that said,
a lot of guys could be
in your situation and
not care, but you do,
and that’s OK. Because
you’re concerned,
and this is NYC, I’d
recommend just finding
someone else to have
sex with. There are
probably dozens of
guys within blocks
of you that would be
willing to have sex, so
if you’re just looking
for sex, go with your
other options. It seems
like the situation with
the current guy could
potentially become
a lot of drama, and if
deep emotions aren’t
involved, is it worth it?
Probably not.
Sex/Love/Relationship advice? Send your questions to: ThomasTalksAbout@gmail.com
@ThomasWhitfield84

M
5 0 0 W 4 8 T H S T .
N Y , N Y 1 0 0 3 6

getoutmag.com week in pictures >> Ty’s Bar
MARTIN’S BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER AT TY’S BAR

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO & RON RUSSELL
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Inaya Day:
‘ONE WORLD’
Gospel house legend Inaya Day
has released an inspirational
WorldPride anthem titled
“One World.” She had the
honor of performing it at the
Hammerstein Ballroom NYC in
celebration of WorldPride.
“‘One World’ is about unifying
the world to end hatred and
chaos. We need to be reminded
that there is strength in unity,”
Day says.
Day is a dance industry icon
recognized for her distinctive
house vocals, and was named
by Billboard as one of “The
Greatest Top Dance Club
Artists.” She has worked with
legends like herself, including
Frankie Knuckles, Crystal
Waters, Louie Vega, Queen
Latifah and P. Diddy. The NYCbased
artist has also appeared
on tracks including “Horny 98”
by Mousse T and “Nasty Girl”
by Prince. Day also has her own
record label, from which we can
expect to hear some new music
soon.
I spoke with dance sensation
Day, along with TV host and film
personality Ron Russell (from
“The Jimmy Star
Show With Ron
Russell”), we
talked about
her career,
her newest
projects
and the
current,
intimate
aspects of
her life.

INTERVIEW
ES: Tell me about your new anthemic,
WorldPride song?
I did this song with Masterbeat, who
called me and asked me to do a song
called “One World” since the main
theme of this WorldPride song would be
“One World.” They asked me to sing it,
and I agreed, not knowing at the time
that it was their theme for WorldPride.
So I went in and I sang “One World,”
then Brett Henrichsen of Masterbeat
called me and told me that they wanted
me to perform it at The Hammerstein
Ballroom for WorldPride. I said, “OMG,
I would love to!” He had aerialists,
eight dancers,
and it was a
big production
for just seven
minutes. It was
wonderful. It was
amazing.
ES: It’s an
amazing and
powerful song.
Thank you.
ES: Aside from
that, what are
you up to?
Well, I’ve been
traveling a lot.
I’m also a band
leader for my
band, 45 Riots.
We have been traveling a lot, and
tomorrow we are leaving for LA. So in
between my shows I am doing band
gigs. So I’m just doing music, music,
music. I’m juggling between my shows
and my gigs, and I’m not complaining at
all.
ES: You’re a busy lady.
My next song is with Joe Gautreaux. We
have a song called “Work It If You Want
It,” and it’s basically about, you say you
want your freedom, but you got to work.
Freedom is not easy. It’s encouraging
everybody to do the work. I also have a
song coming out with Tony Moran. We
are working out the kinks for that. We
are trying to find a window to release it,
and every time we’re about to release
it, he goes away, and in the meantime
another one of my songs comes out.
He suggested we do it when we’re both
clear and the summer is over, so maybe
early fall. Right now we are both playing
tag.
ES: So you’re one of the biggest gay
icons around.
I guess so.
ES: How fun is that?
It’s really cool. They seem to love me.
ES: When will you be in New York
performing again?
My shows in New York are very few and
far between.
But, I have
gigs in New
York with my
band.
RR: You
see now,
if I were
interviewing
you, my
question
would be,
how’s your
sex life?
How’s your
boyfriend,
and are you
cheating on
a husband?
I don’t have a
husband, thank God, and I got rid of the
boyfriend because he has a problem with
me traveling.
RR: Screw that, career first.
He’s known me since the 90s. When
he met me he was the manager of the
musical theatre I was doing an Off-
Broadway show in here in New York. He
met me when I was in the show. So, you
know, I’m an artist. He is also a DJ, so
he played my band’s music. One day I
landed in San Francisco. I get a call—he
was impeccable with the timing—wishing
me a good flight, and then saying, “Did
you get there safely?” He was great with
that. But this day he called while I was
standing on the curb with my manager
and waiting for the car to come around.

So I’m going to really start
concentrating on putting my own
music out on my record label. I have
a Christmas album out on there and
things like that, but there is a track I’ve
done with a South African producer.
I don’t want to spill all the beans,
but we are going very Afro-tech. The
cover will reflect that, and we have a
little video where we are animated in
it. Someone animated us, and it looks
very much like Wakanda. So I’m going
to really start focusing on my own
label, and I believe that anything you
focus on and put your energy towards
will reflect that and will get bigger and
better. The label is called Ny-O-Dae.
It’s the same name as my publishing
company. My mother always told me
when I was a kid: “There’s nothing like
having your own.” I’ve always
He said, “We have to talk when you get
back.” Now, everyone knows what “we
gotta talk” means! He said, “No, it’s not
like that. I’m just wondering if this is what
I have to look forward to—you never
having time for me. Is that what this is
going to be?” I said, “You know what,
let me call you right back.” I never called
him. He kept calling and calling. If you’re
that short-sighted, than you can beat it!
Eventually I picked up, and he said, “I’ve
been calling and calling you.” I said, “You
don’t have to, I’m good.”
ES: That’s a great story.
RR: After interviewing 4,000 people,
it’s very hard not to do an interview
when someone’s doing an interview.
Right, it’s just second nature.
ES: So, Inaya, is there anything else
that you’d like to share that I haven’t
covered?
I don’t know if I mentioned it the last
time, but I have my own record label.
I’ve had it for quite some time. I’m really
going to start focusing on it, because I’m
always on everybody else’s label, and I
really have neglected my own.
followed that. I just need to put more
energy into my own.
ES: You’re right. Artists really have
a hard time making money these
days.
Yeah, you need at least seven streams
of income. Oh, and did you know
that last year Adidas licensed “Keep
Pushing”? They showed the song
during the Grammys. Actually, they
remixed the song, and they had Dua
Lipa, an award-winning pop artist,
singing it. They had to send me the
music, and I had to approve it. That
was so cool. I get to approve Dua
Lipa! So I was watching the Grammys
with my mother, and all this new
music was showing up during the
commercials. All the songs that had
sync licensing, you see them with
The Gap and things like that. It was
getting toward the end, and I told
my mother, “Man, they’re not going
to play ‘Keep Pushing.’” Then maybe
the next commercial, no sooner had I
said that, it came on. I was screaming.
That was a great feeling. That’s a peak
watch hour. So millions saw it, and
that was brilliant.
https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/live-roster/inaya-day/
Inaya Day will perform at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker Street,on the 8th August.
Facebook: /INAYADAYOFFICIALPAGE
Twitter: @INAYADAY

691 Tenth Avenue Off West 47 th Street NYC
Across from Hell’s Kitchen Park
WWW.NANOBARNYC.COM

BY IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON
@ianmichaelinwonderland
I love a lot of things about summer, but
my absolute favorite thing? The beach.
my territory closest to the water for the
best view (and close to the lifeguard, if
you’re living your “Baywatch” fantasy).
I’ll take as many beach days as I can
get. Of course, all the gays love Fire
Island—which is perfect if you have a
place to stay and have at least the whole
weekend to get away. However, when
I just have a day to spare, or even just
an afternoon, I always make my way to
Jacob Riis Beach.
Preparing for the beach is always
important. I have a checklist of
essentials: swimwear
(Nathan
Ayon
briefs), a
large beach
towel,
sunscreen
(the highest
SPF I can
possibly find),
alcohol in a
cooler (bottles
of rose are my
go-to), lunch
and snacks (deli
sandwiches
are pretty easy
to transport),
whatever book
I’m reading at
the moment
(“The Razor’s Edge”
by W. Somerset
Maugham) and some
kind of game (deck
of playing cards). I
throw everything in an oversized
beach tote and head for the train.
The last time I went, my friends had
their own lists, adding: beach umbrella,
portable phone charger, a beach mat
to go under our towels, a Bluetooth
speaker, bottles of water and a unicorn
floaty (of course).
You want to arrive to Jacob Riis as early
as you can shake your hangover to make
sure you get a good spot: I like to claim
What I love so much about Jacob Riis
Beach is how diverse it is. You will see all
ethnicities, all genders, all body types—
all of us, just living our best lives for an
afternoon away from the reality of the
city. A group of 20-something twinks
drank wine coolers behind us, an elderly
gay couple sunbathed to our right
and to our left a group of women with
brightly colored hair
had their breasts out,
running back and forth
between their towels
and the water. One of
their male friends had
scars on both sides
of his chest, and I
reminded myself
how lucky I am to
be alive in a time
when we can be
proud to live our
lives as our true
selves.
the
Beach Day
My boyfriend
got me to do
something I’ve
never done
at Jacob Riis
Beach: go into
water. I never
go further
than my
knees—I’m
just there
to lay in the sun
and collect seashells anyway.
But my boyfriend went out as far as his
toes could touch (three inches shorter
than me, mind you) and begged me
to come out with him. I went slowly,
cowardly, jumping as every wave took
over a little bit more of my body—but
once I’d dunked my head under water,
I didn’t want to leave. We stayed out in
the water a long time, swimming and
splashing and kissing.
Your next day off, I highly recommend
Jacob Riis Beach. Just don’t forget the
SPF!

photos / GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM
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ISSUE 429 - JULY 31 2019
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