Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 491

BOXERS NYC PRESENTS

> BY TYLER WYNN
RIDE ‘EM COWBOY
LIFE IS BETTER ON THE RANCH IN ES COLLECTION USA
The new spring line from ES Collection USA is out now and its
message is clear: It is time to hit the hay, ya’ll.
Add some giddy-up to your underwear drawer this season with ecoconscious,
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and jocks. All items are made with recycled fabric built from plastic
residues found in the Mediterranean. Production is done in one
factory to eliminate unnecessary emissions from travel.
Photographer Carlos Campos shot the Cowboys campaign in Las
Vegas with models Darrien, Rouss, Alvaro, Ty, Jeb, Davide, Richard,
Ken, Caleb and Felix. The entire collection is available now at
ESCollectionUSA.com.
Darrien plays the villainous outlaw
in his black hat and matching ES
CollectionUSA’s recycled rib bikini.
$38 at ESCollectionUSA.com
Their boots are made for walking.
Darrien pairs his westerns with
ES Collection USA’s Recycled Rib thong while
Caleb opts for ESCollectionUSA’s 7 Days 7
Colors jock, both in black. $34 thong, $31 jock
at ESCollectionUSA.com

Rouss commands front and center in
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It’s a cowboy draw with Jeb and Davide wearing
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Richard is moonshining in ESCollectionUSA’s 7
Days 7 Colors jock in navy blue while
Rouss ponders his next move in
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Ken, Darrien and Alvaro are the red bandana
posse in their ES CollectionUSA’s recycled rib
thongs. Ken wears green, Darrien black and Alvaro
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Jeb and Davide are buckaroos in ES
CollectionUSA’s recycled rib bikini. Jeb
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Howdy, partners. Felix and Ty buckle up in
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recycled rib bikini. $38 jock, $41 bikini at
ESCollectionUSA.com.

BY INTERVIEW & WRITE-UP
BY KEVIN ORTEGA-ROJAS
ONE NIGHT
WITH MISS
COCO PERU
BITTER, BOTHERED
& BEYOND!
BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB -
MARCH 21, 2022
Legendary performer Miss Coco
Peru is returning to New York City
for what she says may very well be
her last performance in town. On
Monday, March 21st at Birdland
Jazz Club, Coco will introduce a
New York City audience to her
brand new show, Bitter, Bothered &
Beyond!
With decades of experience
putting on one-person shows,
Coco says that she has always
“worked her ass off” to put on a
great performance, and this one is
no exception. Created completely
during a worldwide pandemic, the
show, says Coco, was hard to write
because she really didn’t want to
do it.
“I didn’t feel hopeful at all. But I
had to allow myself to write, even
though I wasn’t feeling generous
and I didn’t really want to write.”
This process definitely worked–
perhaps too well, because Coco
eventually wrote over 100 pages
for this show that had to be
later edited down to just under
30 pages. But this wasn’t a new
process for the veteran performer.
“Theater is hard,” says Coco. “But
I am always prepared. I find my
freedom as a performer by being
prepared and disciplined.
“I work hard to make it look easy,”
she says about the creative process.
Coco describes this show as riding
a fine line; “I’m teetering between
things that you should and should
not say.” She goes on to reveal
that she is saying the things her
audiences wishes they could say. “It
is satisfying to be saying things on
stage that the audience also feels.”
Looking ahead, Coco will be
featured in the upcoming Netflix
animated series Dead End:
Paranormal Park. She says she
would love to take on more
voiceover roles in the future.
For now, though, Miss Coco
Peru is focused on creating an
unforgettable experience for
her audience. “I am excited to
be creating that magic that can
only be experienced through live
theater and storytelling.”
Bitter, Bothered & Beyond! starring
Miss Coco Peru opens at Birdland
Jazz Club on Monday, March 21
and Tuesday 22, 2022. The show
will also be performed in cities like
Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Portland
and more. For more information,
visit www.misscocoperu.com
PHOTO CREDIT: PETER PALLADINO

week in pictures >> BY WILSONMODELS / wilsonmodels.blogspot.com
BEER BLAST @ THE EAGLE

week in pictures >> BY WILSONMODELS / wilsonmodels.blogspot.com
DILF @ THE EAGLE

is a new short comedy
film by Clover Welsh
and Jed Ryan that takes
a comedic look at male
public nudity. From nude
beaches, to locker rooms
to restroom urinals,
the focus on exposure,
privacy, or lack thereof is
brazenly portrayed. And
yes, the film does contain
male full-frontal nudity!
A unique opportunity is
being offered to watch
this film about public
nudity, in the nude, at a
nudist event! The naturist
group MAN (Males Au
Naturel) will be screening
the film at their party
on Saturday, April 2nd
at a Brooklyn location.
MAN is a NYC-based
organization that holds
social, non-sexual, nude
events for those who
identify as male. Go to
males.org for details if
interested.
For those who do not
want to see nudity, a
special family-friendly edit
of Modest Male Exposure
that blocks out private
parts will be broadcast
on the MNN (Manhattan
Neighborhood Network)
cable television station on
Monday, April 25 from 10
to 10:30 PM.

MNN is on FiOS Channel
38 and Spectrum
Channel 1992. Those
who do not live in
Manhattan can see the
film online at MNN.org
on their Culture Channel
during the broadcast
time.
In the film, TV reporter
Sam Derrick (played
by Jed Ryan) notices
changing attitudes
about male nudity while
blogging about some
of his recent news
segments. From a
live post-game locker
room interview that
accidentally broadcasts
naked players to a
segment about a nudist
resort where no one
is shy; from male high
school students who
won’t use showers
after gym class or open
urinals to concerns
about openly LGBTQ
people and women.
This has him wondering:
Will hitting the showers
with his rugby buddies
after games ever be the
same?
Jed Ryan, who is also
the producer, plays
Sam, the journalist,
and presents all the
unclothed antics to us.
His immodest locker
room buddies, played
by Mark-Eugene
Garcia, Rocco Chanel
and Shaun McMurtrie
bare all while showing
camaraderie.
Director and co-writer
Clover Welsh, a/k/a drag
comedian Lady Clover
Honey, like drag icon
Divine, plays both a
female and a male role–a
woman reporter who
enjoys herself too much
in the men’s locker room
and a cool dude at the
nude beach.
Also at the beach are an
outgoing Ryan Wolowsky
and Sara Minisquero
as a gusty, outspoken
female nudist.
Frankie Allday and
Jonathan Salazar play
students who give riotous
point/counterpoint views
on the need or non-need
to have privacy dividers
between the restroom
urinals at their high
school. Anthony Logan
Cole adds to the fun as
a pro baseball coach of
an oddly named team
giving a live post-game
locker room TV interview
that reveals more than
needed of athletes
played by Thomas
Delgado, Evan Laurence,
Billy Little, Anu Singh and
Sean Stephens.
Graphics and editing are
provided by Dana Bryan,
who is the founder of
the legendary adultentertainment
company
Latino Fan Club. Some
sizzling but non-sexual
locker room scenes from
Latino Fan Club were
added to Modest Male
Exposure.
The opening and
closing song, “Keep
It Movin’”, for Modest
Male Exposure has
been provided by actor
and Billboard-charting
recording artist Lovari.
“Keep It Movin’” newly
released video makes
controversial statements
against being too
politically correct.

BY TOM TIETJEN
DAVID
HERNANDEZ
REVEALS BODY
AND SOUL
“I never thought in a million
years that I would be releasing
a fully nude book or singing
about sex on my album,’ laughs
David Hernandez. “But now, I’m
fearless. This is who I’ve always
been. I just didn’t give myself
permission to be me because I
was always told not to.”
In his provocative new EP, “Don’t
@ Me”, and its accompanying
book of intimate photography,
“#NSFW”, the former American
Idol is going where no other Idol
has gone before. “I definitely
don’t hold back on this project,”
he reflects. “This is sensual
and explicit David Hernandez,
lyrically and visually.”
Singles on the EP include
“Vices,” about the toxicity
Hernandez encountered when
he first found fame in his 20s,
and “Special,” about trying to
reach climax at the same time
as his partner. The cover track
chronicles where he is in his life
today.
But it’s in the book of nude
photos, shot by Noel Photo
Studios, where David fully
embraces his newfound freedom
of expression. We spoke with
him from Las Vegas to learn
more.
INTERVIEW
PHOTO CREDIT: NOEL PHOTO STUDIOS
How much of an influence did
your rise to fame on American
Idol and its aftermath have on
your new projects?
David Hernandez: A lot. The
American Idol platform did a great
deal of positive things for me and
it still does, but some personal
matters came to light that should
have remained private until I was
ready to make them public. I
think anyone’s coming out story
should be on their own terms.
Unfortunately, Perez Hilton and
a variety of other news sources
decided that they were the ones
that should talk about my life.
You were one of the first
celebrities to experience cancel
culture.
David Hernandez: Absolutely.
I definitely was! Of course, we
didn’t know it at the time because
cancel culture wasn’t a thing. But
looking back, after my stripper
past was revealed, I was declined
jobs and uninvited from places.
I remember a time when people
literally would come up to my face
and say the rudest things to me:

“So, are you going to go
back to stripping?” or
“Wow, what a disgrace.”
I was 24 years old so
you can only imagine
how that made me feel.
On top of that, some of
my family had no idea
that I was gay and I
was forced to have that
discussion with them.
Is “Don’t @ Me” a
slap back at your
detractors?
David Hernandez: The
title
track on
the album
definitely
takes shots
at certain
individuals
and
organizations
that may
have an
opinion
about how I carry
myself, then and now. I
think it’s badass (laughs).
But as for the album,
it is for my fans. My
fans are amazing and
so loyal. I can’t tell you
how many times they
have saved me from
some really dark places
I found myself in. The
message of this album is
that I’m finally at a place
where I really don’t
concern myself with
what others think. If you
don’t have anything nice
or constructive to say,
keep it moving.
Have you decided
what song will be the
first release?
David Hernandez: Not
yet. I gotta admit that
I love all the songs on
the album. They’re all
deeply personal to me.
For the first time in my
career, I have an entire
body of work where
I can relate to every
single song. I dug deep.
I’m gonna see what the
fans like best and then
release accordingly.
I always trust their
judgment.
Let’s talk “Special”.
Are you really singing
a song about trying
to reach climax at the
same time as your
partner?
David Hernandez:
(Laughing) I am! Listen,
if there’s anything I’ve
learned in my years of
life, it is that sex is best
when it’s not selfish. If
two people can enjoy
each other at the same
time and reach climax
together, well that is
probably the closest
they’re going to get to
God.
David Hernandez is
all grown up! And
to prove it, you’re
releasing your first
book of nude photos.
David Hernandez:
Performing in the Las
Vegas production of
Naked Boys Singing!
taught me to love parts
of my body that I never
did before. I also met a
talented photographer
who managed to break
me out of my shell, on
my own terms. The book
is a 20-page spread
that pairs artistic nudes
with quotes from my
original music, both past
and present. It’s a very
intentional testament to
the place that I am at in
my life right now, and
that’s “free”.
Did anyone in your
family see you perform
in Naked Boys
Singing!?
David Hernandez:
(Laughing) Omg, my
mom came! But listen,
my mom had me when
she was 17-years-old.
We are best friends
to the core. We share
things with each other
that are so personal that
most people would be
like, “You talk with your
mom about that?” She’s
very open minded and
knew that it was not a
show that was sexual
in nature. It’s a musical
comedy. At the end
of the day, she would
support me no matter
what.
You have also launched
an Onlyfans page!
David Hernandez: Yes!
My Onlyfans journey
was created to be
able to express myself
fully with fans. It’s just
another level and side
of me. I encourage all of
my fans to join the fun.
David Hernandez’s
book, “NSFW” is
being sold on his
website: www.
officialdavidhernandez.
com. The EP is
available on Apple
Music, Spotify, Tik Tok,
Amazon, and all other
major e-music retailers.

CHAD
LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018
REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT
KEEP
CREATING.
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used
to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.
Featured patient compensated by Gilead.
Watch Chad’s story at BIKTARVY.com

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about
BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare
provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side
effects, including:
Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV)
infection. Your healthcare provider will
test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1
and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get
worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do
not stop taking BIKTARVY without first
talking to your healthcare provider,
as they will need to check your health
regularly for several months, and may
give you HBV medicine.
ABOUT BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill,
once-a-day prescription medicine
used to treat HIV-1 in adults and
children who weigh at least 55 pounds.
It can either be used in people who
have never taken HIV-1 medicines
before, or people who are replacing
their current HIV-1 medicines and
whose healthcare provider determines
they meet certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take
a medicine that contains:
dofetilide
rifampin
any other medicines to treat HIV-1
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side
effects, including:
Those in the “Most Important Information
About BIKTARVY” section.
Changes in your immune system.
Your immune system may get
stronger and begin to fight infections
that may have been hidden in your
body. Tell your healthcare provider
if you have any new symptoms after
you start taking BIKTARVY.
Kidney problems, including kidney
failure. Your healthcare provider
should do blood and urine tests to
check your kidneys. If you develop
new or worse kidney problems, they
may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.
Too much lactic acid in your blood
(lactic acidosis), which is a serious but
rare medical emergency that can lead
to death. Tell your healthcare provider
right away if you get these symptoms:
weakness or being more tired than usual,
unusual muscle pain, being short of
breath or fast breathing, stomach pain
with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue
hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded,
or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.
Severe liver problems, which in rare
cases can lead to death. Tell your
healthcare provider right away if you
get these symptoms: skin or the white
part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “teacolored”
urine, light-colored stools, loss
of appetite for several days or longer,
nausea, or stomach-area pain.
The most common side effects of
BIKTARVY in clinical studies were
diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and
headache (5%).
These are not all the possible side effects
of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider
right away if you have any new symptoms
while taking BIKTARVY.
You are encouraged to report negative
side effects of prescription drugs to the
FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or
call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Your healthcare provider will need to
do tests to monitor your health before
and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
Continued on next page.
Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, continued on the
next page and at BIKTARVY.com.

REAL BIKTARVY
PATIENTS
ZACH
D’EVA
HUGO
CHAD
Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY.
Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com
Featured patients compensated by Gilead.
NIKKI
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (CONTINUED)
DIMITRI
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
Have or have had any kidney or liver
problems, including hepatitis infection.
Have any other health problems.
Are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY
can harm your unborn baby. Tell your
healthcare provider if you become
pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.
Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to
breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can
be passed to the baby in breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all
the medicines you take:
Keep a list that includes all prescription
and over-the-counter medicines,
antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal
supplements, and show it to your
healthcare provider and pharmacist.
BIKTARVY and other medicines
may affect each other. Ask your
healthcare provider and pharmacist
about medicines that interact with
BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to
take BIKTARVY with all your
other medicines.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY
Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or
without food.
GET MORE INFORMATION
This is only a brief summary of important
information about BIKTARVY. Talk to
your healthcare provider or pharmacist
to learn more.
Go to BIKTARVY.com or call
1-800-GILEAD-5
If you need help paying for your
medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for
program information.
Please see Important Facts,
including important warnings,
above and at BIKTARVY.com.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP CREATING, and LOVE WHAT’S
INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021
© 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0413 04/21

BY JIM SILVESTRI
HComedian, host, emcee and actor,
Flame Monroe is an explosive and
inspiring talent hailing from Chicago.
Flame’s introduction to audiences
in the United States and abroad
has been anything but traditional.
With more than two decades honing
the art of female impersonation in
clubs starting in the Windy City and
now across the country under her
wig, the most challenging role has
been that of single parent to three
academically gifted and creative
children. Flame describes it as AM
Dad/PM Drag!
On Point With
FLAME MONROE
Flame’s dynamic sense of style,
flair, and storytelling earned her a
featured spot in Tiffany Haddish
Presents: They Ready, a stand-up
comedy series on Netflix. Produced
by Flame, Tiffany Haddish, Wanda
Sykes, and Page Hurwitz, the
comedy show remains among the
top streamed shows on Netflix since
its premiere in August 2019, and her
episode received an Emmy Award
nomination for Outstanding Director
for a Variety series.
Flame has appeared on Russell
Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam on
HBO with host D.L. Hughley, BET’s
ComicView with J.B Smoove, Cedric
the Entertainer and Sommore, and,
most recently, the #1 rated syndicated
urban radio show in the U.S., iHeart
Radio’s The Breakfast Club (heard
locally on Power 105.1 FM), hosted by
DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne
tha God.
shows no signs of slowing down in
her stilettos. It will all be on display
at Carolines on Broadway (1626
Broadway at 49th Street) when Flame
makes her headlining debut at the
iconic NYC club, from March 17 – 19.
www.carolines.com.
Tickets can be
purchased at
Flame’s energetic, hilarious, and
informative comedy routine touches
on all things Flame Monroe: her past,
her politics, her family, and how she

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
NIGHT OF A
THOUSAND GOWNS:
EMPRESS
XXX AND
XXXV
SUGAR B.
REAL
The most glittery night of the
year, Night of A Thousand
Gowns, will take place at the
Grand Edison Ballroom in NYC
on Saturday, March 26, 2022
at 7:00 PM, presented by the
Imperial Court of New York.
Emperor XXV and XXX Sir Tree
and Empress XXX and XXXV
Sugar B. Real will be stepping
down in a night of glamour and
opulence.
Empress XXX and XXXV Sugar
B. Real (a/k/a Rhonda Potter)
has spent a good part of her
life in support of the LGBTQ
community. She is also no
stranger to a crown as this is
her second time serving as
Empress for the Imperial Court
of New York. I had the great
pleasure of talking to Sugar
B. Real about her experiences
with the community and with
the Imperial Court of New York.
INTERVIEW
Hello, Sugar. What do
you think we can expect
this year from Night of A
Thousand Gowns?
Because of Covid,
because of these crazy
times now, Night of A
Thousand Gowns will be
scaled down a little bit,
but you could absolutely,
positively expect all the
glitz and the glamour and
the fabulousness. Our
members of the Imperial
Court have a way of
bringing it and making
everything beautiful. It still
will be the most amazing
night. The most amazing
must-attend event for the
season.
How do you feel about
stepping down?
Oh my gosh, you know,
this is my second time.
The reason I ran this time
was because of Covid. I
felt it was important for
the figurehead of the
organization to be a little
louder. It was important
that the organization
didn’t fall to the wayside
or it didn’t get lost in the
madness. While I am an
ally, I have been in the
LGBTQ community since
the ‘80s, when a very good
friend of mine who was a
nurse at St. Vincent’s and
did AIDS research there
said that a friend of ours
was in the hospital, “and
you can go visit him”.

PHOTO CREDIT: RON COMSTOCK
I remember my
response to him was,
“I can’t go there.”
He said, “Girl, it’s
not contagious like
that.” I went to visit
this friend of ours,
and as I was walking
to his room, two
things stood out to
me.
You know when you
see in the movies
all the food trays
outside? I was
passing rooms with
people that I was
dancing at the Roxy
with the weekend
before. Me not
grasping the severity
of the situation, I
was asking them
what they were
doing there. There
were hugs, there
were kisses and
offering them the
food that was out in
the hallway because
the nurses were
afraid to bring it in.
Then it turned out
to be a thing where I
would go just to say
“Hey”.
Then I made
another friend
who volunteered
for God’s Love
We Deliver. So I
volunteered in the
kitchen for five
years. I’ve been
in the LGBTQ
community for a
really long time. I’m
a little loud, super
friendly and I’ve
been raising money
and being part of
the community for
so long, I wanted to
make sure that the
figurehead in what I
call unprecedented
times would be
someone that when
they walked into
a room, people
would know that
the Imperial Court is
still around and that
we are still working
and raising money
for the community
when they needed it
the most. We don’t
want people to be
forgotten.

People like Bailey
House and all the
places that we raise
money for. One of
my favorite charities
is Citileaf Housing. I
went there 16 years
ago to do one of our
outreach programs
called “Hearts and
Voices” and I met
the Director and
fell in love with
her. I fell in love
with the fact that
it was a long-term
care facility. One of
our beneficiaries is
Citileaf Housing, and
Bailey House is great.
We do a Christmas in
July for them every
year. I just wanted to
make sure that the
Imperial Court didn’t
get lost or forgotten.
I’m actually very
proud of everything
that we did in spite
of the pandemic.
Every event that
we tried to do in
person had been
canceled when the
variant came up.
But we did a lot of
virtual productions
this year. I went
out and purchased
backdrops, lighting
and all kinds of
things. And not
only did we do
virtual events– in
my apartment in
Jackson Heights,
no less–but we also
did videos that were
sent to one of the
72 chapters so that
they too could put
on fundraisers and
raise money within
their communities. It
was amazing because
it gave me the ability
to be in more than
one place at one
time. It gave the
ability to help raise
money in Vancouver
and California
and Connecticut.
It’s like you were
everywhere. So, it
was very fulfilling.
So, while we were
not able to do as
much as we normally
do, I still think it
was a huge success
this year. We just
had to cancel two
events, but on March
12th, I’m going to
do our first event
in Jackson Heights
in conjunction with
Friends, which is a
popular bar here.
Jackson Heights has
the first Pride Parade
every year, organized
by Daniel Drumm,
and it’s the most
amazing event ever.
The parade is only 15
blocks long and then,
after the parade,
everyone comes
back to my house.
I’ll keep that in
mind.
I always have an
open house and
people come and
go and come and
go. That’s how I was
raised. I was raised in
a family with a very
open door policy.
There is always room
for one more. My
father used to say,
“You always know
you have a little more
than the next guy, so
you are always able
to give to somebody
else.” My father had
a very loving and
giving spirit, and he
was an amazing man,
and I think that he
gave some of that to
me.
Seems like he did.
I grew up with
two parents, five
siblings, and one
bathroom, and I
don’t remember
ever having an
argument over the
bathroom. I’m from
Trinidad, but I grew
up in Ozone Park in
Queens.
That’s a great
story. So do you
know if Night
of A Thousand
Gowns will have
its usual red carpet
and celebrity
entertainment?
The entertainment
this year is Jeanna
de Waal and Denise
Weeks. Jeanna
originated the role
of Diana, Princess
of Wales at La
Jolla Playhouse
and played it on
Broadway (and on
Netflix). Denise
Weeks is known as
the Subway Singer
turned superstar.

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
NIGHT OF A
THOUSAND GOWNS:
EMPEROR
XXX SIR
TREE
The Imperial Court of New
York presents the 36th Annual
Night of A Thousand Gowns
on Saturday, March 26, 2022
at The Edison Ballroom in
Manhattan. The extravaganza
will feature more dazzle,
sparkle and glam than stars
in the universe, as well as the
stepping down of Emperor XXX
Sir Tree and Empress XXXV
Sugar B. Real.
Emperor XXX Sir Tree (lovingly
known the world over as
Tree) has thus far had an
extraordinary life, and at
83 years old, he shows no
evidence of slowing down
anytime soon. He travels
the world as an activist and
LGBTQ diplomat, as well as
raising money for the LGBTQ
community. I had the honor of
speaking to Tree regarding his
career as the leading bartender
on the planet, his involvement
with the Imperial Court of New
York, and his exciting life.
INTERVIEW
Hello, Tree. What is it
like for you being an
Emperor?
This is my second time.
We travel around and
people bow to us and we
bow to certain people and
we raise money for New
York and then help them
to raise money as well.
For example, I’m going
to Fort Lauderdale. So us
being there and buying
tickets for the Ball and
the Victory Brunch helps
them raise money for their
charity. Then, at Night of A
Thousand Gowns, we hope
they visit us.
Last year, covid put a
damper on N.O.A.T.G.
We had it virtually at a
theater. We had a friend
that works at a theater
and had a backdrop made
and we did it as though it
were a Broadway show. It
looked like the palace of
Versailles and then we had
chandeliers hanging too.
Besides the cameraman,
there were only three or
four people allowed with a
producer and director and
I there. I did my number
and then I had to do the
coronation with Sugar,
and when we left, another
group came in. It took two
days to do it.
And this year?
It’s going to be at the
Edison Grand Ballroom. It’s
beautiful.

What’s in store for this year?
Well it’s my step-down. I enjoy
it, you know, and I’ve never lipsynched
in my life. When I travel to
different courts I have to perform.
The out-of-town visitors performing
entertain us.
What song will you be
performing?
I’m doing “ ‘S Wonderful” By
Gershwin. I’m going to be 83 years
old and my doctor says mentally
I’m 45. I have friends that are 65
and don’t wanna go out, and I run
around like a champ. So I’m doing
Engelbert Humperdinck‘s version
of “It’s Wonderful.” I know most
of the words of all the ‘30s and
‘40s songs from watching them
in the musicals on television all
these years. I can’t tell you
how many times I’ve watched
the movie 42nd Street with
Ruby Keeler. The older
generation gets a kick
out of it–the people that
are 60/70 years ol–and
the younger generation
are hearing the songs
for the first time.
That’s true. How many
years have you been
involved with the
I.C.O.N.Y.? And
have you seen a
big change from
the time you
started until now?
Almost 20 years.
Not really. A lot
of people get
too old and retire...
I miss them
terribly, but we
get a whole new
group of young
kids that want
to perform and
have fun.
PHOTO CREDIT: RON COMSTOCK
PHOTO CREDIT: RON COMSTOCK

Will there be
celebrities
performing?
They are talking
about celebrities.
If you remember
five years ago when
I stepped down, I
invited Ian McKellen
and he came. Nobody
realized that I knew
him. But they never
asked.... When he’s
here, he and I party,
we are friends. Dustin
Lance Black came,
we gave him the
presidential award,
and he’s been my
friend for about 10
years.
You must have
collected a lot of
friends all these
years?
People are amazed by
people I know. At my
65th birthday party at
Stonewall, we had Rue
McClanahan and Bea
Arthur. Over the years,
Joyce Randolph, Julie
Wilson, Mercedes
Hall would stop by,
Elvis Duran, you never
know who is going
to walk into one of
my birthday parties.
I tell everybody I’m
just a bartender from
Brooklyn who just
barely graduated high
school and here I am
in different peoples’
houses, having parties
with them. I’m just a
person and they are
all celebrities with
more money than
God. But they are all
good people. They are
not stars, they don’t
walk around with an
entourage.
In the New York
nightlife, you are
definitely a superstar.
Oh, God...It
embarrasses me
sometimes. My friend
went to a bar in
Amsterdam, and he
ordered a drink. They
started talking to him
and asked where he
was from. He told him
he was from New York
City and the bartender
asked him, “Do you
know Tree”? He said
he almost fell off of
his bar stool. I’m just a
bartender who knows
a lot of people, and if
you’re nice to people,
you get to know more
people. Remember,
I’ve traveled the
world for Pride. I
went to nine different
countries in a couple
of years, and now the
State Department
sends me to different
countries. They sent
me to Serbia and
they sent me to the
Ukraine to help them
with the gay rights
movement because
they are coming out
of darkness. The funny
thing is, when they
approached me, I said
“Twenty five years
ago you wanted to kill
me, now you want to
use me”? They didn’t
know how to answer
that.
What’s your best
advice for the
younger generation
just getting involved
with the Imperial
Court?
I’d tell them to have
fun. Don’t go crazy
spending money
on bling and gowns
because you will
need it for traveling. I
always tell the people
at the bar to please
have safe sex, and if
you smoke, please
stop smoking and
enjoy your life. Look,
I’m going to be 83
years old and I’m
enjoying my life more
than the younger
generation. It’s all in
your mind how much
fun you’re going to
have, who you are
going to love. I can
count on one hand
the people I don’t
like. When I see them,
I just read them, but
deep down inside
there is something
leery about them.
When I am bartending
and somebody walks
in the bar thinking
he’s God‘s gift to the
world and in reality
nobody knows who he
is, and when I shake
his hand I get a tingle
down my spine, within
an hour and a half we
are blowing him out of
the bar. It’s a vibe.
What is your favorite
drink to create?
I tease them and tell
them to open up a
beer. My favorite drink
is what I drink–Stoli
raspberry, half soda,
half cranberry with a
lemon.....

ISSUE #491
PUBLISHER MICHAEL TODD
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
DESIGN AGOTA CORREA
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM
CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER EILEEN SHAPIRO
@EILEENSHAPIRO3
NYC’S NIGHTLIFE AWARD WINNING BLOGGER/
WRITER & INTERVIEWER JIM SILVESTRI
NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER WILSONMODELS
JEASO86@HOTMAIL.COM
The publications of MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT, getoutmag.com or any
other 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 © Copyright 2019
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