Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 585

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LIZZO AT PIECES AND HARDWARE

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
ULTRA NATÉ
Still Free, Still Fearless, Still Evolving
Photo Credit: Marco Cerrone
Few artists in dance music have
managed to evolve with the culture
while still remaining completely
true to themselves quite like Ultra
Naté. A voice that helped define
the golden era of house music with
timeless anthems like “Free,” “New
Kind of Medicine,” and “Love’s The
Only Drug,” Ultra Naté continues to
bridge generations through music
rooted in soul, liberation, community
and fearless reinvention.
Now, as classic releases find new
life in the digital age and a new
album begins to take shape, Ultra
Naté stands at a powerful creative
crossroads. Reintroducing iconic
tracks to younger audiences
through expanded remix packages
and rediscovered underground
mixes, she is also embracing fresh
collaborations — including the
shimmering French disco-inspired
single “Starlight” with European
producer the Avener. At the same
time, she remains deeply immersed
in today’s dance culture, constantly
exploring new sounds, new spaces
and new ways to connect through
music.
Beyond the studio, Ultra Naté’s
world is busier and more inspired
than ever. From international tours
and Ibiza performances to her
celebrated Deep Sugar events,
SiriusXM residency, and an upcoming
role as Composer in Residence
for the Baltimore Museum of Art,
she continues to expand her legacy
while building new chapters in real
time.
In this exclusive conversation with
Get Out magazine, Ultra Naté opens
up about artistic evolution, independence,
spirituality, house music
culture and why empowerment
will always remain at the heart of
everything she creates.

INTERVIEW >>>
You’ve been revisiting iconic
tracks like “New Kind of
Medicine” and “Love’s The
Only Drug”. What inspired
you to re-release these
classics now, and how do
they resonate differently in
today’s world?
It is really exciting to be able
to redo these packages.
These particular songs, with
the Internet and social media
now…It was not so prevalent
back then. It was not the case
during the time that these
were originally released. So
it is great now because there
are new generations and new
kids and new people learning
and finding about music in
spaces that you never had
access to before. I am also
completely independent since
those days. I have a lot more
control over certain aspects
of my career and my catalog.
There are a lot of remixes
and additions to the packages
that may have been missed.
The main drivers were what
was happening with radio
and what people saw on the
charts. But there were DJ
mixes and tools and different
aspects of those releases that
people may not have gotten
in its totality. So it is exciting
that in this world of digital, we
can pull all of these threads
together. The original mixes,
some underground mixes that
people may have missed, as
well as possibly new remixes
in the package by putting
these records out again. Because
at the end of the day,
it’s about the song and the
song is going to stand the test
of time and is going to have
another day in the sun.
Your upcoming single,
“Starlight”, with the Avener
marks another exciting
collaboration. What drew
you to this project, and how
does it reflect your current
musical evolution?
It is a collaboration. It kind
of came out of the blue. The
Avener is the name of the
producer. He is French. He
is very popular and very well
known. Really making waves
and doing well, especially
in Europe. He is much more
well-known in Europe than the
US. His folks reached out to
me arbitrarily to ask if I would
consider doing this record. I
was working on some stuff
with Cerone and the guy who
pieced us together was from
Cerone’s camp. Somehow in
the mix of my communication
and my writing with Cerone,
we came together. Maybe a
year or two ago. Cerone is
also a legend in his own right.
But he was also working with
the Avener. They sent me
the track and said, “He would
really like to work with you.
This is the song that he has in
mind, and if you’re interested,
would you consider doing a
collaboration?” I was listening
to the track and I thought,
“This is really, really cool.
I really like it.” It’s a whole
different take. Kind of like
French disco. Who doesn’t
like French disco? I’m a disco
baby. I feel like I missed the
boat to grow up in a generation
with disco. So, I feel like I
get to engage a little bit in that
space. It’s a really cool French
disco sound. Very danceable.
It’s going to be great for summer.
Summer days and early
nights and romance.
Do you speak French?
No, a lot of people think I do
when I am there, which is the
funniest part. I have a level of
understanding, so I am able
to respond appropriately. So
people misconstrue that as if
I actually speak the language.
The more I am there, the
more I will use the language.
The same thing being in
Spain. The longer I am there,
the more I am absorbed into
the culture.
With a new album in the
works, how would you
describe the overall sound
and message of this project
compared to your earlier
releases?
I think it is just that I care.
I care about all of it. I care
about who is listening to
dance music. What are they
doing in that space. I’m curious.
I try to stay experimental.
I go out. I went out Wednesday
night to a Disclosure set
at Echostage to just be in the
culture. See what the kids
are listening to. It helps me to
continue to have a perspective
beyond the moment that I
came out and started making
records over three decades
ago. It is very important to
stay in connection to the
culture at different levels and
spaces and different crowds.
So I care about what our music
is doing. What our culture
is doing. And all of the levels
and various incarnations of it.
I’ve never been afraid to dive
into different spaces and try
different things. Somewhere
within that, always being
true to myself and to my own
voice and who I am and how I
think about things. But always
working to integrate things
that are moving forward and
shifting and involving and
staying completely open and
present to what the universe
brings me.

How it tells me to create and
unfold my art. A lot of artists
kind of get stuck in a lane that
becomes their comfort zone
where they peaked. And they
can only translate through
that one identity. I try not to
do that. My legacy is what it
is. People strongly attach me
to the ‘90s to a specific point
in time. Because there was
great music and great things
going on, and I love that. It is
always important to look at
the totality of what I do. As an
artist, singer, and songwriter,
I continually dive into other
genres.
With a new album in the
works, how would you
describe the overall sound
and message of this project
compared to your earlier
releases?
I think every album has its
own story and its own vibe.
It is always representative of
where music is at that moment.
Both on the inside and
the outside in terms of being
a completely independent
artist. I have to move with
what is happening now. On
how you even put an album
together. How you presented
to the world. How you sell it.
How you promoted it. As well
as the creative space of what
it should even sound like. It’s
always different because this
industry is always evolving
and changing. The listener is
always evolving and changing.
For me, it’s a matter of
“How do I express who I am
as a person in this moment
to meet where we are as an
industry?” I don’t know what
that is all going to sound
like until it’s done. I tried to
also let the music dictate to
me where we should go. I
start with broad strokes that
I would
like to
see,
but as it
starts to
evolve
and
come together,
it
starts to
change
and other
things
crystallize.
It
starts
to tell
its own
story.
You’ve
always
blended
soul,
house
and
empowerment
in your
music. How important is it
for you to keep that message
alive in today’s cultural
and political climate?
It is always the most prevalent
thing. It is always drop
one. It will always be the
foundation from which everything
springs. There has to
be an anchor. What are you
talking about? Who are you
as a person? What is it you
want to convey? What is it
you want the listener to walk
away with? What do you want
the kid that stumbles across
this record 10 years from now
to take away from it? To feel.
Those anchors in house, in
empowerment, in community,
spirituality–all of those things
are always going to be at the
crux of what I do. Because
that is who I am as a person.
Looking ahead, what
excites you most right now
- new music, live performances
or the continued
rediscovery of your legacy
catalog?
All of it. Because I have so
many great things around. It
is really interesting how
tricky the world is right now
in so many aspects. But then,
the other side of the coin, for
me personally, I feel like the
art is really feeding my soul.
There are times it could be
a bit of a roller coaster. You
have your ebb and flow when
you feel really inspired about
what you’re doing. But I feel
really super inspired about
what I’m doing right now.
Because the universe has
brought it back to me. The
things that I’ve put out into
the world, those seeds have
come back to me to fortify
me for the next part of my
journey. I have a really great
show coming up.

I’m preparing for a live show
with my band. I don’t get the
opportunity to perform with
my band very often because
it’s really super expensive.
So I don’t get to do that all
the time. It’s a five-piece
band with background singers
and dancers. So that’s
really exciting that I am able
to work on that right now.
That is for a really big festival
that happens every year
in Baltimore here. African
American Music Festival. It
is one of the biggest festivals
in the city every summer. I
am performing as one of the
hometown representatives.
That is a great honor for my
city to acknowledge me in
that way. I have some great
International gigs coming.
A big Australian tour. Some
dates in Ibiza, Switzerland,
Sweden, Amsterdam, Malta
and Detroit for Movement
Festival. My Deep Sugar party
is doing great. My Deep
Sugar Afterhours party–consistently,
people are showing
up. They are taking the
deep dive. They’re dancing.
They’re being in community
with each other. My rooftop
series is starting later this
month. People look forward
to that. To dance together
in the daytime and into the
night on a rooftop, it’s a very
beautiful, mystical kind of
setting up there. I’ve got a lot
of things going on in a lot of
places that are very near and
dear to me. A lot of things
that I’ve built from scratch
are now being platformed
in a really amazing way. It’s
not an official announcement
yet–it will come out on
June 16th--but I am now a
composer and resident for
the Baltimore Museum of Art.
That is a very esteemed honor
to have. On Friday, August
28th, my event will happen,
supported by the BMA. My
city reflecting back to me the
work that I’ve put in all of this
time representing the city is
coming back to me in such
amazing ways. I also have a
show on Sirius XM on Utopia
channel called Soundlab
Ultra. It airs every last Friday
of the month. That has been
really great to have Sirius
bring me in as a resident
performer on their platform
and give me my own show.
Every show has a theme and
a story. It is a lot of fun, so I
also invite people to join me
there.
You’ll be performing at the
Ice Palace in Fire Island on
June 20 with Bill Coleman,
Inaya Day…That will be an
awesome show. And then
in August, you will be performing
with an icon list of
singers including Deborah
Cox, Robin S., Cece
Peniston, Amuka, and
the list goes on for KTU’s
Beatstock in New Jersey
on 8/15 & Jones Beach on
8/16, What makes these
summer dance crowds so
electric for you?
I think summer always
presents a rebirth for dance
audiences and for people
in general. People are
moving around more, they
are getting more sun, and
more activities outdoors. The
daylight lasts longer, making
the nighttime more special.
There’s just a change in
frequency during the summer
that really activates for the
dance community when we
get together!
KTU events have become
legendary for bringing
together generations of
dance music fans. What
does it mean to still be part
of that culture?
It is the most amazing gift
that keeps on giving! It’s truly
an honor to be so actively
a part of a scene that I’ve
known and loved my entire
adult life. I love what I do
and I love that people still appreciate
what I’ve presented
to the world over the years
- and what I still have yet to
present.
You also have an amazing
hit new single out now.
Movin’ To The Sun · HUGEL
· Imael Angel · Ultra Naté
What inspired this release,
and does it capture the
energy of your live shows
this summer?
This new single is very exciting,
it was HUGEL‘s project
for his new album dropping
in June, and I’m totally loving
that he asked me to be a part
of it. The track is really resonating
with people around
the world in a big way, and
I think it’s because it has a
very distinct personality. It
really grabs your attention
at first listen and becomes a
serious ear worm! It’s been
an amazing addition to my
show, and I can’t wait to
perform it this summer. Since
it was just released, I’ve only
had a couple of opportunities
to do it live, but it was
electric for those audiences.
As it grows in popularity and
awareness through the summer
season, it’s only going
to amplify more and more for
the live set.

BUNNY
BY BRIAN HUG
Legendary drag icon Lady Bunny is setting
her sights on the Great White Way! In Bunny
Butchers Broadway!, her outrageous new musical
comedy extravaganza taking place July
21st at City Winery, Bunny takes a knife—and
a microphone—to some of Broadway’s most
beloved classics, gleefully slicing and dicing
songs from Wicked, Dreamgirls, Mamma Mia!,
Beauty and the Beast, and more with her trademark
blend of filthy humor and fearless social
commentary.
Nothing is sacred. Bunny transforms “Beauty
and the Beast” into “Pussy and the Yeast,”
reimagines “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” as
“Don’t Cry for Me, I’m On Tina,” and even
finds time for an original number taking aim at
everyone’s favorite billionaire punching bag,
Elon Musk. Along the way, she pays tribute
to icons like Liza Minnelli and Cher while
delivering a drag queen roll call featuring fan
favorites from RuPaul’s Drag Race. In other
words: if you’re easily offended, this may not
be the show for you.
INTERVIEW >>>
Which Broadway diva are you most
similar to?
Lady Bunny: Patti LuPone. Neither
one of us looks good dressed as a
woman.
Broadway fans are known for
being passionate. Are you worried
someone dressed as Elphaba might
chase you down an alley after hearing
what you’ve done to Wicked?
Bianca Del Rio is a friend, so I’m not
scared of witches. I don’t actually
parody any of Elphaba’s songs, so I
should be OK. But this show isn’t a
slavish recreation of Broadway hits.
It’s Broadway as seen through the
eyes of a demented drag queen who
writes filthy parodies. But I do sing a
reworking of “Popular” from Wicked,
so I may get Ariana Grande fans
chasing me after that song. Get her a
sandwich!

You’ve parodied everyone
from Liza Minnelli to
Cher. Is there any diva so
powerful, so legendary, that
even Lady Bunny is afraid
to mess with her?
Madonna performed in Times
Square recently, and I posted
her pic and captioned it,
“Donatella Versace performed
in Times Square to kick off
Pride. And only Donatella
could make a diaper look
chic.” Madonna fans got so
upset.
What inspired you to turn
“Beauty and the Beast” into
“Pussy and the Yeast?”
My mom’s vagina.
You joke that you’re taking
Ozempic to save money
on food. What’s the most
outrageous fad you’ve seen
people embrace that made
even you think, “Honey,
that’s too much”?
I’ve heard of drag queens
using meth to squeeze into
dresses for pageants, but how
do you win a pageant with
missing teeth? I tried meth
and it just made me eat faster.
David Dalrymple has
designed five looks for
this show. Which costume
makes you feel the most
glamorous, and which one
makes you pray nothing
pops out during the finale?
I wear a lot of mini-dresses,
so the only thing that would
pop out is a nut! But David
did create a gorgeous Sunset
Boulevard look for me based
on the Glenn Close version.
I saw the revival with
Nicole Scherzinger, and the
costumes all looked like black
Lululemon.
After butchering Broadway,
what’s next on your hit list?
Disney? Country music?
My real reason for doing a
show about Broadway is my
jealousy of the drag queens
who made it to Broadway.
Yes, I’m bitter! I saw Jinkx
Monsoon in Chicago and
I have to admit, she was
thrilling! I saw Alaska in Drag:
The Musical and that was
very restful. And Peppermint
in Head Over Heels was, well,
inclusive.
Lady Bunny stars in Bunny Butchers Broadway! taking place
July 21st at 7:30pm at City Winery. For tickets, visit tickets.citywinery.com

week in pictures >> BY WILSONMODELS / wilsonmodels.blogspot.com
BANG MY BOX: THE ROBIN BYRD STORY AT TRIBECA
FILM FESTIVAL
ISSUE #585
PEPPERMINT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WILSONMODELS AT
BROADWAY’S AL
HIRSCHFELD THEATRE
PUBLISHER MICHAEL TODD
MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM
DESIGN AND WEBSITE AGOTA CORREA
AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM
CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER EILEEN SHAPIRO
@EILEENSHAPIRO3
CONTRIBUTORS WILSONMODELS,
JIM SILVESTRI, & OTHERS TITLED WITHIN.
MJT / Gooth Entertainment, LLC is a free publication designed to promote
events, individuals and venues. in and around the LGBTQ+ community.
All content - including but not limited to photographs, interviews, articles and
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GET OUT OF THE HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT EST. 2009

BY JIM SILVESTRI Photo Credit: Greg Gorman
Pope of Trash John Waters
Spreads the Word at FI in July
It’s so great to talk to you
today, of course, and let
me be the latest of many
interviewers to wish you a
happy birthday!
Thank you! I’ve been celebrating
my birthday, it seems,
for months.
Are you, generally speaking,
a pro-birthday person?
Well, I don’t hide it. But after
your 20th, I think you should
give your own self a party so
it’s no one else’s responsibility…and
I have.
You, of course, are a
famous Baltimorean, but
you have a home here in
New York. What do you like
to do when you’re here in
town and you have free
time?
I do the exact same thing I
do in all four places I live. I
have friends that I’ve had for
50 years. I go out to dinner.
I go to movies. In New York,
I go to art galleries. And I
try to stay home because I
travel so much for work, so
I do the same thing. All my
apartments and homes look
alike inside. They all look the
same. I have contemporary
art, thousands of books,
oriental rugs, and the kind of
furniture young people hate:
antiques. And so, everybody
says, “Yeah, this looks like
your other place.” Yeah, they
all look the same. So they all
really feel like home.
That sounds like
heaven!
I’ve always said,
“Happiness is four
pairs of underpants!”
So you don’t go out
to the gay bars…Do
you think that scene
is tacky these days,
or maybe always?
I never went to gay
bars. The gay men I
liked were in straight
bars — the three
crazy ones. They’re
the ones I liked.
I was just going
down a YouTube
rabbit hole of sorts, and I
came across this recent UK
podcast interview with the
great Mink Stole, a favorite
actress and collaborator
of yours. She was reflecting
on some of the early
movies she made with you,
including a moment where
you had this great idea to
set her hair on fire, which
she ultimately declined.
Yes, that’s Pink Flamingos.
When I asked Mink to do
that, I was on marijuana — I
wasn’t thinking that it was
dangerous or anything. She
said, “Well, how are you
going to put it out?” And I
said, “We’ll throw a bucket
of water on you.” And I said
it completely thinking that
would be a good thing. She
was right to say no.
Years later on Cecil B.
Demented, you wisely used
special effects for a “hair
on fire” moment with that
film’s star, Melanie Griffith!
It’s one of the worst special
effects in the movie.
I loved it! But it made me
think of the two halves of
your career. The first half
is when you were doing everything
kind of “for real”:
very gonzo and guerilla
style, low-budget, shocking
grit. And then eventually,
when you started making
studio films with actual
budgets, you had the luxury
for special effects and
professional stunts and
more coverage and better
editing.

When you look back at those two halves
of your career, do you prefer one over the
other?
I think they’re all the same. Serial Mom is my
best movie. I think Female Trouble is the best
Divine movie. I have a soft spot for Pecker
and Cecil B. Demented because they didn’t
do as well when they came out. To me, all my
movies are the same.
Are you online a lot? Do you do social
media?
I don’t have any official websites. There’s
not one [social media platform] that I have
anything to do with. I spy on them, I look at
them. But I want to be harder to reach. I’m not
giving away my jokes every day. What would I
have in my books or my shows?
I was wondering: If you had come up now
as a kid…Do you think instead of making
movies, you would just be doing “weird
content” on algorithms?
No, I think I would have still made movies.
What has become a hit in the movie world
from social media? Nothing.
how we live in extreme times. We have to go
more extreme with humor. Humor is how we
win. Humor is a weapon. Humor is terrorism.
Humor is how we get people to change their
minds. So it’s about that.
You will talk about tons of other stuff at
the Ice Palace in July! What else is coming
up for you?
I got 59 shows this year. I did eight birthday
shows. I’m hosting Mosswood Meltdown, the
big punk rock festival that Iggy Pop’s headlining;
I’ve done it for maybe 12 years now. I’m
in American Horror Story. I’ve had more jobs
than I’ve ever had in my entire life; so that’s
good. I’m afraid that if I quit, I’ll drop dead on
stage. And if I do, I always say, “You can take
selfies. And if you dig me up from my grave
for sex, oral only.”
That’s very generous! Such a pleasure
talking to you, and happy birthday once
again!
-- Check out the full interview on Thotyssey.
com’s “On Point With John Waters.”
You’re gonna be on the Island
this summer!
I need to go back there–that
dressing room there. That’s where
I saw an old, big, drag queen shoe
left on the floor, which did make
me laugh. Carol Channing had just
been there.
Liza Minnelli was at the Palace
not too long ago as well.
Legends! And it was where Chita
Rivera had one of her last shows.
Well, it’s not going to be my last
show! I always feel like Emmanuelle
on Fire Island. It seems like a
sex tourism place.
You’re going to be frolicking
at the Ice Palace on July 25th!
“John Waters Is Going to
Extremes” is the name of your
show. What’s this particular
show like? What are you talking
about in it?
I mostly rewrite my show once a
year, completely. And this is about

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Photographed at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre,
home of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Moulin
Rouge! The Musical (now through August 30)
PEPPERMINT
Few artists have transformed
visibility into genuine cultural
impact quite like Peppermint.
A performer, actress, singer,
Broadway star, television
personality, and advocate,
Peppermint has spent years
breaking barriers while
remaining fiercely authentic
to herself and her community.
From becoming the first
openly trans contestant on
RuPaul’s Drag Race to captivating
audiences on Broadway
in Head Over Heels, she
has helped redefine what
representation in entertainment
can look like for an
entire generation.
Today, as a 2026 Grand Marshal
for NYC Pride, Peppermint
stands not only as a celebrated
entertainer but also
as a powerful voice for queer,
trans, and gender-nonconforming
communities around
the world. Whether appearing
in acclaimed projects like Fire
Island and Survival of the
Thickest or working alongside
the American Civil Liberties
Union as an Artist Ambassador
for Trans Justice, she
continues to use her platform
to inspire visibility, compassion,
and meaningful change.
Photographed at Al Hirschfeld Theatre by Wilsonmodels

INTERVIEW >>>
every Drag Race interview that I did. Which
led to opportunities to continue talking about
it through Broadway, through film, through
television, and even in this moment. I’m still
being asked about Drag Race today.
HELLO, PEPPERMINT. WHAT DOES BE-
ING NAMED A 2026 NYC PRIDE GRAND
MARSHAL MEAN TO YOU PERSONAL-
LY?
It means I will get another opportunity to
participate in the march and celebrate the
legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, all while
highlighting the importance of advocating on
behalf of queer, trans and gender nonconforming
people.
HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON YOUR
JOURNEY FROM DRAG RACE TO THIS
MOMENT?
It’s been a wild ride. I’m so grateful I had the
chance to do Drag Race. I feel like I was
practicing for this very moment all along.
Even before TV, I was performing and
involved in advocacy and charity, so now,
with a bigger stage, I feel that much more up
for the task.
WHAT IMPACT DID BEING THE
FIRST OUT TRANS CONTESTANT ON
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE HAVE ON YOUR
CAREER?
I think being the first out trans contestant on
Drag Race positioned me to talk about it in
HOW DID ORIGINATING A PRINCIPAL
ROLE IN HEAD OVER HEELS CHANGE
THE INDUSTRY FOR YOU?
Prior to auditioning for Head Over Heels,
it seemed as though there wasn’t much
concern to really understand trans characters
or the experiences of trans people or to
consider how that could inform professional
theater. After doing Head Over Heels on
Broadway, I received so many letters from
school productions, and even from some of
the actors, about the importance of finding
a non-binary or gender-nonconforming
performer to play the role of Pythio. The
decision to cast the role as trans was
obviously not mine and had been played so
beautifully before by Shakina Nayfack, but I
am grateful!
WHAT DOES AUTHENTIC TRANS
REPRESENTATION IN ENTERTAINMENT
LOOK LIKE TODAY?
Trans representation looks as varied as
any other group. People of all shapes and
sizes and colors and experiences should be
represented in as many stories as possible,
which I think is just a reflection of human
beings and everyday life.
HOW HAVE YOUR ROLES IN FIRE IS-
LAND AND SURVIVAL OF THE THICKEST
SHAPED YOUR VOICE AS AN ARTIST?
I feel so blessed to have fulfilled some of
my dreams and to have acted on television.
In Harlem, I got to play a trans woman who
spoke in depth about her decision to start
or not start a family of her own and how
that could impact their family. Having that
conversation with her cousin, who’s also
Black and queer, made it even more special.
It was not lost on me that literally the same
year abortion access was overturned. We
were two Black women, both of queer experience,
talking about family planning, but in
our own queer Black way.

WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES COME WITH
BEING A VISIBLE TRANS FIGURE IN
MAINSTREAM MEDIA?
I’m hopeful that we get to a point where
trans people don’t necessarily feel an
added pressure, but currently, politics are
so intense that it places a lot of scrutiny
on trans people. I personally go back
and forth between the pressures of not
wanting to disappoint the community, just
being myself, making my own decisions
regardless of what people think and trying
to avoid being so messy that it earns a bad
reputation for the rest of the community. I
think I usually end up somewhere
in the middle.
to harm us. I think it means seeking out
people who have the same basic needs as
us: food, shelter, housing, healthcare, etc.
and starting from that place, to make sure
we all have equal and fair access to those
things without being discriminated against.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU AS BOTH AN
ARTIST AND AN ACTIVIST?
I don’t really think of myself as an activist,
but I certainly hope to make a few more TV
appearances and I’m really excited about
a return to Broadway. And maybe even
another reality show or two.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
YOUR WORK AS ACLU ARTIST
AMBASSADOR FOR TRANS
JUSTICE?
The ACLU does fantastic work
as attorneys advocating for civil
rights. They are a really important
part of the front line of civil
rights protections in the United
States. Working closely with
the staff attorneys at the ACLU
has given me so much insight
and informed everything I do. It
allows me to speak with a little
bit of experience and sometimes
have the privilege of visiting the
Supreme Court and listening to
the non-television hearings live
and in color.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU
WANT TO SHARE WITH THE
LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY AT
PRIDE THIS YEAR?
I want to encourage trans folks
to be out and proud, to not let
society weight us down so much
because hope and joy are essential
to whatever is going to get
us through the next chapter, but
I also want the queer community
to understand that finding solidarity
with people who are different
than us doesn’t necessarily mean
betraying our own ideals just to
gain favor with people who want

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TRAILBLAZERS PARK DINNER & DEDICATION AT PAVILION

BY EILEEN SHAPIRO
CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT
Photo Credit: Stonewall Inn
THE STONEWALL INN
Based on Kurt Kelly and Stacy Lentz’s reflections,
one thing becomes clear: the Stonewall
Inn is far more than a historic landmark—it
remains a living symbol of resilience, activism
and community. As the owners celebrate 20
years of stewardship, they view Stonewall not
simply as the
birthplace of
the modern
LGBTQ+ rights
movement, but
as an ongoing
reminder that
progress is
never guaranteed.
While
they acknowledge
the
remarkable victories
achieved
since the 1969
uprising, including
marriage
equality and
greater social
acceptance, they also emphasize the importance
of educating younger generations about
the struggles that made those gains possible.
“If they don’t know their history, they might not
have a future,” Kurt notes, underscoring the
responsibility Stonewall carries in preserving
and sharing that legacy.
For Stacy and Kurt, the mission extends beyond
honoring the past. Through the Stonewall
Inn and its nonprofit initiatives, they continue
to create space for activism, community
outreach and emerging LGBTQ+ artists. Pride
Month remains especially meaningful as
visitors from
around the
world gather
outside the historic
building,
recognizing it
as a beacon
of courage
and change.
Whether
through
performances,
educational
programs,
fundraising efforts
or simple
conversations
with firsttime
visitors,
Stonewall continues to inspire people to carry
the fight for equality forward. As Stacy reflects,
those who visit should leave understanding
that they are “standing on the shoulders of
giants” and feeling empowered to become part
of the next chapter in the ongoing struggle for
justice, visibility and inclusion.
INTERVIEW >>>
Every year, thousands of
people visit the Stonewall
Inn. What do you hope they
take away from their experience?
KURT- A lot of things. The
importance of our history. The
importance of supporting the
community.
STACY- I think we want
everyone to feel welcome and
understand that community
is what built that. We want
them to feel welcome and
included as soon as they walk
in that space. We hope that
while they’re exploring history,
they become inspired to keep
that fight going. The fight for
equality.
How do you balance preserving
the history of Stonewall
while keeping it relevant for
new generations?
KURT- Education. The younger
generation has to know that
their history. Because without
their history, they might not
have a future. They have to
know that there was a time
when they couldn’t say who
they loved.

Or who they are. They have to
know the people fought for their
right to say what they can say
today. They can’t forget that. So
if they don’t know their history,
they might not have a future.
We might not have a future.
What challenges facing the
LGBTQ+ community today
would surprise those who
participated in the original
Stonewall uprising?
STACY- Wow! That is interesting.
I think there are a lot
of things that would have
surprised them. They would
probably be shocked about
how far we have come. They
would probably also be surprised
that we have got a lot
of wins, including marriage
equality, same sex adoptions,
protections in the workplace.
At least here in the US.
Not everywhere around the
globe. But they would probably
also be shocked that after
all that fighting for, winning,
and getting some of these
wins, they can be taken away
at any second. We are seeing
some rollbacks. And they
will probably be shocked and
not understand that we are
seeing rollbacks all across
the globe. I think they would
also probably be shocked at
how divided the community is.
The cool thing about Stonewall
is it was everybody. It was black
trans women, it was white gay
men, it was butch lesbians,
homeless queer youth. They
all came together to create a
moment and to create a movement.
And I think they would
really be surprised that in order
to keep that movement going in
this current time in 2026, it will
all come together again.
How has the Stonewall Inn
evolved since becoming an
international symbol ?
KURT- I think it was lost in
the early 2000s. The historical
value it held in the gay community.
I think throughout the
world they knew more about the
history than we did here in New
York. In the United States.
STACY- I think that is true. I
think through our travels we
found out that in Europe and
other places a lot more people
know about Stonewall than
sometimes here in New York. I
would also think it might have
been some luck and timing
on our end. We have owned
the bar for 20 years and we
have put in a lot of hard work.
Especially in the beginning.
We reached out to global
magazines. We are really good
at getting press. When you
support the community, the
community will support you. I
think they understood that. I
think we have been in a fortunate
place where a lot of things
have changed in the last 20
years in a positive way for the
LGBTQ community. And also
an unfortunate place because
now we are seeing some of
those rollbacks. The push/pull
movement. You make progress
and then there’s a backlash.
Two steps forward and one
step back. We are definitely in a
back moment.
KURT- That is history in most
things. I think when we took
over, we turned it around and
cleaned it up. We made it
known much more out there.
Just within the couple years we
took over.
STACY- I also think we made
it more than just a bar. So now
we are creating a brand. An
institution. As a place to not just
preserve history and legacy,
but to keep that legacy going
through our nonprofit that we all
founded. We put it back at the
forefront. We are doing
outreach globally through
our nonprofits to create
safe spaces all over
the world and to create
grants to organizations
all over the globe. So
it’s been a concentrated
effort on our part. It’s
been community support.
It is also been kind of
what’s going on in terms
of LGBTQ rights over the
last 20 years or so.
KURT- It is important to
know that Stonewall In
Gives Back Initiative is
the official and the only
nonprofit of the StonewallInn.
During Pride Month, what
moments or traditions at
Stonewall are especially
meaningful to you?
KURT- When we clean up and
go home at the end.
STACY- I think for me, it is
standing out front and watching
the march go by. Because
everyone stops in front of
Stonewall. They go crazy--they
cheer. They get excited. As
soon as they turn the corner
and see that building, it becomes
the loudest place. That
is a really cool moment. Seeing
that everyone understands the
secret history of this space.

I don’t participate, but one year
I got to go in and Kurt gathers
his team and does a big cheer
about Pride. He does a toast
and gets everyone revved up.
KURT- That’s what it is. Before
we open the doors, I give a
cheer to Gay Pride, but they’ve
got to keep the legacy going.
STACY- It’s kind of like a team
huddle that Kurt leads. For me
inside, I’m very excited to see
that.
KURT- I think through the
month of June, people come
from all over the world. They
stand outside and take pictures
every single day. The most
exciting and fun thing is to talk
to these people and give them
a little history on what’s going
on. I take them in and I show
them the club. I let people know
throughout the world what went
on.
How do you see the future of
LGBTQ+ activism, and what
role can places like Stonewall
play in that future?
STACY-You the activism piece
is something we’ve done that
is really important. Because we
don’t want to ever just live off
the history. That is why we work
very hard to fund non-profit
groups and letting them have
their events upstairs, in addition
to our own. I think the future of
activism really is about getting
everyone on the same page. I
think Stonewall plays a role in
that because it is a testament
to how you can make change
when everyone comes together.
That infamous night in June
1969 was the entire community
saying they’d had enough
and we are all going to come
together and fight back. We
should be having that moment
now. Right now, we should all
be coming together to fight
back. That is the lesson from
Stonewall. It is almost even
tied into where we are with the
250th anniversary of America.
When we are united, we win.
When we are divided, we fall.
We need a younger generation
to pick up that torch. Not just
learn about Stonewall, but keep
that legacy going. Keeping that
fight alive.
KURT- The role I think Stonewall
will play is once our time
is up and it is time to sell, we
would not sell it to just anyone.
Unless someone has the same
ambition and heart that we do
to pass the baton on.
If the walls of Stonewall could
speak, what do you think
they would say to the world
today?
KURT- We’ve been here forever.
Never give up.
STACY- I think it will probably
say resiliency is the key to not
just keeping the building standing,
but keeping a community
standing.
What does it mean to host
artists, musicians and performers
in a venue with such
a powerful legacy?
KURT- I think our platform goes
on someone else’s platform to
speak out with the community
about the community and for
the community.
STACY- A lot of the artists that
we platform are up and coming.
They are not even that wellknown.
They get their start at
Stonewall. It’s really awesome
to see their careers take off
from there. So it is a really cool
moment to know that you are
helping an LGBTQ musician
kind of get off the ground sometimes.
We have got to launch
some careers, which is really
cool. It’s not just about visibility,
but really the community getting
to have a really great show.
We also get to amplify the work
that we are doing and they get
to amplify the work that they’re
doing as well.
For someone visiting Stonewall
for the very first time this
Pride Month, what experience
do you hope they leave with?
KURT- Education. I hope they
know more about it. That our
fight isn’t over. We are 50%
there, but we have another 50%
to go.
STACY- I think gratitude for
what the incredible people did.
And that they know they are
standing on the shoulders of
giants. Change doesn’t come
without people and communities
willing to take risks and
fight back. And that they feel
inspired to do the same.
STACY- June 1st, we are having
our annual Pride kickoff for
Stonewall and the Stonewall Inn
Gives Back Initiative, our nonprofit.
We have Bradley Gibson,
from The Lion King. We have
Avery Cochrane, who is an upand-coming
LGBTQ artist. We
have Yuhua Hamasaki who was
on RuPaul’s Drag Race season
10. And we also have a former
Ms Stonewall, who’s going to
perform. And we also have
Luke Evans giving opening
remarks. Luke is currently up
for the Tony for his role in The
Rocky Horror Show.
KURT- On the 21st, we have
the Absolutely Fabulous: 20th
anniversary party. They’re having
one in New York and one in
L.A. and one in London.
STACY- The calendar is fully
booked, with a ton of amazing
events. Fundraisers. Really
cool stand-up shows. Different
kinds of performances. It is a
full schedule all through the
month of June. It is 20 years of
this group owning the bar, in addition
to the 10 year anniversary
of the Stonewall monument
in the park. It is the 10th year
of us working with the Obama
administration and a lot of other
folks to make that happen.
It is the 20th anniversary of
Stonewall being open.

TOP 10
DJ DAVID
MICHAEL
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CURRENT
1
2
3
4
5
6
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8
9
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DANCE… FOR YOU (LEO
EMPIRE CLUB MASHUP)
SLAYYYTER VS. SIDEPIECE
EUROSUMMER (GIRLS TRIP)
ZARA LARSSON, SHAKIRA
FABULOUS (FELIX JAEHN REMIX)
MEEK
GOALS
LISA, ANITTA, REMA
KGB
ADÉLA
LOVE SENSATION
MADONNA
MOVIN’ TO THE SUN
HUGEL, IMAEL ANGEL, ULTRA NATÉ
NEED FOR SPEED
KIM PETRAS
SAD GIRLS
BEBE REXHA, DAVID GUETTA
TOO EASY
TINASHE
THROWBACKS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
BORN THIS WAY
(ROB MOORE REMIX)
LADY GAGA
DON’T CHA (RALPHI’S HOT
FREAK MIXSHOW)
PUSSYCAT DOLLS
EVACUATE THE DANCEFLOOR
CASCADA
GET OUTTA MY WAY
KYLIE MINOGUE
I’M COMING OUT
(FREEMASONS BOOTLEG)
DIANA ROSS
NEON LIGHTS (CRAIGWELSH
POP BOOTLEG)
DEMI LOVATO
ONE LAST TIME (STACY
MIER ULTIMIX)
ARIANA GRANDE
SYMPHONY (AMICE REMIX)
CLEAN BANDIT, ZARA LARSSON
WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF
HILARY DUFF
WORK BITCH
BRITNEY SPEARS
WEEKLY APPEARANCES:
Tuesdays - CURTAINS UP! at The Monster 9pm-11pm
Wednesdays - THE ASSASSINS at Balcon Salon 9pm-2am
Fridays - The Stonewall Inn 10pm-4am
Saturdays - SPUNK at The Monster 9:30pm-4am

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