Tabla de contenidos para Vol. 1 en Nightshade

Art tells stories, inspires lovers, creates cultural revolutions – and art has the power to unite in thought and feeling all who experience it. When art inspires emotion I know I am in the presence of divine expression – which is exactly what I felt the first time I saw the work of Lu’e Diaz. You immediately know that his art is created with passion and intention; you feel it in the depths of your being. Lu’e Diaz is a multi-talented Puerto Rican artist with a passion for beauty, music, art, and unconditional love. From a young age he has utilized art as an outlet for his emotions, and as he grew and new emotions brewed within him, his art evolved in a way that would inspire and transform all…

The other day it dawned on me: I’ve been doing this for over half my life. I was talking with my sous chef, Ethan Daugherty, who’s 24 and just getting started, and we were standing in the kitchen of my downtown Milwaukee restaurant, Amilinda, which will turn seven this August. We were prepping duck rice, a new menu item that week, and that’s when I did the math and realized that I’ve been cooking professionally for longer than Ethan has been alive. Maybe that’s why something I’ve thought about before, how much of my life I have spent in the kitchen, felt different this time: like a shock to my system. Twenty-eight years is a long time, and it’s a long time to be doing the same thing—or mostly the…

Ecuador has for many years been one of the world’s most amazing destinations for travelers from all over the globe. Its beauty, history, culture and the Galapagos Islands have made Ecuador one of the top destinations on the planet. However, it remains on the back burner for most LGBTQ travelers, who feel safer with more traditional choices like gay cruises or events in large cities in the United States and Europe. Juan Maldonado, a dual U.S. and Ecuador citizen (and a proud resident of Wilton Manors, Florida’s gay Mecca), is determined to change this by promoting his home country as a fabulous destination for LGBTQ travelers that is both safe and uncomplicated. Latin America has traditionally been conservative, but Ecuador is one of only five countries in the world whose…

Skeptical about the benefits of self-validation? Take a moment and hear me out! In my over twenty years of work as a Certified Coach and Board Certified Hypnotist, I’ve had thousands of people tell me they struggle with validating themselves in some way. This includes acknowledging themselves and being empathetic about their feelings and lessons in life, valuing themselves as a person, stepping into their empowerment, and living as their authentic selves. People I work with have a strong sense of purpose, but even high-performers who are also sensitive people can struggle with self-validation. Many suffer from chronic people-pleasing to dealing with imposter syndrome and anything in between. I’ve also worked with teens who often believe the criticism they’ve received from caregivers and peers, and they don’t realize that those…

We often forget that the generations of Drag Queens before us have positively and substantially impacted our community and helped win the rights we enjoy right now. Though drag queens have been vilified or looked down upon by many – some, shamefully, even from our own community – it is vital for us to be aware of the change agents they were and are. I have the pleasure to introduce a coffee table book like no other where about eighty one drag queens from sixteen different US cities were photographed and celebrated for the impact they’ve made in our community. I had the chance to sit with Mutha Chucka, a drag queen, a friend, an idol – and the cover model of Legends of Drag – to talk about the…

Our story – we’re Chad & Erek, a white man from Michigan and a biracial man from West Virginia – began when we met in Orlando years ago, and the rest, well, the rest is still being written. We have lived for years in a tiny home that we built in Palm Springs, California. That was one of the greatest decisions we ever made: to let go of what was holding us and to come to the desert where we would build our own tiny house. It was just like on TV, but with a lot more drama. I’m kidding! It was a huge stress relief not to have the mortgage and all the expense that comes with a traditional home, and it gave us time back to ourselves to…

The sun is shining, the parties are raging, and the vibe is good. Warm days are here, and everyone is ready to relax, enjoy the weather, and have a good time with friends. Whether it’s a day at the beach or a dinner party, no one can deny the best companion is a delicious cocktail. Here are three cocktails that capture the hot day’s spirit and are sure to impress anyone! THE DRAGON FRUIT SPRITZ The first is one of the easiest – and perfect for any hot summer day. A twist on the traditional 1950s Aperol Spritz, a classic aperitif cocktail popular in Italy, this cocktail introduces a sweet tropical twist that will set the mood for the rest of your party! RECIPE 2 oz Aperol2 oz dragon fruit…

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) refers to programs and policies that promote the representation and participation of diverse groups of people, including those of different genders, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, religions, cultures, ages, and sexual orientations. Large tech companies, in particular, have been making a strong push towards executing these programs after receiving media scrutiny for hiring practices and attrition that reflect a lack of inclusivity to underrepresented minority (URM) communities. Most large tech companies have departments exclusively focused on DEI practices within human resources and recruiting, a testament to its prioritization within the industry. IMPORTANCE OF DEI IN TECH FOR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY: SOCIOECONOMIC EQUITY There are two crucial facts to keep in mind. First, the technology industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with some of the highest-paying jobs in…

Ah, jealousy. In working with people on their romantic and polyamorous relationships, this topic comes up a lot. In fact, that’s one of the first questions I get asked as a polyamorous person: “Don’t you get jealous?” Or one of the first comments: “I couldn’t do that, I’d get too jealous.” These comments presuppose a few things. One is that jealousy is stagnant; something that can’t be changed. That what makes you jealous now will always make you jealous, and the intensity of that jealousy will never wane. Another is that jealousy is inherently a bad thing that must be avoided, and its presence means that there’s something wrong in your relationship or with you or your partner. Maybe you’re in one – or both! – of these camps about…

What does it mean to be and do Drag for you? Drag is such an expressive art form that intertwines various genres of music, theatre, comedy, and of course, political activism. I love that all my interests can be a part of this art form. Drag has always been rooted in political action. The very first openly queer person to run for office in this country, José Sarria, was a drag artist, and they ran in 1961 for the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. I love that drag is coming into the mainstream and giving space for drag artists to express themselves artistically and politically. Look at drag artists like Bob the Drag Queen, Peppermint, and Maebe A. Girl, who use their platforms to speak on important issues. That…

Nine years ago, love made us leave our full-time corporate jobs to start a dog treat business. The love for our two dogs – Riley, an ornery pug-beagle mix, and Jennifer Lopez, an 11-pound ball of nerves disguised as a chihuahua – whom we wanted to keep safe and healthy. And of course, our love for each other helped make that leap of faith possible. Let me back up a bit. Ten years ago, we had just moved into our new home in Dorchester, Boston’s biggest neighborhood, but I was hardly ever there. I was then a regional manager of a global clothing brand, overseeing a dozen stores in half a dozen states. I was gone nearly five days a week with only stops back home for a change of…

Raised in a small town in Illinois, eating meat was expected. And yet, it was always a struggle for me. Animals think, feel, and mourn, yet people don’t make that emotional connection when ordering and preparing meals. Because they can’t see the process of how their food got to the plate, it’s easy to ignore. My goal is to raise awareness of that process. My journey started as a flexitarian and moved into vegetarianism, and then I finally realized it made the most sense for me to be vegan. It becomes a much more straightforward decision when you understand veganism’s environmental impact and all the lives saved. My culinary journey also started from a very early age. I regularly spent time in the kitchen, learning to cook and create original…

Thomas Evans is a conceptual visual artist from New York. We recently connected with him to learn more about his work, vision, and passion. K : Can you tell us about your background and approach to art? THOMAS: I am a very creative person. A very visual person. So as a kid, I always wanted to be in front of the camera: “I’m going to try all these different things, I’m going to be an actor, I’m going to be a singer.” I spent a lot of time trying different things on – I cannot sing, for one – and nothing fit. As life went on and I had some struggles – I struggled with addiction for many years, and once I was able to put the substances down and…

Pride Pediatrics is a new mobile primary care clinic which focuses on LGBTQ+ youth and families, including all pediatric patients from newborn to age 22. My name is Dr. Kelly Schnellinger and I am a pediatric nurse practitioner. Pride Pediatrics is not yet open, but as we begin this venture into our capital campaign to purchase and outfit the mobile unit, I hope to make this clinic a reality for the benefit of our community. A little about me and my journey to this point. I was raised in Alabama and did not come out as lesbian until my late 20’s. With my partner’s support, I graduated from nursing school and began my career in women’s services. I quickly decided neonatal intensive care (NICU) was my calling. After gaining experience…