What started as one day of work turned into 16 seasons as the pianist, arranger, vocal coach, and Associate Musical Director for American Idol. Not only has Michael Orland had a hand in the success of the leading names from Idol, he has also worked with a Rolodex of names that includes Kristen Bell, Sabrina Carpenter, Lynda Carter, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana Grande, Marilu Henner, Jennifer Holliday, Roslyn Kind, Barry Manilow, Maureen McGovern, Idina Menzel, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Ann M...
Mar 03, 2025•37 min
Kyle Chan is a dichotomy in the entertainment and fashion industry. Though humble and understated in nature, he has become a veritable force in the industry, earning him a spotlight from many different directions. On television, he’s been seen in Bling Empire and Vanderpump Rules, having a major presence on the latter this last season. And on A-list celebrities, his jewelry has been seen on Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Megan Thee Stallion, Paris Hilton, Shawn Mend...
Sep 18, 2024•24 min
Matt Cullen is a Los Angeles-based content creator who is using his platform to share the diversity that is the LGBTQ community. From a young age, he wanted to be in entertainment and knew he would end up in Hollywood or New York City. After moving to Los Angeles after studying acting in New York, his focus shifted. COVID gave him the silence to reflect on what was bringing him happiness. During that time, he decided to embark on his most ambitious, ongoing project. His series Our Queer Life has...
Jul 30, 2024•33 min
This month, the Tony Award and Pulitzer-winning Strange Loop opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Written by Michael R. Jackson, this hard-hitting and provocative musical centers around Usher, a young, gay, Black writer who writes a musical about a young, gay, Black writer who is writing a musical about a young, gay, Black writer…thus a strange loop. Usher embarks on a journey of self-discovery covering the raw aspects of life, the good and the bad, while dealing with his Thoughts, per...
Jun 17, 2024•22 min
Actor Danny Pintauro first hit the big screen over four decades ago, in the disturbing film Cujo. Having played in dramatic themes at an even younger age for the soap opera As the World Turns, he was no stranger to giving it his all on set. Immediately following Cujo he was cast on one of the most popular sitcoms of the 80s, Who’s the Boss? For 8 seasons and 196 episodes, we saw Danny, as Jonathan Bower, literally grow up on our screens. Having difficulty finding acting work by leaving his sitco...
Apr 03, 2024•46 min
Talking to Darwin Del Fabro is like talking to the embodiment of a bona fide muse. With an ethereal beauty, they celebrate their non-binary side, and with well-crafted words of artistry, they inspire with every phrase that lilts out of their mouth. An old soul in a youthful body, their manners and grace are from yesteryear, while their modern ideas and work ethic make them a present-day mover and shaker in the entertainment field. There is little left that they haven’t accomplished. A successful...
Mar 07, 2024•36 min
Performer Derek Jameson is no stranger to Pride stages and most recently headlined a day full of LGBTQ fellowship and entertainment at a local county fair with Out At the Fair. Derek’s music reaches beyond our community, however, with themes and textures that sample from many different musical genres. Derek has also written for producer/DJs Morgan Page, Bijou, Matroda, and Kaleena Zanders, collaborating with songwriter to the stars, Jessica Hoover, and producer Trent Park. As a performer, he has...
Aug 29, 2023•30 min
Bro-lesque has been popping up all over SoCal nightclubs. Bringing glitz and glamour with artistry and hot boys, it is a call back to the classic burlesque shows with enough modern flair to make it unique in the market. Bro-lesque’s creator and frontman Lockhart Brownlie is no stranger to stages. Lockhart started training in dance at an early age when he would sit in the back of his sister’s dance classes. After being one of the most sought-after choreographers in Australia, he would start his i...
Jul 14, 2023•29 min
SoCal audiences have known comedian Jason Stuart for a long time. Popping up at gay events, emceeing Prides, performing stand-up at comedy clubs for gay and straight nights, making jokes on red carpets, stealing the spotlight at house parties, and flirting with boys at the bar is just a normal week for Jason. His comedy is just a part of his wildly colorful career. As an actor, he has over 265 film and TV credits to his name, from playing that funny character that always gets the zingers, to ser...
Jun 29, 2023•34 min
We first talked to influencers Michael and Matthew for GED Magazine almost a year and a half ago. This married couple who first met through coming out YouTube videos have built a social media empire (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Grindr – just kidding they aren’t on Grindr), that started out covering their many travels around the world. Their travel blog has evolved to encompass the day-to-day of their married life and, their most recent mission, parenthood. This month, they debut their podcast Wh...
Jun 06, 2023•33 min
She’s loud, proud, and Latinaaaaa….she’s Salina EsTitties! This SoCal diva has made her way into Drag Race fans’ hearts, oftentimes stealing the spotlight during this last season. Whereas some of the queens were focused on getting camera time, spewing out one-liners for the editors, or becoming viral memes, Salina was there to compete. Her sincerity lept off the screen as we celebrated her highs, her lows, and her sorrows. A sober, gay, Latino, Weho fixture, she unabashedly challenges the norms ...
May 02, 2023•24 min
You may be familiar with Prince Joshua from his social media, his presence in LGBTQ nightlife, or from the recent splash he made from his entrance on For the Love of DILFs, the queer answer to a dating reality show that matches DILFS and himbos. (For those unfamiliar, himbos refers to an attractive but not very bright male.) Before you hit the cancel culture button, the term himbos on this show is actually used as a foil as we find out there’s more going on with the contestants than just a hot b...
Apr 19, 2023•37 min
Comedy has certainly changed over the years, what's funny has now turned into what’s PC? But with that, the queer comedy industry is now being given a spotlight in Hollywood and earned a place at the table in mainstream media. In this episode, we chat with Guy Branum who is a current trailblazer in the industry. Guy Branum co-stars and co-produced the Universal rom-com BROS with Billy Eichner as well as wrapped up writing on the new Mel Brooks variety series History of the World, Part II. His bo...
Sep 27, 2022•34 min
From prom king to writer, actor, singer, podcaster, TV host, Matt Rogers has been killing it! Seen alongside Vanessa Bayer, Molly Shannon, and Jenifer Lewis, in I Love That For You, he works that fine line between gay stereotype and modern-day representation. Also, this summer you can see him on Hulu’s gay take on Pride & Prejudice – Fire Island – with Margaret Cho and Bowen Yang. He is a co-host on the hugely popular podcast, Las Culturistas, also with his buddy SNL player Bowen Yang, that ...
Jul 06, 2022•36 min
Singer/songwriter Nick Osin spent his childhood in Ukraine, being raised by his grandmother. Showing Nick true unconditional love, she would help him follow his dreams by taking him to his singing and dancing lessons. By the young age of 15, he appeared on a popular television show in Moscow and his career took off. He appeared in live performances throughout Russia and Ukraine but as his sexuality emerged, he knew that living as his true self was literally a matter of life or death. He came to ...
May 24, 2022•17 min
For over a decade, Cake Moss has been serving it up as one of the premier drag entertainers in Southern California. Not only is she a mainstay in West Hollywood, but she has traveled the world slaying stages and collecting phone numbers – the boys love her. She continues her philanthropic and volunteer work throughout Los Angeles and makes it her mission to incorporate an inclusive blend of artists in all of her music projects – have you downloaded “Shade” and “ThotCock” yet? You can see her lea...
May 13, 2022•28 min
Jonathan Van Ness is an Emmy nominated television personality, comedian, New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, hairstylist and haircare innovator, doing the most to bring joy and be their best self… all while trying to not only eat Taco Bell. Of course, we know and love him from Queer Eye, but check out his latest show Getting Curious now streaming on Netflix based on his podcast by the same name. From skyscrapers to bugs, or from gender identity to snacks, each episode follows Jonathan...
Apr 12, 2022•16 min
Can you imagine leaving your corporate career, becoming a self-taught chef, and making it work? Well honey, chef Jonathan Bardzik has made it WERK. Starting with his first live cooking demonstration at Washington, DC’s historic Eastern Market in 2011, he has now appeared in front of more than 900 audiences including the TedX stage, written four books of recipes and stories, worked with clients that include USDA and National Geographic. He regularly appears on ABC, CBS, and FOX morning news shows...
Mar 07, 2022•36 min
In this episode, we chat with our GED Coverboys of the Month, Michael and Matt! Michael and Matt are power influencers and two travel-obsessed husbands from Portland, Oregon. They share their stories to bring you the best of the best in LGBTQ+ travel destinations, gay travel tips, hints, and advice from local guides and the experts themselves! They first met in 2014 over YouTube, through posting their coming out videos. One week later, Michael purchased a flight to visit Matthew in Seattle. And ...
Feb 11, 2022•43 min
In this episode, we chat with our GED Drag Centerfold of the Month, Allusia! Allusia emerged onto the drag scene in the Pacific Northwest 21 years ago in punk rock hair and political statements. Inspired by artists that marched to the beat of their own drums like Cyndi Lauper and Nina Hagen, as well as savagery of the animal kingdom, Allusia always strove to unapologetically carve out her own unique spot in the ecosystem of art. With lyrics inspired by prehistoric desires and looks divined from ...
Jan 22, 2022•28 min
In this episode, we chat with our GED Coverboy – Craig Ramsay. Born & raised in Ontario, Canada, he was an original cast member in the pre-Broadway First National Tour production of the smash hit musical Mamma Mia, he also appeared in the Pre-Broadway/Broadway original cast member of Stephen Sondheim & Hal Prince’s Bounce, the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and the original production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He also appeared in the Actors Fund Broadway Benefit Concerts of Hair ...
Jan 05, 2022•39 min
LA Comic Con is BACK! After a two-year absence due to COVID, LA Comic Con returns to celebrate its 10-year anniversary as LA’s biggest all-things comics, gaming, sci-fi, eSports, and pop culture event. In addition to major headliners from TV and film from the sci-fi and geek world, the event will feature panels that cover more niche audiences. One of those panels is Gay Geeks and Where to Find Them featuring podcaster Chandler Poling, filmmaker Timo Reese, podcaster and journalist Alexander Rodr...
Dec 01, 2021•31 min
Palm Springs thrives year-round, with younger generations coming to play and live every year. Part of this youthful phenomenon is Mayor Christy Holstege. Christy Holstege was re-elected to the Palm Springs City Council in November 2020, representing District 4. In December 2020, she was appointed to serve as Mayor for a one-year term by the City Council. She is the first woman to serve as mayor in the history of Palm Springs – and is also the first openly bisexual mayor in the country. Holstege ...
Nov 03, 2021•29 min
Do you know what Barihunk means? It’s a baritone – the power verse of the opera world if you will – that has that steamy hunkiness that makes you look twice…three times if they are wearing grey sweatpants. Baritone Zachary Gordin is redefining what it means to be an opera star in the 21st Century. Praised for his “arresting musical insights” and a voice that is “commanding and intense,” he has an active performance schedule while also maintaining his passion for fitness, community engagement, ar...
Oct 26, 2021•28 min
On this episode of U.S. of Gay, we chat with our GED Magzine cover boy, Lio Botello. Born and raised in Fort Worth, he remains a Texas boy through and through. In Dallas, he and his now ex-business partner started an at-home bakery business together and late one night, while binging HBO’s Big Little Lies, he received an invitation in his DMs to appear on a favorite new show of his, Netflix’s Sugar Rush. Lio and his business partner wowed the judges winning two of the three rounds in the competit...
Oct 06, 2021•23 min
The culture of drag has certainly changed…shows like Drag Race have turned drag mainstream…the makeup has changed, wigs have changed, costumes have changed, has the talent evolved? On this episode, we chat with Rusty Waters, an OG Diva and Comedienne who emceed the Last Supper, lol. Her comedy prowess invokes the style and intelligence of a classic Friar’s Club Roast with whispers of Dean Martin, Joan Rivers, and Lily Tomlin energy while keeping it real with what the kids are into these days. Mi...
Sep 17, 2021•26 min
There have been many changes in the City of West Hollywood due to COVID; this is not the first time the city has faced adversity. Flashback to the mid-’80s when a large number of the population of the West Hollywood community was dying from AIDS. The city was in mourning…and they need a little cheer. Entering the scene with a unique style of drag, the West Hollywood Cheerleaders was started by 13 gay men in 1986. Not only would the group become a source of hope, awareness, financial aid, and edu...
Sep 17, 2021•21 min
