Felix III Interview SXSW 2022
We got to chat with Felix III during SXSW 2022 at the iconic Cheer Up Charlies in Austin, TX. This up and coming, queer, singer/songwriter had a lot to share. We talked new single After Hours and Felix even answered fan’s questions live via Twitter.
Move, I’m Gay Podcast Celebrates 100th Episode
Move, I’m Gay, the podcast starring Francisco and Brendan (better known to listeners as Franny and Brenda) is out now with its 100th episode. Taped live each week from their studio in Portland, Oregon, the show has gained a national following for the comical camaraderie between its two seemingly polar-opposite hosts. While Franny dishes on the latest entertainment dirt, and maybe belts out a Top 40 hit or two, Brenda references obscure gay historical facts. There’s also a bit of politics thrown in, as the two banter, laugh and drink their way into listener’s hearts.
“I had never been a fan of podcasts,” admits Francisco. “I have only listened to a couple and most of them have been true crime, so it’s interesting to find myself hosting a comedy show. Honestly, the real reason I’m here is I broke my leg and I needed something to do with my life.”
The pair had only hung out with each other casually before starting the Move, I’m Gay podcast in February 2020. “We have very different personalities,” Brendan explains. “Francisco is up on trends and I’m slightly clueless to them, but we seem to mesh well in terms of our interaction and it's nice to have solidified our friendship through two years of weekly recordings.”
The show’s segments are a favorite among listeners. In the “Gay of the Day” segment, they highlight some of the outstanding accomplishments of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. “We love heaping praise on the bravery of celebs like Lil' Nas X and JoJo Siwa who have come out loud and proud and others like Jeopardy! champ Amy Schneider who are raising LGBTQ+ awareness on unexpected platforms,” says Francisco.
“It’s also encouraging to be able to report on progressive legal news, especially the expanded rights being enjoyed by queer people all around the world,” Brendan adds.
But with the sugar comes the medicine. The pair regularly share their real-life trials and tribulations, like in the “Hog Hunters" episode when Brenda was forced to come to terms with the truth about the man he had been speaking with on Tinder. “I had to be convinced live during the episode that I was being catfished. All of the obvious signs were there but I simply wasn't willing to admit it.”
In their “Bless This Mess” segment, Franny and Brenda lament on the week’s most shameful events. “Some of our most heated shows from last year were centered around transphobia and the right's increasingly unhinged fight against BLM and voter's rights, and their refusal to believe that we’re in the middle of a God damned global pandemic,” says Francisco.
“In the beginning, we didn’t expect the Move, I’m Gay podcast to be so political,” he continues. “It was meant to be more about our shared love of the free Britney movement and detest for Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop with maybe a few bits about Wendy Williams burping and farting simultaneously while live on air tossed in for good measure.”
Both agree that being LGBTQ+ today is inherently political. “We realized pretty quickly that avoiding the serious topics would come across as tone deaf, and that’s the last thing we want the show to be,” Brendan explains.
The podcast has been a learning experience for the pair. “I've found that my favorite shows are when we’re our real selves, imperfections and all,” says Francisco.
Brendan agrees. “Being authentic seems to be working for us. Like the great Cheryl Lynn sang in her 1978 self-titled debut studio album, 'Got to Be Real'."
Listen to the Move I’m Gay podcast on Spotify. Follow on Instagram.
AFTER THE RAIN, COMES THE RAINBOW- BIGOTRY HAS NO PLACE AT SXSW
SXSW is just around the corner and we hope ya’ll are ready!
This 9-day conference and festival is welcoming artists and industry professionals from around the globe to meet in Austin, Texas for one of the most highly anticipated comebacks of the last three years.
Celebrate the start of SXSW 2022 at the Big Gay Kickoff Party on March 11 at Rain for the biggest, gayest party in town.
While Texas has already been a hotbed for controversial legislation following the appalling abortion bill carried out by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, there seems to be even more on the horizon.
Gov. Abbott's recent order requires the state's child welfare agency to treat gender-affirming care for young transgender Texans as child abuse.
SXSW organizers released this statement Wednesday:
“We unequivocally denounce actions by Governor Greg Abbott to put transgender children and their families in harm’s way. We will continue to use our platform to elevate voices from the LGBTQ+ community.”
There is currently a considerable number of LGBTQ+ speakers, panels, films, and musicians included as part SXSW 2022. It seems regardless of the political climate, SXSW and its organizers will continue to show support to our community, providing a space for conversations that include marginalized groups like the transgender community.
While things are bleak at the moment it’s important to band together and in solidarity and ensure voices are continually heard in the great State of Texas.
Because as we all know: After the rain, comes the rainbow.
Jonathan Van Ness
Attending SXSW? Do check out TRANSforming Comedy:
TRANSforming Comedy is a conversation centered around transgender comedy creatives in the world of film and television. In the face of disproportionate and divisive debate, comedic writers and filmmakers with the lived experience being transgender challenge the reflexive overrepresentation of dramatic treatment of trans stories through the radical genre of comedy. Audiences will hear and learn how comedy can change culture, inviting connection through shared humor and catharsis through laughter.
Additional LGBTQ+ events can be found here.
Product Review - PURE FOR MEN
When I first heard about PURE FOR MEN, I thought what a great gimmick. It’s probably just like any fiber supplement but in this case it’s being targeted to gay men. After all, giving confidence to bottoms with promise of staying clean is something that any one on the receiving end would find appealing. Most of us have been in that position (pun intended), and it can be a quick way to kill the mood from top to bottom. You meet a guy at a bar, things get hot, and you don’t necessarily have time to tidy up. I know… tragic.
So what if there was a fiber supplement you could take daily that could keep you ready for those intimate moments no matter how spontaneous? PURE FOR MEN’s makes this very claim and with the hashtag #STAYREADY- we can all agree this is a product most of us would be happy to try. But how does it work?
Fiber is a very important part of a balanced diet. Few adults consume the recommended amount of fiber to maintain a healthy digestive system. Many of the foods high in fiber can prove to be inconvenient for the queens on the go or are just plain gross (ew). PURE FOR MEN is an all natural, vegan capsule for daily use. It’s proprietary blend of chia seeds, flax seeds, psyllium husk, and aloe vera that helps your body produce fuller movements, keeping you clean when it matters most. This blend of soluble and insoluble fiber cleans your digestive system thoroughly and reduces the time needed to get ready. Hence, #STAYREADY. But does it work?
Yas! I definitely had my reservations when I first received these supplements in the mail. I thought its extra fiber! Hell, it can’t hurt. I started a daily regimen with the recommended dose, 3 capsules and 16 oz of water. The results? After a week of taking PURE FOR MEN I noticed a considerable difference in both my movements and in my confidence when bottoming. No extended time needed for prepping and no mess after the fact. For a bigger guy like myself (5’10, 205 lbs.) I wasn’t quite sure if the recommended amount would make a difference. I eat fairly healthy and have a fast metabolism, even at 36 years old. I can say my metabolism is even faster and I’m happy to say I have even dropped a few pounds since I have started taking the daily dose. Now I’m feeling confident for other reasons entirely.
PURE FOR MEN offers a variety of products beyond supplements to help you feel fresh and of course #STAYREADY. The charcoal-activated soap is a personal favorite. Its a natural deodorizer that removes access oils and bacteria and leaves your hiney smelling fresh as a daisy. Other products include an organic, non-GMO scrub to exfoliate your every “nook and cranny”, as they put it, charcoal infused wipes that eliminate odors, and I can honestly say the lube is one of the best on the market.
I give two very enthusiastic bums up to PURE FOR MEN. You can order products individually or save vodka soda money by purchasing the Stay Ready Collection that comes with a variety of goodies at www.pureformen.com
Also be sure to follow their social media for more on new products, deals, and lots of eye candy. And remember! #STAYREADY queens!
Wesley Smoot/Creator of Unleashed LGBTQ
