T-bar 3rd Wednesday Open Mic Night

The place is out of this world. It is positioned perfectly on the corner of 12th and Sansom St. Its large glass windows wrap around the room looking out onto both Sansom and 12th giving a perfect perch for people watching from any corner of the room.

Jerome, 28

I told him I couldn’t do it that night – I was just too drunk and too sick – but he wasn’t stopping…I was trying to fight him off, but he was a strong guy and I was too weak.

20 Questions with Steph Hayes

I can’t remember the first time I saw Steph Hayes perform. As a matter of fact, I’ve sadly heard more swooning lesbians talk about her than I’ve seen her live.

DJ Manny Lehman in Philly

Manny Lehman is the central part of many gay community members’ dance memories. He’s spun everywhere from Montreal to Miami; New York to LA. He’s headlined almost every circuit party on the planet. Matthew Ray of HX Philadelphia chatted with Manny from his dreary office in the cold Gayborhood while Manny lounged in his cabin on an Atlantis cruise. Lucky bastard!

Aiden, 29

What gets to me is gay men talking about trans folks like they’re not “real” men, or “real” women… I’m just like them. I’m not in-between or unfinished or confused…I’m just me.

MEN

As I look at the stamp mark on my hand from the door guy at North Star Bar I hope it never comes off. I want it as a reminder. If you were wondering to yourself last night, March 4, 2008, “Where are all the sexy bitches?” I can tell you Gay Philly they were at the MEN show.

Interview with designer Pietra

Pietra is a gifted woman with many talents that range from designing clothes and home decor to make-up artistry and even photography. She holds a degree from Drexel University in Photography and is currently in graduate school for Creative Writing. For over five years Pietra has provided us with stylish, colorful, and mood changing designs at prices that will even make my wallet happy.

Toby, Age 21

My dad was kinda your typical hard-ass conservative father. It’s all about family, getting married, having kids…about being a man. I guess that’s what he meant when he made fun of the gay guys he worked with—they weren’t real men.

Queer Rock

Perhaps you think that you are the only Rockband playing, Bowie sing-a-long, Bob Mould loving or even rap loving LGBT citizen in the city. So maybe you still use that hair brush as a microphone belting out tunes in front of the mirror as you get dressed for yet another night out of repetitive club music.

Terry, Age 19

But still, I was hearing it from everywhere else, boys like girls and girls like boys and that’s how it is. I started thinking to myself, maybe if I like boys, maybe I should have been born a girl.