123971_13669 8.25x10.875 4c 8/3/09 4:18 PM Page 1 123971_13669 TRIM: 8.25x10.875 LIVE: 7.5x10.375 4c Sharing expenses is a big step and Wells Fargo will help you take it. Together we’ll navigate the maze of your personal finances and find solutions tailored to both of your needs. Wells Fargo has a wide range of accounts and services that help you achieve your financial goals. From flexible checking and savings accounts, loan offerings to premier investment management services, we’ll work with you to help you save, plan and prepare for the future. Talk to a Wells Fargo banker today and take your big step with confidence. wellsfargo.com © 2009 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (123971_13669) GET STARTED TODAY! WE MAKE NETWORKING FUN & FRIENDLY MONTHLY QVEGAS NETWORKING LUNCHES & SOCIALS BUSINESS ONLINE DIRECTORY ALLIANCE MONTHLY LISTING QBA. QVEG A S.COM IN QVEGAS JOIN TODAY FOR ONLY $500* A YEAR *REGISTER AT QBA.QVEGAS.COM AND USE DISCOUNT CODE JAN10 TO SAVE 10% SEE OUR MEMBER DIRECTORY ON PAGE 46 MEDIA SPONSORS CORPORATE SPONSORS Sinderella’s Adult Superstores IN THIS QVEGAS 22 40 26 42 44 22 I AM WHO I AM. 30 FINDING YOUR waY You may know Frank Marino, but do you Writer Mark Adams introduces you to Our transgender resource guide know the rest of his talented Divas Las Denise, Jane, Jude and Cassandra, four provides information on doctors, support Vegas cast? interesting transgender individuals who groups, retail establishments and more. are actively involved in the community. 42 THE GLamoROUS 32 DID YOU KNOW? VEGAS LIFE 26 HI, MY NAME IS Here's a handful of transgender- and Drag personalities Syren Vaughan, EDMUND. drag-related statistics and facts. Shawn M, DeShannon and JewDi Meet Eddie, a young twenty-something Vine have all made an impact on the who's just embarking on a transition from 34 ABSOLUTELY community through their performances Heather to Edmund. faBULICOUS and charity participation. Four UNLV students have become 28 HE? SHE? IT? a YouTube sensation with their drag 44 AT THE CENTER OF Learn what transgender terminology is routine to "Single Ladies." EVERYTHING acceptable to use and which outdated, MGM MIRAGE's new project on the inaccurate terms are now considered 40 KinG of THE Strip, CityCenter, has just opened. Learn derogatory and should be avoided. QUEENS a little about each fabulous part of it. 18 52 50 10 PUBLISHER'S NOTE 11 READER LETTERS 12 THE CENTER PAGE 14 OUR QMMUNITY 16 THAT’S SO VEGAS 18 NAKED BOY NEWS 35 ON Q 46 QBA MEMBER DIRECTORY 50 QSPORTS 52 supporter SPOTLIGHT 54 QSINGLES 56 Q NIGHT OUT 60 QCALENDAR 62 QMARKETPLACE 66 HONOR ROLL 68 Qvibrations 70 QUID PRO QUO 8 QVEGAS JANUARY 2010 REALITY Written and directed by Dominic Champagne & René Richard Cyr Tickets from $69 (plus tax & service fee) • For tickets: 866.606.7111 • zumanity.com Shows nightly at 7:30 pm & 10:30 pm • Dark Mondays & Thursdays Zumanity™ has been created for guests 18 years and older. EDITOR'S NOTE PUBLISHER Kelly McFarlane Smith ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Earl Shelton EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR M. Cory Burgess ADVERTISING DIRECTOR LuAnne Austin ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE & It's been a POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Leo Murrieta long time CLASSIFIEDS Laura Scott coming CONTRIBUTORS Mark Adams • William Bessette Ani Biesiada • Ann Feister Better late than never, they say, right? I'm ever-popular Frank Marino. If you've lived in Katherine Fernelius • Mel Goodwin proud to say that we fi nally did what we Vegas for long, you've seen him on billboards, J.Son • Chris Miller should have done years ago: devoted nearly an ads and the covers of every major magazine. Rev. Bill Morin • Nick San Pedro Shaun Sewell • Jessica Tripp entire issue to the transgender community! But do you know the rest of the talented cast Originally conceived by Earl, our assistant of his newest show on the Strip? You will after publisher, our fi rst-ever "Transformation Is- reading this issue! Plus, we've profi led four sue" is in your hands right now, and we hope it additional drag queens from all sides of town will allow our readers to become educated on whom we thought you should know. a segment of our population we often overlook I can just hear it now: "Why did you omit STONEWALL (especially in the fi ght for equality) and many [insert name here] and how dare you not write PUBLISHING INC of us just don't fully understand and appreci- about [insert name or topic here]?" Trust me, ate without being in their shoes. it would require a publication the size of an © 2010 Stonewall Publishing, Inc. I'll admit, I personally have not been encyclopedia set to include every noteworthy All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A. friends with many transgender individuals, yet person and topic related to the transgender A Las Vegas Bugle™ Publication of course I've been exposed to quite a few both community in Las Vegas. It is for that very 1380 E. Sahara Ave., Ste. A here in Vegas and in my previous cities of resi- reason that I hope to make the Transforma- Las Vegas, NV 89104 dence. So, perhaps needless to say, this issue tion Issue an annual part of our editorial cal- Phone 702-650-0636 was certainly not the easiest I've had the plea- endar. I invite you to e-mail me your ideas for Fax 702-650-0641 sure of putting together. Yet I'm pretty happy next year's issue. E-mail [email protected] with what we've printed, from the profi les of On that note, since it is the new year after four noteworthy transgender individuals to Letters to the editor may be submitted to the all, I hope many of our readers will make a above address and will only be considered for pub- the glossary of accepted trans-terminology, resolution to become more welcoming and lication if signed. We reserve the right to edit for and I hope it meets with the approval of our accepting of transgender persons, and we feel grammar, length and libel. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. No transgender readers, who number far more confi dent you will walk away from this issue part of QVegas, including stories, artwork, advertis- than I ever expected. with an understanding and appreciate you ing or photos may be reproduced without written As this is an issue devoted to transforma- may not have had before today. permission. QVegas is published monthly. QVegas will not accept advertising which is found to violate tions of all types — from portraying the oppo- local, state or federal law. Call 702-650-0636 for site sex for entertainment purposes to embark- rates. Ask your advertising executive for a publica- ing on a journey to transition to the sex oppo- tion schedule. The appearance of any person, busi- ness or organization in this publication, by name, site that which was assigned at birth — you'll advertisement or photograph, is not an indication notice we've also dedicated a portion to Las M. Cory Burgess of sexual orientation. QVegas is an Equal Oppor- tunity Employer and does not discriminate based Vegas drag performers. On our cover is the Editor/Creative Director on race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Employment queries may be directed to Earl Shelton at [email protected]. WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK Do you have something on your mind? Do you have something to say about an NATIONAL ADVERTISING article in QVegas or any topic of interest to our readers? Do you have an idea for a REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media • 1248 Route 22 West future story? We want to hear from you! Simply send an e-mail to Editor@QVegas. Mountainside, NJ 07092 com. Letters to the Editor may be printed in a future issue if signed. Phone 212-242-6863 10 QVEGAS JANUARY 2010 READER LETTERS Then an Angel was sent to me and asked, "Can I Transgender. help pay for your surgery?" I was in awe. All I could do A group of people, especially controversial people, at first is cry, then I said yes! This Angel knew I would can never be accepted, respected and recognized if we never have the means to have this surgery. She knew base our world on hiding, deception, denial, fear and my pain, she felt my pain, and she knew this was the ambiguity. answer to making this man whole: a loving, selfless Not enough print or story space? Perhaps QVegas act that gave me quality of life. I am now the man I'm should print at least two Transformation issues per supposed to be. year? There are many people who were there for me, sup- If anyone is interested, if there is anyone out there ported me and loved me. I am one fortunate man. I who is unapathetic and would like to hear more communicate with a lot of teen trans men and transi- about this activism and communicate on any of this, tioning men via YouTube, e-mail, MySpace, and phone. please get in touch. I want to be there for those who aren't as fortunate as I have been, those with no family, no friends that un- Tracy St. James/James Bresnahan derstand, living in towns that have no resources, don't know where to turn, cant get answers. At least they know there is someone out here who understands how Dear LGBTQ..