Entrepreneur and co-founder of Gray Jones Media, Richard Jones is the mastermind behind Bear World Magazine. Together with his editor, Robin Gray, they understand that their publication is needed now more than ever.

In 1979, George Mazzei wrote an article for The Advocate characterizing gay men by certain animals titled, “Who’s Who in the Zoo?” It was that article that gave voice to the chubbier, hairier, gay man — the almighty ‘bear.’

The term took wing and by the mid-1980s, gay men, who identified as ‘bears’ would gather in social and sexual settings. Feeling ousted because of body type and hairy body parts, these bear groups would congregate separate from the gay community at large, feeling safe and accepted in their own circle.

Presently, the bear community is a thriving, worldwide community with a variety of events and social groups, and the members of that sector have grown to include all shapes and sizes. Over the last decade, the bear community has gained a bigger presence in mainstream gay culture and one can spot a number of twinks at bear pool parties as well as a large contingent of bears showing off on Pride main stages. As the celebration of body types gains traction and the pressures of peak physique diminish, the segregation of the bear community and the rest of gay culture has faded.

Keeping the bear voice very much alive is Bear World Magazine, which is ready to celebrate 13 years in media. Celebrating the bear culture and all of its varying members, is at the forefront of Bear World, without diminishing the queer community that exists beyond the ‘zoo.’

Despite the challenges that chubbier men face because of societal norms and despite the challenges that queer media has faced in recent political climates — they continue to fight the fight via their online publication, podcasts, awards, nationwide events and video content.

The bear’s roar continues to represent.

We chatted with Jones as we compared notes on queer media, building a legacy and what the future of queer representation might look like.

What was the inspiration for starting Bear World?

It was all an accident. I was a member of a bear online group that is no longer around and for the life of me cannot remember the name. They asked the 30,000 members for help with ideas to save the site. Server costs were crippling, etc. I pitched them an idea to create their own magazine. I would own it but license their name and split the ad money with them. They liked the idea and asked me to pitch it more formally. I started to prepare that and then never heard from them again. I think our idea was great but wasn’t going to make enough money for them quick enough. In the end, I realized I could do it anyway and changed the name to Bear World Mag and here we are almost 13 years later.

Bear World Mag’s first cover, featuring the cast of “Where The Bears Are,” in August 2012. Photo courtesy of BWM.

What was your first exposure to the bear world as a queer man?

Funnily enough, it was a visit to Ty’s in NYC — before I really knew what Bears were. I remember seeing ‘BEAR’ as a specific chat room in Gaydar (that’s an old reference) too — but had no idea. It wasn’t until I started going to Be Your Be Yourself (BUBU), which was started by the amazing Paul Bloomer in Belfast Northern Ireland over ten years ago now, and then a bear group there that I really understood how broad the community could be and how I could fit into it.

What are some of the biggest challenges in keeping BWM thriving?

I think trying to keep it fresh, keeping it looking forward as well. The community is ever-evolving and we try to showcase that. We miss things as we are a small team, so we are always encouraging people to tell us about their events, their groups and we try to showcase as much of the global bear community as we can. We have just started to cover the Australian bear community more deeply, with a new dedicated deputy editor Luka Musicki, who is on the ground talking to the groups and helping us find local advertisers! 

What are some of the biggest challenges that queer media faces in general?

I hate talking about this but at the moment it’s the hesitation of advertisers to spend with us. The recent political upheaval has meant that the big advertisers are pulling away and the small advertisers might be more hesitant to advertise because of fear of the economy. We have seen media decline since the pandemic and those of us left are finding it harder to survive.

The appetite to pay for media just isn’t there. It means we have to be leaner and adaptable. It’s why we are starting our Bear World TV content, short videos from key bear voices, showcasing different elements of the bear community. All of us are used to consuming more short-form videos, the bears too. We are very excited about its impact and how it will help stabilize Bear World Mag.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bear World Magazine (@bearworldmag)

What do you hear most from your readers?

They love the hairy content! I’m serious. I think the way we present a bigger different body —although never nude — is inspiring to them. Our bears of the week who are our readers basically from all over the world, are a key part of showing the community from 21-99 in all body shapes and sizes, we are so very diverse even in this niche community. 

What are some of your biggest achievements with the magazine?

Well being here almost 13 years later is the biggest achievement. It was a quick idea that has lasted through greater content, great editors and writers and just never trying to tell the community what they should be but more mirroring them, where they are at all times. I’m proud of some key interviews including Armistead Maupin.

It was a big thrill to meet him and chat with him. He gives good hugs. I’m proud of our female and trans bears that have been cover stars, I’m proud of the young bears that have found us and have said how we helped them be confident in themselves. They always came at my most difficult times and helped me to keep moving forward. 

Cover of Bear World Mag featuring Armistead Maupin in 2014. Photo courtesy of BWM.

The bear community has been getting a much bigger voice and more representation in the queer world, why is that?

I think the biggest reason is that the queer community as a whole is getting more representation on mainstream TV, and the mainstream media. The dad bod and body positivity have helped our bodies be seen as attractive. It’s been great to see bears become character choices over the years across many different TV and films. I had the opportunity to interview the very bear-y straight actor Patrick Cox, who played John on “Two Broke Girls.”

I think [he is] a very ordinary representation of a bear and he was not there to be the butt of fat jokes. The “Will & Grace” reboot had Jack partnered with a bear cub. We have seen bears referenced on “30 Rock,” and even the reboot of the “Muppets” had Fozzy Bear talk about gay bears briefly. Just recently on “The Connors” the greatest Bear Icon of all time, Dan, (some would say) referenced the bear community which in a weird way was beautiful to see.

So it all comes back to representation matters. Writers and show-runners are plugged into the community and are now likely to be queer themselves. A key writer on “Saturday Night Live” is queer, so we’ve seen a lot more queer references on that show in recent times. We, of course, are thrilled to see it. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bear World Magazine (@bearworldmag)

You also do events around the nation. What do you love most about the fellowship of the bear community at these events?

We do a couple of events, Key West Bear Weekend and now WOOF week also in Key West, in partnership with Island House Resort. [That’s our] cheeky plug, thanks!

I think the fellowship is the strength and growth of Bear Weeks and Bear Weekends around the country and the world. To be together and feel safe and attractive is what the queer community finds in any gay or queer bar — and us bears probably never had that. We were always the fat one or the hairy one. To head to a bear weekend and know that you will feel safe just for wearing a tank that shows off your furry shoulders is a tonic to us all.

Add in that we might actually feel attractive and flirted with, and you can see why bears flock to these events. So the fellowship follows, lifelong friends are made and it’s why these events are now starting to hit 20 or 30-year anniversaries. It’s like coming home. Walking down the street in P-town during Bear Week holding your husband’s hand without a worry is magical. 

How has the bear community changed the most over the years?

I like to think it’s queerer. Bears can be masculine still, but also a little queer, maybe embrace not feeling that we have to wear plaid, but maybe a crop top and wear pink. And of course that we are more and more making space for our female sisters and trans brothers has been wonderful to see.  

How can the general queer community best support the bear community? 

That’s a great question. I think as long as we have space to be recognized, in any way at all and never marginalized — that’s all we ask. I think the bear community in turn should show up to support the fuller queer community too. Which I think we are.  We always have more work to do, but I think the recent uproar about a bear campsite not welcoming trans bears and then the wider bear community rejecting that and then boycotting that camp, showed who we are at heart. It makes me very proud.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bear World Magazine (@bearworldmag)

There is much division in the nation right now, also within the queer community. Why is it so important to celebrate the “bear” label and all that subcategories it comes with?

I think this is a time the queer community is able to and should come together, we realize collectively what we have been fighting for these last 50 or more years since Stonewall. We are used to being bullied, so I think on the whole we have thick skin. In celebrating the ‘bear’ label, I like to think we are encouraging of any group to celebrate who they are. Many more subgroups under the queer umbrella are much more visible now, look at how the rainbow flag has evolved, we will continue to as well. Our collective strength is not diminished if we are different from each other in some way, basically, that’s the human race. We need to fully embrace it and make room for all.

What have you learned most about yourself from being the Publisher of Bear World?

Oh gosh, that you can’t stand still. That media is ever evolving as much as we are as people. You have to be resilient and prepared to change because the world both in humanity and in commerce, will change and evolve and you cannot stand still or it will pass you by. 

What can we look forward to this year from Bear World? 

Well, we are about to start planning for the Bear World Magazine Awards Year three which will be in N.Y.C and part of the Urban Bear Weekend, and the red carpet celebration will be at ReBar. We are really excited about our new video content — which we think will be transformative for us and for the community. More Great covers, so much more content about the Australian bear community too — that’s truly exciting to dive into. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bear World Magazine (@bearworldmag)

What is your message to the queer community?

Stay strong, find and support the community you are in or want to be part of and live with as much joy as you can because that pisses the haters off way more than our anger. But keep the anger too. We need that as well to fuel our never-ending fight. 

Follow everything at Bear World Magazine.

COVID-19 hit the queer bar and club life hard and since then, has struggled to regain its footing. There have been location makeovers, new Happy Hour menus and a bevy of new owners sprouting up on the scene to entice new and returning customers.

Rocco’s, one of West Hollywood’s most visible casual eateries and nightclubs is one the latest venues to gain new ownership. Previously owned by an investment group that included Lance Bass, Rocco’s now claims hospitality aficionado Matthew Ross as its new mastermind.

Who better to take over the vibrant spot than Ross? Ross has over 30 years of food and hospitality experience since working at Sizzler when he was just 16. From there, he has worked his way up from bartender, to Director of Food, Beverage and Nightlife, to now being the owner of Rocco’s.

Ross is a California native who grew up in Agoura Hills. His first foray into West Hollywood’s nightlife came by chance when a friend invited him to “18+ Night” at Micky’s.

“We didn’t know anything about gay bars. We had no idea what to do. We had no idea there were these many gay people in the world, we were shellshocked. That’s kind of where it started.”

Ross ended up going to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Downtown, Los Angeles, to study interior design. While he was in school, he worked at some of the bars in West Hollywood and at Micky’s sister bar, Apache, in Studio City. He also got his real estate license, which he still has today, while keeping up his bar jobs. As life would have it, his hospitality career would take over and he found himself in hotels as Director of Food and Beverage. He would also return to Micky’s as a consultant, building the foundation that would make him a miracle worker for locations in need.

“I was a store fixer in a corporate world. I was someone who went to restaurants and bars and had to get them moving back to where the company wanted. So, I’m kind of a pro at going in and fixing things and making them better,” he said.

When the Rocco’s opportunity came about, Ross snatched it up. As someone who understands West Hollywood from an earlier generation, and with his finger on the pulse of what club go-ers want today, he is in a prime place to make some moves in the community.

“I really think it’s time to get back to original, fun West Hollywood because that’s been missing for many years, as far as I’m concerned. I love how free everybody is. We’re all very hard on ourselves and we’re hard on each other. But when we’re in WeHo, we’re in a safe space. That’s what we need in these trying, political times. We need a place where we are safe, and I’m going to make sure that everybody is safe and we’re going to be aligned.”

For Ross, taking over Rocco’s isn’t just about making the club successful. It is also about bringing the nightlife community together as a whole, hearkening back to a time when bars supported other bars because they were so different from each other.

“All the West Hollywood bars need an alliance where we’re all together and we’re protecting our own. But that also includes anyone who wants to join us. We’re not singling out any groups, but we are first and foremost LGBTQ, and that’s where our attention goes. We’re going to take care of our own.”

Ross’s previous experience also helps him not just on the client side of the experience, but on the business side. As a manager to thousands of employees and hundreds of managers, he knows about dealing with employee issues and California labor issues on many different levels. He understands budgets of all sizes, and he understands the steps it takes to create revenue.

To secure Rocco’s future, Ross is looking to elements of the past that made West Hollywood great. They are going to keep the name for now, are planning to remodel, and will keep sports event viewing as part of the lineup. But entertainment and themed events-wise, you may see a change.

“It’s time to get a lot of my old contacts together. I know a lot of DJs, I know a lot of promoters, not just the typical WeHo ones, but the whole L.A. experience.”

He promises busier nights that include live music, a rarity in West Hollywood and even bringing back an 18+ night, much like the beloved Tiger Heat. The 18+ themed night is what brought Ross to West Hollywood in the first place.

“We need to have somewhere for the young ones to go…a safe place, I’ll say that over and over. I just want to make sure everyone knows that we are back to the old, where we take care of our own. It’s not about money, it’s not about cover charge. It’s about – are you having fun and do you feel safe? And that’s what we’re doing.”

Among West Hollywood nightlife chatter, there is the sentiment that our younger, queer generation is not going out to bars and that the future of club-going might look bleak. Ross does not believe that.

“I have been a manager of Gen Z and Millennials now for 20 years. I’m very well versed in their habits and behaviors, and what I’m seeing, with even Gen Z, is that they want to get out into the world now. They are tired of being online. They’re tired of dating apps that go nowhere. They feel very singular, they’re by themselves even though they have hundreds of friends that they talk to online. They really need to be around other people and see what that’s about and have conversations. It’s not about liquor, it’s not about that; it’s about having a place to go where you actually meet people and you’re not on your phone all night.”

Another throwback to the past that Ross is bringing back is good old-fashioned bar service. There was a time that any Happy Hour in West Hollywood looked like a scene from “Cheers,” where everyone knew your name. Ross knows that power in that.

“Customer service needs to come back. When I walked into the bar, in the old days, my drink was on the bar. When my patrons came into Apache or to Rage or to any of the ones I worked at, the drink was on the bar ready to go. Lately, I have probably spent a zillion dollars at other bars and never was recognized.

We’ve had good bartenders over the years, but a lot of that has gone away. That is coming back to this bar. I’ve talked to my friends who own GymBar and some other locations around town and we’re all going to be on the same page, it is time. This is not just a bar, it’s a business with guests who want to be appreciated for spending their money. And the way money is now with everybody, they’re spending their last dollars to go out and have fun and it better be a good time.”

And Ross’s message to the community?

“Everybody, let’s come together. Let’s just cut out all the crap. It’s time. We’re all sisters, brothers, lesbians, trans, everything. We have to have each other’s back right now. We have a little part of the world, which is really a big part of the world because we know what West Hollywood brings to the LA area. We’re one of the biggest gay areas there is, period. We need to start coming together and giving all our brothers and sisters our business, there’s lots of small businesses around here other than bars that need our help.”

Bring it to Brunch, helmed by local drag maven Cake Moss, will make its return to West Hollywood at Rocco’s on April 19 at noon. The show has become a mainstay in the local queer community, starting at Flaming Saddles, then moving to Micky’s.

The show focuses on putting the spotlight on local talent and audiences continue to return as each show is filled with laughs and ‘lewks.’

Hailing from Cleveland, Moss has been serving it up with the drag community for over 14 years. She is a consummate performer and has hosted her own show on Outat.TV, released some sassy bops and performed around the nation.

Los Angeles Blade is a proud media sponsor of the show’s big return. See you there!

We chatted with Moss about her WeHo legacy, the return of Bring It To Brunch, queer nightlife and more!

How would you describe your drag?

I always have a hard time describing my drag. You’ll see through a show of mine. I always start out in a gown and huge hair, and the end of the show we are all shakin’ ass!

What do you love most about the queer club scene in West Hollywood?

What I love most about the queer scene in WeHo is just that—we have a whole neighborhood of queer spaces, for queer people of all walks of like! You can go watch sports, go to a dive bar, go to a big club, go be ‘bougie,’ or just live your best fantasy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cake Moss (@mscakemoss)

What sets Bring it to Brunch apart from other drag shows?

What I personally think sets my show apart is the casting process I have in place and the fact that I have a different cast every week!

Bring It To Brunch is getting a reboot at Rocco’s! What can audiences look forward to in the new venue?

I’m so excited and honored to get to my baby back at Rocco’s. The new owners and management are so supportive and excited it makes me even more lit to start! We are gonna have new drink options.

I changed the format a little bit, but it will still be doing what we usually did! Prize giveaways, sponsors and special celebrity guests! It’s always a gag at brunch!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cake Moss (@mscakemoss)

What is most important to you in putting together each week’s cast?

Diversity! There are sooo many drag entertainers here in SoCal (I also book people from all around the world), so it’s important for me to give a stage to people that normally don’t have the chance to show their art off in West Hollywood.

Who is kicking off your first show at Rocco’s and what do you love most about this cast?

My [drag] sister Melissa BeFierce. She is always supportive of me and looking out for each other she’s been one of my longest friendships here in L.A! My [drag] daughter Jenna Talls is beautiful and also very supportive of me and our community. I have my [drag] sister Kyra Jete, she is the weekly host of Fierce Fridays at Rocco’s and is also one of the Rocc-ettes! So I thought, ‘why not show the crowd some house talent to show what Rocco’s has to offer entertainment-wise?’

And rounding off the cast is Thierry Miesel! She’s a very talented gem. We go way back and she is coming out of her hiatus. I wanted to show her that WeHo is still kickin’!

What are the biggest challenges facing local drag queens in this political and social climate?

I’d say forms here in Los Angeles we are very privileged to be in a place so open and accepting? I’d say that we need to use our voices to help support our fellow sisters in places where legislation is attacking them personally. All of our voices count and never forget that they can always be heard!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cake Moss (@mscakemoss)

How can we best support our drag community?

Support is very easy. If you can come to the show and support, cheer and love—those are free. If you can’t come to the show, that’s OK. Share the flier in your story for a friend or tell a friend who also enjoys drag. Also free! But if you can, make it rain on a b-tch and buy some drinks.

What is your message to the Los Angeles LGBTQ community?

QUIT TEARING EACH OTHER DOWN.

We have to stick together more than ever now and it’s insane the little things people will fight and be hateful about. Save that energy for the administration. Being cordial is free.

Bring it to Brunch kicks off every Saturday, starting on April 19 at Rocco’s in West Hollywood. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

As part of Los Angeles Blade’s mission to get to know our community, we continue to do a deep dive into personalities who represent the queer culture of entertainment, nightlife, activism and politics.

In this “Meet Your Local” column, we celebrate club culture.

For those of us who frequent the queer nightlife, we have come to know dancer Jake Mathews, SoCal’s go-to go-go boy. Jake’s dance card is full as you can find him at any of the popular nightclubs throughout the week, sometimes dancing in multiple locations in one day.

He’s keeping busy, raising money to continue his education. He has been instrumental in adding some positive energy to the nightlife space and his personality makes any patron feel welcomed and comfortable. His trademark dance moves reflect his extensive training in dancing with the pole, it is an art form unto itself.

We sat down with Jake in between his dance sets to get to know the person beyond the persona.

Hometown: Morgan City, Louisiana 

How did you get into go-go dancing?

I got into go-go dancing at 19 on the reboot of the show Queer as Folk. Since then, I haven’t turned back and have danced in numerous cities and bars!

What do you love most about dancing in the queer LA nightlife?

I love the community that I’ve found. When people make an effort to come support me it means a lot. 

What do you love most about life in LA?

The resources that are available for our community. 

What are some of the misconceptions people have about a go-go dancer in LA?

They often sexualize us and believe they have easy access to us. Some of us live a completely different life outside of dancing and put on a persona while on stage. 

You are also a pole artist. How does that differ from your go-go dancing?

Pole dancing feels more like an art, rather than entertaining a crowd on energy. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by jake (@jakemtws)

How does being queer add to your dance artistry?

I like to freely express myself while dancing and am not limited to any societal standards. 

How do you balance your personal life with the nightlife?

I don’t get much sleep. Go-Go dancing allows me to live my daytime life, which consists of being busy. I’m starting my master’s program this summer thanks to Go-Go dancing! 

What is your biggest pet peeve while go-go dancing?

I don’t like when people touch my private areas. As I previously said, the audience does not have that access or permission to do so. 

What are some of your favorite venues to dance at and why?

I love dancing at the Abbey because of the co-workers! It feels like I’m part of something greater than me – especially with Chappell’s “Pink Pony Club.”

What do you want most out of your career?

I want to inspire others to give it a try. 

Any advice to give a new Go-Go dancer?

Don’t worry too much about those negative thoughts in your head. In other words, if you’re thinking about how the crowd is perceiving you, find a way to redirect that thinking. People love you for you! You shouldn’t be like everyone else. 

Favorite hobbies when you aren’t dancing:

I like to read & write, travel and listen to live music. 

Is dating hard while being such a big part of the nightlife?

No. Nightlife is just another job! A partner should be able to accept the work one enjoys. Scheduling together time may be difficult, but this is common with many careers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by jake (@jakemtws)

What is your signature dance move?

It used to be shoulder stands until I damaged my ear. I usually just freestyle and hope for the best!

Favorite song to dance to:

I like to dance to EDM because I feel so free!! 

And your message to the queer community?

We need everyone in our community to come together and support each other in the daytime and the nighttime. This means coming out to nightlife, supporting queer artists, volunteering for our community, and acting as a safe space for each other.  

Follow Jake on IG: @jakemtws

Last weekend Los Angeles Blade was on the scene and one of the guest judges alongside Los Angeles personalities from the adult and nightlife world including Meatball, Dean Michaelz, Adam Keith, Mr. Sister Leather 2024, Colin MacDougall and Mr. Precinct Leather 2024 to crown the first ever Mr. BarBareians at Precinct DTLA.

The Mr. BarBareians is a nod to the male beauty pageant, just a bit edgier and dare we say, sexier? Four contestants competed against each other in a series of categories that included talent, walk, pose, looks and Q&A.

The pageant’s debut contestants consisted of popular nightlife dancers Judas King, Han Cross, Ace Newbury, and De Hanno. The evening was emceed by Leatherman Moshiel. Playing on the barbarian theme, Precinct’s staff and a number of the patrons were dressed accordingly, adding some skin and muscle to the evening.

The show was well-produced and the contestants certainly gave it their all. There was not a weak contestant among them and the scoring was very tight. As our bold emcee remarked, these contestants are more known for their bodies than for their prose, so a few faltered during the Q&A.

As a fun bonus, illustrator and performance artist Jonathan Kidder was on hand, doing his famous quick sketches. Miraculously, he is able to capture the essence of a person in a matter of a few strokes of the pen. He was able to do a portrait of the entire cast in 60 seconds.

Work by Illustrator JW Kidder

LA-based veteran nightlife photographer Dusti Cunningham was feeling the spirits as he roamed around and captured the evening in his signature style, catching the crowd and the cast in their finest and sexiest.

After a short tally of the scores, De Hanno was crowned Mr. BarBareians 2025.

His winning personality and consistent talent across the categories, together with his winning assets, set him apart from his fellow contestants. In the end, everyone was a winner because the cast clearly had a good time and supported each other during the show.

De Hanno named Mr. BarBareian 2025 / Photo by LA Blade

Precinct couldn’t have been a better venue to hold the event. Not only does it have ample space to accommodate the large crowd, but it has a great staff, stiff drinks, and stellar stage and lighting. We also love the sense of community here. Everyone is welcome under the club’s roof. Gay, straight, queer, trans, bears, twinks, leather lovers, and everything else under the sun. No one feels like an outcast or a stranger and it has become the ultimate safe space for the queer community in Los Angeles. This is how we should be congregating in fellowship, especially during these trying times. Precinct offers a great atmosphere for those who are looking to expand their experience past the Weho crowd (not that there is anything wrong with Weho, we are there all the time as well).

Mr. BarBareians and the BarBareians parties are produced by Hump Events, also responsible for Los Angeles’ Turbo for the dance crowd, Hump night celebrating the Middle Eastern community, and Steam for the cruisers. Like Precinct, they believe in representing the community and everyone is welcome.

Hats off to the first Mr. BarBareians, we will be waiting with our scorecard for next year!

Luke Nero is a party monster with class. He has dominated the nightclub scene on both the East and West coasts and this week, one of his most infamous parties returns to Los Angeles for one magical night. Bringing in all feelings of nostalgia, Mr. Black, co-presented with nightlife impresario Andres Rigal comes to Bardot in Hollywood on Saturday, Mar. 1^st.

As they put it–it is a hedonistic cathedral for the fabulous, the freakish and the fashionably unhinged.

Elevating the nightclub scene is in Luke’s blood. In New York, he moved from coat check hottie to manager, where he learned all the ins and outs of the party scene. After moving to L.A, he and Andres dominated the club scene for almost 10 years with parties like Mr. Black LA, Rasputin, Evita, Summertramp and Plastic Fantastic. For many of us, his parties were not just an elevated nightlife experience, they were a safe space for us to explore and express ourselves. The celebrity world loves him, as he’s thrown parties for Katy Perry, Angelina Jolie, and Cher just had to stop by Rasputin to check it out.

After a decade running the party scene, he decided it was time to open his own club. He took some time to design and put together not only one of the best clubs in Orange County but one of the last-standing queer spaces for the community. Strut and its lounge Birdcage, have become the hot spot for OC and from the moment you walk in, you know it’s a Luke Nero experience. From the space age-lighted corridor, to the fashionably nude mannequins, to the mirrored room just made for selfies, to walls of playfully sensual art, to a lighting system and stage made for Vegas–it has Luke’s signature touch on every aspect. Strut made the news when they put up a huge Dolly Parton mural–a wall that has become a queer influencer hot spot for photo op’s.

We chatted with Luke as he was knee-deep in putting in the final touches (and some surprises) for this week’s Mr. Black nightlife reunion:

What can we expect from this week’s Mr. Black?

It’s going to be nostalgia on steroids. Same historic venue, same old Hollywood vibe— it will be a reunion with major flashbacks, the famous assless cocktail waiters. Think of it like stepping into a time machine, the young club kids who owned the dance floor, now own industries. So I’m excited.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MR. BLACK (@mrblack_party)

You have witnessed the evolutions of the LA queer club scene. In your opinion, how has it changed the most?

The queer scene used to be its own world, a core part of queer social life. Now, while queer culture is everywhere, actual queer venues are disappearing fast. The challenge isn’t just keeping the industry alive—it’s ensuring these spaces stay relevant. They’re more than nightclubs; they’re places for expression, connection, and community. Yet, the word “nightclub” doesn’t capture all they do, and the urgency to protect them often gets overlooked.

Why is it so important to keep the party going in today’s social and political times?

Because queer joy is resistance. In a world that still tries to police who we are and who we love, our spaces are more than just dance floors—they’re sanctuaries, proving that we exist, we thrive, and we refuse to be erased.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Luke Nero (@lukenero)

You have created one of the only places for the queer community to celebrate with the creation of Strut/Birdcage Lounge. What are the biggest challenges you have in keeping that space thriving?

Queer nightlife has always had to fight for survival—whether it’s gentrification, post-pandemic shifts, or just keeping people off their couches and onto the dance floor. The biggest challenge? Making sure the space isn’t just a bar but a cultural hub where people feel seen, safe, and celebrated.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Luke Nero (@lukenero)

What is one of your craziest club stories?

There are too many that can’t be printed without legal repercussions. And a gentleman never kisses and tells.

What has been one of your biggest achievements in the club scene?

My biggest achievement is that people still take the time to get dressed, put on a look, and drive to a space I’ve created—where every detail, from the lighting to the sound to the cocktails, has been carefully curated. For most, it’s a night out. For me, it’s watching people step inside an immersive experience that I’ve designed from the ground up. It’s my art, and the real reward is seeing people lose themselves in it without even realizing.

You have grown up in the nightclub world. How have you changed personally the most over your years in the biz, and how does that affect the club scenes you now create?

I started out just wanting to create incredible nights—now, I understand every layer of what makes a nightlife space truly work. Owning a club has given me the skill set to not only design immersive experiences but also run the entire operation, from security to bartenders to management. It’s rare to have both the creative vision and the operational expertise, but that balance is what makes a space thrive. Nightlife isn’t just about going out—it’s about creating culture.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Luke Nero (@lukenero)

What kind of legacy do you want to create with your club spaces and events?

I want people to look back and say, “That was an era.” That I helped shape moments in queer nightlife that were vibrant, glamorous, and necessary. A place where people felt free, seen, and maybe just a little bit famous for the night.

What is your message to the queer nightclub world for 2025?

Go bigger. Take risks. Be intentional. Queer nightlife has always been at the forefront of culture—let’s keep pushing it forward and remind the world why we’ve always been the blueprint.

See you at Mr. Black!

Look-alike contests are trending, so it was no shock that Preciosita–a monthly residency party from the creators of Preciosa Night–decided to host their own the day before Thanksgiving, otherwise known as “Blackout Wednesday.” 

Preciosita Night, a more intimate version of Preciosa Night that’s hosted monthly at The Virgil in Los Angeles, happens in between bigger Preciosa events to keep the party going, while planning for the next event. For the latest Preciosita night, Eden and Jay decided to host the first look-alike contest. 

To showcase the epitome that is Preciosa Night, they decided to go with one of the most established lesbian reggaeton artists of this generation: Young Miko.

With 7.8 million followers on Instagram, 22.9 million monthly listeners through Spotify and one of the most popular albums in 2024 “att”, Young Miko has become one of the most well-known female reggaeton rappers in the LGBTQ+ community, so it was no surprise that a Young Miko Look-alike Contest would draw in such a large crowd. 

During the contest, six contestants stepped up to showcase their best moves and fashion resembling the reggaeton star. In the end, it was a unanimous vote amongst the crowd who the winner was. 

Young Miko Look-Alike winner Daelyn Daniloff blows a kiss onstage during Preciosita at The Virgil in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (Photo Credit Adelyna Tirado)

Daelyn Daniloff, 27, was the last contestant to get up on stage, making the crowd go wild with applause. She won the grand prize of $20, a trophy and a vibrator.

“People come up to me all the time telling me I look like Young Miko. On the street, at work, even in my DM’s,” exclaimed the winner. “So when my friend Kendal saw this contest, she was like ‘Okay, we’re turning you into Young Miko and going!’”

Eden and Jay shared the guest count jumped from what was close to a sold out event, to the max capacity at the venue, which is 300 people. 

Considering how successful Preciosita’s first look-alike contest was, Eden and Jay have decided to continue the trend for the next and final Preciosa event of the year on New Year’s Eve. This time around, Preciosa will host a Karol G look-alike contest with a cash prize of $500.

Guests getting hyped for the Young Miko Look-Alike Contest during Preciosita at The Virgil in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (Photo Credit Adelyna Tirado)

Preciosa Night, created by healthy relationship influencers Eden and Jay Trevino, is a grass-roots movement dedicated toward combining culture, community, perreo, and queerness as nightlife events for Latinx, women loving women. Their events typically feature drag performances, queer Latinx DJs, photo opportunities and most importantly, they strive for a drama-free environment and embrace unity at every single event. 

“We preach that representation matters all the time at Preciosa Night,” said Jay. “Even though Young Miko is fairly new to the reggaeton scene, she is one of the few artists who’s out and proud and we thought it would be a great way to merge both worlds and have fun with it. Being queer and Latina, we don’t often get the representation we deserve.”

The event will take place at the Teragram Room in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are available now at www.preciosanight.com.

Eden Trevino (left) and Jay Trevino (right) pose for a portrait during Preciosita at The Virgil in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. Eden and Jay are the creators of Preciosa and Preciosita Night. (Photo Credit Adelyna Tirado)

Gallery

The longtime Venice gay bar Roosterfish is expanding to a second location in West Hollywood, bringing the West Side vibe to the location vacated by Pump restaurant at the corner of Robertson and Santa Monica with a target opening date of late August.

The new location aims to be a big boost to the West Hollywood nightlife scene, offering both a full-service restaurant, and a dance and social space with two bars.

Pump closed its doors after 10 years at the iconic location and began sharing space with TomTom restaurant down the street last July. Roosterfish was quickly announced as the new occupant of the space. Vollera says the restaurant is just waiting for final permits from the city of West Hollywood to open the new location.

Owner Mario Vollera said it had long been an ambition to expand Roosterfish into the heart of Los Angeles’s gay community.

“We always wanted to have a Roosterfish in WeHo,” Vollera says. “When the location in Pump became available, we loved it. We liked that we could have a Roosterfish that’s bigger than what we have in Venice, so we took it.”

Vollera says the new location offers the opportunity to offer fine dining, which has also been a goal of the Rome-born owner.

“We are going to offer a small Italian-inspired menu. We’ll have five different dishes, light appetizers and desserts, and a weekend brunch, inspired by me. I’m the chef,” Vollera says. “The pasta is going to be homemade.”

“We would like to use this beautiful patio with the shade of these beautiful olive trees. We’ll have the same concept during the afternoons — less formal, more loungey,” he adds. “We designed the spot to be a nice comfortable spot to come for dinner or dancing, with two bars.”

WeHo clubbers already got a taste of what to expect from the new Roosterfish during a 10-day pop-up as part of WeHo Pride last month. Vollera says to expect more of the same with some surprises.

“We established a strong relationship with different promoters from the LGBTQ community that we already have a strong connection with. They’re going to help us have a very strong, proud, curated nightlife,” Vollera says.

Right now, the plan is to have DJs spinning music Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, along with occasional live music nights during the week.

Roosterfish first opened on Abbot Kinney in Venice in 1979 and served the West Side queer community for nearly four decades before closing in 2016. Vollera and his partners acquired the bar and reopened it in 2018. Vollera says he plans to keep the old Roosterfish open.

“We are very happy with what we are doing now. The original owners opened in 1979 and we decided to continue with the same name and logo to honor it,” he says. “We designed the new location similar to the accents and design we have in Venice.”

The new Roosterfish location is part of a big churn of nightlife venues in West Hollywood. Last month, the Abbey celebrated a reopening under new owner Tristan Schukraft, while across the street, the former Heart nightclub had a soft reopening under new owners as Beaches Tropicana.

Beaches Tropicana is eyeing a Labor Day weekend grand opening, with a new full-service restaurant offering Cuban fare. The original Beaches WeHo location at 8928 Santa Monica Blvd. is also getting a rebrand as Beaches Baja with a Tex-Mex menu.

By Susan Hornik | HOLLYWOOD – Want to attend an exciting, unique party for Halloween hosted by Ariana and Frankie Grande’s mom? Check out Diamond Dog Entertainment’s inaugural “Mama G’S Halloween Happenings 2021,” which takes over The Bourbon Room Oct. 28-31. 

“I adore Halloween and have been known on the East Coast for hosting grand and wild Halloween parties,” enthused Joan Grande in an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Blade. “After last year’s pandemic and cancellation of almost every holiday, we were all in desperate need for a Mama G Halloween event!”

The soiree is jam packed with intrigue, and will feature the world premiere of “Horror Camp: A Musical Massacre,” an abundance of live music and costume contests. Halloween-themed food and drinks will also be available for purchase.

“‘Horror Camp,’ is a 80’s and 90’s jukebox musical that spoofs the horror movies of the past,” she noted. “This year we are joined by the greatest cast of people known from Broadway and television: Marissa Jaret Winokur, Frankie Grande, Constantine Maroulis, Emma Hunton, YouTube’s Queen of Reactions, Maya Tomlin, and many other surprise veterans of song, stage, and TV.”

Mama G Grande thinks of Halloween as an “incredibly special” holiday.

“I love the rush and thrill of the unexpected scare, the music associated with Halloween, the strong tones, chords and orchestrations used to create that underlying feeling of fear and fright … sometimes you hear a melody and your hair stands on end, that is wonderfully fun for me,” she explained. I also love the feeling of being free to dress up in a way that perhaps you wouldn’t normally, whether it’s using a lot of makeup, putting on wigs and being in different characters.”

“Following the Musical, the party, which is hosted by Drag Queens greats Shangela and Eureka, continues, with performances as well as their judging our costume parties, with prizes totaling $1,500 each night,” she added.

“I am thrilled to work with Mama G and bring some HalleBOO to Hollywood!” Shangela told the Blade. “Anytime a Grande is involved, whether it’s a family party or a full-out function, I know it’s sure to be a good time!” 

To win the cash prizes, plan on wearing a costume that will stand out.

“Each night is themed — with every costume contest, the main contributing factor for me is EFFORT…and SMART!  I love a well thought out, complete costume…you know, no (grave) stone unturned!” she quipped.

Mama G’s son, Frankie Grande, a fan favorite during his time on CBS’ “Big Brother,” is thrilled that his mom has been working so hard on this event.

“I am so proud of my mom for all that she has achieved in her life as a mother and businesswoman and now she has this overwhelming desire to give back through the arts. I’m so honored to be her partner in Diamond Dog Entertainment. So come party with us this Halloween — we’ll have a gay old time!”

Another highlight of the event: a special midnight screening of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” 

“I loved Rocky Horror from a very early age, because of my mother playing it for me as a child and seeing the Broadway show,” said Frankie. “The first time I dressed up as a character from the show was when I was cast as Frank N Furter in the LA production of ‘Rocky Horror.’  And of course ever since then, he is one of my favorite characters to dress up as.”

Even though they have been busy planning the event, Frankie and Mama G have found time to watch television, seeing Ariana make her debut as a judge on NBC’s The Voice.”

“I love everything about Ariana being on ‘The Voice!’ She is a brilliant musician, both technically and naturally gifted, with a heart bigger than the universe, which she doesn’t hesitate to share. I think that is why she is such a gift to the show.”

If you are headed to New York for Halloween, Mama G has activities for you there as well.

“We are producers for a pair of plays on Broadway. ‘Is This A Room,’ which just opened last week to rave reviews including The New York Times’ Critics Pick, and ‘Dana H,’ which opens this weekend. These two plays are about two extraordinary women and their harrowing experiences told in their very own words. I highly recommend that you see these shows when you are in New York City, they are glorious.” Tickets, which start at $39, and VIP packages are now available for purchase online here.

All guests must show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative PCR COVID test within 48 hours. Masks will also be required when guests are not eating or drinking.

NEW YORK – The Lesbian Bar Project, a New York-based group founded by lesbian filmmakers Erica Rose and Elina Street, raised $117,000 last year to help the nation’s lesbian bars stay in business during the height of the COVID pandemic.

Among the bars receiving financial assistance from the project was San Diego’s Gossip Grill and D.C.’s A League of Her Own. Owner Dave Perruzza said he and his staff were grateful to receive a $7,000 check from the Lesbian Bar Project early this year when the bar was closed under the city’s COVID shutdown order. There are no identified lesbian bars in Los Angeles that are part of the project.

The two women say their 2021 fundraising campaign for the project will raise well over $100,000 as part of their continuing effort to support the nation’s remaining 21 lesbian bars.

“Like a lot of things during COVID, we took a lot for granted,” Street told the Blade in describing how she and Rose reacted when their city’s three remaining lesbian bars – two in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn – shut down like most other bars and restaurants during the peak of the COVID public health restrictions in 2020.

“Erica and I felt very connected to the bars there,” Street said. “And we started these discussions of, we miss our cherished spaces. And now they’re closed. Where do we go?”

With their filmmaking skills as a backdrop, and with the knowledge that the already diminishing number of lesbian bars across the country were struggling to survive under COVID, the two started a fundraising campaign for those bars called the Lesbian Bar Project. Among other things, they produced a video Public Service Announcement with archival scenes of lesbian bars and the women who patronized them.

With financial support from the Jagermeister liquor company’s Save the Night campaign, which was launched to provide financial support for nightlife businesses such as bars and restaurants, Rose and Street arranged for the production of a separate 20-minute documentary film about the role lesbian bars play in the lives of those who patronize them. Rose and Street are listed as the film’s directors.

Among those serving as executive producer and appearing in the documentary is Lea DeLaria, the lesbian comedian, actress and internationally acclaimed star of the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black.”

 Also appearing in the documentary is Jo McDaniel, longtime D.C. lesbian activist and bartender and manager at several D.C. gay bars who helped Perruzza open that bar as the city’s first full-time lesbian bar since the closing of the famed D.C. lesbian bar Phase One nearly a decade ago.

McDaniel says she left her job as A League of Her Own’s manager last year to undertake, along with her life partner Rachel Pike, the start of a new D.C. LGBTQ welcoming bar called As You Are, which began operating online. McDaniel says she and Pike are actively looking for a storefront building in which to open As You Are as an in-person café and bar with a dance floor that will be welcoming to lesbians and the LGBTQ community in general.

The documentary, which helped generate support for the project’s fundraising efforts, can be viewed on the group’s website free of charge at lesbianbarproject.com.

Earlier this month, the national dating app called Hinge announced it was entering into a partnership with the Lesbian Bar Project and would make an initial donation in August of $50,000 to help the project support lesbian bars in need of financial aid.

The announcement said Hinge would educate all its U.S. users about the “importance of LGBTQIA+ establishments” and encourage its LGBTQ members to visit one of the bars for a date.

“The bars that comprise the Lesbian Bar Project are not only a safe space but an essential part of LGBTQIA+ culture,” said Justin McLeod, founder and CEO of Hinge. “Our hope is that this support will help these sacred spaces to stay open through this summer and beyond,” he said in the company’s statement.

The Lesbian Bar Project website provides a list of the 21 lesbian bars that the project has supported. In a notice on the website, Rose and Street note that their initial fundraising campaign for 2021 has been completed, and a financial statement with information on how much has been raised will be released around the time of Labor Day weekend.

Rose told the Blade that until she and Street decide the project’s next plan of action, they are calling on people to donate directly to one or more of the 21 lesbian bars listed on the website.

However, a notice on the website says three of the bars – Cubbyhole of New York City; Sue Ellen’s of Dallas; and Wildside West of San Francisco, “have graciously decided to opt out” of the 2021 pool of funds raised to allow for more contributions to the other bars in greater need.

“In the late 1980s, there were an estimated 200 Lesbian Bars across the country,” a statement posted on the Lesbian Bar Project website says. “These bars are disappearing at a staggering rate, and we cannot afford to lose more of these vital establishments to the fallout of COVID-19,” the statement says.

Rose and Street said the decline in the number of lesbian bars, which began long before the onset of the COVID pandemic, is due to a number of factors, including the overall success of the LGBTQ rights movement. The two said nondiscrimination protections in state and local laws and the landmark 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, opened the way for lesbians and LGBTQ people in general to feel comfortable patronizing bars that were not specifically catering to lesbians.

They said that like its impact on gay bars in general, the rise of the Internet and online meet-up sites has also had the effect of enabling lesbians to meet each other outside of bars and other “brick and mortar” establishments. 

“So, it’s like all of these factors combined with the pandemic are why many of these places are disappearing,” Rose said. “And that’s why Elina and I jumped into action. Our goal is always to raise awareness. The money raised is definitely a bonus,” she said. “We wanted to raise awareness and tell the stories of these bars. That’s going to make sure we remain indelible in our culture and ensuring our survival.”

Rose was referring to one of the themes of her and Street’s 20-minute documentary – that the in-person interaction offered by lesbian bars and LGBTQ bars in general provides, among other things, an important part of LGBTQ culture and the diversity of LGBTQ people that online and virtual venues cannot provide.

“We believe what makes a bar uniquely Lesbian is its prioritization of creating space for people of marginalized genders; including women, non-binary folks, and trans men,” according to the statement posted on the Lesbian Bar Project website. “As these spaces aim to be inclusive of all individuals across the diverse LGBTQIA+ community, the label Lesbian belongs to all people who feel that it empowers them,” the statement says.

“Without space, we lose power, validity, communal safety and access to intergenerational dialogue,” the statement adds. “With the support of our community, we can make sure these bars receive not only the financial assistance they need but the reference they deserve. When our history isn’t protected, we must protect it ourselves.”

Following is a list of the 21 remaining lesbian bars in the United States released by the Lesbian Bar Project: 

A League of Her Own — Washington, D.C.

Alibi’s — Oklahoma City, Okla.

Babes of Carytown — Richmond, Va.

Blush & Blu — Denver

Boycott Bar — Phoenix

Cubbyhole — New York City 

Frankie’s — Oklahoma City, Okla.

Ginger’s — Brooklyn, N.Y.

Gossip Grill — San Diego, Calif.

Henrietta Hudson — New York City

Herz — Mobile, Ala.

My Sister’s Room MSR — Atlanta

Pearl Bar — Houston

Slammers — Columbus, Ohio

Sue Ellen’s — Dallas

The Backdoor — Bloomington, Ind.

The Lipstick Lounge — Nashville, Tenn.

Walker’s Pint — Milwaukee, Wisc.

Wildrose — Seattle

Wildside West — San Francisco

Yellow Brick Road Pub — Tulsa, Okla.