DTLA Proud Festival
West Hollywood isn't the only place to celebrate Pride in the Los Angeles area. The DTLA Proud Festival returns to the increasingly vibrant downtown L.A. area this weekend. The festival, now in its third year, features a variety of musicians, such as Big Dipper, numerous DJs, stars from RuPaul's Drag Race, local artists and businesses selling their wares, and more. And for the first time, it's three nights instead of two, running tonight through Sunday. "Proud was not created to compete with Pride," founder Oliver Alpuche told L.A. Weekly. "[It] was created to showcase downtown and to give local artists a platform to connect with their community. Proud is more of a space to highlight local artists, local businesses, queer performers and community organizations." It all takes place at Pershing Square, convenient to mass transit. Find all the details here.
What Keeps You Alive
Lesbian couple Jules (Brittany Allen) and Jackie (Emily Anderson) retreat to a cabin in the woods on their honeymoon. Their wilderness retreat unearths Jackie's dark side, and the couple must confront the secrets she's been hiding. The blood-stained fear trip takes unpredictable turns and pits Jules against the woman she loves most in a fight to survive. Directed by Colin Minihan, What Keeps You Alive arrives in theaters and on VOD Friday. Watch the trailer below and an exclusive clip here.
Little Man, Little Man by James Baldwin
Little Man, Little Man: A Story of Childhood, the only children's book by James Baldwin, is back in print after 40 years. It in, the great gay African-American author and activist chronicles the experiences of a young boy named TJ in 1970s Harlem, detailing "the challenges and joys of black childhood," according to publisher Duke University Press. The book was inspired by the author's nephew, Tejan "TJ" Karefa, who asked Baldwin to write a book about him. With illustrations by French artist Yoran Cazac, the book is what Baldwin called "a celebration of the self-esteem of black children." The new edition has a foreword by Karefa and an afterword by his sister, Aisha Karefa-Smart, "Uncle Jimmy was a huge advocate for children's rights, education, safety, and protection," Karefa-Smart told Publishers Weekly. "He grew up in a vulnerable situation in Harlem, and I believe he wrote this book for all children. TJ is an archetype for children whose innocence is lost growing up in the city -- and his experience specifically reflects that of the black urban child. I think my uncle wrote this story so that children could have hope for a brighter future, one that is full of opportunities." Order here or visit your local bookstore.
The Wild Boys
French director Bertrand Mandico's pseudo-experimental film The Wild Boys flips gender on its head in this tale shot partially in black and white and partially in color. The trippy film tells of five delinquent teen boys circa 1900 who rape a teacher in a fit of collective rage. They're sent away to be "re-educated" at the mercy of a Dutch sailor called "The Captain" who employs questionable and violent methods to keep the boys in line. They are eventually shepherded to an island where, after eating a phallic fruit, they're transformed from boys to girls.
The film's conceit is that Mandico casts young women to play the violent boys. The film stars Anael Snoek as the ringleader Tanguy. Pauline Lorillard, Vimala Pons, Diane Rouxel, and Mathilde Warnier costar.
Christine and the Queens "5 Dollars"
Performer Heloise Letissier, also known as Christine and the Queens, has dropped her latest single "5 Dollars" along with the accompanying video off of her upcoming sophomore album Chris, out on Sept. 21.
The pansexual French artist described the video in which she bathes, rifles through a closet filled on one side with suits and on the other with fetish gear before dressing as "American Gigolo with a twist." Letissier was referring to the 1980 movie in which Richard Gere plays a hustler.
"The closet is segmented into two racks--suits and bondage. From there, I wouldn't advise to conclude anything too drastic, since you're glaring yourself, in an obscene fashion--voyeur," Letissier told Vogue.
Burning Man
About 70,000 will gather for Burning Man, an annual gathering of pilgrims who transform Nevada's Black Rock Desert into a landscape of art, sculptures, and performances. This year's theme is "I, Robot," so expect metallic tinges in this year's surreal costumery, as well as a $425 price tag for the privilege of camping out and watching the sculptures burn. The event runs August 26 to September 3. Learn more at burningman.org.
Shea Diamond, "American Pie"
Vocalist Shea Diamond is getting attention for her beautiful new EP, Seen It All, executive produced by Justin Tranter, who's worked with artists like Selena Gomez and Gwen Stefani. Diamond, a proud trans artist, has just released an acoustic version of "American Pie," one of the three songs on Seen It All. "American Pie is my hope for a slice of the American Dream: I want love and I don't need money!" Shea said in a release. "I want things to change since we've been stuck thinking in an antique mindset and it's time for something new. Who's going to say what I want is not a need? We can all have a slice of American Pie." Watch the acoustic version below and check out Jeffrey Masters's interview with Shea here.
