Gay San Francisco-based astrologer Barry Perlman (aka Astrobarry) has been a personal favorite of the editor for years now. His weekly horoscopes are tops and his astrology articles taught us things we never even thought we would want to know. He took a few minutes to sit down with us and talk about everything from what the gays really want to his own personal astrological magnetism.

1. Which did you realize first: that you are gay or that you wanted to be an astrologer?

I realized the gay thing first. Being an astrologer sort of snuck up on me. I'm still surprised it's what I do. I didn't grow up with exposure to such belief. I just stumbled there on my own, and liked what I found. It's funny the directions life takes, if you’re open to crazy plot twists.

2. What is the number one reason that gay men should have a birth chart reading?

To learn more about yourself, and to gain more perspective on what’s going on in your life now. Your chart maps where the planets were at the time and place of your birth. This gives a good overview of potentials in the personality. Then, by tracking the planets as they continue to move, we can see the luckier opportunities and trickier challenges as they arise in different areas of your life. That way, you’re better informed—and can make
more conscious, well-timed choices.

3. Is life in San Francisco good for a gay astrologer?

Life in San Francisco is good for a gay anything. I love SF to pieces. It's so quirky, gorgeous to look at, great food and culture, and people tend to be pretty laid-back. We SFers are quite content inside our liberal, fog-filled bubble.

4. You recently went to Tokyo for a couple weeks. Is astrology a big thing there?

Yes, definitely. I saw lots of cute cartoon zodiac characters in Japanese magazines and on the public video-screens. But it drove me crazy that I couldn’t understand any of what they were saying.

After the jump, hear what Barry has to say about cosmic love matches, and also a few words for you skeptics.

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Dangerous Muse are the homo-electro duo of Mike Furey and Tom Napack and they have both gay boys and straight girls swooning. The fellas took time from rehearsals and prepping their new EP to chat with Bradford Shellhammer about their fans, their photos, and their new record.

The photos on your site are pretty hot. Who shot them and what was the shoot like?
MF: Some of our favorite photos are ones that weren't intended for press -- ones that our friends just took for fun. The black and white ones on our site were shot one night after a bottle of wine. They were captured by Miguel Villalobos and styled by Zaldy (head designer for Gwen Stefani's clothing line, L.A.M.B.).

Describe your music in 10 words or less?
A piece of us we share with you.

Do you ever read blogs?
MF: Not until recently! There is this really great blog that my roommate told me about called The Hype Machine. It's great for finding fresh and really random music.

TN: I'm not really into reading blogs. Sometimes I read PopJustice.com. But I will say that Queerty is pretty fuckin’ solid!

What do you have in the works?
MF: We're in the process of finishing our first album. Over the summer and into early fall, we will be recording many more songs. We plan to have our debut CD release in March 2007. We will be supporting this release with a tour and with promotional and marketing materials domestically and internationally.

Ted Ottaviano produced "The Rejection." Were you fans of Book of Love?
TN: "Boy" is one of our favorite songs. We have really enjoyed working in the studio with Ted.

MF: Ted Ottaviano is a stellar producer and a perfectionist. We love him. Ted produced all the tracks on our next digital release, "Give Me Danger EP," coming in August 2006. This new EP will be a collaboration of our first digital release and three new songs. It will also include a radio edit of one of our favorite remixes of "The Rejection."

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

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Trannyshack, the legendary drag party from San Francisco, is coming to New York City for one night only on Thursday June 8th. A screening of the film Filthy Gorgeous: The Trannyshack Story will be followed by a NYC Trannyshack show featuring the talents of Scissor Sister Ana Matronic, Juanita More!, Sherry Vine, and of course Trannyshack’s founder Heklina. Heckles recently caught up with our Editor-At-Large Bradford Shellhammer to discuss the New York show, the film, and who she dreams of rimming.

What do you have in store for us New Yorkers at your upcoming show?
Well, it'll be an assortment of Trannyshack alumni past and present, focusing more of course on ex-Trannyshackers who've moved to NYC and also some NYC names who played at the club.

Who'll be performing with you?
Darcy Drollinger is helping me to promote and host the show, Sherry Vine will be appearing, Ana Matronic (doing a possible duet with Jake Shears), Juanita More!, Renttecca, Electro the Pop and Lock King, Vinsantos, Faux Pas, Tai Chi, Christy Love, Miss Trannyshack 2005 Coco Canal, and more.....

Tell me about the movie. How did it come about? What can we expect?
Over the course of the past ten years that Trannyshack has been going on for, umpteen hundred people have attempted to do films on the club, but no one has stuck it out and actually finished one until now! Sean Mullins and Deena Davenport spent an exhausting year (2002) documenting every show and interviewing almost everyone associated with Trannyshack, and I have to say it's pretty comprehensive-they've done an amazing job.

You're legendary in San Francisco for rimming audience members onstage. Who in the world do you most want to rim?
Oh God, where to begin? I would love to rim Clive Owens, Paul Walker, Hugh Jackman, Brad Pitt, that guy who starred in the remake of the Amityville Horror, Chris Meloni, Ryan Gossling, almost every Jewish and Italian guy in NYC, any member of any NFL team, any man in a sailor suit, um.....OK, I'll stop now.

After the jump Heklina tells us if she is flithier than Lady Bunny.

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The whole Brokeback High story has been confusing to everyone. Did high schooler Brandon Flyte lie about being expelled? Or is West Linn-Wilsonville superintendent Roger Woehl the one who has shifted into dishonest damage control. Queerty's Steve Pep spoke to Brandon about the saga.

What prompted you to create a video about a love story between two gay men?
Homosexuality, or more specifically people's lack of acceptance of homosexuality, is a real issue that real people deal with. If you were to ask Ang Lee the same question, I don't think he'd say he was trying to make a strong film to advocate the gay community. My film isn't a love story between two gay men-- it's a love story between two people struggling to accept themselves and be accepted by others.

What to you want to say to Superintendent Woehl?
What I'd like to say to Super Intendent Woehl at this point is nothing. The Oregonian twisted my words and meanings and published libellous comments about me. It's only fair to assume that they did the same to Dr. Woehl.

More Brandon Flyte after the jump.

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Will Wikle is everywhere: television, radio, and the emergency room. The jack of all trades recently answered some questions from our intern Christopher Rudolph and dishes on Omarosa, Bette Midler, and his romance with LOGO’s Jason Bellini.

Hey, Will! What have you been up to?
Right now, I'm at the Genius Bar inside the Soho Apple Store watching two 7 year olds argue about the hard drive capacity on their iBooks. It's pretty amazing considering that at that age, I was out in the fields of Mississippi eating mud and making HeMan give head to Skeletor.

How did you like Fashion Week?
I was fortunate enough to attend very inspiring, rad shows. For the first time ever, I can say that I now completely view fashion design as a true expressive art. As I listened to my boyfriend interview Richie Rich backstage at Heatherette, I was reminded of the passion and actualization of inspiration that goes in to "making it happen.” Besides Heatherette, I loved both Yoko Deveraux and Project Runway. But mostly just going to PR with Bradford. Now that we all know who made the final three, I can say that I am very upset that everyone won't get to see Kara Janx's line...If I was a trannie, I would only wear her evening dresses.

How has your life changed after Big Brother?
That's such a tough question. I obviously didn't return to the same life that I left, which was both good and bad in so many ways. Great things have happened for me: I started a new job at a different hospital, I signed on with LOGO, I started with Twist, yada, yada. But life was hard for me too. You know, I naively expected to be affirmed by my 15 minutes on TV....like every self confidence issue I ever had would disappear simply because I had achieved some level of being recognizability. Well, that was the exact opposite case. I went through a pretty intense depression after that experience was over. It was a real challenge to figure out who I was again and be proud of that person. I had some great friends and family to help me out and I came out a better dude because of it. So, it's all good in the end.

More after the jump.

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Buck Angel is the world’s first FTM porn star. Buck took some time from his busy schedule to catch up with Bradford Shellhammer to discuss the porn biz, the Black Party, and Michael Lucas.

At what age did you realize you wanted to begin transitioning?
From my earliest memories I've always felt like a boy; I never felt like a girl. The man that I am was trapped inside my female body. Always. If I'd known about it sooner, I would have done it sooner. Once I learned that it was an option, I went for it. It was over10 years ago, when I was in my 20s.

You took hormones and had a chest surgery. Why did you not alter your vagina?
Unfortunately, the surgery that they have to create a penis is not up to my standards for aesthetics and function, and it can cost over $50,000. Plus, there is a chance of losing your ability to have an orgasm. No thanks! I don't need a penis to feel like a man, and to be a man. From the reactions I've seen it appears a lot of men don't realize you don't need a cock to be a man. But I am all man, even with my mangina. And I enjoy my pussy--I like to get fucked. It doesn't make me feel like any less of a man!

Why porn? Had you always been drawn to it?
I've been in the industry for quite a while. Initially I was on the other side of the camera. For years I produced other porn--fetish, and Male-to-Female porn. Eventually I realized that, while there was tons of MTF/shemale porn, there wasn't ANY FTM porn. I thought someone needed to step up to the plate, and I decided I was the man for the job.

More Buck after the jump.

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Alan Cumming is an actor who seems to have done it all: won a Tony, played an X-Man, written and directed. The multitalented Cumming recently answered some of Bradford Shellhammer’s questions about The L Word, the Threepenny Opera, and his fragrance line.

We cannot wait to catch you, Cyndi Lauper, and Nellie McKay in the Threepenny Opera. What you can you say about the production?
Right now not very much because I haven't started rehearsals. But I'm nonetheless very excited. I did a workshop about a year ago so it has been really great to feel that I can actually get through it! Also it's meant that in the last year ideas, the songs and parts of the character have been floating around in my mind. The biggest revelation about the workshop was discovering that Macheath is a sex addict. Who knew?

Tell us about your fragrance. What made you launch it?
It was really one of these crazy things that tend to happen to me! My friends Jason Schell & Christopher Brosius and I sort of all came up with the idea over a period of time and eventually we had one of these Judy/Mickey moments and said "Let's make the fragrance right here!" Christopher is a genius and I had worn various fragrances of his for years and Jason had these really fantastic ideas about how to market the fragrance. For me it has been real fun to provoke and subvert the whole notion of celebrity endorsement and at the same time have products that I really enjoy and am proud to add my name to. We now have 5 things--the fragrance, the cleanser [Cumming Clean], the body scrub [Cumming Off Buff], the body lotion [Cumming All Over], and the soap [Cumming in a Bar], all available at Cumming The Fragrance.

It's such a hilarious thing for me when every time I wash my hands the soap has my name on it. I'm also using it to help charities that I believe in. We're starting a program whereby each month we'll give a hefty percentage of our online sales to charity.

You are on the new season of The L Word. What character do you play?
I play a character called Billie Blaikie who comes into the series to run The Planet and generally spice things up. I had never seen the show before I shot my episodes, but I talked to the producers about the character and thought it sounded fun. The one thing I was adamant about was that I would have sex with a lesbian on the show. I think it's really good to mix things up a bit and to challenge people's perceptions about the ways sexuality is pigeonholed. So the idea of a bisexual man having sex with a lesbian was right up my alley. However, the type of sex I ended up having was a little more than I bargained for. It was the most graphic sex scene I have ever done. But I had great fun with all the girls and I got to have a different hairstyle and colour in each episode.

After the jump Alan explains why he wants to be the queer Martha Stewart.

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Michael Van London is a gifted indie rocker/songwriter who sounds like an edgier Ryan Adams mixed in with quite a bit of old school Sonic Youth. Oh, and he’s also queer. Michael recently previewed his brilliant new album, Fortunes of Misfortunes, for Steve Pep and took the time to chat about his songs and what it’s like being a gay musician.

Who are some of your major musical influences?
Well without a doubt, my favorite musician is Juliana Hatfield.
Her ability to continuously change and grow as a vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and an artist is a huge inspiration to me. I also love the Ramones, The Queens Of The Stone Age, The Bangles, Tom Vek, Sonic Youth.

Do you think being an out queer musician can help or hinder your career?
To be honest, I think being a fag who plays rock 'n roll is totally rock 'n roll, and there's no doubt about that.

Do you meet many other queer musicians who are out of the closet?
From time to time I get the pleasure of meeting another gay band, or solo artist. I would love to work more with gay musicians. However, I always end up working with either heterosexual guys or alone. Well, my real dream band, lol, is a totally rocking all girl band, excluding myself, obviously. LOL

What was your coming out experience like?
I was pretty young to be honest 18 going on 19 and I couldn't tell you the difference between a bottom and a top, or even what the hell that meant at the time. I found to be very confusing for a lot of reasons. Actually, now at 28, I still find some of it confusing, but mainly just a sad lesson to be learned I suppose without the chance of sounding too jaded. I do still reserve the feeling for love. I just know now it comes in many different forms, and in many different levels.

After the jump, Michael tells us about his new album and the music industry's casting couch.

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Nick Verreos is Project Runway’s sassy front-runner. The funny Californian recently told Bradford Shellhammer how he really feels about Santino, why he dislikes celebrity designers, and why Kark Lagerfeld looked better chunky.

We both worked for FIDM. What was your experience like at the school?
Several years ago, they asked me to come in and speak to the students , as an alumnus of the school who had "succeeded" in the industry. The response was so positive, that consequently, they asked me if I had time to teach some classes part time. I did, and I discovered that I enjoyed teaching the students and "giving back" all the knowledge I've acquired so far working 12+ years in this industry.

No surprise that I sort of enjoyed being "on stage." The feedback I get from the students is that they find my methods and instruction to be refreshing and rewarding at the same time. Overall, I love teaching, it just takes up a lot of time(outside of class) and sometimes it can be really annoying to deal with students that are there for the wrong reasons: rich kids who have been told my their mommy or daddy that they have “great style” or they can “put outfits very well together,” etc. As well as the current phenomenon of “celebrity designers,” which leads kids to think that it really doesn't require hard work and struggle to do well in the gritty Fashion Industry and that it can happen overnight. I sometimes wish the school would do more of a selective /weeding out process BEFORE they got to us.

Do you read blogs? If so which?
When I have time I do. I am humbled by the support and positive feedback and comments that most of them say about me. Some of my faves are Queerty of course, Blogging Project Runway, Television Without Pity, and Four Four is pretty funny! The whole "whickety whack" and "Uncle Nick" threads are slaying me!!!!!!! Wish I would have made a T-shirt with that written on it!

Also, my friends are always sending me stuff that is being thrown out there in the electronic atmosphere. Good and bad stuff. Fashion and designing/creating fashion is very emotional for me, so to read people's critiques of what we do, which for me comes from my heart---can affect me emotionally. It's especially difficult when I read or hear comments from people that have really no knowledge of what we go through, and the time constraints, etc. My sister, a former Miss Venezuela and a model, used to say the following to people: "If you are not a Make-up Artist, don't talk about my make-up; if you are not a Hair Stylist, don't talk about my hair; and if you are NOT my brother, don't comment on the clothes that I am wearing." But I know that people feel compelled to put in their two cents, heck I used to do it as well, after watching America's Next Top Model or other shows like that. Needless to say, I don't do it anymore, my outlook and views have changed: I have become the commented-on, not the commentator!

After the jump Nick tells us about his relationship with Santino.

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We once described the blogger Bryan Boy like this: “Paris Hilton has been reincarnated as a gay, Asian twink.” We had special Queerty reporter Randy Kaufman track Bryan down to chat about fashion, Manila, and Nan Kempner.

Hi Bryan how's it going over there!
It's shitty. I just got back from my weekend vacation el tropicale style and I'm still in recovery.

First of all, I wanted to let you know that I love your blog and read it everyday. It's so over the top. Have you always loved fashion? 

People always assume I always loved fashion or I'm a fashionista... I don't/I'm not. I'm not really obsessed with fashion; I'm obsessed with SHOPPING though. I shop for things that I want... and love - I don't give a shit whether it looks good on me or not.

I love shopping more than anything...it's the great equalizer... they don't care if you are black or white or third world or gay or have a second head...as long as you have money! Which we all assume you do. Where does it all come from? Do you work? Is stuff just cheaper in Manila?
A gold digger-in-training will never reveal her financial resources. No, I don't work. I used to pretend and say "I work" just to sound respectable.... and then I realized shit, nobody believes I'm a funeral director by day and a fluffer by night, so why pretend? Besides, I've always thought "work" is something for the little people. Most things are indeed cheaper in Manila. There's a ton of good finds and bargains here. However, I'd say skip this hideous cesspit of the third world if you're looking for designer goodies... it's always best to fly first class to Europe if you want to max out your plastic.

For those who don't know about your blog you are somewhat of an unexpected fashion icon - someone still willing to take some risks and be a self-described label whore. Who are some of your must haves? 

I wouldn't consider myself as a fashion icon. If anything, I'm fashion road kill. Piling everything up into this inimitable, gigantic mess is fun. Fashion is about taking risks, trying things on and making mistakes... I hate polished and stiff looks... soo pretentious. I like to mix and match the high and the low and give a good attitude to match. Who are my must haves? Goyard, Chanel, Hermes, Yves Saint Laurent and Marni. For 2006 I'm gonna try my best to stay away from all things logo-a-gogo... except Goyard of course. I feel like I'm starting to dress Hollywood trash with all the Dior and Vuitton that I have.

After the jump Bryan Boy lets us know who he wants to be.

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Alonso Duralde is The Advocate’s fabulous arts and entertainment editor. He’s also the author of 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men. Every queer, closeted or uncloseted, should have it on their bookshelf. Alonso carved some time out of his busy schedule reviewing movies and interviewing celebs to talk to Queerty’s Steve Pep.

What made you decide to compile a list of must-see movies for gay men?
Well, as I mention in the book, I've worked with a lot of very bright and very creative 20-something interns at The Advocate. But I constantly find myself being shocked at what great movies they *haven't* seen. So the book was a way to share with gay men -- of all ages -- some film titles that are definitely worth checking out, just in case you haven't already.

Your provides a pretty humorous and unconventional interpretation (read: gay) of the plot for Casablanca. Do you find that a lot of classic "straight" films can be so easily redefined this way?
I think just about any art opens itself to alternate readings, depending on how you look at it. I think the recent release of "Brokeback Mountain," for instance, has made people look at classic Westerns like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" in a new light.

You might have a hard time with this question, but can you pick one film that you would perceive as the gayest movie of all time?
I would say that a) there is no such thing, and b) if there is, JACKASS: THE MOVIE would probably be a leading contender. A bartender I know in San Diego told me once that his bosses don't let him play gay porn on the TV sets in the bar, so he screens JACKASS instead.

After the jump, Alonso talks Brokeback Mountain, blogs, lesbians, and Gene Shalit.

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You remember the courageous story of gay Army Private Kyle Lawson who was attacked by a fellow soldier once word of his sexual orientation got around base. Shortly after the initital assault, another soldier, brandishing a knife, threatened Lawson. He’s since been honorably discharged and took the time to speak with Steve Pep about life as an out gay soldier and his new life as a civilian.

Tell us how the soldier who attacked you was punished. What is his current status?
Loss of Phase and extra duty, which means he can't hang with his friends on the weekend. He must instead work on post - not even a slap on the wrist.

Had you known him before the attack? What was your relationship like with him before?
We were somewhat friendly. We hung out a few times before the party (where the initial attack occurred). He lived next door to me in the dorms.

Your attacker said you provoked the assault by making sexually suggestive remarks? True? If not, what exactly sparked it?
This is a typical response when gays are assaulted. Someone has to answer to the military. Look at the case of Private First Class Barry Winchell. When the guilty soldiers had to answer to their chain of command they used the "he was hitting on me" defense.

We were talking about a girl he had the hots for and I was telling him to go for it. He’d found out earlier that I was gay he told me to get the f**** away from him so I walked over to a group of friends. I was extremely upset, asking what his problem was. He came walking up behind me grabbing me by that shoulder and said "Get the f*** out c*** sucker. I told him to back off and I turned away from him. He grabbed me by the shoulder and said "don't ignore me you f**** queer." He then punched me in the face and I fell to the floor.

What was it like for you to be confronted with a knife after the first attack? Was that when you realized you needed to leave the military for fear of your own safety?

Before I was attacked the first time I went to my command and asked if my sexuality would be a problem because I was being harassed and thought something should be done. They assured me that my being gay had nothing to do with being a soldier and I would be perfectly fine as long as I kept it to myself. The same weekend I was attacked, I was moved to another unit where everyone knew why my nose was broken. Everyone there was very accepting of my being in the military and gay. They really didn't care. Only one person had a problem with my being gay. One day I was in the barracks hanging out and he came up to me, pulled a knife on me and said if I didn't get out of his barracks he was going to cut me up. I just let it roll off thinking he was just an idiot trying to act bad. He continued making remarks to other soldiers saying he wanted to see me cut up into little pieces. He would even cut his arm saying the blood on the floor was my blood and he couldn't wait to see more all over (freak maybe he shouldn’t be in the army). So once I heard this I went to my commanded and requested a discharge.

After the jump, Lawson talks about the secret society of gays in the military and his future plans.

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