By Jake Naylor

Summer has always been a season of possibility.

It is the season when we gather outdoors, discover new adventures, celebrate creativity, and reconnect with the people and experiences that inspire us. It is a time when music fills the air, performers take the stage, artists share their visions, and communities come together to create memories that last long after the temperatures begin to cool.

This issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine celebrates the many ways arts and entertainment enrich our lives while highlighting the incredible individuals who continue to shape the cultural landscape of Southern Nevada and beyond.

Throughout these pages, you will meet storytellers, performers, activists, educators, authors, and visionaries whose work reminds us that creativity is one of our community’s greatest strengths. From the camp-inspired brilliance of Hanna Barbeara and the theatrical imagination of Simone, to the literary journey of Brandon Blesi and the educational advocacy of Sarah Amie Dorsey, each story reflects the power of self-expression and the courage to share one’s authentic voice.

You will also discover the remarkable preservation efforts of entertainment historian Grant Philipo, whose dedication ensures that the dazzling legacy of Las Vegas showgirls and performers remains part of our city’s story. Meanwhile, JoJo Teves aka Jolene Secrets reminds us that visibility, education, and representation are among the most powerful performances of all.

Summer entertainment takes many forms. Sometimes it arrives in the form of a legendary surprise appearance, like the unforgettable evening when Cyndi Lauper shared her true colors with patrons at The Phoenix. Other times, it can be found beneath the Nevada sun at the BigHorn Rodeo, aboard The Cuddle Bus, on a scenic PRIDE OUTside hike, or poolside at our Elevate series at SAHARA Las Vegas, where community, music, and celebration come together in spectacular fashion.

This issue also reminds us that meaningful participation in arts, culture, and entertainment requires inclusion. Karen Brain’s thoughtful reflections on accessibility challenge us to build spaces where everyone can fully experience the joy of community gatherings, concerts, festivals, and celebrations. As our community continues to grow, so too must our commitment to ensuring that everyone feels welcome and valued.

At its heart, this issue is about stories. The stories we tell. The stories we preserve. The stories we create together.

For more than four decades, Las Vegas PRIDE has worked to provide opportunities for those stories to be shared, celebrated, and remembered. Whether through performance, music, literature, visual art, education, activism, or community events, each contribution strengthens the vibrant tapestry that makes our LGBTQIA+ community so extraordinary.

As you enjoy this Summer, Arts & Entertainment issue, I encourage you to attend a show, support a local artist, visit a community event, discover a new author, take a hike, dance by the pool, cheer at a rodeo, or simply spend time with the people who bring joy to your life. Every shared experience becomes part of our collective story.

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping keep these stories alive.

Until next time, stay proud, stay creative, and enjoy the summer.

With PRIDE & gratitude,

Jake Naylor
Editor-in-Chief
Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine

This article was originally published in the 2026 Summer, Arts & Entertainment issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.