Ever since my very first comedy parody play, Mommie Queerest, waaaaay back in 2003 (this is why I hate math) people have been asking, “When are you going to do The Golden Girls?” (I always thought that phrasing sounded a little creepy.) I would politely reply, “Ooo, maybe next year,” brushing it off while knowing full well I had absolutely no intention of parodying a sitcom that was already perfect.

By any measure, Soleil McCants is a force. In the boardroom, she is a 14-year veteran of search engine marketing who understands the psychology of turning a casual browser into a loyal customer. In the community, she is an award-winning activist whose voice has shaped conversations around LGBTQIA+ equity and food insecurity. In her personal life, she is joy personified, middle name and all.

I was shaped by a lineage of formidable women. I grew up on stories of these great women: my great-grandmother, born during the Lost Generation, a single mother who forged a homestead alone; my grandmothers, who endured the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II; and my mother, who witnessed the transformative power of the Civil Rights and feminist movements.

In my journey, I will always have a special place in my heart for the women who have come into my life, especially those within the “L” GBTQIA+ community. My lesbians and those who “do not label” have always supported my journey, given me the strength to be who I am, and most importantly, have shown me how to love. (Especially ERMA! May she rest in peace.)

In the heart of North Las Vegas, a bold promise is taking root: that every child deserves access to excellence, not just in academics, but in creativity, identity, and possibility. At the center of that promise stands Shambrion Treadwell, M.Ed., Founder and Executive Director of Do & Be Arts Academy of Excellence, a free, arts-integrated K–8 school built on the belief that students can truly “DO anything and BE anything.”

In 1981, the first documented cases of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) were reported in the United States. What followed was not only a public health crisis, but a wave of fear, misinformation, and stigma. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that can cause AIDS, was poorly understood in those early years. Hysteria often overshadowed science, and harmful stereotypes were perpetuated, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community.

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the community will gather at The LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada for an afternoon of celebration, connection, and courageous joy as it hosts its annual Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV) event. Taking place from 3 to 7 p.m. at The Center, located at 401 S. Maryland Parkway, this year’s observance promises to be both affirming and unforgettable.

For nearly a decade, Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine has amplified the stories of Southern Nevada’s LGBTQIA+ community, spotlighting artists, entertainers, advocates, resources, and the everyday heroes who shape our culture. Now, Las Vegas PRIDE is taking that mission from the page to the mic with the launch of the Las Vegas PRIDE Podcast.

1 Tequila, 2 Tequila, 3 Tequila, FLOOR! 2026 has one thing that other years didn’t: what is it, you ask? Auntie Norma popping up all around town for HAPPY HOURS! 2-4-1 and everything else! Just a simple little bit of community activism to support, to expose, and to have one heck of a good time at some of the best queer drinking establishments in Las Vegas!

Visibility is a powerful thing. It is the quiet courage of showing up as yourself. It is the boldness of telling your story. It is the decision to stand in the light, not for applause, but for impact. In this issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, we celebrate Women and LGBTQIA+ Visibility not as a trend or talking point, but as a living, breathing force shaping our community every single day.

There is no LGBT without the L or T, and this issue is dedicated to Women, AND it is also Trans Day of Visibility! PRIDE centers on resistance and progress, and now more than ever, our sisters and our Trans community are front and center!

We recently sat down with Sean Stuart, Las Vegas performance artist and Cofounder of For The Birds Productions, to discuss the philosophy of artistic expression/performance as a therapeutic/mental health process for dealing with stress and the world on a daily basis. He immediately took to the stage!

The start of a new year offers a natural pause; a moment to breathe, reflect, and ask ourselves who we want to become next. While the world loves to promote sweeping resolutions and dramatic reinventions, research (and lived experience) tells us something different: It’s the tiny, consistent choices we make every day that shape our lives in the most powerful ways.

The New Year is a great time to reassess wellness choices. But what if our decisions could never be changed? If our decisions at the start of our journey set the course forever, offered no turning back or opportunities for a “do over.” What if the choices made for you as a toddler determined your lifelong journey?

Long before Las Vegas evolved into the inclusive city it celebrates today, there was Le Café, a bold, unapologetic refuge for the LGBTQ+ community at a time when queer visibility came at significant personal risk. Its founder, Marge Jacques (c. 1935–2001), was more than a bar owner; she was a pioneer whose courage helped shape the city’s queer history.

On March 28, 2026, The Usual Place will transform into something far more than a venue for nightlife and spectacle. For one night only, it becomes a spell circle; a place where glamour meets grief, joy meets justice, and magic becomes an act of survival. Red Dress 2026: Abra-RED-Dabra! – A Magical Night of Transformations marks more than another chapter in the Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s storied history. It celebrates over two decades of radical care, creative resistance, and unwavering commitment to people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.

When Kendall Jecky Sonquipal Cailing steps onto the Miss International Queen–USA stage this March, she will be carrying far more than a sash or a crown-in-waiting. She brings with her a story shaped by immigration, survival, faith, and a fierce commitment to visibility; one that reflects the very heart of what MIQ-USA was created to celebrate.

New beginnings don’t always arrive softly. Sometimes they show up as a breakdown, a reality check, a moment that cracks your whole life open. Sometimes they come after years of trying to hold everything together with shaking hands. And sometimes, a new beginning is simply a decision, “I deserve better. My kids deserve better.”

At first glance, Life Blows: The Escapades of the Real Lexi Ray sounds like pure absurdity: a life-sized blow-up doll embarks on a road trip of self-discovery, documenting her existential musings through poetry, yoga, heartbreak, and beachside epiphanies. But beneath the humor and whimsy lies something far more tender and resonant; a profoundly queer meditation on identity, mental health, belonging, and the quiet work of learning to stay alive when life feels overwhelming.

The beginning of a new year often inspires reflection and renewal. This provides an opportunity to evaluate ourselves and ask: Does my life align with my goals and values? What is going well? What needs to change? This self-assessment can help us create goals that help us grow, change and strengthen who we are. This year, the Southern Nevada Health District invites you to use the new online resource, CredibleMind, to begin building the best version of yourself.

As a new year unfolds, January and February offer a powerful moment of recalibration, especially for queer and trans communities navigating change, resilience, and self-definition. These months invite us to release what no longer fits, recommit to chosen family, and step more fully into lives shaped by authenticity rather than expectation. Whether you’re seeking clarity, connection, or courage, this forecast looks ahead with intention, reminding us that our futures are self-written, and worth celebrating.

I have known Jeffrey since I moved to Las Vegas in the 90s. His mother, Pat, was one of the best volunteers and “Moms” I had during my career with Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest. Our paths met so many times over the years with the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA) that I knew there would be a time when his incredible knowledge would be shared with our readers and me.

New beginnings don’t always arrive wrapped in hope and certainty. Sometimes they come quietly, disguised as small choices. Sometimes they arrive through grief, exhaustion, or the moment when staying the same feels more painful than change. And sometimes, a new beginning is simply the decision to keep going.

2026 is HERE! Las Vegas PRIDE is excited to return to our events, including our recurring PRIDE OUTside Hikes, PRIDE Family BINGO, PRIDE Party, and more. These events are being added to our calendar now, so be sure to sign up for reminders and stay connected.

This fall, the world of drag takes center stage in a way it never has before. Pageant Queens: Our Story Behind the Crown, a 12-episode docuseries directed by Travis Stancil with Michael Silas as Artistic Director, promises to peel back the layers of glamour, competition, and community that have shaped generations of drag artistry.