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.

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.

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.)

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.

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!

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!

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte’s North Las Vegas health center has seen more than 4,000 patients since it opened a year ago (April, 2025), an indication of how essential its quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care services are in the region. In fact, the first walk-in patient in April, 2025 received PPMM’s first-ever rapid syphilis testing, which led to immediate treatment for an infection that could have gone undetected and caused major health problems.

As winter thaws into spring, March and April arrive with movement, momentum, and a reminder that growth is rarely quiet. This season invites queer and trans communities to stretch toward the light, shed old narratives, reclaim desire, and embrace visibility on our own terms. Whether you’re blooming boldly or rooting deeper beneath the surface, these months promise transformation, tenderness, and a renewed sense of purpose.

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.”

I am very honored to know Sergeant Alexander Cuevas. When we first met several years back, I knew this was a person grounded in humanity and compassion, who really loves his community and family. Our paths cross often, reuniting with each other at community or civic events, always with a smile, a big hug, and a general sense of gratitude for our positions within the Las Vegas Queer community.

This April, audiences are invited into the heart of Havana for a story that is as visually lush as it is emotionally raw. Cherri, the latest release from Breaking Glass Pictures, arrives on streaming platforms April 21, offering a deeply human exploration of love, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to begin again.

When Rae Canady talks about justice, she doesn’t begin with statutes or courtrooms. She begins with people. Raised in the Midwest as the youngest of four girls, Canady learned early how to make her voice heard. “In a household with loud older sisters, I definitely had to speak up,” she says with a laugh. But beyond sibling dynamics, it was the region’s cultural values: hard work, integrity, humility, and community care, that shaped her foundation. Those principles still anchor her today as she runs for Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge, Department 1.

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.

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.

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.

In a cinematic landscape where queer stories are often flattened into familiar arcs of coming out or tragedy, Anthony Bawn is carving out something far more layered with Almost Us. Premiering April 17 on Watch VIM, the new romantic dramedy delivers heat, humor, and emotional honesty—while asking deeper questions about love, power, and the cost of belonging.