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Features Archive

Archived feature stories

  • We Love Arizona

    To mark the state's Centennial, which falls on Valentine's Day, the LGBT community sends a Valentine to Arizona.

    • Matt Heinz

      An out state representative talks about how he made his home in Arizona and his work in the state Legislature.

      • We Love Arizona - Survey Results

        The LGBT community and its allies share their Arizona favorite places, special memories and hopes for their home state.

        • Kathy Griffin

          The LGBT favorite talks about what fans can expect when she brings her stage show to Phoenix and Tucson.

          • Lorna Luft

            As she brings her show Songs My Mother Taught Me to Mesa, Judy Garland's daughter talks about her mother's legacy.

            • Tucson Film Festival

              Out in the Desert debuts with two weekends of films, including some by Arizona filmmakers.

              • Sedona Film Festival

                Glenn Scarpelli, known for his childhood film and TV roles, talks about honoring director Peter Bogdanovich. PLUS: LGBT films to be screened at Sedona.

                • Valentine DVDs

                  Five films to consider for a movie night for the holiday.

                  • Erotic Art

                    The Alwun House plans its 28th annual Exotic Art Show.

                    • Sherry Vine

                      Drag star will perform in Phoenix just days before starring in a new TV show.

                      • Imperial Teen

                        Roddy Bottum talks about his career as an out rock star and his band's latest album, Feel the Sound.

                        • Dance Movie

                          Filmmaker Wim Wender's latest movie is a tribute to late German choreographer Pina Bausch.

                          • Local Author

                            Denise DeSio fictionalizes her mother's story for the novel Rose's Will.

                            • Advice Book

                              Emily Wilcox uses letters she received as an advice columnist for a book that covers issues in lesbian relationships.

                              • Film Festival Overview

                                Movies selected for the Desperado Film Festival reflect the comedy and drama of LGBT life. PLUS: Festival details and the film schedule.

                                • Struggling Actor

                                  Matthew Ludwinski can identify with the trials of his character in the film Going Down in La-La Land.

                                  • Coming Out Story

                                    The directors of the documentary Wish Me Away talk about following country singer Chely Wright's coming out story,

                                    • The Reviews

                                      Film critic Neil Cohen gives his assessment of six of the movies to be screened at the Desperado Film Festival.

                                      • Gender Themes

                                        Films that deal with gender identity are a major theme at this year's film festival.

                                        • Short Film

                                          Christopher Bradley's experience as an actor helped him direct his short film, The Violation.

                                          • Festival Music

                                            Musical performances are a new feature at this year's film festival.

                                            • Coming Home

                                              Comedian Thai Rivera will use shows in Scottsdale as material for his first DVD.

                                              • Equality Song

                                                Broadway song and dance man Gavin Creel releases Noise, a message for his brothers and sisters in the LGBT community.

                                                • South Pacific

                                                  An out actor in the cast of the touring company talks about how a Broadway classic speaks to issues of racism and equality.

                                                  • The Neelys

                                                    Echo's film critic Neil Cohen lists the best and worst movies of 2011. PLUS: The Phoenix Film Critics Society makes its awards.

                                                    • Kirby Kolby

                                                      Miss Gay America plans a series of performances in Phoenix.

                                                      • Venus DeMars

                                                        Transgender singer-songwriter hits Arizona to promote her new album, 10 Bones.

                                                        • The Pubes

                                                          A three-woman lesbian rock band is becoming a local favorite.

                                                          • Youth Power

                                                            2011 is marked by efforts to empower LGBT young people.

                                                            • Man of the Year

                                                              Caleb Laieski is recognized for his work for safer schools, lobbying at the local, state and national levels.

                                                              • Woman of the Year

                                                                Kado Stewart is the woman behind the annual OUTdoors! gay camp.

                                                                • Caleb Meets Kado

                                                                  When the Man and Woman of the Year meet, the conversation turns to helping youth.

                                                                  • Honor Roll

                                                                    Men and Women of the Year from the past have made an impact on the community.

                                                                    • More Youth

                                                                      Merik Castro took on a local school board in 2011, then set his sights on the Arizona School Board Association. PLUS: More stories about youth in 2011.

                                                                      • Making Music

                                                                        A member of the touring company of Stomp says every show is different.

                                                                        • Remembering Jackson

                                                                          Cirque du Soleil pays tribute to Michael Jackson with its new show, The Immortal World Tour.

                                                                          • Year In Review

                                                                            Five top local stories from 2011 include a shooting, a coming out and a community center in crisis. PLUS: Other local milestones.

                                                                            • National Headlines

                                                                              LGBT stories that made the news in 2011.

                                                                              • Celebs Talk

                                                                                What some of the big names said during Echo interviews in 2011.

                                                                                • First Person

                                                                                  Echo's managing editor found that not everyone is anxious to go on the record in 2011.

                                                                                  • 2012 Preview

                                                                                    Save the date for dozens of events planned in the new year.

                                                                                    • Resolutions

                                                                                      Community members and allies make plans for the new year

                                                                                      • Best 11 of 2011

                                                                                        Stacey Jay Cavaliere ranks the top albums from the past year.

                                                                                        • On Stage

                                                                                          Humberto Bandera is dancing in Ballet Arizona's The Nutcracker, but his journey to the Phoenix stage started with an escape from Cuba.

                                                                                          • Showgirls Sequel

                                                                                            Actress Rena Riffel writes and stars in Showgirls 2: Penny's From Heaven.

                                                                                            • Mid-Century Christmas

                                                                                              Designer Travis Smith combined his passions for holiday and mid-century design when he wrote Kitschmasland!: Christmas Décor from the 1950s to the 1970s,

                                                                                              • All About the Kids

                                                                                                Children are a big part of the holidays when Melinda Murphy and Dorian Kreiling stage Christmas at their home.

                                                                                                • Holiday Habits

                                                                                                  After a painful coming out, Nate Whitten's Christmas includes finding new ways to celebrate with partner Ben Burke.

                                                                                                  • On The Page

                                                                                                    Tucson writer Shannon Cain explores female protagonists living in ways that are outside the mainstream in her book of short stories, The Necessity of Certain Behaviors.

                                                                                                    • Behind the Curtain

                                                                                                      Mark Cole, the new managing director at Arizona Theatre Company talks about his life and work.

                                                                                                      • Desert Overture

                                                                                                        The LGBT concert band plans its second Christmas concert, which will be staged in Phoenix and Glendale.

                                                                                                        • Arizona Women in Tune

                                                                                                          The women's chorus will celebrate a multicultural holiday.

                                                                                                          • Full Circle Women's Chorus

                                                                                                            A holiday concert marks the emergence of a classical women's community choir.

                                                                                                            • Metropolitan Men's Chorus

                                                                                                              Group gets inspiration from a TV show for a parody of the Glee holiday episode.

                                                                                                              • Festival of Trees

                                                                                                                A downtown Phoenix hotel's rooftop venue will set the stage for a party featuring a forest of Christmas trees.

                                                                                                                • Teddy Bear Art Auction

                                                                                                                  Exposed Studio & Gallery hosts a fundraiser featuring teddy bears decorated by local artists.

                                                                                                                  • Sisterzz Twisted

                                                                                                                    The drag troupe puts its spin on the holidays with its first Christmas show.

                                                                                                                    • Community Church of Hope

                                                                                                                      Pianist Nicole Pesce willperform seasonal favorites for a show that will benefit the church.

                                                                                                                      • Reveille Men's Chorus

                                                                                                                        A Tucson chorus will present gay-themed renditions of holiday songs.

                                                                                                                        • Holiday Drives

                                                                                                                          YEP! House youth and Logan's Playground will benefit from contributions of gifts and toys.

                                                                                                                          • F.Q. Story Neighborhood Tour

                                                                                                                            Billy Knoop opens his historic house as part of a Phoenix holiday home tour.

                                                                                                                            • Holiday Theater

                                                                                                                              Neil Cohen previews seasonal shows coming to stages around the Valley. PLUS: There will be snow in the desert when White Christmas comes to ASU Gammage.

                                                                                                                              • Holiday Calendar

                                                                                                                                Events around town and throughout the Valley mark the holidays.

                                                                                                                                • Holiday CDs

                                                                                                                                  Stacey Jay Cavaliere reports on 10 new holiday albums.

                                                                                                                                  • Holiday Notes

                                                                                                                                    Local LGBT organizations make a tradition of holiday events.

                                                                                                                                    • Soccer Fever

                                                                                                                                      The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team plays its first match in Arizona since 2000.

                                                                                                                                      • Poker League

                                                                                                                                        The Alternative Poker Tour offers games at local LGBT-friendly venues.

                                                                                                                                        • Faust Reimagined

                                                                                                                                          Bernard Uzan talks about how his Arizona Opera production is modernizing a classic.

                                                                                                                                          • Help for the Hungry

                                                                                                                                            The Agape Network and the Joshua Tree Feeding Program deal with growing needs and fewer resources. PLUS: A profile of Joshua Tree volunteer Joaquin Mota.

                                                                                                                                            • LGBT History Project

                                                                                                                                              6 historical people and their affiliation with LGBT history

                                                                                                                                            • Feeling Blue

                                                                                                                                              As the touring production comes to the Valley, a member of the Blue Man Group talks about his show.

                                                                                                                                              • On Exhibit

                                                                                                                                                A photographer explores sexual identity in work that also deals with the tricks that memory can play.

                                                                                                                                                • On Stage

                                                                                                                                                  Actors Theatre's production of Next Fall deals with a complicated relationship between two men.

                                                                                                                                                  • Sinatra's Hangout

                                                                                                                                                    The Riviera Palm Springs is known for a past that included Hollywood stars.

                                                                                                                                                    • Visiting Palm Springs

                                                                                                                                                      Shopping, culture and nature are among the reasons to make a trip to Palm Springs.

                                                                                                                                                      • Palm Springs Pride

                                                                                                                                                        Arizona LGBT safe schools advocate Caleb Laieski will be grand marshal of the Palm Springs Pride parade.

                                                                                                                                                        • Melissa Etheridge

                                                                                                                                                          Before a concert in Arizona, the outspoken singer talks about her work and her causes.

                                                                                                                                                          • Weekend Romance

                                                                                                                                                            Director Andrew Haigh talks about putting a subtle gay love story on film

                                                                                                                                                            • Musical Expression

                                                                                                                                                              Melissa Ferrick's songs reflect her life's highs and lows

                                                                                                                                                              • Partners in Business and Life

                                                                                                                                                                Couple works together as owners of Phoenix coffee shop

                                                                                                                                                                • Queer and Questioning

                                                                                                                                                                  Test your knowledge of LGBT history with this quiz

                                                                                                                                                                  • Question for History

                                                                                                                                                                    Historians say William Rufus King may have been first gay U.S. vice president

                                                                                                                                                                    • America's First Gay President?

                                                                                                                                                                      Evidence suggests James Buchanan had relationship with another man

                                                                                                                                                                      • Echo Hall of Fame 2011

                                                                                                                                                                        12 stars join the list for their contributions to the community

                                                                                                                                                                      • Monster Bashes

                                                                                                                                                                        A sampling of benefits, shows and parties for the holiday

                                                                                                                                                                        • Creating the Costume

                                                                                                                                                                          It takes planning to transform into a character who will get noticed

                                                                                                                                                                          • Sleeping with the Spirits

                                                                                                                                                                            Hotel San Carlos has been home to Hollywood glamour, but the historic structure also has ghost stories

                                                                                                                                                                            • Stage Star

                                                                                                                                                                              Bebe Neuwirth will take the stage at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts with her one-woman show.

                                                                                                                                                                              • Art Opening

                                                                                                                                                                                Palm Springs artist Gary Peterson's work takes its inspiration from needlework as it pays homage to famous artists.

                                                                                                                                                                                • Photo Book

                                                                                                                                                                                  Photographer Scott Pasfield's book, Gay in America, features portraits of gay men from every state in America.

                                                                                                                                                                                  • Cabaret Act

                                                                                                                                                                                    The Martini Social Club brings piano bar-style entertainment to Apollo's.

                                                                                                                                                                                    • After Parties

                                                                                                                                                                                      Two reality TV show stars will be among those making appearances at Tucson Pride parties.

                                                                                                                                                                                      • Shannel

                                                                                                                                                                                        A RuPaul's Drag Race alum will make an appearance at Tucson Pride.

                                                                                                                                                                                        • Tucson Pride

                                                                                                                                                                                          The southern Arizona festival features a variety of entertainment in a new venue.

                                                                                                                                                                                          • Dario's Reality

                                                                                                                                                                                            The pop singer who's headlining Tucson Pride talks about his career and his future, including a possible reality TV show