On the Rag, Vol. 543

A weekly look at what's making news in the gay magazines:

Gay Times (U.K.): Anthony Bowens is the mag's hottest cover specimen yet

HotSpots (South Florida): He's pretty, but are you ready for an intimate evening with Deborah Cox?

Get Out!: Melissa Mark-Viverito is the first public advocate candidate to file petition signatures, transporting her to the top of the ballot

Metro Weekly (D.C.): Emërson Anicëto is Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2019 

QX (London): Meet your new favorite pan-Asian cabaret collective

Dallas Voice: Equip in style

Gay Cirque du Soleil performer David Rimmer's act has its ups and downs

Between the Lines: Youth activist at Detroit's REC awarded $10,000, trip to Creating Change conference

Grab: The ES Collection will heat up even a Windy City winter

Echo (Phoenix): How to enhance the relationships in your lie

Song of the Day: 'Absolutely Not' by Deborah Cox

When my friend Jay and I suddenly -- and somewhat inexplicably -- started frequenting the Roxy in the early aughts, this Deborah Cox number was The Song: The one you waited for all night and got everyone -- even the tweaked-out freaks standing in the corner -- on the dance floor! 

Haven't thought of it -- or her -- in ages until I made a Deborah Cox joke while watching "Bloodline." Turns out the "Stranger in My House Joke" was inaccurate -- that was Tamia! -- but as is often the case in my life of strange coincidences, the very next day Deborah Cox appeared in my inbox, as one of the special guests next week at the Trevor Project's 2016 awards gala. (Is this a sign that I should be going?) Tickets HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Nobody's Supposed to Be Here' by Deborah Cox

Such a great song. Wonder who misses the '90s more, though, Deborah Cox or Vonda Shepard.