Out With Dr. Bill - Carrying Forward With Pride

As the year winds down, I’ve been reflecting on a whirlwind month filled with travel, community, celebration, and moments that reminded me why I cherish the work I do and the people I get to do it with. From Pride parties in Palm Springs to red carpets, community milestones, and unexpected honors, each experience felt like a reminder of how rich life becomes when we show up—for our friends, our communities, and the causes that matter.

Pride, Palm Springs, and Chosen Family

And like every great month should, mine began in Palm Springs—where Pride was as magical as ever, made even more special by getting to spend it with Mark and Brad in their beautiful home. The Pride tradition we started a few years ago has become something Eric and I look forward to all year long. These amazing friends open their home to us as if it were our own, and being with our chosen family always feels like the biggest gift.

I arrived just in time to help with the final touches for their annual Pride party. (Eric had been there a couple of days earlier—I’d made a detour through Phoenix to accept an award… more on that soon.) 

When I walked in, it looked as if Pride had burst inside the house. Picture one of those spin-art machines—where you fling paint onto a white T-shirt as it spins—gone delightfully rogue. The tabletops, walls, bathrooms, and even the yard were drenched in rainbow-bright decorations.

My favorite touch? Their iconic Cher doll mascot, twirling from a gold-studded strand of beads, hair blowing in full dramatic glory.

The music was spot-on, the friends were fabulous, and the bartenders kept the night glowing. Even the pool looked like something Martha Stewart might dream up.

My second day in the desert centered around a pool party across the street with wonderful neighbors, incredible food, and easy conversations with people from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and beyond—folks of every shape, size, and level of dress (and undress). Palm Springs Pride never disappoints, and this year was no exception. 

The flight home, however, was a very different story. My early-morning connection through San Francisco should have had me back in New York by 1 PM. Instead, delay after delay turned it into a 2 AM arrival. Government shutdowns never help anyone, least of all United Airlines.

The Legacy Award That Reminded Me Why I Serve

I had the great pleasure of attending the Rise & Dream Foundation Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament & Awards, where I was deeply honored to receive the 2025 Legacy Award, presented by Eric Carlyle and his incredible Compete Sports Media team. Compete Sports Media is a national platform dedicated to celebrating and empowering LGBTQ+ athletes by elevating their stories and advancing inclusion in sports.

The Rise & Dream Foundation—founded by the remarkable Kristin Hodge—does truly life-changing work, helping young people turn real-world challenges into opportunities to lead, grow, and dream far beyond what they ever imagined for themselves.

Standing on that stage, surrounded by extraordinary athletes and sports leaders from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and so many others, I felt both proud and very, very small. Being recognized alongside people who inspire millions was profoundly humbling.

This award, rooted in resilience, inspiration, and service, reminded me why I do this work—not for recognition, but because it brings me joy and gives me the chance to lift others up. As I often say, service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth. 

I ended the evening humbled, grateful, and inspired to keep paying that rent.

Miami’s NMSDC Gathering: Connection at Its Best

My week in Miami at the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s Annual Conference & Exchange—now under new leadership—was an absolute whirlwind, but deeply fulfilling. Being surrounded by practitioners, community leaders, and companies that are truly committed to uplifting small and minority-owned businesses reminded me why this work means so much to me.

As always, the highlight was reconnecting with peers and friends who continue to move our communities forward, including Sabrina Kent from the NGLCC and my longtime friend Justin Nelson, its Co-Founder and President.  These small moments of connection ground me every time and remind me how fortunate I am to do this work alongside such passionate leaders.

Events like this always reinforce the power of community—how strong we are when we stand together. I left Miami grateful, reenergized, and proud of the collective impact we continue to make.

Costume Chaos and Community: Halloween in NYC

Who doesn’t love Halloween? With three stops on our itinerary, my costume had to be quick, comfortable, and bio-break friendly. I went as a Mafia underboss—black shirt, white tie, suspenders, and shoe spats. Simple, theatrical, and easy to move in. 

Eric, meanwhile, stole the show as a Canadian Mountie in full, glorious red, complete with a “51” button slashed through—his hilarious commentary on Canada resisting becoming the 51st state.

Our first stop was Michael Galub’s Chelsea apartment—a short walk but an obstacle course of parade barricades. Michael is the consummate host, and his home never disappoints: incredible food, family and friends, and costumes ranging from priests and nuns to a taco salad. Only in Chelsea.

Next, we headed to James Suskin’s party for another round of creativity—think Monica Lewinsky and a dozen other clever spins. I even reconnected with George Widmer, who once worked for me during my Genre Magazine days as the magazine’s Creative Director—a full-circle moment I didn’t know I needed. 

Our final stop was seeing Brandon at The Perry Club by Pasta By Hudson. By then the parade was over, and the streets were a sea of costumed New Yorkers. Brandon’s place was buzzing—wall-to-wall energy, music, and that unmistakable Halloween electricity. We toasted downstairs before braving the walk home.

And that walk—my goodness—was pure NYC chaos in the best way: drag queens, brides, octopus creatures, Elphaba and Glinda pairs, Wednesday Addams families, Beetlejuice… you name it.

Halloween in New York never disappoints. It’s creativity, community, and joyful madness at every turn—and this year was no exception.

An Inspiring Night with BD Wong and Live Out Loud

Another highlight of the month was being invited to the home of BD Wong and Richert Schnorr for a special evening with Live Out Loud, thanks to our longtime friend Jeff Gearheart, who reached out to include Eric and me. I’ve been involved with Live Out Loud in some dimension since its founding more than a decade ago, and its mission—to uplift and empower LGBTQAI+ youth—still resonates deeply with me.

The organization was created by the beloved Leo Preziosi, Jr., who was also there that night. Leo founded Live Out Loud after reading the heartbreaking Metro Source article “The Gun in the Closet,” about two teens who died by suicide because of bullying. Instead of turning away, he turned that pain into purpose, building a program that connects young LGBTQIA+ people with leaders who remind them that their futures are wide open.

All these years later, Live Out Loud has brought over 500 LGBTQ+ role models into schools across the tri-state area, touching thousands of lives. Being in BD and Richert’s warm, welcoming home—surrounded by people who care so deeply about our youth—was a beautiful reminder of why this work matters, and why I’m so proud to be part of it.

A Tribute to Love and Purpose

We had the honor of attending the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation Angel Ball, thanks to my dear friend Diana Boutrous, who so generously brought me as her +1 at the beautifully hosted Burberry table. Held at Cipriani Wall Street—always a stunning backdrop—the night carried extra meaning for me; the last major event I attended there was for The Trevor Project, another cause close to my heart.

The Angel Ball—founded by Denise Rich in memory of her daughter, Gabrielle—remains one of the most meaningful evenings of the season. Understanding the profound personal loss that sparked this foundation makes its mission even more powerful: funding innovative research and programs for cancer patients and their families.

The room was filled with warmth and familiar faces, and it was a joy to reconnect with friends like Hunt Slonem, Gale King, Tina Knowles, and even LL Cool J, who brought his signature charm to the night. 

Standing among survivors, researchers, longtime supporters, and members of our extended community was a poignant reminder of how much hope can take root when people come together with intention and heart.

It was truly one of those New York nights that stays with you long after the lights come up.

Welcoming a New American, Chelsea-Style

I love a good neighborhood party—especially when it’s in honor of a friend marking a truly life-changing milestone. This month, that celebration was for Aleks Zestali, who had just become an American citizen. Anyone who’s been through the process—or even watched a friend go through it—knows it’s no cakewalk. From endless paperwork to interviews that feel like oral exams on American history, it takes grit, patience, and a level of determination many of us born here never have to summon. So when Aleks took his oath, it meant something.

Aleks, the restaurateur-turned-fashion-designer, and his husband Russell welcomed a circle of friends and family to toast the newly minted U.S. citizen. And of course, none of it would have been possible without Chelsea’s consummate host, Rodrigo Salem—the creative force behind Found Collectables and New York’s go-to for premier Brazilian mid-century furniture—who once again opened his stunning loft for the occasion. Rodrigo’s home has that magical quality where you walk in and instantly feel part of something warm, stylish, and deeply personal.

It was one of those neighborhood gatherings that reminds you why we show up for each other: to celebrate resilience, transformation, and the courage it takes to build a life—and claim a country—as your own.

An Award That Strengthened My Commitment

From New York to Columbus, Ohio — what a memorable journey as part of this month’s outings. I had the incredible honor of receiving Compete Sports Diversity’s 2025 Person of the Year Award at the TEAMS 2025 SportsTravel Awards Luncheon at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, presented to me by Clay Dickey, founder of the Black Softball Circuit, and Jason Gewirtz, executive editor and publisher of SportsTravel.

TEAMS—Travel, Events and Management in Sports—is the world’s leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry, presented by SportsTravel. To be recognized on that stage, among people who are truly shaping the future of sports across the country, was profoundly meaningful.

This honor reflects the work I’ve tried to do—both professionally and personally—to support the shared mission of Sports for All™. And the more time I spend with this community, the more inspired I become by the remarkable work each of you do every single day. You don’t just drive economic impact—you create joy. You foster connection. And you build the kind of shared spirit that brings people together through sports, including countless LGBTQIA+ athletes and teams in communities across the United States.

Sports really is for everyone. It builds community. It builds belonging. And it changes lives.

I left feeling grateful, humbled, and energized to continue this work alongside all of you.

What I’m Carrying Forward

If this month taught me anything, it’s that showing up matters—whether for Pride, for community, for young people, for survivors, or for friends carving out new beginnings. Each experience was its own reminder that connection is our greatest currency. My heart is full, my gratitude deep, and my commitment to this work stronger than ever.