Leo Reich strode onstage to the thudding beat of Hot in It,” by Tiésto and Charli XCX. His batwing-lined eyes gleamed, and he was dressed in a contour-molding MISBHV T-shirt and a pair of black short shorts whose white piping outlined his crotch. Grabbing a microphone stand and casting a mockbashful look at the audience, he explained, I didn’t have any time to change. I had to, like, run here straight from my dad’s worst nightmare.” It was a mild September evening at Earth Hackney, a venue in East London, and Reich was performing his standup comedy show, Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!” Shiny black zip-up boots endowed his steps with a peppy bounce. Td just like to introduce myself, for those of you who don't know me,” he said. m Leo. I’m queer.” There were whoops from the audience, and Reich approached several people who, perilously, had seats in the front row. Looking around, it seems like some of you guys’—he swept an arm in an arch gesture of inclusivity—‘“might a/so have a sexuality which is iconic.”
This story is from the December 18, 2023 edition of The New Yorker.
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This story is from the December 18, 2023 edition of The New Yorker.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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BADDIE ISSUES
\"Wicked\" and \"Gladiator II.\"
LET'S MAKE A DEAL
\"Death Becomes Her\" and \"Burnout Paradise.\"
ANTI HEROES
\"The Franchise,\" on HBO.
FELLOW-TRAVELLERS
The surprisingly sunny origins of the Frankfurt School.
NOW YOU SEE ME
John Singer Sargent's strange, slippery portraits of an art dealer's family.
PARIS FRIEND - SHUANG XUETAO
Xiaoguo had a terror of thirst, so he kept a glass of water on the table beside his hospital bed. As soon as it was empty, he asked me to refill it. I wanted to warn him that this was unhealthy - guzzling water all night long puts pressure on the kidneys, and pissing that much couldn't be good for his injury. He was tall, though, so I decided his insides could probably cope.
WILD SIDE
Is Lake Tahoe's bear boom getting out of hand?
GETTING A GRIP
Robots learn to use their hands.
WITHHOLDING SEX FROM MY WIFE
In the wake of [the] election, progressive women, who are outraged over Donald Trump's victory at the ballot box, have taken to social media with public, vengeful vows of chastity. - The Free Press.
DEADLINE EXTENSION
Old age, reborn.