It has taken me a week now to begin to process the news of losing our beloved @hvnlykvnly_. In fact, I’m still unsure of my ability to put into words how I am feeling. How I am dealing. How I am reeling. How I am seething. However, I have had enough canned espresso martinis on my journey home after being away and am, for the first time upon receiving the news, alone with my thoughts. Sans the 200 or so strangers on my plane of course. I’ve just moved on to a glass of champagne, in honor of Keven, so I could attempt to write what I could about a man who meant so much. This is a particularly devastating loss for me. The Orlando community. The world of pageantry. The. World. I met Keven when I was 18 or 19 years old. I was introduced to him by @sassy_devine at @pulseorlando when he was the GM at the newly opened venue. Orlando’s newest, swankiest, spot for the LGBTQIA+ community. Swanky, largely due, to the influence of one swanky Keven Callahan. He was tall, tanned, boisterous and pristinely coiffed. With a booming, drawn out manner of speaking similar to that of a distinguished flamboyant Englishman-New Yorker (attempt the hybrid of that in your head and you will 💯 get it). With elongated vowels he exclaimed; “HONNNNEY!!!! What is this creature!?” I was, obviously, enamored. Taken with each other; and Keven’s never waving need to uplift and support new “projects”, Keven gave me my first weekly gig at the hottest newest bar in Orlando. I would quickly disappoint him. But he never gave up on me. In fact, it was almost as if I were living in a video game. Every time I failed, Keven would put another quarter in and try again. He always tried again. And again. Keven and I became very close throughout my tumultuous years in Orlando attempting to make a name for myself. And though when it seemed like no one got me nor understood me, he’d assure me “Honey, I don’t either, but you’ve got spunk! You’ve got gumption and NO ONE can deny that!” After I relocated to LA, Keven and I would see each other on his trips to my new home while he was in his new position as a visual director for Universal Studios. (Continued in pinned comments)