15 April 3rd-April 9th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) 2025 SUBARU WRX TS REVIEW: A BOXER-POWERED THRILL RIDE 2025 SUBARU WRX TS Subaru has a simple Subaru has a simple philosophy with the WRX: philosophy with the WRX: keep it fast, keep it fun, keep it fast, keep it fun, and make sure it’s got and make sure it’s got that signature rally-bred that signature rally-bred edge. The 2025 WRX tS edge. The 2025 WRX tS does exactly that, with does exactly that, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged a 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine cranking BOXER engine cranking out 271 horsepower—plenty out 271 horsepower—plenty of punch to keep your of punch to keep your adrenaline pumping. adrenaline pumping. Right out of the gate, the Right out of the gate, the manual transmission makes manual transmission makes this thing a blast to drive. this thing a blast to drive. Each shift feels crisp and Each shift feels crisp and rewarding, reminding you rewarding, reminding you why three pedals will always why three pedals will always reign supreme. Subaru reign supreme. Subaru nailed the balance between nailed the balance between daily drivability and track- daily drivability and track- inspired aggression, making inspired aggression, making every backroad feel like your every backroad feel like your own personal rally stage. own personal rally stage. And let’s talk about those And let’s talk about those seats—Recaro buckets that seats—Recaro buckets that grip you tighter than your first grip you tighter than your first high school crush. Whether high school crush. Whether you’re carving corners or just you’re carving corners or just commuting, they keep you commuting, they keep you locked in and comfortable. locked in and comfortable. The handling is sharp, the The handling is sharp, the steering is precise, and the steering is precise, and the AWD system does what AWD system does what Subaru does best: glues you Subaru does best: glues you to the road no matter what. to the road no matter what. If you want a car that If you want a car that delivers pure, unfiltered delivers pure, unfiltered driving joy, the WRX tS driving joy, the WRX tS should be at the top of your should be at the top of your list. It’s raw, engaging, and list. It’s raw, engaging, and proof that Subaru still knows proof that Subaru still knows how to make a driver’s car. how to make a driver’s car. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles: their sponsorships. Notably, Hensley Beverage Company — whose parent company, Anheuser-Bush, ghosted San Francisco Pride — is a sponsor for this year’s event. Another big sponsor for the Phoenix Pride Festival is Amazon, which provides funding through its employee resource group, Glamazon. However, as the company has rolled back diversity programs and initiatives, it’s unclear whether Amazon’s support for Phoenix Pride will continue. “I don’t want to guess at how things may evolve,” Helfgot said. “In the short term, the folks who have supported us have continued to support us, and those rela- tionships are strong.” Arizona’s lawmakers vs. LGBTQ rights An amount of uncertainty is boiling right under the surface for Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ community right now. Trump’s strong anti- LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policy actions have also trickled down to Arizona and Phoenix. Republican lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature have felt more empowered and emboldened than ever to push anti-trans legislation as under the current federal government, Democratic Rep. Patty Contreras said. Anti-trans lawmakers believe “they have the mandate,” Contreras said. “And that’s kind of scary.” This legislation includes bills that would prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice in schools, ban trans kids from using their preferred pronouns without parental permission, slash medical privacy for trans kids, and ban state programs related to race, gender or sexuality. Legislators such as Contreras have “gotten up on the floor and spoken out against some of these bills,” she said. “My colleagues have gotten up on the floor and shared their stories.” But in a GOP-dominated legislature, Democrats have little power to actually steer legisla- tion. The crackdowns worry Contreras. “I’m married to a woman. I’ve been married for 18 years,” she told Phoenix New Times in February. “Are they going to not allow me to stay married? Or am I not going to be allowed to go to the hospital and see her if she’s in the hospital?” For now, LGBTQ+ groups, parents and legislators are continually thankful for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto stamp to stop “scores of horribly toxic, discriminatory, oppressive, just awful legislation,” Helfgot said. But a future without Hobbs, who is a former Phoenix Pride staffer, is one many don’t even want to consider. Outside of the legislature, Trump’s influence continues to be felt. Republican Senate President Warren Petersen even traveled to Washington, D.C., to promote the President’s anti-trans athlete executive order. And after another Trump executive order, Phoenix Children’s Hospital stopped providing gender-affirming care for trans minors. “Identities are now being treated as if they should not exist,” said Jessyca Leach, the CEO of Prisma Community Care, which temporarily shut down its care after the executive order. “That blows my mind.” As the country enters the third month of the Trump administration, Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ community will continue to hold its breath. Each morning’s news brings more bleak surprises. Families are forced to consider the possibility that their home state may no longer be safe for them. “We’re not going to stop doing what we do for the community,” Helfgot said. “We will not be erased. We will not go away, and we will not stand down.” Those sound like fighting words, perhaps. But they also point to one helluva party. Rainbows Fest Guide >> p 18 Gimme Shelter from p 14 Illustration by Miki Rose
