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Humor is life’s great barometer. If something is too mean or too nice, it isn’t funny, honey. But when we can strike the right balance of compassion and irreverence, laughter naturally follows.

Scott Nevins navigates the fine line between amusement and activism deftly. He has leveraged a brilliant stage and screen career into a vibrant philanthropic platform. We picked Scott’s brain and plucked his funny bone to learn how he went from comedian to community leader.

I was raised in Flushing, Queens, (I know, the jokes just write themselves.) My report card always said the same two things: “Scott is a pleasure to have in class” and “Scott talks too much.” My big New York mouth often got me into hot water, because I was always questioning the status quo and the religious teachings at school. They didn’t like it when I pointed out that the Bible was just a book of made-up stories and that there was no Ark with two of every animal, because the animals would have eaten one another!

For Scott, being gay was less of an Achilles’ heel and more of a bootstrap towards better things.

I was bullied a lot, but I was able to learn to use comedy to confuse/diffuse the situation. Survival of the wittiest instead of fittest, I guess. I definitely knew I was different. When other kids were sneaking out to drink and smoke, I was sneaking into NYC to see a Broadway show at 13. I was lucky to have family members who, although baffled by how different I was, did the best with what they knew to support my interests. They didn’t know what to make of me, but they surrounded me with love and protection, which is where I learned those skills, and I would later apply it to those in my community.

At the ripe old age of 24, Scott was headlining standup shows at Carolines on Broadway, where he wore his impressionability on his oh-so-stylish sleeve.

Early in my career I worked with writer (and all-around icon) Bruce Vilanch, who once said to me “you don’t look like most comics – so you can’t make fun of how other people look or the audience will hate you. You have to make fun of yourself first.” So, most of the time I make myself the punchline of my stories, and the payoff is always better. In life, on stage, and in politics, if you are being authentic, people pick up on it and respond. From that moment on I was always authentically myself and was never afraid to laugh at myself first. It’s kind of like that line from GYPSY, “nobody laughs at me because I laugh first – at me!” Oh god, I just casually quoted GYPSY – if ever there was a question of my sexuality. The lesson – be real and don’t take yourself too seriously!

Humility and humor go hand-in-hand with Mr. Nevins, who parlayed his love for laughter into longevity supreme.

I had an incredible ride of sustaining a career for over 20 years in one of the hardest businesses to work in. Highlights would be: opening for Barry Manilow in Vegas, appearing on CNN as a contributor, producing my yearly all-star holiday benefit called “Sparkle: An All-Star Holiday Concert” for 10 years strong, starring on a Bravo TV show (“The People’s Couch”) for 5 seasons, and of course the hundreds of benefits and galas that I hosted or performed at for some of our most important organizations that had special meaning to me. One fun story: when I was starting out, I would host my own fake talk show called “Scott Nevins *Presents*” at Therapy lounge in NYC. One week, Tammy Faye Messner was in town to promote her book and somehow, I booked her. The place was packed, and Tammy was incredible! I asked her if she would do my eyelashes with her mascara, and she agreed. Of course, I was still talking while she was doing it, and because I am animated, I moved, and she poked my eye with the mascara wand. In front of hundreds of people. I was suddenly blind in one eye, with Tammy Faye Messner next to me, and I had to finish the show.

Commitment is a cornerstone of Scott’s worldview. With every opportunity, he simultaneously reaches up for the big brass ring and reaches back to lift up those who need him most.

I always said that if I ever achieved any level of success that I was use it for good. As my career got bigger, so did the events and the platform. Suddenly I was traveling the country and hosting huge events for organizations like HRC, PFLAG, God’s Love We Deliver, The Matthew Shepard Foundation, Bring Change to Mind, The Point Foundation, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the NY & Los Angeles LGBT Centers, OUT & Equal Workplace Advocates, The Actors Fund (now The Entertainment Fund), San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and so many others. I was able to use comedy to bring awareness to pressing political, civil rights and social justice issues. Then, when I was on Bravo, the 2016 election was happening and I made the choice to be vocal about politics and not shy away from it the way many public figures do, because they don’t want to alienate portions of their fan base. To me, we had gone too far and seen too much (little did I know what was in store for the next four years), and it was important for me to speak up, like I had in NYC and LA with local groups fighting to help marginalized communities.

Sounding the alarm with his signature charm, Scott explains how politics is not passive. An injustice for one is an injustice for all, and the queer community is their next target.  

Right now, you need to go to iwillvote.com to either register to vote or double check your registration. After what we saw happen to women’s reproductive rights, it is imperative that every LGBTQ+ person register and show up to vote! For many of us, women were our first allies, and we must stand firm with women now. The fact that their reproductive rights are on the line in 2022 is disgraceful. We cannot let this happen! Also, don’t think for a moment that they aren’t coming for us (the LGBTQ+ community) next – because they are. We need a majority to protect our rights. Sound the alarms because this is not a drill!

Summoning Sister Sledge, Scott embraces the power of connection.

Community means extended family. These are people who are in your life, whether you know it or not, every day. You can come from different places, different backgrounds, different generations, and yet still share this commonality of home together. I’m a people person, and I love helping people, but I also love learning their stories. Everyone has a story, and many will share it if you just ask. That kind of sharing creates a bond. Being a LGBTQ+ citizen, I’ve seen firsthand the power of community, and how it can save someone’s life, and empower/lift them up.

Scott’s journey from entertainer to activist ultimately inspired him to delve into uncharted territory.

For years I’ve been asked when I was running for public office, and I’d always say, “I want it to be the right position at the right time.” Well, my husband and I got married in April of 2022 (after having to postpone three times over two years because of COVID), and during that down time I really took stock of what was next for me. After our wedding I told my husband “You’re going to hate this idea, but instead of a honeymoon, what if I ran for City Council?” He has been insanely supportive, mostly because, as he put it “I know your heart, and I know that you’re doing this for all of the right reasons – you’d be an incredible councilmember.” When you look at my history of working with and advocating for marginalized communities, my leadership roles in both my career, and in my public live as a community advocate, and my special skill set from working in media, it all just made sense.

So, it’s official: Scott Nevins put a ring on it.

Running for Palm Springs City Council is truly one of the things I am most proud of – more than any of the accomplishments from my years in show business. It’s a huge swing – and the response has been so overwhelmingly positive. Lots of people kept texting me after my announcement saying, “This just makes sense” or “This is perfect for you!” It was very moving to feel so supported. This is my second mountain to climb, and I’m so excited for the journey. I cannot wait to serve this city that I love and care about so much. I have lots of ideas on how we tackle the biggest issues facing our city, and lots of plans on how we lift up every single resident so that Palm Springs is not just an oasis in the desert for visitors looking for a fun weekend, but also for those who live and work here all year round. I’m ready to get to work to make that happen!

Optimism courses through Scott’s system alongside caffeine and charisma. He perceives our glass-half-empty current situation through a half-glass-full of possibilities.

The world has changed, and America has changed too. There’s so much progress that we’ve made, but that progress is under great threat. Certain religions have driven dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and legislation, and that has now begun to poison our Democracy. We must unify and show up to vote to stop this horrifying trajectory of sending LGBTQ+ back into the closet and stripping their rights. If you still believe that it can’t happen here, just look around – it’s already happening! Voting is the only way we can protect ourselves. I always say, “If you don’t vote, you can’t bitch!” With my work as a civil rights, LGBTQ+, and community healthcare advocate, I’ve been a part of work that actually changes people’s lives. As a Board Member of DAP Health in Palm Springs, I have been a part of something that literally saves lives. It’s very humbling, honestly, and for a guy who cares about people the way I do, it’s a beautiful feeling.

And the feeling is mutual, Mr. Nevins. Or should we say Councilman Nevins? Stay tuned, stay vigilant, and stay gay, everybody!

You can visit www.scottnevins.com for more about Scott and his mission.

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