Rich McPherson
(Photo by Julian Vankim)
”I was a little depressed, so my friends wanted to lift me up,” he says, recalling Memorial Day Weekend, when his breakup was still a relatively open wound. ”We went to Rehoboth. I really wanted to embrace being single. My friends talked me into wearing this ridiculous, slutty Speedo. I had a lot of fun.”
This latest iteration of discipline and independence has also put Rich back on the P90X workout regimen, five to six times per week, and saw him throwing his hat into the Coverboy ring in August.
Rich is the first to admit that everything that has followed has been something of a shock.
”A friend pushed me to apply,” he says of his Coverboy debut. ”I never thought I would get picked. This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me. When the magazine came out it was a very big deal. If I was out with friends, I would get recognized by people. ‘Hey, you’re Coverboy. Congratulations!’ It was surreal, but great positive feedback from people.”
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!