Transsexuals win strip-search choice

TORONTO -- A group that supports transgender rights is applauding a "precedent-setting" decision by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario that gives transsexuals who are strip-searched by police the right to choose between female or male officers or both to perform the act.

The ruling, which stems from a complaint by a man who was in the process of becoming a woman, is a "win-win" for both transsexuals and police, said Laurie Arron of Egale Canada, a group that advocates equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The transsexual complainant was strip-searched by male Peel Region police officers in May and August of 1999 and March 2001. The complainant asked to have the search performed by female officers each time, but was repeatedly denied.

The ruling, issued May 16, also sets out directions for officers who have doubts that a detainee is transsexual, and ordered Peel police to produce a training video on transsexuality for its members.

"It upholds the human rights of trans-people, and the police training will help everyone to get along better," Arron said.

Officers also cannot refuse to strip-search transsexuals unless they believe they have significant rights of their own to protect.

'FULL AND EQUAL'

The tribunal's decision was also lauded by Barbara Hall, chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

"This precedent-setting decision recognizes that transsexual individuals are full and equal members of society who must be accorded respect, dignity and freedom from discrimination," Hall said.



Gay film festival marks its 30th year with 266 movies in a range of styles

John McMurtrie, Chronicle Staff Writer

The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival turns 30 this year, and in the parlance of the day, it still looks fabulous.

Touted as the longest-running and largest event of its kind in the world, the festival for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema is screening a wide selection of films -- 266 in all -- from June 15-25. The festival program was announced Tuesday.

There are feature films that deal with health issues, documentaries about same-sex marriage and a lot of lighthearted offerings ("Dyke Delights," anyone?).

Among the highlights of Frameline30, as the 11-day event is also called, will be a tribute to French director François Ozon, who will be honored with the 2006 Frameline Award at a June 20 screening of his latest film, "Time to Leave." (Frameline is the film funding and distribution organization that oversees the festival.)

Ozon has directed several accomplished and varied films that belie his relative youth -- he's 38. His writing and directing credits include the campy whodunit "8 Women," the seductive thriller "Swimming Pool" and the dark drama "Under the Sand." Five of his films will be shown during the festival.

"Time to Leave," a sentimental drama, is about a 30-year-old (Melvil Poupaud) who learns that he has a terminal disease (not AIDS, as he suspects), and proceeds to dramatically alter his life. The great actress Jeanne Moreau plays his grandmother.

The festival's opening-night movie is "Puccini for Beginners," a romantic comedy directed by Maria Maggenti. (Maggenti's 1995 film "The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love" opened Frameline19.) A gala will follow at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria.

Closing out the festival will be "Queens," a Spanish romp directed by Manuel Gómez Pereira, about a mass wedding of same-sex couples. The closing-night party also will be held at the Galleria.

Thirty-two countries will be represented at the festival, with titles coming from as far away as Iceland, India and Nigeria. The Bay Area will have a strong presence as well: 47 local filmmakers are in the lineup.

Eleven of the festival's films will be world premieres.


June 15 Thursday

Castro Theatre

7:30 pm Puccini for Beginners (90 min)
10:30 pm The Masseur (80 min)

San Francisco Design Center

10:00 pm Opening Night Gala


June 16 Friday

Castro Theatre

12:00 pm Tough Girls (98 min)
3:00 pm Meth (79 min)
6:00 pm Whole New Thing (92 min)
8:30 pm Loving Annabelle (80 min)
10:45 pm George Michael: A Different Story (100 min)
Roxie Film Center

6:00 pm Half a Life (71 min)
8:00 pm Jack Smith & the Destruction of Atlantis (96 min)
10:30 pm ¡El Presidente! (75 min)
Victoria Theater

6:00 pm Lulu Gets a Facelift (67 min)
8:00 pm 20 Centimeters (113 min)
10:30 pm Flirting With Anthony (88 min)


June 17 Saturday

Castro Theatre

11:00 am Fun in Boys’ Shorts (89 min)
1:30 pm Fun In Girls’ Shorts (84 min)
4:00 pm The Believers (80 min)
6:15 pm Mom (70 min)
8:30 pm Boy Culture (87 min)
10:45 pm OpenCam (105 min)
Roxie Film Center

11:00 am God & Gays: Bridging the Gap (90 min)
1:30 pm Queer Experiments (99 min)
4:00 pm The Dark Matter of Mars (76 min)
6:15 pm Innocent (80 min)
8:30 pm Vice & Consent (57 min)
10:30 pm Vacationland (104 min)
Victoria Theater

11:00 am Take the Flame! Gay Games: Grace, Grit & Glory (85 min)
1:15 pm Rock Bottom: Gay Men & Meth (65 min)
3:30 pm 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men (70 min)
5:30 pm For the Love Of Dolly / Camp Michael Jackson (102 min)
8:00 pm Boy I Am (81 min)
10:15 pm Lost in Generation (77 min)


June 18 Sunday

Castro Theatre

10:30 am The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (73 min)
12:15 pm Dyke Delights (109 min)
2:45 pm 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous (90 min)
5:15 pm What’s Up, Scarlet? (84 min)
7:30 pm Wild Tigers I Have Known (93 min)
10:00 pm Soap (102 min)
Roxie Film Center

11:00 am Rainbow’s End (80 min)
1:15 pm Mom’s Apple Pie / Queer Spawn (87 min)
3:45 pm Ugly Ducklings (95 min)
6:00 pm Tough Girls (98 min)
8:15 pm Octopus Alarm (107 min)
10:30 pm Love Life (72 min)
Victoria Theater

11:00 am Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing (126 min)
1:45 pm Trans Francisco (97 min)
4:00 pm Saving Marriage (90 min)
6:15 pm The Conrad Boys (93 min)
8:30 pm Inciting Hope - Queer Women of Color Shorts (91 min)
10:30 pm Kiki and Herb Reloaded (75 min)


June 19 Monday

Castro Theatre

11:00 am Mom (70 min)
1:00 pm 8 Women (111 min)
3:30 pm Eye on the Guy: Alan B. Stone & the Age of Beefcake (46 min)
6:00 pm Follow My Voice: With the Music of Hedwig (110 min)
8:45 pm The Favor (79 min)
10:30 pm Go West (97 min)
CinéArts@Empire

7:00 pm Sun Kissed (92 min)
9:15 pm Far From Sunset Boulevard (130 min)
Parkway Theater

6:30 pm Unveiled (97 min)
9:15 pm A Love to Hide (103 min)
Roxie Film Center

6:00 pm Small Town Girls (103 min)
8:15 pm Hotel Gondolín / Harsh Beauty (105 min)
10:30 pm Don’t F**K With Me (83 min)
Victoria Theater

6:00 pm FAG HAGS: Women Who Love Gay Men (75 min)
8:00 pm Rag Tag (99 min)
10:30 pm Whispering Moon (97 min)


June 20 Tuesday

Castro Theatre

12:00 pm Love Life (72 min)
2:15 pm Lover Other (67 min)
4:15 pm Muxes: Authentic, Intrepid, Seekers of Danger (102 min)
7:00 pm Time to Leave (85 min)
9:30 pm Backstage (115 min)
CinéArts@Empire

7:00 pm Last Second (112 min)
9:30 pm Stray Cats (115 min)
Parkway Theater

6:30 pm Octopus Alarm (107 min)
9:15 pm The Conrad Boys (93 min)
Roxie Film Center

6:00 pm BE REAL (81 min)
8:15 pm Derek Jarman: Life as Art (87 min)
10:30 pm Killing Rock Stars (95 min)
Victoria Theater

6:15 pm Emerging Voices (75 min)
8:30 pm Shabnam Mousi (150 min)


June 21 Wednesday

Castro Theatre

11:00 am Momma’s Boy (91 min)
1:15 pm Mom’s Apple Pie / Queer Spawn (87 min)
3:30 pm Sun Kissed (92 min)
6:00 pm A Very Serious Person (92 min)
8:30 pm small town gay bar (91 min)
10:30 pm The Kinsey Sicks: I Wanna Be a Republican (90 min)
CinéArts@Empire

7:00 pm Red Doors (90 min)
9:15 pm Broken Sky (140 min)
Parkway Theater

6:30 pm The Favor (79 min)
9:15 pm Go West (97 min)
Roxie Film Center

6:00 pm Do It Yourself - New Youth Films (57 min)
8:15 pm Family Ties (94 min)
10:30 pm Sitcom (80 min)
Victoria Theater

6:00 pm Cruel and Unusual (70 min)
8:15 pm FtF: Female to Femme (76 min)
10:30 pm the sex movie (93 min)


June 22 Thursday

Castro Theatre

11:00 am Family Ties (94 min)
1:15 pm “With You!” (68 min)
3:15 pm Boys School (95 min)
6:00 pm Pick Up the Mic (94 min)
8:30 pm Paper Dolls (80 min)
10:30 pm Two Drifters (102 min)
CinéArts@Empire

7:00 pm Eleven Men Out (85 min)
9:15 pm Strangers With Candy (97 min)
Parkway Theater

6:30 pm Last Second (112 min)
9:15 pm Stray Cats (115 min)
Roxie Film Center

6:00 pm Lover Other (67 min)
8:00 pm Like a Brother (82 min)
10:15 pm Criminal Lovers (96 min)
Victoria Theater

6:00 pm Saint of 9/11 (91 min)
8:15 pm Bad Girls Behind Bars (80 min)
10:30 pm AMNESIA-The James Brighton Enigma (90 min)


June 23 Friday

Castro Theatre

11:00 am The Line of Beauty (180 min)
3:00 pm Worldly Affairs (103 min)
6:00 pm Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner (102 min)
8:30 pm Looking for Cheyenne (87 min)
10:30 pm Dirty Laundry (118 min)
Roxie Film Center

6:00 pm FABULOUS! The Story of Queer Cinema (82 min)
8:15 pm Crush (1904 min)
10:30 pm Water Drops on Burning Rocks (90 min)
Victoria Theater

6:00 pm The Gymnast (96 min)
8:30 pm The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (88 min)
10:30 pm One Night Stand (80 min)


June 24 Saturday

Castro Theatre

11:00 am Why We Sing! (106 min)
1:15 pm Fat Girls (82 min)
3:30 pm Laughing Matters...More (75 min)
6:00 pm Queer Duck: The Movie (74 min)
8:30 pm Bam Bam and Celeste (85 min)
Roxie Film Center

11:00 am Beyond Conception (75 min)
1:15 pm Performative Queers (88 min)
3:30 pm Books of James / Reporter Zero (99 min)
6:00 pm Yours Emotionally (86 min)
8:00 pm Unveiled (97 min)
10:30 pm Colma: The Musical (113 min)
Victoria Theater

11:00 am Like a Brother (82 min)
1:15 pm The Line of Beauty (180 min)
5:00 pm CAMP OUT (78 min)
7:15 pm Trantasia (95 min)
9:30 pm Another Gay Movie (90 min)


June 25 Sunday

Castro Theatre

12:00 pm Fun In Girls’ Shorts (84 min)
2:30 pm Fun In Boys’ Shorts (89 min)
4:45 pm A Love to Hide (103 min)
7:30 pm Queens (107 min)

San Francisco Design Center

10:00 pm Closing Night Party



Two gay and lesbian soldiers discharged a day
25-May-2006

PinkNews.co.uk writer

The American military discharges two lesbian, gay and bisexual recruit’s a day, according to a report.

New data obtained by Servicemembers Legal Defence Network (SLDN) indicates the armed forces continued to discharge two lesbian, gay and bisexual military personnel per day in 2005.

The rate of discharge has remained relatively consistent each year since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and represents a 40% decrease compared with years prior to the attacks.

A total of 742 military personnel were discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on openly gay service members, up from 668 discharges among the services in 2004.

“The time has come for the Pentagon to call on Congress to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said SLDN executive director C Dixon Osburn.

“The law deprives our nation of thousands of skilled men and women who could be instrumental in fighting the war on terror. Our national security suffers because of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”

The Army discharged 386 soldiers in 2005, up from 325 the year before. The Air Force dismissed 88 airmen, down slightly from 92 in 2004; the Navy discharged 177 members, the same as the prior year; 75 Marines were discharged, up from 59 the year before; and the Coast Guard discharged 16 men and women, compared to 15 in 2004, the research suggests.

According to an analysis of 2000 census data by statistician Gary Gates, there are currently 65,000 gays serving in the armed forces. “Many gay and lesbian service members are out to colleagues, yet ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ still threatens to cut their careers short if they get caught in the crosshairs of this counterproductive law,” Mr Osburn added. According to Mr Gates, an additional 41,000 lesbian and gay Americans may enlist for military service if the ban were repealed.

The military’s need for qualified and experienced personnel also continues to grow. The San Antonio Express-News recently reported that the armed forces are facing a “major” officer shortage, including falling short by 2,500 captains and majors in the Army this year, with that number increasing to 3,300 in 2007.

In an attempt to attract new recruits and fill the gap, Pentagon leaders have recently relaxed enlistment standards regarding age, physical fitness, education and criminal records. The discharge of lesbian and gay Americans, however, continues.

A bi-partisan coalition in Congress now supports legislation to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1059), introduced in March 2005 by Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) now has 116 supporters, including five Republican lawmakers. Meehan’s legislation would repeal the military’s ban and allow lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel to serve openly in the armed forces.

Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, the first woman to achieve the three-star rank of Lieutenant General in the United States Army, also called earlier this month for Congress to repeal the military ban. “The Army teaches its soldiers, officers, NCOs and other enlisted personnel to live by seven values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honour, integrity, and courage.”

Ms Kennedy said in an interview with reporter Peter Cassels. “Tell me: which is only found in the heterosexual population?”

Vintage Thursday

The following article was published in Key (v.2#4), a Denver progressive magazine of the late 60's and 70's.
November1972

GAY LIBERATION:

just a kiss away

Jack Manno



Driving back from Denver last month -- we had gone there to talk to a class about Gay Liberation -- the three of us suddenly realized that the experience we had just been through had been one of the most liberating of our lives. By talking to a predominantly straight* class we had not only cleared up a few myths about gay men and women, we had also drawn closer to each other in a sense of gay community -- one of the main goals of Gay Liberation. Essentially gay community means that gay men and women unite as brothers and sisters to give each other "shelter" in a society which regards them as pathetically sick neurotics or as unapprehended felons. Gay lib organizations help to eradicate the painful and anxiety-producing split in a gay individual's life, providing an alternative to the straight-oriented community which finds our life-style repulsive. For example, Gay Lib encourages us to re-evaluate our friendships ("Will they still be my friends when they find out about me? "); examine the oppressive gender roles which our culture instills in us (Men don't cry or kiss each other/Women are never aggressive"), and helps to develop a sense of pride in our gayness.



Much has been said and written about both gay power and gay pride and it seems appropriate here to discuss the growth of gay pride and its result for the gay community -- gay power. Gay pride is the result of a long process which begins with "coming out." Often the most agonizing stage of all, coming out involves the admission to oneself that he or she is a homosexual. Fear of ostracism from one's peer group, alienation from straight society, and antiquated religious beliefs often prove to be tremendous hurdles for gay men and women. Before Gay Lib, homosexuals would run to the twentieth-century witch doctor -- the psychiatrist. Treatment would aim at the "reform" of the homosexual, with a view' to making him a fit member of straight society. Some shrinks resorted to the quaint technique of electro-shock therapy on gays to induce socially acceptable sexual responses in them. Now, however, Gay Lib groups everywhere are provid-ing positive reinforcement to the new gay sister or brother by emphasizing the individual worth of the homosexual and his potential as a valuable member of the community. Boulder G.L.F. provides a counselling and counselling referral service for anyone who wants it. Since there is now a homosexual community for gays to identify with, there is no longer any need for the feeling of alienation and loneliness which was previously the burden of all gay women and men.



Having "come out" and abandoned the absurd gender roles of straight society, gay people begin to not only take pride in their love but also begin to feel anger at the system which oppresses them in several ways. The obvious forms of oppression are the discriminatory statutes which not only deny our civil rights in the fields of housing and employment but also prohibit sexual contact between member of the same sex -- in fact, in some southern states the penalty for such contact is life imprisonment or indeterminate sentences to state mental facilities. The far more insidious methods of oppression are things like the contemptuous attitudes of straights, often -expressed in such heartless ways as unprovoked harassment, brutal assaults on gay women and men and the jokes and limp wrist caricatures aimed at gay men. Recently the Boulder chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity demanded as a pledge assignment from an anxious young man to obtain the signatures of the executive committee members of G.L.F. on his jock strap. Surprisingly enough the pledge had the audacity and ignorance to attempt to fulfill the assignment. Gays are just beginning to realize the pervasiveness of myths and stereotypes which represent some basic fears and anxieties on the part of the straight community. One of the goals of the Gay Lib movement is the eradication of the following myths:



1) "Homosexuals are sick or unnatural." It might be said, from a reproductive point of view, all sexual acts (including fellatio, masturbation, and anal intercourse) except vaginal penetration by the male are "unnatural." It should be fairly obvious that many straights engage in these activities -- and with good reason. Human beings seem to be the only creatures who use sex for non-reproductive purposes, such as mutual pleasure and sharing of tenderness. Gay men and women use sex for the same reasons and therefore can be considered no sicker than their straight counterparts. Evelyn Hooker administered a battery of psychological tests to both homosexual and heterosexual men. She discovered that her colleagues were unable to identity any of the subjects as either gay or straight, based on the test responses.

2) "Homosexuals molest small children or commit violent sex crimes and are therefore unfit to be teachers or counselors." This is perhaps the most vicious and unwarranted attack on gays, as well as the more tiresome myth of all. By far the overwhelming majority of violent sex crimes are committed by straight men on women and young girls. In fact, a group studying violent sex crimes found it unnecessary to even create a category for homosexuals; that is, the incidence of violent sex crimes committed by gays is statistically insignificant. It has been found that even violent sexual assaults in prisons are perpetrated by sexually frustrated straight men who simply substitute younger and weaker convicts for the women whom they had brutalized when they were outside of prison. Further, no one has yet adequately explained why gay teachers should be seen as posing more of a sexual threat to their students than straight teachers do. Contrary to popular belief, most gay men do not lust after young boys, and those that do are far outnumbered by the straight men who molest young girls with disturbing regularity.



3) "Gay men hate women and gay women hate men." People do not become gay because of negative feelings toward the opposite sex, but rather because of positive feelings toward members of the same sex. Being gay provides a precious opportunity for men and women to abandon the sexual roles dictated by society and to approach each other as sisters and brothers. Thus, all oppression of women (whether gay or straight) is an offense against the gay community be-cause it issues from the same sexist source which would destroy gays or render them helpless to determine their own sexual and emotional destiny. It is, therefore, not surprising to find that the greatest allies that the Gay Lib groups have are women's groups, since many women -- heterosexual and homosexual alike, are discovering that gay men do not see them as sexual objects but rather as equals united in the struggle to smash sexism.

Gay Pride then is simply the joy we feel in the knowledge that our form of sexuality is an expression of our tenderness for each other. Gay Power is our determination to convert our pride in each other into social and political action aimed at our liberation.

The Radicalesbians, a group of gay activists women, have made an important distinction between sexuality and sensuality which may help to explain the opportunity which gay men and women have to overthrow the traditional gender roles assigned by society to men and women. Sexuality is orgasm-oriented and is typical in the frightening need of straight men to prove their masculinity by "performing" in a sexual situation. It becomes a matter of great shame and anxiety when a straight man cannot achieve an erection or an orgasm. Thus, instead of passing a few hours pleasantly in a sexual encounter, straight men must become part of a tense encounter which has "shameful" potential if he or his partner does not achieve orgasm. The obsession of men with the female orgasm is typical of this pattern -- while such concern may be motivated by a sincere interest in his partner's pleasure, more often than not it is merely a sexual trophy. The sick fascination of straight men with gay women is another aspect of the sexist mentality. Straight men refuse to believe that gay women are happy with each other, and often think that a good sexual experience with a man will "cure" everything. The obvious implication here is that women are made to be sexual tools of men and gay women show that attitude for the consummate nonsense that it really is.

Sensuality on the other hand, is not primarily oriented towards orgasm but rather to the sharing of pleasure in each other's bodies. Two gay women or two gay men have the option to ignore the master/slave behavior pattern which is imposed on straights by cultural conditioning. Essentially what I am saying is that oppressive gender roles make it difficult for a man and a woman to approach each other as sexual equals committed to mutual warmth and tenderness, without the false masculinitv concept suffering as a result of such affection and regard.



Gay Liberation helps gay women and men to provide themselves with new models to replace the sexual game structures which they have rejected. Awareness of each other's emotional and sexual needs is the foundation for the sense of gay community from which we draw the strength to fight for the liberation of all gays.

Wednesday Woody

Tonight, I want to be Gay



Walking down York Street on the way to 168, a young guy caught my eye. He walked slowly as if breaking in a new pair of shoes, and I figured this Yalie had recently been shopping at J. Press.

Descending the steps and watching the girl watch her boyfriend watching me from the window of the modish ethnic food restaurant next to the bar, I heard someone whisper: “Tonight, I want to be gay.”

Turning around, I thought, “Well, it’s the least I can do.”

Without making eye contact, the floppy haired Yalie spun around and walked directly in front of me and paused just long enough to whisper: “Tonight, I want to see what you gay guys do.”



“Then we should go drinking and dancing,” I replied as his beer breath wafted between us.

Without breaking his stride, he whispered: “Meet me at the corner of Park and Crown.”

A few minutes later, I pulled up to the corner. He ran up to my truck, jumped in, and said: “I don’t want to be seen with you—just drive away.”



Accelerating rapidly, the truck jerked forward as I replied, “I can do that.”

I pulled onto the highway as he placed his hand on my knee: “Tonight, I want to be gay—like you.”

Shifting into fifth, I said, “We’ll see what we can do.”

Sitting on my couch, he looked at me and said: “Show me what it’s like to be gay.”

I picked up his hand and placed it on my thickening cock: “This is what it feels like.”


Staring at his hand, he tugged at my zipper, pulled out my cock, and began stroking it. It grew increasingly firm in his hand, and as he lowered his head, he paused a moment before saying: “I’ll never talk about this; I want to be a senator someday.”

Watching his head buck up and down in my lap, I decided not to respond.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled his lips not his eyes from my cock and said: “Show me what it’s like to be gay.”

Taking him by the hand, I led him through the hallway: “Let’s take it to the bedroom.”

Tossing his plaid boxers to the floor, he fell on his back and raised his legs in the air: “I want to do it like you gay guys do.”

Lining my cock up with his pink puckered hole, I smiled and said, “I’ll see what I can do.”



Before my head touched his asshole, he pressed his flattened palm to my chest and looked me in the eye: “Don’t mention this to anyone; I might be president some day.”

Promptly plunging forward, I pushed my cock into him, and he yelped. Musing over his name, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his pale cold cheek.

He groaned softly, and eventually, his groaning grew to a guttural panting. He punctuated its cadence with the words: “Tonight—I—want—to—be—gay.”



I quickened my thrusts, causing my thighs to slap against his ass, and thought: You may feel a little queer, after you’ve had a beer, but you’ll never know what its like to blow just to know you’re alive. You’ll never know the tension that fills you until you forget the words for the prayer to keep it from killing you. You’ll pop Viagra just to fill her vagina, but every night, on your way home, when you drive past the rest area, you’ll stop—stop—stop and think about tr--tr--trading your finger ring for a cock ring, but by then, it’ll be too--too--too late. You’ll already be a dead President, for your virtue is virtual, and I am fuck—fuck—fucking—you up the ass . . .

Driving silently down Park Street, he pointed to the side of the road: “Here is fine.”

Throwing the door open, he turned to me before jumping out: “Nothing happened, and I do not know you!”

Without a word in response, I drove away as the door slammed and thought: But I know you.

JUST BECAUSE

I know everybody has probably seen this but just in case.

Three queer singer/performers

AfterElton.com has great articles and information all for and about the gay and bisexual man below is just a taste of some of the awesome articles.

As Martha and The Vandellas once sang, “Summer is here and the time is right…” Well, in any case it’s August, and the current plentiful crop of independent gay male recording artists is in. It’s a perfect time to select several for a look-see. Below, AfterElton.com showcases three queer singer/performers of the solo “pop” variety.


Bronx-born Ari Gold offers gay fans a streetwise, urban, late-night club image as he pursues his mainstream R&B/house pop sound. There’s also a kind of Thriller-era Michael Jackson quality to Ari’s look, musical grooves and vocal approach. He can often be seen sporting his trademark straw fedora or Kangol style cap.

In promoting his recent Space Under Sun CD, Ari has traveled to Israel and Europe. He dances as well as sings in his live show, and sometimes includes backup male dancers in his act: slim, slinky and on the buff side, with a sort of “rough trade” fashion sense, Ari and Co. move & dress similar to dancers one might see dancing on top of a bar in a typical gay club.

Those who enjoy the bluesy, melismatic, vocal-riffing-over-sequenced-disco-grooves style of singing, made popular by singers like Christina Aguilera, Michael Anthony and various boy-band types will enjoy Space Under Sun. The album also features some male-to-male “out” type lyrics, and several tracks have been spunoff to live again as re-released videos and remixes. In addition to his songs on CD, Ari markets “image” merchandise such as photo calendars and photo coffee-table books of himself.



Manhattan’s Matthew Duffy is a darker, more mysterious pop presence, who puts his handsome “Black Irish” looks and angular, runway model’s physique to good use in today’s brave new image-conscious MTV world. Matthew presents his singing and songwriting in a sparse, minimalist techno-pop manner. Simple vocal phrasings and short lyrical lines are delivered in his trademark soft, whispery style.

Unlike many white American solo popsters, who tend to mimic latin and/or black American music styles and mannerisms, Matthew’s sound is more derivative of cool and calculated British rock acts such as Depeche Mode and other, darker, synth-laden, gothic sounds such as Gary Numan. On his recent CD release Here I Come, the many dance oriented tracks are pretty basic and straightforward in groove, with lyrics suggesting sexual readiness and Dionysian sensual freedom. The whole album is synth-laden, drum machine driven, and almost guitarless. Several slow ballads, like “Rising” and the brand new “I Met Him on the Underground” are unusually somber and enigmatic. This listener actually finds them more interesting than the usual sappy, superficial “love” songs so many crooner heartthrobs pose their way through in this genre.

Recently, Matthew has been studying guitar, and using this skill to compose new songs. He’s also been spotted accompanying himself on guitar here and there in his live shows. Several tracks from his recent Here I Come debut CD have been made into videos, and some are getting extra attention as they go thru our digital era’s prerequisite “re-mix” mill.



Atlanta-based Mike Rickard got his early musical education singing in church and performing with contemporary Christian music vocal groups before coming into his own as a solo singer/songwriter. Not exactly a typical “pop idol” type, Mike’s positioning among young male solo talents might be compared to Shania Twain’s among her female pop star colleagues. Both Mike and Shania are more rooted in country/western’s tradition of real musicians playing real music; both offer a more down-to-earth, friendly aura as opposed to the lofty, distanced attitude of pop media stardom.

Mike’s country/western based foundation of fine, solid musicianship shows thru his pop aspirations. Additionally, fans who like a clean-cut, all-American image in their pop star will enjoy this young, strong, silent cowboy type. His debut CD is called Stirred, not Shaken, and although it does not contain much strikingly original songwriting, Mike displays an exceptionally fine, even-tempered voice, which sounds as lush and pitch-perfect at a pianissimo as it does at full throttle. Mike knows how to construct a well-balanced, viable pop hit ballad, even if his efforts are at this stage a bit generic-sounding.

To his credit, Mike has managed to hook up with the right people at the right time in his career. The technical production, song-arrangements, and especially the session musicians’ instrumental performances on his debut CD Stirred, Not Shaken are all top-notch. Most of the album’s songs are ballads of the love-lost torch variety, and are realized in an easy-listening, pop/rock/country crossover style.

I’ve seen this promising young artist perform live. His laid back, wholesome delivery of his sincere love songs is refreshing in this often superficial, image-hyped, career driven world of pop idol solo acts. Mike is also an able acoustic guitarist, confidently accompanying himself as he sings. I predict good things for this new talent who is just now coming into his own.

by Robert Urban, August 25, 2005

Tasty Tuesday

Picked this up along my travels How to pick up a straight guy.
Let me know how it works for you lol.

Disclaimer: Some straight guys will kill you if you make a sexual advance towards them! Do not be stupid, use your head!



1.Getting them turned on! This is an important first step, I make sure I always have good quality porn magazines and vhs adult movies lying around my apartment. If you are with a guy somewhere and you do not have access to porn then try and direct the conversation towards the subject of sex and getting laid. Make comments about girls that might be in the area, try to get him to share stories of some of his more adventurous sexual experiences, and make up some of your own to help the conversation flow. I usually tell a story about some really hot slut that a bunch of my friends gangbanged. Make the story kinky, tell him that guys were jerking each other while they were waiting to have a go at the chick.



I like adult theaters, bookstores, strip bars has well, there are lots of juiced up straight guys hanging out there. You really need to be comfortable around these guys, and move slow, you need to be able to talk about sports and cars and all the other shit straight boys love to talk about. You really need to be able to read these guys too, only a small percentage will be interested , some will be down right hostile, so watch their reactions to you conversations closely. I usually tell them about a buddy that just brought a new car, and made the money to paid for it by letting guys suck him off for money.



2.Break out the beer This might be a little on the sleazy side but ( ok allot on the sleazy side), get the guy a little tipsy . I don't mean knocking the dude out or anything, a comatose stud might not be able to get it up;-) A few drinks will really help lower the guys inhibitions.



3. Privacy! The guy needs to know that one else will know what has happened between you. So keep your mouth shut, this is really important, especially in smaller communities like the one I grew up in. I sucked off tons of straights dudes , but I never told anyone and I always made sure no else knew about our encounters.



4.Making Contact. Now you need to work on reducing in the physical distance between you and your prey. Find a way to sit a little closer to the guy , maybe have your legs touch. Horseplay is another excellent way to narrow the space between you. A punch on the arm and a little wrestling is a great way to make contact. Of course you can always rely on the porn movie classic " I am learning a how to give massage and need to practice my lower and upper leg technique, can I practice on you?



5. Deniability . Never force the guy to acknowledge a sexual advance has being "gay" , reassure him by saying "how you love to suck masculine straight guys like him". If you see the guy later, never bring up your past encounters. I have had married guys that I have been sucking for years, they come over to my house and pretend to fall asleep on the sofa then I suck them dry. I never mention what happened while they "slept".



7. Total honesty. Once you gauge wither or not this guy will try and kill you if you tell him your gay, just be honest and say , listen dude I am gay and would love to suck your dick, all you have to do is lay back and relax while I get on my knees and just worship that cock of yours.

Clay Aiken and his penis

John Paulus is at it again with a supposed pic of Clays penis which he has verified.
He has blocked the image of the penis and gives a site where you can pay to see the pic.
Not sure what his cut is.
You can forgo that and just save the pic which somehow takes the block off reposting it brings it back.


There has been speculation and doubt that the picture above featuring little Clay was authentic. I have examined that picture and can affirm without a doubt that, that is in fact "WALDO". I would recognize it anywhere.(as quoted by John Paulus).

Speedo Sunday

Once again I present Speedo Sunday I have added a few links you may find interesting and if you have any great speedo pics send them my way you will get full credit and a link.



Country: United States
Sport: Swimming
Event(s): 50, 100 and 200m Breaststroke
Birthdate: 8/15/1981
Birthplace: Havertown, Pennsylvania
Height: 6'0" / 183 cm
Weight: 190 lbs
College: University of Texas
Residence: Austin, Texas
Welcome to Brendan Hansen Online




The fastest swimmer in United States history and in organized competition worldwide, a three-time Olympian, ten-time Olympic medallist, American record-holder, and hero to millions of swimmers and diabetes patients, Gary Hall Jr. is clearly an American treasure. Gary’s accomplishments in the pool speak for themselves. Gary Hall Jr., is widely known by his fans for his charismatic personality, shadow boxing, and flexing at big swim meets. Many remember him for smashing a guitar on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.
GARY HALL



Pieter van den Hoogenband

Olympic Champion - World's greatest swimmer



SwimDownhill.com

Hot Hot Hot

I think I need a towel hanger like the one he has.

Cops are partners for life

THE WEDDING DATE IS SET

Two former Fredericton-area men may become the first gay couple to marry in the RCMP's history.

Const. Jason Tree and Const. David Connors are getting ready to walk down the aisle next month in Yarmouth.

And it all started from a love affair kindled when the two at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.

Tree, 27, was a chemistry student at the time he met Connors, 28, a computer engineering student. Connors, originally from Nackawic and the son of Mayor Bob Connors, said it was love at first sight.

They were each other's first boyfriends. Tree said he had already made it public he was gay before he went to UNB, but Connors said he wasn't sure he was gay until he met Tree.

"He stood out from the rest," he said. "He wasn't like a lot of the other gay men that I met at the time. He's very engaging in conversation and we had a mutual attraction. It preceded very well ever since."

But their lives haven't been without anxiety.

Tree, who grew up in Fredericton, said he always wanted to join the RCMP but wasn't sure how the force would treat homosexuals.

But he said they've never had a problem with anyone in the RCMP, and everyone from co-workers to superiors has always been supportive.

"I didn't know what to expect going into the RCMP," Tree said. "There's a public perception sometimes it's a heterosexual job, you know, for men. I didn't know what to expect, but it's been tremendously positive. I've been very open ever since I started being open about my sexuality."

In fact, Tree said, their June 30 wedding will be mostly attended by co-workers and friends from Yarmouth, where Connors works.

Tree works in nearby Meteghan.

Family from Fredericton and Nackawic will also be on hand to witness the vows.

Bob Connors said he will be going to his son's wedding.

He declined to comment on his son's private life.

Apart from getting ready for the wedding, David Connors said the hardest part has been dealing with the swirl of national media attention since they announced their plans.

"We're a little bit nervous, but I think doing some of the interviews are more of a trial," he said with a laugh. "I think the wedding is going to be a piece of cake at this point."

As for married life, Connors said, he's confident he and Tree have enough love to last a lifetime.

"After eight years, there's no one else I'd rather be spending the rest of my life with," he said.

Provincial RCMP spokesman Sgt. Frank Skidmore said the force was happy to hear about the union, adding that they're proud RCMP officers reflect all aspects of the community.

"This is a first for us," Skidmore told The Canadian Press.

"Certainly, the RCMP welcomes a workforce that is representative of Canadian society, and that is the case here."

The soon-to-be newlyweds plan to honeymoon in Europe.

By JOEL O'KANE
jokane@dailygleaner.com

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey

A Bit About me
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name: Stephen
Birthday: Nov 1961
Birthplace: Toronto,Ontario,Canada
Current Location: Near Windsor
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown (though my head is shaved so...)
Height: 6'1"
Right Handed or Left Handed: Right Handed
Your Heritage: English,Hungarian
The Shoes You Wore Today: Adias
Your Weakness: This Dam Blog
Your Fears: Getting Cancer
Your Perfect Pizza: Hawaiian
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Book my cruise
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: whatever
Thoughts First Waking Up: I made it
Your Best Physical Feature: Buttocks and/or Hands
Your Bedtime: Depends if i am working but late
Your Most Missed Memory: My first dog
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
MacDonalds or Burger King: Burger King
Single or Group Dates: Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Nestea
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee like 20 cups a day
Do you Smoke: yes
Do you Swear: Yes.
Do you Sing: Only at work
Do you Shower Daily: I try to... sometimes twice a day. I Bike alot
Have you Been in Love: Yes.
Do you want to go to College: No
Do you want to get Married: Already married. :D
Do you belive in yourself: Not sure what Belive is... but I do BELIEVE in myself.
Do you get Motion Sickness: No.
Do you think you are Attractive: Sometimes
Are you a Health Freak: I try to be but I fail at that.
Do you get along with your Parents: No
Do you like Thunderstorms: Yes.
Do you play an Instrument: Just my organ
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: No
In the past month have you Smoked: Yes
In the past month have you been on Drugs: ummm... no. Been a while actually. Very long while...
In the past month have you gone on a Date: Nope
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: Nope
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: Nope
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: Nope
In the past month have you been on Stage: Nope
In the past month have you been Dumped: I would really hope not. No.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: Might fun but no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: No
Ever been Drunk: Yes.
Ever been called a Tease: Yes.
Ever been Beaten up: No.
Ever Shoplifted: No.
How do you want to Die: In my sleep.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: An interior designer.
What country would you most like to Visit: China
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color: Green
Favourite Hair Color: Blond
Short or Long Hair: short
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 190lbs
Best Clothing Style: Casual but not modest
Number of Drugs I have taken: three or four. some unintentional.
Number of CDs I own: 50-100
Number of Piercings: none
Number of Tattoos: one
Number of things in my Past I Regret: Not checking the parachute more before jumping. Oh well.

David Suzuki gets naked

David Suzuki, who courted controversy by appearing nude on the cover of TV Guide in 1999, has taken it all off again.

David Suzuki wraps himself in only the Maple Leaf to help launch the 47th season of The Nature of Things. (CBC)

This time the environmental activist and CBC broadcaster appears in a promotional photo clad only in a maple leaf to advertise the new season of his show The Nature of Things.

Suzuki, 70, poses like Atlas with the world on his shoulders to launch the 47th season of his internationally respected science series, first launched in 1960.

In 1999, Suzuki showed off his newly fit body on the magazine cover to promote a show in The Nature of Things series.

He also appeared on the Royal Canadian Air Farce, covered only with a briefcase, and invited the host to inspect his "genetically altered banana."

While some viewers saw the nudity as a stunt, one newspaper reader at the time wrote: "Just think, Suzuki, up until now I was only interested in your mind!"

Suzuki, who received an Order of Canada earlier this year, also runs an environmental group, The David Suzuki Foundation.

The Nature of Things season begins Sunday, June 18 on CBC TV, with an episode called Everyday Einstein.

Its A Snap

Snap.com offers an alternative to “text-in, text-out” searching. They’ll show you a visual preview with every result.


.....If you're looking to gank photos, this is your site!

Sexy Tattoo

Not Good

I had to reset my template now I will have to try and start all over with my links and stuff.
This is giving me a headache.....