Reflections on Gay Culture Column

The latest edition of my Philly Gay Calendar column is now up. It's actually a continuation of the post I did back in June last year on what is going on with gay culture today. Since that inital post several events have happened, such as gay bookstores and gay bars either closing or rumors about them closing. So I thought I'd write a more detail version of my views on gay culture, like what's happening to it, and not neccessarily for the better, and why it should be perserved.

REFLECTIONS OF GAY CULTURE TODAY

Butch's Straight Calendar Talk

The latest edition of my Philly Gay Calendar column is up and now running. In it I interview local gay celebrity Butch Cordora, who is putting out a 2009 wall calendar called Straight And Butch, which features twelve photos of him posing with straight men. Oh, did I tell you that they're naked as well? Oh, the sexual tension. Butch also talks about the upcoming tenth season of his TV show In Bed With Butch.

There will be a calendar signing at Giovanni's Room in Philly on Monday, September 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Later that evening there will also be a VIP launch party for the calendarat 12th Air Command from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

A Few Things As I Catch Up

First I want to belatedly congratulate Andy Liu and Steve "boyshark" Mercer for winning the titles for Mid-Atlantic LeatherSIR 2008 and Mid-Atlantic Leatherboy 2008 respectively when they competed for the titles at the Bike Stop on July 5. They go on to compete in San Francisco for the International LeatherSIR and Leatherboy titles in October.

In the picture with Andy and Steve on the right is Gary Iriza, International Mr. Leather 2008, who was one of the judges that weekend. Shortly after that I did an interview with him for PhillyGayCalendar.com, which was put up on the website yesterday. I hope that you'll find it to be a good interview. Gary is returning to Philly this weekend to judge the International Deaf Leather 2008 contest.

I've been to three of the WOOF! Philly parties in the past two months. They are being held at Sal's on 12th on Sunday nights. The last one I went to (July 6) some hot go-go dancers from New York were there and needless to say I had a lot of fun.

And finally there are a few blogs by gay porn stars I have been following as of late (obviously they are NSFW):

Steve Cruz (His recent "The Tao of Sexy" posts are fun to read.)

Damien Crosse

Mike Dreyden (This is the short guy with the green plaid shorts and Nasty Pig cap who was on the stage with the other porn actors at Folsom Street East 2008 that I had a crush on. He was also one of the go-go boys that were at said July 6 WOOF! Philly party.)

Prom Picture

I was in Philly this past Wednesday to watch the Dumspta Players perform Prom Trash 2008. Notice the T-Shirt I was wearing, which features the cover of Hole's Live Through This album; quite appropriate considering the evening's theme. Thanks a lot to the Divine Miss Jimmi for taking this photo of me!

Philly Gay Men's Chorus's holiday CD

Sorry that I forgot to post this earlier this week--the latest edition of my PhillyGayCalendar.com column, which covers the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus's new holiday CD titled Holiday Delights, has been posted up. BTW they are holding a CD release party at Woody’s on Sunday, December 23 from 10pm to midnight, where there will be a guest bartender from PGMC and some CD giveaways.

Does It Really Just Take A Fairy?

The latest edition of my PhillyGayCalendar.com has just been posted up. Here I talk about the pop culture image of gay men helping out straight people, which I like to call the "good fairy." Queer Eye For The Straight Guy would probably be the best example. I admit I do watch it every time there's a new episode on, but there are certain issues the show raises that I address here. Another one would be To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar (Patrick Swayze's "Sometimes it just takes a fairy" quote from that film was the inspiration for the title of the article).

Does It Really Just Take A Fairy?

My latest Philly Gay Calendar column

The latest edition of my PhillyGayCalendar.com column is up and running. Here I talk about the Dumspta' Players and their upcoming August 15th show, Chardonna Jenkins: Pari$$$ Or Bust!

Lady Bunny Interview

For the latest installment of my PhillyGayCalendar.com column, I did an interviw with Lady Bunny, who does a great, irreverent, yet politically aware blog, and who will be appearing at The Raven in New Hope, Pa. on Sunday May 20 as part of their Gay Pride weekend known as New Hope Celebrates. Here is an excerpt from there, where she talks about writing on her blog:

"Well, if your blog is entertaining you draw people to your site by constantly updating it with new entries. Even if your site is gorgeous, no one wants to come and look at the same thing everyday. But I have been on the road for weeks so I've been a VERY lazy blogger recently. But I repent! I'm sure that that horror Jerry Falwell will get me going on the ol' blog. I also have just gotten back from working in London and Paris and have some fun pics from the gigs which I'll be posting soon. And here's a pic of Dennis Rodman getting the "booty" at Treasure Island hotel in Vegas last Friday. I was his "date" for his birthday party at Scores--the straight strip club! Nuts!"

Equality Forum Weekend 2007

After a trying week with some health issues I've hopefully put behind me (which I'll probably post about in the future), looks like I'll be busy in Philly this weekend with this year's Equality Forum. Saturday night at the Bike Stop there's the Cinco de Mayo/IML Send Off Party for Mr. Philadelphia Leather 2007 John Loesch, thrown by both the Philadelphians MC and the Liberty Bears. On Sunday there the SundayOUT! Street Festival, where I'll be working behind the PhillyGayCalendar.com desk from 3 to 4pm. And that same evening from 6 to 10pm the Liberty Bears will be throwing their Post-Cinco de Mayo Social at the pit of the Bike Stop. Hope to see you around!

Blue Ball 2007 DJs

The latest editiom of my PhillyGayCalendar.com column is up and running, where I talk about the DJs who will be spinning at this year's Blue Ball, which is Philadelphia's biggest circuit party of the year. I interview three of the DJs on this year's bill: DJ Roland Belmares, DJ Zathan, and DJ Carl Michaels. This installment is the longest article I've wriiten for the website so far.

No More Disco Parties For America?

This week the 2007 Winter Music Conference is happening in Miami, Florida. Since it one of the biggest dance conferences in the world, I thought it would be appropriate to show my latest PhillyGayCalendar.com column, which discusses the state of dance music in America (and Philly too, since my column is supposed to take a gay local spin on things). The inspiration for the article's title come about when I came about Moby's blogging about how his US label wasn't going to domestically release his latest CD compilation of his remixes (Go: The Very Best Of Moby: Remixed) and he said: "Sorry, North America. I guess the man doesn't want you to have a disco party." Sometimes I feel that it's the same way in the US as well.

Oscars tonight? Meh.

This past week the Oscars have been pretty much been overshadowed by the twin media circuses of Britney Spears shaving her head as she goes in and out of rehab and the final trainwreck of Anna Nicole Smith and the court battles over her estate and baby. Maybe the current slate of films up for the Oscars don't have the iconic aura as the previous year's line-ups. Or maybe the "gay mafia*" is still pissed over Brokeback Mountain getting snubbed the Best Picture award last year and have decided to retalite by taking time away from who's going to be wearing what on the red carpet that usually goes to the usual infotainment shows around this time of year and refocusing that time on Brit and Anna instead; I guess that having Ellen DeGeneres as the host of tonight's show and Jennifer Hudson/Dreamgirls were insufficent bait for them! Talk about karmic payback! I guess the gays will be singing Billy Joel's "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" tonight!

RIP Anna

Famous ex-Playboy model and reality-TV show goddess Anna Nicole Smith was found dead yesterday. She really raised the bar on what a celebrity trainwreck ought to be. (Check out the DVD of the first season of The Anna Nicole Show and see "reality" TV at its most bizarre.)

Here is a photo of Anna taken backstage at the Live 8 concert in Philly in July 2005.

Divine Ms. Jimmi muses about her.