Get a sneak peek at Nike’s 2017 BeTrue line, coming June 1

BeTrue is featuring T-shirts, socks and four shoes
From: OutSports

Nike’s 2017 BeTrue line is again highlighted by the iconic rainbow.

 Nike’s annual BeTrue line is again being released to celebrate LGBT Pride Month. The 2017 line will be available online June 1.

NikeLab Air VaporMax BE TRUE:
A hand-dipped rainbow VaporMax Air unit grounds the future of Nike Air
in the iconic emblem of Pride.

 This year BeTrue is part of the company’s larger EQUALITY initiative, which has highlighted many voices speaking for equality including LeBron James, Megan Rapinoe, Serena Williams and Victor Cruz.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34 BE TRUE:
 Reflective materials hold an iridescent palette reminiscent
of this running stalwart’s mythological namesake.

 While the line will be available on the company’s online store on June 1, the product’s availability in Nike stores across America will vary throughout June, in part to align with the local city’s pride celebration.

Nike Flyknit Racer BE TRUE:
The eight-color rainbow Swoosh honors the original 1978 Pride flag
 and the diverse LGBTQ spectrum it empowers.

This is the sixth year of the BeTrue line. According to Quinton Hawks, one of the founders of the line (along with Robert Goman and designer Shawn Ormsby) and the current head of the Nike LGBT & Friends Network, year six is something he hadn’t envisioned when they started the line.

The BeTrue socks are lots of rainbow.

 "It leaves me speechless most of the time,” Hawks told Outsports. “Six years ago we never thought it would be what it is today. We didn't even think it would still be around. After the first year, we didn’t even know if we were going to do it again. We did it a second year, and that was the year Jason Collins wore a #BeTrue shirt in the Boston Pride Parade, and it blew up on us. And that's when we realized we have something here."

Nike Classic Cortez BE TRUE:
The original running and sports style icon adds a
rainbow ribbon to exhibit pride in every step.

 They most definitely have something here. The line has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to LGBT-rights groups, and BeTrue has become a symbol of acceptance for many LGBT people in sports.

This year Nike’s BeTrue shirt goes white.

Outsports is proud to have BeTrue as a partner for our second annual Outsports Reunion, held this year in Denver during Pride.

You can check out some of the products coming in this year’s BeTrue line pictured here.

Exhibition by Michael Stokes

From: Homotrophy

“”Exhibition”, a 136-page, hardcover volume, showcases photographer Michael Stokes’ penchant for photographing “male erotic images and figure studies of fitness competitors, personal trainers, and body builders from around the world.” Following his massively-successful “Masculinity” and “Bare Strength”, Stokes-whose number of Facebook followers top an astonishing 650,000-has created a new, modern figure study of the male form. He is best known for his work with nude American soldier amputees-photos that have been banned by social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, many of which are featured in his book “Always Loyal”. Stokes’ photos have appeared on “The Today Show”, “Good Morning America”, “The View”, and “The Tonight Show”.

Get a copy of EXHIBITION by Michael Stokes today!

PIETRO BOSELLI SHARES THIRST WORTHY PICTURE WITH HIS BROTHER

From: Wicked

 Ever wondered if good looks run in Pietro Boselli’s family? Well they must, because his (little?) brother is absolutely adorable.

The two clearly favor one another, though Pietro’s body looks like it’s been chiseled from marble (that’s no doubt in part to his rigorous workout schedule).

 Speaking of his chiseled body, can we talk about something for a second? I’m, of course, talking about this:

Pietro is the gif that keeps on giving, isn’t he?

Favorite Pic of the Day for October 6, 2008

From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things

ALEX SMITH BY KARL SIMONE

In The Locker Room

Nike’s “Unlimited Courage” Campaign Taps Trans Olympian Chris Mosier

"Anything is really possible."

From: NewNowNext

Trailblazing trans athlete Chris Mosier appears in an empowering new commercial by Nike, which aired for the first time on NBC last night during prime time Olympic coverage.

The groundbreaking short is just one in a new series called “Nike Unlimited,” which features athletes “who regularly push their limits — and who are poised to prove their unlimited potential this summer and beyond.”

As the video notes, the 35-year-old duathlete “is the first transgender athlete to make the men’s national team,” making him one of a record-setting 42 openly LGBT athletes competing at this year’s games.

Woke up thinking I had been dreaming, then saw 600+ alerts on my phone. Nope: this really happened! Thank you to everyone who reached out! Check out my @nike commercial on tv or online, link in profile. #UnlimitedCourage #nike #transathlete #nobaddays #nodaysoff #justdoit #duathlon #duathlete

A photo posted by thechrismosier (@thechrismosier) on Aug 9, 2016 at 5:14am PDT

“I didn’t know if I would be competitive against men; I just did it,” Chris explains in a behind-the-scenes video.

“Every success that I’ve had since then has shown me that anything is really possible. By not stopping myself, not limiting myself and just really going for it, I’ve learned a lot about myself and also had the opportunity to further the conversation on trans inclusion in sports.”

He added: “Being the first trans man on a U.S. men’s national team was a dream come true for me. I always wanted my name on a jersey. To represent our country at the highest level, in my sport, is just outstanding. It’s just such an amazing opportunity — and an amazing opportunity for other people to see themselves reflected in someone succeeding in sports as a trans man.”

Check it out below:

Adidas, Nike Team Up To Sponsor World Gay Soccer Championships

"It just shows how sport and community can bring people together."

From: NewNowNext

Sports gear giants Nike and Adidas have teamed up to co-sponsor the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) world championships next month in Portland, Oregon, where both corporations are based,

“It’s rare to see the three stripes and the swoosh on the same program, in the same stadium, or at the same event — but this tournament, this year, is a little different,” said IGLFA rep Kimberly Hadley.

 “[I’m] so happy to be able to make this happen!” posted Quinton Hawks, Nike’s Finance Manager for Global Brand Marketing, on Facebook. “Great moment in the sports world for the two biggest sport companies to come together to support the LGBT community!! ‪#‎BETRUE‬.”

 “We are thrilled that Nike and Adidas are both at the table for the LGBTQ community, for the nonprofit sports community, and for soccer here in Portland,” said Max Wedding of the Portland Netrippers. Other teams include the New York Ramblers, San Diego Sparks (left), Seattle Scandal and the Twin City Jacks

“It just shows how sport and community can bring people together,” said Wedding. “This is a proud day for Portland.”

Both Nike and Adidas have upped their LGBT marketing in recent years, launching special capsule collections to coincide with Pride.

The championships will run from August 6 to 13 at Providence Park, home field of both the MLS Portland Timbers and NWSL Portland Thorns. More than 400 players are expected to participate.

Favorite Sports Guy of The Day: June 10, 2008

James Toseland
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things

 Besides his wonderful habit of jumping on his bike shirtless, James Toseland, was a  World Superbike Champion. Toseland, who lives on the Isle of Man (Sounds like a great place to live...) is also a pianist and singer and performs often with his group 'Crash".

Jean Galfione

Click Here For More Jean Galfione
From: NewNowNext

NIKE CELEBRATES LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH WITH THE ‘BE TRUE’ COLLECTION

From: Clotheshorse

 As part of June’s LGBT Pride Month celebrations, Nike is releasing a trio of special colorways that feature rainbow gradients with an angular pattern in black-and-white, for contrast’s sake. We’ve already seen the collection’s rendition of the Air Max Zero, so now it’s time for the other two silhouettes to get their shine.

The special-edition Hyperrev 2016 features an asymmetrical gradient across the upper, a black sock-liner and an understated pink pull-tab.

The LunarTempo 2 runner features a polychromatic upper and contrasting pink FlyWire construction that matches the pink and white sole. All three sneakers feature reflective detailing that lets them shine in the dark — a fitting tribute to the enduring spirit of those kept from being true to themselves.

All three pairs drop on Nike’s SNKRS app on June 2 — be sure to act fast.

Nike Releases #BeTrue Pride Sneakers

Nice kicks!
From: NewNowNext

 Nike has released images for the new Nike Air Max Zero Pride sneakers part of their #BeTrue collection.

The fitness apparel giant described the subtle sneakers as “clean, crisp style embodied.”

 The #BeTrue collection “celebrates the LGBT community and raises funds to help end discrimination in sport, the Nike Air Max Zero Be True features a fresh, simple white upper, comprising the Zero’s signature seamless mesh-and-Fuse construction,” said Nike. “Officially underscoring the #BeTrue angle, rainbow fading contrasts in the Max Air unit and on both insoles, along with ’BETRUE’ script on the latter.”

Nike joins other companies like Levi’s and Converse who have also unveiled Pride collections for the upcoming Pride season.

An exact release date hasn’t been announced, but it’s a safe bet they’ll probably hit store shelves in June.

Mother Lode: Victor by New Manhattan Studios

From: Favorite Hunks  & Other Things

'Victor was one of those models who shows up periodically to remind me how bad I am at prejudging how someone will look on camera.'

Wes from New Manhattan Studios

 As long as I've been photographing people, it never ceases to amaze me how poor I am at guessing who is and who isn’t going to look good in the finished photographs. I have had some stunningly good-looking men and women in front of my camera that don’t, for whatever reason, look nearly as good in two dimensions as they look in person. Alternatively, I have had some very average-looking people who photograph like super stars. 

 I refrain from doing “cosmetic surgery” in Photoshop, but as a photographer I know that there are things that I can (and should) do with lighting, camera angles and poses to maximize a model’s potential (or minimize a weakness). Victor did not require any special considerations or lighting, but I was not prepared for what I saw when I started processing his images.

 Now don’t get me wrong, Victor is a very attractive young man. But when he walked into the studio I was not particularly impressed with the 19-year-old with some rather rough edges. Fresh off the bus from Oklahoma, he announced that he wanted to be an A&F model. (“Good luck with that,” I thought. “The line starts over there.”)

When he told me that he already had a job with the store, I was impressed; impressed that he knew that a prerequisite for landing a spot in the Abercrombie catalog is actually working in one of the stores. Still, standing before me, I saw nothing that separated him from the scores of other models his age whose ambitions are to be an A&F model.

 Victor is quiet, polite and unassuming. At 19, he was still in school when we worked together and, having recently moved to the metropolitan area from the Midwest, he didn’t throw off any of the “hot shit New York Model” vibes that I encounter all too often. He was working hard on his physique and just starting to make the rounds in New York. He was, in a word, “refreshing” to work with.

 But nothing during our uneventful 3-hour first session prepared me for the delightful surprise I had when I downloaded Victor’s images to my computer and started reviewing his photos. After a quick scan of just the first few dozen I was struck by the realization that, indeed, this kid does have the potential to be an A&F model. With his blond hair and classic looks, he’s the embodiment of the Abercrombie look! I will repeat, “Victor is an attractive young man” and I will add “who photographs extremely well.” At six foot and 150 pounds, if he works at it, he may well succeed as a model in this town.

 Happy with the results of the first session, I offered Victor an additional session and a possible slot in one of the studio’s published portfolios. He agreed, with the understanding that the work would require some implied, partial or full nudity. At one point during his second session I asked him how he got interested in modeling. He responded that it was his mother’s idea.

 Later, as he was standing nude on the paper, I couldn’t help but wonder what his Mom would think of these pictures. With such a good-looking son, I guessed she might be a model, too. When I asked him what she does, he said his Mom was not a model but she was managing his career. She sees all the pictures. 

 I'm happy to report that Victor told me that Mom liked the pictures. We did, too; so much so that they’ve earned Victor a place in our 2014 models portfolio, Gramercy Square. Victor will be one of six New York models featured in the book that will be published this fall. And I'm also happy to report that at 19, Victor has succeeded in branching out of modeling into an acting career as well. He’s already landed the lead in an indie film playing the young James Dean! I can’t help but wonder how I’d have reacted if the young James Dean had walked into my studio. Could I have envisioned how great the 19-year-old from Indiana would look on the big screen?

A special video presentation of Victor’s photo shoots with New Manhattan Studios has been prepared exclusively for the readers of Favorite Hunks. You can see that video by clicking HERE: or visit Victor’s gallery at New Manhattan Studios by clicking HERE. Victor’s is one of nearly 50 galleries at NewManhattanStudios.com, featuring models from New York and around the world that have worked with the studio.