Friday, July 1, 2016
Favorite Canadian Sports Guy for July 1, 2008
Sidney Crosby
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
Hockey is one of my favorite sports to watch. Canada's Sidney Crosby certainly is getting a lot of attention these days. Love his curly hair and killer smile.
Face-To-Face With Istanbul’s Gay Community
Elska magazine editor Liam Campbell visited the Turkish city just weeks before the crackdown on Istanbul Pride and the terror attack on Ataturk Airport.
From: NewNowNext
From: NewNowNext
Since its inception Elska has taken gay magazines into uncharted territory: Rather than presenting readers with a parade of flawless models cavorting in Saint Tropez or London, editor in chief Liam Campbell visits with real men, sometimes in places where being gay isn’t that accepted.
Elska’s latest issue, out now, found him in Istanbul, just weeks before the police shut down Istanbul Pride and fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators.
It was also, of course, before the terrible attack on Istanbul Ataturk Airport , which left 28 dead and more than wounded.
Campbell shared images from the new issue with NewNowNext, and talked with us about the people he met and their impressions of Turkish LGBT life.
“People in their late twenties and older had a strong sense that things used to be easier, that the government has bit by bit chipped away at freedoms,” he told us.
“They talk about how the number of bars and clubs has diminished, that it’s harder to get alcohol—one even remarked that people are served water instead of champagne at gallery openings—and, of course, that LGBT events such as the recent Pride march has been banned and even put down with violence.”
But older gays still believe Istanbul is the best place to be queer in the country—and in the entire Muslim world, he says.They’re willing to stay, even if they have to be more discreet than than before.
Younger LGBT people, though, are angry—and much less tolerant of the status quo.
“They don’t know that things used to be better, but they’ve grown up with Western films, TV and online media showing how gay life is in the West, and they expect the same for Turkey,” explains Campbell.
One young man featured in Elska said he couldn’t wait to leave Turkey.
“[He was] feeling rather hopeless,” recounts Campbell. “He was hoping to study in Milan so that he could be himself. He was also so visibly upset after Orlando, asking me ’why do they hate us so much?'” It’s such a sad thing to hear and impossible to give a definitive answer to.”
Ultimately, says Campbell, all the men he profiled insist most Turks are open-minded, but the current government is being run by ultra-conservatives.
“At least, they proudly declared, Turkey is a democracy so change is not impossible.”
The attack on Ataturk, though, has the whole country worried. It was not the first terrorist incident in Istanbul this year, and Campbell was actually unable to get an assistant to join him as he normally does.
“When I got to Istanbul, in late May, the mood was that things were better, and at least that the recent terrorist attacks were targeted at government facilities instead of everyday people. I certainly felt safe when I was there.”
He had been home for just a few weeks when the airport was hit. None of his models were harmed, though one quit his job because it was so close to where the terrorists had struck.
“Safety is most important, but this also is wreaking havoc on tourism,” which is a major industry in Istanbul, one that helps foster its more Western-friendly attitudes.
“Even when I was there my amazing hotel was too quiet for being high season, and the streets had few Western tourists,” he tells us. “Even less will come now. I can only hope that things will improve, that tourists will return to this amazing city and that the locals will feel safe at home.”
Visit Elska magazine’s website for more images and ordering information.
Despite Hostility From Islamic Countries, U.N. Votes To Create LGBT-Rights Watchdog
An independent expert will report on “violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity."
From: NewNowNext
From: NewNowNext
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted this week to institute its first LGBT-rights watchdog, despite opposition from Pakistan and other member states. The resolution passed in a vote of 23 to 18, with six abstentions.
An independent expert will be appointed to monitor and report on “violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” according to the resolution.
The measure marks the UN’s new emphasis on LGBT issues: In 2015, the United Nations Security Council convened a special meeting to discuss the threat the Islamic State poses to LGBT people in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.
But Buzzfeed reports that opponents of the new resolution—which included Pakistan and nearly all the other countries in the 56-member Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) “succeeded in adding several amendments that framed the LGBT rights proposal as a cultural imposition intending to override local values and sovereignty.”
The amendments called for respect for local customs and values, and condemned attempts to “impose notions pertaining to social matters, including private individual conduct.”
In May, the IOC blocked LGBT organizations from participating in a high-level meeting at the United Nations focused on ending AIDS.
DC Comics’ Gay Bad-Ass Midnighter Returns—With His Boyfriend In Tow
"Midnighter and Apollo" launches in October.
From: NewNowNext
From: NewNowNext
When Midnighter launched at DC Comics last comics, it was groundbreaking in numerous ways: Not only was it the first time a gay male character had his own comic book, but he was a far cry from the usual sassy and sensitive stereotypes.
Midnighter’s a brutal anti-hero who can see every move his opponent makes before they make it, and has no problem bringing the hurt.
Sadly, the comic struggled to find an audience and was canceled in May after just 12 issues.
But now DC is giving fans a belated Pride present by bringing Midnighter back in October for a six-issue miniseries that reunites him with his super-powered boyfriend, Apollo.
“They have a firmer idea of who they are, and they’ve become stronger and more confident together,” says Steve Orlando, who will write Midnighter and Apollo with art by Fernando Blanco.
Midnighter’s been gay from his first appearance, and has been romantically paired off-and-on with Apollo in the past. (The two are something of a Batman-Superman allegory.) They got married at one point and even raised a super-powered daughter, but when the DC comics universe rebooted, much (though not all) of their shared history was wiped away.
Orlando, who identifies as bisexual, wrote Midnighter’s previous series, which saw the character tracking down stolen technology, trying to discover his own origins and teaming up with the former Robin, Dick Grayson.
Having signed an exclusive contract with DC, Orlando is also writing a new Supergirl launching in August.
Canadiana
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
Over the past nine years, FH has featured hundreds of talented Canucks! Photographers, dancers, actors, models and pounds and pounds of Canadian back bacon. I even did a feature on a staple in every Canadians's wardrobe, the toque. I started a list, including the incredible Mr. Pepin, who is featured in this set of images from his tumblr. but it got a little overwhelming...
If you want to check out more talented and beautiful Canadians, just type Canadian related in the search box at the top of the blog.
“Queer As Folk” Star Randy Harrison: Why I Hope Brian And Justin Never Reunited
And some new hints about a series reboot?
From: NewNowNext
From: NewNowNext
Randy Harrison, who played Justin on Showtime’s Queer as Folk has some thoughts on what should have happened to Justin and his boyfriend, Brian (Gale Harold) once the series ended.
“I would hope that they wouldn’t [have got back together], just for Justin’s sake,” Harrison told Daily Xtra. “I just feel like if you’re 17 and you start sleeping with a 30-year-old, your development’s going to be thwarted if you never go out on your own for a significant amount of time.”
“I mean maybe they come back together, I don’t know,” added Harrison. “It’s a romantic fantasy, the whole show is fantasy so it’s hard to think about rationally entirely.”
The 38-year old actor also dropped some hints about a possible Queer as Folk reboot, revealing that the original cast are on board for it.
“We’re all old people now,” said Harrison. “The middle-aged Queer As Folk might not be the same but the cast all loves each other still and we’re all friends, we’re all open to it but I don’t know. Who knows?”
Are you listening, Netflix?
Watch the clip below for his full comments:
Happy Canada Day!
June 30, 2014
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
Canada has always been fairly progressive with gay rights. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens have been serving in the Canadian Forces, free from harassment and discrimination, since 1992. Canada also became the fourth country in the world, and the first country outside Europe, to legalize same sex marriage nation wide in 2005. This past weekend, Toronto head the forth World Pride celebrations and parade. The next to be held in Madrid in 2017.
With all this pride, it makes sense that drooling over a little Canadian grade A beef would also be something celebrated north of the border. Back in 2003, Canada;s Bravo channel began looking for ordinary Canadian men, 21 and older, for their first (and I think sadly only) edition of Strip Search Canada. Given it is Canada Day, what better time than to look back at the men who went on to form the shows end troupe, Canadian Thunder.
Although the show narrowed the field down to just 8, most of the series was about the 100's of other guys across the country, auditioning, dancing and thrusting their way to eventual elimination.
I think Bobby Ryan (right) was a fan favorite, but I really loved Vincent (below). Vincent had that goofy, ordinary guy appeal with a smile that lit up the screen. If you check out the old youtube of his audition it is interesting (and rather erotic) VIncent's audition strip took place in his families backyard with many of his buddies, relatives and his dad and mom looking, and cheering him on.
Of course, one of the staples of any male strip show has to be the first wax. Eyecons has a great selection of images from that show, plus video! Click on the Strip Search tag to see more from the show. Click HERE:
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