Dean Flynn Takes It Off and Gives It Up For Charity

Hi, all – Nick Fischer here, Titan’s Promo Guy. Word on the street is that a certain TitanMen exclusive (OK, I’m easy – it’s Dean Flynn; the images kinda make it easy to figure out) had his underwear auctioned off at Will Clark’s 4th anniversary Porno Bingo night this past Wednesday. Scandalous! Not to mention that it went for $200. I’d pay it – wouldn’t you?

Dean appeared with singer Molly Pope, drag performer Amanda Takehometomother and members of NY CHEER (New York’s premier GLBT cheerleading squad) and helped get the crowd to open its collective wallet to benefit the “Cheer for Life Fund”. Besides Dean’s shirt ‘n’ shorts, the crowd bid on one of our new TitanMen Tools, and jackets that the guys and gals from CHEER brought to the event. All in all, a record-breaking night of donations to the tune of $1,114, which are going to the Haven of Hope for Kids, a retreat for families caring for children with life-limiting illnesses.

Will Clark’s Porno Bingo happens every Wednesday from 8 to 10pm at Pieces (8 Christopher Street at 6th Ave. in New York City); for more info and to check up on what’s happening in Will’s world, check out www.willclarkworld.com.

Nigeria -NO GAYS!

Image via Wikipedia

The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs has told a UN review of human rights in the African nation that there is no gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans community in his country.

Ojo Madueke was addressing the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UNUPR) on Human Rights in Geneva.

“As we have indicated in our National Report, we have no record of any group of Nigerians who have come together under the umbrella of Lesbian, Gay and Transgender group; let alone to start talking of their rights,” Mr Madueke said in his UNUPR address on February 9th.

“During our National Consultative Forum, we went out of our way to look for the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Group but we could not come across Nigerian with such sexuality.

“If they are an amorphous group, then the question of violence against them does not arise let alone negotiating special rights for them.”

Nigeria’s official report to the UN states:

“Sexual minorities are not visible in Nigeria, and there is no officially registered association of gay and lesbians.

“No sexual minority or their representatives attended the Forum.

“However, in spite of this the issue was brought up at the Forum, and the views of more than 90 per cent of the participants was that Gay-Lesbian relationship or same-sex marriage was not a human rights issue in Nigeria.

“The laws of Nigeria recognise marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. However, like every democracy, those who want a change in the existing laws have to come out and lobby for the change they desire.”

In January Nigeria’s House of Representatives approved the second reading of a bill “to prohibit marriage between persons of same gender.”

The bill would punish people of the same sex who live together “as husband and wife or for other purposes of same sexual relationship” with up to three years of imprisonment.

Anyone who “witnesses, abet[s] and aids” such a relationship could be imprisoned for up to five years.

Amnesty Inernational said the proposed law, which would require the approval of the Senate and the President, violates the rights to freedom from discrimination, freedom of private and family life, freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of association, guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution and by human rights treaties.

The European Parliament’s Intergroup on gay rights has called for a suspension of EU aid to Nigeria.

http://www.gcn.ie

Gay NYC

Few places have gay neighborhoods that were themselves gentrified by gays, but that’s exactly what happened to the Christopher Street Pier. In the ’60s and ’70s, this was the seedy section of west side of Manhattan and home to some of the city’s most notorious gay sex cruising grounds [see Gay Sex in the ‘70s and you’ll see what we mean].

Today, the pier is all cleaned up and is pretty much the closest thing to a gay beach on the island of Manhattan. Jutting out from the Hudson River Park, the pier is a grassy knoll sprawling with shirtless gay guys soaking up the summer sun [much like on the beach, except on the Hudson River]. The breeze takes the edge off of the Manhattan humidity and there are stunning views of New Jersey [seriously] and downtown. If you’re tired of all the sight seeing and just want to relax, head here. Besides, it’s a great place for meeting guys outside of a bar. Tip: Bring sunglasses, it’s bright.

Broadway Bares [BroadwayCares.org]

• Much as the name hints, Broadway Bares is a scantily clad, expertly produced Broadway performance to raise money for the fight against HIV/AIDS. Tony Award-winning Choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell began the event in a bar in Chelsea back in 1992 and it has since generated such attention that it’s moved into the Roseland Ballroom and in 2008 raised close to $1,000,000.

Each year the show is built around a new theme [2008’s being Alice in Wonderland] and stars many from Broadway’s own big names and even film stars like Nathan Lane. It’s a brilliant enough of a production to warrant a full run, but with all that star power and so few garments, it’s something we happily settle for catching during it’s once a year performance.

PS 1 [PS1.org]

• You won’t find rainbows or go-go boys at this Queens summer dance party, but you sure will find a lot of cute gay boys and well-dressed straights. PS1  is a museum that closes on Saturday to host outdoor afternoon party, which draws a diverse set of DJ’s from around the world.

At just $10 bucks for cover [or free if you’re a member of the museum], New Yorkers from all walks of life flock here for their Saturday afternoon kicks. Our favorite thing about the people at this party is that they really do come for the music and as such, it’s a melting pot that the gay seem to rule. It’s a quick hike on the subway or a moderately priced cab ride, but worth it as it’s the closest thing to a European dance festival on this side of the Atlantic as you can get. Tip: Getting back to the city via cab is easy, there’s a depot just across the street.

Here Productions [Here.org]

• We recently sat down at the off-off-off Broadway, Here Theater and watched Arias with a Twist, a psychedelic-gay-cabaret-puppet-musical and we were absolutely blown away. In fact, so was the devil who received a blow job on stage. Don’t worry—it was just a life-sized puppet! Shows at Here are thematically progressive, expertly concocted symphonies of often exploring unexpected visual media and sound. Here is easily New York’s most creative and innovative theater production company, having given birth [so to speak] to Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues and Hazelle Goodman’s On Edge and consistently receives accolades from The New York Times. Forget Broadway, come here. [Starring Joey Arias, New York’s ground breaking downtown drag star who last was scene starring in Cirque du Soleil in Vegas, and world renown and genre pushing puppeteer Basil Twist, Arias with a Twist runs until December 30th, 2008]. Tip: There’s a bar and you can drink inside the theater.

Gay Art [NYGalleryTours.org]

• Sure the art museums in New York are among the best in the world, but it’s in the smaller galleries where you will really catch the buzz of the city. There’s no shortage of homoerotic or gay themed shows, but it can be a daunting task to map them all out on your own. New York Gallery Tours offer gay themed tours, led by Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D gay studies professor and art critic for the NY Blade for only $20 bucks. The tours change each month to ensure that you get a full serving of up to date gay art. Surrounded by like-minded gay-art lovers on a tour of gay art in Manhattan? You’ll be hard pressed to find something gayer in New York. Tip: Get a $5 coupon if you email your reservation at nygallerytours@yahoo.com

Snaxx

• Every other Friday, the Westside Tavern plays a trick on its normally heterosexual patrons, when muscle daddies and other hirsute type gay guys flood the bar’s basement for this much loved New York nightlife institution. Most tourists never get past the frat-like upstairs but if they so dare, they’re never disappointed in the scene downstairs nor do they hardly leave alone. Tip: Get there just before 11pm.

Film Forum [FilmForum.org]

• With so much going on all over the place, it seems almost noir to come to New York and go to the movies… that is, unless, you’re heading to the Film Forum in the West Village. This small theater has been the city’s leading movie house for independent premiers and repertory programming since 1970, carrying films that won’t make it to most small town theaters or will barely run in other good-sized cities. The selection curves intellectual and has a strong gay streak as well as a heavily gay audience. Tip: Buy tickets early, the theaters aren’t large and often sell out.

Brunch at Elmo

• Brunch anywhere below Central Park is already very gay, but brunch at Chelsea’s Elmo manages to be very gay with a side of fruit. There’s no scientific study on this, but we’re pretty sure the restaurant’s bar and reputation for hosting one-off parties have something to do with it.

If you want to start your day off in much the same way you started the night before, then get dressed, throw on some shades and head to Elmo.  Tip: Let Martinis be your friend.

Susanne Bartsch’s Halloween Party [MySpace.com/SusanneBartsch]

• It’s been years since any gay actually had fun at the Greenwich Village Holiday parade, which has become tacky and embarrassing, even according to Halloween standards. Instead, the boys have been going to iconic New York City party maven Susanne Bartsch’s Halloween bashes.

Actually, pretty much anytime you see Susanne’s name attached to something, it’s going to be special. Susanne, wife of gym honcho David Barton [yes, he’s straight] ruled the gay night in the’80s and’90s, but has come back as of late to throw monstrous Hallows Eve affairs, injecting the anything-goes flair of club-kid New York with the sex driven hyper masculinity of today’s scene. It’s curious concoction but just like the Monster Mash, it’s exactly what you want on Halloween. Tip: Dress fabulous but forgiving.

Patricia Field Boutique [patriciafield.com]

• Skip the Sex and the City tours and head right to the source. Patricia Field is the New York icon responsible for giving the girls their look and is the owner a boutique that is as colorful as it is gay. The men’s section carries sassy T-shirts, underwear and other rockin’ accessories, some of which are made by underground New York designers. The staff is as friendly as they are fiercely dressed [don’t be afraid, they don’t bite] and always know the best parties going on in the city. Tip: Patricia lives next door and can frequently be sighted in and around the store.

With all this excitement going on, having a centrally located, comfortable hotel with a helpful staff can be the glue that holds everything together. We suggest looking no further than the Chelsea Pines Inn [ChelseaPinesInn.com] , which has been going strong right in the heart of gay Chelsea for more than twenty years… long before the area was even fashionable. If you want character, this is definitely the choice for you.

Nestled conveniently on the edge of the Meatpacking district, between Chelsea and the West Village and just across town from the East Village, the Chelsea Pines’ rooms are lined with framed classic movie posters, are full of personality, pet friendly and offer good respite from the city below. Chelsea Pines is also a great value for the dollar offering some of the lowest room rates in the city in a part of town where hotel accommodations are increasingly becoming among the priciest in already pricey NYC. It’s no wonder, that the New York Times Sunday Travel Section, recently said of thos charming B&B, “In terms of novelty, coziness and price, it’s hard to beat.” Tip: Ask for the Sheree North room. You may not know her now but you just might fall in love with her after a stay in the spacious room with the most amazing blackout curtains ever.

more information:www.gayjourney.com

Massachusetts Launches LGBT Tourism Microsite

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has announced the launch of its new microsite dedicated to attracting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender [LGBT) leisure travelers to the Commonwealth. The site was launched to attract and welcome incoming visitation from the LGBT market segment and is a continued affirmation that Massachusetts is a welcoming travel destination to everyone.

“Massachusetts is open and welcoming to all visitors and the acceptance of same-sex marriage is ample proof,” said Betsy Wall, executive director of The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

“In 2004, Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage and is currently one of only two states to extend marriage privileges to same-sex couples. Marriage information is available on the site, as well as extensive information on events and activities, destinations and travel information that may interest the LGBT traveler.”

According to Community Marketing, Inc. [a San Francisco LGBT market research firm), $70 billion was spent in the U.S. by LGBT travelers.

For more information about the new microsite visit www.massvacation.com/rainbow.

Filed under: Gay Events, Massachusetts, Travel | Tagged: Gay Lesbian and Bisexual, Law, Marriage, same sex marriage, San Francisco, San Francisco California, U.S., United States | Leave a Comment »

Amsterdan Gay

The Dutch Paradox Gay bashings and sons of Arab immigrants — as Jurriaan Teulings investigates, Dutch gays are caught in the middle of a cultural clash. And that’s not all bad news. By Jurriaan Teulings Amsterdam has always been a city of good news. The world’s oldest extant gay rights group — the COC, for Cultuur en Ontspannings-Centrum, now more commonly known as the Center for Culture and Leisure — was founded here in 1946. In 1952 the COC opened a booming gay dance hall in the center of town, making the Dutch capital an important travel destination for queer Brits, Germans, and Frenchmen. The world’s first leather bar and first gay sauna soon followed. Add national antidiscrimination and hate-crimes laws and the 1987 unveiling of The Homomonument, remembering those persecuted because of their sexuality, another world first, and Amsterdam’s reputation as a free and liberal city, the “gay capital of the world,” was all but cemented. In 1998, the first Gay Games were held in the city. In 2001, Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen became a part of gay rights history by personally officiating at the first four same-sex marriages performed under the Netherlands’ groundbreaking marriage equality law. Four years later, some bad news came. Chris Crain, then the executive editor of the LGBT newspaper the Washington Blade, was severely beaten by a group of young Arabs (”with Moroccan features,” he said) on a visit to Amsterdam. There had been reports of antigay violence in the city before, but those were widely considered to be mere incidents. “Now,” says Dennis Boutkan, the chairman of COC Amsterdam, “everyone recognized that there was a rise in antigay violence and something needed to be done about it.” The problem, many said, was with immigrants from conservative Islamic cultures. “Despite the fact that about 50% of antigay violence in the Netherlands is attributed to [ethnically] Dutch perpetrators, the fact that Moroccan men [instigate] the better part of the rest of the offenses means they’re hugely overrepresented,” says Boutkan. But the explanation that their tempers are ignited by public displays of homosexuality, simply because these are an affront to their religious beliefs, is not sufficient. For one thing, the other large group of Muslim immigrants, the Turkish-Dutch, do not show up much in hate-crime statistics, argues Boutkan.

hree Gay Days: Amsterdam Part One
Here’s your must-have road map to 72 hours in one of the world’s gayest destinations. Where to stay, eat, play and meet in ultra-liberal Amsterdam.

With her glistening canals reflecting the facades of classic 18th-century homes, her boisterous sing-along nightlife and her libertine attitude toward sex and drugs, Amsterdam delights even the most casual visitor. A couple of high-profile bashing incidents have shaken up the local LGBT community; however, the Dutch capital is still one of Europe’s safest gay centers. There’s more to see here than you can wrap your tulips around, but three days should be enough for a brief, well-planned visit.

LAY OF THE LAND
Amsterdam is laid out in a series of concentric, horseshoe-shaped circles of canals (grachts) alternating with streets (straats). The main train station, Centraal, is at the top of it all. It’s a compact city, and most places are within easy walking or biking distance from one another. Cars have a hard time fitting through the narrow streets, but bicycle taxis like Wielertaxi (+31-6-2824-7550) can zip around efficiently. The local tram service is also popular.

All of Amsterdam is very gay-friendly, so you won’t sense the “gay ghetto” mentality common in other cities. Nonetheless, some streets and neighborhoods do have a higher concentration of rainbow flags, tank tops and leather chaps. The Reguliersdwarsstraat is home to trendy bars for the young hair-gel set. Along the Amstel River and the adjacent Halvemaansteeg, you’ll find an amiable mix of younger dudes, older guys and anyone else who loves to quaff a beer while listening (or singing along) to music. The leather crowd frequents the Warmoesstraat, in the heart of Amsterdam’s infamous red light district. The Kerkstraat is a quieter street, with some pleasant gay cafés and neighborhood bars. The Jordaan district is another quiet neighborhood, home to numerous cafés, bookstores and some excellent shopping.

STAY
Hotel Amistad (Kerkstraat 42, 1017 GM; +31-20-624-8074, fax +31-20-622-9997; from 75 EUR) is an artsy gay-and-lesbian accommodation, where breakfast is shared at common tables with the other guests. Afterward, the dining room turns into an Internet lounge.

The ITC Hotel (Prinsengracht 1051, 1017 JE; +31-20-623-0230, fax +31-20-420-4369; from 39 EUR) is a budget accommodation redeemed by its location right on a canal in a charming neighborhood. Ask to see your room before committing. There’s a bar and lounge onsite, and breakfast is served daily.

The Amsterdam House (’s Gravelandseveer 3-4, 1011 KM; +31-20-626-2577 or 800-618-1008, fax +31-20-626-2987; from 75 EUR) is gay-popular, offering seven apartments and seven houseboats with fully equipped kitchens — and a chance to experience “life on the water” as so many Amsterdammers do.

Banks Mansion (Herengracht 519-525, 1017 BV; +31-20-420-0055, fax +31-20-420-0993; from 209 EUR) is in a prime spot, just one block from the bars of Reguliersdwarsstraat. Guests enjoy a complimentary private bar, free movie channels and free Internet.

Design mavens may want to check into The Dylan (Keizersgracht 384; +31-20-530-2010, fax +31-20-530-2030; from 270 EUR), an oh-so-hip hotel in a lovely canal house on the Keizersgracht.

Another elegant boutique property is the Bilderberg Hotel Jan Luyken (Jan Luykenstraat 58, 1071 CS; +31-20-573-0730, fax +31-20-676-3841; jan-luyken@bilderberg.nl; from 139 EUR), with its 62 rooms showing off contemporary design in a converted 19th-century merchant’s land house.

outtraveler.com

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

AG Brown: Despite vote, same-sex marriages since May 15 will stay legal

If voters approve a November ballot measure banning same-sex marriages in California, thousands of gay and lesbian weddings conducted since the state Supreme Court legalized the unions on May 15 will probably remain valid, Attorney General Jerry Brown said Monday.

The potential effect of Proposition 8 on existing same-sex marriages is already being debated among legal scholars and opposing sides in the Nov. 4 ballot measure campaign. Brown’s position is significant because his office will represent the state in lawsuits over Prop. 8’s validity and meaning if it passes.

The measure would amend the state Constitution to declare that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” It would overturn the court’s ruling that the previous ban on same-sex marriage – established by statutes rather than a constitutional amendment – discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation and violated the right to marry one’s chosen partner.

The measure does not state explicitly that it would nullify same-sex marriages performed before Nov. 4. But in their ballot arguments, supporters of Prop. 8 declare it would invalidate all such marriages “regardless of when or where performed” – an interpretation that would apply to existing as well as future marriages.

Courts that interpret ballot measures sometimes refer to such statements as evidence of what the voters knew and intended.

Brown’s office said in a court filing Monday that he believes the ballot measure would not invalidate existing marriages.

“I believe that marriages that have been entered into subsequent to the (May 15) Supreme Court opinion will be recognized by the California Supreme Court,” Brown told The Chronicle. Noting that Prop. 8 is silent about retroactivity, he said, “I would think the court, in looking at the underlying equities, would most probably conclude that upholding the marriages performed in that interval (before the election) would be a just result.”

Brown’s legal filing was among a flurry of competing arguments submitted Monday to a Sacramento County Superior Court judge, who is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday on challenges to the ballot materials that will be sent to California’s 16 million registered voters.

One issue is Brown’s title for Prop. 8, which declares that the measure “eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry.” The Yes on 8 campaign said in a lawsuit last week that the title was “inherently argumentative and highly likely to create prejudice” against the measure. The campaign asked the judge to order a different title, such as “Limit on Marriage,” which was used during signature-gathering before the court ruling.

Brown defended his ballot language as neutral and accurate Monday, while opponents of Prop. 8 pressed their challenge to a section of the Yes on 8 argument. That argument declares that teachers will be required to tell students as early as kindergarten that “gay marriage is OK” unless the ballot measure passes, a claim that the No on 8 campaign calls baseless.

In another development Monday, the California Catholic Conference, representing Catholic bishops, endorsed Prop. 8, declaring that “same-sex unions are not the same as opposite-sex unions” and that only a relationship that can produce children should be called marriage.

Rowan Williams: gay relationships ‘comparable to marriage’

Rowan Williams believes that gay sexual relationships can “reflect the love of God” in a way that is comparable to marriage, The Times has learnt.

Gay partnerships pose the same ethical questions as those between men and women, and the key issue for Christians is that they are faithful and lifelong, he believes.

Dr Williams is known to be personally liberal on the issue but the strength of his views, revealed in private correspondence shown to The Times, will astonish his critics.

The news threatens to reopenbitter divisions over ordaining gay priests, which pushed the Anglican Communion towards a split.

However, in an exchange of letters with an evangelical Christian, written eight years ago when he was Archbishop of Wales, he described his belief that biblical passages criticising homosexual sex were not aimed at people who were gay by nature.

He argued that scriptural prohibitions were addressed to heterosexuals looking for sexual variety. He wrote: “I concluded that an active sexual relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage, if and only if it had about it the same character of absolute covenanted faithfulness.” Dr Williams described his view as his “definitive conclusion” reached after 20 years of study and prayer. He drew a distinction between his own beliefs as a theologian and his position as a church leader, for which he had to take account of the traditionalist view.

The letters, written in the autumn of 2000 and 2001, were exchanged with Deborah Pitt, a psychiatrist and evangelical Christian living in his former archdiocese in South Wales, who had written challenging him on the issue.

In reply, he described how his view began to change from that of opposing gay relationships in 1980. His mind became “unsettled” by contact as a university teacher with Christian students who believed that the Bible forbade promiscuity rather than gay sex.

Dr Williams, who was ordained a priest in 1978, became a lecturer at Cambridge two years later and was appointed Dean of Clare College in 1984.

He told Dr Pitt that by the end of the 1980s he had “definitely come to the conclusion” that the Bible did not denounce faithful relationships between people who happened to be gay.

He cited two academics as pivotal in influencing his view. One of them was Jeffrey John, the celibate homosexual whom he later forced not to become Bishop of Reading after an outcry from conservatives.

In his 1989 essay The Body’s Grace, Dr Williams argued that the Church’s acceptance of contraception meant that it acknowledged the validity of nonprocreative sex. This could be taken as a green light for gay sex.

Liberals have been bitterly disappointed that a man whom they regarded as chosen to advance their agenda has instead abided by the traditionalist consensus of the majority.

In the correspondence Dr Williams wrote of his regret that the issue had become “very much politicised” and was treated by many as “the sole or primary marker of Christian orthodoxy”.

Asked to comment yesterday, Lambeth Palace quoted a recent interview in which the Archbishop said: “When I teach as a bishop I teach what the Church teaches. In controverted areas it is my responsibility to teach what the Church has said and why.”

GAY TRAVEL IN DUBAI

Situated on a natural harbor, prosperous, cosmopolitan Dubai is a former fishing
and pearling port founded in 1833. While it has always drawn expatriates, the
discovery of oil in 1966 brought frenetic development and influxes of foreign workers
and tourists. English is now Dubai’s third most frequently spoken language, after
Arabic and Farsi. The shopping capital of the Middle East has profusions of vast hotels,
even vaster malls and, for the foreseeable future, vast construction sites.Read more+

UK-Manchester Met tops gay student chart

Manchester Metropolitan University is the best place to be a gay student – if you are looking for the highest gay to straight ratio, unlimited events run by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual society and the widest range of “queer theory” courses.Read more+

Fuzzy Naked Memories of Drunken Porn Star Tory Mason

When we heard that Tory Mason had been arrested for drunkin’ driving in his home state of Idaho this past Fourth of July weekend, we couldn’ t help but remember this magical slurry moment with a beer , a pool cue and a bed where Jack and I first fell in love with him.read more+

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