gay

I have to admit that when the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver kicked off over a week or so ago, I was fired up to watch. (However, I was not impressed with Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams.) Now; not so much.

America is kicking some serious butt and taking Canada's montra—which bronzed Bob Costas loves to repeat every time he is on the air—of "owning the podium" to new heights. We watched Lindsey Vonn push through injury to finally win a gold medal. Although afterwards she gloated by saying "I worked so hard for this. I deserve it." But hey, she is apparently very confident. Another confident... I mean really cocky... skiier is superr-hot Bode Miller. He finally wins a medal—I mean three—including gold. He basically cooled down the verbage and is actually showing the world how good he really is. And then there's snowboarding's "flying tomato" Shaun White who basically wins every compitition he enters. One of the best moments thus far—even though it's not for a medal—is when Team USA in the 1980 throwback jerseys beat Canada in ice hockey. (I know that you all know this because it was all over the news, but this picture of Canadian fans is priceless.)

Of course the Games are not without controversy surrounding sports that many gays love... ice skating. Before I get into the elaborately fabulous Johnny Weir, what the hell are the Russian ice dancers wearing? Their costumes are the toned down version of the original Aboriginal costumes they wore during the European Ice Dancing championships last year! Regardless of pissing off the Aussies (like our transplant writer Cam Buckingham), anyone with any sort of fashion sense knows that this is just bad costuming. I simply just don't get ice dancing. I was discussing this with a friend of mine last night. It's not that I don't think ice dancers are athletes; rather, I expect some triple salchow and triple toe loops and such. But I digress...

On to Johnny Weir! I really think that he gave the performance of his life and was absolutely robbed because of his flamboyant lifestyle. I am not coming out and saying the guy is gay because the champion will not say whether he is or not. Labels are soo last decade anyway and such labels have nothing to do with his impeccable routine on the ice. That is except for a couple of pompous, French-speaking broadcasters who decided to make slanderous remarks. But why is Johnny Weir considered controversial? He is a vastly intellegent, talented athlete who has no problem saying what he thinks and skating how he feels... flare and all.

I guess I will keep watching, but honestly I need some more conflict to keep this homo interested... or I could just watch the Sex Olympics.

Whether you love football or not, the Super Bowl is an annual event that gathers people from all walks of life just for the mere fact of watching the commericals. Hell, my mom even sits down to watch football once a year. Ok, she really reads during the game and then puts the book down during the commercials. It boggles my mind that corporate America spends gazillions of dollars (where they get this money is beyond me) for a 30 second or 60 second commercial, but then again when this viewing even draw so many eyeballs it must be worth it right? There has been some incredible commercials over the years. One of my favorite was last year's Thrillalicious when Naomi Campbell dances to Michael Jackson's Thriller with sassy lizzards in toe. I don't remember what product it was for, but it was a damn fine commercial.

The advertising for this year's Super Bowl is swarming with controversy and is actually getting more attention then the teams playing the big game—Indianapolis Colts lead by Mr. All-American quarterback Peyton Manning vs. the New Orleans Saints who will be hoisted on the shoulders of fast and furious running back Reggie Bush. First there is the debate over the commercial featuring Florida University's hunky quarterback Tim Tebow and his mom as they star in a Focus on the Family ad touting their pro-life sentiments. But apparently there is another ad sparking nervousness at CBS. The owners of gay male dating site called ManCrunch.com submitted their ad for approval on Jan. 18th and when they checked back a few days later they were told that all spots were sold out. Aw-shucks, right? But why did CBS then tell conservative news organization Fox News—of all places—that they are considering the ad yesterday (Jan. 28th)?

I can't wait to see how this all plays out on Super Bowl Sunday—and the game actually—but until then we have included the actually commercial in question. And if you are hot and bothered about football players or athletes in general; feel free to check out our selection that might help you blow off some steam.

Ok I admit it, I am not a big reader. Never was and probably never will be. So many times I am in a gaggle of people and they all start talking about the latest novel they read. I usually discretely back out of the conversation and head to the bar or I stand there with glazed eyes—similar to what Paula Abdul looked like on American Idol.

So why the hell am I writing about books? Two reasons actually. First off, I'm weird that I don't read. But besides that, I grew up as a bi-product of TV—although I thoroughly enjoyed Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series that played in its entirity on the boob tube a few years back. Secondly, and way more importantly; the oldest LGBT bookstore Giovanni's Room (named after the classic gay novel by James Baldwin) is in dire need of our help. The building that has houses Giovanni's Room for over 30 years has structural damage. See Philadelphia ripped up Pine Street, which the oldest gay book store resides on, but in the process of fixing the street the building got damaged. Ed Hermance, owner of Giovanni's Room, cannot afford to shut down the business to get the building restored properly (it is a historic building too) and the business cannot have any loss of revenues either. If they do then this landmark establishment might have to close it's doors forever.

Locking the doors forever would be a travesty and one more nail in the coffin for the gay-written word. Earlier this year the previous title-holder for the oldes bookstore Oscar Wilde Bookstore closed up shop. But what is even more upsetting is that earlier this week it was announced that some gay publications such as the Washington Blade, Southern Voice, and David Atlanta are all washed up too. And are you ready for this... The Advocate, yes The Advocate printed it's last issue forever. That's right; you read the previous sentence correctly. The owners of The Advocate decided to fold the most pinnacle publication that has every been printed for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, queers and intesexed people is now being folded into Out Magazine. Apparently we like our fluff more than our prose, which is utterly ridiculous in my opinion.

So what does this all mean? It means that we are not reading enough folks! And I am so guilty of that, but I will tell you what I am going to do. I am going to support this fantastic fundraiser this Saturday Nov. 21st for Giovanni's Room! Our very own contributing editor Scott Cranin in association with the Lambda Literary Foundation has organized a fabulous read-a-thon where the two floors of this historic store will be filled to the brim with LGBT authors including: Steve Berman, S. Renee Bess, Perry Brass, Tim Brough, Victoria Brownworth, Rob Byrnes, David Carter, Mark Hardy, Ken Harvey, Bill Konigsberg, Livia Lllewellyn, Malinda Lo, Bobbi Marolt, Mark Merlis, Thom Nickles, Radclyffe, Paul Russell, Scott Sherman and Bob Smith. (Instead of me linking to every single author just go here or here to browse their work!)

We asked Scott a couple of questions about the event and here's what he had to say. READ MORE

If you are a Jew like me (love you Mum!), you will know the importance of Passover. Once a year, my family gets together to dip apples in honey, eat matzo ball soup and fight with the relatives. Sometimes it can get pretty ugly, but it’s usually quite tasty. We do it each year because it’s a tradition—something our forefathers did before us and their forefathers before them. It has been passed down through centuries and it deserves our respect because of that. It also deserves the respect of all those goyim who, although they may not participate in any of the practices still appreciate its significance in the Jewish community as well as its cultural significance.

Which brings me, inevitably, to cruising and I don't mean the movie. You know what that is... You are standing against a wall minding your own business and some bloke smiles or winks at you from across the way. You check him out and then he walks away. You follow him to where he ducks into a side street and viola—you are in the middle of a hot anoymous sexual encounter. In Manchester, the city that brought us Queer As Folk (the original and the best) this age old homo practice is under threat due to some complaints from residents living near the Canal area—or the gay strip. Well, I am just up in arms I tell you! This is as much a tradition in the gay community as Passover is in the Jewish one. Years and years of oppression had lead to the divine necessity to get our cocks out in public areas and fornicate with one another. Sure, it can get ugly, and it doesn’t always lead to revelation but it’s part of the fabric and history of gaydom. It has allowed our forefathers to get their rocks off when there was simply nowhere else to do it, and it has created some of the most fabulous sessions of beachside sex our community could dare hope for. So let’s protect it, as a fundamental right—just like religious freedom. The freedom for gay men to fornicate in pre-designated areas is a God-given right. One as important as a matzo ball, and, in some cases (but not all) just as tasty.

We at HOMOPOP never tried to hide that we are based in Philadelphia. And yes, our Philadelphia Phillies are dominating the LA Dodgers in the divisional series 3-1, but that's not why we are bringing up baseball. It hit me last night After our come-from-behind victory that almost every person I was chatting with online was gay. Sharing the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat with fellow homos is an amazing feeling. I seriously did think I was in the closet being gay AND loving sports, or at the very least a minority. I do play softball for a gay league (hysterically mocked in Another Gay Movie), but chatting and tweeting with folks about baseball was really an eye-opening experience for me!

What is the attraction to baseball? For one thing (and it's a vapid one I know), but baseball players are smokin' hot! Just look at Chase Utley—Phillies 2nd baseman, or third baseman for the NY Mets David Wright? I don't know any fag that wouldn't want to spend just one hour alone with either of these two. Baseball players are often-times lean and rugged at the same time! (Phew, I am getting excited just thinking about it!) Hey, if you're into bears then baseball has that covered too. Just look at CC Sabathia from the NY Yankees, and Pat Burrell (former Phillie and now with the Tampa Bay Rays) and his hairy manscaped chest. Then there's cutie and rumored homo Cole Hamels also of the Phils. I mean, I've never seen a straight dude stretch like this have you? But alas he's a sweet guy and our fans really wouldn't care if he was gay as long as he throws strikes. And what about the catcher from the Los Angeles Angels Jeff Mathias? He can catch for me any time. And of course Alex Rodriquez who had a brief stint with Madonna. You can't get any gayer than that my friends! But are good looks the only reason why this sport among masculine sports draws the most gay following? READ MORE

Even though we don't typically don't focus on political issues, occasionally we like to straddle the lines because it's important for our LGBT community.

Gay marriage has been a scorching hot topic lately starting with the Prop 8 fiasco in last year's California election. In fact Maine is going through the same legislative bullshit, but there has been some great, positive strides recently with the March on Washington Rally and President Obama speaking at the HRC black tie dinner. Shockingly though, HOMOPOP was not invited to the event, nor did we have the thousands of dollars to attend this function. But I did show my solidarity by being down in DC only a block away whooping it up at the EAGLE with a bunch of daddies like Mike ran into in the NYC Eagle. And to show even more support we headed to the classy dick bar Secrets and danced our asses off with beefy naked strippers, but I digress.

The best part about this hot button issue is all of the celebs coming out of the woodwork to support us. Keeneye talked about the Baltimore Raven's Superstar Brendon Ayanbadejo as well as our recent post about Adam Bouska and his No H8 Photo Campaign. What really makes stand up and hoot and holler with glee (and not the TV show) is when queens get to actually stand up in front of celebrities and propose to each other. That takes a lot of guts for the celebs - like Mariah Carey to be a part and the homos for not throwing up being in the face of their idols! I commend them both! Say what you want about Mariah, she's been clawing her way back to her diva status and in my opinion, this little coolness has put her back on top again. Big props from HOMOPOP.

Who the heck is Aiden James you ask? Well, we discovered (and I don't mean "discovered" like we are his manager) this talented cutie-pie during Philadelphia Qfest this year when his music video "On the Run" got it's World Premiere. We pretty much fell in love with him the moment we met him and he has been a huge supporter of Homopop, not to mention the BFF of our very own Nick Starr. But that's not why we adore Aiden. He is one of the nicest, funniest, genuinely good-natured people you will ever met! On top of that, he is wickedly talented (Yes, I used talented again. Just read the dictionary and you will know why.) Anyway, check him out on myspace for his touring schedule—the dude is all over the country folks! And his facebook page (you can find him through our page) or twitter which is the most fun of all! Or just go to his site: aidenjamesmusic.com.

To see the full video on Youtube click HERE!

Look, I have nothing against bisexual people. I mean, I have been guilty of having long-term relationships with women—muff diving for miles and miles, arms worn out, tongue red and swollen. Most of us have done it haven’t we? Most even lived to tell the story—there was a friend of mine way back, though, that never made it back to shore. I am glad for bisexual people… double the fun and all that. You know, NEATO, but now bisexuality in the "celebrity" universe seems all the rage. This weekend Mika (the FABULOUS, flamboyant, camp singstress who looks great in leotards and face paint) came out as bisexual, saying, "I've never limited my life, I've never limited who I sleep with. So, whatever. Call me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me." God, I am SO BORED with the whole "not limited myself" line... Yes, occasionally you might like to sleep with a chick, sometimes you might like just jerking off, occasionally, when the mood takes you might like to get a member of the school band stick a flute up your ass... but at the end of the day it is the altar of cock that you worship. It is the cock that keeps you up at night. You know it. We know it! And right now we need more than ever to stand our dicks up high and be counted! Celebrities are constantly taking the safe route like our friend Adam Lambert. Although he made up for it later. And half of the male cast if this year’s UK X Factor also appear to be bisexual too. So yes, we do want to label you, we want you to label yourself—hell you even have a flag! So maybe when the voices grow loud enough; there won’t be any need to silence them... or bi them up anymore.

Vapid I know, but we recently discovered a trailer for Gaze, which is this documentary being made right now! Ok we really didn't discover it but we feel its really worthy to post. Why? Here are 4 reasons:

1) It's GAY folks.
2) Rebel filmmaker Matt Riddlehover (Watch Out) sent it to us.
3) It features 20 of the hottest gay artists (photographers, fimmakers, etc...) who put their ass and work on the line for the sake of gay visibility.
4) Because it looks really fucking sexy and we want to help out our gay brethren.

Gaze profiles amazing artists like Adam Bouska (he is responsible for the photographs of the "No H8" campaign), decadent illustrator J. David McKenney and of our favorite fucked-up avant garde filmmakers Bruce La Bruce, (Otto; or, Up with Dead People, Hustler White) just to name a few.

I do think Matt is touching on something important here and that beauty is not only defined by washboard abs, even though we love our HOMOPOP boys Dwayne's and Mike's abs; rather it is define by what you think is beautiful. Hmm, insightful if I do say so myself.

This does lead me to this past weekend when Mike and I traveled to DC to hang out with Jade and Shannel from "RuPaul's Drag Race". Talk about two beautiful people - seriously. For those who thought these ladies were bitches, well there is more to them than what meets the eye. We had a blast following them around to the White House and then shopping for beauty supplies. I can't wait to get up the video of our trip. They really are two classy ladies even though later that evening we caught them hanging out in a back alley and then coming out of a port-a-john. Hey, to each there own, right?

The 2009 GAYVNs came, saw, and Hail Mary (in keeping with the football theme) without question conquered. The ceremony took place Saturday, March 28, 2009, at the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco, CA, and we were front-row-and-center.

After remaining “locked” and unchanged for quite some time, a bunch of new nomination categories debuted this year: From the notable (Best Bottom, Best Top, Best Fetish Performer, and Best HD/Hi-Def) to the "What Took You So Long?" field (for the first time ever, Website and Web Performer categories were finally added to the lineup - but about about 10 years late, in our opinion; hey, at least they're getting their due).

To no one’s surprise Raging Stallion Studios’s mega-hyped mega-epic To the Last Man went home with the most awards - 13 wins out of 19 nominations - including nods for the coveted Best Picture and Director. Who says rape will get you nowhere?

The minor controversy that erupted early on - the show was “presented” by Naked Sword, whose parent company “merged” with Raging Stallion, giving the illusion (to some) of a conflict of interest - was nothing compared to remarks from the one and only Michael Lucas. Mr. Lucas stormed the stage to castigate GAYVN and the judges in protest when Brent Corrigan snagged an award. (Mr. Corrigan, if you remember, had been caught performing when he was underage for Cobra Video, causing quite an uproar within the industry.) Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) executive director Joan Irvine had just accepted a special award from a San Francisco city solicitor, and Mr. Lucas flew into a rage that Mr. Corrigan had won an award from an awards organization that had just lauded a company that works tirelessly to keep children far away from adult content and exploitation. It was quite the drama, which continued into the night when Mr. Corrigan’s boyfriend (allegedly) threatened Mr. Lucas at the afterparty. Police were called, the blogosphere lit up like a Christmas tree, and “he said/he said” battles raged on.

The show’s three hosts - comic Margaret Cho, supermodel/hellrasier Janice Dickinson, and Alec Mapa from ABC’s Ugly Betty – absolutely killed, weaving into the evening an ever-hilarious stream on un-PC comments, bitchy remarks, and jaw-dropping moments. When TLA Releasing’s Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon snagged the award for Best Alternative Release (yeah, that’s right!), TLA’s Managing Director Erik Schut was handed the “hunk of lucite” (as Bruce Vilanch put it) by Hot House head honcho Steven Scarborough, the even-better-looking-in-person Kyle King, and Miss Dickinson, who gave Mr. Schut a huge hug, said “congrats honey!” and gave him a huge smack on the lips. (Mr. Schut remarked his lips went numb and were slathered in gloss.) Mr. Schut also was seen escorting the Visconti Triplets around all weekend, the lucky bastard. Overall, it was the most elaborate ceremony yet, and you can be certain we’ll be there to soak in every moment next year, too! Click here for the full list of winners.