I’ve shared this photo in the past and am likely to do so again in the future.
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Category Archives: Gay
Saturday morning coffee
Normally I defer to posting photos of models and the rare photo of a friend or reader who send me a picture of them enjoying a good cup of joe, but in this case I thought I’d mix things up by sharing this photo of Leo looking quite dapper as he enjoys his coffee.
Vintage gay
This week’s photo of Bernard Perlin and Edward Newell dates back to 1970. The two were a couple for 54 years until Perlin died in 2014.
For those unfamiliar with Perlin, he was an extraordinary figure in twentieth century American art and gay cultural history, an acclaimed artist and sexual renegade who reveled in pushing social, political, and artistic boundaries. As a government propaganda artist and war artist-correspondent, he produced many iconic images of World War II. He was notorious for his canvasing scenes of underground gay bars and nude studies of street hustlers, among other aspects of gay life that really amazes me if you think about the political climate of the time.
I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
The Hanky Code: Sexual signaling
This post is a republishing of Hanky Panky: An Abridged History of the Hanky Code, initially published in April 2019 by J. Raúl Cornier on Boston’s History Project website. I thought some might find this nostalgic while others born after the heyday of public cruising might find it interesting. In some ways, the hanky code could be considered a very early precursor to online “dating” apps like Grindr and Scruff which essentially moved people’s sexual predilictions online.
***** ***** *****
The hanky code was a covert sartorial code used predominately by queer men in the 1970s and into the 1980s. Simply put, a bandana is worn in one’s back pocket for the purposes of sexual signaling. The color of the bandana was associated with a specific sexual practice or fetish, and the wearer’s sexual role was indicated by which back pocket the bandana resided in (tops wore bandanas in their left pocket; bottoms wore bandanas in their right pocket). The hanky code initially began with the use of red bandanas to discreetly identify practitioners of fisting. A decoder list was created as other color/fetish associations were added. (In many early hanky codes, red typically appears as the first color.) Queer businesses printed the hanky code decoder lists for distribution. Erotica shops, bookstores, and catalogs provided decoder lists with the purchase of bandanas, while gay bars printed the lists with location information as a form of marketing. The origin of the hanky code exists like myth or urban legend, with two or three main stories surrounded by a variety of altered details, depending on the source.
You can read the full article here.
About The History Project
The History Project is the only organization focused exclusively on documenting and preserving the history of New England’s LGBTQ communities and sharing that history with LGBTQ individuals, organizations, allies, and the public. Visit their website to learn more about The History Project.
Men in kilts
The Kilted Coaches made this video, “How to wear a kilt 5 different ways”, back in 2018 and somehow I missed it. I thought it would be the perfect men in kilts post to start the New Year.
I love posting these guys and wish they lived here in Boston because I bet when they aren’t busy working out, they would be fun to chat with over a drink or two. Check out the video below and if you like what you see, subscribe to their YouTube channel.
Monday morning mancandy
May this post help distract you from the fact that it is a Monday morning.
Happy New Year BTW
2021 Worldwide Roar calendar
I want to give the WR 2021 calendar a plug. Readers of this blog (I assume) are well aware of this calendar which started in 2009 to raise funds for the rowing program at the University of Warwick. The calendar is comprised of mostly heterosexual athletes who get naked and pose to send a very specific message for gay men: let’s celebrate your sexuality and show that you are welcome in the world of sports.
Starting in 2014 funds raised from past sales were used to form, Sport Allies, a U.K. registered charity. The mission of this charity is to make sport a more inclusive environment for everyone, and the Worldwide Roar remains the charity’s key funder.
If wall calendars are not your thing, but you like the idea of purchasing merchandise to support this group, check out the link below for other items such as apparel, books, prints and more.
Saturday morning coffee
Who wouldn’t enjoy sharing a cup of coffee in bed after making it through 2020? May 2021 be filled with many more Saturday mornings in bed relaxing.
Furry Friday
Starting the year off with the first Furry Friday of 2021.
Let me know what you think.
Vintage gay
No clue when or where this photo may have been taken but I’m guessing the 1950s. However, I thought I should conclude 2020 with a vintage gay photo of men celebrating and what better way to celebrate than dancing?
Be well and thank you for checking out this weekly post.
I want to wish you a happy and healthy 2021.
I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus join Boston’s First Night celebrations online
New Year’s Eve in Boston has always – meh – unless you are with a good group of friends in which case it really doesn’t matter where you celebrate and it will be great. Unfortunately, the pandemic has made such gatherings a bit more difficult and less likely. So for those stranded at home, counting down the minutes until you can say “good riddance” to 2020, the city of Boston will be hosting their own “First Night”. You can stream the performances here and the full calendar of performances here.
I can’t say that I’m familiar with most of the acts, but I did want to give Boston’s Gay Men’s Chorus a shout out. They will be performing, A Prayer for Peace at 7:54PM and again at 9:38PM. They will appear one more time to sing Relax! at 10:10PM.
Men in kilts
Monday morning mancandy
May this post help distract you from the fact that it is a Monday morning.
BosGuy 