May this morning’s post distract you from the fact that it is a Monday morning.
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Tag Archives: Gay
Monday morning mancandy
Grindr announces they will remove “ethnicity” filter
Against the backdrop of national protests in response to George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police, last week Grindr announced that the company will remove its ‘ethnicity filter’.
The change comes after the company was shamed on social media following its tweet on May 29th saying, “Demand justice. #BlackLivesMatter”. Following that tweet, Grindr was accused of being a hypocrite with one message saying “remove the ethnicity filter” retweeted 1,000 times. Grindr later deleted its tweet and posted a new message explaining its change of position (see below).
Several years ago I was frustrated after seeing and hearing too many men engaging in what I’ll refer to as “sexual racism” on apps like Grindr and in casual discussions out at bars and around town. It bothered me so much that I shared my thoughts in my 2014 post, Sexual racism: When does your preference become racist.
Varla Jean Live: Friday, June 5 at 9PM ET
It’s been a week. Between passing such a depressing milestone of more than 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus; watching the cruel and brutal murder of a black man cry for his mother while a police officer chokes him to death; week long protests and rioting in response; and finally a President blatantly sowing seeds of hate and division — it is hard to imagine smiling let alone laugh, but that is what Ms. Varla Jean Merman has planned for you this Friday.
Varla plans to “clean out her drawers”, sharing her classic video shorts – including a few hilarious misfires. She will also be joined with her very special guest, Ms. Coco Peru. Best of all, it is free to attend, but one must register. Varla will send you an email, along with a text, at 2pm ET on Friday with a link to watch the show.
Register Here: varlajeanlive.com
Men’s Event goes virtual on June 24, 2020
Fenway Health had to cancel this year’s Men’s Event and Dinner Party but they have planned a special evening on Wednesday, June 24 with comedian Dana Goldberg, cabaret singer Jon Richardson, and DJ Nate Bluhm to entertain you.
The reimagined event will include many fun moments from the Men’s Event and Dinner Party, but with some very special added twists for everyone who donates $100 or more to The Fenway Health Clinic. For more information, Click here.
Monday morning mancandy
I normally refrain from bathroom selfies but exceptions can be made. May your work week pass quickly.
PRIDELAND airs June 12 on PBS
One-Hour Special Premieres Friday, June 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET on PBS
PBS is celebrating Pride Month with the launch of PRIDELAND, a new one-hour special and short-form digital series following host and actor Dyllón Burnside (from FX’s “Pose”) across the South. The six-episode short-form series launched on PBS Voices on Tuesday, May 26. A one-hour companion special hosted by Burnside, will premiere on Friday, June 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET
PBS will also air an encore presentation of The Lavender Scare, the gripping documentary that tells the untold story of how tens of thousands of homosexual federal workers were either fired or denied employment in the 1950s, stirring outrage in the gay community and starting an LGBTQ rights movement with an unlikely hero at the forefront. The acclaimed documentary (winner of 16 awards for Best Documentary) will air on PBS on Friday, June 12 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
You can read more about the PBS programming, here and for a complete listing of programming to celebrate Pride Month on Boston’s WGBH-TV, click here.
Monday morning mancandy
It is Memorial Day. This is typically considered the first weekend of the summer but I’m thinking there will be nothing typical about this summer. For those who have the day off – enjoy the long weekend.
Monday morning mancandy
This morning’s post of Wesley Wallace is thanks to Lyne B. is a long time reader who suggested Wesley as a potential Furry Friday. After looking through his playful Instagram account, I saw photos that would work for virtually all of my weekly posts, but I thought I’d feature him here today to get everyone’s day and work week off to a great start. Thank you Lyne for the suggestion.
Celebrating 16 years of marriage equality
Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage 16 years ago today. Today, same-sex marriage is legal in all states.
Massachusetts Chief Justice Margaret Marshall’s excerpt (above) from the landmark case is worth sharing to celebrate both the victory for equality and to remind us how much progress has been made in such a short span of time.
Boston’s Apollo: Thomas McKeller and John Singer Sargent
Although museums in Boston remain closed, The Isabella Stewart Gardner exhibition “Boston’s Apollo: Thomas McKeller and John Singer Sargent” has been so well received by New York Times co-chief art critic, Holland Cotter, I thought I’d check it out and share it with those of you who love art and in particular are craving something deeper than the “flavor of the week” with Netflix programming.
The small show centers on a rather sensational painting and the unlikely relationship between the artist and his muse, Thomas Eugene McKeller (1890-1962). McKeller was a bellhop and elevator attendant at Boston’s deluxe Hotel Vendome, where Sargent often stayed, and one of the many beautiful men he hired as studio models. Interestingly, Cotter points out that McKeller may have been the only African-American to model for Sargent.
I’m sure nudes of an African American man drawn by a world famous American painter would have seemed outrageous at the time. But what is even more amazing was how McKeller was / is the face of many other famous paintings by Sargent, which until recently nobody knew. It makes me wonder if there was more to the relationship than meets the eye – McKeller certainly was special to be singled out by the artist. For more information, read the NYT article, that initially caught my attention.
Monday morning mancandy
Last week Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh suspended all large events and gatherings in the city through Labor Day Weekend so I’m starting to wonder if these Monday Morning Mancandy posts will become a fixture rather than just a filler as we continue to cope with the aftermath of COVID-19. Be well everyone.
GROWLr live streaming shows starting today
Last month the gay “dating app” GROWLr announced that they would start offering live-streaming broadcasts and video chats to its members as a way to help people feel connected and provide entertaining distractions while staying at home and practicing social distancing.
For example, users can play in “Next Date” mode, a feature that converts a live-stream into a mini-dating game where you are prompted with questions, and based on responses, decide whether to move on or continue the date.
More interesting (to me) is the live programming that the GROWLr team has come up with that starts tonight with gay rapper Big Dipper and Jackie Beat this Saturday. Also be sure to check out Ms. Varla Jean Merman perform live on Saturday, May 16th. All shows are free to everyone on the GROWLr app.
Hat Tip to Matthew Rettenmund and his blog boy culture for the heads up.
Monday man candy
Consider this week’s man candy post is equal parts inspiration and infatuation. Hope your week is off to a good start.
Will Boston’s gay bars survive COVID
Recently, Alex Reimer wrote an interesting article asking the same question about gay bars in the US for Outsports where he is the deputy managing editor. Because he is a Massachusetts native the article references places we are all familiar with if you live in Boston and makes the read all the more personal.
Will gay bars survive the coronavirus shutdown?
In addition to the lost revenue, in approximately 5 weeks Boston’s gay bars will take another hit when Boston’s Gay Pride Week was suppose to occur. Pride Week brings out people to celebrate and all of Boston’s gay bars see a bump; a bump this year they will not benefit from. I do worry about Boston’s few, remaining gay bars and Provincetown’s highly leveraged bars that make their money from popular theme weeks and summer travelers.
Give Alex’s article a read, because like Alex – these bars are important to me as well and I hope they can emerge from this pandemic. The few bars that remain enrich LGBTQ life here in Bostson and will need your support as well.
Monday morning mancandy
Last week’s Monday morning mancandy proved to be quite popular (no real surprise there) so I’m back with a new post to grab your attention and hopefully make you smile. May the work week pass quickly for you.
Be well.
BosGuy 