http://www.noizemag.com/index.php en stephen@noizemag.com Copyright 2009 2009-12-29T04:17:58+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/how_to_be_a_dj/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/how_to_be_a_dj/ Can DJ’ing be taught? It’s the kind of Socratic question that can create an argument among dance fans. It also leads inevitably to a second question: Is DJ’ing an art or a science? The history of turntablism would imply that it’s an art. After all, the first DJs to do more than act as human jukeboxes began by experimenting with layered beats on 45 singles in the mid-‘60s in clubs like Sanctuary in New York City. The real profession of DJ, however, began when Roy Thode invented the EP on Fire Island. It wasn’t long thereafter that Disco, the first DJ-dominated music genre, took over. DJs at the premier celebrity disco, Studio 54, remained fairly anonymous. But at gay clubs, the DJ was becoming as important as the recording artists themselves. They also became power brokers, as the major record labels realized that they could break a record to the public by wooing club DJs rather than radio program directors, thus removing an ecosystem that had been in place since the 1940s. The big gay clubs or club nights or the 1980s, especially the Saint and Paradise Garage in Downtown Manhattan, codified gay or gay-friendly DJs as major talents. Larry Levan, Junior Vasquez, Frankie Knuckles, Thode and Jim Burgess moved between the dance floor and the recording studio to become sought-after producers as well as DJs. Today, the cult of the DJ is alive and well on the Circuit, with producer-DJs like Tracy Young, Tony Moran, Junior, Peter Rauhofer and Victor Calderone appearing “above the title,” as they say in Hollywood and on Broadway. In the wider world, DJs like Paul Oakenfold, the Freemasons, Tiesto and Armin van Buuren have become bona fide superstars. Perhaps the biggest difference between gay and mainstream DJs is in their fees: A big-name DJ can earn into the high five figures for a gig at a corporate event such as a product launch or runway show. The widespread media coverage of DJ AM’s death earlier this year showed how much DJs have moved into the public’s consciousness. If there’s any doubt how much money a big name can get paid, consider this: In a side comment in a New York Times feature on Madonna’s current squeeze, Brazilian model Jesus Luz, the reporter revealed he is receiving $15,000 per gig. What’s so shocking isn’t only the amount of money, it’s his experience—Luz has only begun his second “career” very recently. Luz has been studying at Dubspot, which was the world’s first, and remains its premier, DJ school. Located in Downtown Manhattan’s painfully trendy Meatpacking District only a few minutes’ drive from the long-shuttered gay clubs like the Loft, 12 West, the Garage and the Saint that gave dance music so much of its flavor, Dubspot was founded in 2007 by Dan Glove. Computer, Yes, But Also Turntables Glove remembers being inspired by Vasquez at his Saturday night residency in Chelsea’s megaclub Twilo back in the late ‘90s, when he pioneered laying down three tracks at a time, and “doing what no one else was doing.” Glove jokes about how he would go in with a group of male friends to pass inspection from the bouncer. Glove was a working DJ when he decided to found Dubspot after he tried to move from straight-up DJ’ing to producing. “I didn’t know where or how to begin,” he recalls. “Private lessons and manuals put me to sleep; there was no plan or curriculum. I realized no school for this existed. DJs say they have trouble connecting the dots and making their own music. That’s why we started—a lot of DJs share the same obstacles I did.” Instructors—all of them working DJs—don’t specialize in a style of music. Rather than “what” of music, programs and equipment, they teach the “how” and especially the “why.” The technology, which has gotten advanced and fairly technical, is only part of what they learn. If, in learning the plastic arts, students start by studying direct representation before branching into abstract forms, similarly, all students at Dubspot begin with turntables, because that’s where the music starts. (There’s also the scratching, not so popular in gay clubs, but an essential part of most DJs’ performances ever since Grandmaster Flash.) Besides, as Glove points out, many DJs today still prefer to work on vinyl, or at least a combination of vinyl with a computer. Still, students have to study Ableton, Traktor and Logic Pro, as well as drum machines, synthesizers, looping and a lot of other programming techniques that make the contemporary DJ seem as much of a computer geek as a music aficionado. But the emphasis is always on love of the music. “Technology is one element of what we teach,” Glove says. “We expose them to all these different tools.” People can still come out of their bedrooms after long sessions wearing headphones and experimenting on two Victrolas and become great DJs. But, Glove says, Dubspot can open them up to all of the controllers, mixers and other equipment out there. Such tools separate the weekend mixer from the pro. Besides that, the best way for a DJ to make a name for him or herself is to produce—either a totally new song; or barring the connections, money and talent pool for such an undertaking, at least remixing a song to put an original imprint on it and get it played in clubs. DJs like Hex Hector or Young certainly have paid their dues in clubs, but it was their remixes that helped make them that much hotter as headliners. Turning It Into a Career Students enroll in courses for as long as a year or as little as three months, depending on the subject. They can also stay around and keep studying or take what they have and venture into the club world. They are all encouraged—forced!—to go to clubs and listen music. “They have to go out at least once a week,” Glove says. “That’s their assignment.” And here you didn’t know all those years you’ve been doing homework! The school has been doing surprisingly well in the current recession; the belief is that many people laid off from other jobs are following their dream. Any one of us who goes to a lot of clubs (and I count myself among them) has probably dreamt at one time or another of laying down music to get an adoring crowd on its feet. But these days, there’s also more competition than ever for spots even at restaurants or small lounges. I’m old enough to remember when every teenager wanted a guitar and to be in a rock band. Today, kids beg for a set of turntables or programs so they can program their iPods. Guest DJs give workshops as inspiration to Dubspot’s students. Students know that they won’t be making the leap that Luz made, from newbie to $15,000 a night. Glove acknowledges that “there’s so much bad music out there because it’s so easy to produce.” He’s moving toward more music theory of the kind taught in a conservatory. Still, he’s optimistic that there’s room in the world for a steady stream of graduates. He’s beginning to experiment with workshop tours around the country, to expand Dubspot’s mission and geographic reach. In the end, he believes that anyone who wants to should be making music, whether on instruments, on turntables or in the studio: “People are expressing themselves, and that’s a good thing.” If you think you’ve got the potential to be the next Manny Lehman or Susan Morabito, go http://www.dubspot.com for more information. 2009-12-29T03:17:58+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/celebrating_ourselves/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/celebrating_ourselves/ Whether virtually or in the real world fantasy of clubland, Gay men are constantly pursuing their favorite passion: other gay men. This doesn’t mean we are always on the prowl. But we really do love each other’s company. Those of us who are looking for somebody in our lives, whether for an evening, a lifetime, or just to expand our circle of friends, will make our way to the bar, dance floor, or keyboard. We will spend considerable time, effort, and funds in our quest. But we are also part of a larger group: the gay continuum of brothers and sisters and allies. As much as we are accepted in society, we are not fully accepted yet. FindFred.com, a site for gay men made by gay men, has come up with a means by which we can come together online with others sharing similar interests as ourselves, have fun on a site with state of the art web design, and support the community at the same time. FindFred has committed 10% of its revenue to LGBT causes. Raj Lahoti, CEO of FindFred, is also committed to supporting gay themed events we so dearly love. Meet Raj, the man who wants to change the virtual world. Exploring Online Possibilities “Anytime gay men congregate for a vacation together en masse there is a creative positive experience to be had,” he said. “Whether it is Gay Pride, Halloween festivities, Rehoboth Beach, an Atlantis Cruise or even weekends in Saugatuck or Fire Island, they all generate electricity.” Lahoti and his business partner, Ray Brown, are intimately familiar with gay festival culture. Having travelled the world, they insist on vacationing in places where the events cater to gay men. Both men met their partners at large-scale dance events: Raj met Travis Samson one Labor Day Weekend in Columbus with DJ Bryan Pfeifer spinning 9 years ago, and Ray met Matt Hernandez at Detroit’s Motor Ball 8 years ago. Both couples have stayed together since. Raj sees the scene as similar to the community that FindFred is creating: “In a virtual sense, we are a gathering of gay men online.  There is a positive energy that comes from knowing we are amongst our ‘love interest’ peers.” He attributes the special intensity that comes with gay men to the fact that there are not that many of us, and we don’t always advertise our orientation.  “We’re not a clearly visible minority,” he observed, “so gathering is how we could find our match.  Both online and ‘live’ gatherings of men result in matches time and time again.” FindFred is modeled after the best real-life places to meet. “For years, we have successfully run businesses such as bars, clubs, and restaurants that are designed specifically for socializing,” Raj said. “Our Gay Match feature is modeled after an attractive place to meet guys and get to know them. We are reinventing design-interface usability.” In the same way that Gay men often want their own comfort zone in a beautiful space that is neither too Straight-laced nor sleazy, FindFred hits a happy medium. And as a space made by gay men for gay men, Raj said point-blank:  “We shouldn’t have to sue e-Harmony to have gay match. We need to create it for ourselves.” Living in Both Worlds So what makes FindFred different? One big thing is corporate attitude.  “We are serious enough to build a robust match engine to energize the gay online community, yet we know that a computer alone cannot predict a match,” said Raj. “We realize that match online can’t take the place of real-life meeting.” At the same time, Raj pointed out that so many gay men live in both the real-life and virtual worlds: “Your online life is like a checkpoint. When we meet guys face-to-face, the first thing we do is see if we can find them on Facebook and find more information, It goes both ways.” But the biggest thing that makes FindFred is the commitment to the gay community. Besides virtual/real worlds, gay men live in two gay worlds: one that fights for rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transpeople everywhere, and another that celebrates. Giving 10% of its revenues for gay causes helps the community in general, but FindFred doesn’t stop there. Like many of us in the scene, Raj is interested in supporting established events. “FindFred plans on keeping our community connected by offering free ads to the events around the globe. Atlantis Cruises are a must do.  We need to support these events so we can be sure to have them.  No offense to our hetero counterparts, but sometimes it is just nice to be amongst other people who share our bond, our struggle, our humor and our commonality.” In addition, Raj is exploring the possibility of extending discounts to members by purchasing blocks of tickets at reduced rates. Like so many of us, Raj is fascinated by the magic that can happen on the dance floor. “It’s amazing to me that as gay men we can just show up somewhere and have an instant bond with strangers, and within 3-7 days have new friends.  It is much like being Indian.  I can go to a Bhangra party and have instant fun with the crowd.” Well, it’s about time for a gay Bhangra party. Most gay men live for a Bollywood moment! Get a FREE Subscription to FindFred by using PROMOCODE NOIZE when subscribing.  Offer good through December 31, 2009 at FIindFred.com       2009-10-03T18:59:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/a_deeper_pride/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/a_deeper_pride/ NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists. - President Barack Obama June 1, 2009 For me, June has always been an exciting month. The beginning of summer and warmer weather brings with it the anticipation of vacations and summer Fridays. When I lived in Florida, we would look forward to the beginning of June as we planned for the long weekend in Orlando for Gay Days at Disney. But it was the end of the month that held even greater significance for us. We would plan our trip to New York City for Gay Pride. Pride is our holiday, a time that we gather together to celebrate who we are, to reflect on what we’ve been through, and to stand for our equality. And every year, we honor that over this special weekend. This year, Pride seems even more important than ever. No one can deny that this is a very exciting time for the gay community. Just last week, New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage, following on the heels of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, and Vermont. New York Governor David Paterson has recently introduced legislation legalizing gay marriage, which has already passed New York’s Assembly and, as of this writing, is awaiting a vote in the State Senate. There is still strong opposition, however, to our community having the same rights, responsibilities, and respect as our heterosexual brethren. This was demonstrated in November 2008 by the passing of Proposition 8 in California, a state constitutional change prohibiting marriage by couples of the same sex, which was just upheld earlier this month by the California Supreme Court. New York allows domestic partnerships, so last November my partner Steven and I stood together at the Office of the City Clerk and declared ourselves to be domestic partners. It’s as close to marriage as we could get in our state. I often refer to us as married now. “But you’re not married,” interjected our friend Jeff over dinner the other night. “You’re partners,” he flatly told us. I wanted to disagree with him and tell him that in my heart I’m married to Steven. But I understood his point. He said that saying we’re married when we’re not takes away from the fight that is necessary to achieve true equality for all of us. I want to marry Steven because I want to spend my life with him, not like a business partner with whom I’ve entered a contract but as a formal union between two people. A marriage. Some people suggest that I should just be happy with what I have and not push it too far. Why should I? I don’t want to settle for what’s not fair. I will stand and fight for my equality. Because I deserve it. Because we all deserve it. I feel like this is important enough to fight for. “I think too many people saw Milk and just want to march and protest so they can cruise,” said one of my friends in a recent email exchange on the topic. “Your insouciance is only matched by your hypersexuality,” replied one of my other friends. Unfortunately, I think that’s true of a lot of us. I know that was true of me for quite some time. Another friend replied: “No doubt you would go to cruise, but we march and we protest because we’re sick of it. Sick of being treated second class. Sick of being told we’re going to hell. Sick of not being equal. Sick of not having our rights.” ‘Second-Class Citizen’ No More! I agree. Why can’t I marry my partner proudly? Why do I have to settle for a domestic partnership? Why do I have to feel like a second-class citizen? Why can’t I walk down the street holding hands with my boyfriend? Why do I have to put up with looks on the subway like I’ve done something wrong for just being the way I am? There was a segment on the Tony Awards this year where George Hearn reflected on La Cage Aux Folles. “It was more than a play,” he said. “It was a social moment in America.” Hearn played the lead character in the 1983 Broadway production as a drag queen who sings, ‘Your life is a sham till you can shout out loud ‘I Am What I Am!’” I live my life out and proud, but I have to admit there are times when I am not exactly what I am. In certain situations, I rein in my behavior so as not to appear “inappropriate” or make anyone “uncomfortable.” And that does not make me proud. Acting not like myself to please or pacify others, or for fear of my safety, seems wrong. Because it is. I am reminded of the terrible beating that Kevin Aviance endured just before Pride three years ago in New York’s East Village. Kevin had sustained a broken jaw in the attack. I remember it vividly because I had also suffered a broken jaw from a car accident a couple weeks before. My jaw was broken because another cab slammed into my cab and my face hit the plexiglass divider in front of me. My jaw broke from the intense impact. Kevin’s jaw broke because a bunch of guys were kicking him in the face. And he’s not the only victim of a hate crime. Unfortunately, there are a lot more. We’ve come a long way, but we’ve still got a long way to go. It will take the determination and dedication of each of us to demand what is fair. I called my State Assemblyperson’s office to let my voice be heard on the gay marriage vote here in New York. I had never done anything like that before, but I did it because I think it’s important. I’m hoping that one day we can be out and proud everywhere without fear of judgment or hurt. And for that, I will be at the Parade with my partner and with my friends, standing together and declaring ourselves worthy and important and equal. Pride and the Circuit (Yes, the Circuit) Gathering together reconnects us as a tribe. It was Steve Kammon, one of my best friends and the founder of Circuit Noize (now noiZe), who introduced me to the ritualistic aspect of our parties. Steve was the shaman of the Circuit and taught us all about the deeper meaning of our gatherings. There is a power in us coming together, for each of us and for all of us. I look forward to gathering together on the dance floor with my family of friends. The dance floor binds us together. It’s where many of us met. Dancing together in celebration brings us back to our tribal roots. And I believe that is necessary. To remind us who we truly are. The dance floor is one place where I can let go and just be. Be who I am, surrounded by people like me who love me for me.  Being present at a party with great music and cute boys flirting indiscriminately is easy. Our senses are bombarded with sights, sounds, and smells. Tactile sensations abound. Connecting to the music on a deeper level takes you to a place within where we’re all one. When you get past all the layers and labels, we’re all the same. We’re all equal. Obama’s proclamation is at least a step in the right direction. “Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement,” it states, “more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before.” He’s right. It’s because of the gay community’s persistence and perseverance that we’ve made such great strides. But it will take more action for us to reach true equality. In his proclamation, Obama commits to “achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.” Hopefully, his actions will soon match his words. Steven and I are headed to D.C. for Capital Pride this weekend. We’re so excited. We bought matching anti-Prop 8 shirts that say “LOVE ALWAYS WINS” on the bottom of them.  I know: we’re so gay. Which is why we’re excited. We went to D.C. for Pride last year and had the best time.  Standing on Pennsylvania Avenue with tons of other queers, having a gay ol’ time, with the Capitol Building as our backdrop. Protected, safe and allowed to be who we are. There are many countries where you would be killed for a whole lot less than that. So we have a lot to be grateful for. Things are happening all around us, and we’re moving forward toward real equality. I believe now more than ever, we should show our true colors and celebrate who we are and how far we’ve come. Proudly. Happy Pride! 2009-06-17T21:06:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/take_recess_from_the_recession_at_fire_island_pines/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/take_recess_from_the_recession_at_fire_island_pines/ The Fire Island philosophy is simple.  You wake up and fry on the beach all day, with the occasional cruise up and down the beach to scope out the cuties.  In the evening, you get glammed up and go to tea which is a fun dance party.  The music starts at 5pm, and on weekends, it doesn’t stop until 5am the next day.  There’s low tea, high tea, middle tea, an underwear party, and a nightclub called Pavilion, where big name DJs like Brett Henrichsen and Junior Vasquez play.  But Fire Island Pines is more than a party.  There are fabulous restaurants, a gourmet market, Starbucks, cute shops, and a gym.  Plus, the beaches are beautiful.  And there are no cars allowed on the island so you really feel like you are in a gay paradise.  Adam Weaver, who heads the activities on the island, tells us about summer ‘09: Why is 2009 the summer to experience the Pines?     Flights are cheap this year, so we’re gearing for more boys than ever. How are you preparing for the extra guests? We’ve expanded the high tea room to fit more guys.  We’ve also perfected our DJ roster to include all the favorites as well as some hot, new talent. I’ve been scouting the bars of NYC for the best, new nightclub performers, and I’m counting on a few big name acts to make it to the Pines too. Can you give us some of the artists already confirmed? I’m really excited about the Perry Twins over Ascension weekend.  It will be their Fire Island debut!  And of course, Joe Gauthreaux at Bay Dance and Tony Moran at Ascension are going to be fierce.  I’m so psyched for the holiday weekend line-ups, but really, we’ve got great talent coming out every night of summer.  When visiting the Pines, what should men include on their itinerary? Low Tea is a great place to have drinks and dance with your friends.  High Tea follows at 8pm, where the dance party gets a little more wild and crazy.  On weekends, there are live performances at Blue Whale Restaurant, which is a great place to have dinner or to just hang out at the bar to see the show.  Oh, and if you’re here on a Friday, you can’t miss the underwear party.  It’s really hot! What would you advise all gay men pack in their bag for a fun-filled weekend in the Pines?  If you are coming for a day trip, all you need is a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and some drinking money.  For a longer trip, make sure you bring plenty of cute swimsuits. The daytime look in the Pines is a speedo and designer shades.  At night, make sure you have sexy jeans and you may want to pack a hoody for chilly nights.   What does the Pines offer singles that other gay destinations do not?    P-Town is a great place to relax, and Atlantis is a great place to go wild.  At the Pines, you get the best of both.  You can chill on the beach and hang out with your friends at your beach house.  Or you can go downtown, where there’s a party every night.  Fire Island is what you make it.  Where is the best place to meet cute guys? It’s really fun to check out guys on the beach all day, pick your favorites, and then make your move at low tea.  You will find yourself meeting so many cool people every night of your vacation.  Guys just seem to be more relaxed here.  I’m not going to mention the “meat rack;” you guys have to find out about that on your own. Is the Pines suitable for a romantic getaway?  The Pines is definitely a romantic place.  It’s a great place to get away from it all and enjoy the quiet beaches and tranquil nature.  You can cook dinners at home or go out to excellent restaurants.  And if you are a couple who like’s to have fun, we’ve got plenty of that too. How can out-of-towners book their Fire Island Pines getaway?  You can find everything from the latest summer entertainment schedule to available houses and hotel rooms at http://www.thepinesfireisland.com. Holiday weekends in the Pines book early, so it’s a good idea to start planning your trip soon.   BAY DANCE takes place July 3-5, featuring DJs Roland Belmares, Junior Vasquez and the Main Event with DJ Joe Gauthreaux.  ASCENSION is Aug 14-16, featuring DJs Manny Lehman, Brett Henrichsen, Kimberly S and The Perry Twins, with DJ Tony Moran headlining the beach party. Visit http://www.thepinesfireisland.com. 2009-06-16T21:44:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/divers_cite/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/divers_cite/ By now, if you’re a regular reader of this magazine, you know that Montreal is the nightlife capital of North America—and this comes from a died-in-the-wool New Yorker. I readily concede the crown to the cultural heart of French Canada. Take it off, Lady Liberty, and give it up for la ville aux cent clochers (“the city of a hundred belltowers”). You probably also know about the big shebang that occurs in October. But, as spectacular as Black and Blue is (and that’s pretty damned spectacular), there’s another event a few months earlier that deserves your attention. Divers/Cité is Montreal’s celebration of diversity, and, like everything else here that is associated with gayness and partying, it is the bomb. I had the good fortune to attend Divers/Cité last year, and I can testify that this Pride matches not only every other Pride-type celebration I’ve been to but party weekends. (Trust me, I’ve seen many of those!) Yes, this even includes my own New York City Pride, the mother of all Pride celebrations. First of all, there is the weather. Montreal in August is pleasant, with warm, sunny days and cool nights. For those of us sweltering in the Lower 48, this is a welcome respite from the summer heat. It’s like a long weekend on Fire Island, only with a lot more to do than sun and sex. Second, there are the outdoor dance parties. Notice I use plural. The City of Montreal, which effectively funds this, along with the Province of Quebec, isn’t content to give partygoers just one huge dance party. No, there is a stage where DJs play throughout the day into the evening. For days on end. If you’re a hardcore dance fiend, and you’ve been very, very good, this is what heaven is going to be like. There’s a stage set up right in the heart of the Gay Village (yes, everyone calls it that), just off the main drag of Rue Sainte-Catherine Est. There, local and imported DJs of every stripe play everything from reggae to electroclash, tribal to House, diva anthems to drum-and-bass. If there is a signature sound, it’s probably electrotribal, a synthesis of the kind of percussion-based sound most closely identified with Peter Rauhofer or Victor Calderone, and the Euro-techno that you hear everywhere in the European Union (and South Beach) these days. The impromptu dance floor is set up in Emilie-Gamelin, a city park that is about two blocks by three blocks, so it’s big but not impossibly so. There’s a bandshell grandstand where the DJ is set up, so people can see him—and the lightperson, when it gets dark. This is good, because there are a lot of straight people, and they have that weird but charming way when they’re dancing of facing the DJ and looking at him or her. Yes, you heard me. Straight people. This is another of those markers that distinguishes Divers/Cité and makes it so special. It’s a party that truly lives up to its title: diversity—and the play on the city’s reputation for being inclusive, that also means “diverse city.” Montreal is so gay friendly that it goes way beyond gay friendly into gay embracing. Gay loving. Gay worshipping. But it’s also straight friendly. That is, its Pride encompasses all people. Think of it as “LGBT-plus-S.” There has been a lot of talk about how the old Circuit is evolving into something new, something for a new generation that is as comfortable partying with straight friends as gay boys. Montreal leads in this as in music and clubs. These are not only the coolest straight folk you’ll ever see, they’re easily the most gay friendly. Wait, let me amend that: gay positive. It also helps that the Quebecois men are among the best looking on the planet (chiseled Gallic faces and worked-on North American bods). The legendary nightclubs in town all piggyback on Divers/Cité, with night parties, after-parties, morning parties and tea parties. It’s 24/7, so plan your danceathon according to the DJs and venues and be sure to pace yourself or you’ll miss out on the capper, La Grande Danse. The organizers describe this as “one of the most imposing House music events on the East Coast,” and for once, the hype is justified. Comparable to the Pier Dance in New York, this is even longer, bigger and more packed with party people of every persuasion. The night before, there’s another mega-event, the not-to-be-missed “Mascara, La Nuit des Drags.” Yes, that’s French for “drag queens,” but don’t roll your eyes. This is to those tired bar dragathons what Woodstock was to arena rock shows. The costumes and set-ups are elaborate in that French “La Cage aux Folles” over-the-top-and-then-some tradition. The show is long, but you won’t get tired or bored. It was perhaps the most fun, the most exhilarating drag show I’ve ever seen and alone would have made the trip up North worthwhile. Finally, I have to put in a word for the ladies. I attended “Lesbomonde,” a woman event at an old theater up the hill (the eponymous Mont Royal) from the Gay Village. I had a blast, dancing with the gals. It helped that the DJ was Susan Morabito, making a rare appearance at a woman’s event. But the vibe was as friendly as could be. It was just another sign that Divers/Cité really lives up to its name. DIVERS/CITE, Montreal, Canada July 26-Aug. 2, 2009 Getting Around Air Canada flies to Montreal from most major airports in the United States and, of course, from everywhere in Canada, to Dorval; as do U.S. airlines. The best way to get to the Center City from Dorval is by cab; about $25. Nearly everyone in Canada accepts U.S. currency, usually at a 1-to-1 equivalency. Although Montreal is in militantly French-speaking Quebec, almost everyone you will meet speaks English, usually quite well. It is a good idea, however, to brush up on your basic French phrases, if only to impress a good-looking local. Unlike Paris, people in Montreal are not snobs about pronunciation or idioms. In fact, they appreciate your attempts à parlant français. Where to Stay There are several great bed-and-breakfasts in the Gay Village, on or just off Rue Sainte-Catherine Est. Hotel Gouvernour is the main big hotel, right in the heart of the Gay Village. It is within walking distance of all of the main nightclubs and bars. It’s also in the middle of the Divers/Cité action. Get a room on the other side of the building from Emilie-Gamelin if you don’t want to be serenaded by dance music all afternoon. (Although that can be fun and romantic, if you’re “entertaining.”) Where to Eat Anywhere! Montreal is like that other francophone town, New Orleans: You have to look very hard to find a bad meal. I had an excellent lunch at the Boris Bistro (http://www.borisbistro.com) where the main business district borders the edge of the Old City. If you’re adventurous, or just feeling lucky, take a taxi off the island to the Casino de Montreal, where there are several top-notch restaurants, including Restaurant Nuance. As in all local restaurants, the presentation is as much a work of art as the food itself. Where to Shop The French-Canadians have that Gallic flair for fashion. My two favorite jeans—one, an ultra-stretchy brown pair that hug me while flattering my waist; the other, a sexy low-rise pair with a trestle-like filagree pattern sewn into the seat and crotch—were purchased on two separate trips. The Gay Village is full of fabulous boutiques all along Rue Sainte-Catherine Est, although be sure to check out the side streets. Still, I have to put in a word for my all-time favorite store in the world. Priape, located in the heart of the Village, is the gay Macy’s, with slutwear, fetishwear, dance threads, workout gear, and shoes to go with them. Sightseeing Rent a bike! Montreal, an island city, is a great biking city. It’s compact and bike friendly with bike paths in all of the most interesting neighborhoods. The metro has 68 stations on four lines. It’s easy to use and to navigate and is a great way to get around. Or you can walk: The city is compact enough so that if you give yourself from mid-morning to late afternoon, you can cover many of the most beautiful neighborhoods, including the Old City and the hipper sections up the hill from the Village. Party! Montreal has several giveaway gay newspapers and going-out guides, most of them either in English or with English-language sections. These will tell you where the big parties are and help you decide how to spend your evenings. Or days. That said, prepare by visiting http://www.diverscite.org for all of the information about sanctioned events. And be sure to check the ads in noiZe and on this site for the latest party information! 2009-06-16T21:42:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/a_circuit_mom_speaks/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/a_circuit_mom_speaks/ I feel fairly certain that I am not your “run of the mill” mother. My experience with the gay side of life dates back to my very first boyfriend, who was gay; my first husband was gay; and both sons I gave birth to are gay. I jokingly say that I have the “gay gene,” which may not be too far from the truth, since two of my brothers also have at least one gay offspring. What makes us a bit unique is that we each love, respect and accept our children for who they are and the lives they are making for themselves. Since I do not believe that homosexuality is a “choice,” I do believe that parents—especially Mothers—vacillate between guilt and semi-acceptance, in between “denial” and a misguided hope that their gay son or daughter will “change.” And that just ain’t gonna happen! So how do we bridge the gap so that a realistic, mutual understanding can exist between mother and son (or daughter, for that matter)? Since I know much more about being the mother of gay sons, let’s make that the focus here. I have been saddened to realize how many young men I meet have not come out to their families, in particular to their mothers. I recently sat next to a delightful young professional who has been hiding his life companion from his mother. As far as she knows, they are just good friends, which enables him to accompany the son to family gatherings. They live together in a distant city, so an unexpected drop-in is not very likely. I encouraged him to tell his mother the truth. She deserves to know. I told him that she just may surprise you because she loves you. She isn’t interested in you intimate relationship, nor should she be. She isn’t a voyeur waiting for salacious details of you and your partner’s lives together. What she DOES want to know is much simpler: Are you happy? Are you healthy? Are you content? This is how you come clean: Screw up the courage to sit down. Take her hands. Look straight into her eyes. And say simply, “Mom, there are some things I really want to share with you, and I want you to know how happy I am; that I am perfectly healthy and I am totally content with my life. It wasn’t a choice I made, nor was it anything you could have influenced. I am gay. I have known this about myself for many years, and I couldn’t bring myself to shatter all the dreams you seem to have for my life. But I want you to be a part of my life, and I want to share those parts that I have kept from you. “I know that first and foremost, you want me to be happy, and I am. I have a good life and I want you to be proud of me. I love you very much, and every good quality I have is because of you and the values you instilled in me. I want and I need your acceptance. I’m still the son you raised and I’m the same son I was yesterday. I don’t want you to worry about me. I want you to know my friends and my partner. You’ll see for yourself how full my life is. All that’s missing is you. With your acceptance, my happiness will be complete.” She will probably have questions. Keep your answers simple and don’t complicate the issue with more details than necessary. Love is a very strong bond, and there is no love stronger than that between mother and child—no matter how old you are, what your lifestyle is, or what career you choose. Remember to emphasize your love for her and her love for you. Then give her the biggest hug of your life! That’s all she really wants to know. 2009-06-16T21:34:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/the_man_who_cultivates_fire_island_pines/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/the_man_who_cultivates_fire_island_pines/ Five years ago, Eric von Kuersteiner bought a large swath of harborfront property in Fire Island Pines from longtime owner John Whyte. For many people reading this, this may not have a great deal of resonance. But for the thousands of gay men who flock to this world-famous beach resort, this was a momentous occasion, the gay equivalent of the Louisiana Purchase or Seward buying Alaska from Imperial Russia. To most of the world, “Fire Island” is synonymous with “gay,” but in fact, the Pines and its neighbor to the west, Cherry Grove, constitute the part of Fire Island that is primarily gay. Although there are two other owners of commercial property in the Pines, Whyte’s property was far and away the largest and most prominent. It also contained two of the island’s sacred spaces to the Circuit world, the Pavilion and the Blue Whale. The Pavilion is one of the most storied gay clubs in the world. An unprepossessing wooden building, under Whyte it hosted some of the most memorable DJs on some of their most memorable evenings. It became an incubator of what has since been dubbed “the Fire Island Sound,” and nurtured the careers of several beginning DJs. The Blue Whale is a restaurant with a large patio-like deck space. There, in a tradition that dates back to the 1970s, people have congregated in the late afternoon for a Tea Dance. The term originated with Whyte, and “tea” has since become synonymous with afternoon dance parties. In between the two buildings are several stores and a hotel. In back of them is a large deck and swimming pool. Since his purchase of the property, Eric has been engaged in an ambitious long-term plan of renovation, renewal and rebranding. Much of that has been spent in bricks-and-mortar renovation and building. But just as much effort has been expended in the rebranding. Eric has made a concerted effort to reach out to younger gay men, in New York, as well as the rest of the United States and even abroad. For the first few years, he renovated the old Pavilion (including adding desperately needed air conditioning), before tearing down the dilapidated old building and replacing it with a huge new structure that encompasses Glo Lounge, a gleaming bar with two rooms and sweeping views of Pines Harbor upstairs; and a food store and the Pavilion itself downstairs. He also took over the gym on the back deck behind the stores, added new equipment and created a room for aerobic machines. He has been slowly assembling the other storefront properties as they become available (some rents were grandfathered under the terms of the sale from Whyte). He also has ambitious plans for Ciel, which is what he calls Whyte’s old Botel, the only hotel in the Pines (and only concrete structure). The Blue Whale has remained pretty much the same, albeit with some spit and polish to help make it gleam. “When we first bought this place,” Eric said in a recent interview, “first of all, John had let it run into the ground. But it had such a rich history, and I used to have so much fun coming out here”—Eric and his partner in life and business, lawyer Tony Roncalli, have been coming to Fire Island since the ‘80s. “It’s Important to preserve the history but also update it.” His aim is to make it “trendy, but not Soho-trendy; what gay people are looking for. So all of our marketing is geared toward making it a fun, chic place to go for a vacation, targeted to gay men.” Eric has kept intact the venerable institutions that had become so ingrained in the collective imagination that Edmund White could write a symbolic novel, “Forgetting Elena,” that subtly satirized the rigidity of the social structure and daily routine of the Pines of the early ‘70s and everyone was in on the joke. But Eric has also updated those traditions. Low Tea remains as popular as ever—in fact, judging from the crowds on a recent “off weekend,” even more crowded. High Tea, immediately following, still takes place at the bar above the Pavilion, now Glo Lounge. But he’s also instituted “Middle Tea,” early-evening dancing at the Pavilion itself. Middle Tea reflects a sea change in the local culture. The Pines was once famous (notorious) for its late-late nights. No one would be caught dead entering the Pavilion much before 1 a.m., and the place didn’t get really crowded until 3 a.m. or so. I remember walking to the grocery store at 10 a.m. one Sunday in the early ‘90s and stopping in to find a far-from-empty dance floor. “It’s earlier than used to be,” Eric acknowledged. “The younger guys like to drink a lot more than we used to when we were younger. They tend to do things that are a little earlier in the day. We saw a shift over the last couple of years. Low Tea is a much more social atmosphere. As for Middle Tea, the Pavilion is fun, but it’s not late. A lot of guys want to have that dancing experience, but not have to wait until 2 in the morning.” Not that the Pines has exactly given way to the gay equivalent of the Early Bird Special. There’s still plenty to do at night, but it has to be something that’s fun. The younger guys coming the island enjoy the underwear party on Friday nights. At the Blue Whale, after the last meal has been served, there’s entertainment via New York’s premier drag queens. This summer, Bianca del Rio does a show on Fridays, with a rotating line-up on Saturdays headlined by Porsche on Saturdays; “Showtune Sundays” resembles Splash’s similar night on Mondays. The big new Pavilion is very much open for business on Saturdays, Sundays and other nights during the big party weeks. “There’s still a crowd for the big-name DJs but less of them than go out than during the day,” Eric says. To entice people to stay up past their bedtime, he has a line-up of Circuit stars, including Tony Moran, Abel and Junior Vasquez. To celebrate the Pavilion’s 30th anniversary, he is also bringing some Fire Island favorites, including Michael Fierman (Sunday, July 5) and Susan Morabito (Sunday, Labor Day). At the teas and the Pavilion itself, he mainly concentrates on bringing out the hottest DJs from New York as well as rest of the country who appeal to a younger crowd. Having completed the mammoth task of erecting the Pavilion (building anything on Fire Island, where workers and all materials have to be brought over by boat from the mainland, is difficult; building something as huge as the Pavilion rivals the pyramids), he’s now beginning to concentrate on Ciel, the cinderblock hotel that, at three stories tall, dominates the ultra-low-rise harbor. He finally got a permit (also not an easy task) to redo the place at the end of last summer. In a unique approach to how to rebuild an existing structure, he’s enlisted the services of an architecture professor at Yale University. She in turn has put together a student study group that is spending the summer examining Ciel. The goal is to come up with a plan that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also completely green—part of Eric’s vision to make his properties sustainable. This task force began its work on June 1 and will come up with a comprehensive plan later this summer. A large part of his effort to attract younger guys and the Circuit crowd in general has focused on Ascension, an oceanfront dance party that will take place Aug. 16. A successor to the much-beloved Morning Party, Ascension takes place right along the ocean during the day. This year, Tony Moran spins the main event, with a full roster of DJs including Manny Lehman, Roland Belmares, Kimberly S and Brett Henrichsen filling out the weekend’s events, from pool parties to Pavilion nights. The events benefit the Task Force. Eric has also taken over the annual Bay Dance on July 4th, to benefit New York’s LGBT Center. Eric’s efforts to attract a younger demographic (while not ignoring everyone else) appears to be paying off. This year, the island was more crowded Memorial Day Weekend than it has been for years—helped by great weather, always a major factor. He’s looking forward to a busy high season, the period that begins with the huge July 4th Weekend (including the legendary Invasion of the Pines by hundreds of drag queens from Cherry Grove) and ends with Labor Day. “There are very few places like the Pines,” Eric says. “Old gay destinations like Key West have become very, very mixed. All of our branding and marketing has been aimed to make this a fun, hip, gay destination. We’re trying to bring back people from all over the world.” 2009-06-16T21:32:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/plastic_fantastic/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/plastic_fantastic/ While there are certainly more than two dimensions to a woman whose breasts enter a room several seconds before she does, one still can’t help but wonder if the remarkable Amanda Lepore really wants you to think she’s as superficial as she appears. Having spent a lifetime crafting her uniquely ravishing look, it would seem on the surface (as it were) that she wants people to think of her as a kind of plastic commodity – not only as a living doll, but also as a real doll made in her likeness by designer Jason Wu, who recently created Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown. Many transsexuals go out of their way to blend in as everyday women. But Lepore seems to revel in the idea of the female form as an archetypal canvas onto which you can project your desires, your dreams, or your fears. Jetsetting around the globe, she gets paid merely to show up at parties. Recently, she helped judge the costumes at Life Ball, the massive European AIDS charity event that takes place in Vienna’s massive gothic city hall. Asked if Bill Clinton had groped her, she said no, but told noiZe that she was “hoping that Monica Lewinsky would come and give an appearance about safe oral sex—but it didn’t happen.”   A familiar figure to Manhattan trendsetting party scenesters and global hotspots far beyond the Hudson River, she’s likely to show up to an event wearing nothing except the years of plastic surgery that she flaunts like a badge of honor and a few well-placed bits of fabric that wouldn’t cover a mouse’s privates. “I always wanted to be a cross between Marilyn Monroe and Jessica Rabbit,” she told noiZe. “I’m definitely there.” With Marilyn’s cooing charm and Jessica’s cartoonishly exaggerated features, the soft-spoken (and surprisingly well-spoken) Amanda commands the attention of everyone in the room simply by being there. But there’s more to this silicone superstar than meets the eye.  Before Paris Hilton stumbled into the phenomenon of being famous for being famous, Amanda Lepore had already learned how to market her own image. She dubbed herself the “No. 1 Transsexual in the World” at a time when she was really the only one who wanted the title. This was a time when “transsexual” came closer in the public mind to the street prostitutes doing truck drivers in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District than to a RuPaul talkshow or a reality show in which contestants vied to be “America’s next top drag queen.” Stuck between the worlds of mainstream America and the gay subculture, the transgendered were accepted by neither group. (Despite all the p.c. talk about LGBT, there was seldom a place at the table for that “T.”) These gender warriors hid deep in Transamerica, struggling to pass as something they knew they were deep inside. Sexuality itself can lose significance when you realize that you’re the wrong gender to begin with, and many brave souls struggle their entire lives to make a complicated correction that finally allows them to feel at home in their own skin.  Amanda’s Journey: Jersey Girl to Bombshell Amanda’s journey began in her early teens growing up in New Jersey. Designing costumes for strippers helped her make money and pay for hormones. She knew with absolute certainty that this was the path she was destined to follow. Her personal philosophy is that “it’s something that you have to do for yourself and not for anyone else. I advise people to not do it for someone else or from pressures from society. It’s like a deep feeling that you have. I thought that I was a girl until my parents told me that I wasn’t.” Her journey continued for many years, with many struggles, until she was the proud owner of a brand new six-cylinder bombshell of a body. She eventually fled to New York City, where she worked at a salon and then as a dominatrix before discovering her natural habitat in the wilds of Limelight-era clubbing.  This was the era of the club kid, and the infamous Michael Alig ruled his brood. Alig (now serving time in jail for the murder of a fellow club kid drug dealer) took her under his wing. She joined his merry band of club kid personalities when they stood over the New York club scene in the early 1990s. Before he ended up in stir, Alig aggressively courted the city’s freaks and outcasts, and offered a decidedly surreal home to those who didn’t belong anywhere else. “It just didn’t have any restrictions,” Amanda recalled. “In some ways it was good and in some ways it was bad. It had a bad ending. I remember going to parties and being on stage and they would serve cocaine on trays to the people wandering in. It was really crazy.” She managed to emerge from the experience wiser and unscathed and an unrepentant champion of nightlife as a healthy escape—as long as one retains self-control: “There has to be some sort of happy medium of fun and restriction. There were kids that didn’t really fit in, and that needed to be there, to get through a hard time. It just went wrong with too much drugs, and no moderation.” Busy, Busy Girl Since then, Lepore has kept herself very busy. A devout exercise advocate, she is well-known to the athletes who frequent trendy David Barton Gym in Chelsea. “Going to the gym is one of the best thing you can do, it makes you look good everywhere,” she purrs, somehow always managing to mix the substantive with the shallow. She continues to develop her strong relationship with David LaChapelle, who considers her his muse. LaChapelle challenges her personally and artistically. His artful photos paved the way for her to become the face of M.A.C., Heatherette, Swatch and Jawbone, a company that recently introduced a design-oriented bluetooth device whose tag line stated the obvious: “People will talk.” In 2006, Amanda teamed up with Jason Wu, at the time a well-known doll designer, to immortalize herself in plastic (again!). “Apparently he had been doing this since he was 15 years old. I always played with Barbie dolls when I was a kid, it was one of the first things that I loved, so it was great, because we got it down really good.” Not without a few corrections, however. “The prototype that he did was more of a Barbie Doll body. I said, ‘You can’t do that, I have to have bigger breasts.’ When I did fashion shows, my body would be so much different than the models, even though I was so skinny. I thought the Barbie Doll was more like a regular model. So I said you’ve got to make the breasts and the hips bigger. And at first the face was fuller in the cheeks, so we made the nose a little smaller and the cheekbones more sculpted—and then it was a dead ringer for me.” Her meticulous eye for detail paid off; the doll has already raised over $50,000 for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) already. For the 2008 holiday season, she released her signature perfume, Amanda by Amanda Lepore. “Very glamourous” is she described it, “very lingering. It’s kind of like you could walk into a gym and all of a sudden people would be like, oh wow, what’s that great smell? And you know, they would know I was there before I even walked in. It has Cristal in it, and it has gardenia, and a red flower and a yellow flower to represent my hair and skin.” Adding real Cristal champagne to her scent must have seemed only natural to someone accustomed to snacking on caviar in VIP lounges with fellow sex goddess Pamela Anderson. Originally created for her personal use by a COTY Award-winning perfumer, she eventually sought financial backers to help her release the scent commercially. She found them, of course, “because,” as she put it, “I always get what I want.” Her real passion at the moment is music. Her album “I… Amanda Lepore” is set to drop in August, and represents work that she has done for the past several years, such as “My Pussy” and the current single “Cotton Candy,” which was recently debuted to acclaim with a “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”-infused video featuring her frequent musical accomplice Cazwell. “It’s not just like “My Pussy,’” that is, something to perform at a club. But there are other songs that kids can listen to when they’re getting ready: “There’s a slow song that I think burlesque performers could do, and one really slow one called “Baby Doll”. It has a total album feel, and all the songs kind of fit together.” The music gives her something fun and creative to do while she travels and poses around the world: “I used to go away and they would put you in first-class hotels and pay for these trips and everything and you wouldn’t do much, and it’s really like, wow, I want to do more. So the music was a great vehicle, and I’m really good at it, and love it.” When she’s not traveling or in the recording studio she’s working on her form-fitting outfits. “I spend a lot of my days off coming up with hairdos, getting outfits made, going on errands for all that, which I really, really love. I always liked doing that, but now I’m able to afford it. Now when I fantasize of stuff to do I can make it happen.” As far as she’s gotten, Amanda hasn’t forgotten where she came from, or what she had to deal with growing up. Traveling to a smaller college town in the States, she cherished meeting the next generation of young gender-benders, and she seemed to be as excited to meet them as they were to meet her. “There were girls turning into boys, and boys turning into girls, and they were going to college like that, and organizing the party. And there were so many of them now, and I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I really helped in some way.’ It’s great. It reminds me of when I was a kid. How I was starving for something, and how much it really means to them to have a better life and to really be who they are.”  So if you’ve seen photos of Amanda or in person and thought she was just a living doll, it turns out there’s a lot more to this doll than an amazing body, fierce hair, and an outrageous pussy. Her zen-like philosophy might very well be summed up on the new album: “If you think I’m crazy, well then I’m crazy, well then I’m crazy, but I’m doin’ it my way.” Her way hasn’t always been easy, but sometimes there’s a big pay-off for being true to yourself. 2009-06-16T21:28:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/tenofovir_the_new_party_drug/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/tenofovir_the_new_party_drug/ You remember Huey Lewis, the über-preppy rocker who sang about wanting a new drug? Be careful what you wish for, as St. Theresa of Avila warned us. Some gay men have taken to swallowing a dose of tenofovir, a compound anti-HIV retroviral, before having sex. The practice, known as “disco dosing” in some circles, allows them to have unprotected sex. Or so they believe. Called “PrEP,” for “Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis,” taking an HIV drug before exposing oneself to the virus is an unknown at best, highly risky at worst. Nevertheless, some men are doing it. The reason? Condom burnout. After over two decades into the AIDS epidemic, many gay men have become sick of using condoms. Many more have not known anyone HIV-positive who has died or even gotten very sick— ironically, thanks to those same anti-retroviral drugs they’re trying out for a night on the town. Whatever the reason, there are definitely guys out there doing it, although hard stats are difficult to obtain. There have been some studies, including one of black men. Published in a highly respected peer-reviewed journal a few years ago, the study involved a group of researchers on both coasts who looked at black urban men who have sex with men. The scientists found a surprisingly high number of men queried at black-oriented Circuit events had heard of PrEP—nearly onethird— and several had tried it or knew someone who did. Some men are actually doing this because they take safer sex seriously indeed. One doctor told me of two patients who took the drug before they had protected sex with strangers as an added preventative in case a condom breaks. But for the vast majority of gay men, PrEP means a key to not using a condom. That’s what makes it such a hot-button issue among AIDS researchers, doctors and activists. The theory behind it is that the anti-retroviral drug prevents HIV from grafting itself onto healthy cells and replicating. When HIV first enters the human body, there isn’t much of it; theoretically, if those few viruses swimming around the bloodstream don’t have anywhere to go, they’ll die out—just as do millions of germs we come across every day that don’t affect us. One prominent doctor in Boston maintained that PrEP, despite its bad rep, is necessary as one more tool in the arsenal of AIDS fighters. But others see it as an enabler for those men who don’t want to bother using protection. “Disco dosing” has actually been around for a few years. The guys who do it are usually into PnP (Party-and-Play), which is to say, taking crystal methamphetamine or GHB, or possibly both,in combination with sexual activity. One pill makes you taller and one pill makes you smaller, as Alice told us, but in this case, one makes you hyper, the other tired—but both horny as hell. How do they score the drugs? These days, it’s easy enough for a friend or a de facto HIV-drug “dealer” to lie to a physician or pharmacist or case worker and get a new prescription. “Patients don’t get the fifth degree if they say they’ve run out,” says Kenneth Mayer, director of Brown University’s AIDS program and medical researcher out of Fenway Community Health in Boston. “It’s easy enough to get more.” It should be emphasized that nearly all AIDS physicians argue vociferously that PrEP is a poor substitute for that silly little millimeter of latex between dick and ass. But they also wearily acknowledge that many gay men have grown sick of condoms. Another problem with condoms is that, barring Viagra or another little helper, one’s johnson flags in that dead space between the passionate foreplay and the housekeeping of getting the condom out of the wrapper (itself no easy chore for lubed-up hands) and slipping it on. If it’s difficult to find any doctor who advocates for PrEP among sexually active gay men, it’s not impossible. I did manage to find one West Los Angeles doctor who has prescribed anti-retrovirals for at least one patient who has not tested positive for HIV and has unprotected sex, but he would only discuss it on deep background. The Centers for Disease Control is taking PrEP seriously. It has undertaken research in countries overseas and in the United States to try to see whether it can be effective in fighting HIV infection. Although CDC and other groups don’t advocate for PrEP, they understand that in certain situations—women with non-condom-using partners; rape victims; sex workers—it may be the only alternative. They are testing the same way as other possible downthe- road prophylaxes, such as rectal microbicides. These would be a topical agent, delivered with a lube or enema. There are other international studies going on with PrEP involving thousands of men and women. No doctor argues that PrEP is a substitute for safer sex. “Doctors will still recommend people use condoms,” says Dr. Albert Liu, researcher in the San Francisco health department. “It would need to be combined with other strategies.” But there are also several indications that something new is needed. Bareback porn is moving from the fringes to the mainstream (recently, a major porn producer announced it would be doing barebacking DVDs). Rates of HIV infection among gay men are rising. So are rates for other STDs, which indicate less condom use. 2009-04-22T22:34:00+00:00 http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/under_pressure/ http://www.noizemag.com/index.php/articles/under_pressure/ There’s simply no denying it—something about the combination of hot steam, ill-fitting towels, and the relaxing glow of post-workout exhaustion gets the male juices flowing. Depending on how you view it, steam room sex is either the last hurrah of liberating seventies-era gay culture or a grim reminder of that era’s excesses and dangers, both psychological and physical. Anecdotally of course, it’s hard to visit any major gym locker room in one of our urban centers without coming away thinking we favor the former, not the latter view. Steam room dalliances are such an inherent part of the big city gym experience that permanent signage appears next to most sauna and steam room doors warning that any inappropriate activity will result in banishment from the gym and the possibility that the local Department of Health will shut down the locker room amenities altogether. Gym culture is now such an ingrained part of the gay world in major cities that it is tempting to see all of this as much ado about nothing. Boys will be boys, and we’ve all seen enough wedding bands on the hands groping at us to think that even straight men aren’t completely immune to the siren song of misty sexual encounters. There is an undeniable and potent veil of anonymity drawn when we enter the small wooden rooms that smell of toasted flesh. Furtive glances size up the room’s inhabitants as your hands hover close to the opening in your towel, just waiting for the right signals from the others present to cross the line from socially acceptable to indecent. When the door opens, of course, hands instinctively fly away from barely exposed areas. The outside world, with all of its conventions and insecurities, rushes in with the clammy air of too many showers. The newcomer is quickly sized up, and once the door seals again order is restored, and the game continues apace. It is a game with many potential pleasures and few realized ones, which only adds to the frustrating allure of such a dicey public experience. Unlike an actual sex club or backroom, there are many different wild cards that must be watched for in our predominantly gay steam rooms. There are some men who seem to enjoy the experience in a completely non- sexual manner. They are often the ones you see in their flip-flops with several towels carefully tucked to avoid accidental exposure, doing breathing exercises. Or the absurdly hot but painfully obvious straight men who seem to have no trouble at all opening their towels and doing stretches in front of everyone, driving the room crazy with thwarted lust. Occasionally, a gay man himself will surprise the room by shaming everyone back into concealing themselves again. And it’s hard not to notice the undercover gym plants, sent to police the area. These men are usually about as subtle as an undercover cop at a bus station men’s room, sometimes even wearing shorts and sandals out of discomfort with their bawdy chore. But sometimes the stars align and you have one of those experiences that makes you believe in anonymous public sex again. That adorable muscular boy you saw in the free weight area wanders in while you are alone and smiles, opening his towel and inviting you to explore the heady mysteries of instinctual attraction with him. No one bothers you as time and space seem to melt away and afford you the intoxicating luxury of pure sensual pleasure with a beautiful stranger. It happens maybe one out of every fifty trips to the steam room, but it’s enough to keep you coming back for more, just in case. But what drives many of us to these encounters? Are the infrequent successes worth the potentially embarrassing and psychologically damaging side effects? Is this merely harmless fun – what you can’t see very well can’t hurt you? “There are always two sides of every coin,” says Christopher Murray, a Manhattan- based therapist specializing in gay issues. “Just as much as we are aggressively, and perhaps in a subtle way sadistically, showing ourselves to ourselves as dominant, we are also flirting with disaster— by risking exposure, humiliation, rejection, as well as physical and emotional violence.” The Steamy History of Cruising Leaving aside the occasional foot fungus, there is a relatively safe quality to the kind of fun we have in short bursts in the steam room, however. Very rarely do you see actual intercourse occur; such activity is greeted with shock generally. In a room that often seems frightened of its own shadows, a strange form of puritanical eroticism evolves. The mere sight of exposed flesh takes on a heightened sense of illicit thrill.No fisting required. There may be subtle dangers lurking in the fog of post-gym relaxation. Gym dalliances can be “very male in as much as we, like little doggies on a walk, are spraying our scent to denote ownership and dominance,” Murray notes. “All this is to say that it’s a potent activity for us because it allows us to express, at one go, both our identities as powerful men and as rejectable sissies and weaklings.” Isn’t this just a more public version of our private sex lives? A classic male combo of strength and vulnerability, writ large on a steamy window? After all, bathhouse encounters have been an integral part of the gay experience in America for over a hundred years. The infamous hospitality of the local YMCA is the stuff of legend of course, but there were also the seaside nooks of Coney Island and the Russian baths of Manhattan, which evolved into the overtly sexual scenes of the Wall Street Sauna and Man’s Country in New York. The Slot in San Francisco catered to the emerging bondage scene, while the Club Bath chain created the first franchise system for baths, adding amenities such as televisions and vending machines, and boasting 500,000 members by the early seventies. As gay sex gradually decriminalized itself, these surreptitious venues became less of a necessity and more of a naughty luxury for the urban party elite. The gym steam room, with its workaday necessity in many of our lives, remains one of the few daily reminders of this furtive history. Perhaps it represents a banal lifeline to a past that many of us either remember fondly or have only heard about in excited whispers. This trip down memory lane is most likely a pale parallel, both in pleasures found and risks taken. But risks do remain, for both gym buffs and management alike. In 2005, a man sued Manhattan’s David Barton gym for $25,000, claiming that the management did little to nothing to curb sexual activity in the locker rooms. The gym had been the subject of rumors before. The New York Blade ran a story a few years earlier about reports of cruising in the gym, when a gay patron complained. Later that year, a Gold’s Gym in the Castro district closed its doors indefinitely after receiving numerous complaints and a health department warning. They re-opened, only to be shut down again in 2007, the same year the Equinox chain got slammed with complaints from their cleaning staff about lewd and embarrassing (not to mention messy) behavior at their locations. The cleaning staff, all Hispanic men, complained about having to clean male splooge. The negative publicity associated with these incidents caused a backlash within the gay community itself against this type of behavior. Now policed from within as well as from outside authorities, those of us who choose to let it all hang out while we sweat at the gym face an odd sort of dilemma. How do you balance complex primal needs with those of the community? Has the door to the steam room finally swung open permanently, letting in the cold air of reality once and for all? Or can those of us who still choose to let the rush of blissful ignorance wash over us after a strenuous workout still enjoy a little down time with the boys without making a federal case out of it? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Steam isn’t the only pressure felt in these dens of complexity. 2009-04-21T18:47:00+00:00