What a coINcidence! Chicago’s Chrissy Murderbot’s “Year of Mixtapes” project has inevitably found its way to a gay-themed mix, and I was seriously working on my own all day today! No SHIT! Murderbot owns Sleazetone Records(home of Ssion) and just put out a new record filled with dubstep, hip hop, disco and electro. The mixtape project has promised (and so far delivered) one mixtape a week for a whole year, this “Hard Gay” mix is at week 20. Deep slices of ¢99 vinyls take us to The Boystown Gang (I have their record framed in my hallway), Man2Man, Bronski Beat, Modern Rocketry (I just posted that this week!) and many others–the 80′s disco slant of this spread has thankfully avoided hetero-tourism (I love Sylvester but You Make Me Feel is PLAYED OUT) and really, the obscure finds here show a supreme collecting passion and I’d fucking know. Murderbot’s mission and disclaimer get the cute points, tracklist below. Head over and get hard with Murderbot!
Gloria Gaynor; I Am What I Am (Silver Blue Records)
Green Velvet feat. Jamie Principle; LaLaLaLaLa (Nside My Mind) (Cajual)
Carl Bean; I Was Born This Way (Chrissy Murderbot Re-Edit) (Motown)
Ssion; Warm Glove (Sleazetone)
The Boys Town Gang; Cruisin’ The Streets (Moby Dick)
Man2Man; Sex Symbol (Recca)
Paul Lekakis; Boom Boom (ZYX Records)
Glam feat. Pete Burns; Sex Drive (Radikal Records)
It’s been a nice, long life-time that I’ve waited to see a black queen on TV portrayed as confident, fierce, fey-but-will-still-beat-your-ass central character. Sure, he’s had a pretty damn rough summer, and there have been no love interests for him yet, but Lafayette from True Blood is as real as cable television can hope to be. Also, his relationship with cousin Tara repeatedly warms the heart. As a fan of soaps, True Blood is taking my bloody cake right now, here’s some props out for the internets.
I’ve been thinking about this more and more. I was at a movie in the park the other day and realized (it was pure coincidence, I swear) that the BF and I were hanging out with two other same-sex couples, and all of us were bi-racial. That is, one of the people in each couple was white and the other was not. After I got over how cool I thought we all were, I went on to thinking about my experience as such, and wondering if the other pairs ever talked about it. I did point it out to everyone, and we all laughed at how cute it was. BUT, I am frequently mistaken for white. I am full blooded Guatemalan, but I have always had to defend my brownness to both whites and non-whites. “No really, meet my tiny little parents and see how brown we are.” The others at the park were white and South Asian, and I don’t think they have had to defend their brown status. I’m always self-conscious of my Spanish around other Latinos, especially in impersonal situations such as ordering food. But the hardest part for me these days is, with the knowledge that people tend to assume that I am white, how can I fight against, or at least not take advantage of the invisibility of white privilege? A new friend just passed this along, a considered piece about white privilege over at The Pink Pink Elephant and I’m renewing my commitment, right here and now, for being out about my brownness. No longer will I hesitate to bust out my spanglish just because of whatever is going on in my head. This blog and the TPR name have been my outlet for finding myself and finding others like myself for six years. People ask me sometimes if I get paid for TPR (it has led to gigs, THANK GOD) but I’ve never even considered diluting or diverting my attention for $$.
*Topm = Rachel Melvin, Bottom = Victor Webster and Kate
Look for some familiar daytime faces to spice up the primetime queer scene this fall! After leaving Days of Our Lives this past year, former hit and run baby killer vixen Rachel Melvin (ex-Chelsea) is set to join Heroes! Look for Rachel to play a lesbian love interest to everyone’s favorite regenerating cheerleader Claire! Hopefully this story will help guide the show to more character driven stories instead of the plot heavy direction it seems to have taken.
Also get ready to revel in the hotness of former Days man-candy Victor Webster (ex-Nicholas) as he joins the cast of Melrose Place 2.0! My husband Mr. Webster is set to play gay character Caleb Brewer who is being plugged as a non-stereotypical gay who “smokes cigars, likes the LA Lakers, collects sports memorabilia, drinks Scotch, likes guys and is not afraid to admit it.” He can admit it all he wants…..all I ask for are some more booty scenes like those he graced us with during his guest appearance on an episode of Sex and the City! Also let’s hope Melrose Place learned their mistakes from series one where as much as they tried didn’t know what to do with gay character Matt!
Deep house has been bubbling in dance music circles again, and while I don’t really play it, I do appreciate the unashamed 90′sness. And FOR SURE I’ll take it over dubstep ANY day. Renaissance released their first in their “Sidetracked” mixtape series, and wisely chose Hercules & Love Affair to kick it off. On point, on trend and on step with Andy Butler’s side of smooth, this is a party mix for sure. Buy it over at Renaissance’s page and have a listen to a sample track, Sunshine by Fax Yourself.
Finally getting down to this Bear Tumblr mega-post that I’ve been wanting to do, streaming Pépé Bradock’s slammin’ new house comp and basking in bear country. I’ve overheard some local cuties talking about “just discovering tumblr” and while I’m sure the visual format can be done well, it’s just another kind of blogging. CTRL+W33D is consistently bringing the funny, Three Frames has some mind boggling gifs, and Gif Party is a gay snark fest. I little poking around I found myself at all kinds of (some NSFW, so be careful!) blogs where hairy chubs are devoured and destined for the online pass around.
NY Mag had this nice fashion spread of a runway show by Walter Van Beirendonck, and all the models were sporting salt and pepper, mid-torso roundness and beards.
The Pick Up Bear likes it a little raunchy and geeky, and that’s fine with me.
Unlike its name, there is not too much shame over at Homo Shame.
I’ve blogged about Sean M. Johnson before and his love for the beard. He’s got some youtube vids of “Beard Love” and this t-shirt for sale over at My Soti.
Then of course, there are my default, go-to site for hot images and interesting musings:
Friday, June 26th
LGBTQA Youth Performance and Dance Party!
For youth ages 12-20!
@ Alternatives (4730 N. Sheridan, Chicago) Doors open @ 6:30 pm
Saturday, June 27th Chicago DYKE March Youth Contingent!
@ 18th Street & Halsted
Meet at the BYC (3179 N. Broadway) @ 12:00 pm
Sunday, June 28th
Youth Pride Float!
March in the Chicago Pride Parade!
Meet at the BYC (3179 N. Broadway) @ 11:00 am
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE BROADWAY YOUTH CENTER
