Tag: gay porn

Posted on

Documentary: How Straight Couple Became Biggest Distributors Of Gay Porn In US

Karen and Barry Mason (screen capture)
For more than 35 years, the Circus of Books bookstore was a place where Los Angeles LGBTQ people could socialize and celebrate themselves without judgment. Not just ‘a book store,’ the retail venue was a gay porn emporium run by a straight, mainstream Jewish couple – Barry and Karen Mason – whose three children attended religious schools and were unaware for a long time about the nature of their parents’ business. Executive produced by Ryan Murphy for Netflix, Circus of Books is now a new documentary set to drop on April 22. The project is the debut film from Rachel Mason, one of the children of the owners. In the newly-released trailer, which alternates between interview soundbites and clips from vintage gay porn, one of the Mason children shares, “We were just kept completely in the dark.” “If anyone asked what our parents did, the official answer was ‘We own a book store,’” added another. “In the 1980s, we were probably the biggest distributors of hard-core gay films in the United States, but I never felt free to let anybody know what we did,” says Karen in the trailer.
(screen capture)
The conflict was due to the family’s attendance at a “stuffy, conservative synagogue” and having a business that sold gay porn and sex paraphernalia to the LGBTQ community. According to press materials, the Masons didn’t set out to be gay activists, just “everyday entrepreneurs.” But then came the AIDS crisis and the Masons found they were losing employees to the epidemic. Phoning the parents of those employees, they realized how marginalized so many LGBTQ people were as many responded to the news with “I never want to see them again.” And so, the Masons became accidental activists recognizing the humanity in their customers. One former patron shares to the camera, “Circus of Books was my first glimpse into the fact that I wasn’t alone as a gay person.” Another: “This book store, it kept me out of harm’s way.” “I think what we did was small, human kindnesses in a very small way,” says Karen Mason in an interview clip. Check out the trailer below, and mark your calendar for the April 22 release of Circus of Books on Netflix.

Posted on

News Round-Up: January 28, 2020

Jeff Ferreira (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Woofy Jeff Ferreira (above), standing in Times Square, “Kiss me, use me! Today I will be all yours!” #HoldMyBeer You can follow Jeff on Instagram here. • MetroWeekly: A pastor and right-wing broadcaster who was recently granted press credentials by the White House has claimed that the coronavirus was sent by God to “purge” LGBTQ people. • Advocate: Thanks to public outcry by queer Los Angelenos, the L.A. LGBT Center will not be losing its funding to offer free tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. On Monday, the center was informed its resources were scheduled to be cut – but queens will rise up. • Super Bowl: Rupaul’s Drag Race alums Kim Chi and Miz Cracker are featured in a new commercial for Sabra hummus scheduled for the big game on February 2.

• Instinct Magazine: Porn star Armond Rizzo took to his social media after being approached by an adult studio that reportedly pays performers in the bottom bunk less than their co-stars. Armond was not having it: “It’s just unjust you pay bottoms less, and for that I decline working for you!” • Washington Blade: The Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday voted 63-34 to repeal the state’s statutory same-sex marriage ban. House Bill 1490, introduced by state Del. Nancy Guy (D-Virginia Beach), would officially repeal Virginia’s prohibition the U.S. Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional in its 2015 ruling in the Obergefell case. • LA Times: Sen. Bernie Sanders has taken a significant lead – 6 points over Sen. Elizabeth Warren in number two spot – in the Democratic primary race in California. Under state Democratic Party’s rules, delegates go to candidates who get at least 15% of the vote statewide or in a congressional district.

Posted on

Attending The 2020 GayVN Awards ‘The Oscars Of Gay Porn’

From the red carpet of the 2020 GayVNs
The 2020 GayVN Awards were held Monday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and it was quite the gay affair. Performers, directors, producers, and fans of adult entertainment came out to celebrate and hand out trophies at the event that’s been called “the Oscars of Gay Porn.” I’ve never attended an awards show for adult entertainment, so I was super curious as to how this would all go down (no pun intended). One thing I did learn – when picking up your credentials, don’t stand in the background while Cutler X is taking a photo because he will yell at you for “photo-bombing.” Now, the awards show did begin an hour late (is that called being on ‘gay time?’), but what followed was an impressive and well-produced event by ManyVids. Alec Mapa returned to hosting duties this year alongside new co-host comedienne/TV host Nicole Byer. Plus, there was musical entertainment by King Princess and a special performance by Alyssa Edwards.
GayVN Awards co-hosts Nicole Byer & Alec Mapa
At the event, Dallas Steele (nominated for Best Group Sex Scene and Favorite Daddy) told me he feels the event helps to de-stigmatize the industry. “You look around at all these beautiful, well-dressed people,” said Steele. “If my mom were still around I’d be proud to have her here. I think it’s incredibly positive about our industry.” Brian Davilla (nominated for Favorite Bear, also directed nominees in Best All Sex movie and Best Group scene) said his favorite aspect of the night was the sense of family among a group of people he warmly termed a ‘weird fraternity.’ “I’ve developed lifelong friendships that really transcend the work,” shared the woofy Davilla. Some history was made and a barrier broken as DeAngelo Jackson became the first Black performer to take home the trophy for Best Actor for his work in Blended Family:

Cade Maddox won for Performer of the Year:

Check out some of the attendees on the red carpet:
‘Best Actor’ winner DeAngelo Jackson
L-R ‘Favorite Bear’ nominee Brian Davilla & John Hickey
‘Best Group Scene’ & ‘Favorite Daddy’ nominee Dallas Steele
L-R Nic Sahara, Andrew Christian, Nick Masc
I also got to meet the oh-so-handsome Matthew Camp, who was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in Camp Chaos. A year ago, I interviewed Camp about the then-upcoming project and I am happy to report Camp is even more impressive in person as he was warm, thoughtful and charming in our short conversation.
Meeting Matthew Camp (Best Actor nominee for ‘Camp Chaos’)
Here’s the interview with Camp in case you missed it:

Here is the full list of winners for the 2020 GayVN Awards: 2020 GayVN Hall of Fame inductee – Tim Valenti, NakedSword/Falcon Studios CEO Best Actor – DeAngelo Jackson, Blended Family, Icon Male/Mile High Best All-Sex Movie – Love and Lust in Montreal, Falcon Studios Best Bi Sex Scene – Natalie Mars, Ella Nova, Ricky Larkin & Wesley Woods; Free for All, WhyNotBi.com Best Director – Feature – Jake Jaxson & RJ Sebastian; Le Garçon Scandaleux, CockyBoys/PinkTV; Best Director – Non-Feature – Steve Cruz; Outta the Park!, Raging Stallion/Falcon Best Duo Sex Scene – Ashton Summers & Pheonix Fellington, Fellington’s Flip Fuck, HelixStudios.com Best Feature – Vegas Nights, HelixStudios.com Best Fetish Sex Scene – Alex Mecum & Michael DelRay; My Brother’s Discipline, Kink.com Best Group Sex Scene – Alam Wernik, Blake Ryder, Jay Dymel, Nic Sahara & Sean Duran; Five Brothers: The Takedown, NakedSword/Falcon Best Newcomer – Nic Sahara and Alex Riley (tie) Best Supporting Actor – Dante Colle, At Large, Raging Stallion/Falcon Best Three-Way Sex Scene – Jack Harrer, Peter Annaud & Marcel Gassion; Offensively Large 4, BelAmi/Pulse Performer of the Year – Cade Maddox GayVN 2020 Fan Awards: Favorite Bear – Teddy Torres Favorite Body – Blake Mitchell Favorite Bottom – Rourke Favorite Butt – Beaux Banks Favorite Cam Guy – Callum and Cole (joint page) Favorite Cock – Calvin Banks Favorite Daddy – Rocco Steele Favorite Dom – Austin Wolf Favorite FTM Star – Billy Vega Favorite Top – Zilv Gudel Favorite Twink – Joey Mills Hottest Newcomer – Rhyheim Shabazz Social Media Star – Armond Rizzo

Posted on

Markus Kage – 5 Things I Learned Doing Gay-For-Pay Films

Markus Kage shares 5 things he learned doing gay-for-pay films
Markus Kage (screen capture)
Markus Kage sat down with YouTube vlogger Davey Davey to share 5 things he learned doing gay-for-pay adult films. Kage was pretty forthcoming about what take-aways he had as a straight-identifying man doing gay-for-pay scenes: • First was learning to have better control over fears he might experience. So now, when he tries something new, he doesn’t freak out in the moment. Kage says instead of leaning into scary-territory, he asks himself what it is that might make him uncomfortable. That way he can process the thoughts and move ahead with having fun. • “Versatility is key when it comes to sex,” says the adult performer. And by that, he means he’s learned to unwind his old mindset needing to be a dominant alpha-male all the time.
Markus Kage chats with Davey Wavey about what he learned doing gay-for-pay adult films
L-R Davey Wavey, Markus Kage
• That led to a discussion about whether tops or bottoms work harder when it comes to sex. Kage initially believed being on the bottom bunk was easier. But when it comes to getting ready to shoot a scene that might go on for hours, he acknowledged there’s definitely more ‘prep work’ involved for the receptive partner. • When he’s ‘in the moment’ of having sex, Kage looks for that ‘something’ about his partners that turns him on and makes the experience better. He also notes that being textbook ‘hot’ doesn’t always equate into being a great sex partner. • Leaning into the intimate aspect of sex, being more connected with his partners has not only made the act of sex better but helped him grow into being a better person. I know the gay-for-pay thing can rub some folks the wrong way (bisexual, whatever…), but Kage has a charming way about him in the short video. And I won’t deny he’s pretty easy on the eyes. Plus, he clearly put some thought into what he’s saying here. Hit the play button below (language NSFW) and you’ll see what I mean.

Posted on

Hypocrisy: Homophobic WWE Wrestler Lars Sullivan Has A Gay Porn Past

WWE wrestler Lars Sullivan back in his RandyBlue days and today (images via Wikipedia)
It seems the year 2019 just wouldn’t end without one more example of homophobic hypocrisy. WWE wrestler Lars Sullivan (real name Dylan Miley) has had a heck of a year after a slew of sexist, racist and homophobic comments he made on Bodybuilding.com message boards some years ago came to light. In June, he suffered a knee injury taking him out of the ring for an estimated 6-9 months. And now, some sharp-eyed Reddit users have discovered Sullivan also used to do gay porn under the pseudonym ‘Mitch Bennett.’  A profile was found on RandyBlue.com for the performer listing two photos and two videos, and it certainly looks like Sullivan. This Twitter user found the introductory moments of “Mitch” in action.

There’s a bit more of where that scene led here (NSFW) that doesn’t get too down and dirty. It won’t surprise you that Sullivan’s Twitter account has since been deleted. All of this follows the wrestler’s very tumultuous months after his internet troll comments came back to haunt him. According to Sports Illustrated, several years ago Sullivan posted offensive comments under two usernames (“ElPerfecto” and “Disenfranchised”) but using a photo of himself. The comments, made between 2007 and 2013, included sexist remarks about WWE executive Stephanie McMahon, racist comments regarding another user, and homophobic insults about NFL quarterback Phillip Rivers.  Here’s just a sample of what the homophobic remarks were like: “Philip Rivers = Crybaby b*tch and is extremely gay. Most of California, especially sothern cal, is gay. Fits well. Hell ‘Philip’ is a gay name in itself!@” Turns out he had disparaging thoughts regarding Hispanics, Muslims and other wrestlers as well. He also once shared that “there is a grey area when it comes to the definition of rape.” Sullivan was fined $100,000 by the WWE based on breaking a morality clause in his contract, and issued an apology. “There is no excuse for the inappropriate remarks that I made years ago,” said Sullivan in a statement released by the WWE. “They do not reflect my personal beliefs nor who I am today, and I apologize to anyone I offended.” And now, his gay porn past comes back into focus. “The guilty dog barks the loudest.” Just to be clear – there’s nothing wrong with being gay; there’s nothing wrong with doing gay porn; but I do have a problem with folks making homophobic comments to sooth their own self-loathing when they’ve taken money earned from the gay community. (Source: Sports Illustrated, RingsideNews)

Posted on

Gay-For-Pay Porn Performer Tells Documentary: “I’m 100% Straight”

Gay-for-pay porn actor Dan McGraffin says he does his job for the money
Daniel McGraffin (image via Instagram)
In a new documentary from Channel 5 in the U.K., former military service member Daniel McGraffin says he found it difficult to find a decent paying job until he discovered he could earn up to £1,000 a day as a gay-for-pay porn actor. Sharing his story in The Sex Business: Swinging Both Ways, McGraffin says he spent six years as a soldier in the artillery until one day, due to lack of sleep, he snapped. At the end of a two-week leave, he went AWOL for a year. He was sentenced to 8 months in a military prison, and upon his release went in search of a job. After working as a janitor in a gym, then as a personal trainer and a DJ, a friend (who works as a dominatrix) told him about a guy who was “totally straight but does gay porn.” She put him in contact with a producer who told McGraffin “the majority of it’s fake” and hired the former military service member for £750 for a shoot. McGraffin liked the experience – and the money – so he researched the porn industry and eventually landed a 3-year contract with Lucas Entertainment.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dan Mcgraffin (@danmcgraffin) on

He says he looked into the straight porn industry but found “in gay porn, there’s way less competition, and there’s no money in straight porn. For a straight guy, there’s way more money in gay porn.” And so, he decided to work as a gay-for-pay performer. McGraffin, who goes by the stage name Geordie Jackson, pointedly shares in the documentary, “My sexual identity is straight, one hundred percent straight.” His girlfriend, Freya, appears in the documentary as well and she’s totally onboard with McGraffin’s career choice. “It’s fake,” she tells the viewer. “People say he must be a little bit gay, [but] when he gets back, he doesn’t want to think about anyone with a d**k.” Freya explains if he was working in straight porn it might bother her since there would be the potential for him to be attracted to co-stars, but with men “that risk isn’t there.” https://www.instagram.com/p/B1JF-X_nbNg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link McGraffin admits there are people who say he’s gay because he looks so at ease in his videos, but he just takes that as a compliment on his acting skills. “They don’t know the tricks of the trade,” he explains. “They say ‘you look like you’re enjoying it’. And I say, ‘thanks, that means I’m a good actor.’” Asked if he considers himself an ally to the LGBTQ community, he’s unsure but shares that his brother is openly gay. He also explains the logic, at least for him, for remaining in the adult entertainment industry as a gay-for-pay performer. “I ain’t smart, academically,”  he admits. “It’s either this or going to work in a warehouse, ’cause I have no qualifications. I have driving qualifications, but obviously, I’ve had one of them lifestyles where I’ve been banned from driving. So driving jobs are a no go.” “You need to make your money, man,” he continues. “I’m glad I found porn because I make more money now than I ever have. I see the perks of it now, I don’t even think about what I’ve got to do anymore, it’s that easy.” Some viewers, however, took to Twitter to express their skepticism about the “100% straight” label and also take offense at the gay-for-pay idiom. We’re not here to judge, though. How McGraffin identifies is his own business. And speaking of ‘business,’ check out some of the adult entertainer’s Instagram account below.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dan Mcgraffin (@danmcgraffin) on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dan Mcgraffin (@danmcgraffin) on

(source: Daily Mail)

Posted on

Boy Culture Ranks Top Gay-Porn Stars

Over at Boy Culture, Matt Rettenmund has done the hard work and ranked what he considers “History’s 225 Greatest Gay-Porn Stars.”
L-R Austin Wolf (via Instagram), Arad Winwin (via Instagram)
Over at Boy Culture, Matt Rettenmund has done the hard work and ranked what he considers “History’s 225 Greatest Gay-Porn Stars.”

I know, I know…it’s hard work but someone’s got to do it.
Rettenmund ranked the first 40 in order, and then the other 185 adult performers are included and listed in alphabetical order.

As they say, “Just to be nominated is an honor…”
Now, in all honesty, I’ll admit my knowledge of gay-porn performers is much more limited than Rettenmund, who earlier in his career worked as a gay-porn industry professional for publications like Torso, Honcho, Playguy and Mandate.

Ok, so I do know who Austin Wolf is… (via Instagram)
As Boy Culture points out, gay men didn’t have much back in the 1980s and 90s in terms of “societal instruction on what happens when two guys fall in love, or even lust.” So, gay porn was about the only source we had for figuring out how this all might work.

I remember some of these guys from videos my first boyfriend had back in the 1980s, but I’m not so good with names in terms of today’s adult performers.

But the internet loves lists, so I’ll share Rettenmund’s “Top 10” here, but you can click over to Boy Culture for the full Top 40 plus all of his honorary mentions.

As Rettenmund writes, “It’s not science, so please don’t flunk me.”

10. Lukas Ridgeston (b. 1974)
9. Brent Corrigan (Sean Paul Lockhart, b. 1986)
8. Austin Wilde (b. 1983)
7. Kevin Williams (b. 1965)
6. Chad Douglas (Martin R. Cox, 1957-1999/AIDS)
5. Jack Wrangler (John Robert Stillman, 1946-2009/emphysema)
4. Ryan Idol (Marc Anthony Donais, b. 1966)
3. Joey Stefano (Nicholas Anthony Iacona Jr., 1968-1994/O.D.)
2. Jeff Stryker (Charles Casper Peyton, b. 1962)

And Boy Culture’s number one adult entertainment star is…
1. Al Parker (Andrew ‘Drew’ Okun, 1952-1992/AIDS)

Posted on

Michael Lucas Says NO Celebrity Clients Will Be Named In Upcoming Memoir

Michael Lucas (center) with Diego LauzenRodrigues & Wagner Vittoria
(image via Instagram)

Gay porn star and producer Michael Lucas found himself in a PR debacle this morning after Page Six ran a story that Lucas will retire next year and is planning a memoir.

The New York Post gossip site reports that Lucas will retire from appearing in adult films in 2020 but continue to produce and direct.

The 46-year-old’s rep reportedly said, “Porn stars come and go, but the best ones stay in our memories [and] on our hard drives for a long time until they fade away.”

“Successfully dominating the gay adult-film industry for 25 plus years and starring in over 300 films, Michael is planning to retire the devil between his legs in 2020 but still continue to direct and produce films,” he added.

Additionally, having penned essays for HuffPost and The Advocate in the past, Lucas has apparently set his sights on a larger literary endeavor – a tell-all book from his escorting days in the 1990s.

According to Page Six, Lucas plans “to publish a juicy autobiography that will include a steamy chapter about a few top Hollywood celebs who paid him to have sex with them when he was an escort in the late ’90s.”

The gossip page says that the A-list celebrity names will remain secret until the book’s release.

But wait – there’s more!

Shortly after the publication of the story at Page Six, Towleroad posted emails from Lucas to an editor at the New York Post adamantly denying he has any plans to ‘name names’ in an upcoming memoir.

Lucas states that he considers those relationships ’sacred’ and promised to ‘take those secrets to the grave.’

Here’s the email from Lucas to the New York Post via Towleroad:

Dear Carlos:

The story that ran today and attributed to me by my former publicist is absolutely false. I spent 45 minutes on the phone explaining why I would never do that and they still felt the need to give it to you. Needless to say I am perplexed by their motivation and they were fired immediately.

I am considering legal action against them.

What is true is that I’m planning to retire in 2020.

What is absolutely false is that I would ever write or consider writing a “ tell all” book and naming names of my clients.

I consider that relationship sacred and I would NEVER violate their confidence or my integrity. Period.

I have nothing but the greatest respect and gratitude for the people who trusted me with their most intimate secrets and I will take those secrets to the grave.

In follow-up correspondence, Lucas demands the online headline be corrected, sharing, “This is a major, major embarrassment for me.”

(h/t Towleroad, Page Six)

Posted on

Sam Rockwell Kills In SNL “Gay Porn” Sketch

It was a two-fer for me this weekend as actor Sam Rockwell hosted last night’s edition of Saturday Night Live, and the musical guest was openly bisexual Halsey – both favorites of mine.

Rockwell is usually known for his edgy, dark roles in movies like the currently HAF feature film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri for which he won the Golden Globe last weekend.

But last night we got a look at his comedic chops, and Sam was right on point.

Check this sketch where Sam plays a dad who meets his gay son’s boyfriend, Marco. Sam just can’t shake the feeling his “knows” Marco.

And then it comes to him 🙂

Watch below.

Posted on

News Round-Up: January 4, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• These high school sweethearts share their love story in OUT’s latest “Love Portfolio”

• A NYC bartender is suing Manhattan restaurant Bagatelle for writing him up as “dressing up like a gay porn star” and looking “like a faggot.” The manager then posted the write up for employees to see.

• Over 1,200 law professors have told Congress to drop Sen. Jeff Sessions nomination for U.S. Attorney General.

• A new study shows one in five straight men like to watch gay porn.

• Repealing ObamaCare would increase the budget deficit by $350 billion over 10 years, according to a new study.

• The home of a California gay couple was trashed, painted with slurs and covered in bleach in apparent hate crime.

• Check the new music video from Randy Report fave Sia, “Never Give Up,” featured on the soundtrack for Lion.