Austin, Texas performance artist Paul Soileau is the man behind personas Rebecca Havemeyer, the grande dame of the Austin queer scene, and more recently Christeene Vale, a monster of genderfuckery who has been touring New York and San Francisco in recent months promoting her EP, “Soldier of Pleasure.” Genteel Rebecca is the host of the “Hey! Homo” film series, which screens little-known treasures from the likes of John Waters and Pedro Almódovar, and performs her cabaret routine to packed houses.
EVEN IF WE WERE “displeased” by James Franco’s turn as a young Allen Ginsburg in ‘Howl’, very little compares to the original. Now on display at the National Galley or Art in DC a collection of rarely seen photographs taken by the poet from 1953 to 1963. Oh, to have been alive and young and in New York then! The best synopsis of the whole Beat experience is summed up by Edmund White (another iconic figure) in the NYRBlog, where he writes: “Almost all of the Beats were bisexual and one another’s lovers. Neal Cassady, the heartthrob of the bunch, slept with everyone, male or female, though he preferred women and was never faithful to anyone.” Amen.
Before the summer is completely over it is time for a steak dinner. Even those who possess no grill. Churrasco, Entrana, skirt steak…. It does not matter what you call it but it is probably the most flavorful cut of meat available. I purchase and consume grass fed, grass finished beef. It is better for our health and the health of the animals. That said, even feeding beef grain will not ruin the taste of the skirt steak. Even the lowest grade, cheapest version does have a great flavor. So if your budget is too tight for the good stuff you can head to the grocery store.
A conversation with Texas artist, Ryder Richards, about his new show “Trajectory” presented by Ro2 Art. We talked about masculinity, using art as an excuse to get laid, and guns as phallic devices among other things. He’s gracious to accept our interview and confesses he has no qualms about being interviewed for a gay blog — even if his friends make fun of him for it. “There are a thousand ways to call a man out or test his masculinty,” he responds. “And I am sure it happens all the time all over the world, but in parts of Texas (and probably Florida) your response may be vital to your longevity.”
Gary Shteyngart’s new novel, “Super Sad True Love Story” (say that five times fast), debuted to critical acclaim a few weeks ago—and we’re not surprised. To his credit, Shteyngart is a savvy marketer, brilliant writer and is seemingly fun to be around; but mostly he has all the industry support an A-list author can wish for. His trailer includes cameos from superstar literary figures like Jay McInerney (“Bright Lights, Big City”), Jeffrey Eugenides (“The Virgin Suicides”), Edmund White (“A Boy’s Own Story”) and, of course, our favorite artthrob James Franco. Obviously, there is ton of satire here, but that’s what makes the whole premise of a Shteyngart book trailer even funnier. The fact is, authors rarely read the books they blurb, people who attend Paris Review Parties tend to be assholes, and guys like McInerney definitely get a fair share of collegiate ass. What a strange, little literary world we’ve created. And all the more reason to revel in it.
If you happen to be in London over the next week, you’ll want to drop by East Gallery for their latest exhibition Boy BANG Boy, c0-curated by artists Stuart Sanford and Sichi. Dealing primarily in the photographic medium, the exhibition pulls together a collection of work that explores narcissism, egoism, voyeurism and romanticism found in everyday depictions of male youth. Set in today’s milieu of social-media savvy youth broadcasting their likenesses from a variety of platforms, photos like those in the exhibit play with the boundaries between the casual and intimate exhibitionism of self-portraiture and staged, deliberate depictions of youthful confidence. Among the artists represented in the show you’ll find Homo-Neurotic favorites Ryan Pfluger and Ignacio Lozano, in addition to Eiki Mori, Florent Toutoulp, Daniel Karlsson, Jeff Hahn, Sakiko Nomura, and Stuart Sandford. (probably NSFW after the jump)
We’ve posted on the music video phenomenon known as iamamiwhoami before, so we figured you might appreciate the wonderfully bizarre artistry and storytelling behind this latest video.
Matt Riddlehoover (of Watch Out) directs Gaze, a new film that sets the works of today’s most revered talents (Adam Bouska, Bruce La Bruce, Stuart Sandford, and Austin Young, et al.) against a provocative, highly amusing commentary track that dares to ask, “What attracts us?” Featuring an eclectic line-up of artists, comedians and gay pop culture icons (including Jackie Beat, Ian Harvie, and Selene Luna).

Song by the Irrepressibles, “In This Shirt”.
Straight to Hell (a/k/a The Manhattan Review of Unnatural Acts) is a living legend. Conceived and founded by cult writer Boyd McDonald in the early 1970s, it quickly gained a large following and underground notoriety due to a combination of graphic sexual content, radical politics and stinging wit. The unique concept of Straight to Hell remains unchanged: via a New York City P.O. box, readers are invited to send their accounts of true sexual experiences to the editor. Over the decades Straight to Hell has become an infamously comprehensive and uncensored library of homosexual practice and identity. The resulting series is a uniquely democratic and powerful collection of bizarre, funny, scary, and raunchy stories documenting the real and often embarrassing sex lives of a wide range of men – detailing a continuous chronology spanning nearly a century.
Exile is hosting a party with editor Billy Miller. Read more about the zine and its history @ Dennis Cooper’s Blog Entry on STH and its History












