Campers Get Catty Over Florida Snub, Rant About Being Excluded From ‘Annual Public Cavity Search’

Campers Get Catty Over Florida Snub, Rant About Being Excluded From ‘Annual Public Cavity Search’

Camping

Apparently gay camping is a thing now, according to a trend piece out of South Florida. But wait, how is this new? Didn’t queers invent camp?

Ohhhh, you mean like outdoorsy-camping. Okay. Well, that makes a little more sense: out there in the woods, only a tent between you and the wild, cuddling with a friend in the dark or skinny-dipping in an isolated lake — frankly, camping sounds like the gayest thing a person can do.

Related: While Camping, This Guy Hooked Up With His Friend. Now? Radio Silence.

A few observations from the South Florida Gay News‘s hard-hitting expose on the phenomenon: there are actual gay campgrounds, just like you find gay ghettos in cities. And not too surprisingly, those campgrounds tend to be located very close to urban areas.

Such places are dotted all over the south — including three in Tennessee, good grief. Yeah, if you’re a gay man living in Memphis, it totally makes sense that you’d want to flee into the hills where nobody’s going to find or bother you.

But as always seems to happen when gay people assemble, gay camping is apparently not without its drama. The SFGN‘s article about gay camping lists a variety of Florida gay campgrounds, but omits one called Vitambi Springs. And a couple of commenters seem to have taken that very, very personally.

Related: The Iowa State Senator Cracking Down on Gay Camping

“I believe we are about 6,000 members strong,” says one Vitambi camper, “maybe they should have insisted on a less biased, more objective (and way less catty in a passive aggressive way) article.”

Another commenter writes, “[W]e were intentionally snubbed by the writer…we hesitated to invite back the author on the weekend of his choosing to undergo our annual public cavity search… Frankly, I’m embarrassed by his self-righteous pettiness. I just don’t relate to his view of what makes camping special.”

The comment concludes, “He allowed his agenda to Trump the interest of the community and nobody appreciates a bully.”

Sure seems like a fun community!

Oh Florida, never change.

Related: Boy Scouts Leader Accused Of Coercing Teens Into Late Night, Boozed-Fueled Threesome

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Zachary Quinto Gets His Freak On – WATCH

Zachary Quinto Gets His Freak On – WATCH

zachary quinto missy elliott

Zachary Quinto is the latest star to join the Lip Sync Battle.

He’s set to face off against his Star Trek co-star Zoey Saldana this Thursday June 9 and he apparently got the note from Joseph Gordon Levitt and Channing Tatum that doing a little bit of drag goes a long way on this show.

In anticipation of the showdown, Spike posted a preview clip of Quinto’s rendition of Missy Elliot’s “Get Your Freak On”, which looks to be as spectacular as we could hope for.

Get the popcorn, and watch below.

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How is Your Phone Changing You? This Couple Has a Few Ideas

How is Your Phone Changing You? This Couple Has a Few Ideas

A study published by the National Toxicology Program last month, which showed an increase in tumors in male rats exposed to cellphone-like radiation, raised some concerns about the safety of too much cell phone usage. While researchers agree that the findings are far from conclusive, it made us question how we have changed since mobile phones became part of our lives.

Thankfully, Canadian couple Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown, the brains behind YouTube sensation AsapSCIENCE, just posted a new episode where they ask “How is your phone changing you?”

mitchgregPeople spend an average of 4.7 hours a day looking at their phones, the episode’s narrator Mitch says, and just the posture alone can be bad for the spine. Combined with the length of time spent in from of the computer, that has led to an increase in the incidence of myopia (near-sightedness) in North America. In the 1970s, about one quarter of the population had the condition. Today, nearly a half do.

When it comes to the psychological effects, Mitch explains how we become addicted to our phones by using the very popular Candy Crush game as an example: when you achieve small goals, he says, your brain is rewarded with bursts of dopamine. A process called “compulsion loop” makes you want more and more of it. That loop, by the way, happens to be the same loop responsible for the behaviors caused by nicotine and cocaine.

Mitch also explains how cellphone waves can mess with sleep patterns and even affect how the brain functions, which is why Harvard Medical school advises that the last 2-3 hours before bed be technology-free. (And, yes, that goes for Scruff and Tinder, as well.) He concludes the video saying that “while phones have been part of a positive change in the world, there’s no denying that they are changing us.”

The adorable couple has two YouTube channels, AsapTHOUGHT and AsapSCIENCE with almost 6 millions subscribers. They met in college while studying biology, and have been together since 2007. They publicly came out on YouTube in 2014, which you can see in the video below:

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These 50 Gay Men on PrEP Donated Blood to Protest the FDA’s Gay Blood Ban – WATCH

These 50 Gay Men on PrEP Donated Blood to Protest the FDA’s Gay Blood Ban – WATCH

via GIPHY

As we’ve previously reported, the FDA currently bans all men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood if they have been sexually active at some point within the last year. And even though that policy flies in the face of evidence provided by doctors and scientists showing that gay men pose no heightened risk of contaminating blood supplies, the FDA’s policy remains in place. In fact, it used to be much worse. Previously, gay men were banned entirely from ever donating blood. 

Screen-Shot-2015-06-18-at-4.32.52-PMLast year, New York-based artist Jordan Eagles created a striking sculpture, ‘Blood Mirror’, made from the blood of nine gay men and intended to draw attention to the discriminatory ban. Now, 50 more gay men, all of whom are on PrEP, have donated a tube of their blood to the sculpture in protest of the FDA’s policy.

Said activist and filmmaker Leo Herrera (whom readers may remember from a piece he published here), said in a statement, “The belief that gay men are inherently prone to disease is the equivalent to racial phrenology, striking at the fragile ability to view ourselves as healthy and ‘clean.’”

More on the sculpture from the film’s YouTube posting:

The sculpture, Blood Mirror, is a seven-foot-tall monolith in which the viewer can see themselves reflected in the blood of the donors, which has been encased and fully preserved. The sculpture hopes to inspire dialogue about the FDA’s discriminatory policy. A totem of science and equality, the sculpture is a time capsule of the donors’ blood that embodies the 33-year history of the FDA’s discriminatory policies and the role of PrEP as a recent advance in the prevention of HIV transmission. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medication that is proven to be 99% effective to prevent HIV when taken daily (iPrEx trial).

Watch a video on the men who have donated to ‘Blood Mirror’, below. Warning: the video is unfriendly for those who are squeamish about needles and/or blood.

[h/t Huffington Post]

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Gay Guys Worry About Dating Way More Than Straight Guys Do, Study Finds

Gay Guys Worry About Dating Way More Than Straight Guys Do, Study Finds

nervous-guy

Fifteen minutes until the date begins, and the full-length mirror still holds you in thrall, like a grisly horror movie.

At your feet, a sprawl of discarded polo shirts, blazers, blue jeans, slacks, socks, underwear, drams of cologne, moisturizer, foundation, ketamine bumpers, dog-eared self-help books, teeth whitening trays, empty bottles of vodka, cigarette butts, muscle relaxers, cartons of melted ice cream, barbells, issues of Men’s Fitness…

Is it just you, or does your face look pouchy today; a slave to the carbs? (Why did you heat up that Fettucine Alfredo yesterday…?)

Related: Bears Have Lower Self-Esteem And Engage In Much Riskier Sex, Study Finds

Does every pair of pants exist to accentuate those billowy puddles of flesh clinging tenaciously to your sides?

And that face of yours. On your way to a Clearasil casting call?

Your iPhone trembles in your hand as you text the words: “I’m not feeling well, can we reschedule…” Like, never

I mean, who the hell does this guy think he is…? 

According to a new research study sponsored by the dating website EliteSingles, data suggests gay men are markedly less confident, less secure, and far more anxious than their straight brethren.

Here’s the breakdown of the study:

  • Over 20,000 American men studied in large-scale member data analysis
  • Gay men in the US 3.5 percent less confident than straight men
  • Study also shows them 3 percent less secure, 2 percent more anxious and 2 percent more misunderstood
  • Level of happiness on par with straight men

Well, okay. That last bullet-point though.

Why would a gay man’s happiness be on par with that of straight men if dating turns gay men into nervous wrecks? We’re confused here. Are we just gluttons for punishment?

Related: “Straight” Guys Are Having More Bisexual Sex Than Ever Before, Study Finds

According to Michael Middleton of EliteSingles Research Team, “The large-scale data analysis of users’ responses discovered that, across all the indicators, gay men were demonstrably more neurotic than straight men.”

“Gay men really worry more about their love life than straight men,” he says, “but it doesn’t make them any less happy overall.”

So, so confused now.

What do you make of these findings? Do they ring true, or is this just a bunch of claptrap and how dare EliteSingles, and how dare we even promote EliteSingles…? Sound off in the comments below.

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Are You Finally Ready To Embrace The Idea Of ‘Inclusive Masculinity?’

Are You Finally Ready To Embrace The Idea Of ‘Inclusive Masculinity?’

modern-masculinity

Attention, men of Earth: Good news!

Notions of “masculinity” are changing for the better in the 21st century. (In the Western world, anyway.)

Related: Watch Straight Men React To Being Touched Seductively By Gay Men On An Escalator

According to The Good Men Project, researchers have been poking around and examining men’s social mores in various countries, and what they’ve found is that men are “becoming softer and more inclusive” in their gender roles.

The findings have led Professor Eric Anderson to coin a phase: “Inclusive Masculinity,” which include touchstones like an affinity for male-on-male affection (“hugging,” “cuddling,” kissing); a penchant for “metrosexuality” (the embrace of a softer, more fluid interpretation of manhood, a la David Beckham); social fluidity (being able to hobnob, carry on and kiki in ways previous generations would have deemed “feminine” or “gay”); and “multiplicity” (an acceptance of the fact that there are many different types of masculinity and they should all be accepted and appreciated.)

Related: Are Gay Guys More Masculine Than Straight Guys?

Anderson suggests this new model is slowly but surely replacing “orthodox masculinity,” a demonstrably darker and more rigid set of traits that include homophobia (regularly excluding “other” types of men); “compulsory heterosexuality,” where men anxiously define themselves based on what they aren’t (i.e., gay); sexism (women are objects and sexual conquests, nothing more); and stoicism (enduring unbearable physical and emotional pain without complaining.)

What does “orthodox masculinity” boil down to exactly? A term that, at the very least, makes for a superior band name: HOMOHYSTERIA.

Anderson defines homohysteria as “the fear of being homosexualized”.

It’s a feeling of terror (for a man) that if you do anything at all which isn’t “orthodox masculine”, other people will think you are homosexual.

Homohysteria takes over a society when three things are in place:

1. Widespread awareness that male homosexuality commonly exists.
2. High levels of homophobia.
3. A belief that anything not “masculine” must be a sign of homosexuality.
Anderson argues that Western homohysteria peaked in the 1980s, following the HIV/AIDS epidemic amongst gay men.

Related: Straight Men Are A Lot More Bisexual Than You Might Think

Anderson claims the costs of traditional notions of “orthodox masculinity” (i.e. guys who play competitive sports, call each other “dude,” drink lots of beer and wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the color pink) are dire: Men are expected to sacrifice their bodies “for the good of the family.” They’re encouraged to put emotional distance between themselves and everyone else, leading to intense isolation and loneliness. The violent instincts they’ve honed playing sports leads them to apply that violence to everyday life — both against themselves and others. They become locked in a sort of “gender straightjacket” that forces them to conceal their feelings, deny ever needing help, and be relegated to highly limited options in work, play, and life.

Well, that’s no good — so how do we make sure inclusive masculinities continue to spread?

Easy. Anderson says all is takes is these four simple steps:

  1. Peer Influence. As younger men demonstrate a more open idea of masculinity, they begin to influence and inspire their friends.
  2. Institutional Changes. New laws and guidelines that protect against discrimination wield huge influence, indicating that it’s okay to express yourself outside the confines of more traditional models of masculinity.
  3. Media Portrayals. The more television programs and films that feature men in various roles — and not just the role of the traditional manly man — will subsequently influence viewers for the better.
  4. Easy Access To Online Porn. Yes. Yes. One of the most surprising findings of the study is that the incredible surplus of of free gay porn online has been “instrumental in exposing the forbidden fruit of homosexual sex, comodifying it and normalizing it in the process.” This explains why more straight-identifying men are happily experimenting with gay sex than ever before.

Related: Welcome To A World Where Straight People Talk Like Gay Men

In conclusion: Younger generations of men are altogether “nicer” and more comfortable in their skin, feeling far less confined to stifling gender roles and showing less willingness to engage in homophobic taunts. If Anderson’s findings are accurate, it means that quality of life is continuing to improve for young men, which ultimately will lead to a more accepting and civil society.

What do you think? Do you buy this idea of a burgeoning “inclusive masculinity,” or do you think it’s a considerable reach — psychobabble poppycock that should be relegated to a Gender Theory course at Bard College?

 

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Davey Wavey and 13 Queer YouTubers Share Why They Love Being Gay – WATCH

Davey Wavey and 13 Queer YouTubers Share Why They Love Being Gay – WATCH

being gay

Just in time for Pride, Davey Wavey has shared a new video in which he talks to other YouTubers about why they love being gay. That is, beyond the cursory, “A bunch of d*cks, a lot of d*cks, and all the d*cks.”

“Being gay is being us, being true to who we are,” said OliviaHas2MomsLateef Thynative added, “I love the fact that we have our own culture.” These YouTube stars cover a lot of territory, from having our own language, to being celebrated for who you are, to having the freedom to express yourself and dress however you want, and much more. RyannMinajj said of the impact being gay has had on him,”Not being accepted by everyone has made me accepting of everyone.”

Watch the video, below.

What do you love about being gay? Sound off in the comments.

[image via Twitter]

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Captain America and the Winter Soldier Made Out in Front of Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan – LOOK

Captain America and the Winter Soldier Made Out in Front of Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan – LOOK

kiss

If you have been fantasizing about what would happen if Marvel decided to #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend, then you will likely appreciate the entrepreneurial spirt of two cosplay fans who recently posed for a picture with Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan.

Evans and Stan of course play Captain America and Bucky/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel superhero movies. And many fans have pointed out that the relationship these two share is stronger than any heterosexual relationship in the Cap’s movies.

To give the world a glimpse of what Captain America/Winter Solider slash fiction would look like come to life, two as yet unidentified fans posed for a picture with the actors at Wizard World Philadelphia this past weekend and made out right in front of them.

Via Design&Trend, 

Stan and Evans were greeted by two fans dressed as Bucky and Steve. The duo quickly engaged in a steamy lip-lock. While the move certainly stunned Stan, it looks like Evans approves of this unlikely pairing since he’s sporting a mischievous grin in the photo. Social media users have applauded the gesture.

Nothing to add here. (Thx @MajorSpoilers) pic.twitter.com/bttGIOM8b0

— Scott Johnson (@scottjohnson) June 4, 2016

Another fan tweeted the above image writing, “F****CK.”

Evans’ hand on cosplay Bucky’s arm as the pair kiss combined with that ‘mischievous grin’ is perfection.

Now, if we could just get Marvel on board with the big screen adaptation…

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