The definitive mag for young gay men...
Written: Nov 21 '99 (Updated Jan 04 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great articles, made for young gays
Cons: Lacking Diversity
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| caconti's Full Review: XY Magazine |
The original version of this review, written in late 1999, was my first Epinions review. It also was my only moment of "outing" on the site, unless of course you count my obsession with Angela Lansbury as more than a bit suspicious. I am bisexual, and instead of deleting this review now that I'm well-known on the site I decided to really put some effort into presenting a useful and entertaining take on XY, the only gay community magazine I subscribe too...
The Themes
Each issue of XY comes with a theme, marked on the cover and then infused into almost every article in the magazine. Ranging from sports to computers and straight boys, the themes reflect spheres of interest within the gay youth community. More a springboard for thought than a dissection of an issue, don't come here looking for a deep exploration of the meaning of life. DO come here for a fun and informative look at the world...
Gay Gossip/News
The stories covered in XY range from homophobia to true crime. This past summer they did a two issue expose on a young man who killed his alleged gay lover in a drug/love/theft bit of insanity. In this way, XY is very much like the gay man's Maxim, putting a little spice and adventure into every issue.
XY works hard to keep readers up to date on what the newest trends are in the young gay community, be it sushi or a new buzzword. But these throwbacks to Seventeen magazine don't detract from the strength of its stronger and more important articles. Almost every month features a small article discussing the coming out process, the most consistently important and difficult problem in a young gay man's life. From real life stories to helpful advice, the magazine works hard to provide support to readers struggling to come to grips with their sexuality.
Cartoons
While the entire magazine, covers included, reek of sexuality, it is the monthly cartoon which is always the most consistently sexy/dirty. It inevitably involves a gorgeous young gay man having/dreaming of having a rendezvous with a/a group of hot straight boys. The most immature and pornographic section of the magazine, it is of course the most popular with many readers...
Clothing
Graphics heavy magazine always have a responsibility to reflect new trends in their photos, especially in the clothing that the models wear. XY is packed with the hottest fashions for all kinds of young gay men, from the hyped out club kid to the conservative khaki preppie. The idea is to be as cutting edge and inclusive as possible, a difficult goal that is well executed in the magazine. As with most fashion-heavy magazines, a shopping guide for all of the displayed clothing is thoughtfully included, just in case you feel like shelling out $50 for a Calvin Klein t-shirt.
Back Issues
More valuable than gold, back issues of XY are hard to come by, and expensive when you do. Since the magazine is still only on issue 22, back issues from a year ago were made during its initial "growth period", which means that the number of magazines published was quite low, making the past supply simply unable to meet the current demand. If you're desperate for an issue, I recommend heading over to EBay, where issues are always on auction. Be forewarned, however, as I have seen early copies going for $15 or more!
If you have AOL, all the info you could ever want can by found at keyword XY
The Twink Warning
Be forewarned that this magazine is focused on two criteria; youth and twinkness. Young, cute and athletic, all of these boys fit into a fairly tight mold. That means that XY often lacks diversity in its models, both in appearance and ethnicity.
The Final Verdict
This magazine is hot, and things are just picking up. After a recent issue attacking those advertisers who have shunned the magazine for being "too gay", more money has been puring in and the quality/reliability of XY has improved. The website is also back up at XY.com,providing new content, back issue information as well as submission calls. In other words, lots of great stuff!
I highly recommend this magazine for people who fit into its demographic. It's a niche magazine that speaks to a very specific community that is hungry for information and entertainment...
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
caconti
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Christian Conti
Location: Washington, DC
Reviews written: 636
Trusted by: 481 members
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