This is a gay lifestyle magazine. It is not pornography; while there are photo spreads of hot young men, they usually keep their pants on. It is not really a news magazine, like Out or Advocate though it does have enough news articles to say they are socially relevant. No, it mostly focuses on the lifestyle, and as such is a light, fun magazine, aimed at a younger demographic.
With a cover price of $4.95, you get around 74 pages of articles, interviews, and reviews. About 40% of the magazine is ads, a fair mix. However, subscriptions run around $15.00, and frequently promotions lower the price to $9.95. That is obviously the value way to go.
The magazine is slick, well designed, and laid out in several departments. Upfront contains editorials, letters, and several recurring columns, like the sweet feature called parent of the month, where an accepting parent is spotlighted, and their child tells what it was like to have them for a role model. The Couples Quiz is an in-depth interview with a successful gay couple; like the old Newly Wed game, they ask each one the same questions, and let you compare their answers. Then we go to the Dating Game, and they compare two boys they set up on a blind date (in an interesting note, these are rarely hugely successful. That says something, but I'm not sure what.) Spotted has paparazzi photos from gay events and parties around the country. Sparks is an introduction to a new artist, and upcoming mega releases. The overall tone of Upfront feels like a static My Space browse.
Mix is the next section, an overview of what's new in media with reviews of movies, books and music with gay themes, or by gay artists (or just gay friendly ones. Can you say, Madonna?) This of course, is my personal favorite.
Gay Travel News spotlights three places worldwide where gays, and their money, are welcomed. From London, to Maui, to Vegas, with things as far flung as Samoan islands, if there is a gay life, or if it just a safe place to get away from it all, they will tell you the ups and downs of it all.
Goods gives reviews of grooming products, electronics, and automobiles, in other words, our accessories. Side bars feature relevant snippets of information, for instance, on a page comparing two phones includes an article on Greenphone.com, a web site that actually pays you for your old cell phone.
Speak is the last section, and features Health, Man to Man, First Person and Soapbox, a final word. Health is an advice column, offering hints on what to do about love handles, and the vanishing butt in the older man, can you pass AIDS onto others through your sweat and other questions of concern to gay men. Man to Man is a Dear Abby for the gay set. How do I broach the subject of my boyfriend's drinking, how can we introduce our moms without starting World War III, and why does he cheat? I have to say, I have never taken exception to the advice; often humorous, but never flippant, it is always well thought out and sound. First Person gives a gay writer Jonathan Riggs a chance to write an article on his own experiences, from why I like to play the girl characters in video games, to his obsession with Bananarama. The last page is the Soapbox, an editorial that ties into the overall theme of the issue. This latest issue is the Green issue, and therefore the last word goes to Mother Nature.
Included and interspersed are articles on sexy boy toys that grace their covers, an interview article, and pictures of their sculpted, shaved abdomens, bulging pecs, and tapering lats, a fashion spread, usually featuring a fair amount of skin, and clothing in a much more realistic price range than say, Genre. Also they always include one article with more substance; for instance, the dating difficulties of the HIV Positive man.
All in all, this is a light, happy magazine, shiny, and designed for short attention spans. And knowing their audience, they make darn sure they grab your attention, and try not to bore you. It makes a refreshing read. Still it comes from an extremely positive place; it supports our arts and creative efforts, and shows us that there are gay people out there in the world with great relationships with their parents, and long term relationships with each other. It makes you feel normal.
Of course, it is aimed at gay men, and therefore is going to be of less interest to the rest of the world, but at least it is a magazine that you can leave out in your home, unembarrassed like you would be by Mandate or The National Enquirer.
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