Disappointment...

Joakim Noah

I'm personally extremely disappointed in the recent behavior of Joakim Noah, center for the Chocago Bulls team of the National Basketball Association. The towering young star, after his second personal foul, was benched during last Sundays playoff with the Miami Heat. While approaching the bench, he was caught live, on camera, yelling "Fuck you, faggot!" to a heckling fan. I'm sorry, I just expected better from this young man. He's only in his mid-20s, true. In my opinion, that doesn't justify his actions. That alone makes them all that more inexcusable. He's come-of-age in a time when people are free to be themselves and the NBA, his employers, acknowledge the existance of and their responsibility to their gay followers. In my book, he should have and definitely knows better. What he said was totally out of line, offensive and unacceptable for any celebrity or public figure. Period.

To Joakim's credit, he did apologize in an impromptu interview immediately after the Bulls lost to the Heat. "The fan said something that I thought was disrespecful, I got caught up in the moment and I responded. I was frustrated and I didn't mean any disrespect to anyone." He issued an additional formal apology the next day (Monday). The NBA fined him $50,000 and he accepted the fine as a consequence of his misbehavior. That's all good. However, I'm still disappointed in what he said. I know for a fact that he was taught better than his temper demonstrated.

Yannick Noah

Joakim is of both Cameroonian and French heritage. As a mixed-race man, I know for a fact that he's experienced first-hand discrimination due to his ancestry at least a few times in his life.  His father, Yannick Noah, also of mixed racial heritage, is a noted former French Tennis Open competitor and a current French pop singer with immense European fan base. His own attitudes towards gay people, at least publicly, are inclusive and supportive. He didn't raise his son to be a bigoted homophobe. I hope he has cautioned his son since this incident about his choice of words. Perhaps even swatted his skull with his tennis racquet!

Ironically, Yannick himself has been the subject of many gay rumors in his past. As recently as 2005 and 2006, he was villified in the Cameroonian media as being a gay man. There were some politicians in Cameroon (we all know that type) advocating for his arrest. So, we know the son failed to understand the knowledge that his father passed on to him. Hopefully, he'll get the message this time around. The fine and all the negative press just might help reinforce the lesson on inclusion.

Joakim and Yannick Noah

It's Worth How Much????

Got To Have Some!

We're all familiar with the old wise proverb: A picture is worth one-thousand words. Trust, guys, if this one is as good as it promises to be, then this photograph, like the massive organ it depicts, is indeed PRICELESS! Just the thought of that piece of art makes me...!

In Moderation, This Is Good

As gay men, many of us, well; most of us, face innumerable numbers of challenges each and every day of our lives. For some of us, just making it safely through one more day alive is a constant struggle. Others among us have to suffer pettiness and humiliation on an ongoing basis. A few of us are estranged from our families and loved ones. Still others live daily in constant fear that a guarded and secret aspect of their essence, their being, might be discovered and their comfortable world comes crashing around them. More than a handful of our community are threatened and physically/verbally abused on a regular basis. The list goes on, injustice after injustice.

That's the reason that we all need to make certain that as a part, an essential core, of our daily routine needs to be devoted to taking the time to love ourselves. In an often hostile and indifferent world, it is important that we recall our basic goodness and celebrate ourselves, who we are and how we love. Regardless of race, ethnicity, size, ability, religion, physical attributes and IQ, every one of us is unique in our own way with certain characteristics that make us special. We all have gifts, skills and talents that distinguish us from all the rest of humanity. Therefore, we all need to take the time and love ourselves. All it takes is a couple of moments to focus on our strengths and our goodness. The world and those in it are eager to remind us of our shortcomings. We need to counter the negatives by reminding us of the positives that we have and that we are worthy and deserving of our love.

As we accept and love ourselves as gay men, we are, in turn, opening ourselves to the love of others. The more that we acknowledge that we are lovable, it is easier for us to both give and to receive love to and from others. Despite the obstacles and hurdles that we have to confront in order to get through the day, at the end of the day, love is what matters. 

WTF? Who's This Adonis?

I saw these pictures and just couldn't resist sharing them with you. Who is this modern day Greek god in African skin? Hell, he's the best of both worlds rolled into one hellahot specimen of manhood! Normally, I'm not partial to pumped muscles but this bro is an exception. Of course, it could be due his succulent nipples surrounded by those tattoos, fucking eye candy! After all, we all know what a fondness I have for some sexy nips!

Join me in drooling and lusting over this masculine piece of wonder! He's so fine, I'll give you a double dose! Skeet,skeet!

World Naked Gardening Day

Naked "American Gothic" Gardeners



The seventh annual observance of World Naked Gardening Day is this upcoming weekend, Saturday, May 14, 2011. Beginning in 2005, this day is designated to encourage people from across the globe to
tend to their gardens, regardless of the variety, while nude. Whether flowers or vegetables, indoor plants or an outdoor landscaped wonder, participants are asked to exercise their green thumb entirely natural in nature. Protective hats to block ultraviolet rays and sandals/shoes to protect the feet are permitted. Not only is this activity environmentally-friendly, it's also fun and healthy.

My BF and I are attending to our indoor flowers and plants naked on this day. We're also hosting another gay couple to lunch and planting our hibiscus plants while were all four nude. Join in the fun and nurture your nature nude! You may find that you'll like it! Things are better when done naked!

Almost Skinny Dipping Time Again!

Men Skinny Dipping

There's this fun summer ritual known as skinny dippimg. Men (or adolescent boys), retreating to a secluded lake, pool, river, watering hole, stripping off every thread of clothing and swimming naked. This peculiar activity is usually done during the heat of summer as a means of escaping the torrid heat and humidity of those long, hot afternoons. Strange as it may seem, this is honest innocent fun and despite local laws against public nudity or indecent exposure, local law enforcement usually looks the other way when encountering males enjoying this harmless past-time. This honorable and classic tradition maybe the only time that social nudity may be considered normal and free from harsh judgment.

At the same time, participating in this adoloescent/young adult (or older) game, for some, may serve as an introduction to social nudity. It may lead to even bigger, barer and bolder experimentation with nudism. Unfortunately, for some, it may be their only opportunity to experience social nudism. They are too bond by the conventions and taboos of modern society to step outside the box and be themselves, be naked and be free. They lack the courage and the opprtunity to be themselves, nude, unburdened by clothing.

As the summer-time approaches and you have the chance, get out and skinny dip. Frolic naked in the water and enjoy. It's fun and it's a seasonal tradition. Strip off those clothes and get wet!

Mixed Race Celebrity Mondays: Greg Louganis

Greg Louganis and Olympic Gold Medals

Gregory Efthimios Louganis was born in San Diego, California, on January 29, 1960, to a Polynesian (from the Kingdom of Samoa) father and a Scandinavian (from the Kingdom of Sweden) mother. His biological parents never married and he was adopted at the age of 15 months by Peter and Frances Louganis. He was their second adopted child, having an older sister. He grew up in San Diego and suffered ridicule from his peers due to his dark complexion (he was frequently called "nigger") and because of an undiagnosed learning disability (dyslexia). His early extracurricula activities, acrobatics, dance and gymnastics soon led to his interests in diving. Diving lessons followed once his innate skills were recognized.

His success in diving soon ended the peer harassment and gained local attention, but not before he got into trouble over drugs, alcohol and an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Two years after his first diving lesson he earned the score of a perfect 10 at the Junior Olympics national competition in Colorado. Other titles soon followed and his training intensified. In 1976,  he received the Silver Medal in diving at the Montreal Summer Olympics. This was the first of a series of Olympic championships.

Greg Louganis at Seoul Olympics

Upon graduation from high school, Greg attended the University of Miami, Florida. While an undergraduate there, he privately acknowledged his homosexuality and moved in with a boyfriend. He continued to work on his diving career excelling on both platform and springboard. Professors at the university identified and diagnosed his dyslexia and arranged for tutoring. His scholastic ability also improved.

In 1979, Louganis won both the springboard and platform events at the Pan American Games. He was set for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow and was devastated when the US decided to boycott them due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He transferred to the University of California, Irvine, so as to train with US Olympic Coach Ron O'Brien. It was at this time that he entered into an abusive relationship with an unscrupulous and unfaithful man. It was during this long-term partnership that he contracted HIV from his boyfriend. He confided his serostatus to his coach who continued to support and encourage him. His training regimen paid off eventually. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Greg Louganis became a darling of the media and gained international fame winning two Gold medals on both platform and springboard events. He also earned his BA in theater from UC. His career thus launched, commercial endorsement contratcts flowed enabling him to support his inreasingly ill and unstable partner and himself.

Louganis Modelling

Remaining closeted and quiet about his sexual orientation, Greg was the adored object of his fans internationally, both female and male. He was often seen posing in suggestive situations, intended for his women admirers, but more likely than not ending up on the walls of gay men everywhere. This was when the gay rumors began, especially after his lover moved in with him and became his "manager." Despite these innuendos, his career continued to grow. He followed his training routine setting his sights on the 1988 Summer Olympics. He stayed focused on his diving goals, even as his personal life began to fall apart. His partner/manager steadily became increasingly secretive, abusive and possessive and almost ruined his future. Once his dishonesty was discovered by Greg, he was practically bankrupt.

Keeping this personal debacle from the press fell into the lap of his trainer and confidante, Ron O'Brien. His coach kept Greg on track and the media at bay. Louganis and his boyfriend eventually separated as the gossip surrounding his sexuality became widespread. It is a credit to the efforts of Coach O'Brien that the sports media maintained a respectable silence concerning his private life once his former lover got sick and finally succumbed to complications due to AIDS.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Greg faced his toughest competition of his career. Now taking HIV medications, he feared discovery as he travelled to that Asian country. His accident on the springboard and subsequent bleeding into the pool caused added stress and anxiety. His dedication to the diving sport helped him stay on the path to his goal and he returned to the US with an additional two Gold medals, bringing his total of Olympic awards to five. A record in Olympic history. He retired from Olympic competition in 1989.

In 1993, Louganis exited the closet and acknowledged his HIV status with the publication of his autobiography, Breaking The Surface. This novel made the New York Times Bestseller List and was later made into a movie starring Mario Lopez as Louganis. He publicly discussed his life as an HIV-infected gay man with a live TV interview with Barbara Walters. In 1994, Greg videotaped a message to athletes competing in Gay Games IV in New York City.

In 1998, he testified before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in order to remove Cobb County, Georgia, as an off-site venue for the Atlanta Olympics due to that jurisdictions homophobic policies. The effort was successful and the IOC began to measure a community over its inclusiveness towards all people in determining where to hold subsequent games.

Greg Suggestively Posing

 Today, Greg Louganis resides in California with his pet dogs. He still plays an active role in gay equality and HIV awareness. His courage and dedication to these causes, on top of his Olympic accomplishments, make him an inspirational role model for many young gays, even today. With the recent media attention over bullying and gay teen sucide, his story is now increasingly relevant. He is indeed living proof that "it does get better."

Gregory Efthimios Louganis is one of my all-time favorite gay heroes. Even though he exited his personal closet late in his life, he demonstrates to us all how we, as gay men, regardless of race or ethnicity, should try to live. Proud and honest.