Shanenigans

Starbucks-soaked texter. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely intentional. Thoughts my own. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-11831980-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}

[shanemichael]

You couldn’t have written a more sickening tragedy, to imagine a massacre in a place called Pulse that would remove the beat and breath of those for whom bravery was never a choice but the only path toward living. Out. Loud. To come into this home, take what is ours, and know that it would forever alter the pulse and purpose of queer kids much tougher than you. We lost a brother, a sister, a part of ourselves that day. How pathetic to be that desperate. But our pulse is ours; and you tried to take it. We said no.

[shanemichael]

It’s been years since I’ve posted here. But a few months ago, right after I turned 30, Playboy asked me to redesign (and relaunch) the world’s most famous magazine. 234 pages in 8 weeks. I started by commissioning Playboy’s first artistic cover in 19 years. The work above was created by a young visionary by the name of Marius Sperlich.

This cover alone took hours of creative decision making, research, rethinking and conversations. Playboy believed in me and my team every step of the way.

So here we are. And I could never predict how relevant this cover would be in light of Tumblr’s recent decisions.

In eight weeks we managed to bring together Sam Harris, Taraji P. Henson, Ezra Miller, Stormy Daniels, Roxane Gay, Emir Shiro, Ryan Pfluger, Caroline Orr, Dr. Debra W. Soh, Paul W. Downs, Sasha Samsinova, Chuck Palahniuk, Scott Dikkers, Blaise Cepis and many more to believe in our vision and participate. It’s remarkable what you can accomplish with a clear purpose.

Stay tuned. It’s only going to get better from here.

[shanemichael]

I saw this on Twitter. I don’t know who the artist is, but I’m dead.

[shanemichael]

Playboy's First Transgender Model Looks Back

Caroline “Tula” Cossey, who became the world's first transgender model to pose for Playboy magazine in 1991, opens up in her first media interview in two decades for the publication.

I wrote this. Full story from the July/August issue of Playboy here: http://www.playboy.com/articles/tula-first-transgender-in-playboy-1991

[shanemichael]

We have a gay pride parade every year to commemorate the riot at Stonewall. The American Revolution was started by a riot. The eight hour workday and labor rights were brought about in part by riots. Riots occurred at pivotal points in the movements to end slavery, to end Jim Crow, to end the Vietnam War, to expand Civil Rights, and during periods of unrest like the Great Depression and the Civil War. Riots signify a moment in history when it’s time for collective change. It’s time for change. It’s time to recognize that Black Lives Matter. Social change isn’t easy, it never is — and when you are in a position of privilege and power over others, unrest can be scary. But think about how much scarier it is on the other side, when you have nothing left to lose because your kids are getting gunned down in the streets. So in conclusion, don’t be outraged about the riots. Be outraged that black children are not safe in America, and do something about it.

Matt Comer

[shanemichael]

Stop asking me if I’m a bottom | Opus Chicago

When it comes to the bedroom, I’m equal opportunity. I can do both, and enjoy both, depending on the man I’m with. But because people more often assume I’m a bottom, I’ve attracted a lot of tops. And a lot of tops have been dead-set on knowing me only as a bottom, which is why they ask early on. They don’t want any surprises under the sheets.

[shanemichael]

Pup porn

[shanemichael]

Hooking up is a pretender’s sport | Opus Chicago

Remember that old pick-up line, “Do you wanna come over and watch a movie?” No one ever ends up watching the movie. So why do we keep pretending? Why do we pretend the night isn’t leading to sex, and afterward, why do we pretend sex meant more that it did?

[shanemichael]

Thoughts on azealia banks covering playboy?

having read the interview all I can say is I'm excited about it

[shanemichael]

Today was a day

[shanemichael]

Diary of a(n uncut) dick

The divide between foreskin lovers and haters is egregious. We Shar-Pei owners have our own porn channels and some dating apps even have a “cut/uncut” preference filter. The natural male penis, once an objet d’art for Michelangelo, has become a 21st century fetish – and a health concern in much of the world.

The Mayo Clinic reports that uncircumcised males are at greater risk for infections and STDs and eight in ten boys in the U.S. get chopped, leaving only 20% of us to defend our flappy flops to the masses. In fact, I didn’t encounter a fellow uncircumcised dude until years after I started have sex. We are indeed the minority, and despite the continuing progression of sexual rights, social acceptance of extra skin is flaccid.

[shanemichael]

Did ‘Looking’ Just Air The Most Perfect Gay Sex Scene Ever?

On Sunday, the writers ditched the tricks and, in doing so, they produced the most perfect gay sex scene in recent memory. “Looking Top to Bottom” [is] essentially a meditation on role reversal, which is perhaps the most real and universally relatable conversation gay men have about sex. And what was so special about Looking’s tackling of said conversation was that it wasn’t a conversation at all. It was a completely emotional—and physical—exploration of the topic.

[shanemichael]

Do gay men date anymore? : Chicago Phoenix

The allure of “something more” is so ubiquitous, dating becomes less a priority. For some, it’s not even an option. Instead, we fuck each other. We don’t respond to text messages. We phase men out. We flirt and flake, blow and go.

Has the wealth of options for meeting gay men only made us apathetic to short-term commitments?

Because we have so much more, are we constantly looking for something more? Other men? Other options? Other plans for New Year’s Eve? And even so, when did saying, “we’re on a date” become as much of a next step as “I do”?

[shanemichael]

tumblr is dead. that's it. bye boys

[shanemichael]

sports.

[iyimibole]

[shanemichael]

I NEED TO FIND A DATE FOR MY SISTER'S WEDDING NYE IN CHICAGO. (ACTUALLY, ROCKFORD.) NONE OF MY PROSPECTS ARE COMING THROUGH.

gettin' desperate. who's free. halp.

UPDATE: it's open bar and also, I already booked us a hotel room.