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IF NISSAUEL
R E T T OMADNESS! &A Q R E T T O T N I V DE
MOVIES SCENE HEALTH SHOPPI NG
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NO OTTERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS MAGAZINE
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CONTENTS
PROWLER MAGAZINE 12
Image:Devin Totter / Deviant Otter
ISSUE
I
08
Read this issue online at prowler.co.uk Check out our facebook page at www.facebook.com/prowlermag
CONTENTS 06 PROWLER’S HOT DATES
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10 VIP Q&A DEVIANT OTTER 12 DVD REVIEWS 17 SHOPPING GUIDE
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20 ESCORTS 24 HEALTH - GMFA 30 HEALTH - STRAIGHT JACKET, HOW TO BE GAY AND HAPPY
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THE PROWLER TEAM Editor Huw Jonson @huwjonson Design Phil White Key Account Manager Raj Valentino 020 7424 7456 raj.valentino@millivres.co.uk Escorts Ads Joao Vasconcelos 020 7424 7451 joao.vasconcelos@millivres.co.uk Distribution enquiries robert@millivres.co.uk Published by Millivres Prowler LTD
SEE MORE ON PAGE 12
t’s hard to believe that Prowler Magazine has been going for a whole year - and what a year it’s been! We’ve brought you porn awards, popper controversy and PrEP rationing, as well as some tasty insights into the lives of photographers, directors, porn stars and escorts. Every month we’ve been lucky to have one of GMFA CEO Matthew Hodson’s articles from their very fine FS magazine. Matthew is moving on to head up NAM, so this month he signs off by reminding us how important GMFA’s work still is today, and how it relies heavily on donations from the likes of you and me. Just saying ... We’ve covered a range of other health issues close to gay men’s hearts, or other organs. This month my health page reviews Matthew Todd’s new book, Straight Jacket - How to be Gay and Happy. Can we be gay and happy, Matthew? Well, yes, but sometimes that can only be achieved if we are prepared to face our demons. We have news of the Iris Prize coming up in October - the world’s largest festival of short LGBT films that is held every year in Cardiff. Fancy a weekend in the Welsh capital with hundreds of gay film fans? Book your tickets now! As our cover already told you, we have an exclusive interview with the unique, self-made star of online porn, the Deviant Otter. Some guys just get under your skin, and I have to admit this one is a personal favourite. In case we hadn’t given you enough lovely stuff to look at, this month we feature the work of gay artist and actor Gavin Dobson. His colourful and sometimes edgy illustrations have graced the pages of many of the country’s gay publications; visit his website and you could even buy one yourself. Gorgeous! Sadly, this is the last Prowler Magazine for the time being. I hope you enjoyed our twelve issues as much as we enjoyed putting them together. The Prowler brand continues to shine in our stores and online: you may be surprised at the variety of products on offer. Variety is a good thing - doing the same thing everyday or every weekend may not be. Life can be tough, but trying to have fun all the time can make it tougher. Here at Prowler Magazine we’ve tried to mix things up a bit because maybe that’s what we should all be doing - trying new things, getting to know ourselves a bit better, looking for some balance. However you get there, be kind to yourself - you’re the only one you’ve got. Hope to see you again soon and thank you! Huw Jonson, Editor @huwjonson
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HOT DATES
PROWLER’S HOT DATES WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT SOME OF THE SEXIEST HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAY GUYS’ CALENDAR – DON’T LET US DOWN!
SEPTEMBER THURSDAY 1ST SYNTHIA Every Thursday in September the Eagle has synthetic sounds, retro italo and hi-nrg and all things electronic with DJ WES Baggaley and guests. 6pm-3am - FREE ENTRY. @ EAGLE LONDON, 349 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5QY www. eaglelondon.com
EAGLE Eagle Saturdays presents a collection of Saturday night parties to cater for every taste. BEARRACUDA, DEEP INSIDE, CARPET BURN, FIGO on rotation. See www. eaglelondon.com for weekly events. 9pm4am. Guests £6 after 10pm, Eagle members free till midnight. @ EAGLE LONDON
FRIDAY 2ND POP NATION – EVERY FRIDAY Every Friday it’s cheese, all night long, with DJ daddi from 7pm. @ BBB Bristol Bear Bar Old Market, Bristol BS2 0BH
THE UNDERGROUND A sleazy bar with dark corners and daily special interest parties. In basement of gay bar Central Station (own entrance). Open from lunchtime – several themes each day including Butt Naked, Collared, City Boys, Come to Daddy, Feet, Pants, and Spankz. Wednesday – Hard Cruz, check website for details: www. theundergroundclub.net @ Central Station, downstairs 37 Wharfdale Road, London N1 9SD
MEN INC. Kick start your weekend at MEN INC, London’s popular Friday night social with the Men Inc. DJs. FREE BURGER BBQ and regular drinks offers. Eagle Bar opens at 6PM. Men Inc. now till 4am every Friday. Free before 10pm, £5 after. Eagle members free till midnight. @ EAGLE LONDON
SATURDAY 3RD XXL BEAR HUG/CLASSIC – EVERY SATURDAY Bears, Cubs, Chubs, Muscle Bears and their admirers can feel comfortable, or more... Today and every Saturday: 10pm – 7am. £8 / £15 non-members. @ Pulse xxl-london.com
VAULT Hot gay cruise bar open daily in the heart of London’s university quarter. Today: 1pm – 7pm. Cruise – no dress code (£8 entry). 7pm – 1am. Stripped – naked (£8 entry). Open every day: check website for the afternoon or evening dress code – cruise, underwear or stripped: www.vault139.com Sunday - under 25s FREE (proof required) Tuesday evening – students free with ID. Normal entry covers one drink, coat check, re-entry + WiFi. @ Vault 139 139-143 Whitfield St, London W1T 5EN
WEDNESDAY 7TH
HOIST: FIRST FRIDAY FISTER FEAST Expect a busy night with lots of fetish guys not only for fisting. Plus bar specials. Dress code: Leather, Rubber, Nasty Pig, Sports, Industrial, Uniform or just your boots and socks - No plain jeans and trainers. Usual GL. Doors: 10pm - 3am. @ The Hoist
BREW HUNTER’S DIRTY HABITS WEEKEND @ THE BACKSTREET Friday 2nd: Rubbrd, 10:00pm – 3:00am. Saturday 3rd: Mastery – sex smoke and submission, 10:00pm – 3:00am. Sunday 4th: Hog – who’s the daddy? 10.00pm – 1:00am. @ THE BACKSTREET
MONDAY 5TH
HORSE MEAT DISCO London’s legendary Sunday night discotheque with the Horse Meat Disco boys and a stellar line-up of guest DJs. Including a live set from CHRISTEENE on 4th September. 8pm 3am. £6 until11pm, £8 after @ EAGLE LONDON
THE HOIST: OFFICE AND NBN (NEARLY BOLLOCK NAKED) New party! OFFICE. Relax, chill, score after work. Dress: After work or underwear. 5 pm til late. Extended bar menu incl wine. Bi-sexual men welcome. Usual GL. Doors: 5pm1am. Old favourite! NBN. Boots or trainers with jocks, shorts, underwear or naked if you dare. Usual GL. Doors: 9pm-1am. @ The Hoist
CLUB RAVEN Popular monthly Bristol meet for members only men’s fetish club. Dare to try something different. Strict fetish dresscode and membership: full details and membership link at clubraven.co.uk
XXL MID-WEEK SESSION – EVERY WEDNESDAY Can’t wait for the weekend? Get your fix at the midweek booze ‘n’ criose session, 9pm – 3am, members free, guests £3. @ Pulse
SUNDAY 4TH
From made to measure fetish gear to the best underwear, toys, condoms and lube our stores have your night sorted. Visit us in person or online.
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FRIDAY 9TH
SUNDAY 12TH
SATURDAY 17TH
THE HOIST: RAWHIDE Dresscode: Leather, Rubber, Nasty Pig, Sports, Industrial, Uniform or just your boots and socks. No plain jeans and trainers. Free entry in leather before 11pm. Usual GL. Doors: 10pm-3am. @ The Hoist
SBN OPEN HOUSE / GUMMI / NBN / S.E.X. Something for everyone! Naked afternoon from 2pm, a rubber night, nearly naked evening and finish with a fetish free for all – full details at www.thehoist.co.uk@ The Hoist
BEARPIT Funky tunes and Party pops with dj daddi. @ Bristol Bear Bar, Old Market
TUESDAY 13TH
SATURDAY 10TH BOYS & SIRS / SBN AFTER DARK / HARDER Something for everyone, kicking off with Boys & Sirs, a weekly meet for those into spanking / cp / punishment. Then SBN: Dresscode: Naked. Live Sexshow courtesy of AlphaMale at 12.30. Super sexy Sounds. Free bar shots. Hot gogos. And the biggest, sexiest men only naked crowd on the planet! Finally HARDER (Bar Berlin): Dressy! Macho! Strict! The toughest dress code in the world. Leather, rubber, skin, uniform, industrial. Or just your boots and jocks. Hosted by Master Armin and Horst (Berlin). New bar. Becks on draft. Huge wet area. Hot porn cinema. Usual GL. See website for full details www.thehoist.co.uk @ The Hoist
Prowler Soho 5-7 Brewer Street, Soho London W1F 0RF
CLUB-CP Club-CP events are every Tuesday, except the first of the month. No membership or dresscode required. 7pm – 11pm £7 nonmembers, members £6. @ The Bunker Bar (East Bloc) 217 City Road, Shoreditch, London EC1V 1JN
SUZIE KRUEGER PRESENTS HARD ON Featuring the Hard Show with Alexx Steir and Ken Taylor from Cazzo Studios, DJs Brent Nicholls along DJ Latex playing their humping pumping tunes to get your cocks rocking, two arches with four levels of play space, plenty of equipment, huge wet area. Strict dress code: rubber, leather, sports, skin or just your boots! 10pm – late. Entry is £15, £20 for non-members; membership available online www.hardonclub. co.uk @ The Hoist 47b – 47c South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London SW8 1SR
FRIDAY 16TH XXL - BIRMINGHAM XXL Birmingham is the Midlands’ biggest night out for bears, blokes and everyone in between. Resident DJ Christian M provides the soundtrack. 3rd Friday of every month £5 members / £10 guests. 10pm – 3am Hairy Happy Hour from 10pm – midnight @ The Core 135 Sherlock Street, Birmingham B5 6NB www.xxl-london.com/birmingham
Prowler Brighton 112-113 St James’s Street, Brighton BN2 1TH
Expectations 75 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3RY
NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT TEXT FSFS15 £5 to 70070
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HOT DATES
R E L W P RO LERY GAL GAVIN DOBSON
These striking images are the work of London-based illustrator, artist and actor Gavin Dobson. His graphic commissions have included the gay press; he says, “As a gay artist it was great to illustrate articles that I would look forward to reading myself.” He is inspired by a huge love of graphic novels and American comic books: “Story telling is a key part of my work. Letting the viewer catch a moment and interpreting that moment how they will.”
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This selection gives you a flavour of what Gavin means - and an idea of his confident use of line and colour. You can see (and buy) more of his work on his website - www. gavindobson.com - and follow him on Twitter @gavdob. And there’s another of his images on our health page. We think the future looks bright - and colourful - for this talented guy: “One of my plans is to work on a graphic novel full of colour, characters, gay culture and even Shakespeare.....watch this space!”
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ALL EYES ON SHORTS BRITAIN’S IRIS PRIZE FOR SHORT FILMS JOINS THE A-LISTERS IF YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF THE IRIS PRIZE BEFORE, READ ON. IN ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR, THE UK’S BIGGEST COMPETITIVE GAY FILM FESTIVAL HAS ITS LARGEST EVER NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL FILMS IN COMPETITION AND HAS BEEN RECOGNISED AS A QUALIFYING FESTIVAL FOR THE BAFTAS.
SAUNA TH E DEAD - A FAI RY TALE, TOM FRE DERIC
This October, 35 films will compete in Cardiff for the £30,000 Iris Prize, the world’s largest LGBT short film prize, supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation. From 12th to 16th October, visitors to the festival can enjoy an extraordinary range of films and rub shoulders with LGBT film fans and filmmakers from all around the world. Filmmakers from Russia, UK, and Australia have created darkly compelling stories rooted in the horror genre, reflecting the community’s wider interest in fantasy. And a sobering number of this year’s entries address our concerns about growing old. Entries explore LGBT stories from all corners of the globe, including Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Spain, India, US, Canada, and for the first time, Taiwan. Twenty-five of the films have been nominated by partner festivals and the other ten by a pre-selection jury from a record number of over 300 submitted films. Andrew Pierce, Iris Prize Chair, says “I have been delighted to see not only the number of films being submitted increasing year SOULS, on year but also the quality DANIEL C AGE of the filmmaking itself. We get a worldwide view of the LGBT community, and I am delighted that the number of partner festivals continues to expand, with five more now nominating a film for the shortlist. This is a testament to the growing reputation of the festival on the global stage and how prestigious the Iris Prize has now become”. Separately, fifteen films will compete for the title Best British Short and a £20,000 prize. The winners of this and the international Iris Prize will be announced on Sunday 16 October during the Iris Awards hosted by Amy Lamé. For the full shortlist and information on how to book your place at the festival, visit www.irisprize.org
OH-BE-J OYF SUSAN JA UL, COBSON
G O’CLOC K, MITCHELL MARION
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INTERVIEW
THE DEVIANT
OTTER
IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE DEVIANT OTTER IN ACTION YOU BETTER WISE UP: HERE IS ONE OF THE HORNIEST, BADASS, MOST NATURAL GUYS DOING PORN TODAY. OR IS HE? IS HE JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME AND LETTING US HAVE A PEEK FROM TIME TO TIME?
D
eviant Otter – who came up with the name, cos it’s kind of perfect? Thanks! I needed a handle for the webmaster boards back when I was an assistant at Male Revenue so I just started pairing words together. I wanted something simple to describe exactly who I am. I ended up using it for my hookup apps and then when I started my Tumblr the name just took off.
Did you set out to do a different kind of porn, or are you just doing what you enjoy? A little bit of both. I was tired of seeing the same glossy pornos with smooth, chiseled men. I figured if I wanted to watch real sex in legit situations with natural guys, other guys out there were looking for the same thing. So I am fortunate that I get to do exactly what I want and be true to myself and still get a positive response.
How did you get started, putting your own sex on cam? Well when I was a teenager I had our AOL service shutoff because I was sending nude pics to strangers, but it wasn’t until I got to college I actually filmed anything. I lived close by to the MaverickMen and we would film some of our hookups. I enjoyed people’s reactions to the videos so I knew it was something I wanted to pursue further. You come over as an otter with attitude – do you like to be in control? Like? No. I NEED to be in control. Even if I’m on bottom, I’m always mentally on top.
Would you ever consider working for someone else [again] and doing as you’re told? I would consider it, but I’ve discovered its really not my thing. I’m an exhibitionist and I’m into guys watching, but I’m not big on performing under pressure. If it was for another amateur site, maybe. But who knows, I’m a ‘try things a few times and then a few more times’ kinda guy. Is anything fair game, or is there a whole side to Devin – sexually – we don’t get to see? I try to share as much as possible, especially if a guy is down to let me capture some of the action. If anything I feel like having the camera on me makes me want to be even sluttier/ kinkier. I guess the only thing that I wont put on camera is a natural hole. I’m not big into douching and I don’t give a fuck if the other dude hasn’t cleaned out, it’s how men have been fucking since forever. But some guys are prissy and scared of a little dirty helmet, so it’s squeaky clean holes for the camera.
the universe for horny dudes at all times. Maybe it’s because of Twitter, but it feels like your whole life is out there for us, each Deviant film and post building up over time. Is that how you think of it? Or is the Deviant Otter an alter ego you could just walk away from, like ‘a bearded boy’? I feel like I don’t put enough posts out there, so if anything I think I’ve just been getting better about sharing my camera roll and letting people into my world. Everything in my life so far has been a progression to something bigger and greater so I don’t know what the future holds, but I don’t think I could ever walk away from being Deviant Otter, it’s been such a big part of my life and has shaped who I am. Do you think about stopping – or is this just too much fun? Sometimes I fantasize about deleting all of my social media and moving to a secluded cabin on a farm somewhere, but I
IT TAKES BALLS TO BE SO OPEN AND SHARE SUCH INTIMATE MOMENTS You are clearly having a good time – as do your partners. How do you find the guys you film with? Social media plays a huge role. I meet most the guys off Tumblr and Twitter, and a fair amount from the hookup apps like Scruff. Sometimes I’m lucky and I’ll be at an event somewhere and guys will offer their services. I’m basically always trolling
really am having the time of my life discovering myself and bringing the rest of the world along for the journey. I’m going to keep going until the internet tells me to go fuck myself…and then stick around for another year or two. We love an otter, and plenty of your guys – including your man – fall into that category. Is that a coincidence? I get the feeling Deviant doesn’t have a type... Do I sense some sarcasm? ;) I definitely lean toward the scruffy, furry, leaner type. But I really am into all types of guys: heavy, muscled, twink, daddy, etc. I’m even into smooth guys despite my reputation, I’m just not into guys who shave their bodies, chest stubble kills my boner. Plenty of guys must watch you and think – Hell, I wish that was my life. Do you think you provide an accessible kind of fantasy? Without trying to sound cocky, absolutely. Sometimes even when I’m scrolling through my posts I’m like, “Damn,
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V IP
at
Q&A
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,
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n that’s one slutty, adventurous creature!” I think that by me leading out my fantasy, of becoming a known internet exhibitionist, allows guys to be more open with themselves and live vicariously through me. It takes balls to be so open and share such intimate moments, so I think that people have a respect for that mentality.
g
d
Any plans you’d like to share? Anywhere you really want to go? Anything you are dying to do? Yes! I am saying goodbye to Boston and moving south to Fort Lauderdale with my partner and our French bulldog. I’m tired of the brutal winters and all of these guys with college educations and goals. I’m so ready for some simple, hot men with low expectations. Also I’ll finally have a yard so I can build a fuck shack! And in the next couple of months I’ll be doing a site redesign based off of social media submissions from fans and followers, so I’m
r .
e
es
h
y,
really looking forward to that. More importantly I’ll be able to give subscribers a better and more personal experience with live cam shows and direct messaging. And of course I’m always trying to find new ways to up the content! Cheers, keep up the good work, we’re watching! PS I could ask about the hat, how your dog’s doing – or you could just tell me … Hahahaha! I always get questions about the hat. It started out as just me really having a fetish for guys wearing hats and socks/sneakers during sex. Then when I started getting some traction I realized that guys were recognizing me because of the fitted caps so I just stuck with it. I feel like so many of us guys have similar looks in the adult industry world so it’s just been my way of standing out. And my dog is doing fucking amazing, he is the most precious dumpling in the world! When I get my life together and settled in Florida I’m gonna start up his social media again. Thanks Devin! deviantotter.tumblr.com twitter.com/deviantotter instagram.com/deviantotter deviantotter.com
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REVIEWS
DVDs
EVERY MONTH WE BRING YOU THE LOWDOWN ON THE LATEST HOT DVD RELEASES. HERE ARE OUR TOP FIVE PICKS, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR FAVOURITE, CLEAN CUT & FURRY FUCKERS!
CLEAN CUT & FURRY FUCKERS PAIRING HAIRY GUYS WITH SMOOTH GUYS TO GREAT EFFECT! BLAKE MASON 107 mins Starring: Jonny Parker & Riley Tess, Casper Ellis & Dwayne Adams, Craig Daniel & Nathan Hope, Wolf Rayet & Stephan Black Blake Mason has brought together smooth guys and hairy guys – all equally fit and ready to fuck giving us ten guys in five scenes adding up to nearly two hours of hot and heavy skin-on-fur action. For example, when we catch up with Casper Ellis and Dwayne Adams they are ready to kick things off in the bedroom, Dwayne letting it all hang out of his jeans so Casper can get his lips around it. Dwayne provides the fur in this duo and smooth young Casper is no slacker when it comes to pleasing his guy. Once Dwayne whips his jeans off he doesn’t delay in getting Casper to ride his fat cock. Things really hot up when he takes Casper doggy style leading to a satisfying double climax as the guys toss themselves off side by side. Next up it’s a real treat – the scene that sealed this DVD’s pick of the month status – from French heartthrob Nathan Hope – the fifth musketeer – and our very own hirsute hunk, Craig Daniel. These guys are into each other and their passionate making out is guaranteed to warm you up as the clothes peel off and the foreplay gets more serious. Nathan traces Craig’s six pack with an eager tongue, just itching to unleash what’s behind that fly. But he doesn’t rush anything, helping us imagine our own pleasure in exploring that thick round rod of a cock, finally taking it easily down his throat. Craig reaches to explore Nathan’s arse, but there’s plenty of serious sucking to come yet. Craig swallows Nathan whole until they are both as stiff as flagpoles. Naked at last they indulge in some enthusiastic soixante-neuf – they just can’t get enough of those magnificent cocks! I’m a Bond fan, believe me, but after this performance, give me Craig Daniel over Daniel Craig any time! But we’re in for a surprise, as in the end it’s Nathan who shafts Craig – so he’s taken him whole from both ends. These two athletic sex machines strike quite a pose, proving the contrast between smooth and fur can be a real thrill. Craig demands a real pounding, and seeing that strong man reduced to moans by the expert attention of his tattooed rider is one of the best things you’ll see this month. Luckily they both have the stamina to keep this fuck going, through three positions, changes of pace and cries of agonising delight: Nathan
AVAILABLE FROM
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POIFCTHKE
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comes first, all over Craig’s hairy bollocks, but he’s delighted and eager to take Craig’s huge load in his face and all down his smooth young chest. There’s a lot more to enjoy: Wolf Rayet has one of those beards you just want to bury your face or your fingers in, big brown eyes you could fall into and a beautiful cock you just want to fall onto and he’s paired with Stephan Black. Nature smiled on Stephan and he generously shares his endowment with the rest of us. Of Prowler Brighton
112-113 St James’s Street, Brighton BN2 1TH 01273 683 680
Stream from
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course it’s Wolf who really feels the benefit here, and the pair of them give Craig and Nathan a run for their money in the prolonged and passionate fuck stakes, even flipping sides so we get to enjoy the sight of Wolf’s great pole sliding into Stephan’s smooth butt for the ride of his life. Isn’t it great to watch porn where the guys are clearly enjoying themselves? Well, Blake Mason has really delivered this time. Expectations
75 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3RY 020 7739 0292
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REVIEWS LIKKERTY SPLITS
LICK IT AND STICK IT - RAW BUTCH DIXON Director: Jonno Starring: Riley Tess, David James,
UK NAKED MEN Director: Jonno Starring: Jordano Santoro, Alexx Desley,
Diego Sena, Antonio, Julio Rey, Mario Domenech, Luke Vogel, Ross Drake, Marcus Grey, and Yago Grant
Jose Quevedo, Felipe Ferro, Eril Lenn, Alex Stann, Blue O’Neill, Viktor Rom and Casio
HOT GUYS GET DOWN TO IT Five scenes of direct, hot, passionate sex, some with guys who might look like trouble with their clothes on: seriously fit, tattooed, pierced and fucking gorgeous – you’d be tempted, believe me. Americans Jordano and Alexx are a case in point, trading blow jobs without a smile, pouting like Angelina Jolie but definitely all man. Turns out Alexx is the bottom and Jordano takes him up against the breakfast bar and spreads him over the sofa before shooting all over his buns. When Alexx tries to come on his chest, Jordano actually smiles – and it’s a lovely sight! The rest of the guys are a match for this explosive opener: powerful blond Marcus Grey might even have more fun with dark, bearded hunk Yago Grant when they take a break from decorating the sex club to get creative with what’s under their overalls; Luke Vogel’s wank session in front of the TV takes a turn we’d all wish for, when sexy great Ross Drake wanders in sleepy and
HOT ACTION TO KEEP YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT There’s a great range of sexually charged scenes here: domination and submission in the living room; dildos on the sofa; an estate agent showing more than the floor plan; just hot guys getting together or playing around on their own. They all end in hot sex. Because this cast is hot! Whether they’re hairy, muscled, bearded or super fit, all these guys are sexy and ready for the kind of action that will keep you watching for nearly two hours.
dishevelled to turn it from fantasy to reality – hot, hot, hot! Antonio’s cake making gets interrupted when Diego Sena wanders in – but he shouldn’t have been surprised, cooking in nothing but his pinny – who could resist those tanned buns? They cook up a storm – and stuff goes everywhere! Last up, it’s back to the sex club for a raunchy encounter between a pair of real sex bombs – for looks, muscles and horniness it’s hard to choose between Julio Ray and Mario Domenech. Altogether – with a couple of extras thrown in for good measure – Likkerty Splits is a damn fine package!
BOYS OF SUMMER
COCKY BOYS Director: Jake Jaxson Starring: Asher Hawk, Levi Karter, Zach
and Kennedy Carter SUMMER’S SPECIAL - A TIMELY RE-RELEASE These are boys, but of the super-hot, seriously handsome, allgrown-up variety. You know it’s summer when guys are wandering around in thin shorts and giving each other those looks – the looks which lead to this kind of gay abandon, those reckless but unforgettable hook ups that end in sweaty sex. From the opening when the guys talk each other up and let us in on what they’d really like to do with each other, we are in the mood for the kind of fun you can only have in summer – including goofing around by the late, even underwater blowjobs in the pool! These young guys remind us that the summer should be special – so whatever the weather, you can slip this in the DVD player and believe that it is.
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FRESHMEN 3 – THE HUNGARIAN EDITION FROM BEL AMI Director: Luke Hamill Starring: Adam Archuleta, Claude Sorel,
Gino Mosca, Jean-Luc Bisset, Kevin Warhol, Miguel Estevez, Nino Valens and Raphael Nyon THE LATEST TALENT FROM BEL AMI FOR OUR DELECTATION Bel Ami’s Freshmen series continues with this focus on three of their Hungarian newbies - Jean-Luc Bisset, Nino Valens and Raphael Nyon. They’ve all earned their place in the Bel Ami stable, so no surprise that they’re smooth, toned and very, very cute. Oh, and hung like stallions, of course! We get to see them on their own and in combination with some of our Bel Ami favourites, but these guys already know the ropes. There’s real passion here: a series of sensuous sessions we can lose ourselves in. As always, the settings are almost as gorgeous as the men – if you want to imagine yourself being pleasured by this kind of talent in a spacious boutique hotel, one splendid uncut cock after another, this will not disappoint.
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SHOPPING
PROWLER STORE SHOP WITH PROWLER ON LINE OR AT OUR STORES IN SOHO AND BRIGHTON Which Rocks off intense Prostate Massager will you choose? All of the following can be found on the prowler website at the internet of price £52 each.
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GMFA
AS RELEVANT AS IT’S EVER BEEN Every month we have been hugely grateful to GMFA for letting us reprint one of their CEO Matthew Hodson’s ‘last word’ articles from FS. Here, as he moves on to his new post as CEO of NAM, he signs off with an appreciation of how much GMFA is still needed today and how much they need your support.
W
hen I was still some years shy of what was then the age of consent for gay men, I went to a nightclub in the heart of London, picked up a 32-year old American man, went back to his hotel room and had sex. About a week later I watched a BBC documentary investigating a new virus, then known as HTLV III, which was affecting gay men, particularly in New York and San Francisco. There was no cure and large numbers were dying. Men were urged not to have sex with men from America. It was a bumpy start to my life as a gay man. GMFA was founded in 1992, so when I joined, way back in 1999, it had been going for just under seven years. I was still relatively young then so for me this felt like forever. Although by this point we did have effective treatment, HIV-related sickness and death were still common themes in our lives. At the time I had been diagnosed with HIV for about eight months. At my job interview I pretended to be cooler about that diagnosis than I actually was. I thought that I probably had about 20 years left to live and I wanted to do some good in that time. GMFA was the obvious place to work. It was the charity that I related to. It was smart, direct and unapologetic for celebrating gay sexuality and gay sex. The world has changed enormously since that time. Our progress towards LGBT equality is a part of that but there have also been significant changes in sexual health. HIV is now a long-term, eminently treatable condition. We know now that people with HIV who are on effective treatment are not infectious. We have PEP. At some point we will have PrEP. But the challenges have evolved as well. The effectiveness of treatment has an impact on the value that men place on sexual safety. Greater social acceptance and dating apps mean that we now have a much more diffuse gay scene and our traditional gay spaces are under threat. Concerns around other STIs get ignored because energy has been concentrated into the efforts of tackling ‘the big one’. As a community we still struggle to adequately address the inequalities that gay men
24
EVERY MONTH OVER 100,000 GAY MEN USE THE GMFA AND FS WEBSITES - WHICH RECEIVE NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING experience in mental and emotional health that contribute not only to unsafe sexual behaviour, but also to damaging levels of drug and alcohol use. Constant reorganisation of public health budgets hasn’t disguised the fact that pretty much year on year, less money is spent on HIV prevention. The UK spends 50 times more on HIV treatment than we spend on prevention. At GMFA we have always managed to make a little money go a long way. Frequently I meet people whose image of GMFA is as a huge organisation, rather than just a few of us, sitting in an office, typing frantically. Through our website and FS, and our social media, a small charity like
ours can reach hundreds of thousands of gay and bisexual men, the kind of numbers that we only dreamed about when we were trudging around bars with clipboards. After 17 amazing years - more than half my adult life - it’s now time for me to move on to new challenges and opportunities. I’m really happy that my colleague Ian Howley, who has helped shape FS into the compelling and vital resource that it now is, will be taking over from me at GMFA. Ian’s passion for improving the mental health of LGBT people will, I believe, open up new possibilities for the organisation at a time when HIV prevention funding is drying up but the health inequalities experienced by gay men persist. I’m enormously proud of GMFA’s ability to engage gay men with information about sexual health, to challenge HIV-related stigma and to open up debates about chems, racism and the way that our community looks after its own (or sometimes fails to). I’m indebted to all of my colleagues at GMFA throughout the years, both volunteers and staff, who have taught me so much and inspired me with their talent, wisdom and passion. I’m still passionate about the work that GMFA does. Every month over 100,000 gay men get information from the GMFA and FS websites, but these resources still receive no Government funding. I believe it’s crucial that our community can access information that is not only frank, honest and reliable but that doesn’t judge gay men for our sexual choices. So if, like me, you believe that sexual health information for gay men should acknowledge that our sex is nothing to be ashamed of, and that gay men’s health should be valued, I hope that (like me) you will support this work by making a regular monthly donation to GMFA. I’m English enough to feel embarrassed asking for money when it’s contributing to my own salary. Now that I am no longer on the payroll I can say without hesitation: this work is too valuable to be lost. @Matthew_Hodson
www.gmfa.org.uk/donate
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HEALTH
WE GROW UP IN A
STRAIGHT JACKET: CAN MATTHEW TODD SAVE US? DOES GROWING UP GAY MEAN WE CAN NEVER BE HAPPY? HUW JONSON REFLECTS ON MATTHEW TODD’S ARGUMENT THAT WE ALL HAVE SOME ISSUES IT WOULD BE BETTER TO DEAL WITH, AND THAT FOR SOME OF US IT COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
M
atthew Todd has written an important book, the success of which may not be known for some time. In Straight Jacket - how to be gay and happy, he sounds an alarm bell: we are about to hit rock bottom and we need to start readying ourselves for our recovery. The challenge of growing up gay has been ignored for far too long, which, at best, stops us achieving a happy, balanced life or, at worst, results in a train wreck of self-destructive, addictive behaviour. Todd tells us the stories of real people who have hit rock bottom themselves. This is the strength of his book: as editor of Attitude magazine and in his personal life, Todd has interviewed a great many gay and bisexual men whose experiences might seem extreme but, he would argue, are too common to be dismissed as isolated. There is a trend in gay men’s mental health, he says, and it’s in a downward spiral that should alarm us. There may have been a revolution in gay rights, but it hasn’t altered the fact that growing up gay is a difficult and sometimes dangerous experience, because we do so little to protect and support gay children. According to Todd, growing up gay means we’ll likely suffer some degree of childhood damage, and we often deal with it in ways that make us more unhappy. Whatever our family circumstances, the vast majority of us are going to experience feelings of difference. At the point we realise what the difference is - being gay - we become aware there is a lot of negative opinion out there about what we are and that we are in a significant minority. For a long time it’s a minority of one. At best we feel isolated and confused. At worst we suffer expressions of homophobia, bullying or persecution. Society’s tolerance of gay and bi adults may have increased, but a gay childhood can still be scarred by feelings of shame, the emotion we’re programmed to feel at parental and other disapproval. It only takes one homophobe to ruin a gay child’s life.
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Todd recounts his personal experience and a cast of real characters we can all recognise from our own friends and acquaintances. The hilarious bitch who actually struggles to find a good word to say about anyone? He’s processed his childhood shame and is stuck with dissing others to make himself feel better. The guy who obsessively trawls Grindr for hotter sexual partners he’ll only ever meet once? He thinks he’s looking for the perfect guy, but deep down he feels undeserving of their love and attention. The friend who binges on the wrong food far too often? It gives him a fleeting crumb of comfort from the constant rejection he feels on a scene obsessed with youth and the body beautiful. Or the guy we all
SOCIETY’S TOLERANCE OF GAY AND BI ADULTS MAY HAVE INCREASED, BUT A GAY CHILDHOOD CAN STILL BE SCARRED BY FEELINGS OF SHAME thought was doing okay, but one day killed himself because he really, really wasn’t? Tragically, he represents many others. Todd’s examples build into a powerful argument: by ignoring the root cause of all of these symptoms - namely our childhood damage - we consign thousands of gay and bisexual men to an early grave, and possibly hundreds of thousands to lives they never quite get a hold of, battling at some level with problems that could be addressed if only we had the will. As Todd points out, until our health service starts to monitor patients’ sexual orientation we must rely on research studies or the anecdotal approach to gauge just how bad things are. But the first step is to admit – personally, collectively – that we have the symptomatic problems like codependency, depression or addiction. And here Todd takes a leap that will leave a lot of his
Illustration by Gavin Dobson
WORDS Huw Jonson – Editor of Prowler Magazine
readers behind: if we’ve only partially recognised ourselves in some of his helpful diagnostic lists, we might balk at Todd’s prescription - that the only sure fire way to beat addiction is to attend and embrace a twelve steps group, like AA or NA. Because that’s what worked for him. This book is more successful at raising questions than supplying answers: although it reads, from the title on, like a self-help book, ultimately it skims over the practical guidance most of us might need. Unless in reading it you recognise yourself as an addict, and decide the twelve steps are for you, you may not get any immediate resolution. I do think many of us will read this and understand, possibly for the first time, that our behaviours and anxieties have a lot to do with our experience of growing up gay. But if that hasn’t taken us to the extremes of depression or addiction, it isn’t clear from this book what we should do next. In spite of that, we should all try to read this book: it will help us understand ourselves and others; it will make us question the way gay children are ignored in education and social services; it might galvanise our community into demanding we take more care of those kids and of ourselves. Policy makers and directors of services might start to have a difficult but important debate about how they can help. At the close, Todd implores us to like ourselves more and extend a hand to our inner child and to each other. Maybe, in the end, Straight Jacket will prove to be a self-help book, but one for a whole community. Straight Jacket, how to be gay and happy by Matthew Todd, is published by Transworld, priced £16.99
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