Warning... this is an adult site. If reading or viewing things about what gay men do sexually with one another bothers you - you should not read this blog. This blog is a reflection of my adventures and thoughts. Some are fun, some not so pretty. I won't name names, or kiss and tell... but I will live to tell. And baby, trust me - I am gonna spill it all over your pretty little party dress. Enjoy!
Followers
Total Pageviews
Showing posts with label Minneapolis Gay Pride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minneapolis Gay Pride. Show all posts
Today, we take another look at the Rough Trade imprint.
Brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Rough Trade imprint published 224 titles, from 1974-1990. Star Distributors, LTD. operated out of a P.O. Box at the Canal Street Station in New York City.
The imprint's numbering system begins with RT-401, and continues thusly. The book number only appears on the spine of the book.
All the books feature the imprint's distinctive Rough Trade logo in the upper left of the book's cover. The books cover design consists of an all-caps (typically) title in a banner of orange or baby blue near the top. A frame is created by two white stripes descending from the top banner to a thin banner (orange or baby blue) containing the word 'Illustrated' - for the books are, with drawings throughout. At the center of the cover there is an explicit illustration - some ink/pencil, some woodcut/etching - all by various popular gay artists of the time, including Craig Esposito, Adam, Michael, etc.
Did I mention that there are illustrations throughout each book? Well, yes, there are, by the same artist as the cover art. Something for every chapter - so a daunting task for the illustrator, for sure.
Oddly, the early books in the series do not have a publisher's page. Price point for the books began at 2.25 and increased (by various increments) to $3.95. Typically, you can buy these books today for between $25-45.
The back covers sometimes feature a synopsis of the book to entice readers or advertisement for one of Star Distributors' other imprints. Ads also appear at the front or back of the book - offering books, videos, and sex toys.
Here are the next dozen titles. Came up short four times this week.
--- ---
Father and Son
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-545
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Boy in Slave Training
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-546
(Cover not found.)
--- ---
Black Marine D.I.
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-547
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Apprentice Trucker
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-548
(Cover not found.)
--- ---
Chicken Rapist
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-549
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Stud Con’s New Kid
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-550
(Cover not found.)
--- ---
Trucker's Slave Boy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-551
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Recruit's Revenge
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-552
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Leather Rape Gang
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-553
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Big Black Dick
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
RT-554
(Cover not found.)
--- ---
Hard Time
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-555
--- ---
Studs at Sea
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1984
RT-556
--- ---
And that's all for now.
Next up: Twelve more tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.
I couldn't let June go by without acknowledging Gay Pride. Sure, due to Covid-19, it has been an odd one, but, yes, we did indeed have PRIDE. And while we can't have our usual parade or outdoor concert, I thought a parade of some our favorite musical divas would be a fitting way to usher out the month. Think of it as sort of the stations of the cross for my own personal gay theology. So here they are, in all their sainted (and somewhat tainted) glory...
--- ---
Happy Gay Pride!
- Uptonking at Wonderland Burlesque
To Deserve You
Bette Midler
The Music's No Good Without You
Cher
Living For Love
Madonna
Control
Janet
Somewhere
Barbra Streisand
I'm Coming Out
Diana Ross
I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor
True Colors
Cyndi Lauper
Dolly Parton
Here You Come Again
I Feel For You
Chaka Khan
Daisies (Can't Cancel Pride)
Katy Perry
Real Love
Jody Watley
Carry On
Martha Wash
Land of the Living
Kristine W
Love One Another
Amber
Perfect Illusion
Lady Gaga
Stamp Your Feet
Donna Summer
Shining Light
Annie Lennox
Maybe This Time
Liza Minnelli
The Best
Tina Turner
Brave
Sarah Bareilles
Beautiful
Christina Aguilera
Fly Too High
Janis Ian
I'm The Only One
Melissa Etheridge
Taylor Dayne
I'll Be Your Shelter
Help is on the Way
Melissa Manchester
Candle on the Water
Helen Reddy
In Love With Love
Debbie Harry
Stand Back
Stevie Nicks
Nobody's Supposed to be Here
Deborah Cox
Chandelier
Sia
Passionate Kisses
Mary Chapin Carpenter
I'll Be There
Mariah Carey
I Look To You
Whitney Houston
Home
Suzanne Palmer
Free
Ultra Nate'
100% Pure Love
Crystal Waters
I Love the Night Life
Alicia Bridges
You Got To Show Me Love
Robin S
Finally
CeCe Peniston
Well, there you have it. Forty will have to do. I know I missed some and will be kicking myself. Let me know who. Leave your suggestions in the comments section (as long as it is not Beyonce - we aren't speaking right now). (She knows what she did...)
Wow. My attitude towards Pride has changed quite a
bit over the years. I used to be ashamed of it and denigrated it whenever
someone brought it up – pointing to the usual arguments: too many drag queens,
too many circuit boys. But now? I’m thinking we deserve our parade. Gay people put up with a lot of shit. We are one of the few segments of the
population that the 'those who aren’t' still feel it’s okay to openly discriminate against, deride, make fun of, and talk shit about.
Yes, we’ve
come a long way, baby… but our tits are starting to droop while we wait for the
rest of humankind to catch up.
I’m
starting to understand the need for polarizing political action – you know, the
kind of activism that make those who don’t want to rock the boat nervous? It’s easy to get frustrated, when the
arguments used against us continue to be the same lame ass lies they’ve been
spouting for years.
That’s
why I’m out at work. I figure, why let
all these white collar types feel all safe and sound as they toil away in one
of the most homophobic counties in Minnesota?
But I lead by example… by acting with integrity in an effort to show
them that being gay doesn’t mean what they have been indoctrinated to believe
it to mean.
So, I
have Pride every day, in the best way.
For me,
Pride is no longer a once a year thing.
For me, it’s a daily demonstration that is both subtle and powerful.
TMI QUESTIONS:
Questions designed to reveal Too Much
Information
Link: http://tmiquestions.blogspot.com/
TMI Questions: Happy Pride 2014!
Tell me about your first Pride.
1998. Fairly unmemorable.
I was
working for a non-profit at the time and did a shift at our booth. Afterwards I walked around with my boss to
take in the sights. I had my baby boy
with me, Beau, a six-month old Chihuahua that I had recently rescued from in
front of a Menards. He was adorable and
seemed to attract a lot of attention. I
remember being amazed by all the leather dudes and the granola types with their
outlandish hair and piercings. My own
freek flag had yet to unveil, so I was a bit taken aback. We only stayed a couple of hours. It was really only memorable because of
Beau. And my boss. She was a sweet woman whom I have lost touch
with.
The
fair itself seemed smaller back then and more open, more grassroots, less
commercialized.
What did that first Pride mean to you?
Honestly? That I was alive and free and open.
It was
my first time back in the cities since I totally came out – as in, at work,
with my family, etc. I had just
recovered from a rather serious illness at the time and was getting my life
back together. Discovering all sorts of
things. I remember Madonna’s ‘Ray of
Light’ CD being a big influence in my life at the time. It was the beginning of my obsession with
dance/club music. Everything felt
different, but in a good way – like my skin had become newly
re-sensitized.
Because
the life I had built in L.A. had been so devastated by my illness, prompting my
return to Minneapolis, I was concentrating on appreciating little things: dog
ownership, playing in the park across the street of my apartment, buying
furniture, meeting people. The internet,
and, in particular the sites that promoted gay men meeting one another, were
new in my life. I was going on actual
dates with people; coffee, movies, dinner.
It was very refreshing being so honest about who I was and where I was
coming from. I just remember being
extremely grateful. For the opportunity
to live my life openly. I was
frightened, but energized, intrigued, and… happy.
How many different Prides have you been to?
Only
three. Duluth, Minneapolis, and Madison,
WI. I blogged about all three. They
were very different experiences, but fun.
I have never seen the Minneapolis Parade, except for those clips they
share on the news. Missed the Duluth
Parade. I did sit through the Madison,
WI. Parade (three times!). I’m not much
of a parade goer. But I like visiting
other places for pride. It really makes
me grateful that I live where I live.
Do you fly the Pride Flag and/or stick it to
anything?
No, I
don’t feel the need to. I am my own
flag, albeit a much more subtle version, but I get the message out there. People know what I’m about and what I stand
for. I hide very little of myself – except for that which is NSFW.
Do you still celebrate Pride? What does it
mean to you now?
I do
celebrate a little. It’s more fun with a
friend. I have a friend from St.
Paul. He drags me to all sorts of things
and was the reason I went to Duluth and Madison for Pride. Madison was a gas, even though he sort of
cramped my style. I enjoy being from
out-of-town and viewed as ‘fresh meat’.
What
does Pride mean? Now, it means
acceptance. It means responsibility,
too. I worry about the younger
generations not learning about or appreciating what the generations of gays had
to go through so they can kiss and carry on in public. It’s that struggle that is rather lost on
them, as they tend to think that it’s all a given – this newfound acceptance
gay people are recently experiencing. I
know they see the discrimination still be experienced around the world, if they
are politically/globally aware at all.
Pride
is also an opportunity for us as a community to acknowledge just how far we
have come.
Does Pride need improving? If so, what
changes would you make?
Same
old complaint… the media’s coverage could be more… balanced. I get tired of seeing the circuit boys, club
kids, and drag queens being the only groups represented on the evening news.
I
understand that the commercialization that’s taken place over the past fifteen
years is a sign of growth and acceptance: businesses now want to be a part of
Gay Pride – which is amazing to me. But
it makes me uncomfortable when Sam’s Club – a part of the Walmart Corporation –
is part of something they do not support.
So I have mixed feelings about seeing them and other companies that are
less than ‘okay with gay’ hawking their wares, giving out stuff, and promoting
themselves on the back of something they do not politically or socially support
in a more meaningful way.
And not
to be ‘that guy’, but there seems to be an awful lot of focus on alcohol
consumption and the bar scene. I wish it
was more about community building/creating a higher profile, activism, and political
and historical awareness. But, hey, it
is a party and some people need to blow off steam or get smashed in order to
dance their asses off, I get that. I
have never viewed Pride as a vehicle for that type of behavior, but it’s a big
world… to each their own. I guess
that’s why I always leave early.
How do you give back?
I
volunteer my time and give money to appropriate charities. I educate people at work, those that will
listen. I am active in my LGBT
organization at work. I man booths at
the Pride Fair – usually as related to where I am working. All three of my employers during past sixteen
years have had booths at Pride. That is
pretty amazing. I also have a friend
that has a small home business. I help
him set-up and break down after the event, and man his booth as needed (so he
gets bathroom breaks and something to eat).
I don’t
get involved with the actual organization that puts on Pride, because it is no
different than any organization – there is lots of drama, people feel entitled,
people feel threatened, and people tend to be protective of their turf. I don’t have the energy or patience to battle
institutionalized stasis/lethargy/bullshit any more. And I guess, you could add that to the
things that I would change about the event.
I think there should be more new blood, than old. But then, that is me, speaking from a very
uninvolved distance.
Bonus
What kind of trouble or embarrassing moment
have you had during Pride?
I hate
meeting exes at Pride. It makes me so
uncomfortable. Also tricks whose names I
don’t know/can’t remember. This usually
happens when I’m manning a booth, so it’s not like I can walk away. When they stand around and attempt to make
small talk and ‘catch up’ I just die inside.
Typically, I am polite and smile a lot, without volunteering a lot of
information about myself (which is typical of me all the time). This is because what I really want is for
them to move on. That said, I would much
rather have them stay and talk to me than for them to see me and then look the
other way. That happens too. And that kind of pisses me off. We’re supposed to be this brotherhood,
right? So get over yourself.
But the
absolute worst? Seeing a trick with his
partner! There is that sideways eye
thing that always happens and it cracks me the hell up. Usually they’re embarrassed because I (used
to) make a point of asking whether someone has a partner or not. Being caught in an obvious lie and watching
someone squirm a bit? Priceless.
Bonus Bonus
What musical acts you have seen live at various
Prides?
