Blueboy (May 1986), Part Two

A darkly comedic work, Robert Rodi’s novel Fag Hag (1993) explores the unique friendships between gay men and straight women and the precarious romantic attractions that can occur. For Natalie Stathis, this adoration toward her gay best friend, Peter Leland, is taken to the extreme and the character repeatedly sabotages Peter’s dating life to preserve their relationship, with the novel culminating into Natalie kidnapping Peter, locking him in her basement, and attempting to win his love. In the May 1986 issue of Blueboy (which has been broken into two parts), the article by Susan Ross and her gay friend provides advice for how to avoid the incidents depicted in Rodi’s fictional tale. As the authors stress, it is important for both parties to establish concrete boundaries that respect each other’s lifestyles. Interestingly, Ross’ article pairs well with Sheila Kohn’s work in the February 1978 issue of Blueboy, where Kohn explains how her amorous feelings toward her gay friend prompted the death of their friendship. Included in the second half of this issue (see the first half here) is an article on the Summit Lodge in Rockbridge, Ohio, and photo spreads of Chris from Surge Studio and several of Roy Dean’s models.

Blueboy (May 1986), Part One

A darkly comedic work, Robert Rodi’s novel Fag Hag (1993) explores the unique friendships between gay men and straight women and the precarious romantic attractions that can occur. For Natalie Stathis, this adoration toward her gay best friend, Peter Leland, is taken to the extreme and the character repeatedly sabotages Peter’s dating life to preserve their relationship, with the novel culminating into Natalie kidnapping Peter, locking him in her basement, and attempting to win his love. In the May 1986 issue of Blueboy (which has been broken into two parts), the article by Susan Ross and her gay friend provides advice for how to avoid the incidents depicted in Rodi’s fictional tale. As the authors stress, it is important for both parties to establish concrete boundaries that respect each other’s lifestyles. Interestingly, Ross’ article pairs well with Sheila Kohn’s work in the February 1978 issue of Blueboy, where Kohn explains how her amorous feelings toward her gay friend prompted the death of their friendship. Also included in this first half are photo spreads of models Jesse, Ron, and Tony.

Advocate Men (May 1988), Part Two

As the AIDS epidemic swept throughout the world during the 1980s, both the scientific community and the general populace tried to understand its causes and ways to halt its spread. As a result, several myths emerged at the start of the epidemic which, despite advanced medical research, continued to linger at the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s. For instance, the second edition of the National Institute of Justice’s AIDS in Correctional Facilities – published in 1986 – acknowledged the Center for Disease Control’s finding that the HIV virus cannot be spread by showers or toilet seats, but encouraged operation managers of prisons to continue using separate shower and toilet facilities for AIDS patients. Likewise, the United States Congress held hearings in 1987 and 1988 which questioned whether mosquitoes could transmit the HIV virus even though Geoff Foster, a paediatrician and the founder of Family AIDS Caring Trust in Zimbabwe, dispelled that misconception the same year. Even in homoerotic publications like this May 1988 issue of Advocate Men (which has been broken into two parts) these myths appear, with a letter to the publication’s sexpert expressing fears about the need to wear condoms during mutual masturbation. Included in the second half (see the first half here) are photo spreads of models Steve Hammond, Dix Hampton, and Ron Streetcar, an advertisement for the film Stryker Force featuring Hammond, and the short story “The Devil’s Tool” (about a priest’s encounter with a congregation member’s possessed manhood).