Torso (August 1989)

One of Kristen Bjorn’s first videos shot in Brazil, Island Fever (1989) features ten sensuous men in the tropics of South America. Yet, as scholar Clare Westcott claims, these earlier films lack the racial variety common in the region. According to Westcott, longstanding and widespread interracial marriages yielded a racial diversity in Brazil; however, this assortment is lacking in Bjorn’s movies. Citing a 1997 interview with Bjorn, though, Westcott reveals this decision was made by the American distributors, not the filmmaker: “They thought that black or white was all right but what they didn’t like were all the shades in between. . .they felt that Americans were used to blacks and they were used to whites but not the other things that couldn’t be categorized as either one.” What resulted, in turn, is a series of films which Westcott argues “provides North American viewers with idealised sexual scenarios that are different, but not too different, from that which they are familiar.” Featured in this August 1989 issue of Torso are several models from Bjorn’s film, including Aurelio and Jorge. NOTE: THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WAS FOUND INCOMPLETE AMONG THE BOXES OF MAGAZINES; HENCE, ITS SPARSE PRESENTATION.

Advocate Men (August 1988), Part Two

In Donald Vining’s “The ‘Married’ Gays” (contained in the June 1985 issue of Blueboy) and Dennis Decameron’s “What Is This Things Called a Lover?” (found in the May 1987 issue of Torso), the writers examine gay relationships. As both contend, sex tends to be the primary focus, with monogamy often transitioning into an open relationship. In fact, Julie Lee argues monogamy among homosexuals – especially gay men – is a brief novelty that eventually breaks down, with the concept lasting no longer than ten years in most couples. This August 1988 issue of Advocate Men (which has been broken into two parts) provides evidence that both supports and rejects the ideas of Decameron, Lee, and Vining. In one reader-submitted narrative, the writer explains how a proposition for a foursome ended up separating both couples; whereas, in another reader-submitted tale, the author attests to his thirty-two-year relationship with a man he met while working as a bartender. Contained in this second half (see the first half here) is the short story “Doubling Up with Darryl” (where a former actor recalls sleeping with his costar while on tour with their play), a Donelan cartoon, and spreads of three models all with the first name Dave: Dave Hill, Dave Stewart, and Dave West.

Advocate Men (August 1988), Part One

In Donald Vining’s “The ‘Married’ Gays” (contained in the June 1985 issue of Blueboy) and Dennis Decameron’s “What Is This Things Called a Lover?” (found in the May 1987 issue of Torso), the writers examine gay relationships. As both contend, sex tends to be the primary focus, with monogamy often transitioning into an open relationship. In fact, Julie Lee argues monogamy among homosexuals – especially gay men – is a brief novelty that eventually breaks down, with the concept lasting no longer than ten years in most couples. This August 1988 issue of Advocate Men (which has been broken into two parts) provides evidence that both supports and rejects the ideas of Decameron, Lee, and Vining. In one reader-submitted narrative, the writer explains how a proposition for a foursome ended up separating both couples; whereas, in another reader-submitted tale, the author attests to his thirty-two-year relationship with a man he met while working as a bartender. Also contained in this first half is the short story “Seeing the Doctor” (about a patient’s relationship with his chiropractor) and spreads of two models with the first name Dave: Dave Skeffington and Dave Trenton.