Artist Spotlight: Tim Hailand

www.advocate.com/artist-spotlight/2012/5/26/artist-spotlight-tim-hailand

PHOTOS: The World’s Best Gay Beaches 2016

You’ve been counting the calories and pounding the pavement and it’s all about to pay off with summer beach season. (Or, like us, maybe not.) Anyhow, Queerty’s sister site, GayCities, has compiled our annual list of the world’s best gay beaches and picked ten of our favorite spots to play in the surf, catch a few rays, and scope out a whole new season’s worth of the eye candy.

Did we miss your favorite beach? Let us know in the comments section.

Tune in next week for our picks of the world’s best nude beaches.

Check out the view of the 10 best gay beaches of 2016…

Farme, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro

The bears and otters of Rio might prefer Copacabana’s Bolsa, Farme on Rio’s Ipanema is considered “Barbie Land” by locals. Rainbow flags flank crowds of sun seekers and muscle men in skimpy beach attire. Infamous for the Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes song “The Girl from Ipanema,” the beach is often considered one of the sexiest in the world. Swing by and scope out the eye candy. Maybe you’ll find a man from Ipanema.

Photos: thefuturistics

Playa Los Muertos, Puerto Vallarta

Playa Los Muertos is the epicenter of Puerto Vallarta. Situated just south of the Malecon and the Cuale River in the Romantic Zone (or “Old Vallarta”), the beach draws locals, traveling sun seekers, and adventurers alike. Rafael Zamarripa’s iconic sculpture, “Caballero del Mar,” or “The Seahorse” stands strong at the end of the beach, just off of the popular Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Grill. Mantamar boasts a truly adults-only beach experience with a sexy pool scene, delicious cocktails, and plenty of eye candy. Not in the mood for a beach club? Grab a spot on the chairs in front of Blue Chairs Resort and soak up the sun. Between Sapphire, Ritmos Cafe, La Palapa, and the Swell Beach Bar there are plenty of options for snacks and libations on the beach. For a bit of culture, shopping, and even more water sports head towards the pier on the other side of Los Muertos. Architect Jesus Torres Vega designed the new Los Muertos Pier, which opened in the winter of 2013. Stroll along the pier towards the Malecon and take in the sculptures, sites, and sounds of the new(ish) Puerto Vallarta.

Photos by Jeffrey James Keyes

Fire Island, New York

Fire Island, the center of outer barrier islands just parallel to Long Island, is a longtime mecca and summer destination. Despite a few weather-related speed bumps and literal fires, Cherry Grove and The Pines are back up and running. The sprawling beach passes both communities on the island and they’re additionally linked by a notorious sandy, woodsy, and cruisey section of the island affectionately known as “The Meat Rack”. Popular summer beach parties include the Pines Party and Ascension, but hundreds of chiseled men take the ferry from Sayville on Independence day for the annual “Invasion.”

Photos by Jeffrey James Keyes & vitofun

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

The cat’s out of the bag: Gran Canaria is a gay summer wonderland. The most popular of the Canary Islands, this island practically straddles the coast of Morocco. With over 100 pristine beaches surrounding the island you never know who you’re going to run into in the alluring sand dunes. Maspalomas has taken off over the past few years, especially the Playa del Inglés region.

Photos by Alejandro Ramos, & Michele Solmi, 

North Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

North Bondi is the ultimate beach destination for Aussi sun seekers and the rule of thumb is the more north you travel the gayer the beach (and the better the eye candy). Star performer Pam Ann has boasted in the past that “North Bondi is where all the gay show off their pecks and promenade to and from the water’s edge.” North Bondi is definitely a great place to swim and play in the waves. If you’re looking to let it all hang out, head on over to Lady Bay, one of Sydney’s original nude beaches.

Photo Credit: CAHairyBear nezmo24

Elia Beach, Mykonos

Mykonos has been luring gay boys to its golden sandy beaches and transparent waters since Jackie O brought her entourage and drew her many chic followers to the island back in the 70s. There are plenty of world class DJs, water activities, and sites to see on the island but locals and tourists take their beach time extremely seriously on the island. Elia Beach is not only one of the island’s largest beaches, but it also has amazing restaurants and plenty of bungalows to snuggle into and create an ideal vacation. Ditch the trunks on the right hand side of the beach and strut your stuff as you dive into the pristine water.

Herring Cove, Provincetown

Part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Herring Cove is Provincetown’s most popular beach. It’s definitely “over the river and through the woods”, but once you arrive you will spot plenty of handsome beach dwellers enjoying this gorgeous unofficial nude beach. While it is technically illegal to disrobe here, the National Park Service typically looks the other way, though you should be able to cover up quickly in a pinch. The dunes are infamous for cruising and connecting, so don’t wander off the beaten path unless you’re looking for a little more adventure.

Photos by: danny7884 , & somanymen.com

Hilton Beach, Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, with a population of only around 400,000 people has become one of the gay capitals of the Mediterranean  in the past few years. One of the biggest draws, Hilton Beach, offers golden sand, blue waters, and some of the most gorgeous men in the world.  Hilton beach is located just below the HIlton Hotel between Metzitzim Beach and the Tel Aviv Marina.

Photo by TijsB 

Manuel Antonio Beach, Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio, one of the gayest destinations in Central America, has an enormous public beach “La Playita.”  The beach has long been known as one of Costa Rica’s only nude beaches, but be careful because skinny dippers have been known to be reprimanded by local police after a new luxury hotel opened nearby. Don’t worry, the dress code is still skimpy, skimpier, and skimpiest.

Photos by roaming-the-planet

Clifton 3rd , Cape Town, South Africa

Known as Cape Town’s St. Tropez, Clifton is one of Cape Town’s biggest gay draws. There are four beaches that make up Clifton Beach, and Clifton 3rd is definitely the most “family friendly.” Apply that SPF generously and soak up the rays while taking in the turquoise blue water before you. Definitely be sure to take in the sunset, the view from this side of the Twelve Apostles is extraordinary. Want to ditch the suit and let it all hang out? Hop on over to Sandy Beach, just be sure to get the sand out of your nooks and crannies before heading to happy hour.

Photos by tseps_sa & flowcomm

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Azealia Banks: ‘I’m Never Saying the Word ‘Faggot’ Again

Azealia Banks, the rapper whose foul language has cost her legions of fans and most recently led to the removal of her Twitter account, claims she won’t be using the word “faggot” again.

She made the statement on Facebook, a social platform from which she hasn’t been ejected.

Ok, i’m never saying the word F****T ever again. The amount of people that get hurt when i use the word vs. the amount of people i’ve said it to are just not worth it. Honestly… This isn’t a cop out, its just me realizing that words hurt. and while i may be immune to every word and be thicker skinned than most, it doesn’t mean that i get to go around treating people with the same toughness that made my skin so thick. Because, that IS how people get thick skin… by being subjected to name calling/belittlement/abuse and its not fair. Not fair to my fans, not fair to my peers but most importantly, Not fair to myself.

By using those words i paint a picture of myself that isn’t the true me. I paint the picture of my upbringings, my neighborhood, my pain, and my misfortunes… I paint the picture of someone who is used to suppressing things, and being defensive. I paint the picture of someone who cannot allow themselves to be vulnerable or at the very least, Happy…. When i am ALL of those things. I’m sweet, i’m kind, i’m caring, i’m generous, i love to make people laugh and above all of it, I LOVE ART. I love to please and inspire others with my music and art the most, More than i love anything in the world. To lose out on a chance to make people feel good and smile and be happy would be the dumbest thing i could do in this lifetime.

To end this note i want to SINCERELY apologize to my fans for having let so many of you down over the years. I know that you all want nothing else for me but to see me win, and i thank the many of you who saw the beauty in me and have stuck around this far. The ‪#‎Kuntbrigade‬loves me more than i’ve EVER felt love in my life and it would be so sacrilegious to throw away my blessings that way. when i was a little girl i prayed to god that someone would come along and love me and my wish was granted 100fold. I cherish the #kuntbrigade SOOO FUCKING MUCH, you guys are my rock, I love you guys so much and all i want to do is make you proud.

Love
-AB

RELATED: Loathsome Rapper Azealia Banks Unleashes Homophobic, Racist Tirade at Zayn Malik

It’s unclear how Banks’s apology will resonate with those she has offended.

The reactions on Facebook seem polarized. Some aren’t convinced:

Corey Craig What happened? No pride bookings? I hear the post office is hiring #Wilted #WeWereAllRootingForYou #PeopleDiedHearingThatWord

While some seem to have completely forgiven:

Mateusz Stasiewicz Finally! I stayed with you despite everything you’ve said because I knew that you were worth it. Always was a fan and will be a fan of you and your music. And now, I’m waiting for you to do a tour so I can be the first one who’s going to buy a ticket. Lots of love Azealia, hang in there!

Most recently Banks landed in trouble for a homophobic racist tirade at singer-songwriter Zayn Malik, she compared the LGBT community to the KKK and said she’d like to pepper spray a gay man in the face, said GLAAD is “f**king bull**it,” and has defended her use of the word “faggot” multiple times.

Banks also posted this Instagram three days ago.

 

What do you think of her apology?

(image via Facebook)

The post Azealia Banks: ‘I’m Never Saying the Word ‘Faggot’ Again appeared first on Towleroad.

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English Footballer Chris Stokes Tweets about ‘Faggots’, Gets Suspended and Fined

An English soccer player who posted a homophobic remark on Twitter received a one-match suspension and will have to pay a £1000 fine (approx. $1430) to the English Football Association (FA). He will also have to attend an FA education course.

25-year-old Chris Stokes, who plays for the Coventry City in England, apparently didn’t like a match between Chelsea and Tottenham he watched in May and decided that Twitter was a good place to vent. He called the players a “bunch of faggots”.

Coventry City wasn’t a big fan of the remark and opened an internal investigation. It didn’t go well for the defender.

Friday, the club posted on its website that Stokes was “charged for a remark he made which was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper. It was further alleged that it was an “Aggravated Breach” as it included a reference to sexual orientation.” It concluded stating that “Coventry City FC expect the highest level of professionalism from our players as we’re a family club and we want our players to act as role models in the Coventry and Warwickshire community”.

It also announced it on Twitter:

NEWS: Chris Stokes receives FA charge of one-match ban and fine. More: t.co/UODxCQ49gi. #PUSB pic.twitter.com/RNXppPqvMv

— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) June 10, 2016

Stokes claims he had no idea that the term was homophobic or offensive, of course. He quickly tried to fix the situation with two follow-up tweets, as reported by the Gay Star News:

Soon after that, he deleted his account:

#RIP @stokesy1991 – he no longer exists according to Twitter #pusb 😭 pic.twitter.com/PZnA5eXNRc

— Steve J (@iiSteveJonesii) May 6, 2016

In February, Ivory Coast-born player Serge Aurier was suspended indefinitely by his team Paris Saint-Germain after using homophobic language to insult his coach.

The post English Footballer Chris Stokes Tweets about ‘Faggots’, Gets Suspended and Fined appeared first on Towleroad.

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Whitney Houston and the Ethics of Posthumous Outing

Is it ever OK to out someone after they die?

www.advocate.com/coming-out/2016/6/11/whitney-houston-and-ethics-posthumous-outing