Hot in the city

It's hot in South Africa right now, and Joburg is our hot city of gold... mmm

Hot Johannesburg

This must be one of the hottest guys I have ever found. Beautiful hair pattern and great body.. not a muscle mary.. just perfect... mmm. Just what we need to take us into the New Year.

Hot Christmas in Johannesburg

I know it's freezing cold in the northern hemisphere, but here in South Africa it's hot and a time for taking clothes off... so here's to that! Happy Christmas all and looking forward to seeing you in the sunny south in 2011.

Come out to play

Gorgeous boy. Come play with me..

Pride films in Johannesburg

Not very well publicised but Ster Kinekor are halfway through their Pride Film Fest in South Africa with 2 movies left to screen in their Cinema Nouveau complexes around the country.

In Johannesburg/Pretoria there will be a screening of The Kids are Alright on the 12th November in Brooklyn (Pretoria) and in Rosebank Johannesburg on the 26th November whilst their other movie Eyes Wide Open screens only at 4 venues on the 12th (Rosebank and Cavendish) and 26th November (Brooklyn Pretoria and V&A Waterfront Cape Town).

Last year I was appalled by the lack of publicity for the few films they were showing and adverts at the Cinema for the gay film fest apologised to straight patrons for the screening on one day of the year of films to suit the gay community. Poor show Ster Kinekor.

Proud of it

mmm

Johannesburg Gay Pride Sat 2 Oct

It's all happening in Gay Johannesburg this weekend with South Africa's largest Pride gathering, Parade and Parties.

Check out the Events listing down the sideblog on the left and here's a pic of the Parade route from Zoo Lake to Rosebank and back. The Pride Parade and Festival celebrates it's 21st birthday on Saturday! Wow, a coming of age of Gay Rights in South Africa.

The 2010 Pride Parade, featuring a host of colourful floats and thousands of revellers, will kick off from Zoo Lake Sports Club at 10am through the streets of Rosebank. Participants should note that this is an hour earlier than in previous years – so make sure you get there on time!

Refreshment points for marchers will be provided along the route. No alcohol is permitted to be consumed in the Parade and participants are reminded to wear sunscreen and a hat or cap.

Marchers return back to Zoo Lake Sports Club at around 11.30am for the rest of the Pride Day festivities until 5pm. Revellers will be entertained by local artists and DJS as well as a guest teaser performance and appearance by British pop-star and DJ Sonique who will perform with her dancers at the Official Joburg Pride After-party later that night at the Standard Bank Arena. (Tickets for the after-party are available through Computicket).

Besides the entertainment there will also be Pride stalls - with all sorts of goodies on display and on sale - bars, food and a kiddies’ play area. LGBT organisations such as OUT will be informing the public about their work and will provide services such as free on-the-spot HIV testing.

Johannesburg puts it's best foot forward

Francois Nel



Barry Meyer

Dustin Carr

Jared Lee-Smith

Ross Erlank



Shannon Rex



Tshepo Chuenyane



Karl Heinz-Michael





Johannesburg and Pretoria have produced the biggest group of finalists in the Mr Gay South Africa 2010 pageant with 8 hotbodz vying for the title.



Competition will be tough however with entrants from Durban and Cape Town - the latter city having produced last year's winner Charl van den Berg who went on to snatch the Mr Gay World Title earlier this year.



In the photos are Francois Nel from Centurion (top) followed hotly by some gorgeous guys who are all deserving of the title.



Spring is here

It's time to get up and out.. it's the 1st day of Spring in South Africa.. this means sizzling heat and sizzling guys.. bring on the heat! 

Mr Gay South Africa Sat 4 Sept Pretoria

It's the North regional finals of the Mr Gay South Africa 2010 Pageant in Pretoria on Sat 4th September. This includes the Gauteng Province and will be held at the Brooklyn Theatre.

A Facebook event has been created for the Pageant although event bookings need to be made directly with the organisers by sending Hennie an email headed "North finals" to him at hennie@mrgaysouthafrica.co.za  

Mr Cool for the World Cup Final

We've been in Durban for the Fifa 2010 World Cup Football - the warmest place to be in South Africa. Watching the Johannesburg games on TV it is clear that Joburg needs some warming up so here's a hot bod to get the blood going.

Free time to play

Hey it's the weekend and time to play...

Are you on board the Pink Steam Train?

SAT 15 May 2010

It's Time! This time for MEN ONLY. The Pink Steam Train is at it again. Loaded with sexy playboys, half-naked models and a bevy of hunky pornstars!!! it will take you on a steamy, sexy joyride around Pretoria. To welcome you at the station - your hostess the diva-licious DOMINATRIX Miss Shannin Brown... and DjShawn Spamers .... amongst others, has joined the line-up for the Party!

The train departs from the FOTR station in Hermanstad at 18:00 sharp (due to Transnet rules it cannot depart later) and will be back at the station at around 10 pm - where after you can party the night away on the train and at the station... creating your own playboymansion for the evening. The organisers will provide some kinky eye candy and naughty entertainment and steamy shows to keep you entertained if you wish to take a peek. Safe Parking is available at the FOTR station as most of you know by now. As always there will be a dance floor on the train and the cash bar will be available.

Here's the link to their Facebook Event.

Hot in Joburg

It's hot in Joburg when Durban boyz Mark and Emmanuel liven up the scene..

Out and about in Joeys

Young and free and out and about in Johannesburg... ready for Valentine's tomorrow. Hope you are all lined up for a cool day with someone special.

Hot in Joeys

It's summer time and the boyz are out in Johannesburg...

Mr Gay South Africa Finale Tonight

Guest at Durban View Guesthouse Hendrik from Windhoek, Namibia, was delighted to be on the Rainbow cruise this week that hosted the finalists of the Mr Gay South Africa Pagent which culminates in a Grand Finale in Pretoria tonight.

In the photo with Hendrik on board the MSC Sinfonia is finalist Chris McGreggor, who hails from Durban and is looking awesome here at the White Party on board the ship resplendant with wings and cock-tail... mmm

Sat 28 November Grand Finale Mr Gay South Africa

It's the grand finale of the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant in the search for the ultimate male!! Tall order, but there are 16 fabulous contendants and each one well deserving of a place in the finals.

It all comes together at the State Opera Theatre in Pretoria and tickets can be booked through this link to Computicket.

You can vote for the finalist of your choice by sms - and win a week at a game lodge in Tanzania by sending an SMS with the name & surname of your favourite contestant - i.e. SMS: "GSA + name & surname" to 35215.

And simply click here to see all of the finalists!

One of the hot favourites is Gavin Deale (above) from Ballito, KZN, seen here at the KZN finals held at Durban View Gay Guesthouse recently.

Biggest Gay Party 26 December

In Durban for the launch of QC2's huge December gay circuit parties coming to Johannesburg (Sat 29 December), Durban (Tues 26 December) and Cape Town (New Year's Eve Thurs 31 December) is promoter Pieter (right) seen with Durban View Gay Guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn (second from right) and guests Lindeque (left) and John (second from left).

Salvation are the most famouse gay parties in London and the world with rave reviews from every continent.

So be sure to be there... log on to QC2's website and make sure you get your tickets early. QC2 were the organisers of the recent Fireman's Ball at the Dome in Johannesburg with several thouand Pride after-party enthusiasts.

Go Travel 24

Setting the cat amongst the pigeons is GoTravel24.com's story on the events line-up around the 27/28th November Mr Gay South Africa Pageant and what else is on offer in Pretoria that weekend.

Here you can read some of the comments like:

"This 'event' typifies homosexuality. Men who lust after each other to fulfill their sexal perversions. Of course we are led to believe that they are normal and that their 'sex act' is normal (think about that). If we speak up againt this (chosen) lifestyle we are bigots.... but they are destroying the family and also many other young mens lives with their agenda."

The Face of Pride Johannesburg

The face of Pride Johannesburg 2009... what a party, what a fest!!

For more pics here's the link to the Joburg Pride pics and Facebook group.

Mr Gay South Africa at Pride

Mr Gay South Africa finalist Gavin Deale (second from left) at the H2O Pride after-party in Johannesburg this weekend.

You can vote for Gavin to take top honours in the finals of the Pageant to be held in Johannesburg in November by sending your sms message GSA Gavin Deale to 35215.

3 cities more fun

Johannesburg (John, second from left) visits Durban View Gay Guesthouse joining Durban (Llewellyn, left) and Cape Town (Shaun and Tom, right) - for some 3 cities more fun in the roof-top jacuzzi.

And all this while Johannesburg was in the middle of it's annual Pride Festival.

Seems like everyone had some fun this weekend!

Out in Africa Film Festival 3-13 Sept

The 16th OUT IN AFRICA South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival takes place in Johannesburg from 3-13 September and in Cape Town from 10-20 September 2009 and features 17 international feature films and 9 South African productions, five of which are world premieres.

The festival has a wide range of films to appeal to all with subjects that run the gamut of human experience. Themes range and include, amongst others: high school hilarities, forbidden love, coming out, the desire for children and ageing gigolos. Moviegoers can look forward to comedies, tragedies, dramas and thought provoking documentaries. Every genre of filmmaking is covered including homage to celebrated gay icons.

Award winning international directors and actors will attend as guests of the festival. The festival opens with Spinnin' (6 Billion Different People) a film made by Spanish director Eusebio Pastrana in 2007. This is the Spaniards at their wacky best – an exuberant award winning film set in Madrid in 1995 and follows lovers Garate and Omar as they seek to have a child.

Included in the line up is Fig Trees. Directed by John Greyson, this Canadian production is a contemporary opera based on the lives of South Africa’s own HIV/Aids activist, Zackie Achmat and Canadian Tim McCaskell. The film uses clever historical references to Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thompson and is richly layered, intelligent and unique. Greyson, who is considered the Prince of Gay Filmmaking, is a guest of the festival and will be in attendance. He travels courtesy of the Canadian High Commission.

Angel, directed by Giorgios Katakouzinos is an award winning film that when it debuted at Cannes in 1982, took the world by storm. Based on a true story this Greek classic is considered the one Greek film that all Greeks have seen. Anyone who has seen Cabaret will be fascinated by Chris and Don, directed by Guido Santi and Tina Mascara This amazing documentary is about Christopher Isherwood whose short stories “Goodbye to Berlin” were the basis for the musical Cabaret. This sharp, witty and revealing film is told mainly by his lover, Don, and is supported by amazing archival footage of Hollywood starting in the late forties.

Courtesy of the British Council, the festival welcomes in attendance director Simon Pearce and producer Christian Martin whose film Shank follows the story of working class Cal who hides the fact that he is gay to his fellow gang members. Trouble erupts when he rescues a French boy his gang beats up. This explicit, shocking, largely hand-held film has already picked an international award and breathes new life into British alternative cinema.

Probably the most controversial film of the festival is the recently unbanned by the South African Film & Publications Board, XXY. This multi-award winning film is a complex tale of gender, identity and sexual orientation. Beautifully shot with stellar performances, the festival is proud to welcome the director, Lucía Puenzo and lead actor Inés Efron.

Click on the link here to see the full Johannesburg schedule at Monte Casino.

Johannesburg Gay Beach Party: Sat 31 Oct

Of course urbanites will be laughing to imagine Johannesburg holding a beach party when Johannesburg is 600 kms from the nearest beach....

...but the "beach" and Pool party will be the ultimate Pool party for all with Hot topless Barmen , DJs, Dancers and hot topless men.

Johannesburg summers will never be the same again with only 1500 TICKETS AVALIBLE FOR THIS FANTASTIC DAY/ NIGHT EVENT.

Tickets will only go on sale on the 15th September and the organisers are top event organisers of QC events and Risque fame.... so click on the Facebook link for more event info and make sure you are there to be seen.

Johannesburg to be Awarded

San Francisco, CA - A quick Google search and you’ll find a list of cities that have hosted the Gay Games. Seven cities, San Francisco (twice), Vancouver, New York, Amsterdam, Sydney, Chicago and Cologne (in 2010) share the honour.

But what about Gay Games Toronto? Gay Games LA? Or Johannesburg 2010? Just like during the Olympic bid process, there is stiff competition to host the next Gay Games and only one city can be selected. Toronto, Los Angeles and Johannesburg are examples of cities that marshaled significant resources and energy to bid to host the Gay Games but ultimately were not chosen.

As the Gay Games 2014 Site Selection process winds down and as the world begins final preparations for next summer’s 2010 Gay Games in Germany, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) has announced a new award designed to honour all previous Gay Games bidding cities and host city organisations. Each city has been invited to send representation to the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne where each city will be presented with a Medal of Honour during the July 31, 2010, Opening Ceremony.

The 18 cities that will be honoured include: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Cologne, Dallas, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Montreal, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington, DC. Each city has been invited to send representatives to Cologne for the special ceremony.

It's Pride in Johannesburg - Sat 3 Oct

It's Pride time in Johannesburg in October.

Joburg Pride is an annual celebration of the lesbian and gay community in Gauteng.

The 1990 Joburg Pride March was the first lesbian and gay pride parade to take place on the African continent. It was organised by the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (GLOW) headed by the late legendary gay rights and anti-apartheid activist Simon Nkoli. Many of the participants wore brown paper bags over their head out of fear for their safety.

The event has taken place every year since then, making the 2009 Joburg Gay Pride Festival the 20th annual Pride event in the city. Today, Joburg Pride is organised by a Section 21 company run by a board of volunteers.

The after-party is the Vawter Fireman's Ball 2009 - best event not to be missed. See the poster on the events panel to the left for booking information.

Hot Joburg

Whilst most of South Africa is starting to get a little cooler, there is still glorious autumn sunshine and here's our Jhb hot bod showing what it's about.

Joberg Pride Screen "Milk" Wed 22 April

Joburg Pride is hosting a sparkling night of cinema on 22 April with a special fund-raising screening of the Oscar-winning film Milk, at Cinema Nouveau, Bedford Centre.

Starring Sean Penn, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of the title role, the acclaimed film tells the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office in the United States. The film also won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.“We find it particularly fitting to host this screening on the night of the National Elections. The film is not only a fantastic piece of entertainment, but is also a tribute to those who are committed to ensuring that we continue to live in a free, fair and democratic society,” says Joburg Pride Co-Chair Zak Mbhele.

Tickets cost R100 per person and include refreshments. Thanks to the generous support of Ster Kinekor, the funds raised from the sale of tickets will go towards putting on the 2009 Joburg Pride Festival in October.“Do your civic duty and vote, and then celebrate your freedom by watching one of the best films of the last year with us,” says an enthusiastic Joburg Pride Co-Chair Tanya Harford. “You’ll not only be doing your bit for Pride, but have a good time doing it.”

The Joburg Pride screening of Milk takes place on Wednesday 22 April at 7.30pm at Cinema Nouveau screened by Fish Eagle, Bedford Centre. To book your exclusive tickets, call Natasha on 076 454 2076 or e-mail info@joburgpride.org .

Hot Bodz in Joburg

Morning Joburg visitors and friends. Here's a little something to start your weekend.

Mr and Miss Gay North-West 25 April

Although not strictly in Johannesburg, this is still an appropriate place to publicise Gay Umbrella, a non-profit organisation working among the gay community of the North West Province. Established in 2007, this organisation is working hard towards serving the needs of lesbians, gays and other sexual minorities.

They will be hosting the first ever Mr & Miss Gay North West Pageant. In the past two years they have tested the waters with the Miss Gay Umbrella and the support was very encouraging. Now the event has been rebranded in line with national trends and so Mr & Miss Gay North West is born.

Categories

There will be three categories in the competition. The first is Mr Gay, where the judges will be looking for the sexiest young man. Miss Gay is for those boys who like to drag, while the Mr Lesbian category is looking for the most handsome lesbian in the province.

Contestants will have to dress in casual wear, swim wear and evening wear.The winners of these three categories will be expected to raise funds for a charity and they will have to work hard during the year to help popularise Gay Umbrella and its activities. They will be entered into other contests and it is hoped that one of them will win a national title. The judges will be made up of a panel consisting of other beauty queens, radio personalities and sponsors.

A special rate on accommodation at a local guest house has been secured and those travelling from afar are welcome to contact the Gay Umbrella office for more details. For the first time ever the focus will also fall on local gay talent as part of the entertainment. Guyz and girlz who can do drag shows, play musical instruments or sing and dance are welcome to come forward to be included in the programme. The organisers are hoping to include this talent search aspect as part of the competition and are currently negotiating prizes with sponsors.

Mr & Miss Gay North West is trying to up its game and several semi-professional and professional artists have already volunteered their services. The popular Ayanda will share MC duties with Brown. The Five Diamonds from Kimberley are making their way to Mafikeng to astound the audience with their show.

The event takes place in the stylish Mmabana Mafikeng Cultural Centre Theatre which can seat around 350 people. Admission is R40 per person and the show is scheduled for 25 April at 19h30. Tickets can be booked by calling the Gay Umbrella Office or they will be available at the door. A bar service will be available and after the pageant the ever popular DJ Smallz will keep the dance floor going until dawn!

Look out for these other events coming up in 2009: Out in Africa Film Festival - 15 & 16 May. Unisa/Gay Umbrella Research Project - June through September. Educational Lekgotla - 17 October. North West Pride - 28 November.

The secretary is Hendrik Baird and he can be reached on cell 083-698-7998. Alternatively contact can be made with the Chairperson, Mildred Maropefela, on cell 073-157-1791. More information will be available on http://gaymaf.blogspot.com and e-mails can be sent to hennieb@ananzi.co.za.

Elections and Erections

ELECTIONS & ERECTIONS is a personal journey through the minefield of fear and fun on the eve of South Africa’s most crucial general election.

Pieter Dirk Uys celebrates the two issues that were illegal for most of his life in South Africa: democracy and sex.

This performance shows at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from Tue 17 Feb to Sat 28 Feb. Shows take place from Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm with extra 5pm shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets, available from Computicket, are R80 for the preview on February 17 and otherwise range from R90 to R120.

This performance shows at the Nelson Mandela Theatre stage of The Joburg Civic Theatre from March 3rd until March 15th 2009. All tickets are R150

Gay Pride Film Fest 6-8 March 09

It’s the Out In Africa Pride Film Festival on at Nu Metro Monte Casino from the 6th to the 8th March 2009.

Here is the schedule of movies and a short synopsis of each:

Fri 6th 18:45 pm The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela

20:30 pm I Can’t Think Straight

22:00 pm Otto; or Up With Dead People

Sat 7th 16:00 pm The Marching Season

17:30 pm The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela

19:15 pm Mulligans

21:00 pm Otto; or Up With Dead People

Sun 8th 18:00 pm Mulligans

20:00 pm I Can’t Think Straight

The Marching Season

Dir: Grace Chapman, Emma Jones

UK 2008 60min

In 2006, in the new and supposedly democratic EU state of Latvia, the Gay Pride parade was banned. In 2007, the organisers persevere and this ‘fly-on-the-wall’ documentary charts the events surrounding Latvia’s first officially sanctioned Latvian Gay Pride parade in Riga. This fascinating exposé reveals how members of the LGBT group Mozaika organise the event despite escalating threats from religious fundamentalists and the curiously-named neo-Nazi homophobic ‘No pride’ organisation. The film juxtaposes the Riga parade with coverage of the 2007 London Pride drawing parallels with the fight for LGBT rights in 60’s and 70’s Britain. The Marching Season is an absorbing insight into a country where a chilling Soviet-era mind–set still permeates, and a timely reminder of the reasons why we march.

The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela

Dir: Olaf de Fleur Johannesson

Iceland 2007 80min

Based on the real life of Filipino transsexual prostitute Raquela Rios, this winner of the prestigious Teddy Award (Berlinale 2008) is part documentary, part fantasy, often filled with wry humour, always telling. Playing herself, Raquela introduces elements of her life inter-woven with fiction. She spends her days working as a prostitute and dreaming of meeting Prince Charming. The Prince, of course, will sweep her off her feet to Paris and a life of luxury. Just to make sure that the Prince is virtually out there, Raquela trawls the Internet for suitable candidates, and lands the job as a webcam host on a transsexual porn site. Michael, the owner of the website, pays for Raquela to go Iceland to stay with her transsexual internet friend Valerie, and then meets her in Paris. But is Michael a Prince or a Toad?

Otto; or Up With Dead People

Dir: Bruce LaBruce

Germany / Canada 2008 94min

From the lens of cult Canadian filmmaker Bruce LaBruce (Super 8½, Hustler White, The Raspberry Reich) comes a ridiculously ironic, low-budget film. As ever, La Bruce questions the divides of art, life and porn, and throws in some irreverent tongue-in-cheek references to sex, violence, Marxism, Capitalist consumerism, suicide, and AIDS.

This gay Zombie "film within a film" features Otto, a newly undead zombie who stumbles woodenly around Berlin seeking meaning for his un-life. He meets up with Medea, a melancholic director who casts him in her political shlockumentary which reveals the burgeoning "plague’ of homosexual zombies growing in the city. The characters of Otto and Medea are hilarious and Medea’s girlfriend Hella, a black and white flickering silent movie character is a wonderfully witty touch.

Mulligans

Dir: Chip Hale

Canada 2008 92min

A Mulligan, in golfing terminology, allows a player a second chance to perform a certain move or action. Golf fanatic Tyler Davidson comes home for his college vacation with his new best friend Chase in tow. His family welcomes Chase into their summer routine - playing golf, having barbeques, going to parties and hanging out at the beach in their charming small American town. Chase eventually decides to come out to Tyler and this revelation sparks off a series of events that make for a shockingly different summer than the one Tyler envisioned for himself and his family, particularly his father.Beautifully-shot and filled with gorgeous sun-drenched scenes, the film thoughtfully and sensitively explores issues around friendship and love and acceptance of others and oneself.

Awards:

Q Cinema Film Festival – Fort Worth, Texas – Audience Award

Q Cinema Film Festival – Fort Worth, Texas – Best Film

Pittsburgh International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival – Audience Award

I Can't Think Straight

Dir: Shamim Sarif

UK 2007 80min

From the Indian/South African director and writer of World Unseen comes a light cross-religious lesbian romantic comedy with a twist of cultural conflict. At the party for her fourth engagement, London-based Jordanian-Christian Tala meets Leyla, the guarded Indian-Muslim girlfriend of Tala’s friend Ali. Despite the thin veil of social propriety, chemistry sparks between them. However, the girl’s mutual naiveté and emotional confusion ensures that it remains unacknowledged by either until they meet for the weekend in Oxford. The approaching wedding and descending relations throw a spanner in the fledgling romance, and they must separately face up to the weight of their cultural, religious and parental expectations – especially those of their dragon mothers.

Face of the city

Here's a fresh face and hot bod to grace our pages for February. Nice one!!