LGBTQ+ adult entertainers explain the shifting nature of their work during the pandemic.

BY EVAN ROSS KATZ

The outlook, as has become a common refrain, looked dim. “The Coronavirus Is Shutting Down Porn Sets,” read a March 16 BuzzFeed News headline. That story came a day after the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), the adult industry lobbying group, called for an industry-wide “voluntary shut down” through the end of March. It didn’t take long before the adult expos, which can generate thousands of fans (which can then, in turn, generate millions in revenue) were postponed indefinitely. An industry crippled; an industry largely unprotected (pun not not intended). “Adult performers don't get sick days or government bailouts, and many crew members’ non-adult jobs are already being cancelled,” Mike Stabile, the Free Speech Coalition’s communications director, pointed out to the Daily Beast.

Luckily, there exist platforms like OnlyFans, which, as the New York Times noted in their 2019 story, have changed sex work forever. These sites allow anyone, from adult entertainers and sex workers, to people looking to monetize what they’re already doing recreationally,  a revenue stream that isn’t beholden to studio or government, only their fans.

And there’s been a tremendous boom in both content making and content makers in a time of great crisis for many. Kurt from Toronto, who runs an OnlyFans review site called myqueerfans.com, says he’s seen an uptick in traffic over the last few weeks which he attributes to people practicing social distancing by staying inside their homes. “There is one model I noticed who is making his OnlyFans free for the next week or so to support those who have been laid off,” He says. “Other models have started corona-themed promotional campaigns where they specifically mention ‘coronavirus’ and ‘quarantine’. One couple advertised that you could spend your 'quarantine with them' online and that they'd be posting lots of new material.”

Below, we talk to adult entertainers and veteran content makers as well as those inspired to kick-start an OnlyFans account due to their income being affected by an invisible virus that continues to petrify the world.

“Funny how people change their opinions on OnlyFans once there’s a recession,” Trop Daddy tweeted on Sunday. “Lately I’ve been using discounts because it’s been an easy way to get a lot of subscribers in a short amount of time,” he says, noting that for the past six months 95% of his income has come from OnlyFans. “The downside is when you put your price back to the standard full price, those subscribers are less prone to renew, having paid 25%-30% less last time.” Daddy, 24, says he’ll try a corona-related discount but will likely return to full price soon so that he doesn’t have drop off in future months.

For Tayte Hanson, an adult entertainer who earns 50% of his income from personal training, photography, and as a touring dancer, he’s definitely seen a corona-related spike in his adult content. “I have seen an influx in both views and DMs as it seems everyone is feeling lonely and wanting to be connected to their content creators,” he says. The 30-year-old says he offers discounts regularly, “however, this time I chose to do it on a large scale (200 subscriptions available) as I want people who are bored and stuck at home to be able to enjoy content while they don't have much work instead of going out and having a hookup.” Hanson says he plans to donate 25% of this months’ income from his OnlyFans and JustForFans (a similar content hub) to people who have lost their jobs as a result of the virus’s spread.

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Ricky Roman of CockyBoys fame created a promotion of 50% off subscriptions, which he’s grateful to say sold very quickly. But will he continue to make content amidst CDC guidelines which suggest six feet of social distance from others at all times, especially when asymptomatic carriers run rampant due to the lack of available testing? “Since the quarantine, as of the past few days I’m not sure that I do want to risk myself or others... so I’m not sure that I will be filming with anyone else at this time,” he says.

Veteran adult film star — and recent Favorite Fan Content Creator winner at January’s Str8UpGay Porn Awards — Austin Wolf, 39, feels similarly. Lucky for him, he’s prepared for a disaster situation. “I have enough unreleased material to continue to post at the same frequency for a few months and avoid making new content if at all possible until we clear this storm,” he says. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering his resume includes an estimated 300-400 studio films and 2500 “fan content” videos.

“I do this because I enjoy it and have no regrets, but this world is not for everyone and that's okay, please make decisions that are best and healthiest for you,” Wolf says when asked about those who are starting to produce adult content as a result of dwindling finances due to lay-offs or unemployment. He does offer this tidbit up for newfound content makers: “Never take less than 80%. OnlyFans and 4myFans takes 20% whereas many other sites take 30-50% of the models subscription. Anything less than 80% is a ripoff because you are the product. If you don't know what your percentage is, you should look this up immediately.”

This is the kind of advice that will be critical in navigating this space for folks like Alex Jenny, who launched her OnlyFans during the quarantine after giving it a thought for some time. She posts a mix of nudes, homemade porn that includes masturbation and sex with her partners, as well as lip sync/strip teases to songs that get her into the mood.

“Content will include stuff with me both in and out of ‘drag,’” she says. “I put quotation marks around drag because I'm also a genderqueer trans woman. So I'll be playing with my gender presentation and androgyny. I would love to get creative and find ways to integrate my drag persona, mental health and healing perspective, and my love of being a slut on my OnlyFans.”

Jenny says she also plans on talking about healing and unlearning shame through posting content online, saying she’s done sex work before but up until now feared talking about it could hinder her career. “As I've transitioned however and started doing drag, I found more freedom in learning to love and value my body as well as be more unapologetic about sharing more of myself with the world,” she says. “This is mostly a way for me to have fun, unlearn shame, unapologetically chase pleasure, and heal from sexual trauma—because if I don't have any shame about posting this kind of explicit content online, then it helps me not feel shame for the things that happened to me without my consent.”

SEX + DATINGGrindr

A journey of a 1,000 loads begins with a single fleet. And in the highly competitive market of OnlyFans, DamagedBttm works hard to clean out the others. Upon first glance, the page offers up a pretty expected selection of offerings from the Chicago sub. A total bottom, DamagedBttm offers a selection for a specific market. So, if you’re looking for versatility, you could be disappointed...or you could appreciate those who focus on an expertise. In DamagedBttm’s world, versatility is propaganda.

The photo section of the menu offers you a garden variety of nudes. The standard collection of angles and photo types one could expect to receive in one very horny afternoon using Grindr. Over-the-shoulder butt pics and several stills from content posted in the video section make up the vast majority of the photos in the reel of over 100 images. They are simple, but still satisfying.                                                                             

A bottom of the people, some short stories (along with supporting images) of his work as a bathhouse community bottom really steal the show here, but don’t miss the full frontal and rear pics in the mirror of economy class airplane restrooms. Bottoms, they’re just like us!

The real star is the videos. Boasting over 100 videos, this bottom’s page goes deep and so do the tops. Content is filmed in a variety of locations (love a bottom who travels), but most are in a private bedroom or hotel setting, with the exception of a few excellent videos that were filmed in a local bathhouse. If you’re looking for a couch, kitchen counter or bathroom, try IKEA, because this pillow princess needs a mattress. The page seems generally risk averse, so no stairwells or public parks for viewers with an adventurous side.

There’s been a lot of growth here. Earlier videos are mostly just short clips with no faces featuring tops who may not know they’d just invested in a rapidly growing startup. Even with that swift growth from unknown bottom to collabing with well known names in the porn industry, DamagedBttm keeps it brief (or thong or jockstrap) with most films kept under 15 minutes. The perfect amount of time, because you can’t always make an afternoon out of it. The general video aesthetic can be described as...authentic. Which is a buzzword for restaurant reviews on Yelp, but doesn’t work for porn lighting. Minimally edited, the videos have some fun candid “behind the scenes” moments. Like, in a video with Derek Allen, when he pauses sex to get lube and tells an anecdote about giving the appearance of not using lube while actually using it. These moments are scarce and mildly entertaining but, if you’re horny, they can  take you out of it. Distracting as the random conversations may be, it is a great opportunity to get a sense of who the scene partners are before they turn on their “top voice.”

The scene partners come in a variety of ages, but not so many colors. There are some scenes with men of color, but, to be frank, this bottom has had more middle-aged white men inside him than the Republican National Convention. Largely muscular and masculine, the page delivers on the expectation set by its description of a “sub bottom” who “loves getting f**ked by guys 2-3 times” his age. They certainly do some damage.

In a jockstrap that has been very clearly stretched beyond its limits due to the grips of tops past, he both takes an impressive pounding (in a scene with someone he refers to as Viking) and decides to put on a blindfold at the 11 minute mark as if they hadn’t been face to face for all the minutes before. A choice. Some other exceptional highlights include a 2 part video with Parker Payne, the couple of scenes with Dillon Anderson and a Grindr hookup whose face you never get to see. He trots out a lot of these videos in parts divided over the course of a week, so you might have to wait a week to see the “money shot” of longer videos, which may prove difficult for those with commitment issues.

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The page is testament to the versatility that exists in being a total bottom. From fists to groups to double penetration, DamagedBttm explores the many ways he can be satisfied in 10-15 minutes. What he lacks in versatility, he makes up for in enthusiasm; he’s very verbal. Not annoyingly so, but he hasn’t met an opportunity to moan that he won’t take.

The experience is exactly what you would expect based on advertising: an all in all good time that doesn’t take itself too seriously. DamagedBttm serves up a simple and relatable hole that says “when you’re here, you’re family.”

And THAT’S the bottom line.

3.5/5 Fleets

Location: https://onlyfans.com/damagedbttm

Price: $$ (average)

Noise Level: Loud

Average video length: 10-15 minutes

Production value: Amateur with great professional adornments

Makes personalized videos/photos? Yes

Uploads regularly? Yes, about weekly

Top, Bottom or Vers? Strict bottom

What the Fleets mean: Ratings range from zero to five fleets. Zero, is poor, failure or scam. One fleet is satisfactory. Two fleets is good. Three fleets is very good. Four fleets is excellent. Five fleets is superb.

‍SEX + DATINGGrindr

It's hard to believe that in 2009 a small, location-based queer social networking app would become a global phenomenon with millions of users and turn into a pop culture mainstay, featured in everything from the New York Times to SNL to the zeitgeistiest TV shows of the day.

Now, 13 years into that journey, with lots of lessons under our belt and millions more users, we want to celebrate this milestone with the people who were monumental in getting us to where we are today. We asked some of our most-tenured employees about their Grindr journey: the most surprising moments, what makes them proud, and what they’re looking forward to next. Cheers to another 13 years.

Monty Suwannukul, Product Design Director

What’s been the most surprising part of your journey at Grindr?

I think people imagine the Grindr office as a bunch of horny dudes with go-go dancers performing 24/7. While that might be an accurate description of our holiday parties, it is far from the reality of what makes Grindr run on a day to day basis. I’m continually surprised by the quality of people that I work with; Grindr employees are smart, passionate and a lot of fun. Many of my best friends are people I met while working here. Because of who we serve, open-mindedness is a prerequisite to success here and that builds a beautiful culture.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

I remember when we launched the full redesign of Grindr in 2016 and I got a glimpse of my designs in the hands of people in the wild. I was at Revolver in WeHo and I had a real proud mom moment when I saw someone open up that screen of blue and yellow chat bubbles. That was my first big launch with Grindr, but I’ve had my hands in hundreds of releases since then.

I’m proudest when I hear stories of how our app is used to find connection by people who would otherwise have no options. Many probably think of dangerous anti-gay countries we see on the news, but no matter where you are in the world, there are people opening the app and finding that they aren’t alone. I find that so inspiring.

What are you most excited about with where Grindr is now and where it’s headed?

When I talk to people about Grindr, there is this incredible pattern that I’ve seen emerge. People say Grindr is only good for hookups. Then, when I ask about their best experiences on the app, they talk about the friends they made, the love they found, and the adventures they had. There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity here to enrich the lives of the people who use Grindr, and I’m super excited to try to capture that.

Nick Penna, Engineering Manager

What’s been the most surprising part of your journey at Grindr?

On my second day of work I went to the annual summer party and at 11am was served endless champagne and vodka from backless speedo boys. It wasn’t clear to me on those first couple days, but I quickly found that Grindr was an amazing place for me to learn and grow professionally. I have learned so much here, and have had the pleasure of working with so many dedicated and smart coworkers who still inspire me every day.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

I’m proud that I lead a team that focuses on improving our user’s experience. I take it seriously that Grindr is a vital part of many people’s lives, and I’m proud of my part in its history. There are always challenges at work, and I am thankful and proud of my team for all the hard work they do to keep our Grindr users at the front of their minds.

What are you most excited about with where Grindr is now and where it’s headed?

I’m always looking forward to new Grindr feature releases or product updates and seeing them being used by people to express themselves. I am excited that the company is in a position to make 2022 an amazing year for introducing new and awesome Grindr experiences to the community.

Alice Hunsberger, CX Senior Director

What’s been the most surprising part of your journey at Grindr?

How often I get to talk about butts and nipples! I knew it would be a lot, but it's... a lot.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

Building a great team. When I started here, there was no CX team at all, and now we have a group of really user-obsessed folks who are making a big impact, both for our community and the business.

What are you most excited about with where Grindr is now and where it’s headed?

I love how laser-focused Grindr is on our community and what they want and need. We're really ramping up in our ability to deliver more ways for people to make genuine connections with each other, and there are so many exciting ideas in the works. This really feels like just the beginning!

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Matt Chang, Digital Marketing Specialist

What’s been the most surprising part of your journey at Grindr?

The most surprising part of my journey at Grindr is that when I started working here Grindr was just a small start-up. I could never have predicted at the time that in just a few years we’d be a major player in the dating app sphere and in the tech world.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

I’m proud to be part of one of the most iconic and influential dating apps in the world, and I’m more proud that we help the queer community connect on a daily basis.

‍What are you most excited about with where Grindr is now and where it’s headed?

I’m really excited to see where we are headed because we for sure aren’t slowing down.

Munir Estevane, API Engineering Director

What’s been the most surprising part of your journey at Grindr?

I can say something that still surprises me is how engaged and global our userbase is. Grindr has worldwide recognition. Few other apps can claim to have been prominently mentioned in two episodes of Silicon Valley, for example. And whenever something seems out of place, users make their voice heard on social media, newscasts, podcasts, what have you.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

I'm proud of having established software development processes that have withstood the test of time, with systems that are resilient, high quality code, and onboarding tools that make it simple for new engineers to come on board.

What are you most excited about with where Grindr is now and where it’s headed?

I'm most excited about our current growth, getting more engineers on the team so we can better help our users live their best lives.

Michelle Kelly, Brand Partnerships

What’s been the most surprising part of your journey at Grindr?

Learning that a lot of my friends met on Grindr and are now in happy relationships. It’s also impressive to see how many more daily active users there are since I started in 2016; I had no idea we were growing at such a rapid pace, and I’m excited to be a part of the journey.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

I am proud of my team and the people I work with - they truly are my family. I’ve met some of the most wonderful people working here over the past 5 ½ years.
As a member of the ad sales team, I am also proud to see the types of brands that have partnered with us and shown support for our community.

What are you most excited about with where Grindr is now and where it’s headed?

I’m excited to see Grindr grow and continue to make dating, culture, and the LGBTQ+ community instantly accessible to gay, bi, and trans people – everywhere.

Serge lamas, Senior QA Engineer

What’s been the most surprising part of your journey at Grindr?

During my tenure at Grindr I’ve experienced many varied roles: I’ve been an event planner, facilities coordinator, EA, personal trainer, and now I’m part of the QA team. The opportunities Grindr has given me to grow and evolve have been incredible, and shows how dedicated the company is to nurturing talent.

What are you most proud of from your time here?

So many, but I’d have to say the biggest is Grindr for Equality. It feels good to be part of a company that actually cares about the LGBTQ+ community.

What are you most excited about with where Grindr is now and where it’s headed?

I’m so excited to keep seeing the app grow into an even bigger global community.

Total Bottom, Apologies to Mom

It’s these expectations of power.
Man of the house
should something nasty befall Daddy
without Mom nearby to steer
towards sensibility, away
from curious mountain lions,
or gas station fist fights.
I shouldn’t apologize
because I carried the firewood. Emptied
our trash when full of veggie skins.
But I can just hear her sighing
when her one strong boy opens up
about being jack hammered nightly.
She could be disappointed,
or maybe she would love to know her son
thrives from underneath, same as she.

Students on Grindr

reach out, ask if I’m teaching next year
because my hands-on style was easy to digest
in previous meet-ups. I have to ask
who I’m speaking to. Send a pic.
Sometimes this means boring
polo shirts and sandals,
bare calves. If the student confesses
they’ve been drinking and the club has let out,
there might be a chance of skin.
Sorry, professor, wrong photo lol.
I do enjoy their signs of life.
Dog food bowls at their heels, litter boxes
at bedside. I feel like I know them beyond semesters
when I peek at their list of kinks,
just above preferred pronouns. I can’t forget
Todd, who plagiarized Elizabeth Bishop—bondage,
light. Roberto, middle row and very introverted?
Vocal dom, but also
knots, bareback. Who wrote an A paper
on TV’s Dance Moms. Of course I’m teaching
next year, I say, then close down
the conversation. Now they know
I’m into fem, non-aggressive types. But my profile
will remain as is, especially that picture
with a Coke bottle between my legs.
Eager minds want to know,
but they shouldn’t learn from me.
I suppose if they ask, I might have to tell them
my secret—I’m a better teacher the morning after
I’ve learned from someone else.

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Public Safety

From this window I see boys trying to get laid.
They don’t care who knows,
all walking, just smiling. When quiet
they are trying

to get laid. I could move among them
with my faux straight walk, my voice low
enough to meet the bare minimum

of masculine American standards.
Only I’m counting every year

I was afraid to find boys my age
of the same tongue
and navigational pull at churches, outside gas stations

—I heard about boys who realized their language

only to lose their tongues, eviscerated with arms
around and chained to a fencepost

like youth to temptation. Boys out for shelter
stolen away by short breaths
promising L-O-V-E. I lost years.

Four fingers in the back pocket
and a thumb that won’t fit. Close whispers.
Just a goddamn kiss on the neck.

All those small town bodies
ready for a how-to tucked away,
folded into man-made graves.

Busted like teeth. Boys like playthings.

Boys like death.
When trying to get laid
one teenage boy should not say to another
that there is this place downtown

where we can stand in an ocean
of heavy foot traffic, playfully wrestle and tug
our limbs like any straight couple
blocking the sidewalk.  

Know the difference between a social kiss
and one held back
to keep a grocery run,
yogurt for two, without incident.

Dare to go further

in public, and some men
do not care to see
others trying to get laid.

Or taking hands. Buying dinner at the local.
Or simply saying, I want you.

Then I hear someone say
this is a new year. Whatever a man does,

but in private. What two men can do
when their stomachs rumble
until their idiot hearts reach out for peace.

Someone say it again. Continue as boys will,
and stop shaking . This is a new year.

Ship

I know your face is a beacon, carefree moon
with tongue performing a raspberry
I will climb for, sail or swim.
Though I am afraid of heights
and the deepness of water.

Maybe I’ll just look at you from here,
stick my tongue out until it meets yours in passing.

‍ENTERTAINMENTPatrick Rogers POETRY

Miley Cyrus: Plastic Hearts

Pop, Trap, and Country Miley are long gone. Please welcome to the stage, Punk Miley.

BY: NICK LEVINE

From hyper-wholesome Hannah Montana to the sex-positive Bangerz era, Miley Cyrus has made it clear she’s a pop star who can’t be tamed or put in a box. New album Plastic Hearts sees her really lean into ‘80s-style arena rock: if you bought a pair of fingerless gloves during your emo phase, you’ll want to dig them out again. Here’s our track-by-track review.

WTF DO I KNOW

This savage opener tells us two things we really need to know about Plastic Hearts.

First: Miley is serving us '80s rock queen complete with guitar solos where necessary.

Second: this is a defiant break-up album that offers tantalizing hints about one or several of her relationships. "Wakin' up with people that we met for the first time," she sings here. "Loved it, then I hated it, and I let you go." Ouch.

PLastic Hearts

The catchy title track finds Miley confronting her demons over a bouncy new wave beat. There's a namecheck for "the Chateau" – L.A.'s Chateau Marmont, obviously – and a probable dig at the city generally, which she describes as "the sunny place for shady people." Still, this song is mostly about Miley's own mental state. 'Frightened by my own reflection, desperate for a new connection," she sings. "Pull you in, but don't you get too close." Babes, we've all been there.

Angels like you

We've known Miley can sell a ballad since "The Climb." This one's a big, swelling number on which she takes the blame for a toxic relationship. "It's not your fault I ruin everything, and it's not your fault I can't be what you need," she sings in her gutsiest voice. One to listen to in the bath with a large glass of Pinot noir.

Prisoner feat. Dua lipa

The album's evocative second single takes us right back to 1982 – Miley and Dua come off like old friends doing shots in a dive bar while complaining about their shitty relationships. To add to the '80s flavor, the melody even interpolates Olivia Newton-John's iconic club hit "Physical." It sounds slight on first listen, but “Prisoner” is a true grower.

Gimme what I want

A seriously hot stomper about craving a one-night-stand – perhaps one with a kink element. "Pleasure leads to pain / To me, they're both the same," Miley sings on the first verse. Either way, she's going to make sure she gets off. "I just need a lover, so gimme what I want or I'll give it to myself," she commands on the chorus.

Night Crawling feat. Billy idol

Look, if someone had asked you at the start of the year, "Do you want a Miley Cyrus and Billy Idol duet?," you'd have said no. But in 2020, all bets are off, and "Night Crawling" fully slaps. It sounds like the theme song to a post-Blade Runner sci-fi movie – all dry ice and attitude – and the chorus is enormous. It’s the sort of song that only Miley could pull off.  

Midnight Sky

You know this one; it's a song of the year. After five or six plays, "Midnight Sky" will make you want to listen to Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen," but Miley knows this, which is why you'll find a remix/mash-up on the album’s digital edition. As you'd expect, Miley and Stevie’s equally throaty vocals blend magically.

high

Miley explored country-pop on 2017’s Younger Now, but “High” feels properly gutsy and lovelorn where that album was a touch restrained. Lyrically, it deals with messy post-breakup feelings in an all-too-relatable way. "And I don't miss you," she sings on the chorus, "But I think of you and don't know why." Eugh. Do yourself a favor, Miley, and mute their stories.

hate me

Miley gets existential on a midtempo track which has echoes of her experimental post-Bangerz release, Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. It's not as weird and wonderful as that album, but there's a definite comedown vibe here. "I wonder what would happen if I die, I hope all of my friends get drunk and high," she ponders with more than a hint of melancholy.

Bad karma feat. Joan jett

Miley and the legendary Joan Jett go way back. When she inducted her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, Miley described the Runaways star as "superwoman" and began her speech by recalling "the first time I wanted to have sex with Joan Jett." Thankfully, this slinky collab captures the two women's chemistry. When Miley sings, "I've always picked a giver 'cause I've always been the taker," it's up to us to interpret the line however sub – sorry, suggestively – we like.

never be me

Miley moves into '80s movie ballad territory with this wistful and candid slowie. "But if you're looking for stable, that'll never be me," she sings. "If you're looking for faithful, that'll never be me." Future partners can't say they haven't been warned.

Golden g string

An unusual title for an unusual song. The reflective album closer sees Miley ruminate on her own notoriety – "at least it gives the paper somethin' they can write about" – and the cruel brutality of the Trump era. "You dare to call me crazy, have you looked around this place?" she sings on the chorus. Frankly, it's quite a lot of ground to cover on one song, but Miley's unselfconscious sincerity helps her pull it off.

‍ENTERTAINMENTBLOOPREVIEW

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‍The U.S. spends over $100 billion on policing per year. Where does that money go?

BY: TOM GEORGE

A reckoning is happening.

As protests take place around  the world in reaction to racism and police brutality, many have started to question the current system of policing and its role in our lives, with calls to defund and dismember departments, take away police powers, and remove police presence from schools, festivals and Pride events.

Though calls to defund police departments have been made for years now—with the term ‘defund’ being used to suggest budget cuts—and have been mostly ignored, it seems as though in the wake of George Floyd’s death, they’re starting to bear some fruit. Last week, L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti  announced he was scrapping the planned budget increases for the LAPD that would have given them a whopping $1.189 billion spend—although this was after protests congregated outside his home.

In Minneapolis, the home of George Floyd himself and the city that has long been accused of racism within its police ranks, the city has promised change, with council members looking to dismantle the police force and create a new system entirely. Meanwhile, leading political voices such as AOC have called for cuts to the NYPDs massive $6 billion budget, with Mayor de Blasio vowing to make changes; while California senator Kamala Harris, speaking on The View, wouldn’t go as far as saying defunding, but definitely supported “reimagining” public safety.

U.S. states offer huge amounts of their budget to their police forces. The U.S. collectively spends $100 billion a year on policing and $80 billion on incarceration. Even amid a pandemic when areas such as education, healthcare, construction, transport and tourism have seen major cuts to their finances, leaders have been hesitant to make any changes to policing budgets, with many going untouched and some even increasing. So what is so key about state policing that means it can’t be cut? Where is money being spent?

In truth, the full scope of police department spendings is fairly unknown and hard to find let alone decipher. In all states the majority of the police budget is spent on the salaries of officers, which is on average $67.6k per year—around $15k per year more than the average across all occupations. In other countries police officers earn a lot less, although most are greatly higher than their national averages. UK police officers earn about £42.4k per year ($53k) and French police officers earn around €46.3k per year ($52.4k).  

Equipment is also expensive, but while health care workers across the U.S. are struggling to get the PPE they so desperately need, this past week we’ve seen police forces out in riot gear to face protesters. Made up of a helmet, suit, gloves and a shield, one police officer’s riot gear can come to $496.01 on average across all states (FYI with PPE costing around $15.33 per person, 31 health care workers could be fitted with the cost of one riot suit). Body cameras are also expensive; the Obama administration put aside $263 million in 2014 for their implementation and further officer training, but despite such large expenditure their non-mandatory status mean many police officers keep them turned off anyway, making them virtually redundant, potentially wasteful.

To make matters even more shocking, taxpayer money is also spent on defending police brutality itself. In a country that has much higher rates of police brutality than its peers, this can become rather expensive—In the U.K., 55 people were shot and killed by police over 24 years; more than this were killed within 24 days of 2015 in the U.S. Around $230 million is spent per year on NYPD misconduct lawsuits alone, while in 2018 Chicago’s police department spent $113 million on settlements and legal fees to families of those killed or harmed by police. In 2019, well before the death of George Floyd by their officer, the Minneapolis police department made a payout of $20 million for the killing of Justine Ruszczyk, an Australian-American woman who was shot after reporting a potential assault behind her home (In comparison, the family of Terrance Franklin, who in 2013 was chased, shot and killed in the same city, received $795,000 in February of this year).

Are these huge budgets necessary? Crime rates have actually been falling in the U.S., and although there has never been a large-scale example of dismantling police forces, examples in Georgia as well as NY police boycotts in 2014 suggest that a lower police presence actually sees a lower level of crime. Higher police presences, such as New York’s aggressive ‘Stop and Frisk’ policy, might actually increase tensions between civilians and law enforcement.  

In his book The End of Policing, Alex S. Vitale points out how crucial it is to “redirect resources from policing, courts and jails to community centers and youth jobs.” He notes how in 2014 the LA Youth Justice Coalition drafted a plan that redirected just 1% of the LA policing budgets to community social programs for youth which would generate over $100 million per year, however nothing was put in place. Compared to peer countries the U.S. spends very little on social programs—only 18.7% of its general budget (France spends 31.2%, Germany 25.1%) and a staggering 0.6% on benefits for family and children (the UK and Sweden spend 3.5%).

What’s more, Vitale believes that departments are having to over-police in order to justify their sizes and budgets. He finds this especially visible in border patrol, which, in the wake of a decline in border crossers, has focused its efforts on seizing drugs—even though 80% of its arrests are of U.S. citizens. Yet, despite the lowering crime rates and forced validations of costs, police departments continue to see budget increases year after year.

With 34% of black trans people in the U.S. living in extreme poverty, lowering funds for the police and repurposing those budgets towards social programs that support struggling communities is one viable course of action. Ending homelessness only needs one fifth of the budget U.S. policing gets, and ending poverty for those with families and children can be done with 70%. Perhaps city councillors in Minneapolis are right: the only way forward is to dismantle state policing programs completely and build up a new system instead. The world is facing a massive evolution and all eyes are on Minneapolis to see if a community public safety model could work. The protesters on the street demand us to at least try.

‍POLITICSBLOOP

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This past Sunday a massive gathering of protesters—all clad in white—rallied around the Brooklyn Museum before taking to the streets in a march of support for the Black Trans community.

The protest, called Brooklyn Liberation by organizers, featured speeches and a silent march through Brooklyn to Fort Greene Park. Organizers said that police scanners estimated over 15,000 people in attendance.

This stunning display of solidarity comes in the midst of an ongoing national protest over police brutality and just two days after the tragic news of Black Trans women Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells and Riah Milton’s deaths. See below for pictures of the event.

Brooklyn Liberation Organizers & Speakers:
West Dakota
Fran Tirado
Eliel Cruz
Raquel Willis
Peyton Dix
Mohammed Fayaz
Ianne Fields Stewart
Ceyenne Doroshow
Junior Mintt
Joshua Allen⁣
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Supporting Partners:
The Okra Project
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute
For the Gworls
Glits
Black Trans Femmes in the Arts
Emergency Release Fund⁣
⁣

To join the movement/donate, click here.

POLITICSBLOOP

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We surveyed 10,000 Grindr users about the major world events and pop culture touchstones that defined 2020, and they didn’t hold back. Though we may not have left our homes much this year, we still danced our asses off to Cardi B, laughed till we cried with Bowen Yang, and busted out our phones when Chris Evans’ leaked his…well, it was a very long year. And it’s still going. But since we’re almost at 2021, let’s take a look back and celebrate the amazing cultural moments that helped get us through.  

Gaga summed up our entire 2020 with the simple phrase “I’d rather be dry but at least I’m alive,” so it’s no wonder we all related to this sopping wet dance anthem. Oh, and Ms. Grande also lives on Chromatica? We’ll have a one-way ticket, please. Special shoutout to our runner-up, the massive banger “WAP” by dream team Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion...next year can we get a foursome though?

In a year chock-full of gay screaming, there was one gasp, one gay gasp, that truly united us as a community: Chis Evans leaking his own dick pic. Rather than shy away from the, uh, incident, he used the opportunity to get people to vote in the presidential election. What a standup guy.

50% of users voted for healthcare workers as hero of the year, and we’re humbled by the dedication and bravery these everyday heroes continue to deliver during a global pandemic. We also must mention the important work of #BLM organizers, who started an important national conversation this past summer and are keeping the pressure on the incoming Biden/Harris administration.

It was the year of OnlyFans, and since he’s one of the biggest stars on the platform, it only makes sense that it’s Griffin Barrow’s year too. His OnlyFans truly outsold: from beach cruising to POV blowjobs, Mr. Barrows knew exactly how to serve pandemic relief to the masses. We can’t wait to see him grab hold of 2021 and have his way with it.

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The Cockdestroyers absolutely destroyed the competition. Okay, sorry, that was lazy. But seriously, Sophie and Rebecca made this year 100% more bearable, even on Sunday. Special shoutout to Leslie Jordan, whose catchphrase, “Well, shit, how y’all doing?” has been ingrained in our collective brain—right next to Rickey Thompson’s iconic laugh (ha HA).

While the Trump administration has spent an exorbitant amount of energy trying to subvert queer rights, we still had several wins in the U.S. and around the world this year. Taking the top spot is the Supreme Court ruling that workers cannot be fired for being gay or transgender. It’s about damn time.

The only queen who could ever top Ru would have to be the actual queen. The Crown has everything one needs for a well-balanced TV dinner: Oscar winners, Gillian Anderson in a snatched wig and pearls, Princess Di serving eyes, and Josh O’ Connor making Prince Charles look like a damn snack. Tea is served, y’all.

It was a tight three-way race for first, but ultimately our fave front-facing comedian Benny Drama snatched the comedy gold. From his his absurd takes on zodiac dating to his hilarious impersonations of the Kardashians, Timothée Chalamet, and Shawn Mendes, he’s a comedic jack of all trades. And speaking of trade, he’s not shabby to look at either.

Every. Single. Goddamn. Day.

POP CULTUREBLOOP

‍In honor of African Pride Month we’re spotlighting LGBTQ+ members paving the way for the African queer community.

Words by: BRILLIANT KODIE
Artwork by: KIT BEUKES  

Every day as a queer person in Africa is a struggle. In spite massive gains for the LGBTQ+ community in some countries, just recently Botswana decriminalized homosexuality, there are just as many places on the continent that continue to embrace discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Though these headlines often cause me to feel discouraged, it’s the amazing queer people I’ve connected with around the continent that leads me to believe change is coming.

In light of October being African Pride Month, I wanted to spotlight a few of the queer people in Africa making positive changes in the community and proving that a single voice carries a chorus of power.

Meet Matthew Blaise

Born and raised in Nigeria, an African country that criminalizes gay people, Matthew Blaise has always fought for equality. “I am fighting to be seen as a femme person without the negative connotations or being considered weak or abnormal or even a freak of nature. This stereotype has left in me a box and I hate boxes. So I began fighting for myself and other femme people around me,’’ he explains.

Matthew is currently marching alongside other young people in Nigeria in peaceful protests to end SARS.  Their greatest concern is the impact this injustice will have on young queer Nigerians. ‘’I hope my platform will be filled with these young people, seeking answers and finding them with our help. Let them see through me, a 21 year old gay Nigerian existing in a land sworn to incarcerate and kill gay people’’ says Matthew.

Meet Lelo Meslani

The Johannesburg based DJ explores their activism through creating spaces that cater to the visibility and safety of queer and trans bodies through artistic mediums. ‘’I have managed to create Vogue Nights Jozi, an inclusive movement for dance, music and fashion, while being involved in other spaces such as Death Drop Island, Le Grand Ball to name but a few. I started doing this cultural work 3 years ago as a DJ because I noticed the gap in the city for things to do as a queer person in nightlife,’’ says Lelo.

These social spaces give us an opportunity to re-create our queer culture and afford us a chance to actually change how we see and live our lives. There is a great need for these spaces to expand into other African countries, ‘’I would love for my platform to reach other parts of South Africa and Africa at large. I think we have an opportunity to do important work that not only seems fun, but is actually life changing as well,’’ Lelo adds.

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Meet Cassim Cassim

The editor of setabane, a digital queer magazine in Botswana, Cassim has always fancied the idea of using fine arts as a means of activism and awareness. ‘‘I have written two anthologies so far, one titled ‘19’ and another ‘THINGS I WANTED TO SAY BUT NEVER DID,’ and I would love to work on more to creatively express the beauty and euphoria of being queer,’’ says Cassim. Currently a student at the University of Botswana, Cassim draws their inspiration from people’s real stories. ‘’I can never look at a one-sided mirror and construct inspiration from just that, life is exhilarating and I hope over time, the more I mingle with different entities, the more I become aware, the more I evolve,” they added.

Cassim understands that being a part of different minorities means fighting for different rights but fighting the same demon. They expressed the need for non-binary exposure after they realized that there is an erasure of non-binary entities in both the cis-gendered heteronormative world and the queer community as well. “My pronouns seem to be a bitter taste in most people’s mouths and that is why I fight every day, to eradicate the stigmatism of queer people’’ shared Cassim.

Meet Ramah Mbuthia Amandla

Ramah is a non-binary Kenyan storyteller passionate about issues affecting LGBTQ+ people in Africa. ‘’I was often pushed to defend my existence, personhood and journey to other folks at 9 years old, just like 21. As I grew into a better understanding of myself I realized that I might as well commit to this life path,’’ shares Ramah. They are one of the co-founders of Queer African Network (QAN), a social app for LGBTQ+ people of African descent to socialize, read queer stories & find safe opportunities. This summer they focused on documenting stories of queer people in East and Southern Africa, and intend to expand into documenting more stories from West and Central Africa next year.

‘’I hope to find folks that understand this vision and are able to join us in pushing against violence and injustices we experience as queer folk on the continent,’’ says Mbuthia. They believe that the ability to educate LGBTQ Africans will empower their voices through representation. ‘’I hope that beyond sympathy, we can move non-LGBTQ folks to empathy by showing them that our struggle is a struggle for their freedom as well, and the responsibility is upon them as much as it upon us,’’ says Ramah.

Meet Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane

Letlhogonolo is easily one of South Africa’s brightest legal minds and while studying at Stellenbosch University, he was part of a group of students who created the First Generation Camp – a camp that focuses on ensuring that students who are the first of their families coming to university are equipped with skills to help them succeed at higher learning institutions. ‘’The work that I do as an activist is basically care work…I care a lot about queer people, black women and black people,’’ he says.

Letlhogonolo believes that visibility and representation of queer lives will enable queer people to be whatever they want and understand that their sexuality should not hinder them from being afforded the same opportunities as everyone. He also believes that building the spirit of community amongst queer people, that is rooted in love and care is really essential. ‘’We often think about queer lives and just think about how much hardships we share…but our lives are glorious and our lives have joy,’’ Letlhogonolo adds.

Which Queer Celeb Should You Marry?

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Which Season 12 Drag Race Queen Are You?

QUIZBLOOPQUIZ

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Pioneering disco producer Patrick Cowley would have turned 69 last year. He died young, an early loss in the HIV/AIDS crisis. But the sound he left behind on the San Francisco gay dance floor leaves a legacy that still surges today.

Pushing the boundaries of what electronics could do for dance music in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Cowley helped to create Hi NRG and also invented the sound of gay sex—no, really. Over the past decade, the soundtracks that Cowley created for early gay porn movies have become some of the most celebrated vinyl reissues out there. Taken along with his string of Dance Chart hits, Cowley’s soundtracking of gay desire provides an alluring glimpse into queer hedonism in the pre-AIDS era.

In honor of his 69th year, here are our top 5 Cowley moments.

Menergy

Cowley’s biggest solo hit was the dance floor sizzler, “MENERGY,” a hi NRG gay sex anthem careening with vocoder vocals and Cowley’s signature synth sound. After the success of its 12” single, MENERGY would also become the title of his debut album, which was later repackaged as Megatron Man. After Cowley passed away, disco diva Sylvester even recorded a version of the track.

Do you wanna funk?

Cowley met Sylvester in 1978 and became a member of the singer’s traveling band. And while Cowley did lend arrangements to the disco smash “(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real,” “Do You Wanna Funk” was their enduring collaboration. Originally released under both artist’s names, the track would go on to become Sylvester’s biggest hit.

Somebody To Love Tonight

Featuring on Sylvester’s album Stars, this epic track merged the looser sound of Cowley’s gay porn soundtracks with Sylvester’s disco-funk approach. An even vibier instrumental demo popped up on the second posthumous Cowley reissue Muscle Up, and it stands well on its own two feet.

Deep Inside You

The sinewy slither of “Deep Inside You” is a groove that catches on and won’t let go for the track’s nine pulsating minutes. Also appearing on Muscle Up, its no surprise that the tune originally laid under X-rated scenes. Further reading into Cowley’s recently released sex diaries, Mechanical Fantasy Box, testifies to the salacious drive epitomized by this particular moment in SF cruising culture.  

Surfside Sex

Taken from the soundtrack for 1982 porno Afternooners, “Surfside Sex” is one of Cowley’s most irresistible grooves. Like a lot of his porn contributions, it’s as good for dancing as it is for fucking. Recorded the same year as his death from HIV/AIDS, it merely hints at what the rest of the decade might have had in store.

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Want more Cowley? Check out the treasure trove of reissues available via Dark Entries Records, and enjoy the Afternooners promo art below.

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