31 December 2010

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Even if you're only slightly familiar with male erotica from the past decades, you'll recognize this photo set is an homage to classic male imagery of the mid-twentieth century, an era when photographers took great care to avoid prosecution for obscenity. Often barely clothed males were deliberately posed in somewhat trite scenarios to fall within the penumbra of lawfully permitted art.

This modern set adds a new twist with full nudity, something only the riskiest of mid-century photographers first dared show. As the century moved forward, relaxing societal values allowed for more explicit material. If you'd like to download a free set with 46 high-quality images from this model shoot, be sure to click here.

While such images are rightly celebrated as milestones in gay rights and social assimilation, one has to recognize that the usually straight subjects in the photographs themselves were pioneers in their own way. If you were a muscular straight bloke in 1955 or so and willing to pose nearly naked for photographs you knew would provide fantasy fodder for gay men, you were far more enlightened than most males of your era. Those straight men deserve some credit for helping break down walls between ostracization and acceptance.

2010 was an important year in gay rights for several reasons. The absurdly named "Don't Ask Don't Tell" was effectively abolished in the United States. Gay marriage is on the cusp of possible full legality in America, too. The new year may bring more developments.

I know President Obama has taken considerable heat from certain gay advocates who perceived him as too slow to act on certain gay rights issues. Many people faulted him for Department of Justice actions, apparently unaware a U.S. President has only extremely limited supervisory control over the largely autonomous DoJ.

There are others of us, however, who recognize President Obama wisely realized he didn't exist in a vacuum and had to move carefully and artfully because of the powerful, belligerent right wing. In the end, his campaign promise of repealing DADT was achieved. Some people on the far left don't seem to realize that if you alienate the middle, you essentially push them into the arms and control of the right.

Had the President stridently and loudly pushed on the DADT issue, he risked losing the battle for health care reform and financial reform, amongst others, in a landscape polarized by the loudly rabid Tea Party and religious right. After all, many believe DADT came into being because President Clinton pushed too hard too fast to end the military gay ban in the 1990s, and the right pushed back harder and won.

Change doesn't always mean as soon as you want it, damn the consequences. Change is most effective when planned and achieved at the right moment, sometimes an effort best achieved quietly and civilly behind the scenes.













10 comments:

  1. Anonymous06:06

    Will -

    You are abso-fucking-lutely right about change and about Obama. I am a centrist-sometimes liberal who wears his heart and politics on his sleeve and have to tell you that I appreciate your dialouge.

    Happy New Year man and thank you for all you give us in this blog! C'mon School for Spies!

    - John

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  2. Anonymous07:16

    I remember the first time I saw images like these. I was just a horney little kid. There was a scene in an old movie called "Lil Abner" where these muscle heads were strutting their stuff. Even though the movie was G rated, there were some great gay undertones. Its a movie worthy of gay family night.

    Leo

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  3. Anonymous08:24

    Absolutely right about the political situation regarding Obama. I have been tired of hearing from certain gay friends that Obama has been a betrayal. Seems HRC and others were obssessed with blaming Obama for the DADT delays, when it was really the GOP and Congress. Blaming the Prez is easy and lazy.

    Meanwhile, HRC and the other national activist groups did little to help out the three judges in Iowa who were driven out by a very nationalized right-wing campaign because they dared to rule in favor of gay marriage. Such a local campaign in the heartland is more risky and takes more effort.

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  4. Will,
    You explained the evolution of DADT perfectly. I have been for Obama all along, but now, I am even more encouraged that he will accomplish his agenda. Next, we need to get some legislation on education and energy that is meaninful passed. I am also hopeful that he will end the war in Afganistan as he sees that it accomplishes nothing for our security.

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  5. Anonymous08:13

    Well said! I have a friend on another 'Social Network' who keeps railing against Pres. Obama by saing he has, and continues to drag this country downhill with his liberal agenda. As a certerist, I recognized immediatly the president would have a difficult time with the extreme right wing & thought change would come slow & steady, not overnight as most thought. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has hope things will get better!

    Thanks again

    joeymuscle

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  6. Anonymous13:43

    Well, there's nothing like getting a political lecture from a self-avowed Brit who loves to write about the "blokes amongst" us, even though he's been in this country for decades.

    Congress pushed the repeal of DADT, Obama did not.

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  7. Congress pushed the repeal of DADT, Obama did not.

    Anon, as we Brits say, "fat lot you know." Obama worked tirelessly behind the scenes with Congress for the DADT repeal. Wavering members were courted for months and months.

    I have also been a US citizen for decades.

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  8. what the hell does fucking obama have to do with perving on hot men - stick to the topic - who cares about politics when we have the politics of the gym to enjoy!!!

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  9. Anonymous05:38

    I read your opening commentary and agreed with you. Then, as I also enjoy doing, I read the comments - usually amusing, touching and/or informative. As a Canadian who lived in Chicago from the end of the Clinton administration through most of the Bush administration, including 911, I heard a lot of negative comments aimed at me if I put forward my opinion or cooments on "American" topics! I sometimes wondered if those people wanted to live in an isolated world that ignored criticism, commentary or discussion from within and outside their country. I would like to point out that during that time I also met many people with whom I had many wonderful and respectful conversations. I now live in Toronto and we have our own ignorant, rich white-trash, racist bullies - Mayor Rob Ford (now being treated for a rare cancer), his even more repellent older brother Doug (currently running to replace ailing Rob as mayor) and their followers "Ford Nation". Recent public debates have their followers telling the Chinese Canadian candidate Olivia Chow to "go back to China". Like you, she moved to a foreign country as a young teenager.
    To end on a happier topic: this gorgeous PHWOARRR-worthy young man is allegedly Chuck Williams aka Marc Stone.

    Cheers, tomil

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