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                     Loren Takes on...

           New Book...and Barebacking                                           by Loren McLeod

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I’m reading John Morgan Wilson’s “Moth and Flame.”

It’s a mystery featuring disgraced journalist Benjamin Justice. Toward the end of the book, one of the characters, a wealthy developer, says, “I’m putting my money into a new home for low-income residents with AIDS. The city [West Hollywood] has nearly a dozen homes like that already, but they can use another one. There’s this crazy notion that AIDS isn’t killing anyone anymore, or driving them into poverty, but don’t tell that to those who’ve had it for fifteen or twenty years, with the lost work time and the medical bills piling up.”

I read this and then I got my latest TLA.com gay catalog in the mail. I flipped through it, shocked and saddened to find more barebacking movies than ever. “Shear Chaos,” “Skater Kidz 2,” “Barback School Medical,” the Peters twins’ “Taboo,” Cocksure Men, Corbin Fisher, Satyr, Hammer, Top Dog, MagnusMuscle, Kyle Kravin…it’s not just Treasure Island anymore. David Taylor,

Corbin Fisher’s Dawson,

Josh Weston, Chad Connors (loved him in his prime, which was before he got all steroided up!) and so many others.

Were the models in these films already barebacking, either for pleasure or hooking, and so figured they had nothing to lose by doing it on camera? Or did a production company talk them into it, offering another five hundred to get fucked raw? Do these men not realize AIDS is still an incurable, fatal illness? And do they think with the passage of Obamacare the combination of drugs they’re going to need to stay alive are going to be cheaper and easier to obtain rather than more expensive and harder?

I can’t watch men bareback the same way I can’t watch snuff films or dogfight videos. I can’t watch men infect each other with a fatal illness for a third person’s viewing pleasure. Call me uptight or fascist or whatever, I can’t do it.

That said, I recommend John Morgan Wilson’s books. “Moth and Flame” is the third I’ve enjoyed. The other two are “Spider Season” and “Rhapsody in Blood.”

So far, Rhapsody has been my favorite. It concerns the fifty year-old suicide and twenty-five year-old murder of actress Rebecca Fox and her daughter Brandy Fox. It’s complex but not so much that you can’t follow it. Ditto “Moth and Flame,” in which Benjamin Justice takes a job writing about famous landmarks in West Hollywood. Having been there once, briefly, overnight, I have no idea what any of the places are he mentions, but Los Angeles residents will find the story additionally enjoyable for all the historic detail.

In other news, I saw the second season of “Chuck.”

Adam Baldwin is as tough and funny as ever.

Remember him from “My Bodyguard” with Matt Dillon,

Martin Mull and Ruth Gordon.

Just as tough and, I think, handsome. The guy who plays Chuck is OK. The guy who plays Devon, also called “Captain Awesome,” is a hot actor named Ryan McPartlin.

He was also in an episode of “The Nanny” in 1999 and later appeared as Fran Drescher’s costar in the short-lived “Living With Fran.” He’s a total Ken Doll, but he’s funny and effective in “Chuck,” which is kind of a “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” for the 21st century.

Finally, I also rented “The Art of Being Straight.” It is written, produced, directed and stars cute newcomer Jesse Rosen.

It’s a small, simple film nicely cast, written and paced. He is adorable and believable in it as a fella in his first job out of college coming to terms with being gay and telling his friends. It’s not “Chinatown” nor is it a gut-busting comedy. Don’t expect a lot, but enjoy what’s there. I see Jesse Rosen doing a lot more directing, writing etc. I don’t see him aging well, though. Cash in on the cuteness now, Jesse, ‘cause you’re totally going to look like Shaun Cassidy in twenty years.

A young actress named Rachel Castillo does a good turn as Maddy, a lesbian tempted by her handsome neighbor.

Ed: He's so adorable, he deserves two pics.

Ed: This is truly scary!!!

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