Boho Go Loco!

Masters of the Universe have a gay old time at the Bohemian Grove

By R.V. Scheide
Sacramento News & Review
3 July 2008, Monte Rio, Calif.

The dark woods on the outskirts of this run-down Russian River resort town are silent now, save the occasional rustle of wind through the towering redwoods. In two weeks, however, the thick moss-laden trunks of the Bohemian Grove will reverberate with the sounds of drag queens making merry, mock human sacrifices and the tinkling hiss of piss on trees.

I've had remarkable experiences pissing on trees, myself, and others, in several places around the Russian River area, but what's news here?

Such events are unremarkable in themselves—one may witness similar scenes, minus the redwoods, in the alley behind SN&R any night of the week. But these are no mere ordinary mortals prancing about the forest, drinking themselves blind, urinating and defecating at will.

These are the Masters of the Universe.

Truth be told, roughly 90 percent of the 2,000 or so men in attendance at the annual gathering at the grove—and they are all men, with the exception of a few maids and the occasional female prostitute—

No doubt you have to pay your female personnel double or quadruple for that event! Can anyone reply with current rates?

are nothing more than well-to-do Californians. Folks like McClatchy Company board of directors member William K. Coblentz and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. The 136-year-old San Francisco-based Bohemian Club, which of all things began as a gathering of like-minded, underpaid journalists, has essentially morphed into an old-boys network.

Here "old-boys club" really means all-dicks-no-vaginas, meaning homosexual. And may God protect the author from the wrath of the sinful homosexual souls he names, the old-boy network of Hillbillies dominating our nation's capital for decades:

Of course, joining Coblentz and Hart in the Hillbillies Camp are luminaries such as former president George H.W. Bush and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Past attendees at the Grove have included former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, H-Bomb father Edward Teller; the late, closeted multibillionaire Malcolm Forbes, Vice President Dick Cheney and every Republican president up to and including George W. Bush. Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain is rumored to be attending this year’s gathering, which takes place July 11-27.

Now, any time heavy hitters like this get together, there’s gonna be talk. First of all, there’s the genuine conspiracy. Money plus guns equals power, and this club packs a powerful punch. If there really is a cabal of rich and powerful men running the planet, some of the bohos can certainly be counted among them.

The main difference between a “conspiracy” and a “conspiracy theory” is spatial: The former takes place in reality, the latter occurs on an alternate and highly more paranoid celestial plane than our own. From the Illuminati to the Bilderbergs to the Trilateral Commission, an infinite number of crackpot theories have been concocted in this regard, none more so than soothsaying British anti-historian David Icke’s Reptilian Agenda.

Icke claims that long ago, lizard people from another universe landed on Earth, bred with primates to create the human race and then slipped behind the scenes to rule the world in secret and keep the reptilian bloodline pure. However, according to Icke, members of this secret sect—including the aforementioned George H.W. Bush as well as Hillary Clinton—shed their human skins once a year and can be detected by their slitted, reptilian eyes.

The bisexuality in the image of the shedding of skins in this context is striking. Hillary — but not Bill?

But by far the most amusing tales—and arousing, if I do say so myself—concern rumors of ongoing homosexual activity at the Grove.

President Richard Nixon was among the first to comment on the alleged gay goings-on there, during a 1971 Oval Office conversation with Watergate co-conspirators John Erlichman and H.R. Halderman.

Discussing the gayness of the men at Bohemian Grove was a grave matter of national security.

Discussing a recent episode of All in the Family that featured Archie Bunker visiting a gay bar, the felonious trio waxed homophobic.

“The upper class in San Francisco is that way [gay],” Nixon insisted. “The Bohemian Grove, which I attend from time to time—it is the most faggy goddamned thing you could ever imagine, with that San Francisco crowd. I can’t shake hands with anybody from San Francisco.”

Should I be amused that the author admits that hearing Nixon take a nice shit on gays gave him a boner? Again I wonder about the question if this comment was foretelling introduction of the AIDS virus into the U.S. / world population. 

But back to the Russian River – if there aren't any women, who are all these drunken wanton power-mad persons going to have sex with? Surely not each other? Stand back everyone, here comes an icon among male porno stars, Chad Savage:

In 2004, we learned from the vaunted New York Post that gay porn star Chad Savage (How the West Was Hung) was working at the Grove as a valet. When questioned by the Post, a Grove spokesman said, “All that matters is that the valets do good service. That’s really all that matters.”

Indeed.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Don't have a problem with it.

In fact, Gays Without Borders, an informal network of GLBT activists, has welcomed a new member into the fold, none other than President George W. Bush,

NOT MY PRESIDENT, GEORGE W BUSH!?! WTF?!

who attended his first gathering at the Grove back in the coke-snorting heyday of his youth. Cocaine will make you do crazy things. Like, say, go down on the future U.S. ambassador to Poland.

True story? That’s what Nevada dominatrix-cum-gubernatorial candidate Leola McConnell claims. Like anything that happens at the highly secretive Bohemian Grove, it’s hard to say. Only one thing is certain. In less than two weeks’ time, the Masters of the Universe will meet in a shaded Sonoma County glen, and we’re not invited. Maybe that’s a good thing.

Alvaro Diaz-Rubio

Considering how "liberated" gay men are supposed to be, I'm amazed by how many of my brothers refuse to recognize that some straight men like to get fucked.

Yes, you heard correctly. Not bisexual. Not "situational homosexuals" (i.e., jail, private school, the Navy), but straight. I wouldn't have believed it, either, if I hadn't experienced it myself. For the past few years, my ex and I have shared a rampantly straight man who loves to get it in the end. A serious bodybuilder, Ricardo (not his real name) met my ex at the gym. Now separated from his wife, who tired of his serial affairs with women, Ricardo loves the stimulation of a good ass-pounding in between bedding women.

On Fire Island, a good-looking middle-aged man told me about a young buck who had been doing contracting work in his and his lover's apartment. After a few broad hints, they did a three-way in which he was penetrated. My friend said that he immediately ran downtown to have sex with his girlfriend—because he was so turned on, he said, although it could have been old-fashioned homopanic.

If it feels good for us, why shouldn't it feel good for them? It all comes down to the prostate. DatingSense.com, a website for swingers, explains it this way: "The lining of the anal cavity is rich with nerve endings, and deep penetration may allow for stimulation of the prostate gland, which many heterosexual men also find highly arousing."

Anecdotal evidence abounds about straight men who enjoy this position. Other gay men have had experiences similar to mine: Gary in Los Angeles tells of a young, cute repairman who worked under him in more ways than one: "We were together every single day," Gary recalls. "I talked openly about my adventures. He was peaking sexually, and circumstances came together." One night, the two did the deed. After that, Gary says, "He got weird." Last he heard, his former employee was married, a father, and studying to become a pastor.

That some men are "gay for pay" is well known, even though most people—straight and gay—remain skeptical. Chris Rockway is a popular gay-porn star who claims he likes only women, although, as he told Australian magazine DNA: "Sex with men can be fun. Guys get so hung up on labels and what people will think of them that they miss out on a lot."

Dave Pounder agrees. As his name implies, Pounder prefers it on top. A former porn actor who now produces adult films in Boca Raton, Florida, he says he wouldn't be able to do anything sexual with a guy and won't even do anal with women. But he refuses to judge anyone's sexuality based on performance: "There are two temperatures," he says, "freezing and boiling. But the most measurement is in between. What we need to do is expand our definition of sexuality."

Ron Suresha, who has written extensively on bisexuality, believes that most adults of both sexes have experienced some form of anal sex: "We know how things have progressed," he says. "There's been an increase not only in reporting anal sex, but in the practice."

Sexologist William Fitzgerald reports approvingly on his website SexDoc.com of a colleague who "rendered the opinion that anal sex for 20 years starting [after] 1990 is like oral sex during the 20 years after 1950," when returning GIs convinced their partners that giving head wasn't something only sleazy prostitutes did.

Much of this involves a woman in a strap-on, popularly known as "pegging," a term coined by Voice columnist Dan Savage. The popular porn tape Bend Over Boyfriend spawned a whole subgenre of titles like Babes Balling Boys, Strap Attack, and Boss Bitches.

According to Suresha and others, what keeps more men from experimenting is a fear that they'll enjoy it too much: "It doesn't necessarily lead to homosexual contact," Suresha says. "People have come to understand that when it's done right, it's pleasurable to get fucked anally regardless of the gender of their fucker."

In fact, Fitzgerald notes: "Heterosexual men who acknowledge the pleasure they derive from anal or rectal or prostate stimulation are more centered and grounded about their sexuality."

Of course, this isn't man-on-man sex, but some men have realized that the real thing feels even better than latex. Bob Sanders, who helps run a popular website devoted to muscle worship, has established friendships with several bodybuilders, many of whom like it, he says, because of that prostate massage. Richard Wassersug, an anatomy professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, believes that men who have had prostate cancer and can't sustain an erection—an increasingly common occurrence as the population gets older—could benefit from this position. He even suggests that this could be the ultimate gay karma for those who practice "reparative therapy," which claims to "cure" homosexuality: "Assuming that sex ultimately stimulates endorphins and triggers a physiological reward, anything that causes pleasure will be desirable." Besides, adds Wassersug (who is happily married to a woman), it's yet more proof that gay men have a bigger sexual repertoire. Or, to paraphrase Woody Allen, having it both ways doubles your chances of getting a date for Saturday night.

Poll: Only 2.9 percent of Americans are LGB

Hunter College released the results of a groundbreaking poll Wednesday that found only 2.9 percent of Americans older than 18 identify as LGB, lower than the 4-5 percent often cited in voter exit polls.

Professor Patrick Egan of New York University, one of the poll's authors, explained that exit polls generally provide an over-representative sample of LGBs. "Exit polls are based on voters -- the people who show up at the polls. Gays and lesbians vote much more consistently than the general population," Egan said.

The survey also found that LGBs are more politically active than their straight counterparts (partly due to a sensibility developed during the coming out process), women and men vary in terms of the way they categorize themselves on the LGB continuum, and different generations of LGBs have separate priorities for the movement. The poll's authors said it provides the most comprehensive and truly representative picture of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population to date because it was specifically designed for the LGB population. Transgender individuals were not included because, to date, their numbers are too few to provide a statistically accurate representation.

While the community's numbers are smaller than previously thought, results also showed that LGBs may be having a disproportionate impact on the political process, not only through participation at the polls but through civic engagement in things like volunteering for campaigns, writing letters to the editor, contacting government officials and attending protests and rallies. "It's this sort of illusive concept that good political theorists want everyone to do, which is to be engaged with their community," said Egan, "and by every measure, LGBs are more engaged with their communities than the general population."

Sue Katz
Gina Ogden, Ph.D.
Ron Suresha

While they call it a "gay agenda" there is bi-inclusive language later in this message. Please note that responses are to be sent to: LifeLube@gmail.com.

http://lifelube.blogspot.com/2008/04/yes-anitathere-is-gay-agenda.html
Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Yes Anita, there is a gay agenda...

The 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda

In January, a new president will ascend to power and the 111th Congress will convene in Washington, DC. What do we want to tell them? How will they know what matters to us?

Lets put a document in the hands of each and every one of our elected leaders that let's them know exactly what we want, when we want it, where, and how we should get there.

What is the agenda that we-gay, bi, and transgender men and other men who have sex with men-must pursue to improve the health and wellbeing of our community?

What federal initiatives, campaigns, laws, activities, strategies and directives are needed in the United States to allow gay men, and our future generations, the opportunity to fulfill their/our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

These are the critical questions and issues The 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda will describe. Your wisdom, your concerns and your ideas will supply the answers. Submit your input to LifeLube.org and we will categorize, collate, and organize them into a simple and powerful plan.

Without a map, we'll never get to where we want to go. Help supply the directions today! You may leave a comment here, or e-mail your ideas to LifeLube. <lifel...@gmail.com>

Michael from Boston got us started with the following ideas. If you agree with Michael, please say so! The more input we have, the better! (And many thanks Michael, this is a great start!!!)

- Strategies to include sexual orientation and sexual behavior questions on all federally funded population based studies.

- The establishment of a national office of LGBT health.

- Marriage amendment to allow gay marriage and all the rights and priviledges there of

- Develop of a national AIDS strategy to eliminate HIV infection in one decade domestically.

- Redirection of federal dollars to allow citizens free access to healthcare and treatment.

- Focus on vaccine and microbicide research (vaginal and rectal)

- Reversal of HIV immigration policies