Comedian, songwriter, and unicorn lobbyist Shawn Hollenbach is crowned Dazzler of the Day on the eve of tomorrow’s performance at Rocks in Albany, NY as part of their Happy Place Comedy show. As a practiced host and storyteller, Hollenbach uses wit and a way with words to captivate audiences and put on a scintillating show. Check out his website here for the full story.
NOTE: Michael Breyette was an artist who left behind a powerful visual legacy, a legion of fanatically-devoted appreciators of his art, and a world in dire need of his particular beauty – the images of hope, of lust, of summer, of love – and always, even after his departing, of life.
It’s been a few months since we lost him, and I finally decided to post a letter I wrote to him after his death – my own way of grieving and hoping to heal, and trying to convey to his husband, and the world, how much he is missed. Artists may live on in their artwork, and there is some solid bit of solace in that, but when you know the artist, when you adore the person, that doesn’t diminish the great pain of missing them.
Dear Michael –
Once again I find myself writing to a friend who left this world too early, and once again I feel at a loss of how best to say something that meets the sorrowful moment at hand. Despite a couple of decades of correspondence, I’d only ever met you once – at a gallery show in Provincetown. In person you were just as kind and friendly as your messages – a happy and increasingly rare circumstance of a favorite artist living up to the image and idea of a favorite artist. You were one of the first artists to immortalize me, seeing some bit of beauty in the raw assemblage of bones and flesh that once comprised my physical being. It came at a point in time when I wasn’t sure who I was – and you saw something that was somehow worthy of your artistic pursuit.
I’ve always fancied myself an artistic spirit, but never a great artist. You saw beauty in my words, and suddenly I could begin to see beauty in what I created. The fact that an artist I’d so admired might share a similar appreciation of beauty in me did more for my ravaged self-esteem than just about anything else.
Your talent didn’t always seem wholly of this world. It was fantasy and hope and the embodiment of carnal desire. It was both pure and naughty – a celebration of sex, eroticism and lust. Above all else, it was the expression of beauty and love – and beauty would always be your gift to the world. It remains your lasting, immortal legacy – the physical creation of a body of work that makes living in our world so worthwhile – which is why your sudden absence is so keenly felt by all whom you touched.
Whenever I needed a jolt of inspiration, whenever I wanted a reminder that there was passion and artistically-brilliant execution in motion, and whenever I just needed some reassurance when times felt dark or sad, a visit to your website and a perusal of your work was all I needed to right myself.
It wasn’t talent alone that drew me to your creations, it was the heart of the man behind them. Only one who truly loved others would ever be able to so magnificently render fellow human beings in such a splendid manner. That became evident in our correspondence and shared admiration. When you asked me to write a foreword to your book ‘Summer Moved On’, it was an honor, a privilege, and a humble gift that would never quite do your exquisite work justice.
In that work, and in so much subsequent work that would come in the years that followed, your spirit and love for life would shine through. It was a thrill to watch as you gained rightful recognition and success in such a harsh and competitive industry. Throughout it all, you retained your uncompromising vision – portraying us in unabashed scenes of love and beauty and idealism. You put the best versions of ourselves forward, committing them to paper and canvass for all time, in scenes that inspired, moved, intimated, teased, celebrated, and lived in the way that the best artwork does. You did it so well, and with such remarkable consistency, that perhaps we took your gifts for granted, the way humans tend to do when the greatest artists live among us. I hope you knew how much your work mattered, how much it resonated and touched so many of us lucky enough to view it. I hope you understood how much you meant to me, and to so many people who had the honor of being in your presence or the presence of your work. In so many ways, you remain the living sentiment that beauty never dies, that art always matters, and that good people remain in our hearts even after they are gone.
Walking the walk I talked about in this post declaring this the spring of rejoining the real world and taking physically-present part in the action, I made a Sunday stop at the recent holding of A Big Gay Market hey in Troy, NY. The ride over the Hudson River is not as far as it once felt, and as long as you veer clear of rush hours, it’s not usually backed up, especially on the rainy, early afternoon I made the trip to the Mount Ida Preservation Hall.
Once inside, a warm and inviting environment filled with a bustling crowd beaming with happiness at being there greeted me, along with tables of enchanting materials – from cuddly crocheted cuties to scrumptious candles that filled the space with their delicious fragrance. Stickers and artwork were on hand, as were homemade jewelry and knitwear, and all sorts of goodies.
I’m already looking forward to their next event on April 26, 2026 at Washington Park in Albany.
Check out their website here for more event information.
It wasn’t long, long ago
I fooled the guards, but someone tipped them off
But all my cards aside, the bells still rang
No charms, no claims
No good for goodness sake
During the Lavender Scare of the 1950’s, people had to hide their sexuality to keep their jobs, to keep themselves safe, to keep themselves alive. What does that do to someone? What if all the stereotypical maladies that once affected gay people were symptoms of being treated in such a way?
White asparagus is not just some variant form of the green spikes most of us know so well; it’s just green asparagus that has been completely starved and deprived of light during its growing season. That doesn’t mean it is less; in fact, it contains much the same levels of fiber and nutrients and all the good things that asparagus supplies. But it looks different. It’s been through more.
Oh, I don’t wanna run and hide
I don’t wanna live a lie
I?need the spotlight
Like a bird inside a cage
Exotic, but covered up with lace
If what they say is true
There’s no place for me and you
But when I walk my walk
When I put my makeup on
Look at me, look at me
Don’t you see your queen?
During this Lilac Scare, we turn the tables on the world – boldly and defiantly and beautiful proclaiming our existence, our importance, our indelible and irrefutable presence.
Unabashed queerness on full, glorious, marvelous display.
Pride and worth and integrity.
Primal humanity in unapologetic, flamboyant poise.
When mother left, the halls did cry
As for the world, it went on like before
But time passed, and the band began to play
First, there was light, then there was sound
Then all the stars came out
Some have warned that this is not the time to speak out and attract notice. Some have said it’s better to be silent, to take no side, to make no noise. Some have never even more wrong. This moment in history calls upon us to be more ourselves than we’ve ever been before. To boldly proclaim our right to exist, to live, to love – and to defy anyone standing in our way. Live and let live, or perish trying to prevent us from doing the same.
Oh, I don’t wanna run and hide
I don’t wanna live a lie
I need a spotlight
Like a bird inside a cage
Bright-eyed and longing for the stage
If what they say is true
There’s no place for me and you
But when I walk my walk (But you better give up before you die)
When I put my makeup on (Doesn’t matter who you are)
Look at me, look at me
Don’t you see a queen?
Too often we diminish ourselves, making our existence smaller to please others, dimming our own light as not to over shine anyone else. Fuck that. Fuck all of that in the most fucking heinous way possible. Skull-fuck it through the goddamn eye sockets of anyone who sees it that way.
There’s an empty seat
That’s where you’ll find me
There’s a broken heel
That’s where you’ll find me
If the sun doesn’t shine on you
Break your glass and cause a scene
And tell the world, just wait, you’ll see
There’s no more time to cry when the crowd’s right there
While the Lavender Scare gave no reasonable or sane reason to fear gay people, the Lilac Scare is here to turn that on its head – because people should be scared, very much scared, very much afraid and very much in terror about what we will do when attacked. But do not worry too much – it will be done beautifully, it will be done fabulously, it will be done gorgeously – and you won’t even feel the prick of metal slicing through skin until it’s too late.
When I walk my walk
And when I put my makeup on
Look at me, look at me
Don’t you see your goddamn queen?
It was my third squeal during a figure skater’s performance to Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’ that unlocked a whole new level of gay in our household.
A reassuring realization that just when you think I can’t get any more gay, I totally can.
{It’s been more than a hot minute since our last Special Guest Blog, and I’m thrilled to return the feature to the frontlines by this featured blog post by one of our previous Dazzlers of the Day, Chad Putman. He writes about his foray into tantric touch, the way it enhances intimacy and trust, and how the practice can lead to relaxation, stress relief, and self-exploration. With an inherent sex-positive message at a time when prudish hypocrisy is wreaking destruction, it’s a powerful and mind-expanding take on what is possible when we open our consciousness. Photos by Chad Putman.}
SPECIAL GUEST BLOG by CHAD PUTMAN:
I was scrolling recently on Instagram and saw a post from Burning Man highlighting an offering
for bondage and breathwork. I had not considered the literal combination, but according to the
post the available slots filled up quickly, and the feedback was positive. Although my Tantra Touch and sacred intimacy sessions with clients has incorporated both elements, I had not considered them as a packaged offering.
So, I decided to do a little research with an additional question, what if you added sensual touch
with a focus on gay men?
The outcome: below you will find three general benefits for the combined experience of
bondage, breathwork, and sensual touch for gay men.
However, I wanted to add some of my own practice experience for additional context and steamy
content for your pleasure and personal practice.
Too often we are told to practice meditation and mindfulness with little to no experience. Too
often, ending brief attempts with frustration and miniscule benefits.
My personal breathwork practice and work with clients has provided me with an active method
to experience and witness others in a meditative state.
Various forms of breathwork over a brief period, from 5 to 15 minutes, can be enough to increase
oxygen (prana-life force), reduce carbon dioxide in the body, and help release stored tension and
energy.
The combination of breath, music, smells, lighting, movement, guided meditation, touch, and
stimulation creates an opportunity to surrender, ground, let go, experience the moment, and drop
into the immense amount of pleasure the body can receive and experience.
It is during these extended moments that I engage the imagination to adventure beyond the limits
of the body and the room. Invoking sacred journeys and connections with Pachamama (earth)
and father universe, one’s higher self and spirit guides. These connections often tie back to the
original intention set by the participant. Seeking out their higher-self or inner child for direction,
insight, and impactful downloads.
Feeling empowered, grounded and connected, the outside world and endless list of demands and
to-dos slip away, and pleasure begins to take center stage. Breathe, release, engage your throat
chakra and give voice to every cell of your body.
After a 60-, 90- or 120-minute session the peace and tranquility in the room is palatable.
Butterflies circling and landing on the beautiful naked soul, grounded and at peace on the table
under a light sheet to assist with grounding and integration.
Whether your pleasure practice is solo, partnered, group or part of your regular self-care, consider including breathwork, bondage and sensual touch for an enhanced intimate and erotic
experience. Allow me to guide you or connect with someone you trust. Your body is waiting, are
you ready?
For your own pleasure practice, I have noted some steps you can take to create your own tantra,
personal pleasure practice or to engage with another for some steamy, sensual, full body
pleasure.
Your practice: start with setting the stage. Set aside some time, pick a space, create a vibe, and
think about what you want your personal or shared experience to entail.
Do you need a moment of surrender and passion? Are you feeling dominant and particularly
kinky?
Incorporate mood lighting and music, essential oils, and toys (ropes, ice cubes, blindfold, silk,
nipple claps, massage oil candles, get creative).
Having set the stage, start with some grounding breathwork and music to help you drop out of
your head and into your body. An effective practice includes belly breaths, taking deep breaths
through your nose, filling up your belly, and releasing out of your mouth through pursed lips.
You can count to four on the inhale and six on the exhale to help with focus. Do this for 3-5
minutes, then hold for 30-60 seconds at the top or after the exhale. Then repeat for 2-3 cycles.
You can also increase the speed and focus of your breath. Inhale through your nose expanding
your chest, exhaling fully through your mouth. Or take short, quick (fire) breaths in and out of
your nose for 60 to 90 seconds. Making sure to take breaks, sitting, or lying down or doing so in
unison with your partner. Added benefit with eye gazing, interlocking lower body and legs and
being nude.
You can also use this time to concentrate your breath and energy in different parts of your body
from your belly, heart, throat to the soles of your feet, sit bones, top of your head and most
importantly your root chakra at the base of your spine. Activating your sexual, Kundalini energy
and getting the juices flowing.
Tantra Touch is about conducting sensation with intuition and allowing your body to be the
instrument. Giving a well needed break to your conscious mind and ego. Allow your sensual,
erotic, and animalistic self to lead the way. If it helps, wear blindfolds, including oils and ice for
sensual touch and sensation play. Do not be shy, include touch and massage of your nipples, lips,
cock, balls, and hole. Either laying down, tied up or cuddling with your partner.
Build the energy and then take a step back to breath, move the energy around the body with lite
touch and breath. Then stir the pot allowing the vibe of the room and music to stimulate and
accentuate the feeling.
When it is time we welcome the release with your entire body. Breath into your orgasm and
allow your throat to expand with moans and groans of pleasure. Let the universe know your
orgasm is profound, magical, and primal. Burst with the spark of life that transcends time,
galaxies, and gravity.
But do not stop there. Allow yourself to remain in the moment. Resist the old training that forced
us to clean up and shy away from our body’s potential. Allow your drip, your cum to breathe, to
taste the air you breath. Lay still, relax and release.
The angles and butterflies are on their way. Resist the temptation to check back in with your ego
and conscious mind. Drift away into a timeless experience of meditation brought on by the full
body experience of pleasure.
These moments, these experiences are equally as important as the countless other moments that
take up so much of our time. I am of the opinion that our new opportunity in this age of Aquarius
is to spend more time experiencing the pleasures of our body solo and with others. Just maybe,
with more practice, more awareness, and more intention the peace and joy we all seek will be
less illusive and more palatable in the world around us. ~ Chad Putman
————————————————-
Chad Putman, MSW has been practicing tantra for the past two-and-a-half-years. Having studied under seasoned tantra and energy practioners in Costa Rica & Tampa, FL. His mid-life crisis, turned opportunity, lead him to San Juan, Puerto in 2022 in search of a fresh start and renewed zest for life.
Today his practice of tantra is a spiritual way of life. He has developed his own intuitive services for gay, bi and queer men grounded in breath, embodiment and transformation. He offers tantra touch, intimacy coaching, small group sensual experiences, workshops and international retreats. His celebration of the male body, intimacy and sexuality has empowered clients to reconnect with their bodies, pleasure and intuitive self.
If you would like to connect with him please visit makeyourithappen.com, Instagram @chadputman75, YouTube @chadputman and Onlyfans @Rearontogo or Text 518-225-0957 or chadputman1@gmail.com
At what age should one gracefully and demurely retire from baring one’s ass for all the internet to see? Surely by fifty, no?
Hell no.
It wouldn’t be ALANILAGAN.com if there weren’t a birthday suit post on this day, so here you go, along with a look back at previous birthday posts below. Scroll for me, baby…
Birthday #49: The silver wolf hair was in full effect by last year’s birthday – the last one of my 40’s, and I was definitely starting to feel the wear and tear on the body.
Birthday #48: A somber and serious fade to black, my 48th year was informed by Dad’s death and this look back (way wordier than this one if you don’t want repetition).
Birthday #47: This was a traditional birthday suit post followed by a moody midnight dip post.
Birthday #46: A proper skinny-dipping post fronted birthday #46, which was otherwise celebrated in relatively quiet fashion.
Birthday #45: Forty-five years young feels quaint now, as does this vintage birthday suit pictorial.
Birthday #44: A different kind of birthday suit rang in my 44th but my ass gave good face before the day ended.
Birthday #43 and #42: The summers of 2017 and 2018 were ones that I took off from blogging, but this night-swimming birthday suit post still made it up.
Birthday #41: Bad hair began my forty-first year apparently, followed by a blatant butt-shot, and later some birthday suit mayhem.
Birthday #40: A milestone of sorts, forty found me in a philosophical mood, and also entirely out of clothing.
Birthday #39: Birthday cake by Andy cloud out my thirties here, while other men doffed their attire for a twist on the birthday suit post.
Birthday #38: This looked like a quieter birthday, backed by a basic birthday suit post, or two.
Birthday #37: A family-oriented throwback, and not much else for #37.
Birthday #36: The merry-go-round of life spins around… with some help from a best birthday friend.
This blog doesn’t go back any further than #36… and that’s probably for the best.
Thank God this shit-show is over for another year. Good night.
Writer Justinian Huang earns his first Dazzler of the Day crowning thanks to two books that have mesmerized readers for the past couple of years, especially those of us interested in intersectional LGBTQ+ themes and characters: ‘Lucky Seed’ and ‘The Emperor and the Endless Palace’ (the latter of which was recently named as a Stonewall Honor Book in Literature). Check out Justinian’s enchanting website here for further evidence of his brilliance.
What am I even doing in this photo?!
Coquettishly covering my mouth like some coy geisha?
Channeling Bette Davis ferociously puffing away on some cigarette?
Blowing a kiss to an imaginary arena of adoring fans?
Preparing the world for the sassy express about to depart from Track F as in Fabulous?
Who fucking knows.
I will say that I would still wear this outfit if it came in my size, and I would rock it just as hard as I rocked it way back then. Despite a world that seems intent on destroying one’s inherent spirit, I ended up living my life in surprisingly unabashed ways, often because my own sense of fabulousness eclipsed the whispers and derogatory remarks that floated around me. Sometimes they got through, and sometimes they stung, but every attack built me up in some way.
When I look at this picture, it fills me with pride, because it took guts to be who I was when the world was telling me to be someone – anyone – else. Sometimes it still does – and on those days I just put on my sassiest pair of pants and keep marching.
Air kisses!
My friend Chris – straight, white, cis male friend Chris – wished me a Happy Pride yesterday, and without thinking I snapped/texted back, ‘Pride is dead.’ (In my defense it had also just started raining a-fucking-gain and my mood was decidedly homocidal in a fabulously homosexual way.) I followed it up with a more lengthy explanation of how, after 49 years of fighting (because when you’re gay every day can be a fight when you are being raised in a hetero-centric social world construction and always out of your element) I was simply worn out and exhausted. In the face of the regression that this country seems to be embracing, I am genuinely too disheartened to do any sort of pride stuff.
I realize this is exactly what oppression is, and what it wants, and why it works – I just don’t care at the moment. Someone else will have to take up that mantle – for my own mental health, and my own happiness and well-being, I can’t do much more than try to live this pretty little life with Andy and my friends and family, and hope that the bulk of America does something to make things better. (Voting for Republicans, or not voting at all, is clearly destroying this country.)
But as these pictures will attest, just because my pride isn’t blatantly apparent or on parade all the time doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s in me always, in every single way I live my life – openly and unabashedly, defiantly or acceptingly, loudly or quietly. I don’t need a sanctioned month of token allyship or corporate posing to make me feel worthy or whole. That said, Pride month still matters, perhaps now more than ever, so keep celebrating, keep parading, keep doing what we’ve been doing for decades in the hope of something better happening. My denim-clad rainbow ass will always have your back. On with the weekly blog recap (and one more subtle pride pic below…)
In the name of comfort, a pink doughnut.
For those who need a little pump and bump.
Four male celebrities in white briefs.
Three decades ago I met my tribe.
A brief pubic pause in the name of divinity.
A scent on the verge of summer – this is Tilia.
A midnight post to share with you.
Our Ogunquit Adventures began in the rain…
… and ended quite happily in the sun.
Dazzlers of the Day included Chris Colfer, Vincent Chong, and Ricky A. Schroeder.
Right when the world needs some delectable escapist entertainment and activity, along comes artist Paul Richmond to save the day. Arriving with not one but two books of adult coloring brilliance, Richmond brings back his popular Cheesecake Boys for another round of scintillating and cheeky fun. This time around he expands the original conceit into a second volume, while adding to the body and age positivity that has been a hallmark of his work for years in ‘Cheesecake Daddies’.
These are darkly dizzying times, and Richmond is a breath of fresh air, optimism, and the fierce ongoing fight for equality and freedom, all done with a sexy veneer of eye candy and colorful inspiration. He invites us to color within the lines, while celebrating those who push the boundaries and challenge hate and homophobia. The artist as healer, the artist as social changer, the artist as a hero and champion for the marginalized – all of it falls within the talented touch of Richmond’s work. Sharing that and inviting engagement is an extra step in his artistic expression, and possibly the most important and profound of what he’s done in his career. It’s what sets him apart from other artists, and informs his work in truly egalitarian form.
{Check out Richmond’s website here for further evidence of his brilliance.}
Chris Salvatore has been a favorite of these parts for as many years as we’ve been going (I won’t insult anyone by revealing just how long that has been). From his singing and acting endeavors, to his underwear enterprise to his OnlyFans stardom, Salvatore has proven a remarkably resilient entertainer and performer, who is selling out of his calendar for next year. Move fast to get yours at his website here.
Forget Taylor Swift.
Forget Chappell Roan.
Forget Kesha’s damnably catchy ‘Joyride’.
This summer’s greatest guilty pleasure in my happily-cloistered world was John Duff, who started the season off with the glorious ‘Be Your Girl’, kept things hot with follow-up ‘Forgotten How To F@ck‘ and is now coasting through the end of the season with ‘Hoe Is Life’ featuring the legendary Lillias White. He spent the summer traveling and performing, from Pride shows in Chicago and New York to a celebrated residency in Provincetown, and his music has made an ideal soundtrack to the sunny season. Stay tuned for his upcoming ‘Clothes Back On’ to see how he enters the fall.
Rene Farias is an artist who has managed to turn the quiet and seemingly insignificant turns of a day into an erotic expiration of beauty and inspiration. Living out his creative endeavors across social media, he produces work that is as scintillating in its finished state as it is in the process of being made. While Farias has the power and talent to make something beautiful of the smaller moments, his work also explores other-worldly creatures and fantasies, letting loose with images of wild hybrids merging man and beast, minotaur and mermaids, and fabled fairies. In some pieces he treats the human body like an architectural structure – a train runs through the tunnels of two human cavities – while in others trios of embracing men with wings find their legs morphing into multiple squid-like arms. A surreal gorgeousness imbues many of his pieces, bending the mind of the viewer as they try to navigate whether what they are in fact seeing is what they think they are seeing. It’s the greatest trick an artist can conjure, and the trickiest display of talent a human can execute. Farias earns his first Dazzler of the Day thanks to a consistent outpouring of work that makes us think and feel and marvel. Check out his website here.
“I’m cuban artist living in Miami. I like to explore the human eroticism and break taboos and stereotypes. There is no better way to assert ideas than through art. Mermaids, minotaurs, fairies, snakes, butterflies; recurring elements in my work that serve to accentuate the contrast between masculine strength and the fragility and delicacy that nature and mythology offer us. I really hope you enjoy my little piece of the world.” ~ Rene Farias
If anyone is still looking for a Pride anthem at this late date, check out ‘Be Your Girl’ by John Duff, which takes us back to the gloriously melodic whirling days of carefree disco and delicious pop hookery. Duff has made a few of these bops, and several eye-popping videos to go along with them, easily earning this Dazzler of the Day crowning just in time to end Pride Month on a high note.
