Category Archives: Observations/Lessons

Shorn: My Beardless Exile

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Justin Shaddix

I know before I start that what I’m about to do is a mistake.  Staring at my face in the mirror, I know that shaving off my beard is going decrease my subjective attractiveness and potentially lower my social capital.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations/Lessons, Personal | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

My Biggest Mistake

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Justin Shaddix

In the four years I’ve been in NYC, I’ve been through about three cycles of friends.  Not because I’m some drama queen who’s always cutting fools outta my life, but simply because in this town people come and go as … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations/Lessons, Personal, Queer Community | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

The Shockingly Common Case of Barebacking

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Justin Shaddix

For most urban gay men, HIV is an omnipresent factor in life.  Between the 52% of gay men who are positive in NYC and the slew of benefits/fundraisers/message points that fill social calendars and Facebook feeds, even the casual observer … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations/Lessons, Queer Community | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

The Allure Of Steroids

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Justin Shaddix

Last week I put together a piece about gay men using steroids/testosterone/etc. and interviewed three men who are either currently on a cycle or have recently been on one.  Their frankness about their reasons and results was enlightening to me … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations/Lessons, Queer Community | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Becoming Superhuman: Gay Men On Steroids

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Justin Shaddix

The ambient noise of clinking weights and occasional grunting fills the gym as dozens of men press and push and sweat.  Two guys next to me with comic book bodies are discussing what cycle of steroids they are on right … Continue reading →

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Rainbow Wedding

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Justin Shaddix

A year after New York State cleared the fags for nuptials, the summer of 2012 is turning out to be the Summer of Gay Weddings (not as terrifying as Summer of the Shark back to 2001, but nearly as dramatic … Continue reading →

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Art To Teach And Remind Us (of what has come before)

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Justin Shaddix

I was an oblivious child when the AIDS epidemic swept through the gay community like a ravenous angel of death that no one yet understood.  While watching cartoons on a big boxy TV, I remember brief news reports of an … Continue reading →

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The Man Behind the Screen

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Justin Shaddix

It happens all the time.  I ask my friend if knows some guy from the community.  I give a description, a first name, a few unique traits and get a, “uuuhhh, not sure…” response.  I provide a screen name and … Continue reading →

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2011: Rear End Review

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Justin Shaddix

2011 Retrospective, selected memories that shaped my year: It’s January, MAL, and I’m sitting in a hotel room with two muscular men in jockstraps talking about bondage.  Their handsome faces smile atop thick torsos while gesturing with tattooed arms.  I … Continue reading →

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2 Weeks Unplugged: The Debrief

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Justin Shaddix

After last week’s post about being unplugged, I’ve spent the last 2 weeks abstaining (more or less) from my online profile sites in an attempt to break my addiction and experience the gay world more in reality and less online … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations/Lessons, Personal | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments