Gay porn awards are, themselves, a rather dubious distinction. Imagine how many guffaws I get when you I tell people I’ve won a GayVN for Best Screenplay. Not to mention trying to tell them you’re nominated for a Grabby. Pornographers can’t get no respect. This Memorial Day, Chicago hosts The Grabbys (the gay porn award handed out by Gay Chicago Magazine) and IML (International Mr. Leather). I can’t remember which one I’m here for, but the stars are out in full harness.

Not to be all Jizz Smith, but I just returned from Bret Wolfe’s 30th Birthday (t’was Wet Palms themed, natch) where I saw bearded Bret with original Wet Palms veteran Brad “Barbie” Benton, as well as a few new additions including a besot Bobby Williams (“Don’t Say A WORD about Bad Boys Pool Party!”) and a lovingly vampiric Pete Ross.

The kids gathered round an issue of Gay Chicago magazine fighting over who had the most pictures. Frederick Ford begged for a casting couch while Troy Punk canoodled with a handsome new beau, nearly upsetting the Swedish-meatballs-and-birthday-cake spread on the pool
table. True Glamour!

Tomorrow the leather-and-lays weekend kicks into full gear with more parties, more porn stars and more bad gossip.

– Mike