Looking for a date? The boys at meatzine have got you covered

Anything that involves guys getting their clothes off for the camera generally has my attention, so meatzine – a photographic celebration of men always features on my reading list.

Helping us all have something to look forward to, Adrian Lourie – the photographer behind meatzine – has released a 2021 calendar. It’s available now, and you can purchase it online.

This is more than just a basic beefcake calendar – meatzine assembles 12 Gay, Queer, Bi, Trans and Non-binary folks of all shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds and professions and strips them off for the camera.

I caught up with some of the men of meat for a behind-the-scenes look at the 2021 calendar.

The origin story

“When I started meatzine – 10 years ago – gay media didn’t seem to include guys that looked like me or the men that I fancied…” explains Adrian Lourie, when I ask him how he got started with the concept of meatzine.

“I had this desire to offer a different point of view on what it means to be a gay man. We’re diverse as fuck, and we all have amazing qualities. We all deserve to be pin-ups.”

The men of meat

“I usually put a call-out on social media…” explains Adrian, when I ask him how he casts the men that appear in the zine and the calendar. “That means that we’re featuring guys who follow me or buy the zine, or friends of guys who’ve previously featured. It’s very much an extended family of men who buy into the idea of meatzine.”

“These guys are putting themselves out there, often naked and open to a certain level of scrutiny. It’s important to me that they’re comfortable and feel proud to be part of something that I genuinely think has a different voice to most naked calendars out there.”

Mr May – Nick

“I used to be very shy and self-conscious about my body – particularly as a teenager and in my early twenties…” explains Nick, when I ask him how he feels seeing himself as a pin-up in a naked calendar.

“About nine years ago, I chose to really focus on my personal fitness. Like many gay guys, I’ve posted thirs-trap progress pictures – which started off as a way of keeping track of my body and then maybe morphed into something a bit more about enjoying the validation and appreciation.”

“It’s only in the past 12 months that I’ve begun to feel confident enough to try things like life modelling for artists or getting naked for a project like meatzine.”

“I have a professional career that has nothing to do with my modelling – I’m working hard to ensure that neither interferes with the other…” says Nick, when I ask him if he’s worried that photos from his work with meatzine might end up on the internet. “It’s a balancing act – I’m learning to love my body, and I enjoy collaborating with talented queer creatives, but I try and stick to playful artistic naked content rather than anything overtly erotic.”

“I hope that people feel something pleasant – even if it’s just that they’re entertained if not turned on…” says Nick, when I ask him what he’d like people to feel when they’re looking at his work as Mr May. “Despite having enough confidence to enjoy being in great body-positive projects like this, I’m still a person with as many insecurities as the next guy.”

Mr February – Kings

“I’ve never been confident about my body…” says Kings, when I ask him how it feels to see himself in a naked calendar. As well as being Mr February, Kings is also the cover-boy of the calendar.

“The idea of nude shots done in a tasteful and artistic way appeals to me, but we took these photos at a time when I felt very vulnerable about my body. It’s a daily mental battle – I have good and bad days, like everyone else really.”

“I was also concerned that being part of a project like this could have a negative impact on my professional life. I was very specific about what parts of my body I wanted exposed, and what I wanted cropped out.”

“I didn’t think that far ahead!” exclaims Kings, when I ask him how he hopes that people feel when they see him in the calendar. “I guess I hope that they feel good about it, like I do. I took part in this to help build a positive narrative around black gay men. I hope my photo evokes a positive feeling when people see it.”

Get your hands on the meatzine Naked Calendar 2021

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I caught up with Drew Sebastian to talk cruising, underwear, and the thrill of being an exhibitionist.

The origin story

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved porn…” says Drew, when I ask him how he got started in the industry.

“It started with me and the neighborhood boys jerking off to a porno mag. Then, riding with friends and stroking to porno mags. Then, renting videos from Lobos bookstore in Houston. And then, making my own homemade videos.”

“I’m an exhibitionist and a voyeur. I love cruising and – when I’ve found a fuck-buddy – I love being watched.”

“One day, I was going to Folsom, and my friend said I should hit up some studios. I did, and here I am!”

Heroes and inspirations

“Ken Ryker, and some of the vintage porn guys…” says Drew, when I ask him about his gay porn heroes.

“I’m also inspired by old COLT magazines, Tom of Finland, and the Hun comics.”

The business of porn

“I enjoy the entrepreneurial side of the industry, but I’m not as good at it as some of these guys…” says Drew, when I ask him how he’s navigating the changing landscape of adult entertainment.

“I want to do more. I have a JustFor.Fans site, but I haven’t been able to get a lot of videos posted since quarantine started.”

“If anybody wants to come do some videos with me in LA, hit me up!”

The underwear

“I. Love. Underwear!” emphasises Drew, when I ask him what sort of underwear he’s into.

“I love workout tights without underwear. I don’t usually wear underwear to the gym, but I love jockstraps.”

“I love sexy lingerie type underwear on some of my big booty boys – and my sexy slender boys.”

“I don’t wear underwear very much, but when I do, it’s boxer-briefs. I wear my dick to the right, and never periscope down, so boxer-briefs are better for me.”

“I love underwear on guys that shows off their ass. And I love seeing a guy’s junk in the front. I’m a bulge watcher.”

“Should I stop talking about underwear now?”

Plans for the future

“People probably don’t know that I’m also a chef…” says Drew, when I ask him what his plans are for the months ahead. “I’ve been working on my meal-prep business – tying that in with my modelling will be fun for me as this business grows.”

“I’ve thought a lot about people bringing up the fact that I’ve done tons of porn and am migrating into being a business owner. To them, I say, who better to help people eat better and get their body looking good than a model? Besides, so many of my friends in the industry have followed their dreams of becoming a lawyer or starting their own businesses. It’s good to work on what’s next, while enjoying being in the industry. So, that’s my business aspiration.”

“On the porn side, I want to keep filming and making hot porn with sexy boys and men for many years to come. I’ve never cared about winning awards, but after attending a couple awards shows last year, I’d love to win some. The guys at the awards shows have been super-grateful and deserving – from social media stars to best orgy scenes. I love the idea of being the best at these categories.

But, at the end of the day, just having fun and being sexy is already a win for me.

Follow Drew Sebastian on Twitter

Follow Drew Sebastian on JustFor.Fans