Five Reasons I Love Butt Magazine

This post was submitted by Al who digs artsy stuff and is too impatient to read entire books.

Recent posts on the joys of queer book clubs got me thinking about my own reading habits. Maybe it's the current political situation or merely my Jewish birthright, but lately I do nothing more than espouse the anti-virtures of this and that, aka whine. There are small pleasures worthy of celebration here and there, say cupcakes, but cupcakes and other tasty vices often come with a side of guilt (there's that Judaism again). I downright surprised myself recently when I simply and consciously savored a purely pleasant experience that I have now and again, reading my favorite periodical. This magazine is no secret to most, but still I feel the need to share five things I love about Butt (Magazine):

1. The ritual: I could subscribe to my favorite periodical, and have considered it, but buying it is fun for me. I'm in NYC fairly regularly and if the newest issue is out I make a point to pick it up while there. Luckily, it’s sold in places I frequently find myself. One such place is also one of my favorite institutions, the New Museum. Sure the bookshop is a mere shadow of the one they had in their previous location years ago, but the New Mu is still a fun place to browse. I admit that this ritual not only involves seeing art and digging through great publications, but also happens to be located fairly near the best cupcake in the city, the “lemon yummy” cupcake at Sugar Sweet Sunshine. The combo of the two is so good it kills the guilt.

Arguably the best place to pick up your Butt though is at Printed Matter, Inc. One of the greatest specialty bookstores ever, PM is brimming with artist's books, back issues of weird art zines, and cute peeps. It's art fag heaven in the middle of Chelsea. If you're in the area, but prefer a more mainstream venue off gallery alley just grab your Butt at the Chelsea American Apparel offering manorexic models, shiny clothes and a great mag all in one stop. You may leave poor from your $34 tee shirt and $9.90 magazine, but the fact that AA's ads in Butt usually show nekkid balls earns them a thumbs up.

2. Reading Butt in public is an act of subversion: I like to read my Butt on agonizingly long trips on public transit or, when I’m brave, on a DC-bound Amtrak Acela train full of business travelers. The summer issue this year had a waterproof cover for beach bums. I accompanied a pal to the lesbo beach at Rehomo and whipped it out there.

3. Bromance: Sure, smut is the name of the game sometimes, but Butt's interviews often reveal the tender side of hipster boy celebs and porn stars. The boyfriend tales, talk of dreams about future husbands and a surprisingly high rate of monogamy amongst interviewees is unexpected, but as sweet as pie, I mean cupcakes. It‘s the literary equivalent of post-sex cuddling. Awwwww.

4. Vers: There's a good variety of subject matter in Butt. Features on gay rock starts, obscure Euro artists, and guys with weird fetishes fill up the average Butt. The ads are even varied, including those for haute couture manties, leather bars, and über homo-friendly art galleries. It really changes from issue to issue. Ok, there's a lot of dick in Butt too. However, a fairly good range of body types are represented, though I admit they could use more racial diversity despite making strides in this area.

5. The interviews are educational: This may sound like your dad saying he reads Playboy for the articles, nevertheless Butt interviews are cool. They tell you nothing important about the person of focus, but rather stuff that's damned interesting. When I was in middle school each class went to the library for a period once a week. Everyone would rush to the magazine racks. (Most) boys clamored for National Geographic, undoubtedly looking for images of tribal boobs. The gals ran for teen magazines like YM. By the time I got there nothing was left but Highlights, so I’d chill in the stacks and listen to the gals reading YM out loud to each other. They would read girl’s letters to the editor conveying their most embarrassing moments. Butt interviews have a bit of that quality, but without the shame and maxi pads. The current issue's cover boy is a long time fave of mine, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters. Reading the interview told me nothing about their next album, but I did learn he has a dog named Toby. Toby ate an entire bottle of Gun Oil lube and survived. Now that's hard hitting journalism.

Above all Butt is really, really gay. It couldn’t be farther away from the often assimilationist rag, The Advocate. If you aren’t already a fan, I suggest you pick up a copy. The next time you're waiting an inordinate amount of time for a non-peak metro and stealthily noshing your favorite cupcake, whip out your Butt and savor the happiness reading can bring.

I’ve read Butt for years, but lately I’ve also gotten into Kaiserin (the magazine for boys with problems) and I know a few others have popped up recently. I’d love to know what other funky mags DC queers are reading.

Editors note: TNG is more or less taking the day off to celebrate indigenous people's day. However, we are featuring this well written essay on a great magazine that has provided a lot of inspiration for many of TNG's contributors. TNG will be back in full force on Tuesday October 14, starting with an early morning "tuesday upper." Enjoy your day off, if you have it.