PHOTOS: Over the weekend, New York gays let their hair down and left their inhibitions at the door for the 34th annual dancefest, The Black Party. Following the daylong expo, revelers rubbed elbows — and whatever else they saw fit — with porn stars, nightlife luminaries, drag queens and anyone with a love of leather or a fondness for fetishism. By the looks of it, all these bad boys had a very good time.
Check out photos from the Black Party and be on the lookout for more exclusive coverage.
Photos: Wilson Models
TinoTurner
I thank my lucky stars that I don’t have a mental defect where I find these absurd costumes hot. These guys look like turds.
Dustolio
All clowns are creepy. Even shirtless gay clowns.
rarecargo
i did find that one attractive guy in the middle of the crowd.
tardis
I’m not a fan of the gay sub culture. Seriously? I mean…
Whatever. I’ll be at the library reading.
ibernard
Whatever happened to the “no cameras” rule?
I’m just glad I went to clubs when the hottest thing to talk about the next day was the MUSIC.
Seems to me “promoters” are the new “pimps.”
I’ll take a pass, thank you.
Now, Grace Jones (2012) at The Roseland. THAT’S hot gay culture!
Glad I was part of that evening!
justinbras
I love these guys!
RascallyBear
Can’t believe that I’m actually going to write a comment
in defense of the Black Party (in reaction to the previous comments)
but here goes,
in no particular order…
I was at this year’s Black Party and have been to many others over the past 30 years
(Yes, I’ll come out of the closet- I’m a dinosaur, a member of the original Saint)
Agree that yes, clowns are creepy- especially muscley/ shirtless gay clowns…
but come on, calling these guys turds is a bit over the (big)top.
I thought the pimpy/promoters did do a pretty good job with the “Dirty Carnival” theme.
“At the library reading” rather than be in the “gay sub culture”?,
just be careful not to read any Oscar Wilde or other gay authors while you’re escaping the gay sub culture.
I hope I was the one attractive guy you see in the middle of the (offiicaly approved)crowd photo (sorry, that was a neurotic slip about my self-image)
There was a strict “no camera” rule at the party, I’m sure these photos were taken by an approved photographer, and only of people who consented to being photographed. “What happens at the Black Party stays at the Black Party” was their goal.
YES- I remember when we spoke about and LOVED the beautiful music.
That has been missing for years (and years) in the mega gay club scene.
The Black Party music sucked this year, again…
(for a taste of the classic Saint sound check out the “Tripping on the Moon” dance parties and very happy to see the wonderful DJ mix scheduled for the Pavilion Opening Weekend)
I love our those guys too,
love our “gay sub culture(s)” in all it’s crazy, over-the-top, surprising and
amazing manifestations…
Not all of it is for me (probably not the BlackParty any more either…)
but it doesn’t have to be and it’s not supposed to be.
Let’s at least try to be gentle and accepting of our diversity
and
keep dancing and celebrating while we can.
DarkZephyr
@RascallyBear: *APPLAUSE*
hudson
@RascallyBear: brilliant! well said.
MaximumJoy
@RascallyBear The looooords work!
tardis
Embracing a gay culture is different than embracing BDSM laced, pill popping, body worshiping, superficially based, house music blasting parties.
Not a fan.
ibernard
@RascallyBear: Did you ever hear of photojournalism? Had Mapplethorpe not worked on his ‘X Portfolio’ in the 70s, you’d have no clue as to the timeline of gay life in general, and the leather life (and kink) specifically. You and the promoters of The Black Party at Large may have your sanctioned photographers, but it’s more often than not the “unsanctioned” photographers who show us life, unvarnished, as it should be seen. And now that cell phones can take “photos” (but my camera can’t make a phone call), the line is blurred even more. Never discount a true photojournalist with a professional camera (defined as a dSLR with a removable lens). I certainly don’t take snapshots, and didn’t spend over $150K to learn a craft. Nor did I spend $160 to go to a costume party with sex as the bottom line.
ibernard
@tardis: AGREED!!!
RascallyBear
@ibernard: ?@ibernard: ?
Brockolee
Hey all
In defenece of the sub culture
I am a leatherman who happens to enjoy and love the men of this diversity.
While promoters and participants look to have a “new edge” on parties then they will resort to all kinds of gimmicks to entice men to come.Hence the clowns.
Personally none of the men i know are turds and are active members of te community trying to make a difference for our community. Lets try and be more tolerant of our fellow gay brothers whatever their preference and live dance and have fun together.
Yours in Leather
Brockolee