Fashion forward Jeffrey Kalinsky does not appreciate journo Brandon Voss' P.O.V.

Kalinsky, who owns the Jeffrey retail chain, sat down with Voss to discuss "Fashion Cares," an annual fund raiser benefiting GMHC, Lambda Legal and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, which Voss describes as "one of the hottest parties of the year." Jeffrey's not amused, and quickly corrects Mr. Voss, "I don't see it that way, I guess… It's a charity event trying to raise money for some really great causes." Me-ow!

Things get even stickier when Voss veers off topic to wonder whether Jeffrey's customers are largely lavender, but Kalinsky refuses to engage: "I don't approach life like that." Bless foolish Voss, for he kept going back for me more, describing Kalinsky as "politically correct," which garnered this tart, surprisingly philosophical retort: "No, I'm just being honest with you. Just because I’m gay, I can’t make my answers gay if they’re not gay."

President George W. Bush isn't all bad. The big bad leader of the free world recently signed legislation aimed at fighting meth use in New York City. Via 365 Gay:

Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the world’s oldest HIV/AIDS organization, has been awarded $303,000 in federal funds to fight the growing role of crystal methamphetamine use in the HIV/AIDS epidemic on a national level.

The appropriation, signed by President Bush, was sponsored by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
…
“HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men in the United States are up 13% since 2001. In New York City, infections among young MSM are up by one third. Crystal meth is one factor fueling this rise in HIV infections among gay men,” said Janet Weinberg, Senior Managing Director of Development and Legislative Funding.

GMHC executive director Dr. Marjorie J. Hill also says that more and more people are injecting crystal.

That's even grosser - and even more dangerous - than snorting the nasty powder.

Let's not leave the gray gays out in the cold! GMHC's new M·A·C AIDS Fund-supported campaign aims to raise awareness of HIV positive folk in their fifties and beyond. Says Chief Operating Office Marjorie Hill:

As people with HIV/AIDS live longer and increased numbers of older persons are becoming newly infected, our approach to AIDS and aging must mature and evolve. This new campaign acknowledges that seniors are sexually active and at risk for HIV infection, and persons over 50 living with HIV need dedicated services and support. We are grateful to the M·A·C AIDS Fund for their outstanding support and commitment to providing resources for services that have a meaningful impact on people living with and affected by AIDS.

As more and more people live with AIDS, rather than die, it's important that we take them in account. This world can't run on twinks alone!

AIDS is the great equalizer. Young, old, black, white, gay, straight, transgendered, Christian, Muslim – you name a social group, most likely a member has HIV/AIDS.

Not since the Black Plague has a disease so dramatically altered the course of history. We’re all touched by HIV/AIDS, even if we don’t realize it. Thus, it’s imperative that we all play a role in the protracted nightmare – a message the AIDS Walk embraces in its new social realism-inspired poster campaign…

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Everyone knows how much we love drag queens. We also love raising money for charity and doing good deeds, especially this time of the year. When photographer Matthew Baker and graphic designer Matthew Powell conceived the idea for Bedside Companions they must have had us in mind.

Bedside Companions is a sexy twelve-month wall calendar in the classic pin-up style…However, these women are portrayed by a new modern girl, the drag queen.

The theme is inspired by the work of 1940’s pin up artists, though instead of pin up girls, we’ve updated the style using fourteen drag queens (some professional, some regular guys donning a dress for a good cause). Each month features a clean and modern design, pairing a hand-tinted photograph, including a condom hand-studded in Sworovski crystals, with a message promoting safer sex. The result is a fun and pleasurable romp through 2006.

The calendar is available now and is only $12.99. That’s nothing, queens. And the money raised benefits God’s Love We Deliver and GMHC.

We have an extra copy to give to a lucky reader. First person to email us their drag name wins!