For the first time since this election started, John McCain granted gay press a bit of access into his campaign. And we do mean "a bit."

Rather than sitting down with the Washington Blade, McCain responded in writing to questions penned by publisher William Kapfer, which explains how McCain could so readily recall his words at the funeral of Mark Bingham, a gay man who helped thwart the Flight 95 attack on September 11th.

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One of you clever readers started a rumor that Genre is closing its doors. Actually, the rumor is that those doors have already closed. Gawker talked to Neal Boulton, we spoke with publisher Bill Kapfer and both deny said rumors. Kapfer even boasted:

We just put to sleep our special double cover fashion and fitness issue.

The issue is rich with incredible editorial lifestyle coverage and is balanced with a great slate of advertisers — from Delta Air Lines to John Bartlett

The double cover is a first in our category- and truly shows off Neal Boulton's talent as a visionary.

With our latest ABC audit statement showing another 25% increase in audited subscriptions, things are going extremely well for Genre. I feel very fortunate to have moved into the enviable position of working with an editor that has both a creative and business approach to publishing.

Thank the gay gods!

The evidence continues to build against Genre and its editor, Neal Boulton.

This morning we told you about how the gay glossy used straight models to portray queer domestic bliss. Now former Genre editor Andy Towle informs us that publisher William Kapfer approached him for press last month and included this note from Boulton:

Everyone wants—someone. But when you get them, how do you keep it going. Genre's new service journalism and -how to- editorial direction made it easy for us to provide our readers with the **50 top ways to stay together forever.** This is not your typical list.

We delve into the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects that if addressed can actually enhance the way people relate to each other. We acknowledge that not every is monogamous, but some are—and we even address how to manage life in either scenario.

On the cover this month, Genre bravely put forth a reality couple, and not the typical models who hold perfection over our heads.

Yeah fucking right. We haven't heard such a pile of horse shit since Pat Buchanan called Keith Kerr a coward.

Gay glossy Genre finds itself immersed in scandal once again.

The New York-based monthly recently released an issue examining long-term relations. The cover, as you can see, shows two hunky men who are presented as a couple. An astute reader, however, informs us that one of the models, Julian Fantechi, once appeared in Playgirl and, in fact, likes ladies. Writes the reader:

Inside the magazine, they are stripped down, appear to be into each other, and are allegedly, discussing their physical relationship, emotional, sexual and spiritual relationship. This is not reality, here!!!!! The guy on the left is Playgirl's Man of the Year. The link is to his website and his Inside Hollywood interviews. He even puts Genre on his resume.

Fantechi also appeared on a recent episode of Ugly Betty.

We asked EIC Neal Boulton and publisher William Kapfer to explain their gay selves….

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Magazine publishers know exactly who to thank before digging into their turkey this Thursday. Just ask William Kapfer, who praises advertisers for investing in gay glossy Genre.

…In keeping with a theme of gratitude and thanksgiving, I would like to take a moment to thank both our loyal advertisers—those brands who have continued to support Genre through its early beginnings, and to applaud our new advertisers—those products, services and destinations that have chosen to partner with the industry’s fastest growing gay men’s magazine.
…
We poll our readers regularly about what they want from a gay-lifestyle magazine and their response has always comes back to a “strong emotional connection” with the products, services and destinations that affect their lives. As a result, Genre readers come back again and again because they know that only Genre can provide the integrity and inspiration to make that connection.

Kapfer must have forgotten to thank all the nameless, faceless, penniless bloggers who give Genre press. Sure, it's not always good press, but that's hardly important, right?

Media watchdog GLAAD has been making some intriguing business arrangements.

A source tells us that the DC-based non-profit either sold or gave Genre a list of their donors. Genre, in turn, used that list to send out free copies of the recently revamped gay glossy. Those unrequested issues are then tallied as part of the magazine's subscription data, thus boosting the monthly's standing with potential advertisers. Sneaky, huh?

At first we didn't believe this tale, but a Genre sales employee confirmed the rumors, but didn't seem to know whether GLAAD took money for the list or if they shared it out of the goodness of their homo hearts. Said this employee, whom we've decided to call Informative Irwin: "I don't know if they purchased it or if they just gave it to us." Right…

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We remember Neal Boulton excitedly exclaiming at an October Genre party,"I just put up my first blog post today!" Such a statement made us assume he intended on posting more musings on the gay glossy's website.

After weeks of semi-eager anticipation, Boulton finally slapped together another missive.

We know this because a "Soho House" source emailed it to us and tried to imply that Boulton's fooling around with his publisher, William Kapfer.

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