I had a long IM chat yesterday with Mason Wyler (a bit over an hour). As a result of the chat my opinion of him has changed for the better…

The last week or so he’s had a lot of shit thrown at him. Someone outed him as poz before he was really ready to make it public, and then, given his history, people started saying all sorts of things about him. Some people even started openly wondering whether this was a bit of a publicity stunt. The skepticism comes from the fact that previously he said he had been raped but then then didn’t follow through with the police investigation. People then wondered whether there was merit to the rape allegations – thinking it had all been a publicity stunt. So this time some people wondered whether this too was a publicity stunt.

Well, after talking with him, I tend to believe 1) he really was raped, and 2) he really is poz.

For me the thing that really made me not particularly like him (as a person) was his blog post back in October 2008. Even to this day I think it’s pretty hostile to poz guys and guys who bareback. He swears I misread it and he his intention was to make fun of the stupidity of people who do fear-based anti-bareback campaigns. I’ll let you decide what you think of it. At a minimum I think you’ll be able to see where it can be interpreted as hostile, even if that wasn’t his intention. The real issue was the he didn’t communicate his thoughts clearly enough in that blog post. He looks at it and sees his original intention, but others of us fail to see that intention. But he’s a porn star, not a copy editor – so I’ll excuse that now that I’ve heard his side of things.

After chatting with him for an hour the worst thing I can say about him is that prior to testing poz he didn’t have any poz friends – so he may not have really understand what it’s like to be poz. That’s hardly a crime. Apparently his day-to-day life is pretty solitary – it’s just him and his boyfriend. I have a similarly codependent relationship and if we weren’t in Manhattan and if my bf weren’t a “people person” I’m sure I’d be in a similar situation. Now he’s starting to chat with some poz guys, but they don’t live near him – but at least he gets to interact with them one way or the other. I really think that will help him.

I still think that the ‘milieu’ he was in was not all that great. For example, his production company refuses to work with poz guys – they won’t even pair poz guys up with each other and have them do condom porn. To his production company, if you’re poz you’re an undesirable leper. As a result when he became poz he assumed his porn career was over because that’s what he was told by his production company – the anti-poz crowd was the only reality he really knew. I think he’s just now realizing that’s not the case – that he’s totally welcome in bareback porn, and there are other condom porn companies that don’t have a problem with him either.

It won’t surprise me if the world of condom porn continues to shun poz guys – there’s a reason why we call them “Condom Nazis”. In fact I sorta dare any (major) condom company to break the conventions and use Mason as a regular performer (more than a few scenes). It’s a statement that really needs to be made – that you can be poz and sexy and there’s a (sex) life after testing poz.

Strangely, the poz-hostile condom producers (who are supposed to be pro-condom) are basically saying condoms are only for neg guys, which means condom usage tends to continue to based in fear – it’s all about neg guys protecting themselves from dirty/evil poz guys. To me that’s just incredibly divisive…

Anyway, back to Mason… After an hour talking with him I really got the sense that he’s a sweet, somewhat submissive guy… He kept calling me ‘Sir’ which was pretty endearing. I don’t know if he just knows the buttons to push with guys like me or if he’s genuinely that way, but I liked our chat a lot… I kept getting the sense that he was sorta vulnerable and that he needed a protector. My daddy instincts kept getting triggered with him…   He would make an incredible boy for some top daddy…

The other side of him is the persona of Mason Wyler. He’s sorta built up this persona that he’s a total slut, and while there does seem to be a side of him that enjoys being a slut (he’s been in 200+ porn videos in about 5 year – averaging one every 9 days for 5 years), his day-to-day life is way more boring and average than that. It seems the persona he created works against him at time like this (and probably back when the whole rape thing was going on). People see the image of a slut and trivialize what he goes through when it comes to things like rape and HIV.

So what’s Mason’s future look like? Well, his porn career will change somewhat… Unfortunately, while there are poz guys in condom porn many of them don’t like to discuss their status, which means all of them have to sorta stay in the closet about their HIV status. As soon as one of them is known to be poz (like Mason) the assumption is that the guys he does scenes with are poz. I hate closets and lies… The whole idea that poz guys can’t be open about things just bugs me.

That means I’d guess Mason will mostly be doing bareback porn (where being poz is no big deal) even though he’s open to both condom and bareback. But he really prefers bareback – so much so that he wishes could start his own bareback porn production company (though he doesn’t have the capital to do it). Frankly, I’m really glad he’ll be doing bareback porn. I’m totally looking forward to featuring it here on the site. It’ll be hot seeing him take loads

In terms of Mason’s personal future – I get the sense he still has a few things to figure out about being poz, but that’s to be expected. Hopefully he’ll get some poz friends and compare notes. If you’re in Houston and poz (and don’t want to just get in his pants) you might try hitting him up – I got the sense he’d really like a local poz buddy…

But all in all, he’ll be fine… I’m guessing he’ll be better than ever a year from now…

UPDATE: I had an hour long IM chat session with Mason Wyler. It changed my perception of him and I think I understand him a lot better now. Read my write up of the chat…

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If you haven’t heard by now, Mason Wyler disclosed this week that he tested HIV+ in May, but he only came out with the news after having his status “outed”. What I’m about to say here is a lot of conjecture, but I’d almost put money on most of it being true…

Let’s go back to October 2008 when Mason posted a blog post with alternate wording to the song “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer”…

Then all the gay boys hated him
as they shouted out with glee:
“Bobby with your unsafe sex,
you’ll die alone in misery!”

From that post it’s clear Mason looks down on poz guys and apparently thinks barebacking is so awful that barebackers are punished by becoming poz and that they will (or should) die alone in misery. Thing was, even when he wrote that, he was secretly attracted to barebacking. A few months after that post he put up blog posts talking about his attraction to bareback sex and bareback porn and then he’d take them down a little while later apparently out of shame/guilt. [Read more in my blog post back then about Mason's love/hate relationship with barebacking.]

Now he’s poz and apparently still holds his negative attitude about poz guys. Even the wording of his disclosure shows he feels shame and self-hatred…

I tested positive. I have only myself to blame. I have HIV and it kind of sucks.

“Blame”… There’s no acceptance in that statement – just self-loathing and shame. I mean really, in what way has his life changed? Well, maybe some condom-Nazi studios won’t work with him any more, but other than that, how is his life all that worse now than it was a couple years ago?

And lets not forget – with the amount of sex someone like Mason has, there’s a good chance he got infected through safe sex. He hasn’t revealed details, but safe sex is not safe – it’s just lower risk. Have enough of it and the cumulative risk builds up. If he was fucking a lot with condoms then he could have very well gotten infected that way – which makes his shame all the more sad (potentially).

Then a few days after he disclosed his status he felt the need to clarify things a bit…

I have not gone around fucking, barebacking, or infecting HIV negative people. I am a sex fiend. I am NOT a monster.

So apparently he thinks poz guys who have sex with neg guys are monsters. Interesting choice of words. To be blunt, the poz guys I fuck are anything but monsters. And guys who have bareback sex are consenting adults.

So let’s put things in perspective… First off, he’s a HOT messed up little boy who is listening to all the wrong people. I mentioned he’s hot, right? I mean that is one beautiful poz ass…

But I digress… The issue here is Mason’s fear, loathing, shame and self-hatred. It’s just sad. He’s like this confused messed up little boy. Where did he get the idea poz guys die alone in misery? Really? Who gave him that idea? Probably “Condom Nazis”. And they think barebackers and bareback porn are hurting the gay community. As far as I’m concerned their fear and hatred does more damage to our community than barebacking ever will. Mind you, back in the day there really was something to fear – HIV could kill you in a couple years. But these days I’m more worried when I find out someone is a chain smoker or likes to PNP.

I’m not saying HIV is desirable, instead I’m saying it’s really sad to see someone like Mason hate himself for becoming poz. It’s completely possible he got pozzed by a high-viral load top while he was wearing a condom. Most poz guys are on meds, and it’s safer to bareback with a poz guy who’s on meds than it is to have protected sex with a poz guy who’s not on meds. I don’t get the sense that he has any big picture sorta perspective. It’s like he’s back in the late 80’s and he thinks his life just ended or something.

There’s a reason why I tell guys to accept risks before they take them. If you like taking anonymous loads, just accept the fact that you’ll probably become poz, it’s not the end of the world, and then go on and enjoy your life. I don’t get the sense that Mason is enjoying his life or that he’s accepted and embraced his new status. He loves sex and has only hooked up 3 times since he tested poz in May. For someone like him that’s just horribly wrong. It’s done. It’s over. Move on and make the most of it…

And for god’s sake reject all the negativity and the people who spread it…

I really hope Mason comes to peace with being poz and learns to make the most of it. I would love to see him in some good bareback porn – maybe getting gangbanged by a bunch of poz tops. That’s one video which would be really hot if it included “poz talk” – seeing him get past his fear and really embrace being poz and beg guys to shoot toxic loads in his cunt would be incredible.

The NY Times has an essay in it today on current attitudes about HIV in the US. Here are a few quotes from it (emphasis mine)…

Most states enacted punitive legislation back in the hysterical old days of AIDS, a period lasting roughly from 1981, when the first reports of the syndrome were published, to 1996, when combination drug “cocktails” proved remarkably effective against H.I.V. Back then, transmitting the disease to an unknowing sexual partner was considered tantamount to murder.

These statutes are still on the books, but the science behind them has changed radically. People do still die of AIDS in the United States — the death rate, after plummeting in the late 1990s, has remained constant at about 16,000 per year. But for a person infected in 2009 to die of AIDS in the future would probably require a substantial amount of bad judgment or bad luck: the medications, if properly prescribed and properly taken, appear almost infallible.

Were it a matter of science alone, all those AIDS statutes could be rescinded tomorrow. But the science was only a small part of the panic that created them. And effective treatment has not altered the rest of that potent emotional brew: the virus still sows terror, uncertainty, shame and endless complications, whether the infection is concealed or revealed.

… And so whose fault is a new H.I.V. infection, really? Is it mine, for giving it to you, or is it yours, for being stupid and cavalier enough to get it?

It’s pretty incredible something so honest and accurate is being published in what’s arguably the most prestigious paper in the US. Mind you it’s just the first step in a very long process of decriminalizing HIV, but it’s good to see the first signs of the discussion.

[That said, there are times when I think transmission of HIV should be considered when sentencing for other crimes. The 35 year old poz guy who infected a kid by having sex with him 55 times between the ages of 12 and 16 is a good example of what I mean. The HIV infection should be considered as a special circumstance when sentencing him on statutory rape. But the HIV transmission itself usually shouldn't be a crime. And when neg person dodges the bullet and there's no infection, just unprotected sex, then that should definitely never be a crime, IMO...]

People need to think differently about HIV now. It’s 14 years since ARVs came on the scene. I know some of us went through truly traumatic experiences watching loved ones die of AIDS, but it’s just not like that any more.

And just to reiterate what I’ve said before… Unless you’re just incredibly unlucky, there’s no reason you can’t live a long life with HIV. But to live a long life you need to get tested and take your meds when it’s time to take them. That means you should get tested at least every year. Never let more than 2 years pass without an HIV test. If you’re nervous about getting tested – just relax. Chances are very good you’ll be OK if you test poz – as long as you haven’t waited too long…

So Playgirl’s photos of Levi Johnston came out today (that was quick). Frankly, I think the photographer did a horrible job, but maybe that’s just me. He looks awkward. Why in the hell did they shoot him in NYC for anyway? Wouldn’t a nice rural resort in Alaska have been better? He looks awkward and uncomfortable in some of the pics. As they say, confidence is sexy, and he doesn’t look confident – and his not showing his wang just furthers that point – confident guys have no problem with other people seeing their dick.

Then there’s his ass… I’d fuck it, but honestly, I was expecting better.

If you get off thinking about fucking Sarah Palin’s sorta-son-in-law, then these will seem hot to you. But otherwise, I’d stick with something like Frat Men – the guys there are what he should look like if he’s going to do porn for real. But he is an average Joe, so he’s excused for not being in perfect shape on short notice.

I’m hoping he’ll get inspired to do more. After all, I’d love Sarah Palin to have to explain to her grand kid why daddy is doing gay porn…

If you want to see the whole shoot – head over to Playgirl.com.

Like Sexy Straight Guys? Check Out Playgirl.com

18 U.S.C 2257 Record-Keeping Requirements Compliance Statement

Well, America’s favorite baby daddy was in New York this week – Levi Johnston was doing the shoot for Playgirl.

The first day of shooting was apparently at Chelsea Piers where Levi posed with a hockey stick that belonged to a gay guy. It was on this day that I found out that somehow Daniel Nardicio (the infamous gay club promoter) was the point person for Playgirl. That just seemed weird to me, but whatever…

That same day there were reports that The Rivington refused to let them shoot in their penthouse suite, but The Rivington is a pretty hip hotel – I couldn’t see them having a problem with it. Then the news came out that the real story was that Playgirl couldn’t afford to pay for it. That’s just sad.

So then the question was whether we were going to get to see Levi’s baby making cock. Unfortunately, despite the fact that his manager was promising everyone full frontal nudity – none of the pictures show his dick. UGH! I mean, what’s the point? [Of course, what I'd want to see his his hole spread and him shoving a dildo in it or something - but if he ain't showing his dick, there won't be no hole either...]

And then to top it all off I find out they only did pictures – no video. What in the hell were they thinking? How difficult can it be to take a video of a photoshoot? They were seriously doing it on the cheap… I guess there’s a reason why Playgirl.com they advertise other sites. Maybe they should take a few pointers off what makes those other sites successful.

Oh well, maybe he’ll get the adult modeling bug and want to do more and he’ll show his dick and hole for some softcore gay porn site… We can only hope.

Like Sexy Straight Guys? Check Out Playgirl.com

18 U.S.C 2257 Record-Keeping Requirements Compliance Statement

On a day when some angry fool is getting press by saying we should be mad about HIV, here’s something we should really get mad about.. An adorable, 19 y.o. gay kid (George Steven Lopez Mercado) was killed in Puerto Rico. But not just killed. He was decapitated, dismembered, partially burned, and then left by the roadside. And it doesn’t end there – the investigating officer says he deserved what he got because he was gay. God, I’d love to be in a room alone with that officer – I’d beat the crap out of him.

We’re being killed on a consistent basis. Many of the people who are getting killed are minorities and either fem or trans. The people around them just won’t accept who they are and think they’re worthy of death. Even if you’re butch and white (like me) this should bother you – deeply.

Make sure your straight (and gay) friends know about this and other killings – like Lawrence King. Even with under-reporting, the FBI says there are 4 anti-gay hate crimes each day and we’ve seen documented periods where one of us is getting killed every 8 days – and that’s just in the US – it doesn’t even start to capture what’s happening worldwide in places like Iraq.