Past ChicagoPride.com Hottie in running for Genre Man of the Year
Six of Chicago's gay finest are in the running for Genre Magazine's first ever Man of the Year contest. As our city is home to dozens of commendable LGBT not-for-profit political, public health, youth and arts and entertainment organizations, there could be no question as to why. And there's that whole corn-fed physicality factor to consider too.
"Everyone loves a big broad-shouldered Midwestern boy!" boasts Genre Editor-in-Chief Chris Ciompi, "They're definitely eating the right things when they grow up."
Established in 1991, Genre was quick to become one of the nation's top-selling gay men's lifestyle magazines. The monthly Genre Man initiative was created to offer its national readership another forum in which to identify with the publication on a local level. Showcasing distinctive men of major cities, the Genre Man originally featured friends of staff and friends of friends of staff. However interest caught on faster than a clearance sale at Nordstrom paving way for the first Man of the Year contest, including all the past year's Genre Men, as well as the need to institute a careful screening process for applicants.
"One of the biggest problems we've gotten is people applying who are not openly gay," Chris told ChicagoPride.com. The Genre Man featurettes consist of a photo, bio and a brief Q&A interview relating the interviewee's feelings on gay life, love and politics. "If you weren't known as gay before," Chris adds, "you're going to be known as gay now!"
Yet it takes more than being a card carrying member of the Out-n-Gay club to obtain the coveted title of Genre Man. Men are chosen based on their proven dedication to their local communities, whether it is through their work or charitable efforts—much like Chicago Gay Games VII Executive Director Brian McGuiness who was a featured Chicago Genre Man this past September. Brian's numerous accomplishments in business and in past Gay Games sports and cultural events in addition to his other civic associations linking him to the Howard Brown Health Center, the Special Olympics and the American Red Cross, makes him a choice candidate for Man of the Year.
"We want someone who is really involved," says Chris, "We don't want just another pretty face." This is evident by the Chicago contenders who are not only made up of models and dancers in their 20s but also executives and community leaders in their early 40s as well.
But hey, a pretty face can't hurt.
Before flexing his six pack abs on the pages of Genre in May 2005, 26 year-old model/actor/bartender Bradley flexed them on ChicagoPride.com as the site's Hottie of the Month. Of his candidacy for Genre Man of the Year, Bradley says, "It's like revisiting being a ChicagoPride.com 'hottie' again. I'm like, oh yeah, I did that. It was fun."
Bradley also adds, "I am grateful for the photography of Michael Snell and the opportunity with ChicagoPride.com. Their talents made it possible for me to move on to a lot of good things in the following years."
Bradley has also been seen flaunting his flesh as the host of 2005's International Mr. Leather, on the cover of the October 2005 issue of The Guide, in a pink dress and blonde pig tails as the hostess of the annual Night of 100 Drag Queens fundraiser and in the Chicago-based indie flick, Bowser Makes a Movie where he portrayed fictional porn star Vincent Van Cock. Yet don't be mistaken; Bradley isn't all six pack brawn. As a member of Equality Illinois' board of directors, this babe's got brains too.
The contest's huge national popularity has come as a surprise to folks at Genre. To date, the online voting system has received over 185,000 votes. Though they're ecstatic with the outcome, they never expected such a response. The top six contestants come from New York, Los Angeles, Detroit and Philadelphia and have all been receiving multiple votes from repeat voters.
"It's great to see all the different regional markets taking a strong stand in the voting," says Chris. "These guys really want to see their boys win."
But what about Chicago? Despite our valid contributions to beauty and community, none of our contenders have yet to make it into the top six. Granted, it's going to be difficult to overtake Michigan's only contestant, 33 year-old Detroit resident and Advertising maven Joe Fitzryk. Amassing over 24,000 votes, 13,000+ more than his current runner up, Joe has used his mad ad-exec skills to appeal for positive votes. And it worked. Joe's efforts even caught the attention of the Detroit Free Press, where staff writer Julie Hinds featured him in their lifestyles section. (read article)
"Joe really wants it," Chris informs.
Nevertheless, Joe is willing to concede the title to any Midwesterner. "Midwestern men have manners," Joe shares, "old fashioned please and thank you values that I don't see on the East or West Coasts. But if I do lose, it had better be to [Chicagoan] Darren Andereck. He's got my vote, once a day until March 1!"
So hope for the Windy City isn't lost yet! Voting goes on till March 1 and we're coming up fast. As of press time, Joe's choice, Darren Andereck, was only 0.06 points away from making it into the top billing.
Must be those big broad Midwestern shoulders.
Give your favorite Chicago Genre Man a 10 when voting for him as Genre's Man of the Year! http://www.genremagazine.com/genremen/voting.cfm
Subscribe to Genre Magazine
"Everyone loves a big broad-shouldered Midwestern boy!" boasts Genre Editor-in-Chief Chris Ciompi, "They're definitely eating the right things when they grow up."
Established in 1991, Genre was quick to become one of the nation's top-selling gay men's lifestyle magazines. The monthly Genre Man initiative was created to offer its national readership another forum in which to identify with the publication on a local level. Showcasing distinctive men of major cities, the Genre Man originally featured friends of staff and friends of friends of staff. However interest caught on faster than a clearance sale at Nordstrom paving way for the first Man of the Year contest, including all the past year's Genre Men, as well as the need to institute a careful screening process for applicants.
"One of the biggest problems we've gotten is people applying who are not openly gay," Chris told ChicagoPride.com. The Genre Man featurettes consist of a photo, bio and a brief Q&A interview relating the interviewee's feelings on gay life, love and politics. "If you weren't known as gay before," Chris adds, "you're going to be known as gay now!"
Yet it takes more than being a card carrying member of the Out-n-Gay club to obtain the coveted title of Genre Man. Men are chosen based on their proven dedication to their local communities, whether it is through their work or charitable efforts—much like Chicago Gay Games VII Executive Director Brian McGuiness who was a featured Chicago Genre Man this past September. Brian's numerous accomplishments in business and in past Gay Games sports and cultural events in addition to his other civic associations linking him to the Howard Brown Health Center, the Special Olympics and the American Red Cross, makes him a choice candidate for Man of the Year.
"We want someone who is really involved," says Chris, "We don't want just another pretty face." This is evident by the Chicago contenders who are not only made up of models and dancers in their 20s but also executives and community leaders in their early 40s as well.
But hey, a pretty face can't hurt.
Before flexing his six pack abs on the pages of Genre in May 2005, 26 year-old model/actor/bartender Bradley flexed them on ChicagoPride.com as the site's Hottie of the Month. Of his candidacy for Genre Man of the Year, Bradley says, "It's like revisiting being a ChicagoPride.com 'hottie' again. I'm like, oh yeah, I did that. It was fun."
Bradley also adds, "I am grateful for the photography of Michael Snell and the opportunity with ChicagoPride.com. Their talents made it possible for me to move on to a lot of good things in the following years."
Bradley has also been seen flaunting his flesh as the host of 2005's International Mr. Leather, on the cover of the October 2005 issue of The Guide, in a pink dress and blonde pig tails as the hostess of the annual Night of 100 Drag Queens fundraiser and in the Chicago-based indie flick, Bowser Makes a Movie where he portrayed fictional porn star Vincent Van Cock. Yet don't be mistaken; Bradley isn't all six pack brawn. As a member of Equality Illinois' board of directors, this babe's got brains too.
The contest's huge national popularity has come as a surprise to folks at Genre. To date, the online voting system has received over 185,000 votes. Though they're ecstatic with the outcome, they never expected such a response. The top six contestants come from New York, Los Angeles, Detroit and Philadelphia and have all been receiving multiple votes from repeat voters.
"It's great to see all the different regional markets taking a strong stand in the voting," says Chris. "These guys really want to see their boys win."
But what about Chicago? Despite our valid contributions to beauty and community, none of our contenders have yet to make it into the top six. Granted, it's going to be difficult to overtake Michigan's only contestant, 33 year-old Detroit resident and Advertising maven Joe Fitzryk. Amassing over 24,000 votes, 13,000+ more than his current runner up, Joe has used his mad ad-exec skills to appeal for positive votes. And it worked. Joe's efforts even caught the attention of the Detroit Free Press, where staff writer Julie Hinds featured him in their lifestyles section. (read article)
"Joe really wants it," Chris informs.
Nevertheless, Joe is willing to concede the title to any Midwesterner. "Midwestern men have manners," Joe shares, "old fashioned please and thank you values that I don't see on the East or West Coasts. But if I do lose, it had better be to [Chicagoan] Darren Andereck. He's got my vote, once a day until March 1!"
So hope for the Windy City isn't lost yet! Voting goes on till March 1 and we're coming up fast. As of press time, Joe's choice, Darren Andereck, was only 0.06 points away from making it into the top billing.
Must be those big broad Midwestern shoulders.
Give your favorite Chicago Genre Man a 10 when voting for him as Genre's Man of the Year! http://www.genremagazine.com/genremen/voting.cfm
Subscribe to Genre Magazine
