Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight  was an American author and activist known for his work on behalf of trans men. Today's Out Spotlight is Lou Sullivan.

Born Sheila Jean Sullivan in a Catholic household in Milwaukee, WI,  June 16, 1951, Lou Sullivan recorded in a childhood diary the joy of “playing boys.” As a teenager, Sullivan was fascinated by male homosexuality. “I want to look like what I am, but I don’t know what someone like me looks like,” she recalled. When Sullivan began to identify as a transgender gay man, the prospects were daunting: “What can become of a girl whose real desire and passion is with male homosexuals?”

Standing at the threshold of an uncertain new world, Sullivan took the first step by adopting the identity of a female transvestite. After moving to San Francisco, Sullivan took the first name Lou, lived as a gay man, identified as a female-to-male (FTM) transsexual and medically transitioned to a gender-confirming male body.

When Sullivan was initially denied transition surgery due to his homosexual orientation, he publicly advocated for homosexuality to be removed from the list of contraindications. The successful campaign provided a breakthrough in widespread acknowledgment of the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity.

He became a peer counselor for gender-questioning women and corresponded with FTMs nationwide. He founded FTM International, one of the first FTM organizations, along with SHAFT in the UK and Rupert Raj's Metamorphosis in Toronto, and is largely responsible for the modern acknowledgment that sexual orientation and gender identity are totally different concepts.

He wrote the first guidebook for FTM persons, and also a biography of the San Francisco FTM, Jack Bee Garland and was instrumental in demonstrating the existence of trans men attracted to men.  He is also credited for being the first to discuss the eroticism of men’s clothing.


He became a founding member of the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society (now The GLBT Historical Society), whose archive have one of the best collections of material on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual history in the world. He contribute his papers to the society as well.

Sullivan remained an outspoken transgender activist until his death from AIDS at age 39, March 2, 1991, in San Francisco, California.  He was the first trans man to die of AIDS.

 “My problem is that I can’t accept life for what it is. I feel that there is something deep and wonderful underneath it.”

Sold (Again)

The LA Times is reporting the sale of Jake's Hollywood Hills home is final.

The "gated compound" as the LA Times referred to it it's weekend real estate round up sold for $3,262,500. It was listed at $3.5 million

"The single-story home, built in 1948, sits on nearly two acres with expanses of lawn, mature trees, a swimming pool and a detached office. There are canyon, mountain and cityscape views.

The 2,826 square feet of living space, crowned by vaulted beamed ceilings, includes a central hall, a den, a family room, three bedrooms and three bathrooms."

Jake had originally purchased the house for 2.5 million in 2005. 

If this sounds like you heard it before, you have.  Trulia reported exactly one month ago that Jake had found a buyer.  

Now the question is why would the LA Times and other major media outlets somehow hold the story and run it Thanksgiving day week?

While realtors are all about location location location,  pr is all about timing, timing,  timing.

Wiggle Waggle

With Jake in rehearsals for Constellations,  he's trying to get into his character Rupert, the beekeeper.

No doubt Austin got into the spirit of things to help him out.

But will he simulate the bee dance bees do to attract their queen?

It's all about the waggle.   And Austin's got a what it takes to waggle.

Wonder if Jake will wear the crown or the helmet? ; )

Turkey Trot

Jake stopped by The Late Show to chat with Dave on Thanksgiving Eve. He promoted Nightcrawler (with a interesting question from Dave about unions)  as well as Constellations which opens in previews next month.

They didn't talk turkey, but the conversation went to salmon.

 Earlier in day Jake was took a picture at The Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Brushing up on physics to understand his Constellation co-star's part, perhaps?

And as Thanksgiving finished up we saw Jake out for a walk in NY.

 No Starbucks this time.

 Just Leo.

Hope everyone had a sweet Thanksgiving!

All about that base

Now was there a reason that Austin needed to tweet about ice coffee at the CVT truck on Tuesday?

The smallest menu in LA just got a little bigger. We're now serving up the "Coffee Cream" - an iced… whosay.com/l/nQx9Ibj   - AUS10

I guess he can't help himself when it comes to coffee, ice coffee that is.  Just had to share a video of making ice coffee with soft serve.

That's subtle Austin - you're a master of subtly, the way you love coffee.

Wait it was about ice coffee right? 


And not where the CVT is.

Almost off the list

Jake's End of Watch co-star was not too happy with Jakey last year.

"I know! I was so pissed at Jake, let me tell you, I texted him and said, 'You’re abandoning me, and I’m never going to forgive you!' "

And what pissed her off?  Jake dropping out of "Into the Woods."

Jake had signed on to share prince duties with Chris Pine. Jake supposed was to be Rapunzel’s suitor while Pine pines Cinderella.  It was a musical and more importantly Sondheim, a favorite of Jake's, so him pulling out of the Rob Marshall big screen adaptation was a bit of a shocker.  You can see why she felt abandoned.

And, after awhile, Anna finally cooled her temper. She said, "And then I saw the trailer to Nightcrawler and texted him again and said, 'Wow, you inspire me every day.' ”

The jury's still out if Jake really pulled out of "Into the Woods" to do Nightcrawler, or if there was some other reason, but at least he's back on the good list with Anne.

Lose the lumber

Way back in 2008 OMG shared How to make a LumberJake. 

And around that time the word Lumbersexual was added to the Urban Dictionary

 A Metro-sexual who has the need to hold on to some outdoor based rugged-ness, thus opting to keep a finely trimmed beard. - Urban Dictionary 2008

(Although back in February 2004 someone had defined Lumbersexual on Urban Dictionary as:  “A male who humps anyone who gives him wood.” )

Who knew we were years ahead of the newest trend?

 As fall becomes winter 2014,  Lumbersexual is popping up all over the media. And yes blame it on Brooklyn and all those bearded, plaid shirted, Carhartt jacketed, boot wearing, kambucha drinking, Soul Cycle/Yoga taking guys.

Sound like anyone OMG knows?

Now that lumbersexual has made it to Time Magazine - it takes it out of the trend and makes it more like a dying star.

With Jake seemingly always years ahead of the curve, does this mean in another two years, shiny parachute jackets will be peaking?

 Or the reverse tuxedo?

Or a duck blind masquerading as a coat? 

 Or just a Jake-a-sexual?

Out Spotlight

For today's Out Spotlight, life was art. This writer, illustrator, poet and filmmaker knew no boundaries in his creative endeavors. A prolific catalog of genre-spanning work makes him one of the most influential figures of the 20th century French art world.  Today's Out Spotlight is Jean Cocteau.

Jean Cocteau was born to a well-to-do family July 5, 1889, in the small French town of Maisons-Laffitte. His father committed suicide when Cocteau was 10. A troubled child, he was expelled from a host of private schools. Seeking an escape, he took off to the red-light district in Marseilles. At age 19, he published his first book of poetry, “Aladdin’s Lamp.”

Celebrated in Paris’s bohemian circles as “The Frivolous Prince,” Cocteau secured a spot at the epicenter of French culture, collaborating with celebrities of the era like Pablo Picasso, Marcel Proust and Edith Piaf. Looking to advance his career, he arranged a meeting with Russian impresario Sergei Diaghilev, which resulted in their collaboration on the ballet “Parade.” He also wrote librettos, plays, novels, poems, and film scripts, and dabbled in art and illustration.

In his personal life, Cocteau mostly sought the companionship of men, although he did sporadically pursue women, including Princess Natalie Paley, a member of the Romanov family. His most notable relationship was with fellow poet Raymond Radiguet. Although Cocteau denied that the relationship was romantic, he developed an opium addiction when Radiguet died suddenly.

Cocteau was a key player in France’s emerging avant-garde movement. He found a new muse and lover in actor Jean Marais, who he cast in films such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “Orpheus.” Their 20-year relationship continued until Cocteau’s death.


Cocteau was a multidisciplinary artist with ceaseless creativity. By blurring the line between the reality of his life and the fiction of his work, his existence itself became a work of art.

Cocteau passed away October 11, 1963, in Milly-la-Forêt, France

“What the public criticizes in you, cultivate. It is you.”

Wait, what... a smile?

These outtakes of Jake from a photoshoot for USA Today, turn back the clock and found a smile.

No beard and a grin - heck yeah we're posting the pictures.

 These look like they could be a senior picture photoshoot.

Are those teeth?

And  dimples?

 Of course Jake looks like he's telling the photographer that his hand have now been registered as the lethal weapons.

Or that his Southpaw trainer was actually a Rock'em  Sock'em Robot.

A to Z?

 Back in the OTH days Austin was fighting them.

Could he be back fighting them again? 

Or has he become on?


Austin was in the Atlanta area on November 6th,

Skyler Zadow ‏@skylerzadow

Just saw @AUS10NICHOLS in the ATL airport and hating myself for not getting a picture! #HeIsBeautiful #OhMyLawd

6 Nov 2014

And Atlanta is where they film one of the hottest shows on US TV, The Walking Dead on

And then Austin was seen at in Atlanta the night of the TWD wrap party on November 15th

 An episode usually takes 8 days to shoot but premieres and season finales take a little bit longer.  The timeline would fit.

TWD is notoriously secretive  about anything about the show.  They keep the locations a closed guarded secrets, the cast, crew and visitors sign off on confidentiality agreements.  If Austin's on the show, the only way to know is if he pops up on the screen. 

Or if this is the only Zombie for Austin

All Wet

We've seen Jake get wet before.

But this time he's taking the plunge.

 
 Jake is on  the cover of the December 2014 of W's Art issue—and completely under water! Photographer and video artist Bill Viola, who is known for using water in his work, snapped both Jake submerged in a tank in his Long Beach, Calif., studio.

It took a few tries first to get it picture perfect

 And a little bit  of work for Jake, he's definitely not the waterbaby that his Tall  Texan is.  It doesn't look like he's meant to be the merman of the family.

"I didn't expect the sensations—the water would go up my nose and out my eyes, which made it difficult to keep my eyes open,"

"There's a panic that sets in, because you're running out of breath," he continued. "And even though you can hear [people] talking, telling you to move your arm or open your eyes, mostly you're in your own head. You feel very alone."

Despite the less than serene experience, Jake looks perfectly at peace on the cover.