Maxim Philippines pushes boundaries with gay, lesbian issue

Summer has officially started but this month’s men’s magazines are shaping up to be even hotter than the weather.
FHM Philippines starts off the fireworks with a sizzling hot cover of Premiere Condoms endorser Paloma Esmeria.
“Daddymag” Playboy Philippines also goes daring with a semi-nude formation of the Playboy cover girls.
But this month’s Maxim Philippines promises to top them all with an almost completely nude photo of singer Mocha on the cover flanked by backup Mocha girl, Hershey.
According to Mocha, this month’s cover may be the tamest thing about the issue, which tackles the lives of gays and lesbians in the country.
“This is self-expression, a way to be more open about our sexuality,” she said.
She also defended the admittedly risque content of the issue but reminded the public that the magazine is not for minors.
Boy Abunda leads the issue’s centerpiece feature, “Gays’ Night Out At Classmate,” in which Boy and four other prominent gay men hold a roundtable discussion of gay issues inside a VIP room of Classmate, the preeminent gentleman’s club-in the company of sexy GROs (guest relations officers) and a stripper.
Writer and gay activist Danton Remoto, fashion designer Puey Quiñones, Magic 89.9 deejay Mojo Jojo, and magazine editor Carlo Tadiar join Boy, the host of “The Buzz” and “Showbiz News Ngayon,” in this not-so- private conversation about homosexuality in the Philippines.
MAXIM begins the collection of articles on gays and lesbians with a mock cover featuring another controversial celebrity, BeBe Gandanghari (formerly Rustom Padilla). MAXIM addresses the country’s most famous transgendered person in an open letter that is humorous, heartfelt and compassionate.
Other eye-popping pictorials feature World Wrestling Entertainment diva Eve, theater and film actress Angeli Bayani and the amazing tandem of MAXIM babes Tracy Torres and Mellow Johnson.
Other major features in the issue are a nostalgia piece on Bagets, the classic youth movie that marks its 25th anniversary this year, and a pre-fight analysis of the much-anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight.

(via)