June 11, 2008
[LUCAS PR] MICHAEL LUCAS RESPONDS TO VICTIMIZATION OF FORMER WIKIPEDIA EDITOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2008 (New York, NY) -- Earlier this year, Lucas Entertainment CEO and President Michael Lucas teamed with David Shankbone to correct numerous errors in Lucas’ Wikipedia entry. While these mistakes were originally simple edits, Wikipedia contributors created fertile ground for cyberterrorism, and nearly destroyed Shankbone’s well-being.
In his article entitled "Nobody's Safe in Cyberspace" for the June 2008 issue of Brooklyn Rail, David Shankbone shares his ordeal of being cyberstalked due to his contributions to Michael Lucas’ Wikipedia entry. He writes, “Internet cruelty is easy. We do not have to look at the people we hurt… For someone like me, who only wanted to make sense of my own trauma through art and knowledge, it is easier to return to a paralegal’s life.” The full text of his article is below and here.
An accomplished journalist, Shankbone’s credits include interviews with Augusten Burroughs, Shimon Peres, Evan Wolfson, Eric Bogosian, Al Sharpton and Larry Kramer. His work as a photographer is of a very high caliber; he has done photographic portraits of Susan Sarandon, Madonna, Jim McGreevey, Floyd Abrams and Julianne Moore, among many others. However, Shankbone has ceased any further contributions because of the serious threats he received from his stalker.
Upon reading this article, Michael Lucas noted, “I am shocked and dismayed that important corrections quickly snowballed into such outrageous reactions. It is sad that this exchange of information can be hijacked by narrow-minded imbeciles.”
***
Nobody's Safe in Cyberspace
by David Shankbone
Originally published in Brooklyn Rail, June 2008
I had interviewed or photographed everyone from Augusten Burroughs to Madonna to Shimon Peres for Wikipedia. In two days, I was to fly to Brazil to interview the mayor of Rio de Janeiro and Oscar Niemeyer, the architect. I canceled my trip. “I’m sorry,” I told the tourist board who arranged everything, “I have to fly to Denver because my mother is in the hospital.” What a lie! I flew home to Colorado because I was suffering an emotional breakdown over an Internet stalker. I endured his pursuit for three months on Wikipedia. My behavior grew erratic. My paralegal job suffered. I resigned as a volunteer Wikipedia editor.
Encyclopedia Dramatica calls this “Wikicide” and I committed it several times over. I wrote long, tortured screeds for help from fellow editors that were misread as arrogant boasts of my accomplishments. My stalker delighted in these embarrassing verbal dances on Wikipedia, the world’s seventh most-visited website. I found little help from authorities or the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs the site. “We don’t have the resources,” wrote volunteer coordinator Cary Bass. Wikipedia has become a site where people fight culture wars and ordinary contributors like me are caught in the crosshairs.
My photography illustrates about 4,000 articles on Wikipedia. I have interviewed everyone from presidents to porn stars to poets, on philosophical topics of life, death, sanity and redemption. My questions were those I contended with myself. In 2006, I left Fordham Law School one year short of graduation. I had missed a few credit card payments and could not qualify for student loans. The school would not help, so I returned to life as a paralegal. My sense of failure and financial devastation drove me to the verge of collapse.
This trauma fueled my every photograph and my every interview. The world no longer made sense. Looking for answers, I turned to figures that exist in extremes. Three of the most right-wing Republican Presidential candidates. The President of the ACLU. Al Sharpton, Ingrid Newkirk and the High Priest of the Church of Satan. The Dalai Lama’s ambassador. Punk icon Richard Hell.
But it was only when I met the porn star Michael Lucas that my work became controversial. His outspoken political views have offended Orthodox Jews and Muslims alike, which led to a profile in The New Republic that dubbed him “Gay Porn’s Neocon Kingpin.” I met him at a party for RuPaul, and he asked me if I could make two small corrections to his article. First, he said his birth name was not Bregman, as his article stated, but Treivas. He supplied his Soviet birth certificate. Second, the article stated he had been a “prostitute” in his early twenties, whereas he preferred to be called a “male escort.”
It was over this semantic minutia that my stalker made me a target of defamation, gory sexual fantasies and violent threats for months from an anonymous Internet address in northern New Jersey. I can only speculate why this person felt so strongly. Unlike other cultural and political figures, porn stars appeal to our most base urges and desires. They become transfixed in imaginations; indeed, some people form fantasy relationships with their favorite star. Whatever the reason, it was worth it for my stalker to obsess over those two changes and to make certain I paid for it.
He published my home address on Wikipedia. He learned about my law school experience. “David Shankbone is a fucking failure!” or “law school dropout” was written on my photography and in Wikipedia discussion forums twenty or thirty times a day. Using information readily available in Internet searches, he made it appear I knew him. This is a common stalker tactic. People believed him. He implied I was an alcoholic, on drugs and traded sex for interviews. “Who is this guy? What did you do to him?” I was constantly asked.
Over months I was given warnings that I was not safe. I was told to be vigilant and that “we would soon meet.” If people assisted me, they became targets. I was told that if I showed up to give a scheduled talk at Columbia University, I would be attacked. When I uploaded photos of a famous friend for the site, he thanked me for making it easier to envision a bullet hole in his head. The messages were repeated on the English, French, Italian, German, Polish, Dutch and Spanish Wikipedia sites. As they became more violent, people advised me to contact the authorities. When I did, they said there was little they could do.
Internet cruelty is easy. We do not have to look at the people we hurt. Megan Meier, a depressed 13-year-old in Missouri, committed suicide after receiving harassing on-line messages from a boy she thought liked her. The “boy” turned out to be Lori Drew, mother of Megan’s former friend, who wanted to avenge her daughter for some slight. Drew wrote, “Everybody in O’Fallon knows how you are. You are a bad person and everybody hates you…. The world would be a better place without you.” Politicians reacted to Megan’s suicide with a typical spate of empty gestures, passing an online harassment law. “These protections ensure that our laws now have the protections and penalties needed to safeguard Missourians from Internet harassment,” boasted Gov. Matt Blunt.
No, they do not. Lori Drew’s behavior was already a federal crime.
With fanfare, George Bush signed into law the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005. It is illegal to conceal your identity to “annoy, abuse, threaten or harass” a person over the computer. I met with legendary First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, who said he doubts such laws can remain on the books. “It’s not only constitutionally vague, but you are probably allowed to annoy someone. A lot of political speech has annoyance as part of it.” Anonymous criticism has been a cornerstone of American democracy since “Publius” wrote the The Federalist Papers.
Free speech rights allow wide latitude to say almost anything to express disagreement with people. According to Abrams, that includes, “mocking them, using extreme language to denigrate someone’s views and name calling.” You can use racial or religious slurs and, under the First Amendment, still be protected, which runs contrary to the laws of every other democratic nation. The concept of a “true threat” is not protected, however. Despite what a New York Cybercrimes Unit detective told me, a threat does not need to be an explicit warning of pending harm. A person must only clearly convey they are threatening you. “Any line that says ‘You will pay for what you have done…revenge is sweet’ immediately puts the speaker in an area where law enforcement might well get involved and not be barred by the First Amendment,” said Abrams, reading a direct quote my stalker wrote.
The police and prosecutors are overtaxed with more imminent dangers. Bob Rahn, a former NYPD detective turned private investigator, said cyberstalking is a time consuming, labor intensive investigation that is difficult to solve. The stalker may be geographically anywhere. Even when a perpetrator is discovered, many victims do not want to press charges. The judicial process is lengthy and the victim often just wants the harassment to stop. A story about a 13-year-old depressed girl’s suicide makes good news copy and inspires new laws. Once the furor dies down, little has changed. Wikipedia, in particular, provides fertile stalking ground.
“If my involvement in Wikipedia is so dam [sic] important to you that you will threaten my family then fine, you win, I am outta here…It is just a web site for fucks sake.”—A message on the page of a former administrator.
However, it is not just a website. Wikipedia mirrors society and all of its neuroses. People announce their intention to kill themselves on the Suicide article. A 15-year-old student in California was arrested after he wrote names of classmates he planned to kill, Columbine-style, on his school’s article. The Pro-Palestinian group Electronic Intifada exposed that the pro-Israeli group Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) had a coordinated campaign to influence the Israeli-Palestinian articles. CAMERA responded with a letter in the International Herald-Tribune that Wikipedia has an anti-Israeli bias it wanted to correct. The cliché Knowledge Is Power is now a game of cat-and-mouse played by ordinary people. Their desire to share information can hurt their waking lives.
“What is needed is a very strong and coordinated stance from the Foundation. Many of us have asked for this, particularly from Florence, the chair of the Foundation, or from Jimbo Wales, but no progress has ever been made.” That quote came from the person who founded the Wikipedia Cyberstalking group and perhaps one of the most famous cases of on-line stalking in Wikipedia history: SlimVirgin. She will only say her real name is Sarah. She became involved in a series of controversial decisions and articles that incurred the wrath of so many groups, she became a “meme,” or an Internet phenomenon. She has angered, among others, Palestinians, privacy advocates, Lyndon LaRouche followers, Neo-Nazis, cultural critics, animal experimenters and conspiracy theorists. Entire websites and discussion forums are devoted to researching her identity and her contributions to Wikipedia. The unproven theories people swear are true would make a good novel: Sarah is a former spy for MI5; she was a fired reporter for ABC News; she is a member of a Jewish cabal; her boyfriend died in the Lockerbie bombing and she seeks revenge against Libya on Wikipedia. Sarah considers the attention a menace. “I heard people were trying to contact friends, ex-boyfriends and ex-employers,” she told me. “One person wrote that they looked forward to punching me in the face and another wondered whether I was worried about being raped.”
Wikimedia Deputy Director Erik Moeller noted the philosophical difficulty in defining harassment. “I do feel that there is a limited need to differentiate between the 13-year-old jerk and the 30-year-old potential serial killer, because we simply can’t predict or realistically assess what category a person falls into.”
Critics of Wikipedia see things differently. “What Wikipedia editors define as harassment is not harassment,” said Gregory Kohs, who regularly posts on the criticism site, Wikipedia Review, and is himself banned from editing Wikipedia. Kohs is known in wiki communities for his pursuit of his nemesis Lise Broer, who edits Wikipedia under the name Durova. She played a key role in his banning. He feels he was unjustly banned and Broer has unapologetically maligned his reputation. He has fought back by mocking her and monitoring her actions on the site. Floyd Abrams would not see this as harassment, but as Kohs exercising his constitutional right to express his dissatisfaction. Broer, lampooned by Kohs on a series of mugs, t-shirts and thong underwear, feels it is serial harassment.
This is ultimately the problem people on Wikipedia face. Unlike Newsweek or New York Times writers, Wikipedia editors are normal people not paid to ensure the public learns the truth. Meanwhile, there are people and organizations that exist whose only mission is to learn who you are behind that screen name in case you do something they do not like so they know where to find you. The issue can be as complex as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or it can be as trivial as whether a porn star was once an “escort” or a “prostitute.” If you become a target on Wikipedia, do not expect a supportive community. Some people will remove harassing posts whenever they see them. Another group wants to let the posts stand (either as anti-censorship; because they agree with the harassment; or because they lead dull lives and watching someone get harassed is the most exciting thing that’s happening to them that week). A third group is willing to see the posts removed, but wants to “discuss” the principle of the removal. For someone like me, who only wanted to make sense of my own trauma through art and knowledge, it is easier to return to a paralegal’s life.
Posted by Michael at 03:26 PM | Comments (2)
April 08, 2008
Michael Lucas interview on OhLaLaMag.com!
Posted by Michael at 12:19 PM | Comments (10)
March 31, 2008
A note from the Lucas team
I’m sorry to announce that Michael Lucas’ mother, Yelena Treyvas, passed away this morning, March 31, 2008, at home in Brooklyn, New York. If you would like to send any condolences, please contact me and I will make sure Michael gets them. You can also leave a comment here.
If you are close with the family and want to pay respects, please contact myself or Richard Winger, Michaels’ partner, after 5pm today, as there are no details yet in what the arrangements are.
Thank you,
-Bryan Christopher
Publicity Director
Lucas Entertainment
press@lucasentertainment.com
Posted by Michael at 12:59 PM | Comments (16)
March 10, 2008
LUCAS PR: Michael Lucas profiled in The New Republic magazine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (March 10th, 2008) -- Lucas Entertainment President and CEO Michael Lucas is the first gay porn entrepreneur ever to be profiled in America's most influential journal of opinion, The New Republic. The article, entitled "Hard Right," is the most in-depth analysis thus far of Lucas' political opinions.
Mentioned on the cover of the current issue of the magazine on newsstands now with the tagline "The (Neocon) Kingpin of Gay Porn," the article can be read online in its entirety here: http://www.tnr.com/story.html?id=156266ab-dc0b-46da-a59d-5d95a4332faf
"I am very proud to be featured in my absolute favorite magazine," said Lucas. "I have subscribed to The New Republic since 1997 when I arrived in America. This is a magazine which I can relate to much better than most other publications. Their views very often echo my own."
Headquartered in Washington, DC, The New Republic was founded in 1914 with a mission to provide its readers with an intelligent, stimulating and rigorous examination of American politics, foreign policy and culture. The magazine, published twice per month, continues to be America's best and most influential journal of opinion.
"This is the best gift for my birthday today," continued Lucas. "I can't imagine a better present for my 36th."
Posted by Michael at 01:12 PM | Comments (11)
March 06, 2008
My FLORIDA appearances this weekend!
Score MIAMI club appearance
Location: Score, 727 Lincoln Rd.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Time: 11:00 PM
SUNDAY MARCH 9th, 2008
Tropixx Video Meet & Greet
Location: Tropixxx Video, 1514 NE 4th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Time: 4:00 PM
Boardwalk Party
Location: Boardwalk, 1721 N. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Time: 10:00 PM
Posted by Michael at 05:09 PM | Comments (2)
March 05, 2008
LUCAS PR: Michael Lucas featured in leading Israeli newspaper Maariv
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (March 5th, 2008) -- Lucas Entertainment President and CEO Michael Lucas is featured in the current issue of Maariv, Israel's leading mainstream newspaper. The four-page article, entitled "Patriot," features photos and an in-depth interview with Michael—translated into Hebrew—which was conducted during his trip to Israel last week.
"I was thrilled to be interviewed by Maariv," said Lucas. "I've been giving more and more political interviews as of late, which make me very happy and proud. As a porn star you have to work twice as hard in order to be taken seriously by mainstream press, so I take this article with great pride."
Below are JPEG scans of the article as well as the English translation.
You can visit Maariv online at http://www.nrg.co.il.
For more information about Michael Lucas, visit http://www.MichaelLucas.com.
Michael Lucas, king of New York’s gay porn movies, is a proud Zionist (the word ge’eh in Hebrew can either denote someone who is proud or someone who is “gay”), slightly right-wing, denounces the gay parade in Jerusalem, is appalled by Gal Ochovsky and detests Islam. He is now visiting the homeland to realize a dream: to produce a local gay porn film that will turn Israel into the international capital of the gays. Boys, come on down.
Michael Lucas has been waiting for over two years to realize his life’s dream. New York’s porn king, the man who received a 2007 award for his appearance in “The most successful orgy of the year” dreams of “promoting the Israeli tourism industry”. Lucas, a proud Jew and Zionist, is planning on doing it his way. He believes a well invested porn film aimed at the global gay community is exactly what this country needs.
Why?
“Whenever I visit Israel I hear the same nonsense. People ask me if I’m afraid of random suicide bombers and if I’m sane. So it’s time people got a different outlook on Israel and that’s exactly what I intend to do. I’ll show the global community that Israel is a country with plenty of amazing men and I have no doubt this will attract tourists. By the way, I’ve already made films in countries which later became community tourist destinations”.
Lucas means every word. Here is a man who heads one of the world’s largest adult film production companies. Lucas Entertainment, the company he owns, is ranked ninth in the world in gay porn films. In addition to being CEO, he directs most of the films and acts in a large part of them. Production of his films is estimated at a quarter of a million dollars per film (the cost of three to four local feature films) and these are distributed in hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide.
“As you can see, money is not something I am lacking”, he says, sprawled out on a couch in his suite on the first floor of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. “For me, the idea of producing a film in Israel does not stem from financial motives but from a genuine desire to portray a different kind of Israel”.
His most recent attempt at expressing solidarity and portraying a different Israel fell through. His last visit to Israel was in August 2006, during the war. At that time he invited soldiers to attend, free of charge, an erotic performance he staged in several clubs in Tel Aviv and Haifa, in order to raise national morale. Reactions, to put it mildly, weren’t exactly encouraging.
“It didn’t really surprise me because there will always be people who aren’t pleased with the way I choose to do things”, he says. “But I know Israel to be a country that welcomes the homosexual community with open arms”.
Are you also familiar with the Israel where a former minister by the name of Shlomo Ben Izri claims earthquakes are a punishment for homosexual relations?
“I did hear of him, but you get the same from various groups in the USA. In any case, he could very well be right. Maybe it really was a couple of gays having extremely rough intercourse”.
Between the Russian and Chechnian mafia
Lucas is an odd bird. Even in terms of the porn industry, where there are many odd individuals. He makes a point of voicing his firm opinions against drug and alcohol abuse in the semi-publicistic columns he publishes in several magazines (we’ll get back to them) and he is undoubtedly one of the only stars in the gay porn industry that managed to squeeze his way into the heart of mainstream America. His closest friends include Bette Midler and fashion designer Marc Jacobs, who even let him use one of his Manhattan shops to film a scene for one of his most recent films.
He has been attracting more and more attention this past year. Except for his participation in two documentary films (one for HBO), he granted interviews to countless leading US magazines and talk shows and became a regular in the gossip columns. “I think it’s happening mainly because our society is so driven by celebrity adoration that it’s become an obsession”, he says. “Take Paris Hilton for example. Here’s a girl who became famous simply because of her wonderful ability to be Paris Hilton. People hunger for their dose of celebrity, that’s all”.
Fame also came with the required dose of mannerisms. Lucas documents virtually everything he does. Whether it’s a visit to New York’s fashion week or a visit to the Wailing Wall, there’s always a video photographer with him. When personnel at the King David hotel tried to explain to him in a delicate manner that he and George Bush share the same suite and that even the honorable President didn’t complain, he dismissively said: “George Bush was raised on a farm, I want another room”. He got another room.
It’s rather hard to believe all this comes from a person who arrived in the USA a little over a decade ago as a penniless Russian immigrant who made money as a male escort. He doesn’t really like to talk about that time in his life even though he now holds Manhattan by the balls.
Lucas was born 36 years ago in Moscow as Andrei Treyvas (he says his family preferred he use his mother’s maiden name because it sounded less Jewish than his father’s name – Bergman). His mother was a literature teacher and his father an engineer. “I had a very happy childhood and grew up in a very liberal and intellectual family”, he says. “My grandmother taught music at the Moscow conservatory and my grandfather, like my father, was an engineer. It was a warm, pleasant home and I wanted for nothing. However, growing up a Jewish boy in Soviet Russia wasn’t easy. It began at school where everyone knew I was Jewish and gave me a hard time because of it. It later went on when I discovered my sexual orientation. Russia was, and perhaps still is, a homophobic, antisemitic country. So you can see that it wasn’t really a good place for me. Ironically, when I moved to the West, I instantly became “Russian” and as long as I lived in Russia I was never a “Russian”, I was always a “Jew”. I think that’s one of the reasons I admire Israel so much, because no matter where you are and what your situation is, you always know you can come to Israel and they will accept you for what you are”.
Like every good Jewish mother, Lucas’ mother dreamt of her son becoming a lawyer and the boy indeed graduated with a degree in Law in Moscow. During his studies, he opened a small travel agency and did very well. That is until the Russian mafia nearly took over his business. “Naturally once people saw there’s money to be had they wanted to cash in on it. It began with Russian mafiosos who asked me for protection and I quickly found myself dealing with Chechnian criminals asking for the same thing. Instead of making money I financed a bunch of criminals and their girlfriends and was forced to provide them vacations to England and Turkey. Ultimately I couldn’t take it any longer and closed the business”.
In 1995 he decided that he had had enough and boarded a plane. He landed in Germany with 200 deutsche marks in his pocket, lots of ambition and starting working as a male model. A few months later he participated in his first porn film. It was the only heterosexual film he took part in. He once said he really regretted having done that. “Not the fact that I acted in a blue movie but the fact that I acted in a German blue movie”.
Not just sex but a plot too
Lucas defines his entry into the porn world as a rational, intelligent career move. “From a very young age I had a huge passion to enter the entertainment world but I knew the odds”, he explains. “I was a poor immigrant with broken English, surrounded by tons of people who were much more handsome and much more talented than me. So I made a very rational choice and entered a world where I knew I had better odds of succeeding. I knew that competition in the porn world wasn’t too tough and I knew I could stand out and make something of myself. Ultimately, all the exposure I enjoy today, this lifestyle, is thanks to porn and I’m not ashamed of it, on the contrary”.
When did you pick up the phone to your mother and tell her: I know you wanted me to be a successful lawyer but I ended up in the porn industry?
“I never made that phone call. It has to do with the fact that my family is very intellectual and liberal and therefore respected my decisions. I never had to “break the news”. They understood from our phone calls what direction I had taken. Many people can’t understand this, especially when we’re talking about a Jewish family from Russia, but I think that because they are Jews they are much more open. Also, as a family of intellectuals in Soviet Russia, my grandmother had many homosexual friends from the conservatory, some of whom paid the price and were arrested for their sexual orientation. That’s why it wasn’t so unusual for my family”.
But there is a difference between telling them you’re coming out of the closet to telling them you work as a male escort and star in porn films.
“I didn’t call them up and say Hey Ma, I’m a porn star! They simply understood that on their own. I told my mother my dream was to make it in Hollywood and though it would have been wonderful, unfortunately it was pretty remote. And she understood. You know how many people I met along the way who dreamt of Hollywood? Hundreds. People who worked in Los Angeles in restaurants and bars and dreamt of the day they’d get their big break, but it never happened. Then they came to me and asked for a job. So I merely sidestepped the process”.
One of the wisest moves he made shortly after arriving in the States was to set up his production company in New York and not in LA –home of the porn industry. With minimum competition he managed to become a monopoly in a short period of time. “I think what set me apart from other companies was that my films looked different”, he says. “I raised the bar and turned the product into something very glamorous. It’s not only sex, it’s a good story and an interesting plot. It may sound somewhat pathetic but when thousands of blue movies are produced every year, all I had to do was add a little plot and glamor and change the picture. I made a product that people could take home without feeling guilty or ashamed. It looks good on the outside and good on the inside”.
This is an industry that is constantly criticized. Can you understand why?
“I don’t have to take a critical stand on it, why should I? To tell you the truth, I don’t watch porn movies except the ones I was in, and it’s not easy watching yourself in a film like that because you’re very critical”.
Do you watch them so that you can improve?
“That’s one reason. It’s not that I watched porn for the porn, because it doesn’t really interest me. I watched my scenes in order to do it better the next time. Today, however, I don’t have to do it anymore”.
Even though you can afford to retire you still insist on being in your movies. Why is that?
“Mainly because I can (laughs). Why shouldn’t I be in them if I have so many fans? My motto is supply and demand. Once there’s no more demand, I’ll stop. It’s not that I enjoy it, it has nothing to do with enjoyment. When you have sex on camera you’re doing it for the cameras. Not for yourself, not for whoever is doing it with you, but for the camera. You’re mind is always on the angles, the lighting and so forth. It’s a job like any other”.
It seems the American porn industry isn’t too happy with his over exposure. Recently he has been forced to deal with two law suits: One filed by a competitor who claims he is fraudulently taking over the market and the other filed by a production company that owns the rights to the films of Italian director Federico Fellini. The company is suing him for copyright violation after he distributed his porn version of one of Fellini’s canonical works of art “La Dolce Vita”, in 2007.
His colleagues don’t really know what to make of him. At the last Gayvn awards (an event dedicated in its entirety to gay porn films) he got a barrage of ice cubes thrown at him by his peers when he went on stage to receive the award for best film of the year. “This industry is not really made up of the most intelligent people I have met. After all, this isn’t the Oscars”, he says with a smile. “So when I got on stage for the 14th time that night and took home the award for best film, there were some discontented drunks who threw the ice from their empty alcohol glasses on me. My motto is as long as it makes media noise, it merely promotes my interests”.
The Angelina Jolie precedent
If there is something Lucas specializes in it’s creating noise. Lots of noise. Last year he crowned himself unofficial spokesman of the Israeli policy and he’s infusing it every opportunity he gets. The columns he writes in gay-lesbian magazines and in his blog breed quite a few enemies. He gets a lot of hate mail every week and several Moslem organizations have waged all out war on him. Last week he came to lecture at Stanford university and was greeted by a group of Moslem students who demonstrated against him. In a rare act, Wikipedia editors have recently locked his entry to editing because of the unflattering compliments his adversaries added from time to time (from writing that he is a racist to indicating the size of his genitalia).
“The American liberal left is certain I belong to the wrong camp because of my opinions”, he says. “I’m supposed to alter my thoughts to match the left in the US and Europe, the one that butts heads with Israel whenever it can, and when that doesn’t happen, people don’t understand why”.
A small turn of the Jewish-Arab switch is all it takes for Lucas to launch a monologue in which he attacks Islam with an impressive variety of arguments and ends by glorifying Israel. When asked if a porn star isn’t supposed to deal with more optimistic matters, he cries out: “Why is it a strange combination?! Doesn’t Angelina Jolie speak out about hunger in Africa? As long as you have a large following of fans, and with all modesty I have quite a few, and you have lots of media attention, why not take advantage of it? Sure I can talk about how I put it in and take it out and how much fun it is and then all my porn fans will be happy. But I prefer to talk about other things. I know that at the end of the day the things I say aren’t new, I’m not inventing the wheel and the things I say are quite mundane, but for most of the American population I am inventing the wheel. These are matters they never considered nor read about, because they aren’t really interested. They don’t understand that Islam’s lack of tolerance for homosexuals and the rest of the world threatens us all”.
The Rabbinical establishment in Israel doesn’t really like your community either. I assume you know that two years ago a marcher in the gay pride parade in Jerusalem was stabbed.
“How can you compare a stabbing by a person who obviously isn’t sane to the way Islam has been terrorizing homosexuals for decades? You think someone would ever try to organize a parade in a Moslem country or even come out of the closet? The Israeli left doesn’t understand that whenever the parade in Jerusalem hits the headlines, it doesn’t end in Israel. The world doesn’t draw the simple facts from it – that Israel is a liberal country that accepts homosexuality – rather that a gay marcher was stabbed by a Hassidic Jew. That’s the story that will open the newscasts in the States and that’s the story that I get thrown in my face everywhere I lecture. So to what extent does it help the gay community in Israel and Israel as a whole? Very little”.
So I gather you are against having the gay parade in Jerusalem?
“In my opinion, sending drag queens to Jerusalem is like waving a red cape in front of a raging bull. Tel Aviv is 45 minutes from Jerusalem and the parade is received with open arms there. To me it’s just stupid. The world is constantly waiting for Israel to screw up, that’s a fact, and in recent years everytime the parade in Jerusalem makes headlines, Israel is portrayed as an obtuse society that doesn’t enable homosexuals to parade down its streets.
“I don’t know, it seems quite a few people have a vested interest in depicting Israel in a distorted fashion. Like Gal Ochovsky for example and his film “The Bubble”. It’s merely anti-Israel propoganda by an Israeli film maker and you go so far as to give him awards and celebrate the film instead of punching him in the face and saying ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ I watched the film with a friend, a CNN reporter, and the audience was in tears, no less. When we left he said he thinks we can learn a lot from the movie. I asked him what he learned and he told me the unavoidable conclusion is that one should never date Arabs. That’s how I see it too”.
Did you tell Ochovsky what you think?
“I met him once during one of my visits here. He asked me what I thought about his movie and I said it was ‘very interesting’. I think that made him a bit mad because he’s used to being treated like Fellini”. (Gal Ochovsky responded: “I remember an encounter with Michael Lucas at Shirazi’s party in Tel Aviv. As far as I recall, he wasn’t dressed and was just about to get on stage. He stood before me naked and we shook hands. I think it’s best he focus on porn. At least in that respect he has some extremely outstanding advantages”).
Towards the end of the month Lucas will leave politics behind and begin seeking local stars for an Israeli film he is working on. “The biggest problem with this project that I have been working on for a long time is that I cannot find actors”, he confesses. “It’s not for lack of amazing men in Israel, but because this country is so small that people don’t feel comfortable taking part in this kind of movie”.
Have you already considered a name for the movie?
“I only start shooting in May so I have time”.
How about “Zionism”? (the word Zion in hebrew can either denote Zionism or sexual intercourse)
“Catchy name but people won’t get it”.
(A NOTE FROM MICHAEL LUCAS: I would like to make a remark about Gal Ochovsky, the director of "The Bubble." I do consider myself a liberal in the real sense of the term, not in the way that has been degraded by the likes of Rosie O'Donnell and Michael Moore. In Israel, I ran into the same so-called left wing extremists. As you can see in the article, the sarcastic response of the director to me is, in a simple translation, that I should shut up and talk about porn and porn only, that I have no right to talk about anything else. Using this logic, the cook can only judge the food and the doctor can only judge the illnesses. This is precisely where my problem with the left is: The formula that the left uses today is that if you don't agree with their point of view, you are a moron and should be silenced, humiliated, and loathed. I call it intellectual terrorism. It's similar to the institution of Islam in that both the left and Islam don't accept any other point of view. The difference is that Islam tortures you physically while the left tortures you intellectually. Gal Ochovsky is a great example of that.)
Posted by Michael at 02:01 PM | Comments (3)
February 07, 2008
Lucas PR: Michael Lucas invited to speak at Stanford University
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (February 7th, 2008) -- Lucas Entertainment President and CEO Michael Lucas will speak at Stanford University in California on Thursday, February 14th. The event, entitled "An Evening with Michael Lucas," will take place at the Cubberley Auditorium (485 Lasuen Mall) starting at 7pm.
Organized by the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) Speakers Bureau (http://speakers.stanford.edu), the event will include a lecture by Lucas, a Q&A session, and a reception. Admission is on a first come, first serve basis.
"The ASSU Speakers Bureau is thrilled to welcome Michael Lucas to Stanford University," said T. Patrick Cordova, spokesperson for the ASSU. "We are excited to bring together Stanford's commitment for academic excellence with Mr. Lucas' cultural and social perspective."
Lucas has previously spoken at Yale University, New York University, and Rutgers, about topics as diverse as the adult industry, politics, safe sex, relationships, and Israel.
"I appreciate that I am not limited to speak just about pornography when invited to Stanford or other universities," said Lucas. "Porn is my main job, but there are other fields in which I became expert in and feel confident and comfortable talking about."
Located between San Francisco and San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University is recognized as one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions. Stanford's current community of scholars includes 16 Nobel laureates, four Pulitzer Prize winners and 24 MacArthur Fellows.
For more information about the event, visit http://speakers.stanford.edu/bios/lucas.html.
Posted by Michael at 02:40 PM | Comments (4)
January 28, 2008
eBay SAMPLE SALE going fast! More up!
Everything is selling so fast on my eBay page! There's a batch of new items now up, some from my personal collection, like several pairs of my shoes from designers like Hermes, Gucci and Ferragamo. All are in great condition, and the best thing is that you cannot find them anywhere else, as most of them are from many seasons ago.
Bid away!
Hermes Black Leather Loafers
Gucci Black Leather Loafers
Ferragamo Black Leather Loafers
Ferragamo Brown Leather Loafers
Posted by Michael at 02:59 PM | Comments (2)
January 24, 2008
More eBay Sample Sale items!
New items are now up on my eBay page, including lots of shoes from my personal collection! More will be going up throughout the day, so check back often.
Posted by Michael at 12:00 PM | Comments (1)
January 10, 2008
Lucas PR: Lucas Entertainment honored with 27 GAYVN Award nominations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (January 10th, 2008) -- Lucas Entertainment has been nominated 27 times for the 10th Annual GAYVN Awards, including Best Picture for "Michael Lucas' Gigolo" and Best Actor, Best Director, and Performer of the Year for company President and CEO Michael Lucas.
"I'm honored and thankful," said Lucas. "It was a landmark year of breaking through into the mainstream for me, my company, and for the gay adult industry as a whole. Thank you to GAYVN for all your continued support, and congratulations to Tony Dimarco, all the actors, and everyone at Lucas Entertainment for your nominations."
Lucas Entertainment's two blockbusters of 2007, "Michael Lucas' Gigolo" and "The Intern," are each nominated for 12 awards. "The Intern," Lucas Entertainment's first sex comedy, is nominated for Best Sex Comedy. "Auditions 18: Florida Part 1" is nominated for Best Pro/Am Release.
Lucas shares the Best Director nomination for "Michael Lucas' Gigolo" with Tony Dimarco, who is also nominated for Best Videographer (along with Mr. Pam), Best Still Photographer, and twice for Best Screenplay for both "The Intern" and "Michael Lucas' Gigolo."
Lucas Entertainment exclusive Christian Cruz is nominated for three awards, including Best Supporting Actor, Best Newcomer, and Best Oral Scene. Lucas exclusive Ben Andrews is nominated for Best Oral Scene with Cruz, and exclusive Ray Star is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for "Michael Lucas' Gigolo."
The GAYVN Awards are dedicated to recognizing outstanding movies and talented individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the gay adult entertainment industry. Its broad-based, nationwide panel of judges, predominantly from the gay press, has been awarding trophies for 21 years, making the GAYVN Awards the most respected and recognized awards in gay adult entertainment history.
Lucas Entertainment has garnered multiple GAYVN Awards throughout the years. The company won Best Picture two years in a row for "Dangerous Liaisons" and "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita." Last year, the company broke the industry record by being nominated for 14 GAYVN awards and winning all of them for "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita."
"I would also like to take this opportunity to announce that I will not be submitting any of my films to the Grabby Awards for consideration," said Lucas. "This way they don't have to make up any lies this year."
Below is the full nominations list for Lucas Entertainment:
BEST ACTOR
Gigolo - Michael Lucas
BEST ART DIRECTION
Gigolo
BEST BOXCOVER CONCEPT
The Intern
BEST DIRECTOR
Gigolo - Michael Lucas & Tony Dimarco
BEST DVD EXTRAS/SPECIAL EDITION
Gigolo
BEST MAKE-UP ARTIST
Gigolo - Kinga & Michael Lucas
The Intern - KJ Bennett
BEST MUSIC
Gigolo - Nekked
The Intern - Nekked
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BEST NEWCOMER
Christian Cruz
BEST NON-SEXUAL PERFORMANCE
The Intern - Joe Shepard
BEST ORAL SCENE
The Intern - Christian Cruz & Ben Andrews
BEST OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Gigolo
The Intern
BEST PACKAGING
Gigolo
The Intern
BEST PICTURE
Gigolo
BEST SCREENPLAY
Gigolo - Tony Dimarco
The Intern - Tony Dimarco
BEST PRO/AM RELEASE
Auditions 18: Florida Part 1
BEST SEX COMEDY
The Intern
BEST SEX SCENE
The Intern - Zack Randall & Jimmy Trips
BEST STILL PHOTOGRAPHER
The Intern - Tony Dimarco
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Gigolo - Ray Star
The Intern - Christian Cruz
BEST VIDEOGRAPHER
Gigolo - Tony Dimarco & Mr. Pam
PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Michael Lucas
http://www.avn.com/index.cfm?objectid=6172398F-D074-7478-4B3D253F17821580
Posted by Michael at 12:45 PM | Comments (1)
January 09, 2008
More pics from my GENRE cover story!!
Posted by Michael at 05:53 PM | Comments (19)
January 08, 2008
Lucas PR: Michael Lucas graces cover of Genre magazine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (January 8th, 2008) -- Lucas Entertainment President and CEO Michael Lucas is featured as the cover subject of the January/February 2008 issue of Genre magazine, the oldest national consumer magazine for gay men.
"America loves Michael Lucas—I am just giving the people what they want," said Genre Editor-in-Chief Neal Boulton. Boulton's newly relaunched version of Genre—much like those of his many previous magazine relaunches like Men's Fitness—focuses it on the essential or "core" interests of men: fitness, sex and relationships, entertainment, travel, gear, and fashion.
The Lucas cover story features an 12-page black-and-white fashion spread throughout the magazine by photographer Ray Lego, along with interview quotes from Lucas about his life philosophies.
"I am very proud that Genre chose me to be on their cover, as national consumer magazines—even if they are gay—tend to shy away from putting members of the adult community front and center," said Lucas.
The issue hits U.S. newsstands on January 15th and will be available online at http://www.GenreMagazine.com. The magazine will also be on newsstands in England and Germany.
Posted by Michael at 05:30 PM | Comments (6)
January 07, 2008
Lucas exclusive Jonathan Vargas makes NEXT's "Who's Next?"
Lucas exclusive Jonathan Vargas, star of the just-released "Cruising Budapest IV: Jonathan Vargas," is one of NEXT magazine's "Who's Next?" up-and-coming talent selections. Congrats, Jonathan!
To read the feature, click here or on the image below.
Posted by Michael at 10:50 AM | Comments (1)
January 04, 2008
"Gigolo" & "The Intern" on Year-end Best-of Lists!
Hey Guys,
I'm pleased to see that both "Gigolo" and "The Intern" popped up on year-end Best-of lists for 2007.
"The Intern" is the only gay title to appear in Fleshbot's "Gram's Dirty Dozen: The Year In Porn Movies." It is also the only non-bareback gay film to appear on Rad Video's top 10 Videos of 2007.
On ManNet's 11th Annual Best 100 Videos of the Year list, "Gigolo" and "The Intern" appear alongside seven other Lucas Entertainment titles, including "Encounters 4: On the Job" and "Auditions: 15-20."
XXX,
Michael
Posted by Michael at 03:19 PM | Comments (1)
December 07, 2007
Cover of HX this week!
Posted by Michael at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2007
"Michael Lucas' Gigolo" trailers are now LIVE!
"Michael Lucas' Gigolo" X-Rated Trailer:
Click here if the above player doesn't work!
"Michael Lucas' Gigolo" R-Rated Trailer:
Click here if the above player doesn't work!
Posted by Michael at 06:43 PM | Comments (1)
November 12, 2007
Lucas PR: "Michael Lucas' Gigolo" now available for pre-order, set for November 27th release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (November 12th, 2007) -- Lucas Entertainment's next blockbuster feature, "Michael Lucas' Gigolo," is set for an November 27th release to retail stores for $69.95. The Directors' Edition of the film is available for pre-order now for $59.95 exclusively at LucasEntertainment.com (click here to pre-order!).
"This is an epic porn film in the same dramatic vein as 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita," said Lucas Entertainment President and CEO Michael Lucas. "'Gigolo' is more like a real feature that just so happens to have hot sex in it. The plot is in-depth with much attention to the acting, the videography is beautiful, and as always it is a collective effort of many people, from fashion stylists to interior designers, cameramen to photographers, and models to non-sexual extras."
Directed by Lucas and Tony Dimarco—the team that won the Best Director GAYVN this year for "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita"—"Michael Lucas' Gigolo" takes place in the dark, underground world of a New York City gigolo. Following the tragic death of his lover, ex-hustler Louis McMann (Michael Lucas) is thrust back into that sordid world in order to survive and gets caught in a web of deceit, lies... and murder. The film also stars Lucas exclusives Ray Star, Ben Andrews, Erik Grant, and J., as well as Anthony Marks, Arpad Miklos, Zack Randall, Jason Ridge, Jason Sparks, Lars Svenson, Scott Tanner, Jimmy Trips and Kurt Wild.
“Working on 'Gigolo' was an exciting prospect,” said Dimarco, who wrote the film's screenplay. “Creating a story that crosses an Upper West Side mentality with downtown street hustler culture was a great set up for contrast and styles. Working with a world renowned stylist (who also styled both 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita') to take 'street hustler' fashion an making it fashionable was lots of fun as well as a departure for us.”
“I had always wanted to make a film about male hustlers," continued Dimarco. "I think it’s intriguing for viewers to get a peek into this world. The sexual exchange between hustler and john can be highly erotic and hot. We hired some of the best models in the business who we thought could translate our vision of this story."
The film also features an original score by 2007 GAYVN Best Music award winners nekked and non-sexual performances from Lucas exclusive Spencer Quest and the film's production manager Joe Shepard in two roles (following his memorable role as the receptionist in "The Intern").
Log on to http://www.XXXGigolo.com and http://www.LucasBlog.com leading up to the November 27th release for exclusive galleries and scenes from "Michael Lucas' Gigolo."
Full list of "Michael Lucas' Gigolo" Directors' Edition features:
• Bonus Watersports Feature including:
-Arpad Miklos & Zack Randall
-Lars Svenson & Jason Sparks
-Ray Star, J. & Zack Randall
• Bonus Sex Scene: Erik Grant, Jimmy Trips & Anthony Marks
• Bonus Extended Sex Scene: Lars Svenson & Jason Sparks
• Bonus Video: Behind The Scenes of "Michael Lucas' Gigolo"
• Bonus Music Video: Shepard's Pie - "Dark Bitch Woman"
• Hardcore Previews
• Photo Galleries
• Web Link
Posted by Michael at 02:32 PM | Comments (6)
November 05, 2007
axm magazine interview
This month's axm magazine (out in the UK) has a feature about me, but the interview got cut really short. Here for you exclusively is the interview in its entirety:
What was it like being gay and living in Russia?
I knew that was attracted to men from a very early age. I felt very confused by that because in Soviet Russia in the 80s when I was in my teens we had no information about sex, period, let alone gay sex. The paradigm was that men should go with women and homosexuality was a shameful state for which you could go to prison. We had no gay role models and the image of gay men was not even that of a feminine caricature or a nelly hairdresser, it was that of a sleazy, nasty pervert.
I dated women until my first gay experience when I was about 21. At that time, the first gay clubs had opened. I went there hesitantly and with some anxiety but happily, that’s where I met my first guy. It wasn’t a great experience but it was enough to make me sure of what I wanted.
What really helped me during all that time was Soviet propaganda which depicted the West as a decadent cesspool which of course to me looked like paradise.
I left in search of that paradise when I was 23 and never looked back.
The pictures of the gay English activist beaten up during the attempted gay pride march last year illustrate why I haven’t been back since my family has emigrated to the US.
Why did you become an escort?
Having left Russia I found myself in “paradise” but without a cent in my pocket. I didn’t have legal status and while I had a law diploma from Moscow University, that wasn’t a viable way to make money in Germany. My priority was to legalize my status and make a living. Both required a lot of money. I realized that people not only wanted to have sex with me but also were willing to pay for it. After 23 years of feeling bad about my sexuality in Moscow, that was not just a profitable but also a liberating experience. I actually really enjoyed it.
How did you get into it?
I went to the most popular hustler bar in Munich and the men approached me right away.
Do you regret it?
Not at all. Maybe that’s because I have always been an atheist but I never felt that I was doing anything wrong. I wasn’t afraid of anybody or anything.. Besides, I also met some fascinating people through my work who became friends for life. And you know what’s really funny? You are the first people to ask me that question --- which I don’t mind at all.
How did you get into gay porn?
I was being photographed for gay magazines in Germany and appeared in a straight porn movie when I was approached by the wonderful French gay director Cadinot.
Why did you set up your own porn company?
Because I always wanted to be my own boss. In fact, I never worked for anybody in my life --- and I don’t think anybody would want me for an employee. :-)
Briefly, how did you go from acting in porn films to making your own?
I made only a few movies with other directors until I set up my own company in New York. I hired a camera man, photographer and secured locations through friends and filmed my first movie in less than two weeks. It certainly wasn’t as glitzy as “Michael Lucas’ La dolce Vita” or any of the big titles I produce now but I was very proud of running my own company after having lived in New York for less than a year.
Is it true that you set up Lucas Entertainment with money earned from being a prostitute? How much money did you earn from being a prostitute? How much money does it take to set up a gay porn company?
Lets put it this way: I always used my money wisely.
You’ve said you ‘completely dominate’ the porn industry in NYC, why is this?
We are one of the top players in the industry worldwide and we are the only major studio located in New York. Great city, hot men, incredible diversity --- I am thrilled to be able to capture all that and distribute it around the world. But I also film a lot in Europe.
How many guys have you had sex with?
I have no idea, but I am sure I made up for the time I lost in Russia.
Would you say you are amazing in bed?
This is not for me to judge. Just ask around.
Do gay for pay porn stars really exist? How prevalent are they in the gay porn industry?
In the US, it’s more of an 80s thing – like Jeff Stryker. Today, it’s rare. But when I film in Eastern Europe, especially my “Cruising Budapest” line, the majority of guys self identify as straight.
What do you think of them?
I think some of them are confused about their sexuality and all of them look at it as an easy way to make money.
What is it like to have sex with them?
Sometimes very mechanical and sometimes they surprise you. Nothing can be compared to having sex with a gay man who is into you.
How do they keep an erection?
Some use their imagination, some use straight magazines, some use Viagra and some are so young and horny, they get hard from anything which has a pulse..
Recently, in Britain, a group of porn stars got HIV after working in a studio that makes bareback films. What do you think of these bareback films? Should they be banned?
As you know, I use condoms in all my films and I always use condoms in my personal life as well, unless I am in a relationship. I believe that is what kept me HIV negative. I believe porn can send a very strong message, which in my movies is that you can have great sex when you are sober and you use protection. Porn can educate people, especially young people who did not live through the AIDS crisis in the 80s. I believe by using condoms in my films that I save people’s lives.
I also believe that porn works better than sex education brochures. Young people don’t even bother picking those things up.
What is the most extreme sexual act you have ever done on film?
I don’t really like the term “extreme.” To each his own. What is extreme for someone may be a totally “normal” thing for another! But I guess to answer this in some way, I can go from vanilla to more hardcore, like fisting as a top, watersports… you name it.
What sexual acts do you most like doing and why? E.g. rimming, blowjob, fucking etc etc
Sex is a full meal. I like it all, but I do have a fondness for rimming. :-)
Are you a top or bottom? Which do you prefer and why?
Top.
Porn sounds like a dream job, is it?
It might sound like a dream job for some, but I don’t think that everyone is dreaming to work in porn. I am not just a porn star, I am a producer, director and CEO of Lucas Entertainment and Lucas Distribution. I have a lot of speaking engagements at universities. I’m an adult entrepreneur. So for me it is a serious job which takes most of my time. And most of that time is spent in meetings and behind the computer… regular corporate work.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into porn?
I would say, like in all of showbusiness, it’s fiercely competitive. It’s easy to get into porn, but it’s difficult to stay in it for a long time. You have to have your head straight. No drugs. No alcohol. No partying all night long. This business will chew you up and spit you out. You have to be disciplined and constantly keep yourself in the best shape. And if you get successful, be ready to deal with those who are jealous of your success.
You’ve done some terrific work in the prevention of drug use, why are you so passionate about this?
I’ve never done drugs in my life. My motto is “You can’t miss what you never had.” I also don’t drink or smoke. I think this healthy lifestyle is a part of my success. One of my ex boyfriends was a drug addict. I took him to his AA and NA meetings and saw how many people are suffering from addiction. I know there are people out there who do drugs recreationally and don’t get addicted to it, but there are hundreds of thousands of people who paid a very high price, lost their jobs, families, friends, loved ones. None of them ever planned to get addicted. All of them started doing drugs recreationally. Needless to say, we all know the use of drugs in the community, especially crystal meth, is linked to the higher rates of HIV infections that have been reported in the past few years.
Are you a practicing Jew? If so, what do you say to people who say that porn isn’t compatible with your religion?
No, I never was. I am from a Jewish family and I identify as Jewish, but I do not practice. I consider myself a secular Jew. I’m also not particularly interested in talking about God or any superpower. That bores the shit out of me.
What do you say to people that porn is wrong, that it is evil and a sin?
You know, I live in New York City, and to be honest I never run into those people who say that. But I remember that when I first went on a cruise in 1992 from Russia which went through Turkey and Greece, I remember walking through the streets of Greece in the middle of the night with female hookers walking around half naked, porn magazines in every kiosk, porn store shops… it was shocking to see, after coming from Russia. But I remember feeling very safe. People were friendly, kind and warm. Two days later we sailed to Istanbul. No porn stores. Instead of hookers in their revealing clothes, lots of women in burkkas. The women in our group were warned not to go out at night and to stay together if they do. I remember walking with a girlfriend of mine in a bazaar. Men were behaving disgustingly, whistling and trying to touch her, staring at her with their hungry eyes, making it incredibly uncomfortable. When people are suppressed in their sexualities it comes out in an ugly way. Porn liberates. It educates. It keeps people from going out and getting into trouble. And it’s simply convenient.
Do you think there’s a difference between being a prostitute and being a porn star?
I know lots of guys in the porn business who escort on the side, and I know plenty who do not. I definitely don’t think they are the same thing.
Does your boyfriend mind that you’re a porn star?
My boyfriend is a very open-minded, wise man. He respects me and supports the work I do. And this is one of the reasons we’ve been together for over 6 years. I would never be with someone who would want me to choose between him and my work, who would try to suppress me. Jealousy does not translate to love; sometimes it’s pure selfishness and insecurity. I’ve never compromised my work for anybody, and I never will.
What makes your films different from the other gay porn out there?
The realism of the sex. We shoot the sex in real time, usually under an hour. Other studios shoot for 10 hours and edit scenes down. They sometimes shoot the same scene for two days or longer. We also have amazing videography, great style, and if we go for a serious plot, it’s never cheesy or tacky.
You live with your boyfriend who is involved in politics, so, as this is our political issue, I have some political questions:
Who do you want to win the next election, Hillary Clinton?
Look, all the Democratic candidates have their pluses and minuses. Hillary is two faced but she was a good senator and brings her husband in the package. We don't know much about Obama but independent voters like him and that helps a lot to get elected. Edwards is a scary protectionist but he has put out the most detailed plans on how to fix some big problems we have, like healthcare. I guess on balance I like Hillary but the most important thing is that each of the three would be a world better than the moron we have in office now.
What do you think of President Bush and the war on terrorism?
I think everybody knows by now that Bush is the most incompetent President the US has ever had and the war on terrorism is only one of the many disasters he started. I really have a problem with the term “war on terrorism,” because terrorism is a method, not a target. It’s just like saying “the war on bombs”. So, you see, in my opinion, the US administration doesn’t know who it is actually fighting. We enslaved ourselves with fucking oil, and that prevents us to look in the face of reality and say that we are at war with Islamic fundamentalism.
What person, outside of politics, would you like to be president and why?
I happen to think that politics is a profession and should be left to politicians. Remember the last time we had an actor as a President?
What do you think of Gordon Brown, the British prime minister?
From here in America, at this point it is difficult to say, as it’s only been a few months since he’s been the prime minister. But he’s obviously a competent man, as he has a long record of Chancellor of the Exchequer. It does seem to me that he might have the right understanding of the problem that England got itself in over its wrong immigration policy, becoming the biggest shelter for the leaders and brains of Islamic fundamentalism, to the Imams that preach hatred, to the oil bankers and money bags who finance it, to all those emirs, sheiks, sultans.., in other words, this medieval feud which enslaved us with their fucking oil and now own the most beautiful buildings in London.
What did you think of Tony Blair, do you think he’s hot? Apparently he’s a gay icon over in America, is this true? If he is, why?
That’s big news to me. We do think that he dresses well, especially when he appears next to our President. But a gay icon, you’ve got to be kidding.
Your blogs are very impressive. From what I’ve read it seems that you campaign a lot for gay rights. What causes are you campaigning for particularly at the moment? Why these?
I am a very active member of the gay community. I have a big following, and I use my platform to speak for what I believe. So I speak a lot about HIV prevention, against drug use, against anti-gay violence. I work with the Anti-Violence Project here in New York. I write for a couple publications here in New York too, where I always discuss gay issues from all over the world.
You’re a vocal critic of Islam. In your blog you call Muslims ‘stinkpots’ and a ‘rat problem.’ Why is this?
I think you’re quoting me when I said something about how Muslims are breeding like rats, sitting on Western welfares...
I do believe that the West is behaving like a masochist and making a big mistake by separating terrorists from the world they belong to, the world which breeds them, which is the world of Islam. We are talking about millions of fanatics (not a few lunatics) who not only don’t share our values but want to destroy them; who instead of believing in reason believe in a Garden of Eden with 73 virgins waiting to be raped. The dialogue with these believers seems to me impossible, showing the weakness suicidal. And tell me, what logic is there in respecting the culture of those who do not respect our culture?
It also seems to me that the West will lose its fight if it keeps answering intolerance with tolerance. The idea to tolerate those who want to change our way of life or to kill us is a suicide of reason. And to avoid the suicide of reason, we must defend our democratic, liberal, and very fragile world as ferociously as they are trying to destroy it.
The clash between world of Islam and the West is not a military one. It’s a cultural one. Our military is useless in this conflict.
Think about it. There is not one Islamic country in the world that is governed by a democratic regime. I don’t see what the difference is between Islamic tyranny and a Fascist one, so isn’t it hypocritical that we fought Nazis but are shy of even acknowledging the enemy that might be even greater? The world didn’t wake up to the threat of Nazism until it was too late. It took the cost of millions of innocent lives for the Western world to wake up and fight. Today the West is asleep while Islamics are plotting more and more bombings, more and more chaos. All we are doing is sitting and waiting.
Political correctness got the Western world into a horrible mess. The idea of multiculturalism would never work when it’s applied to a Muslim community. As it is not simply a choice between hummus and pasta, because the Muslim community not only chooses hummus, it also chooses to follow every ugly requirement of the Koran, with its polygamy, imposition of burkkas on women, decapitation of adulterous wives, mutilation of thieves, wife beatings, arranged marriages, female circumcisions (so they never experience sexual pleasure), and of course the killing of gays, etc. The list of horrors is way too long for this interview to list.
How should the world deal with the homophobia of Islam?
To begin with, we should publicize it, expose it and criticize it. Islamic homophobia is still treated as a dirty little secret, probably because it’s convenient for multicultural liberals—gays and lesbians among them—to forgive Muslims for all their horrors and Israel for nothing. Who rather than protest in front of Arab embassies against the stoning of gay people argue that Pension Funds should disinvest Israeli companies and boycott Israeli products.
Has your criticism of Islam ever got you in trouble? E.g. death threats, hate mail etc
Never death threats. But lots of hate mail. I was called a racist, which is a big disservice to a language and to intelligence. As the word “racist” has to do only with the race, not with the religion. In fact, my rage is not and never has been against Arabs. It is against those who call themselves sons of Allah. In fact, some of the people I have huge respect for are Arabs. Those like Aayan Hirsi Ali and Wafa Sultan, who escaped their countries, came to the West, and became the biggest critics and accusers of Islam. And let me point out that with every suicide bomber detonating himself in malls and public squares, with every bomb exploding on a subway or in a buss, with every new terrorist plot that is discovered, I am getting less and less of those “hate mails,” which, to be honest, never bothered me much anyway, as they usually come from people who never traveled outside of the Western world or been to Israel, who criticize Israel without ever being there, who hail Islamic countries without ever spending a day in any of them. I’ve traveled a lot throughout the Middle East. I’ve seen it all. I am a free individual who thinks for himself and believes only in the facts.
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:
Gordon Brown, David Cameron or Menzies Campbell? Why?
Gordon Brown, for the lack of a better candidate.
Your political icon? Why?
Winston Churchill, for his bravery, wisdom, ability to see the future, and being able to face reality and ignore the polls. He refused to negotiate with Nazi Germany when everything seemed to be lost.
Most attractive/fanciable celebrity?
Clive Owen. He's smart, sexy, and mysterious. He became a huge star and it seems completely effortless.
Biggest political fear?
That the wakening of the West to face Islamic fanaticism will take too long.
Is porn good?
It's not just good, it's useful, safe, and unfortunately sometimes it's better than the real thing.
Posted by Michael at 03:37 PM | Comments (2)
October 26, 2007
Lucas PR: Ben Andrews' Dildo penetrates online and retail outlets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (October 26th, 2007) -- The biggest dick in the industry is now yours to own—Ben Andrews' Dildo!
"I'm so excited to finally have my very own dildo and can't wait to see it in stores," says the Lucas exclusive, currently starring in the Lucas Entertainment breakthrough comedy hit "The Intern" and the sex-filled "Cruising Budapest II: Ben Andrews."
Meticulously cast from his very own 11-inch uncut member, Ben Andrews' Dildo is available for a suggested retail price of $69.95. The dildo is available at LucasEntertainment.com for a special price of $59.95.
Made of non-toxic, hypo-allergenic silicone, the dildo is dishwasher safe and includes a suction cup on its base—perfect for hands-free action.
The dildo follows in the footsteps of the hugely successful Michael Lucas' Dildo, released earlier this year.
Ben Andrews has had a breakout year in 2007, starring in the comedy hit "The Intern" and the sex-filled "Cruising Budapest II: Ben Andrews." Earlier this month he appeared on the cover of Time Out New York's annual sex issue, and he has recently been featured in HX (cover story), DNA, Freshmen, PaperMag.com, and Fleshbot.com (as an Official Fleshbot Crush Object™). He is set to appear in the Lucas Entertainment production of the year "Gigolo," set for a December 2007 release.
Posted by Michael at 12:36 PM | Comments (4)
October 10, 2007
Lucas Exclusives BEN ANDREWS and JONATHAN VARGAS featured in Time Out New York's SEX ISSUE!
In case you didn't see our exclusive models Ben Andrews and Jonathan Vargas in the Sex Issue of last week's Time Out New York, here's the cover image featuring Ben and the full racy pic that was under the flap. Hot, right? (Don't worry... our boys didn't go full on with the girls. It was all in playful fun for a sexy "fantasies" modeling shoot!)
Click on the pics to read the stories and to see more hot images from the shoot!
Posted by Michael at 03:31 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2007
Bad taste? No. Just a publicity stunt
So here is the deal:
On Tuesday we started filming our major production, "Gigolo,". I'm playing a hustler (surprise!) and my character gets murdered at the end of what I think will be a dark-and-moody yet juicy-and-hot drama. This movie is not just a sex flick, but a very complex feature with 45 different scenes (and only 6 are sex scenes).
I think we had a little bit of a rocky start, and not only because of all the usual difficulties that are involved in massive shoots like "Dangerous Liaisons," "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita," and "The Intern," with locations falling through on the days of the shoot, models missing their flights, conflicting schedules, and of course 15-hour days one after the other for 10 days straight.
The real life drama began as we started the production. We're filming scenes for the most part in reverse chronological order. Since my muder scene got filmed first, we couldn't resist sending out a press release about my "death" including a fake crime scene photo that would speak for itself. Or at least, I thought it would. It's a black and white photo of me in a phony pose on the bed, strangled. I placed a big Lucas Entertainment logo on it. The press release said, "Michael Lucas found dead in his Manhattan apartment."
We were thinking to have it out there for a couple of days, without any further commentary about it, in order to generate the buzz on the film. Well, the story became kind of messy because some people actually believed that I was really dead, and some, even though they understood it was only a publicity stunt, decided to accuse me of having really bad taste.
Apparently some people didn't get the picture that was attached to the release. They only read the release or heard about it from others. I do feel bad for those who got confused. But for those who are crucfying me for bad taste, writing about it on these idiotic blogs and calling me names, I would just say, People, lighten up. If you want to talk about bad taste in porn, there are plenty of other targets out there more worthy of your wrath than I will ever be. It seemed to me that my critics cannot concentrate on a simple fact: I was making fun of myself, not of anybody else.
Some are saying that the timing for this publicity stunt was terribly wrong. Unfortunately, I'd never heard about activist/promoter Dean Johnson before yesterday, let alone that he had just died. But even if I had, millions of people die every day. What difference does it make what industry they were working in? I'm kind of stunned that people are such militant taste purveyors, jumping with accusations in situations where their judgements are not needed, where no crime was committed, where no one's reputations were hurt, and where nothing was done in an intentionally malicious manner.
Again, I am sorry about those who thought I was really dead. I was trying to give as many reasons as possible not to believe it (as you can see below), but, well, my office now looks like a botanical garden. And trust me, I did send my sincerest apologies to those who sent their flowers, notes, and emails of condolence.
Now, to all my hysterical accusers and taste purveyors, to all the loud cicadas who are so busy unleashing their witch hunt, don't waste your energy—there will be no apologies for you.
And here's the "controversial" press release itself:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMichael Lucas' found dead in Manhattan apartment New York, NY (October 3rd, 2007) -- The body of Lucas Entertainment founder and CEO Michael Lucas was found last night in his Manhattan apartment.
Authorities released the photo below of the crime scene.
No additional information has been released. Stay tuned for further developments.
And by the way, I did send a follow-up release saying I was alive and sound that same evening.
Posted by Michael at 10:58 AM | Comments (11)
September 18, 2007
Jonathan Vargas at Porno Bingo Wednesday Sept 19th!
Posted by Michael at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)
August 07, 2007
Jonathan Vargas at Paradise Club in New Jersey!
Don't be shy... say hi!
Posted by Michael at 11:00 AM | Comments (3)
July 25, 2007
Porno Bingo with BEN ANDREWS tonight!!!
Posted by Michael at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)
July 03, 2007
Lucas PR: Christian Cruz and Luke Stevens sign as Lucas Entertainment exclusives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (July 2nd, 2007) -- Lucas Entertainment is proud to announce two fresh faces to its stable of exclusives—Christian Cruz and Luke Stevens.
Cruz (photos below left), a Latin fireball with handsome looks and a killer body, makes his debut in this month's "Auditions 19" (out July 17th) in an audition with bad boy Lucas favorite Jimmy. He then takes on a scene-stealing role as Michael Lucas' sassy assistant in the sex comedy "The Intern" (out July 24th) with sex scenes opposite fellow exclusives Ben Andrews and Ray Star.
Stevens (photos below right), a sweet-hearted New York transplant from Florida, makes his debut in "Welcome to Paradise" (out July 10th) shot earlier this year in Fort Lauderdale, in a threesome scene with fellow exclusive Ray Star and tattooed hottie Angelo DiMarco. He was recently featured in JD Ferguson's Porn Star column on PaperMag.com (http://www.papermag.com/blogs/2007/05/jd_ferguson_presents_the_porn_2.php).
"Both Christian and Luke represent exactly what Lucas exclusives should be," said Lucas Entertainment CEO and President Michael Lucas. "They're both sexy as hell with unique personalities that will take them far. Christian is completely hilarious and a blast to work with on set, and a spunky bottom with the best of them. Luke is absolutely one of the cutest guys I've ever signed, with a face that will melt your heart and a sex drive that will get you hard and having you coming back for more. I can't wait to get them out there for you all to enjoy."
For more information about Christian Cruz, Luke Stevens, and all Lucas Entertainment exclusives, visit http://www.LucasEntertainment.com.
CONTACT: Bryan Christopher, Publicity Director
(212) 924-5892 x12, press@lucasentertainment.com
Posted by Michael at 03:58 PM | Comments (1)
June 27, 2007
Tonight in NYC!
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007: Will Clark's PORNO BINGO at the 9th Ave. Bistro (693 9th Ave. btw 47th and 48th) 9pm to 11pm It’s our climaxxx to GAY PRIDE MONTH!!
Lucas Entertainment exclusive Ben Andrews makes his Porno Bingo debut in a night to benefit Visual AIDS www.visualaids.org!
New York artist Michael Mitchell will paint Ben’s portrait and then we’ll auction it off at the end of the night! Join us to watch the creation!
Sponsored by Lucas Entertainment www.lucasentertainment.com
Cheap drinks, cheaper men. No Cover!
Posted by Michael at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2007
Go home with me tonight... really!
I've always been asked why I had my own company but not my own dildo. To be honest, there was never a specific answer other than I'd always been so busy making movies in my 12-year career, I just never got around to making a dildo. While I was in L.A. last year for the Gay Porn Expo, however, I finally decided to do it.
My exclusive Ben Andrews and I stopped by a large sex toy company and went through the exhausting process of making casts. The procedure is quite barbaric. You have to get hard and lay down on two desks with a space between them. A guy comes with a huge bucket of thick, white plaster, and you have to stick your cock inside this cold mess for about 5 minutes until the plaster solidifies.
Then comes the fun part. You see, since I refuse I shave my pubic hair, pulling all my junk out of the plaster was torture. And to top it all off, they make you to do this 5 times to make sure the cast is usable.
So after all that hard work (pun intended), I am now very excited to make this exquisite piece of art available for every good American home. Click here. (Ben's, by the way, will come out in the next month.) My dildo is absolutely perfect for anyone: men, women, Christians, Jews (it's 100 percent kosher), and even Muslims (but of course, they will have to check with the Holy Qur'an first).
Posted by Michael at 03:56 PM | Comments (8)
January 23, 2007
2nd Scene from Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita!
If you thought the first scene from my La Dolce Vita with Ben Andrews and Jack McCarthy was hot, the second scene is just as sweaty and even dirtier. Members of my site, will see Chad Hunt and Rod Barry do what they do best in a film with 14 GayVN nominations. Enjoy!
Posted by Michael at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2007
First Clip From Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita Now Online!
I wanted to let everyone know that there has never been a better time to become a member of my site, because tomorrow we will begin putting scenes from Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita online starting with the scene between Ben Andrews and Jack MacCarthy. Membership also gives you access to hundreds of video clips and thousands of x-rated photos. There's tons of content that we've made just for the website and can't be found on DVD. Last, but not least, becoming a member is a great help to the company and every dollar counts when it comes to producing new films. Our prices for membership are still the lowest in the industry at only $24.95 a month as well as trial memberships. Click here to see all of the available membership options and to join www.lucasentertainment.com
Posted by Michael at 05:08 PM | Comments (0)
January 15, 2007
Your Support and GAYVN Nominations
Thank you to everyone who commented on the Queerty post. I don't think their website has ever received so much traffic :), especially from so many passionate commentators. Yes we all understand that Andrew Belonsky is anti-Semitic. I know it, you know it, he knows it. A funny thing that I found out is that some of the people that work with him, tried to defend him by making the point that he comes from a Jewish family. Don't we all know that some of the biggest homophobes, anti-Semites, and racists are Gay, Jewish, and Black respectively. Remember Bob Novak, who was fired from the nasty CNN show Crossfire. He is from a Jewish background and was baptized and became a conservative Republican and anti-Israel. Marcel Proust, who is still one of my favorite writers, was homophobic and anti-Semitic, but is Jewish and gay. The list is endless.
But enough of that garbage.
The nominations for GayVN's (the gay porn version of the Oscars) were recently released and
Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita is the most nominated movie of the year with 14 nominations!
2007 GAYVN Nominations
BEST ACTOR
Michael Lucas - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST ART DIRECTION
Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST DIRECTOR
Michael Lucas, Tony Dimarco - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST DVD EXTRAS/SPECIAL EDITION
Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST EDITING
Tony Dimarco - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST MUSIC
Nekked - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST NON-SEX PERFORMANCE
Savanna Samson - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST PACKAGING
Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST PRO-AM RELEASE
Auditions 9: Chad Hunt (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Tony Dimarco - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST SEX SCENE - DUO
Blu Kennedy, Danny Bitho - Encounters: Heat of the Moment (Lucas
Entertainment)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Spencer Quest - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST THREESOME
Jason Ridge, Michael Lucas, Derrick Hanson - Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
Chad Hunt, Sal, Ben Andrews - Encounters: Flash Point (Lucas Entertainment)
BEST VIDEOGRAPHY
Tony Dimarco -Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Spencer Quest
BEST PICTURE
Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita (Lucas Entertainment)
Posted by Michael at 05:44 PM | Comments (5)
January 10, 2007
BUTT Magazine Interview
(Click the image to read more.)
Posted by Michael at 02:12 PM | Comments (5)
December 13, 2006
Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita's Red Carpet Premiere
Last night we hosted a press-event/premiere of our movie as a feature length rated R film (sex scenes taken out). We were very happy with the event, and Fleshbot had an excellent recap of the evening that you can read here:
- Fleshbot Party Crash
And you can see pictures from Patrick McMullan here:
- Patrick McMullan Photos
Posted by Michael at 03:38 PM | Comments (1)
October 27, 2006
Korean GQ pictures with Carmen Dell'Orefice
You may recall that I blogged about what a great time I had posing with legendary supermodel Carmen Dell'Orefice. I know it's not so easy to get your hands on a copy of GQ Korea, so I figured I'd scan a copy for your viewing pleasure:
Posted by Michael at 04:35 PM | Comments (6)
July 21, 2006
"More Dangerous" debuts TOMORROW at the Philly Film Festival!
Hey guys!
Get your asses to the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival tomorrow (Saturday, July 22nd) for the world premiere of my new documentary, "More Dangerous: The Making of Michael Lucas' Dangerous Liaisons."
I am incredibly excited about this premiere because I will finally be watching the documentary for the first time on the big screen and with an audience. The documentary is hilarious and features interviews with a lot of porn industry big-wigs as well as many mainstream celebrities. Matthew Roberts did a great job editing it all together.
Following the screening is a panel discussion moderated by my friend Michael Musto and featuring RuPaul, Bruce Vilanch, my Philly exclusive Erik Grant, and other surprise guests. Should be really fun! I'm actually heading to Philly tomorrow by train with Ru and Michael. Looking forward to a great trip.
The screening starts at 9:45pm at the Prince Music Theater. Some tickets are still available, but they are selling out fast. It would be delicious to see you all!
Posted by Michael at 03:15 PM | Comments (2)
July 11, 2006
More Dangerous: The Making of Michael Lucas' Dangerous Liaisons: Premieres July 22!
"More Dangerous: The Making of Michael Lucas' Dangerous Liaisons", a documentary of what went into one of the most exciting porn films ever, will premiere on July 22nd at the Philadephia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Michael will join an exciting festival lineup that includes such guests as Chloe Sevigny, Jenny Shimizu, and Sandra Bernhard; and at our own documentary, Michael Musto, Bruce Vilanch and others will participate in a live panel discussion on the film.
Posted by Heather at 12:13 PM | Comments (2)
June 16, 2006
Michael Lucas Gets His "Virgin"ity Back!
Lucas Entertainment announces an in-store signing and Q&A session with its exclusive models at Virgin Megastore in Union Square on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 7pm. The event will be hosted by drag legend Hedda Lettuce and DJed by Centaur Entertainment's Randy Bettis.
"I'm thrilled to celebrate Gay Pride week with an in-store at Virgin," said Michael Lucas, President and CEO of Lucas Entertainment. "We will be the first gay adult entertainment company to do so in New York. It is a breakthrough for the industry."
Lucas Entertainment favorites Wilson Vasquez, Chad Hunt, J., Ben Andrews, Jack MacCarthy, Corey Cade, Lorenzo, and Harold Pitt are the first models confirmed for the event. They will join Michael Lucas in signing purchased copies of their latest films, including "Auditions Volume 9: Chad Hunt," "Encounters: The Point of No Return," and GayVN's 2005 Best Picture winner, "Michael Lucas' Dangerous Liaisons."
The event coincides with the release of Lucas Entertainment's latest mainline title, "Barcelona Nights," which critics have hailed as "a smashing, sex-soaked visit to that beautiful Spanish city" (Mannet.com).
About Hedda Lettuce:
Hostess Hedda Lettuce is a six-time HX drag queen of the year award winner. She has performed at many cabaret venues including Caroline's on Broadway, Fez, East of Eighth, and the Chelsea Clearview Movie Theater, w