Colin Sines is the founder of OUTVisions Magazine – the first and only magazine for the LGBT professional. He doesn’t like candy and can’t sing very well, but (like everyone here at GGT) loves a good martini. We forgive the candy hating to crown him our latest Man of The Hour by giving him our TMI Questionnaire:

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Leo.
I’m: somewhere between 55 & 70.
I was born: In London, England – moved to Canada in 1967.
I: was in hotel sales and marketing for many years now in the publishing industry and launched OUTVisions magazine: the only lifestyle magazine for the LGBT Professional.
My fave colour: Grey – it always looks smart in casual or formal.
Passion: I’m always passionate about whatever I do – right now my passion is OUTVisions, which allows me to highlight people in the LGBT community that make a difference in both their local community, but also the LGBT community.
Inspiration: Darin Feth: a young man I mentored many years ago in marketing when starting his own company. He now has offices in Edmonton (where he started) Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. It shows life is what you make it.
My Canadian icon is: James: my partner of 33 years who died in 2006.
Fantasy entourage: My two nephews, Steve and Mike. They are great people and totally accept me for who I am.
Fictional best friend: The Roadrunner.
Turn-ons: Cute buns.
Irresistible in a mate: Brown eyes – eyes always show the truth.
Phrase I most overuse: “Oh, Shit.”
Most people would be surprised to know: My age.
Talent I wish I had: Playing the piano.
The celebrity I most closely resemble is: Robin Leach.
The one word my best friend would use to describe me is: Professional.
My parents wanted me to be this when I grew up: Whatever I wanted to be.
When I order a cocktail I ask for an: Absolute Martini.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Bump.
Songs: “Love Changes Everything” by Michael Ball and “I Did It My Way” by Frank Sinatra.
Greatest extravagance: A silk plaid shirt cost $550 a long time ago.
Candy: Don’t eat candy.
Last impulse-purchase: A pair of awesome shoes in London, England.
Last regretted purchase: Lottery ticket – I didn’t win.

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Levi’s.
Footwear: Guess, Hunn Bush, Barrett’s of London.
Underwear: Calvin Klein.
Watch: Skagen (Scandinavia).
Eyewear: Urban (UK).
Casual: Jeans, T shirt and casual shoes.
Formal: Regular black suite
Perfume / Cologne: “Intimately” by Beckham & “Cool Water” by Davidoff.

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Sunsilk.
Face wash: Bale’a.
Moisturizer: L’Oreal Men’s Expert.
Body Lotion: Nivea for Men.
Make-Up Line: Don’t use.
Indulgence: Facials.

GOTTA-GET GADGET

Gadgets: iPhone-love it.
On my music player now: Robbie Williams – “In and Out of Consciousness.”
Best app ever: OUTVisions.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.
Last movie seen: The King’s Speech.
Last concert: Niagara Symphony Orchestra at Illuminaque festival.
Last play: My Fair Lady – Shaw Festival.
Last song sung in the shower: I don’t [sing in the shower]– the one and only time [I did], I was so bad even , the water stopped running.

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Looking good and losing weight.
Past obsession: Same as current.
Future obsession: same as past and current.

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: continuing to be who I am.
I see myself in this place in ten years: Still happy within myself.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Be happy with who you are, no matter what. In 2008, I almost died of colon cancer. I survived and have been clear ever since. My advice is “if you wake up in the morning, your feet touch the ground and you can stand, then it’s going to be a great day. You never know what lies ahead.”

Mrs. Beckham Ponders What Would Happen If She Combined Her Favourite Number With Canada's Prime Minister ...

Apple … Sunday … we seriously love the sweet baby names celebrities are christening their newborns with lately. So much, in fact, it’s making us try that much harder to get pregnant.  Seriously, remember that trend when everyone was named a Dylan or a MacKenzie, like we all lived in Pine Valley? (With no offence to Dylans or MacKenzies reading this – there just became so many of you!)

A big contributor to the thinking outside the baby box that’s gone on is Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (‘Brooklyn’, ‘Cruz’, ‘Romeo’), who just had baby number four and announced earlier this week she and her ballsy hubby have named their newborn girl Harper Seven.  Now that you’ve had time to digest that, the question remains:

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He was born with a caul, which just sounds too spooky to google. Regardless, Jeffery Straker, descendant of Beethoven, is our Man of the Hour, giving TMI by completing our infamous questionnaire:

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a: Gemini. There are so many ways I can be split in 2, I’m practically a dried wish-bone waiting for the snap.
I’m: 34 – and if you don’t believe me ask my therapist. She reminds me of it all the time. “lawts & lawts of time to sort this shit out….”.
I was born: Under a full moon, in a hospital run by nuns in a small rural Saskatchewan town. I was also born with a caul. (I know everyone will need to scramble to google to see what that means). When you find out you’ll say ‘gross’. But…..it’s supposed to be really lucky – like to the point of bringing ‘powers’… Louise (in ‘Gypsy’) was also born with a caul – just so you know. I keep ‘singin out’ to this day, due to mine. Ok – enough music theatre references. Note: I’ve not noticed any ‘powers’, other than being able to sneak my way into a pride beer garden like a black cat prowling at midnight.
I: Make music. Specifically: write songs, sing them, and play piano.
My fave colour: Baby blue.
Passion: Sneakers. Eating. One doesn’t require the other.
Fantasy entourage: Pippa Middleton, Miss Conception, The Queen mum ( I know she’s dead but it’s my fantasy so screw off), Rick Mercer, David Beckham, & endless gin.
Turn-ons: Gin. Someone who can drink it well.
Irresistible in a mate: Someone who can dig through Kensington Market shops with me for a whole Saturday.
Phrase I most overuse: I’M DYING!
Most people would be surprised to know I: Am actually a musical descendant of Beethoven. No lie!
Fictional best friend: Catherine O’Hara.
Talent I wish I had: Playing cello. There is something about it that just gets me. Might be the spread legs? Not sure.
When I order a cocktail I ask for: The bartenders’ phone number usually. Failing that: Gin (Gordon’s) & Tonic. Bombay is for wusses. There, I said it.

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Brothers and Sisters, AB FAB on DVD.
Song: ‘Tiny Dancer’.
Greatest extravagance: Bright sneakers, boots. Call me Imelda.

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: H&M (whatever make snugs some ass).
Footwear: Converse & recently Adidas.
Watch: Got it at the bay – it’s shiny, no idea what it is.
Eyewear: Mikli
Casual: Jeans + tee = me.
Formal: Dress pants, shirt-tie, + vest, bright sneakers or riding boots (depending on the day).
Perfume / Cologne: Old spice body wash?

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: I think it’s Pantene these days.
Face wash: Spectro jel.
Moisturizer: I use the same cream Shania uses. It was created for cow udders but works wonders on the skin!
Body Lotion: See above. Moooooooo.
Indulgence: Any eye cream with shiny packaging. I’m obsessed with packaging. And packages. But I digress.

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: A house just north of The Danforth – on Playter. OR a house in the West end on Rusholme. Either would be a great gadget to play with.
On my music player now: Regina Spektor.
I always PVR: I watch on my laptop.

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Age of Persuasion (O’Reilly)
Last movie seen: The King’s Speech.
Last concert: Joel Plaskett at the Dakota Tavern on Ossington.
Last play: A rehearsal of ‘the tiki bikini paradise party a go-go’ coming up at this year’s Toronto FRINGE. Check it out!

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession: Prince Harry
Past obsession: Prince William
Future obsession: Porn

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: Pippa Middleton hosting a Brit gossip talk show and dishing on the royals.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Run time machine on your mac every other day. Amen.

Jeffery Straker CD release concert: June 22, 8pm, Revival – 783 College – Toronto

Meet more men.

Recently, very out-of-the-closet and very outspoken actor Sir Ian McKellan slammed professional sports players, organizations, fans and the overall establishment for being homophobic. He made his comments on a BBC radio show a few weeks after Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas came out of the closet.

In the interview, when it comes to homosexuality, McKellan said that sports stars “become little shrinking violets because they’re afraid, probably, of being booed from the terraces, and that must be a horrible experience and shame on people who do it.” While some people might think he’s making queer political hay, he’s actually right on point with his point. Professional sport has a long, rich history of flagrant gay bashing and homophobia and it shows no signs of backing down. To wit: Read the full story