Lead Pic: Toby H
Elska Magazine, a publication dedicated to sharing theĀ bodies and voices of LGBTQ+ communities around the world, has put the spotlight on Paris for itsĀ latest issue. Inside readers can get up close and personal with a cross section of beautifullyĀ ordinary local men from one of the worldās most legendary capitals.
āIt was essential that one day weād make an issue in Paris, itās just one of those great world cities,āĀ says Elska editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell. āBut it was a little intimidating toĀ approach a place with such a reputation, and one that evokes so much stereotype andĀ expectation. The āCity of Lightā, the āCity of Loveā, the city of rude waiters and mile-long museumĀ queues… I decided that the best way to approach Paris was to go without any plans, to just meetĀ whoever was up for meeting us and to let them guide us through their city and their lives.”
āI tend to assume that most stereotypes are wrong, but overall the result of my trip matched the
mythology, especially in terms of the romance factor,ā continues Liam. “This city is gorgeous and the
people are certainly beautiful, but it is in the way they carry themselves, express themselves,
reveal their love for Paris and for each other that really seduces. This is especially apparent in the
stories that each of the men wrote for us. It’s not necessarily that these are love stories, but the
way they communicate simply drips with warmth and allure. They really make you fall in love with
Paris, with them.”
Inside Elska Paris readers will meet ten local men who are part of the cityās LGBTQ+ community.Ā Each was photographed in their own neighbourhoods and in their own homes, revealing some ofĀ their city, their style, and their selves. The photography provides a truly intimate and revealing wayĀ to get to know a slice of Parisian gay life, which is then taken further by the inclusion of honest andĀ personal stories penned by each of the participating men. Some of the men you’ll meet include:
Romain D, who invites us to join him on a very Parisian sort of first date that includesĀ drinks, dinner, and beyond;
John B, who takes us on a trip to the East, where he talks of his falling for three boys –Ā one in Belarus, one in Ukraine, and one in Poland;
Guillaume G, who shows us how Paris made his colours shine, shaping him into the personĀ he is today;
Max D, who reveals what it’s like on a Friday night at a typical Paris gay club, and what itāsĀ like to feel like you donāt really belong there;
Xavier A, who delves into the origins of his desire, not just why he loves men but why heĀ loves them so intensely.
Elska Paris is 196 pages and is available from a select group of shops around the world as well
as for order online from the Elska website. Also available is a companion zine called Elska Ekstra
Paris, containing six more men plus hundreds of pages of outtakes and behind the scenes stories.
The list of stockists and details of the subscription service can also be found on the Elska website.Ā
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