Three years ago Thomas Knights had an idea – to put ginger guys in the spotlight like never seen before. To show them as desirable, as alpha males. Sexual, confident, heroic, as the ultimate male. Inspired by underground visionaries like James Bidgood and Pierre et Gilles Thomas Knights realised that no one had done this before and so began RED HOT his long-term vision to “rebrand the ginger male stereotype”.
You could argue that an appreciation for the copper boys has always been a desired and objectified sub type for gay men, Latino men in particular fetishise red headed men as any Irish lad who’s travelled to Madrid and survived the mauling will testify to. Kinghts approach is to turn the polish and glamour of the photo shoot and the polished media gaze onto Red Heads in the same way we might muscled men, models and porn actors, and give them the same desired spin and gloss that we are used to seeing on other types of ‘hot’ men.
Immediately it caught the public’s attention, then bloggers, then mainstream regional press, then national press, then international press, art press, fashion press, then TV coverage, radio, fair to say it became a phenomena.
To check out the huge rage of merchandise available and find more information on this book, click here:
And now the book: Red Hot 100 is out to support the calendar (which has raised thousands of pounds for anti bulling charities) which all came from the original exhibition. The books has 100 full-page photo’s of these topless models all set against the blue background, it’s Knights trademark style. This book is about the beauty of red headed men, in all their infinite variety, but it’s not about the erotic side of them, so no cock shots, ok.
This is a well presented full colour coffee table book from Bruno Gmunder. Their approach to quality and high production values is well known. With 144 full colours pages of these 100 hot and sexy red heads and supporting interviews and commentary from the models themselves which gives a real insight into how these men have overcome very negative perceptions from society. Luckily all of them grew up into serious hotties, which gives them the last, biggest laugh on the bullies.
If you’re partial to a polished buff Golden boy or a fit scruffy red blooded and red headed man then this book is for you, or the perfect present for the gingerphile in your life. The men are all stunning, and with their uncompromising stares back at us, it gives us the opportunity to not just lust after their flame haired handsomeness, but to meet their uncompromising gaze back.
Around 450 people marched through Brighton on Saturday, November 15 to demand safer streets and an end to gender based violence.
THE ANNUAL Reclaim the Night march and rally, organised by Brighton Feminist Collective (BFC), now in it’s third year, brought together hundreds of people in solidarity, carrying banners, placards and red umbrellas (to show support for sex workers’ rights).
Chants of: “However we dress, wherever we go: Yes means yes and no means no!” and “What do we want? Safe Streets! When do we want them? NOW!” rung out across the city as the marchers passed along some of Brighton’s busiest streets.
The post-march rally at the Sallis Benney Theatre featured speakers and performers who continued the call for an end to street harassment and sexual violence.
Speakers included representatives from the English Collective of Prostitutes, WinVisible, the National Ugly Mugs Scheme, Survivors’ Network, Allsorts Youth Project and the National Union of Students. In addition to speakers, there were poetry performances from Caitlin Hayward-Tapp, Alice Denny and Jo Johnson, a screening of the short film ‘Jasmine and Dora 4-Ever’ and a preview of the feature length documentary ‘FREE CeCe’.
Funds raised at the rally amounted to over £300 and will be donated to support the National Ugly Mugs Scheme who work to improve the safety of sex workers and Survivors’ Network who support survivors of sexual violence.
The evening was compèred on behalf of Brighton Feminist Collective by Jessica Gagnon.
Jessica said:“I’ve been a member of the Brighton Feminist Collective since I moved to this city by the sea. I am a proud feminist fighting against the patriarchy! I am also a sexual assault survivor. This month marks 11 years since my assault. Here in Brighton, I face frequent street harassment and I do not always feel safe when I am walking alone in this city, regardless of whether it’s daytime or nighttime. I know the same is true for so many of you. I am deeply, passionately committed to fighting against the violence and harassment so many of us face on the streets and in our homes. We are here together tonight in solidarity to say enough is enough. Say it with me: Enough is enough. Enough is enough!”
Jessica Burke, also a member of Brighton Feminist Collective, added:“When I first marched at Brighton Reclaim the Night two years ago I was finding it extremely difficult to leave the house, especially when alone, especially at night. As a survivor of sexual violence fear of being attacked or harassed in the gender-based ways I’ve experienced in my past was dominating and ruining my life. Marching together that year was the start of some very important changes for me and has led to me feeling more empowered, to challenge victim-blaming, rape culture, street harassment and everything that surrounds my fear to step out that door. I don’t deserve to live in fear, no one does and it wouldn’t be overstating it to say that taking a stand and being part of the fight for change has possibly saved my life. This is why it is so important for me personally, it’s changed my life for the better and I know it does for others’ too.”
Alex Bryce, Director of services / CEO of the National Ugly Mugs (NUM) Scheme said:“Now, more than ever, the pro–decriminalisation groups, whether sex worker-led or allies, need to come together and work.
“We need all our joint resources to counter the hate and counter the deliberate misrepresentation of facts.
“We need the voices and experiences of sex workers, the academic input from researchers, the health care arguments from support services and the input from NUM. We also need the support of anyone who cares about human rights and anyone who believe that consensual sex between adults should never be criminalised.
“Together we are stronger and together we will win the argument.”
Fabia Bates, director of Brighton-based charity Survivors’ Network, added:“We know that over 300 people in Sussex report rape or sexual assault to the police each year, and that the vibrant night time economy and strong student population within Brighton and Hove mean that a significant proportion of those take place within the city. However we also know that nearly 90% of those who experience sexual violence don’t report it to the police and it’s estimated that up to a third of survivors never tell anyone. We at Survivors’ Network are here for anyone, at any stage, whatever you have decided to do. Our message is simple, ‘we believe you, it wasn’t your fault and anything you’re feeling is entirely valid’.”
Laura Watson, speaking on behalf of the English Collective of Prostitutes, said:“In the last couple of weeks, we spearheaded the campaign against a proposed clause to the Modern Slavery Bill to criminalise clients. After hundreds of sex workers and supporters wrote in, the clause was defeated.”
“We need feminists like yourselves, BFC have been leading the way but we need everyone to support sex workers so we can win decriminalisation. When violent men know we can go to the police if we are attacked. They will be pursued vigorously, they’ll think twice. And when sex workers are safe on the streets all women will be safer.”
Susuana Antubam, National Union of Students Women’s Officer, added:“For long enough, lad culture has plagued our campus, it’s rape jokes, harassment and “banter”. It has never been and will never be funny. And For long enough we have suffered in silence. But at last: we are being heard. The evidence of how damaging this culture is can finally speak for itself.”
Maeve Devine, representing AllSorts Youth Project, concluded saying:“Just because you are on this rally, it does not make you exempt from thinking about how you treat other people. And just because I am saying it, it doesn’t make me exempt either. There was a banner carried at Trans Pride this year which read “unlearn Transphobia”. We all have phobia`s in us which translate as prejudices. These may not often be our fault, we may not even be aware that we have them. But the only way to make this world safer for ourselves and other people is look at ourselves, find out what our prejudices are and make a commitment to unlearn them.”
Funding to stage Reclaim the Night was made possible through individual donations to the Brighton Feminist Collective and through funds provided by the University of Sussex Students’ Union (sussexstudent.com) and by FemRock Brighton (facebook.com/FemRockBrighton).
Brighton Feminist Collective is a sex-positive, pro-choice, trans-inclusive, sex worker inclusive feminist activist group that meets weekly at a cafe in central Brighton to plan campaigns and events and hold feminist-focused discussions.
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