So long, and thanks for all the memories

When the journey ends, the stories begin.

Hello Handsome Humans,

It feels as though I’ve lived multiple lifetimes since 2019 when this project started. The world looked very different, no matter how we looked at it. I said from the beginning that I felt like a captain steering a ship. And we took this project on quite a journey over the last 6 years. We weathered through a lot, like a whole lot. We landed in all kinds of uncharted territory, and I navigated it all the best I could. This project saw through worldwide changes and personal changes, both for myself and the crew. We did some things that I never would have dreamed about; we did so many very handsome photoshoots, released 4 calendars, designed and released shirts and stickers and mugs and hats, we connected, we created community. We’ve connected with celebrities that I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined I would get to meet (or give a calendar to). We have made such beautiful community connections with other businesses, supporting each other and connected with more creators and influencers than I can count. And the backbone of all of this is the entire community that we’ve built, the people who shared our stories, who supported our projects, who found meaning and healing in the work we’ve done. We packed a lot into a relatively short period of time, and even that might be an understatement.

This project was born out of a need for representation and visibility for butch humans, and as I sit here now, I see SO MUCH more than I did 6 years ago. There are so many more creators, so many more folks telling their stories, so many more handsome voices out there, living proud and loud. I love what I built, I love running the show with my Wife, my Co-Captain; I love what I was able to do, I love the way this project helped me grow and change; I love the people I was able to connect with.

The way that I have run this project had me always thinking about what everyone else needed from it, and on that path, I lost sight of what I needed from it. After we rebranded earlier this year, we took a lot of stock in what our plans were. Emily and I spent a lot of time talking about the project and where we wanted it to go, and where we didn’t. Part of this time was taking a step back and letting things breathe, spending more time being in our lives, instead of documenting it or dissecting it for content. The bigger steps I took out, the less I found myself wanting to step back in. In that space, after the transition, in the quiet, I found myself more present in my own life. I found more time to explore my own art and my own creativity, not based in consumption. As I turned down the volume of trying to chase a never ending algorithm that’s continually designed to keep us running, I realized that there was a lot more under the surface to consider.

I believe part of being a good captain is knowing when it’s time to return to shore, dock the boat and take a rest. That is what I am going to do. I started this project with so much love and intention, and I intend to set it to rest with the same intention and even more love.

This leg of the journey has come to an end. We will still be here in a different capacity. We are docking the ship for now, and who’s to say what the future will hold.

With eternal gratitude to my wife Emily, for riding this ride with me from beginning to end and for tethering me when I got too high in the clouds and for lifting me up when I fell too far down, none of this would have existed without you; to my son for being my top cheerleader; to Graciela for jumping into this whole thing with both feet and taking some hella handsome photos of us; to every butch who’s ever been on the crew for their friendship and support and love for the cause; for the spouses and partners of every butch on the crew for their friendship and for being our hype squad; for everyone who found healing or support through what we did; for everyone impacted by this story and everyone who participated in any shape or form.

So Long and Thanks for all the Memories Handsome Humans <3