Men’s Health for Men Who Love Men

Fitness mags are great for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they have covers bearing sexy, shirtless, oiled-up male models, which is really more of a public service. And then there are, like, workout tips and stuff. But, more often than not, they tend to be of the hetero "bro" variety.

"There are endless articles on how to find your girlfriend's G spot, or what lingerie to buy her on Valentine's Day," says gay El Champ founder Matthew Dempsey. "I knew such magazines weren't developed with readers like me in mind."

So, using his background in publishing, production, and marketing, and drawing on his passion for health and fitness, Dempsey decided to do something about it. A year in the making and set to go live in November, El Champ seeks to clean-and-jerk its way into the bro-tastic realm of fitness magazines -- but with a decidedly queer angle.

The Australian native launched El Champ with more in mind than creating another muscle-molding instruction manual. Instead, the mag will go beyond fitness to focus on general wellness, intellectual curiosity, and political engagement, while championing real and relatable gay role models (its tagline is "Bent on Rolemodellin").

"I believe that being part of a community is synonymous with happiness, and that being socially informed, responsible, and contributing to a cause is a fundamental pillar of that," Dempsey says. "As a result, El Champ not only promotes physically stimulating content but also thought-provoking and informative features to encourage a holistic life."

With a print edition of El Champ planned for 2018, future readers can expect workout guides, motivational stories, timely nutrition articles, sex advice, and reports on international politics. Here, to whet your appetite, Dempsey provides some of his "Rolemodellin'" tips:

1. Write down your objectives

"Success is no accident," Dempsey says. "You need to live and breathe your goals. Jotting them down is a scientifically proven exercise to increase your chances of achieving them."

2. Take a shot of ACV

"Drinking apple cider vinegar before your workout will prevent cramps, restore electrolytes, and eliminate acid from muscle tissues."

3. Warm up -- and down

"Adding strength, static, and aerobic exercises before and after your workout will reduce your risk of injuries."

4. Use an exfoliating cleanser

"Scrubbing after your workout will flush out sweat and impurities. And, of course, deodorant pre- and post- workout is essential. You never know who you'll run into."

5. Listen and learn

"Challenge yourself to learn something new every day. By expanding your knowledge, you and those around you will benefit from the results."