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Blueboy®, one word, was more than just a magazine; it was a trailblazer of gay culture. Blue boy®, two words, is more than just a product; it is a legend trademarked by Canadian leather cleaner manufacturer Lockerroom. Coincidence that they share a name? We think not. In this cheeky yet informative post, we will explore how a 1970s gay magazine called Blueboy sparked a legacy that gloriously, and maybe even unknowingly, lives on in Blue boy. So grab a seat as we dive into Blueboy’s world, past and present.
Let us set the record straight: Blueboy® (one word) is the registered trademark of the iconic gay men’s magazine founded in 1975 by Donald N. Embinder. Blue boy® (two words), on the other hand, is the registered trademark of Lockerroom, one of the world’s most respected leather cleaner manufacturers based in Canada.
While the names are legally distinct, the cultural and visual overlap is undeniable. Blueboy magazine’s logo, branding, and even cheeky reference to “blue” imagery may well have inspired the naming and design of Blue boy®. Even today, their recognizable blue label and white lettering recall the magazine’s aesthetic, a clever nod, whether intentional or not, to their shared gay culture.
Founded in 1975, Blueboy® magazine was the first nationally distributed gay men’s lifestyle magazine in the U.S. and quickly became a must-read for its blend of erotic photography, art, politics, celebrity interviews, and cultural commentary. Over the decades, it championed LGBTQ+ visibility and helped define queer sophistication.
Fast-forward to 2025, and we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of this rule-bending publication. The Blueboy Archives & Cultural Arts Foundation (BACAF) has announced a limited-edition commemorative issue, individually numbered with only 2,025 copies available. It is a beautifully curated time capsule, complete with new artwork, fashion, fiction, and rare archival content. No digital version, no reprints, just one print tribute to a magazine that changed the game. If you are curious, check out blueboy.com or read up on the history at bacaf.org/history.
While Blueboy magazine was doing its part in the cultural arena, another “Blue” star was rising in the nightlife underground. Blue boy® has been turning heads blue since the late 70s or early 80s. With its deep blue branding and reputation, Lockerroom’s Blue boy® quickly became a favorite among the gay community, and still is.
It is a name that winks to the artistic legacy of The Blue Boy painting that inspired the magazine itself. Even the clever brand styling, two words, helps it dance around trademark conflict with its magazine muse, all while establishing its own global reputation.
Images 1 and 2: The Blue Boy (1770) by Thomas Gainsborough and the first cover of Blueboy (1975) seen at Made in L.A. 2020: a version. Installation view at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Blue_Boy.jpg#/media/File:The_Blue_Boy.jpg https://www.huntington.org/monica-majoli
And like its big brother Rush, Blue boy® is often imitated but never duplicated. Counterfeits are around, but Lockerroom’s trademark ensures authenticity, and we happily offer three couple of versions in our shop.
We are proud to stock three different versions of Blue boy®, each made by Lockerroom in Canada with top-tier quality and legendary consistency. Whether you are after the nostalgia hit or a smoother modern vibe, there is a version for you:
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
 | Blue boy® “Retro Bottle” 25 ml Pentyl Formula A throwback favorite with Canadian pentyl nitrite, a prefered formula due to its formulation and performance. |
 | Pentyl Formula Same pentyl potency in the traditional sleek, pocket-sized bottle. |
 | Hexyl Formula A smooth and slightly milder ride, this hexyl nitrite formulation is great for those who want a longer session, and the iconic blue bottle. |
Enjoy a friendly price on any Blue boy® version when you buy more than one bottle of the same type.
From the glossy pages of Blueboy® to the bottles of Blue boy®, it is clear that these two icons share more than just a name. They represent a legacy, of visibility, sensuality, masculinity, and queer creativity. But here is the thing: so often, we engage with products, names, or symbols without knowing where they came from. We buy, we collect, but the stories behind them fade or fracture over time.
Sometimes the links are broken. Sometimes the facts get fuzzy. And yet, what remains is a shared passion to keep our culture alive, to celebrate, archive, and revive what shaped us. Bringing stories like this to life is not just about nostalgia, it is about honoring the artistry, challenges, and wit of those who paved the way.
It seems pretty clear to us that Blue boy® was inspired by Blueboy® magazine, even if the connection was never officially declared. But do we need a signed confession to celebrate something this special? Absolutely not.
Instead, we raise a blue bottle (or a magazine) and say: thank you.
Thank you to the queer creatives who gave us representation in print.
Thank you to the pioneers who made space for pleasure without shame.
And thank you to the ones who keep these legacies alive, one story, one reprint at a time.
So here is to blue, the magazine, the bottle, the legacy.
Happy 50th, Blueboy®. And long live Blue boy®.
