Summey becomes fave among the big and gay crowd

by Ashley Phosphate

North Charleston – When Mayor Keith Summey agreed to be the grand marshal in North Charleston’s first gay pride parade, he had no idea that he would become an instant hunk among the gay community’s “plus-size” members.

The most recent issue of Big and Gay! featured a pictorial spread of Summey over the years since he was on North Charleston City Council and since he became mayor.

“We just saw Keith and his smile and knew that the time was right to honor a straight man, whom we want so badly to be gay, in the pages of our magazine,” said Clyde Brooks, the magazine’s editor.

The pictures show Summey at a variety of events in North Charleston and feature gay fashion and style consultants commenting on the Mayor’s wardrobe and hair style. “For us, the Mayor’s hair is his real gayness. I mean that style is so classic and is such a wonderful, full head of hair that nary a gay man in 300 miles could resist running his fingers through it if he could,” Brooks said.

Summey is flattered by the pictures and the attention the gay community is showering upon him. “I’ve always thought that I had a decent head of hair, but I thought my weight held me back in terms of attractiveness,” he said. “But the Big and Gay! People actually say I looked better before the gastric bypass surgery.” While he says he has no plans to have the surgery undone “for health reasons” Summey says that he will consider adding some more high fat foods back into his diet. “They opened my eyes a little bit with their flattery,” he said.

North Charleston City Council members had no comment on the mayor begin featured in such a high profile gay publication.

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