While many speak of porn stars as their masculinity icons, we remember that not everyone follows this path to gain worldwide recognition. One of the examples is the official model of the Tom of Finland institute, which since 2004 has been publicized in various ceremonies in various cities across the United States as if it were a real model in the vision of its creator Tom.
Pete Finland (aka Peter Karjalainen) who was born in Tampera in the same country where Tom was born (Finland) who initially came in the mid-90s as a professional model and porn actor named Eric York for several men's magazines until he was discovered by the head of the institution Tom of Finland Durk Dehner who, upon seeing the photos, tried to be part of the institution because he thought he was the face of the models that the late Touko remembered when making his drawings.
Currently living in Los Angeles who went through a tumultuous period when he found out he had stage 3 colorectal cancer and is having chemotherapy/radiation treatment and feeling better.
Pete gave in to the interview for Bear Mais Magazine, talks a little about his work for the institution, stable union, his participation in the film “Bearcity 2”, in addition to future projects. Watch the interview in full:
Bear Plus Magazine - Pete, what was your life like before you found out about the Tom of Finland institution?
Pete - It was just a mere professional model that posed and earned my sweat until I arrived in the United States until I received an email from the president of the institution, Durk Denher saying that he looked like several drawings made by Touko (Tom) who died a year ago before I came to the US. The coincidence in this matter that he and I were born in the same country.
Bear Plus Magazine - Some people exaggerate it by sending email with sexual words and something else (go to finally). What do you think and how would you react to these fervent fans?
Pete - My image lets a lot of people dream something about me, I live to flirt with people's imagination. So, I try to be discreet when returning emails from them and whenever I can respond that I know one day I can meet them live, sometimes they get needy and want attention, there are many emails even though I receive them daily, I don't even have time to respond, but I respond and really pay attention to my fans
Bear Plus Magazine - Los Angeles is a city where celebrities live did you really decide to live in the city on your own or just because of the Institution?
Pete - I live since I stepped when I left in my country, I love living in California. And life in Hollywood has never been boring for me, there are always some parties and ceremonies going on in town and the weather is perfect. I've lived here for twenty years and even though the city has a gay community, Los Angeles has its ups and downs like any other city in the country.
Bear Plus Magazine - Although you made a brief appearance in the movie "Bearcity 2", have you ever dreamed of taking an acting course in order to enter the cinematographic world?
Pete - No, but I already participated in another film before Bearcity 2, of course I loved participating in this innovative project, in addition, it had a wonderful setting that is “Provincetown” which is a wonderful city, with an open ocean and several wonderful bears. I like to act outdoors and not in a closed studio in Los Angeles, so I will never adapt to being a real actor.
Bear Plus Magazine - Continuing to talk about the film "Bearcity 2", where the theme is more about the bear and the community, did you know this world before?
Pete - Yes, I know the community since 1999 when I became a model for Tom of Finland, I love them because they are furry and at the same time affectionate, being invited by the film's producers was an honor to do because it is necessary to maintain unity in all possible ways to have respect!
Bear Plus Magazine - Pete, many Brazilians still have the habit of being a little shy when it comes to posing in skimpy clothes, especially bears, do you have any good advice for them?
Pete - My advice to them is the following, think that the camera is your man who is having to seduce you, gradually feel free to be intimate with her, forget everything around her (she thinks she is enjoying showing her she). She who is your center, forgets everything and dating and has fun. Shyness is normal for everyone and I guarantee you better have fun with the machine than many men out there (Laughter)
Bear Plus Magazine - Do you like leather fetish like Tom of Finland?
Pete - Yes, I am proud to wear it and I almost always go to the Institution's ceremonies, this is an attitude that comes from the person and not from society itself. People need to be proud to be shown like Tom did by showing his drawings at a time when people thought the fetish was something out of this world
Bear Plus Magazine - There are several leather festivals for your country and we see that you were always helping to expand this community, in other countries like Brazil that still haven't evolved. I think it's the religion that make us get shy about this?
Pete - I don't know how to say this! There are leather communities in religious countries like Ireland. I'm not connected to religion (I'm an atheist) but I respect everyone's religion. I always follow the leather community, as it is very active in the United States. Although religion always sees that the Bible was written by God and not by man, who today finds God treating gays like irrational animals, this is wrong and is not written in the Bible.
Bear Plus Magazine - Could you name a very different event that occurred during your US appearances?
Pete - Oops, the good thing is that several things happened, I will cite an example. I was in a club when some handsome guys were drunk and showing that they wanted to talk to me, I tried to be nice to him in a way, I decided to go to the bathroom, when they followed me, I locked myself in the bathroom and stayed hiding. They went crazy thinking I was until it got to the cleaning lady. I called my agent to see if they left. I have to be nice to people, but there are limits, right?
Bear Plus Magazine - When did you discover cancer?
Pete - I was feeling really nauseous and throwing up uncontrollably, I think that was the first sign. I knew it wasn't normal. And after they sent me home from the hospital twice, the third time I told the medical staff I wasn't leaving because I wanted to know the cause and they would have to find out what was wrong with me and the tests done in the hospital found a tumor and with that they did a biopsy that was malignant.
Bear Plus Magazine - What did you feel with the diagnosis at the time.
Pete - It was a shock, it felt unreal, and I enjoyed taking the time to understand what was going on. I'm a very optimistic person and I'm dealing with it, but I would almost die.
Bear Plus Magazine - Are you feeling well with the treatment?
Pete - Currently, I feel fine. My cancer is in remission. I continue to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy and continue to suffer from various side effects, but the important thing is to fight and continue to fight this disease!
Bear Plus Magazine - Currently gay Americans have been moving for their rights in recent years. In your opinion, will they be able to really conquer all their rights as citizens like the entire population of the country?
Pete - Let's wait ten years from now when we'll start laughing, of course, after all, it's only now that even the president is on our side and needs us to conquer his projects. A fact that same-sex marriage is already a reality for all American states
Bear Plus Magazine - What's your biggest unfulfilled dream to date, Pete?
Pete - Apesar da vida corrida que tenho, queria conviver como uma típica família americana, vivendo ao lado de um companheiro amoroso e ter sempre ter um filhote de cachorro á cuidar, apenas isto já me deixaste feliz por resto da vida.
Pete Finland as he is currently out of work and needs your help to help him through this medical emergency. .
Pete had to wait three months to be approved for treatment and that he started using his savings, which left him with no source of income to pay his monthly expenses, such as medication and certain treatments, rent, car payment, insurance and gas, which which leads you to your doctors and treatments. Then, of course, there are foods that require him to eat as healthy as possible to help his body fight off illness.
If you like Pete and would like to help in any way, making donations (any dollar amount) go to the Gofundme page where there is a page where the collection is for him to continue the treatment and miscellaneous expenses
You can also give support on his social media pages
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PeteFinland66
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petefinland/
