A new form of liquid energy has sprung onto the market. And it isn’t something you’ll see arriving in barrels from Saudi Arabia.

The invention, known as Gay Fuel, is a low-carbonated energy drink recently introduced to the global GLBT community by David Syner and his father, Robert. The pair had become burnt out from working in the film industry, and so a pasteurized “booster drink” flavored with elderberry juice and Brazilian herbs served as the perfect career antidote.

“My father and I had heard about an energy drink targeting the black rap community, called Death Con 3, and we thought, ‘why not develop one specifically for gays?’” David Syner says.

After spending a year and a half looking for different chemists and taste-testing the product on friends, the Syners launched the bright-pink drink with considerable success to Pride organizations throughout the U.S. and parts of Europe.

Gay Fuel is currently available in 26 states, as well as Puerto Rico, Italy and the Czech Republic, though in California it has yet to arrive in San Diego. “We don’t have a distributor there yet,” says Syner, “but we’re negotiating with San Diego LGBT Pride to introduce it at the Pride festival this summer.”

The product, available online, is different than other sports and energy drinks, he adds “because it doesn’t give you that carbonated bite in the back of your throat. We’re definitely not Red Bull.”

More so, the rainbow-tinged logo on each of the cans isn’t exactly designed for those in the closet. Yet ironically, Syner says that his company outsells the product in Nebraska over any other state.

Syner also touts the drink’s aphrodisiac properties, extracted from three Brazilian rainforest herbs – lapacho, damiana and marapuama – known to charge up libidos in both men and women. And a hefty dose of B vitamins plus caffeine is just what energy-drink consumers look for when they want to play longer and work harder.

The drink is produced in Holland and marketed under the company name Specialty Spirits, which donates 5 percent of its annual profits to AIDS-related charities posted on Gay Fuel’s website. The company also sponsors GLBT events – about 35 Pride celebrations and 18 charities last year.

“We spend no dollars on advertising,” notes Syner. “We’d rather put our money into Pride celebrations, film festivals or circuit parties.”

In a recent public-relations coup that caught Syner by surprise, the product was mentioned by Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show” during an offbeat shopping segment. “It was incredible exposure for us. Jay spent a lot of time on Gay Fuel compared to the other products.”

When asked if the boldly-named drink has received any flak from conservative groups, Syner says, “Yes, a little: Your typical resistance from people who don’t support gay issues and gay people in general. But they’re allowed to drink their drinks, so more power to them.”

Gay Fuel can be purchased online – visit this article at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link. Single cans sell for $2.25 apiece, or $12.95 for six-packs.