Let’s unpack the controversies, the nuance and the fantasies of gay for pay porn.

Ever come across the term “gay for pay”? No? Well, let me explain a little bit about what it is, why it’s controversial, reasons behind why someone straight might participate in gay porn and if it’s ever okay to spend your money and time on.

“Gay for pay” refers to straight porn actors and sex workers who participate in same-sex sex scenes and acts in exchange for money. Usually, more money than they would receive doing straight sex scenes or acts within mixed sex pairings. 

Some will disclose they are straight, others won’t. 

For some, straightness is part of the sex appeal, for others it’s a violation of the queer experience. This creates a nuanced and multifaceted controversy that surrounds the gay for pay industry at large. Is it ethical, or exploitative? Does it appropriate queer culture, or provide a service? 

Why is gay for pay controversial?

Several clashing and interconnected issues make gay for pay a controversial topic. From the allure of a better pay day and the fetishisation of straightness, to the weaponisation of gay for pay porn in anti-LGBTQIA+ arguments, it makes it thorny and divisive.

The legacy of Sean Cody, ‘straight men’ porn and subverting machismo

Way back in September, 2001, a website for gay porn popped up. The site, known as Sean Cody, was filled with solo, group and hardcore porn showing seemingly straight-coded men. They were young, muscly, twunk-ish looking jocks that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the football field.

The all-American boy, straightness and the “I’ve never done this before” trope were a shoo-in. The site rose in popularity, with many fresh-faced young men becoming household names. There was Brandon – real name Jefferey – for example, who peaked in popularity around 2015.

While Brandon/Jeff has openly discussed his no-label approach to his sexuality, his peer Taylor – real name Justin Matthews – has long been open about his straight identity.

In an interview with the Shut Up Evan newsletter in 2023, Taylor/Justin opens up about being scouted at 17 (this seems to be a commonality shared between the stars, as Brandon/Jeff was scouted at just 19 while waiting tables at Arbee’s) and his career as a gay for pay porn performer.

Like Brandon/Jeff, Taylor/Justin came from a humble background. At the time they were both recruited, they were both working hospitality jobs, looking at ways to make more money. When they were both approached, they both felt like getting paid for doing something they were doing at home for free (i.e. jacking off) was a pretty sweet deal.

Speaking on the gay for pay aspect of his work, Taylor/Justin said that he originally had thought, ‘absolutely not,’ but soon changed his mind.

“I was thinking about the dollar signs. I was born into poverty, so I was just thinking, ‘How can I get my mom out of poverty? What can I do?'” he said.

According to various posts on forums like Reddit and Quora, gay sex scenes pay better than straight-seeming scenes with women. Though it’s hard to know, exactly, as there isn’t necessarily a credible log of who gets paid what for what, just knocking about. However, some reports of it do exist in the digital archives of Mic Magazine, for example.

For straight men (and I do not include bi, heteroflexible, homoromantic or any other forms of sexual orientations within that umbrella), more money seems to be the main motivator for participation.

The appeal of straight men in gay porn is still popular today, as according to the 2025 PornHub Pride Report, it is one of the most commonly viewed categories for 18-24 year olds.

It is also the most popular category of porn in places like Poland, a country notorious for its anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment, and the most-viewed gay categories across Colorado, Louisiana and Iowa. Colorado is currently facing a threat to its ban on conversion camps; Louisiana recently voted against discrimination rights for LGBTQIA+ citizens; and Iowa’s new law bans updates to gender markers on birth certificates.

It might be unreasonable to assume that this interest in straight porn is one of two things, a subversion of comp-heterosexuality and machismo, and a means to explore desire while combatting internalised homophobia.

Subversion of this kind is seen in kink all the time – particularly kinks related to sportswear or scally-lads. It can be freeing, liberating and affirming when explored consensually and mindfully.

However, for those with internalised homophobia, it can be about exploring same-sex desire without feeling “gay”. In a VICE report on scally lads published in 2014 (read with caution – it’s a product of its time) the author comments on one profile, which states “I hate those fucking skinny jeans-wearing, glitter-faced queens. I like guys to be guys, and I might be a bottom, but I ain’t no sub-bitch either.” That the “obsession with heterosexuality” and “fear of effeminancy” is extreme enough to sound, well, homophobic.

Recently, straight gay-for-pay porn actor Andy Lee stated in an episode of the All Out podcast with John Dean – which tackled reasons behind the homo-erotic nature of laddish culture and its appeal to the gay community – that he owed his lifestyle to his gay fans.

“They [fans] wanted to see more lads from the streets. Bring more of my real friends in, not porn stars. They wanted a lot more of that,” said Lee, whose OnlyFans is built on catering to the straight-loving gay-gaze, filled with laddish groups of straight men pushing their sexual boundaries. When asked by Dean why he does so well, he replied that, from his experience, it comes down to three main things.

“From speaking with a lot of gay men,” he said, “a lot of them had that friend in school – their best mate, someone that related to them growing up that they could never have.”

He continued to explain that, from his understanding, the tension between the forbidden fruit, the fantasy of being able to touch and have sex with someone straight and the realism of the type of machismo he has is what holds the straight male porn fantasy together, in the same way that some straight men might enjoy being turned away by two sapphic women.

“People like what’s not the norm,” he continued.

Money, marginalisation and misrepresentation

The second thread that pulls on a controversial string is the idea that gay roles, in cinema and in porn, should be fulfilled by gay men. And, that by straight men taking these roles, they take money away from gay men, who are marginalised. This causes both misrepresentation and it’s an undeniable sting. The fact that a straight man can make money from something that is socially taboo’d globally can feel like a slap in the face.

But as we’ve covered with the straight man porn, it’s not always as simple as playing into a mixed sex fantasy that is representational of gay identity. Some people aren’t into it.

“There are some people who get very offended by the fact that a heterosexual man is engaging in gay sex with other men with penises” says Rhys, 31. “They feel that they’ve been cheated or the fantasy is broken for them and they can’t engage with it anymore. I think that’s really interesting because, for me, I always remember that all porn is a fantasy to a degree.”

Rhys explains that for him, labels are having less and less importance, following a UK-wide trend of many millennial and Gen-Z folks feeling fatigued by self-identification.

So, why do porn actors and OnlyFans creators go in for gay-for-pay?

Alexia Woods, 23, from London is an OnlyFans creator who frequently does gay-for-pay videos, but identifies as straight.

“For me, it’s always been for the money and a case of demand from my fans. I put it off for a while as I found it to be pretty awkward in the beginning, but I think it was just a case of building confidence to do the scenes. I actually mainly work with girls I’m close friends with now,” she tells Gay Times.

Woods explains that as far as her attitude on gay for pay, it is exactly that – only performative. “The majority of women in the industry are straight, but know that filming girl/girl collabs is the best way forward.”

She notes that, for a lot of her straight male fans, they like the idea that she’s straight and doing girl-on-girl content, as it gives it an edge of exclusivity, which also means you can mark up the price.

“In regards to sexuality aligning with the sex acts they perform, I’d personally say no. The part I love about this industry is the freedom and creative thinking it allows you. You can create whatever content you want, and that includes content that doesn’t align with their sexuality.”

Weaponisation of LGBTQIA+ identity

The last and final bone of contention comes from the weaponisation of gay for pay porn, which has historically been cocked to the bow of conservatism as ‘proof’ that orientation is a choice. What this fails to take into consideration is both romantic love and the physical mechanism of arousal.

The body can become aroused randomly, when we are asleep, through touch and stimulation and by visual, auditory and textural senses.

There are nuances to attraction and arousal, too. It may, for example, not be the fact that two men are giving one another oral sex that’s the turn-on; it could be the context of their environment, or, as we’ve seen, the performance of their gender and sexuality.

“Everything is about sex, except for sex. Sex is about power,” Oscar Wilde famously wrote, and it seems that with gay for pay porn, it is the power of the fantasy of straight men that people are buying into.

The post Unpacking the fantasies and controversies of gay for pay porn appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Let’s clear some things up around here…

WORDS BY KATIE BASKERVILLE

Pillow princesses have been getting a bit of a bad rep, huh? Welp, if you ask me, that hardly seems fair. 

I’m of the same school of thought as Renée Rapp, who famously said on stage in 2023, “We work all day and night to lay there like a little starfish”, when a fan held up a sign saying Pillow Princess Representation Matters! (It does!) And, here’s why.

@icryalotfornoreason « AND WHAT ABOUT US? WE WORK DAYS AND NIGHTS TO LAY THERE LIKE A LITTLE STARFISH » -Reneé on being a pillow princess. #reneérapp #reneérappconcert #reneérappmontreal #snowhardfeelingstour #snowhardfeelingsmontreal #reneérappmusic #rmj #montreal #montrealconcert #pillowprincess ♬ son original – sélénafangirlsalotfornoreason

When words and terms from the queer community enter the mainstream (i.e. cis-het society), they often become diluted by heteronormative expectations and simultaneously plagued by behavioural attributions, resulting in misconceptions and disinformation. To such an extent that they begin to take on new meaning in the cultures from which they originated, losing all nuance and truth. 

“Pillow princess” is one such term that’s fallen prey to this cycle, and now it’s causing a little upset over on TikTok for LGBTQIA+ and hetero people alike. 

Some creators are standing in staunch defence, while others are eye-rolling and adding to the harmful narrative that pillow princesses are passive, lazy and offer nothing to a sexual dynamic. 

Excuse me?

@edanmcgovern @nobodyaskedpodcast1 supremacy #lgbt #gay #queer #lgbtq #pillowprincess @Lachy McIntyre ♬ original sound – Edan Mcgovern

In one video, two friends discuss women who self-identify as “pillow princesses”. One says, “That’s like going into a job interview and being like I’m lazy.” 

The pair continue to use the job metaphor to suggest that a pillow princess has a “bad work ethic”, “turns up late”, and is ” not an active listener”. As for what they contribute to a sexual dynamic, “Not much.” Sigh. 

This exchange goes to show just how little is understood about pillow princesses and begs the question: Why does the queer community copy toxic traits from the straight community? C’mon. We’re better than that!

We’re going to get to the bottom of this, pun intended…

What does the term “Pillow Princess” mean? And, how have people got the dynamic so wrong?

Pillow princess is a term to describe a type of sexual dynamic that can be similar to that of a bottom (but not the same!). Those who take on the role of a pillow princess prefer to receive pleasure and may choose not to reciprocate the same sexual touch back to their partner.

However, Gigi Engle, psychosexual therapist and the resident sex expert at 3Fun, tells Gay Times that the perception that a pillow princess is only a submissive partner isn’t exactly the full picture. 

“A pillow princess can actually be the person who’s more in a dom role,” she says. 

Engle explains that the power dynamic of a pillow princess isn’t determined by how they have sex, but the context in which the two partners are co-creating the sex they have. In some positions, like reclining to receive, this might be less obvious. However, in others like face sitting, we can begin to appreciate the power and eroticism involved in consenting to receive pleasure.

“If you’re doing something like face sitting and the submissive partner is performing oral sex, you’re kind of queening. Though you might not appear to be actively engaged in the sense of doing a lot of movement, you are actively engaged in that dynamic. So I think that we do misunderstand it in that way,” says Engle. 

Being a pillow princess can be, and often is, misconstrued when viewed through a heteronormative lens, painting a picture of someone who is not interested in their partner, or doesn’t want to participate in their relationship. This is, in part, because of the conflation with the pejorative term ‘starfish’, which describes a cis woman who doesn’t actively participate in the sex they have with their cis male partner – i.e. “they just starfish”. 

The term is used in a derogatory manner and is steeped in misogyny and entitlement. In heterosexual society, women – especially femme-presenting women – are expected to perform a type of femininity that is in service to masculinity. That extends to pleasing their partner in the bedroom, even if that means participating in sex that they don’t necessarily want to have. 

Women en masse are also taught that sex is something that is done to them by men, while simultaneously being told not to explore their own pleasure. Starfishing may look like unenthusiasm, but with limited resources on sex and relationships for young girls and women throughout history, or any resources for men that paint a true picture of consent, boundaries and the importance of female pleasure, it’s perhaps no wonder that the type of sex they’re having with their partners is not particularly satisfactory or engaging. 

Either way, it seems that our misunderstanding of what a pillow princess is in the sapphic sense of the word and the role they play in bedroom dynamics is linked to this gender based socialisation. 

Whether we like it or not, and regardless of our sexuality and gender identity, we all consume elements of compulsory heterosexuality and metabolise them, particularly as they pertain to gender roles. 

In the queer community this can look like attributing actions to gender in a way thats subversive, or it can look like internalised comp-het, where pillow princess-ing is concerned.

“I think that a lot of cis-het norms have impacted the way we think about pillow princesses,” Engle says. “The misconception that women and femme people are there to serve the masculine partner and that they’re not really there to enjoy sex directly feeds into the broadly incorrect notion that they’re just lying there and taking it, waiting for it to be over.”

What does a pillow princess do in bed?

You’d be mistaken for thinking that a pillow princess is someone who doesn’t participate in sex. Pillow princesses play a vital role. Whether they’re the submissive or dominant partner, their active consent to receive pleasure is the erotic act for both or all participants. 

We’ve seen the pillow princess role celebrated profusely by pop stars like Chappell Roan, whose lyrics in her hit single ‘The Giver‘ encourage women who’ve never had an orgasm – or simply just want one – to give her a call and she’ll “get the job done”.

“A pillow princess is somebody who is empowered by their role as a pillow princess and enjoys having the service done to them,” Engle says. “It flips the script on its head that women and femmes shouldn’t enjoy pleasure.”

Grey and Grayson, a couple from New York, explain to Gay Times that, for them, being a pillow princess and a stone top (a term that describes a person who doesn’t like to be touched sexually in return, but enjoys being the more dominant partner), encapsulates the trust shared between the pair.

“It’s truly an energy exchange that can’t compare to anything else in my mind. Like I can’t explain it, but my food tastes better, I can sing in a new octave, my hair grows overnight. Like, being a pillow princess gives me a lot of princess powers,” Grey explains.

For Grayson, it’s the feeling of full control that makes the dynamic work so well: “I love being in full control. It’s a strange balance of dominance and devotion. It’s all for her pleasure, but in a selfish way, it’s all for mine.”

As to why people eye-roll at pillow princesses, Grey has a theory.

“I think people have a lot of issues with who receives pleasure and how,” they say. “I feel like there are obvious assumptions that we’re lazy, can’t be a ‘real lesbian’, and our partners are waiting for a clearing in the woods to run to where they will find what they’ve been missing all along.

“But to be a pillow princess is never one-sided, and I think safety, trauma, comfort, etc, are severely overlooked.”

Grey admits that this can hurt their feelings, until they remember that their partner can throw them over their shoulder.

“Policing consensual queer sex is weird, wrong and completely unnecessary,” says Grey.

The pillow princess is sorely misunderstood within the community

There is also some “discourse” on TikTok that would suggest that being a bisexual and a pillow princess is something of a sapphic faux pas.

@trailerpkprincess not all bisexuals but multi of them have told me their “pillow princesses with women” but not a men. Weird lol #lesbian #lgbtq ♬ wanna kiss ya neck – jamie

One user made a video stating, “And while I’m at it, pillow princess is also a lesbian term and every ‘bisexual pillow princess’ I’ve met is a misogynist who doesn’t go down on women but still goes down on men.” 

Yikes. 

Others compare sex with pillow princesses to sex with straight women, which is problematic. 

@lirtyofficial Lets just be real… #fy #wlw #lesbiansoftiktok #studsoftiktok🌈 #femsoftiktok🏳️‍🌈 #lbgtq #agressivelove #domfem ♬ original sound – Heather

Nevertheless, this seems to be a common thought, as another user suggests that pillow princesses are straight women pretending to be lesbians, while another defends her identity as a lesbian and pillow princess from a commenter who makes a similar suggestion. 

@cmonhoneyy Replying to @AlienZee24🛸👩🏾‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏽🌈 you don’t know most of our experiences. Stop trying to label a group y’all are too ignorant to learn about. #fyp #blacklesbiantiktok🌈 #pillowprincesses ♬ i ABSOLUTELY have to – killa

Others compare being a pillow princess to being a ‘fake gay’ who actually just likes attention from girls. 

Meanwhile, pillow princesses are often stereotyped as femme, or high femme, when everyone, regardless of their presentation, can be a pillow princess or a touch-them-not.

What’s clear is there is a bleeding in of scorn and ridicule for women and sapphic folks who choose to self-identify as pillow princesses. The irony seems to be lost that pillow princesses subvert gender-based notions that women and femme presenting people shouldn’t ask, want or be given pleasure if it is not transactional in nature. Or that there is an innate joy in being with a pillow princess who indulges in your position as a top, stone top or ‘giver’. 

Being a pillow princess is a celebration of consent, of opening oneself up to sexual touch, and this kind of hate fails to recognise the variety of dynamics that happen between sapphic partners. 

Sapphic sex explained…

Whether you’re into scissoring, straps or don’t like being touched at all, sapphic sexual dynamics are a broad church of experiences, desires and partnerships. Everyone’s different.

Some people, like pillow princesses, love to receive pleasure and don’t enjoy or gain sexual gratification from reciprocating sexual touch. Others, like stone tops or touch-me-nots, prefer the dynamic of being the giver and not being touched at all. 

This might be linked to traumatic experiences, or a developing predilection of the power dynamic. It could vary from person to person or change over time. There are no monolithic experiences that explain why people prefer to take on different roles.

“I think pillow princesses and stone tops are perfectly matched – a stone top may even find sleeping with a pillow princess healing. It is also a label that is exclusively sapphic,” says Kenna Bethany, a content creator and blogger who posted to Instagram to share her opinion about the dynamic.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐢𝐫e (@queer.noire)

In her video, Kenna explains that the multiverse of sexual pairings makes for a variety of different bedroom roles. She points out that there is a difference between bottoms and pillow princesses, between switch or verses and bottoms who reciprocate. 

The truth is that multiple folks love pillow princesses for who they are and what they bring to the pleasure table. 

Nobody summed it up as well as user @luvlainey, who tells us straight:

@luvlainey11 god i love pillow princesses so much 😭 my biggest weakness i fear, like okay whatever you want beautiful 🙏 #lesbian #wlw ♬ original sound – luvlainey

“Too many of y’all are hating on pillow princesses. It’s mean and it’s weird and it’s dumb and it’s pointless. But more for me, I guess…”

The post In defence of pillow princesses and their misunderstood role appeared first on GAY TIMES.

PornHub have released their Gay Pride insights for 2025 and one thing’s for sure. God, we’re a horny bunch?

WORDS KATIE BASKERVILLE
PHOTO MALIK DELGATY/TWITTER

Okay you horny lot, listen up! PronHub have released their Gay Pride insights for 2025, and we need to talk about them – STAT. 

According to the report, published in June, we’ve been very, very busy across the UK in search of our wildest fantasies. Here’s a breakdown of everything we know about the top gay sex trends of 2025.

The young’uns are horny as fuck for… the military? 

While ;orn is enjoyed across a spectrum of ages, the 18-24s certainly take the award for most horny demographic, making up a whopping 27% of the viewership. That’s over a quarter, followed by 25-34 year olds (20%).

And while the over 65s made up a small portion of gay porn viewership (11%), they were the most likely demographic to watch it. Additionally, they share a certain proclivity with the 18-24 year olds. Both over-65s and 18-24s enjoyed the military category +92% and +68% more, respectively, than other age groups.

Interestingly, the younger age group were most turned on by tattooed men (+132%) and straight guys (+69%) more than any other age group, which could suggest a desire for dominant figures, rules, punishments or subverting those experiences to push back against authority and compulsory heterosexuality. But that’s just, like, my opinion.

Pornhub

Who were we tuning into watch the most?

There’s no denying it, twinks rule the roost when it comes to the most visited category on the site. And it seems that no two countries across Europe are the same when it comes to category preferences. And breaking it down by UK region, we begin to see a more colourful picture of how we like to get down. 

While Londoners are loving uncut porn, Scotland are championing cartoons. Meanwhile, the North West are searching for blowjobs on mass and South East are enjoying solo videos. It just goes to show that we’re a little different in our tastes when we zoom in a little more. 

The UK, Germany and Italy are obsessed with these porn stars

One thing’s for sure, the UK, Germany and Italy have a surprising crossover with their most viewed pornstars. Malik Delgaty, Joe Mills, Zane Walker (who identifies as straight), Cade Maddox, Jake Preston, and Rhyheim Shabazz made it into the top ten list for each country.

Who in the UK is watching the most porn?

Okay, okay. Here’s the tea. The South East take the biscuit for the most viewed porn compared to the national average (+77%). Next were Northern Ireland (+38%), the North West (+24%) and Yorkshire and Humber (+20%). Meanwhile, London trailed behind the national average by 6%, as well as the North East by 2%.

Safe to say that something in the South East is making people horny AF.

The post What PornHub’s latest stats tell us about gay porn consumption appeared first on GAY TIMES.

The brand’s Soho location features a special window display by illustrator Ben Jomo, taken from our Work issue.

This Pride 2025, Gay Times have teamed up with illustrator Ben Jomo and Wolf&Badger Soho to celebrate queer-owned brands and LGBTQIA+ creatives, with a window display featuring our 2025 ‘Work’ cover, designed by Jomo, repurposed for a fabulous vitrine at the brand’s central London store.

But we didn’t want to stop short of that. No, no. We wanted to bring the brands to you (yes, you) and show you just how stunning they are. Better yet, we interviewed the makers so you can get to know the talented bunch of queer people behind the curtain.

Ella Douglas 

Ella Douglas is a London-based fashion designer and Central Saint Martins graduate whose work explores queer identity, subculture, and storytelling through bold, sculptural design. Born in Oxford, Douglas fuses industrial materials, intricate detailing, and automotive influences to create pieces that are both tactile and thought-provoking. Her handmade creations reflect deep research and personal experience, blending the past and present in subversive, unapologetic ways. At the heart of her studio practice: her signature trucker hats—crafted in London, and made to stand out.

Take it away Ella…Tell us a little bit about you and your brand!

I’m Ella Douglas, a recent Fashion Design graduate from Central Saint Martins.

My work is defined by bold, unapologetic storytelling that explores queer identities, subcultures, and narrative-based design. I combine sculptural silhouettes with technical innovation, often inspired by automotive aesthetics and intricate detailing. Grounded in both deep research and lived experience, I work with industrial-influenced textiles and tactile embellishments that reflect personal and collective histories.

Tell the readers at Gay Times how being queer informs your brand

When designing, I always view art through a queer lens, allowing each collection to reflect something deeply personal. By drawing inspiration from queer narratives, I’m building a world for my brand that invites others who may see themselves in the work or find a sense of belonging within it.

What do you want to see more of in your industry this Pride?

I want to see real change in the industry, with greater visibility for independent designers who spotlight their communities and bring forward diverse perspectives. It’s equally important that this support extends beyond Pride Month—these voices deserve recognition and celebration all year round.

What does working with Wolf & Badger mean to you?

Working with Wolf & Badger is an incredible opportunity for me as an emerging designer. I’m deeply grateful to be showcased on such a prominent platform. Seeing this kind of support for young designers gives me hope for a more inclusive and promising future in the industry.

Cartography

Tell us about your brand?

Cartography is a NY based jewelry brand that crafts original pieces with a message and a mission. We work exclusively with other small businesses that are as ethically conscious as us. From our silver supply that is mindfully minded in Italy, to our mom-n-pop manufacturers in Rhode Island and NYC, right down to our by-hand assembly line in NYC and Ohio, we champion fair wages and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Additionally, each purchase with cartography helps those who need it most, benefitting the marginalized communities we hold near and dear. Whether through donating items to charitable queer events, including polaroid pictures of queer-empowerment graffiti with every purchase, or annual monetary donations to The Trans Justice Funding Project and Brandi Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation, we strive to create an intimate, compassionate community in the digital shopping world.

How does being queer inform your brand?

Cartography started in the back of a tour bus – but not just any tour bus.

I have traveled with queer icon Rufus Wainwright since 2008 on his world tours and found myself making gifts for friends from tokens I gathered on the road. As my gifting evolved to an actual brand, being a gay man informed my very first collection – IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES, a series of anatomical hearts inspired and named after the men I’ve loved. From there, I never shied away from presenting cartography as an extension of myself. Through imagery, copy and branding, I have always been queer-forward and celebrate the diversity of my community, aspiring to showcase underrepresented segments of the LGBTQ+ rainbow by using black, Asian and trans models as often as possible. While unsuccessful, I still keep my eyes open for persons with disabilities and First Nations talent.

One of my favorite elements of creation is storytelling and teaching others about the richness of my community’s history. This is most apparent in my naming of pieces, in particular

ACT UP: a match stick to light the spark of change and named after ACT UP, the revolutionary grouped founded in 1987 during the AIDS epidemic, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) were known for their aggressive and penetrating displays of protest

PAY IT NO MIND: named for Marsha Pay-It-No-Mind Johnson – widely considered to be the trans-godmother of the revolution

FAGGOT and DYKE name plates: my most daring venture, but an offering my community to take back the childhood taunts and reclaim what was once held agaisnt them as their own source of pride – happily the NYTimes recognzied this effort and ran a very tender piece about them.

Rainbow Rider: featuring Iris, the Greek goddess of messengers and rainbows – say no more, huh?

NO WE WITHOUT THE T: our most recent addition made in protest to the Trump administration and JK Rowlings bullying, this is a special piece we designed with Justin Vivian Bond, a legendary NY based cabaret artist and activist, with a portion of proceeds going to the Trans Justice Funding Project.

What do you want to see more of from your industry this Pride?

I would love, as I’ve been trying to do, to see more First Nations and persons with disabilities represented though brand imagery. Everyone deserves to be seen and recognized as beautiful.

What does working with Wolf&Badger mean to you?

It’s been a thrill to have no editing or shrinking of my brand.

I’ve worked with other 3rd party retailers who shy aware and refuse my more controversial, conversational pieces, but you haven’t and it’s a small thrill to be able to presented an uncensored version of my brand.

The Wolf & Badger community gets it. Thank you.

MHARTJewelry

Michael transforms one-of-a-kind gemstones into wearable pieces of art that dare you to embrace your individuality. These unique stones are caged in a silver or gold chain, designed to mimic a spider web surrounding each gemstone. The webbing is both elegant and eye-catching. The gemstones themselves are each unique, with their own colors, patterns, and shapes. No two are alike, making each piece of jewelry truly one-of-a-kind.

Tell us about your brand

MHART Jewelry is a handcrafted jewelry brand rooted in storytelling, spirituality, and individuality. Every piece is made by hand using responsibly sourced gemstones and pearls, often wrapped in my signature “cage” technique — a delicate chain web that holds each stone like a talisman. The brand is deeply personal: it’s about energy, intention, and creating one-of-a-kind jewelry that people can connect with on a deeper level. No mass production — just meaningful pieces that feel like they chose you.

How does being queer inform your brand?

Being queer is at the heart of how I see beauty — fluid, bold, layered, and unapologetic. I don’t design for a gender or a trend. I design for people who want to feel powerful, protected, and seen. MHART is about claiming space through adornment. Growing up queer, jewelry was a way to express parts of myself I didn’t yet have words for. Now, my work is a celebration of that journey — of queerness as transformation, resilience, and magic.

What do you want to see more of in your industry this Pride?

I want to see the jewelry world go beyond rainbow tokenism. Support queer designers year-round. Invest in our visibility, our voice, our artistry. And honestly — more experimental, gender-expansive styling. Jewelry shouldn’t be boxed in by “men’s” or “women’s.” I want to see campaigns that reflect the fluid, bold, and beautifully diverse queer community as it really is.

What does working with Wolf & Badger mean to you?

Wolf & Badger has given MHART a platform to reach people who truly value ethical craftsmanship and independent design. It’s empowering to be part of a global community of creatives who are challenging fast fashion and doing things with more soul. As a queer founder, it’s also meant visibility — having my work shown alongside other diverse, thoughtful makers feels like recognition in a space that often overlooks us.

Jennafer Grace

Limited edition bohemian splendor, handmade in California. Jennafer Grace pieces are carefully designed with confident, eclectic muses in mind. All garments and accessories are hand crafted with the intention of being worn and loved for many years to come. Jennafer Grace is from San Diego, CA. Inspired by outlandish vintage and cinematic style, she believes that people of all ages and sizes deserve to feel beautiful. After working in the vintage & fashion industries, Jennafer realized that the most impactful shapes often lacked important factors: comfort and versatility. It is her mission to create beautiful items that stand the test of comfort, travel and last a lifetime. Jennafer Grace uses comfortable fabrics and linings to create wearable opulence.

Tell us about your brand?

Jennafer Grace Collection celebrates beings of all ages, genders and sizes. We are thrilled to offer universally flattering garments celebrating the joyous language of self expression. Our handmade pieces are created with love in San Diego, CA and have been enjoyed by iconic divas such as Jennifer Coolidge, Paula Pell and more. Our collectors vary across the rainbow of humanity, we are obsessed with seeing how they style and enjoy their pieces. 

How does being queer inform your brand?

Being from California, queer culture is a very normal and favored part of our lives. Along with a shared love for vibrant colors and luxurious textiles, Jennafer Grace Collection connects with our audience through an obsession for opulence and maximalist expression. The movies and music that helped us feel safe being different; tend to help you find your people. We are loud and proud about being unique and looking special. 

What do you want to see more of in your industry this Pride?

Out of all industries, fashion tends to lead the charge on queer rights and progressive issues. That being said, we can still do so much better. You still don’t see much variety in who is hired for high up jobs such as Creative Directors, etc. In all industries, there should be more focus on fundraising for people who lose their safety nets and families for being a little different. 

What does working with Wolf & Badger mean to you?

Wolf & Badger is a leading name in the sustainability movement. They hold their designers and supply chains greatly accountable and only offer pieces of high quality. Wolf & Badger has given us positive growth in brand recognition, and it’s been wonderful to meet the collectors and store teams through pop ups and activations. 

The post Wolf & Badger celebrates Pride with Gay Times appeared first on GAY TIMES.

From the casting, production, writing and acting, this queer classic featuring straight actors has stood the test of time.

This is how Brokeback Mountain transcended the ‘gay cowboy film’ label. Spoilers ahead!

WORDS BY KATIE BASKERVILLE

When Brokeback Mountain hit the silver screen back in December 2005, it was quickly labelled as a ‘gay cowboy film’ (derogatory). There was also scepticism that the film, which tells the love story between Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, respectively played by the late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal – both of whom are straight – would shape up to be nothing more than a parody.

Brokeback Mountain is set in Wyoming, in post-war America in the 1960s, a time when LGBTQIA+ rights were non-existent to the point of being illegal in many states. However, this time period echoes the themes of the film in many ways.

The American 60s is defined by free love and conscientious objection, but it was also the beginning of social change and collective action for LGBTQIA+ people. Attitudes surrounding homosexuality were archaic, cruel and suffocating, a theme that runs through Brokeback Mountain – but so do the shifts in attitudes, even if they are internal realisations and not attached to broader cultural awakenings. 

At the time, there were questions surrounding the suitability of the pair to portray this story. Additionally, concerns were raised about the commodification of queer pain and the doomed tragedy of gay love, especially as the film’s cresciendo involves an arguably unnecessary death and stumbles head first into the ‘bury your gays’ trope. 

These criticisms are deserving and enduring, but given when the film was released and the positive impact it had, and still has, on many people who had not seen their story told before, it can’t be denied that Brokeback Mountain did something special.

The film encapsulated the complexities of compulsory heterosexuality, masculinity, identity and societal expectations with nuance and sensitivity. So much so, that it has had an enduring legacy as a queer classic, even 20 years on. 

Here are some of the reasons why it has remained so beloved.

The integrity of the actors

While Gyllenhaal and Ledger were open to criticism about their straight identity, they both unashamedly and unabashedly put down any and all homophobic jokes or snide remarks that were made to shame or discredit the production, or the actors themselves. 

During a press conference in 2006, Heath boldly defended the film — and queer love – when asked what he would say to those who found the romance “disgusting”.

He didn’t hesitate: “The movie is not a story about an epidemic or a virus, or something that can be cured in a hospital. We’re showing that love between two men is just as infectious and emotional, and strong and pure as it is with heterosexual love.”⁠

The actor, who tragically passed away in 2008, added: “If you can’t understand that, don’t see the movie. It’s okay, we don’t care.”⁠

@gaytimes Thank you, Heath Ledger! This year, Brokeback Mountain returns to cinemas for it’s 20th anniversary, so we’re taking a look back at the moment Heath Ledger proved his ally status during a press conference at the 2006 Berlinale Film Festival 👏 #heathledger #brokebackmountain #ally #10thingsihateaboutyou #thedarkknight #joker #allyship ♬ original sound – GAY TIMES

In 2019, Gyllenhaal appeared on Sunday Today to discuss the impact Brokeback Mountain had on his career. Remembering Heath fondly, he said, “I see people who have joked with me or criticised me about lines I say in that movie – and that’s the thing I loved about Heath.

“He would never joke. Someone wanted to make a joke about the story or whatever, he was like, ‘No, this is about love.’ Like, that’s it, man. Like, ‘no.'”

Symbolism of the landscape and subtext of the environment

Not only is the script full of heartfelt moments (“I wish I could quit you,” anyone?), but the environment is steeped in symbolism that perfectly captures the isolation both characters feel in themselves, but the propensity for freedom and the fear of that open space potential. 

When they are out there, they are free to explore their emotions without imminent social shame, something they would certainly face if seen and spotted. 

Even at the end of the film, where we see the shirts hung together, we’re reminded of the enduring love held by Ledger’s character for Gyllenhaal’s Twist. It shows us that he is tormented by the grief beneath his stoicism. 

Scenes like this, that allow us to empathise with the tucked-away pain the characters build their life around, show us that they suffer a constant ache. 

For its time, and for a mainstream Hollywood film to tackle these themes with sensitivity, had a profound impact on fans. 

Humanising the lives of gay men

While 2005 had moved on somewhat from the intense homophobia of the 60s, things in America, and here in the UK, were certainly not “good” for gay people. 

In the UK, it took until 2005 for gay people to earn the right to Civil Partnership (not marriage), and up to 1999 for anti-discrimination laws to be brought into effect. The hangover from the stigma of the AIDS epidemic, the intense laddish culture that tore at anything remotely feminine and non-heterocentric, and the vacuum left behind by Section 28, created an era of hateful violence, bullying and torment for many gay people. Something that has not been healed, even today. 

This is why the humanisation of these characters as two people in love was so monumental. It had a profound effect for many who watched it because, for the first time, we were seeing an attempt to capture what it meant to love another man in a society that would have locked you up for it. We got to see people empathise, sympathise and realise how cruel these social rules were (are), and what’s more, created an open door for them to change their mind. 

Is it perfect? No. Do the criticisms ring truer today? I’d argue yes. But the impact on those who saw it at the time cannot be ignored. 

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Gyllenhaal recalled one fan reaction that left him stunned at the film’s impact on audiences. 

“Heath and I were at a Q&A at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles,” he said. “I remember us going to dinner while the movie was screening, and we were just joking backstage. I remember us coming onstage in a humorous mood, because we were having fun with each other.

“We sat down, the lights came up, and a man stood up – the movie had been out for a week and a half – and said, ‘I just want to say, this is my eleventh time seeing this movie. I can’t stop watching it, and I just want to thank you all for making it.’

“I thought, ‘Eleven times in ten days?’ I remember that washing over us. The profound realisation of the profundity of this thing. It happens constantly, to this day.”

The post Why Brokeback Mountain is still a landmark of queer cinema, 20 years later appeared first on GAY TIMES.

From tantric masters to actual Vikings, meet the list of gay and bi OnlyFans creators bringing the heat to your screens this summer.

WORDS BY KATIE BASKERVILLE

Heatwave be damned, we want it *even* hotter. So, without further ado, check out these OnlyFans creators who are making content so hot we think they could be to blame for the summer sunshine. And yesssss, we’ve linked them for you. You’re welcome! 

Spanish Top Boy

 

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Strong, sexy and Spanish – literally, what more could you want? 

Spanish Top Boy’s content is a sizzling reminder of just how hot things can get in España. Think hunky muscles, and unreal performance and heart-race raising videos day in, day out. 

Check him out here.

Hugo Dupré

 

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Meet the French twunk making content for the pups, the tops and pretty much everyone in between. Watch him top, bottom and more on his OnlyFans and get sneak previews of the good stuff via his X account.

Check him out here.

Teddy Bear

 

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Like a man with a little grizzly in him? Well, Teddy Bear is here to live up to all your expectations. This fuzzy king is big, strong, and so, so soft. 

Subscribe for daily posts and custom content. 

Find out more here.

Rafael Alencar

 

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Fetish films? Regular porn? Rafael Alencar does it all. And he does it well. This handsome model in New York often shows his cheeky side on Instagram, but subscribe to his OnlyFans and you’ll get to enjoy even more of him. 

Take a look for yourself here.

Josh Moore

 

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This handsome hunk and his adonis-like body heat things up wherever he goes. But don’t let that sweet face fool you, his OnlyFans is filled with pure filth. Subscribe for real fucking with the hottest stars.

Go on, take a look.

Brandon Anthony

 

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Gay tantric yoga meets erotic flow state. Brandon Anthony is LA’s finest,  hosting events all over the world. 

Subscribe to Brandon’s content here.

Felipe Villar

 

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The Sao Paolo native is serving big energy, if you catch our drift. Sign up to gain access to hundreds of sex scenes and a whole catalogue of pornographic pictures sure to make you hot under the collar. 

So if you’re looking to turn up the heat, subscribe here.

Kike Gill

 

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As a GoGo Dancer, Kike Gill knows how to turn the party up. Not only is he gorgeous from head to toe, but he has his fingers in the fetish pie, too. From kinky pup-play, armpit sniffing, and a little sportswear kink thrown in for good measure, Gill’s content is sure to make your blood run hot, hot, hot!

Take a peek here.

Canyon Cole

 

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Canyone Cole is your dream boy, take it from us. His OnlyFans is filled with daily drops of nude photos, cum shots and more. And for a little extra, you can sext too! 

Sign up here.

Kosta Viking

 

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Readers, meet Kosta Viking, the Italian-born, blond-haired, multi-award-winning creator who can’t wait to *checks notes* fuck, fuck and fuck you again!

Sign up for the hunk here.

The post 10 gay and bi OnlyFans creators that are hotter than the heatwave appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Ladies and gentlemen, the tops and bottoms of the week reveal themselves.

WORDS BY KATIE BASKERVILLE

Top, bottom, vers – these terms get banded about frequently in queer culture, particularly in the gay community. While tops are generally considered to be the more dominant partner and bottoms the submissive, the truth is there’s a lot more to these dynamics than these simple names suggest. There are power bottoms, femme tops, switches and more.  

While some folks don’t like to label their sex this way, as it can be reductive and restricting, there’s no denying that others love the surety labels like these can bring to their identity. 

And listen, everyone loves to know who’s doing what in the bedroom, and declaring your sexual dynamic is one way to let fellow queer folks know what you’re into. 

So, without further ado, let’s meet the people shouting it from the rooftops!

Bowen Yang (bottom)

On Saturday Night Live, Bowen Yang revealed he was a bottom during a skit with that week’s host, Simu Lu. Later, in a video with BuzzFeed, Yang read out thiiiiirsty tweets and proudly declared his “spit-bottom” status. 

“I guess I’m here to declare mussy. With an mhmhm.”

Lil Nas X (power bottom)

In a heated exchange with right-wing bigots on Twitter/X following Lil Nas X’s BET Awards performance, where he kissed two men on stage, he proudly declared his power bottom status. 

“Next time, I’ll just fuck the guy on stage,” he tweeted. Tongue in cheek? You decide.

Haaz Sleiman (bottom)

Haaz Sleiman had us gagged when he announced he was a “total bottom”. 

In a Queerty report, Sleiman was clear that he didn’t subscribe to the tired tropes of bottoming = bad. 

“We say, ‘Tops are better.’ And then we eye roll when we hear that someone is a bottom,” he said. “We hear that men are more worthy than women, and men are the center of the world. It is the same when it comes to the dynamic between bottoms and tops. It is OK if he is f*cking another man but it’s not if he is being f*cked by another man. I don’t accept this. This is not the world I want to live in.”

Ryan O’Connell (bottom)

When Ryan O’Connell spoke about his intentions for his stand out Netflix show Special based on his memoir of the same name, he said he wanted to make something really disabled, gay and horny. 

We also learned that O’Connell isn’t just a bottom, but a power bottom. Kudos!

David Archuleta (top)

While answering comments on TikTok, David Archuleta may have let slip his bedroom preferences… 

“I was going to say, being a bottom is a full-time job…” said the commenter, with Archuleta responding, “…can’t relate.”

And I oop!

Bob the Drag Queen (top) 

On his YouTube account, Bob The Drag Queen spilt all when answering his fans’ most googled questions about him. 

“Why are so many people googling that?” said the Drag Race champion, before answering, “I’m a top”. 

I mean, Bob gives top energy, no?

Daniel Newman (top) 

Daniel Newman’s very frank and honest explanation for where he stands in the bedroom department…

“I’m a TOP. I’m too lazy to bottom!” the star of The Walking Dead wrote on Twitter (ahem, X).

Fair enough!

Ross Mathews (top) 

Way back in 2013, Ross Mathews revealed how he likes to get down in the bedroom to host of SiriusXM, Howard Stern. 

“Not like a… I don’t, like, ‘give it’. I’m not like, ‘Come here, I gotta give it to ya,'” giggled Mathews.

Oh, hey there femme-top!

Jerrod Carmichael (top)

Jerrod Carmichael let us know he was a lifelong top in OUT Magazine‘s 100 issue… but did he also cop to being open to switch things up?

We’ll let you decide…

Nico Tortorella (vers top)

While Nico Tortorella prefers to top, they’ve been open about their fluidity, depending on the person, the vibe and place. They’ve also been very vocal about breaking stigma around bottoming or being in a receiving position, saying there’s “nothing more masculine than bottoming.” 

Abso-fucking-lutley!

Joel Kim Booster (vers) 

For Joel Kim Booster, the vibe is everything. From the time of day, the clothes he wears to the person he’s with, this vers likes to explore the role of femme and masculine roles, telling OUT Magazine that if he wears “leather if I’m topping, lace if I’m bottoming.” And when asked about time of day, “morning if I’m topping, night if I’m bottoming.”

So there you have it!

Troye Sivan (vers) 

It’s so good, it’s so good… that Troye Sivan has opened up more about his sexuality. 

Sivan told Emily Ratajkowski on her High Low podcast that his song ‘Bloom’, about bottoming, had made his fans assume that’s what he was all about. “People took that and ran,” he said.

But he told Ratajkowski that he was “not a bottom”, so glad we’ve cleared that up. Kind of.

The post 12 gay and bi celebs who’ve revealed if they’re a top, bottom or vers appeared first on GAY TIMES.

 Is it just us? Or did these fine folks get a gay glow-up after coming out?

WORDS BY KATIE BASKERVILLE

Baby girl, I’m not one to gossip, but I couldn’t help but notice that these queer celebs have gone from fine to foineeee since coming out.

There’s just something about people living their authentic selves that adds a certain je nais sais quois, wouldn’t you agree?

Gay glow-ups are a thing. Listen, you don’t take my word for it, check them out for yourself. I know you wanna. 

Elliot Page

I don’t wanna rock, DJ, but Elliot Page in a suit should come with a warning. 

Look, Page has always been gorgeous, but after he came out in 2020, his hotness has multiplied tenfold. The clothes, the confidence – all of it. We’re drooling. 

 

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Khalid

A musician and a masterpiece, Khalid’s gay glow up since 2024 has seen him truly step into himself. The nods to femme in this pink cardigan and those painted nails are a combo sure to make everyone weak at the knees. J’adore!

 

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Alexander Lincoln

While Alexander Lincoln has proudly told fans he “isn’t straight”, we have to say, sitting like that on a chair will do nothing to beat the bisexual rumours. (We’re just having a little joke! Nobody has to disclose their sexuality!)

Either way, since Lincoln let us know he wasn’t boring (again, just a little joke), he sure has got hotter. We can’t wait to see more *fans self*.

 

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Lauv

Producing bop after bop, consider us under Lauv’s spell. 

Since Lauv let us know he was “gay, but not gay, but gay”, in 2023, he’s been getting cuter by the minute (that’s a lot of minutes!). Especially with those highlighted curls and patchwork tats. 

 

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Lil Nas X

From the old town road to pink fur coats on a zebra print back seat. We are LIVING for the Lil Nas glow up. And this isn’t the first time he’s shown us just how hot he is. Pole dancing devil, anyone? No? What about *that* nude shower scene? Seriously. Call us when you want. Call us when you need! 

 

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The post 5 gay and bi celebs who got hotter after they came out appeared first on GAY TIMES.

From horny creatures of the night, to gender-bending cars and sounds that make you hot with desire. These three films capture the weird, beautiful world on kink in queer cinema.

WORDS BY KATIE BASKERVILLE

Humans are horny for literally everything, which means that there is a kink for almost anything. However, the mainstreamification of these worlds often leaves the nuance and true sense of pleasure (the most important parts) out. 

Luckily for us, these three films brilliantly capture the eroticism of kink enough to make even the most vanilla of us twitch a little in our seats. 

As always, (some) spoilers ahead…

Titane (2021) and Mechanophilia

Titane is a heady exploration of trauma, love and desire that is like a simmering pan left on the heat. Bubbling over, causing a chaotic mess. We see how the film’s protagonist Alexia, played by Agathe Rouselle, develops an erotic fascination with cars, spurred on by deep senses of danger and terror that plague her long after she survives a car crash as a child.

The sex scene in question is graphic in its depiction of pleasure, acting as a catalyst for the tension building between Alexia and her environment. The uncanny and surreal quality of the sex only adds to its Lynchian-esque depictions of desire. 

It’s queer undertones subvert gender norms and explore queer sex (that shower scene?), ending in a crescendo of sensory body horror. This psychological thriller will push all your buttons, the good ones, the bad ones and the ugly ones too. 

What is mechanophilia?

Mechanophillia is a form of paraphilia, a term that describes a person’s persistent and recurring sexual interests, urges, fantasies, or behaviours of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or atypical situations. Mechanophillia, more specifically, is an erotic fascination that involves machines. 

In Titane, in particular, this kink goes beyond commodity fetishism, where someone might have a compulsion to collect cars, and is directly linked to physical and mental arousal caused by cars. 

Kinks develop for several reasons. But for Alexia, you could argue that the Cadillac represents power, escape and masculine energy. This could have been brought on by her surviving the car crash as a young girl, the murder she commits while sitting in her own car or any number of reasons that compound danger, eroticism and survival. 

The Duke of Burgundy (2014) and BDSM

The Duke of Burgundy is an intoxicating dive into the intense dynamic between lesbian lovers Evelyn (Chiara D’Anne) and Cynthia (Sidse Babett Knudsen). 

“To be used by you. I love you,” Evelyn says to Cynthia in an ASMR-like whisper, her devotion punctuated by sharp intakes of breath and framed through her crystal blue eyes. The film’s depiction of BDSM between the two is lustful and all-consuming, but what the film does particularly well is show the surrender to both dynamics with enthusiasm. They enjoy it, they know what they’re consenting to, they want to push the limits and are enthralled by the process.

You’ll be taken in by the sometimes bratty displays, consequences, punishment and humiliations.

What is BDSM?

BDSM is a type of adult play and a catch-all term for bondage, dominance, and sadomasochism, representative of an umbrella of sexual practices that explore power dynamics in different consenting pre-agreed-upon scenarios. 

These scenarios might include inflicting or receiving pain, being punished or punishing, humiliating or humiliation – whatever power dynamic you can think of, so long as there are clear boundaries, limitations and safewords to end play. 

There are plenty of ways to explore this kink, be it with a professional dominatrix, or with play partners and even in club nights dedicated to the scene. 

If you’re a beginner or feel like you might be after watching The Duke of Burgundy, then remember that being curious and getting to know what the scene is all about before jumping straight in is vital for safe play for everyone involved. Try booking in a session with a dominatrix or booking into some sensual courses to get an idea of what you do and don’t like. 

This guide from Cheex is also a brilliant resource.

And please, PLEASE, do not use free porn as your educator. That stuff is for entertainment purposes only and NOT education.

My Own Private Idaho (1991) and Auralism

An LGBTQIA+ indie cult classic, My Own Private Idaho features the late River Phoenix as Mike, a narcoleptic gay man and his unrequited love interest Scott, played by Keanu Reeves. 

We follow the boys as they make their way to Idaho from Portland, and eventually end up in Italy on a quest to find Mike’s birth mother. The two perform tricks for money, for drugs and alcohol, amongst other things. However, it is one encounter with a client with a fixation for the sound of scrubbing that has cemented this film as something of a kink-watch classic. 

The ‘John’, Daddy Carol, has something of a fetish for the clean and immaculate, while the sound of scrubbing brings on a sense of erotic euphoria. 

While Mike scrubs, Daddy dances, until the scrubbing and dancing meet a crescendo where Mike is asked to scrub “faster, little Dutch boy, harder” by Carol. When Mike announces that he’s all finished, there’s one more job to do. 

“And now, my lucky 44th little Dutch boy, you must scrub Daddy Carol.” 

What is Auralism?

Auralism can be described as a state of arousal by sound or music. And, while we all might like a little background music before getting stuck into things, that doesn’t necessarily make you an auralist. No-no. For example, it’s the repetitive scrubbing sound of Mike’s brush, for instance, is the sound that triggers the arousal of Daddy Carol. 

For others, it could be music, or well, anything that gets you going, really!

According to a 2018 research paper, Auralism can be experienced as part of BDSM play, too,  making it far-reaching and broad in its erotic exploration.  

“Recent musicological discussions of violence, pleasure, mastery, and control in music listening point toward further BDSM-linked aspects of auralism,” says the paper.

The post Queer erotic films that explore kink in a sexy way appeared first on GAY TIMES.

 Up until now, trans sex on screen has been full of violence and trauma. It’s about time for some joy, we think!

WORDS BY KATIE BASKERVILLE

Sex scenes with trans women in film and TV have historically been a spectacle of objectification, fetishisation and at times, dehumanisation. Their characters are broadly one-dimensional, transactional and inconsequential. In short, up until fairly recently, the trans femme experience on-screen has been depicted by a lot of trauma, violence and overcoming great obstacles and not a whole lot of joy and enjoyment. 

This echoes the experiences of women (both queer or heterosexual) and gay/lesbian/bi on screen, who often fall prey to male-gazes and tired stereotypes that do little to advance plot, character arc or any of the other stuff that, you know, makes a film actually good.

Queer sex, particularly, often comes out in the wash this way. As if queer sex is only seen as compelling or meaningful when it follows intense struggle or hardship (yawn!). There is very little agency, autonomy and self-determination when it comes to demonstrating sex on scene. 

That being said, these four scenes have gone down in history for breaking the mould and showing that trans women and femmes can have sex on screen that is pleasure-focused, consenting and meaningful.  

Sex Education (2023)

The scene between Abbi (Anthony Lexa) and Roman (Felix Mufti) has earned its spot for its perfect depiction of T4T on screen. 

“It’s not the tragic trans story that often gets told,” they explained to Gay Times in 2023. “As a trans person I’ve seen enough of, ‘Isn’t being trans so hard?’ I think being trans is boss! It’s a blessing to share it with the world in a way that scares the world.” 

The scene, which centres on autonomy and consent, doesn’t sexualise or objectify, making it a kind encounter that’s pleasure-focused for the people involved, not the people watching. This was largely thanks to the use of an intimacy coordinator on set, and allowing Lexa and Mufti to shape the telling of the sex scene’s story. In an interview with Digital Spy that same year, intimacy coordinator David Thackery said “the choreography is based around their consent and boundaries.”

Thackery praised the show’s use of specialists to help writers draft storylines that bring in real sources and “not just imagination” to bring these scenes and characters to life.

Lingua Franca (2019) 

Pleasure-centric scenes through a trans femme-gaze lens? Yes please! 

Lingua Franca‘s sex scenes are filled with wanton desire, yearning and consent. Olivia, played by Isabel Sandoval, who also wrote and directed the film, was set on creating something different.

In an interview with Autostraddle, Sandoval said she wanted to capture the duality of being a trans immigrant. 

“I wanted to flesh her out with as much specificity – psychologically and emotionally – and take it from there,” she said. “I wanted to see a trans character on screen that I’ve never seen before.”

Sandoval was keen to retire the tried trope of being eroticized and objectified in favour of being “the active agent in sexual desire”. 

The payoff is a scene brimming with heat and self-determination and should be added to your watch list STAT!

Boy Meets Girl (2014)

Set in Kentucky, Boy Meets Girl is a story about young twenty-somethings in their year before college. Ricky Jones, played by trans actress Michelle Hendley, ends up caught between love interest Alexandra Turshen (Francesca Duval), her fiancée David (Michael Galante) and her best friend Michael Welch (Robby Riley). 

While some standout moments capture the broader experience of trans femme people, nothing feels gratuitous. For the most part, Hendley’s character is cherished and fiercely defended when threatened. The sex scene, involving Hendley and Duval, is a testament to this. It’s curious, sexy and intimate. 

Speaking to Out in 2015, Hendley said the sex scene enabled her to feel in control and abate fears about the unknown. She said, “Hey, this is a trans body. It’s real and it’s feminine and it’s not attacking anyone’s masculinity. Here’s who I am.”

Powerful stuff!

Heartstopper (2024) 

Everyone’s favourite TV show has been lauded (again!) for how well it has handled the trans sex scenes between Elle Argent, played by Yasmin Finney, and her partner Tao Xu, played by Will Gao.

Throughout the season, a collection of scenes reveals a tender education on the trans sex experience. 

NBC News reported that Finney had sometimes felt envy over Elle’s life. 

“When I step into the world of Elle, I always have this yearning for what she has, in the sense of that perfect relationship, that perfect unhinged love, which is just so gorgeous to watch. I don’t think it’s something that’s offered to a lot of trans people, especially not me when I was growing up,” she said.

What makes these sex scenes so good?

Okay, we know, we don’t watch the pair have sex, but the reason these scenes are so revolutionary is because of the lens we view them through and the conversations that take place. The acceptance, the understanding, the learning and the growing.

Listen, the best sex we have is when we’re fully consenting and into it. These scenes allow these characters to display desire, ask for what they want, correct themselves and their partner if needed, and be imperfect without compromising on their safety and enjoyment.

While we never explicitly see sex scenes, we do watch the pair navigate gender dysphoria and continue to have conversations around how they want to have sex without it being sexualised and fetishised for the audience.

These scenes, which are filled with important conversations and happen throughout Season 3, shift away from a heterocentric lens and male gaze. Here, we see the beginning of something exciting emerging for the two characters and something new for an audience of onlookers. Sex on screen that isn’t the result of what some guy thinks is hot. But what is actually happening between couples navigating their experiences as trans people with trans a cis partners. 

And, given that GLAAD reported recently that LGBTQIA+ inclusion in films continued to decline in 2024, we can only hope that our calls for better representation of trans sex on screen are heard.

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