The History of Gay-for-Pay, Part I
From Ancient Hustlers to Physique Pioneers, Before “Gay” Had a Name
Note: This post is now reserved for paid members due to increased interest in the series. Thank you for helping sustain this archive of inquiry and critique.
The following is an unfiltered exploration of straight-identified men, gay erotic labor and its buried history. This post includes themes related to sex work, erotic performance, and adult media.
I used to frequent a now-defunct dive bar in the Valley. Like most dive bars, it was gritty, sticky, and gloriously unbothered. The crowd was mixed in every way: sexualities, genders, races, professions and, if I’m honest, criminal backgrounds.
My crew was mostly gay men, one or two straight guys, and a straight woman I’ll call Lissa. Blonde, beautiful, and brash, Lissa could drink us under the table, flirt with a quickness, and slice through our bitchy banter with surgical precision.
One night, after a few rounds of Jägerbombs, she pulled me aside: “You’re not gonna believe this. One of my guy friends filmed a gay porn scene. It’s online!” We later watched it together. Her friend was a muscle-jock type, rarely without a girlfriend or an overnight guest. Lissa was floored.
The rest of this post is for paid subscribers. Become one today to unlock the full essay and future bonus content.