Gay-for-pay
Encyclopedia
Gay-for-pay describes male or female actors, pornographic stars, or sex workers
who self-identify as heterosexual
but who are paid to act or perform as homosexual
professionally. The term has also applied to other professions and even companies with the same core concerns and criticism in place. The stigma of being gay or labeled as such has steadily eroded since the Stonewall riots
began the modern gay rights movement in 1969. Through the 1990s, mainstream movie and television actors have been more willing to portray homosexuality, as the threat of any backlash against their careers has lessened and society's acceptance of gay and lesbian people has increased.
In the gay pornography
industry, which uses amateurs as well as professional actors, the term gay-for-pay refers to actors labeled or believed to be straight but who engage in same-sex activities and/or intercourse for money. Some actors who are actually gay or bisexual will be marketed as straight to appeal to the "allure of the unattainable", because straight men (or those newly coming out
) are virgins to sex with other men, and "as in most gay male settings, the young, the muscular, and the unfamiliar are more sought."
, Mike Branson
, Wolf Hudson
, Christian, Aaron James, Peter North, Leo Giamani
) do not face the same stigmas as the mainstream acting counterparts and indeed can rise quickly to being featured actors. These actors often play the "top" roles but this is not always the case, such as with Kristen Bjorn
and some Bel Ami
models. Kurt Wild, who appeared as a bottom in Lucas Entertainment
's Gigolos, is married with three children. There is a proliferation of gay pornographic videos with a story that features an ostensibly heterosexual male being seduced into a gay male sexual act.
People involved in the gay pornographic industry consider that some gay pornographic actors who identify as straight are not truly heterosexual. Because some gay men consider heterosexual men to be objects of fantasy, some gay porn producers have almost certainly described some actors as heterosexual to increase sales and publicity for their product. Moreover, many gay or bisexual men who star in gay porn films may wish to be identified publicly as heterosexual for personal or professional reasons.
Some straight actors have started acting in gay porn only to be accused of being gay while others first step was to strictly do solo scenes. The higher pay scale and profile within a production often leads to group scenes where a straight actor only "tops". Many times a "top" actor will then be sought as a bottom and the debut is often treated as a notable event or even its own release.
Some gay porn actors reportedly believe that some of the "straight" actors are actually closeted
or bisexual and using their acting in gay porn is a legitimate career step which allows them to also experiment with their sexuality.
industry, the term may also be applied to straight and bisexual people of all genders (including "male escorts") who have sexual contact or scenes with a client or another sex worker of the same gender. Although sexual contact is often involved, sex scenes or solo scenes (like masturbating to climax) or even a BDSM
scene for the client's stimulation can take place. Sexual arousal without direct sexual contact may also occur in such niche trade like muscle worship. As in porn work, a gay-identity is not necessary to make money from a gay clients and consumers.
originated in the 1960s and was eventually appropriated by burlesque
and striptease
establishments, which in turn became known as "go-go bars" but many gay clubs had male go-go dancers (called go-go boys) during the period 1965–1968. After that, few gay clubs had go-go dancers until 1988, when go-go dancing again became fashionable (and has remained so ever since). "Go-go dancers" that perform at night clubs, special parties, circuit parties or rave
dances in colorful bright costumes (which may include battery operated lights), with fire sticks, or with a snake can also be called performance art dancers or box dancers. Large circuit parties and gay clubs often have very attractive go-go boys of all sexualities who will allow patrons to touch and rub them but only for tips. This is typical in Thai venues, such as in Sunee Plaza
, Pattaya. Some criticize the practice of employing straight dancers to perform erotically for gay audiences when gay performers are available.
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
who self-identify as heterosexual
Heterosexuality
Heterosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, physical or romantic attractions to persons of the opposite sex";...
but who are paid to act or perform as homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
professionally. The term has also applied to other professions and even companies with the same core concerns and criticism in place. The stigma of being gay or labeled as such has steadily eroded since the Stonewall riots
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
began the modern gay rights movement in 1969. Through the 1990s, mainstream movie and television actors have been more willing to portray homosexuality, as the threat of any backlash against their careers has lessened and society's acceptance of gay and lesbian people has increased.
In the gay pornography
Gay pornography
Gay pornography is the representation of sexual intercourse between men with the primary goal of sexual arousal in its audience. There is also a tradition, and continuing considerable output, of lesbian pornography....
industry, which uses amateurs as well as professional actors, the term gay-for-pay refers to actors labeled or believed to be straight but who engage in same-sex activities and/or intercourse for money. Some actors who are actually gay or bisexual will be marketed as straight to appeal to the "allure of the unattainable", because straight men (or those newly coming out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
) are virgins to sex with other men, and "as in most gay male settings, the young, the muscular, and the unfamiliar are more sought."
Pornography
In gay pornographic movies, actors who identify themselves as heterosexual, but who nevertheless perform explicit sexual acts with other males on film (e.g., Dean Coxx, Clay MaverickClay Maverick
Clay Maverick is a pornographic actor from the United States who appears in gay pornographic movies.-Awards and nominations:* 2002 Grabby Awards winner for Best Group Scene in "Deep South: The Big and the Easy"....
, Mike Branson
Mike Branson
Mike Branson is an American pornographic actor who has appeared in same-sex adult films.- Selected Videography :*Basic Plumbing 2*California Kings*The Chosen*Current Affairs*The Freshmen*Hardline-Awards:...
, Wolf Hudson
Wolf Hudson
Wolf Hudson is a Dominican-American male pornographic actor, director and street dancer.-Early life:Wolf Hudson was born on November 24, 1984, in New York, New York, and is of mixed ancestry: French, Afro-Latin American/Dominican descent. Hudson briefly lived in the Dominican Republic in his early...
, Christian, Aaron James, Peter North, Leo Giamani
Leo Giamani
Leo Giamani is an American porn star who has starred in gay adult films.Giamani started his porn career in the spring of 2008 at age 29. Prior to his porn career he worked as a fireman for six months and has a BA in science. He performed exclusively in gay porn except for one heterosexual scene...
) do not face the same stigmas as the mainstream acting counterparts and indeed can rise quickly to being featured actors. These actors often play the "top" roles but this is not always the case, such as with Kristen Bjorn
Kristen Bjorn
Kristen Bjorn is the stage name of a British director and producer of gay pornographic movies and a former gay pornographic actor....
and some Bel Ami
Bel Ami (adult film company)
Bel Ami is an gay pornographic film company with offices in Bratislava, Prague and Budapest. It was established in 1993 by filmmaker George Duroy, a Slovak native who took his pseudonym from the protagonist Georges Duroy in Guy de Maupassant's novel Bel Ami...
models. Kurt Wild, who appeared as a bottom in Lucas Entertainment
Lucas Entertainment
Lucas Entertainment is a New York-based gay pornographic studio started by porn star Michael Lucas. It is one of the largest such studios in the world. The studio is known for lavish, big-budget movies, and it contends that its 2006 film Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita is the most expensive gay porn...
's Gigolos, is married with three children. There is a proliferation of gay pornographic videos with a story that features an ostensibly heterosexual male being seduced into a gay male sexual act.
People involved in the gay pornographic industry consider that some gay pornographic actors who identify as straight are not truly heterosexual. Because some gay men consider heterosexual men to be objects of fantasy, some gay porn producers have almost certainly described some actors as heterosexual to increase sales and publicity for their product. Moreover, many gay or bisexual men who star in gay porn films may wish to be identified publicly as heterosexual for personal or professional reasons.
Some straight actors have started acting in gay porn only to be accused of being gay while others first step was to strictly do solo scenes. The higher pay scale and profile within a production often leads to group scenes where a straight actor only "tops". Many times a "top" actor will then be sought as a bottom and the debut is often treated as a notable event or even its own release.
Motivation
Most male pornographic actors are paid much less than their female counterparts in straight porn. Male porn actors, however, get paid more, on the average, in gay porn than in straight porn. There are also more opportunities to become a "star" in gay porn than in straight porn where the focus of attention remains on the actresses. As a response to criticism in the gay community, some of these actors (perhaps with the advice of their publicists) would sometimes claim that they are in fact bisexual although they are indeed only "gay" for the money.Some gay porn actors reportedly believe that some of the "straight" actors are actually closeted
Closeted
Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
or bisexual and using their acting in gay porn is a legitimate career step which allows them to also experiment with their sexuality.
Sex workers
In the sex workerSex worker
A sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry. The term is usually used in reference to those in the sex industry that actually provide such sexual services, as opposed to management and staff of such industries...
industry, the term may also be applied to straight and bisexual people of all genders (including "male escorts") who have sexual contact or scenes with a client or another sex worker of the same gender. Although sexual contact is often involved, sex scenes or solo scenes (like masturbating to climax) or even a BDSM
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
scene for the client's stimulation can take place. Sexual arousal without direct sexual contact may also occur in such niche trade like muscle worship. As in porn work, a gay-identity is not necessary to make money from a gay clients and consumers.
Go-go dancers
Go-go dancingGo-Go dancing
Go-go dancers are dancers who are employed to entertain crowds at a discotheque. Go-go dancing originated in the early 1960s when women at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City began to get up on tables and dance the twist...
originated in the 1960s and was eventually appropriated by burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
and striptease
Striptease
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
establishments, which in turn became known as "go-go bars" but many gay clubs had male go-go dancers (called go-go boys) during the period 1965–1968. After that, few gay clubs had go-go dancers until 1988, when go-go dancing again became fashionable (and has remained so ever since). "Go-go dancers" that perform at night clubs, special parties, circuit parties or rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
dances in colorful bright costumes (which may include battery operated lights), with fire sticks, or with a snake can also be called performance art dancers or box dancers. Large circuit parties and gay clubs often have very attractive go-go boys of all sexualities who will allow patrons to touch and rub them but only for tips. This is typical in Thai venues, such as in Sunee Plaza
Sunee Plaza
Sunee Plaza is an area in Pattaya known for gay nightlife. It is located just off Soi V.C., which itself comes off Second Road in the south of Pattaya...
, Pattaya. Some criticize the practice of employing straight dancers to perform erotically for gay audiences when gay performers are available.
See also
- The FlufferThe FlufferThe Fluffer, a 2001 U.S. independent film, is a triangular story of obsessive love set against the backdrop of the adult video industry. The film was written by Wash West and co-directed by West and his life partner Richard Glatzer...
, film about a fictional gay-for-pay actor - Male prostitutionMale prostitutionMale prostitution is the practice of engaging in sexual acts for money. Compared to female sex workers, male sex workers have been far less studied by researchers, and while studies suggest that there are differences between the ways these two groups look at their work, more research is needed.Male...