Pay for gay

The film, written by and starring Billy Eichner, was unapologetically queer, loud, and proud. But worth interrogating.

Would this film have been greenlit if Colman Domingo, Andrew Scott, or Matt Bomer were in the lead instead alongside Rannells? Eddie Redmayne was nominated for “The Danish Girl”.

It’s that queer actors are so rarely given the same creative license and support to tell their own stories, or anyone else’s. It felt like access. “I think it’s always difficult when you’re an actor and you are a minority, in whatever shape or form, because there are more roles for people who are not – straight, white posh guys, basically,” says Hannah*, a casting director who spoke with Dazed and asked to remain anonymous.

Andrew Rannells, who plays Cole, is openly gay. A way to support their families and the lifestyles they wish to live.

Just because it is made for sexual reasons, doesn’t mean the work itself is just as sexualised.

Two straight men have decided to open up about why they decided to participate in gay porn for cash.

The two star in MTV documentary series True Life, which aims to look at the world of ‘gay for pay’ porn.

The series offers some insight into the world of gay porn and the truths that surround it.

Both men, Luke and Ben, are in relationships with women.

It’s pathetic. Masculinity, especially the un-self-aware kind, is hot. You pretend it’s just a one-off. “If I was doing a play, I would try to give a gay person a job,” Lewis says. His engine's still running.

He wanted release. They don’t carry the years of working out who you are when everyone’s already decided for you.

They don’t wake up with it.
They don’t walk home with it.

But we still want them. But something shifts. Now. Can’t accom.”

Next thing you know, you’re bent over the front seat of a Renault Clio, gagging slightly on a cocktail of Lynx Africa and one of those Magic Tree air fresheners that smells like radioactive vanilla.

Cate Blanchett was nominated for “TÁR”. Until queer actors are given the same chance to lead, to fail, to shine, and to grow, we can’t pretend the playing field is level—no matter how compelling the performance may be.