07/05/2007
Porn Again Legitimacy?
If F. Scott Fitzgerald was right when he wrote that "there are no second acts in American lives" then how do you explain the careers of former porn boys turned mainstream fashion models Scott Andreasen and Thierry (aka Terry) Pepin?
Andreasen -- who is absolutely adorable -- is represented by Next Models USA in Miami, yet he can also be seen as the ironically named "Harry" in JO films for SeanCody.com, the famed producer who gets "straight boys to unload." And Pepin starred in the hard-core gay porno flick "Minets du Quebec" (plus the less salacious "Danny in the Sky"), most of which have been pulled from shelves. Does being the face of Ralph Lauren's Romance get you some top-notch legal representation? What do you think?
Unlike some publications, I'm not exactly ready to deem these two examples a full-scale trend. But I do think it's safe to say we're living in a post-Paris Hilton sex tape world now in which the stigma of pornography is quickly disappearing. The phenomenon began back in 1990 when John Waters cast Traci Lords in his 1950s musical "Cry Baby" (Roseanne Barr took it a step further and put Lords on her smash sitcom -- on Disney-owned ABC, no less!). Then Jenna Jameson wrote a bestseller and started popping up in mainstream venues, which wound up being a prelude to Hilton's overnight superstardom (let's be honest here: it wasn't "The Simple Life" that took her from Page Six darling to international headlines). I used to think it was sad 15-20 years ago that the only recognizable "stars" the gay community had were the likes of Jeff Stryker, Ryan Idol and Joey Stefano -- or someone famous with HIV (Greg Louganis), but these days I almost find it sadder a lot mainstream "stars" aren't much different.
The fact that Hilton hangeroner Kim Kardashian and "Brandy's brother" Ray J can't stop "accidentally" leaking their so-called "private" sex tape (it's even available on pay-per-view at the Waldorf Astoria!) -- and have wound up becoming tabloid darlings as a result -- further proves that pornography is not only no longer the kiss of death in Hollywood, it's often an entre. Maybe this is a good thing that indicates Americans are finally getting over our sexual hang-ups, Or maybe not.
You can see some COMPLETELY NSFW shots of the boys here, here and here. There's more information on the Terry Pepin legal action regarding "Minets du Quebec" here. (The post isn't NSFW but the site is.)
Posted 1:55 PM EST by Kenneth Walsh in Porn | Permalink
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Kyle, you're an absolute legend.
Posted by: Darren | Jul 6, 2007 4:11:11 AM
Kyle, will you marry me!
Posted by: rufus | Jul 6, 2007 9:20:15 AM
Kyle: You shouldda' been a preacher! Dammit, you are a preacher! What a sermon!
...just a tree planted the water, we shall not be moved...Amen.
Of course, Kyle, you make perfect sense. We homos don't really like porn, but we just need it. It gets lonely out here, brother.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jul 6, 2007 9:53:41 AM
Bravo, Kyle, BRAVO. I couldn't have said it better myself. I addressed this similar issue in one of my only blogs on my Myspace page, you should read it as it seems we could wax poetic on this issue all night long. Thanks for that comment. =).
http://www.myspace.com/faithandcourage
Posted by: Cory | Jul 6, 2007 10:20:38 AM
Gay business owners can really be the pits in the way they sexualize anything and everything. Yes, sex is important. But it isn't the ONLY thing. Memo to gay business owners: no, we are not all obsessed with perfectly formed male porn stars posing as gay-friendly icons.
I don't walk into a straight mainstream bar and expect to see naked pictures of women on the wall to satisfy the urges of the sleazy straight guys who are there. I therefore don't see why I should have to walk into a gay bar and see male porn models posing on the TV screens.
Posted by: adam | Jul 6, 2007 11:12:37 AM
A lot of these "gay" male porn stars are actually gay-for-pay and quite homophobic in terms of their attitude to gay men. They do what they do because they're being paid for it, and not out of the goodness of their hearts.
I think we in the community should distance ourselves as much as possible from the sleazy porn industry, an industry that is based on drug use and self-debasement. Let's not go there.
Posted by: henry | Jul 6, 2007 11:16:03 AM
Kyle,
Brilliantly said. Using porn stars as role models for the gay community is truly creepy. It's like using female porn stars as role models for young women. All it does is lead to a culture of sleaze. It devalues real achievements and turns everyone towards the "I must look sexy" notion.
This obsession with "looking sexy" is going to be the downfall of the gay community because it plays right into the hands of those who are seeking ways to demonize and trivialize us. When we trivialize ourselves by conforming to stereotypical "sexy" notions, we are giving our enemies ammunition. We are handing them the goods they require to demonize us.
Posted by: john | Jul 6, 2007 11:23:16 AM
A lot of companies wing it on the issue of gay-friendliness. They'll put a good-looking piece of beefcake in posing mode in an ad and expect the gay community to lap it up as a sign of inclusiveness. Give me a break. The true sign of gay inclusiveness is to show a gay male couple embracing or doing other romantic things that straight couples are frequently depicted doing.
I think even the so-called gay-friendly companies need to be held up to light for not coming to the party on gay-inclusiveness. Has Calvin Klein ever showed a gay male couple in a romantic entanglement? I doubt it. We really do still have a long way to go.
Take home message: don't mistake beefcake for gay-inclusiveness.
Posted by: henry | Jul 6, 2007 11:29:34 AM
I don't see what's the big deal about a guy who was/is in porn, stepping into the fashion world. They are good looking, and they are obvious wanted in the fashion world. All this talk about these boys's past gives the clothing companies just more publicity, so I don't think that they mind at all...
Posted by: Dutchimport | Jul 6, 2007 11:41:12 AM
Kyle et al:
You may deride porn all you want, but in a society that condemns male/male sex and constantly oppresses the gay community, gay porn is ABSOLUTELY an affirmation of our sexuality.
Yes, we can be very proud of all gay people who are successes intellectually, financially, historically... But for many, many folks - gay porn is not only a thrill, but a confirmation that we are indeed "not alone" in our desires.
The straight community does not need porn "role models" because straight sexuality is confirmed in every public hug, kiss, and touch seen every day in public, in the media, in artwork, literature, poetry, blah blah blah...
Gay porn stars ARE in fact role models for the simple fact that they are not only proud of their sexuality, but they live it.
There are many ways to live a life. Your moralistic preaching may make you feel better about yourself, but truly there is no need to belittle folks who are able to earn a living because they are blessed with a physical beauty.
Posted by: Gregg | Jul 6, 2007 4:37:25 PM