In case you needed another reminder to always wear sunscreen, a new study has found that gay and bisexual men in the United States are twice as likely as heterosexual men to develop skin cancer, USA Today reports. The reason? Fake baking, of course. The study also found that gay and bisexual men are more likely to hang out in cancer boxes tanning beds.
“The primary reason that men and women engage in indoor tanning is because of the cultural association of tanning with a healthy look and overall attractiveness, ” researcher Sarah Arron, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, says. “We need to dispel the myth of the healthy tan.”
Researchers looked at government health surveys conducted in California between 2001 and 2009 and found a higher number of cases of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers among gay and bisexual men than heterosexual men. They also found that gay and bisexual men in California reported being three times more likely to engage in indoor tanning than straight men were.
Researchers then looked at national health surveys for 2013 and found similar results. Gay and bisexual men were twice as likely as in straight men to develop skin cancer, and about 5 percent of them said they had engaged in indoor tanning in the past year compared to just 1.7 percent of straight men.
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“While unfortunate and alarming, the findings are not all that surprising,” says Fred Sainz, vice president for communication at the Human Rights Campaign. Sainz suggests gay men tan because they are vain and want to look “youthful and attractive.”
“It’s short-term gain vs. long-term pain,” he says.
So breakout the SPF 50, fellas. Unless, of course, you want to look like this:
Or this:
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Paco
For a culture of men that worship youth and go to great lengths to hold on to their own, you would think by now it would be a no-brainer to know that UV rays are the leading cause of wrinkles later in life that no face creme will ever repair.
polarisfashion
I never go near those things, I don’t want to look like John Boehner.
jason smeds
Sadly, many gay men live in a world of fake. Fake hair color, fake skin color, fake everything.
Captain Obvious
Perfect gif for the article. Glad I was graced with a permanent tan, only thing I have to worry about is sunburn from being in the real sun too long.
smittoons
This reminded me of Mollie’s Fund’s innovative campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of tanning by staging a fake funeral at an alleged pop up tanning facility:
http://freekillertan.com
Bob LaBlah
There’s a guy who comes in to happy hour (looking like a total freak with his tan) that I bite my tongue sometimes to keep from asking why does he turn his nose up in the air at all black and latin guys who, for some reason, find his sorry ass attractive. His attitude really makes me hope I am there the day the he turns his nose up or rolls his eyes at “the wrong one” and they slap the tan off of his face.
Giancarlo85
I certainly don’t need to waste my time in a tanning salon. What a waste of money and most people who go to them are trying to be something they aren’t.
John Kuehnle
Never been to a tanning salon and no intention of starting
Stache99
I’m surprised tanning beds are still a thing. I alternate between spray tans and injection of melatanin which increases your melanin levels. Not looking for a dark spent all day at the beach looking tan though. I don’t look good too dark. Just a nice hint of color is great for me.
jwtraveler
There is no correlation between being gay and getting skin cancer. The correlation is between using tanning beds and skin cancer. Tanning beds should be banned. They serve no benefit and are clearly harmful. People who make their living from tanning salons can find another way to earn money, perhaps working in cancer hospitals to make amends for the damage their previous careers have caused.
Please don’t waste your effort writing about freedom. People are always most adamant about demanding freedom when they are doing things that hurt themselves.
Glücklich
It could be because I’m half Mexican and the whole opposites attract thing, but this is just one more endorsement for the pale guys to whom I’m usually attracted. Not to say I’m only into white guys but something about unusually light skin on anyone catches my attention. And as someone who had bad skin as a teenager, I see that fake and bake look and cringe.
Bromancer7
Milky white Italian and proud of it!
Aranos
Was this disgusting gif really necessary?
Why do those sick people who enjoy watching that type of movies always have to impose them on other people? This is abuse – nothing less. But not very surprising, as, since they are sadists, they enjoy inflicting pain to others…
Sometimes I wonder why outrageous violence is deemed ok in movies but sex and especially gay sex is frowned upon. We live in an utterly sick society.
Aranos
If you think watching realistic depictions of people being burnt alive is entertaining you might want to join ISIS. You’ll love their videos too!
jwtraveler
@Aranos: Or you could ignore it as I did.
Tackle
Not being r@cist here, but a realist. So Queerty let me help you with how this title should truthfully read.
“Gay White Men Are More Prone To Skin Cancer Thanks to Fake Baking, Study Says.”
Your Welcome Queerty…
Roland Hamburger
Thankfully I don’t fake bake!
davidbowie149
This seems to be really useful I will surely suggest my friends and family who are badly in need of the following nasal spray. A friend of mine just lacks breath she will hopefully recover when she uses this spray.
http://easy-tan.eu/