There are many ways to fight homophobia. Some choose to do it with nudity and awesomeness.
Todayâs case in point: Jan Versteegh and Tim Hofman, co-hosts on the Dutch broadcasting network BNN, who have taken it upon themselves to strip down for LâHomo magazineâs June Issue (out now) to question peopleâs assumptions about masculinity and sexuality.
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âI think we have done this for more open discussion of [homosexuality] than we necessarily want to be in a sheet with our bare ass,â says Tim. âThatâs nice, but secondary.â
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âI hope we can show people that [itâs] just two [insultingly handsome] men on a picture,â Jan adds.
You can watch a behind-the-scenes clip of Jan and Tim photographed in Curaçao here:
Billy Budd
I normally don’t like posts with the word “straight” on the title, but this one is an exception. it is REALLY nice.
ingyaom
Not sure what it means – 2 str8 guys making out – but it’s hot.
Curtispsf
I had to go back to the headline article to be sure that these two guys were straight. Well done…but the video could use some English subtitles. It would be nice to understand what they’re actually saying. Now in my mind, I imagined them saying something like “We are 2 straight guys, but once we got down to Curacao and got naked for the shoot, I realized that what happens in Curacao STAYS in Curacao, so when we got back to our hotel, we 69’ed and swallowed each other’s loads…and we LIKED it”.
LubbockGayMale
All fine and good, but can you imagine two US MALE co-hosts from FauxNEWS doing this? I highly doubt any network would allow their talent to perform like these guys, but I do give them credit for their work!
Larry
And I guess their network or the magazine has a deal to promote cigarette smoking also. đ
Paco
âI hope we can show people that [itâs] just two [insultingly handsome] men on a picture,â Jan adds.
—–
Nice. Now show two straight guys making out with some meat and age on their bodies and faces and let’s see if the image is just as favorable.
I really don’t understand why straight guys making out with each other are needed to make a point about masculinity or homosexuality. Shouldn’t the discussion about homosexuality be presenting real homosexuals and not straight guys faking it? As if being homosexual is a choice as the religious right have been trying to claim all these years while they denied us our equal rights. I guess they think that gay men still aren’t masculine enough when compared to straight men and the message is – Here’s two straight guys making out to show us what real masculinity is all about. Take notes gays because they are the experts about all things masculine.
Are we really that powerless that we need straight men pretending to be gay to help change attitudes about homosexuality and masculinity, or was this just really about baiting gay men into buying this issue of the magazine? Because straight fetish and stuff. If this was really to start a conversation about homosexuality, wouldn’t it be more effective being presented in a straight magazine and not a gay one?
The only thing faking gay does, is help some gay men masturbate and tells everyone else that our sexual attractions are trivial and a choice.
kittyconrad
@Paco: Methinks you have gone overboard in your protests.
Curtispsf
@Paco: Me ALSO thinks you have gone overboard in your protests. Talk about heterophobia. It would have been fine if you just said “Gee, it would be nice and empowering if the magazine had featured two gay men, but NO….you just had to draw that line in the sand and cross it. Now stop and think of the effect that having a photo shoot featuring 2 straight men being affectionate with each other has on breaking down supposed stereotypes on what it means to be gay or straight. Got it? Good, now come down off your throne (and leave your body alone). /|\ /|\
Billy Budd
@Paco: You are over reacting Paco. Don’t be such a drama queen.
Paco
@Curtispsf: yeah because so many straight men rush to grab that copy of a gay magazine with two guys making out on the cover. The magazine was just using two straight guys to sell more copies to the only people that normally buy it. Gay men.
Paco
@Billy Budd: Bad mood.
NateOcean
Imagine being in bed between these two…
…rolling over to kiss each…
…and coming back with the stale stench of having kissed an ashtray.
Rene
@Curtispsf: I just uploaded the same video with English translations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdoHz246SlY
jack512
Wolf Blitzer do not follow their example.
bma83
Attractive men, no doubt. But it would have been better and hotter if they were gay. Straight men (and to some extent, bi men) making out just does nothing for me.
jayceecook
The most outrageous thing about this…where is the guy on the left’s ARM!? Or was The Addams Family’s Thing a part of the photoshoot?
*SMH at the editorial staff*
jayceecook
@Rene: Thanks for the upload!
martinbakman
A lot of straight men have a strong opinion about homophobia, that it is something they are against to the point that they want to create a dialogue about it, e.g. James Franco. That is the point I am taking away from this special gay issue of Linda Magazine.
A lot you drama queens just don’t get it that the stigma of homophobia affects all men, and all men have an opinion about it. If these two men are not queer as a three dollar bill, you still don’t need to get your pink panties in a bunch about it .
Paco
@martinbakman: They are creating a “dialogue” about homophobia in a gay magazine. It’s called preaching to the choir.
The real statement needs to be made in a magazine catering to hetero men. This was only about being bait to sell more magazines to gay men.
Rene
@Paco:
In the past a Dutch singer called Thomas Berge had a shoot for the cover of l’Homo, but his management OBLECTED!!! They advised the singer NOT to be on the cover, while it could hurt his carreer!!! So the photos were placed somewhere else in the magazine.
So the fact that these guys weren’t afraid for ruining their careers, is one step forward!
Ofcourse the magazine is “ment”, for gay men. Gays like to see 2 hot (popular) men half naked, either straight or gay. (Gay for Pay sites are extremely popular!) OFCOURSE they want to sell as many issues. Hey: Like ANY other magazine, or ANY made movie with big names!
And I think, as a “side effect”, it worked for a great part the Dutch community. For the first time ever, most Dutch talkshows and newspapers talk POSITIVELY about the beautiful pictures! Suddenly 2 men kissing is almost isn’t linked to “sissies” or “dirty”.
Maybe it’s another step towards, as you say, a shoot like this could be made in a magazine catering hetero men in the future. (Not Playboy, I presume đ )
Billy Budd
@Rene: I wanna buy the magazine. Can you post a link to the proper webpage? I don’t read dutch.
Rene
@Billy Budd:
Until now there is no “special” webshop. The official emailadress of their costumers service is: [email protected]
I’m sure you can send your questions in English.
And if necesary I buy another copy and send it to you, if nothing else works..?
Dave Downunder
While the intent these guys have is all good and well I do agree that putting the images in a gay publication defeats the purpose. As someone here already stated it’s kind of preaching to the choir. I also think these guys are a little narcissistic:
âI hope we can show people that [itâs] just two [insultingly handsome] men on a picture,â Jan adds.
Seems like a little bit of self promotion using the gay community as their cause.
Billy Budd
@Rene: Thanks so much, Rene. I will try to buy it from the publishers. In case it fails, I will tell you here in this post. I could send you cash using paypal. Love from Brazil.
fitnessperks
VAPID
Brian
I’m not entirely comfortable with showy exhibitions of male-male sexuality. One of the strengths of being a man is that your sexuality is about yourself and your partner, and not a third-party voyeur. It’s what distinguishes us from women.
Kieran
They may no longer be so “straight” after this photo shoot. They look way too comfortable getting it on. Beautiful.