So this week the New York Times published an op-ed by Nick Haramis titled “Welcome to the Age of the Twink,” which is all about how twinks are going mainstream.
In the think-piece, er, twink-piece, Haramis argues that straight guys can now be twinks:
The latest twinks–many of whom are straight–are what you might call ‘art twinks. They are more culturally mainstream: a growing cohort of famous (and famously small) boys who stand in opposition to the lumbering, abusive oafs who have been dominating this year’s headlines.
Naturally, a lot of people weren’t happy with the idea of straight dudes appropriating a gay subculture:
Twink is a gay word!!!! Straight people can’t be twinks!!!! They’re just skinny!!!
— Every Crustacean (@somehowitspaul) May 14, 2018
there is no such thing as an art twink, straight people can’t be gay end of discussion
— nonbinary gothjoon NSFR (@yungarfield) May 14, 2018
sorry but you don’t get to call yourself a twink until you’ve been on your 5th try and the water still hasn’t come out clear
— jaboukie young-white (@jaboukie) May 14, 2018
Straight men already take all of our roles, they can't have the word Twink. They can't. I will personally file a lawsuit.
— Matt Rogers (@MattRogersTho) May 14, 2018
Straight men can have the word “twink” when they pry it from my cold dyke hands.
— Janine Brito (@janinebrito) May 14, 2018
The biggest problem with applying terms like "twink" and "bear" to straight men is that it turns a form of collective sociality into an individual aesthetic. You cannot understand "twink" separate from gay culture and gay sociality.
— Matthew J. Phillips (@MJPhillips) May 14, 2018
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Scroll down for even more responses to the NYT twink-piece…
If this is the age of the Twink I fear to ask the question: Is this also the age of putting your foot on the sink selfie? pic.twitter.com/GncyQu2a9o
— Robert M Sawyer (@RobertMSawyer) May 15, 2018
a boyfriend? in this economy? during the age of the twink?
— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) May 14, 2018
please stop sending the “age of the twinks” article to all your twink friends- we’re trying to listen to our lana del rey vinyls in peace
— MISS BENNY ? (@BenJPierce) May 14, 2018
if you liked THE AGE OF THE TWINK, you're gonna love the sequel, TWINKFINITY WAR pic.twitter.com/j4sM9CnW1z
— Adam Moussa (@adamjmoussa) May 14, 2018
I'm just so glad THE AGE OF THE TWINK is no longer just a question at a Bryan Singer deposition.
— Guy Branum (@guybranum) May 14, 2018
"The modern concept of the 'twink' was first popularized by Britney Spears in 1998." – @tmagazine probably pic.twitter.com/ycW7j0nias
— Oscar Raymundo (@OscarRaymundo) May 14, 2018
im so glad that i, a textbook twink, am finally getting the recognition i deserve
— Matt Bellassai (@MattBellassai) May 14, 2018
Hillary Clinton's silence on the New York Times twink piece is deafening.
— Sam Stryker (@sbstryker) May 14, 2018
Related: Are we headed for a twink takeover?
crowebobby
So you can’t describe someone as a twink until you are absolutely certain of his sexal preference? Doesn’t make sense to me.
Nuttypea
Straight guys can be twinks up until the point that they announce their straightness. Consider Schrodinger’s Chicken, as long as the chicken’s sexuality is ambiguous they can be assumed to possibly be gay and thus treated as and referred to as a twink.
Vince
Makes sense. It is part of the gay subculture. Plus straight guys are generally more mature than gay guys. At that age they’re generally starting families and growing up where gay guys are acting like they’re in high school.
Straight guys also don’t generally call themselves bears, otters and other shit like that.
ShowMeGuy
More mature? Straight guys…..that age…..are dodging child support orders from the courts while they hide out in their mom’s basements playing video games.
tham
Not all young people are twinks…even if you’re gay.
A twink doesn’t have a six pack…or a beer belly.
A twink is a skinny (almost too skinny) 20 something man-boy. The hair style is whatever is hip at that time…but usually they involve bangs of some sort.
It’s a certain look. And usually only certain people like it. In fact, what most people call twinks (almost all actors under 30) are really “boy next door” gays or “Built like a brick shithoue” gay.
Again, Twinks don’t have six packs or pecks. They just resemble 16 year boys in their 20s…and Usually only other twinks or older dudes who like really really like young dudes…like really young dudes…like teenagers.
tham
For example, if you don’t have Chicken Wing shoulder blades…you are not a Twink.
Greg
I wanted to be a “twink”, but father wouldn’t hear of it.
Paco
Straight guys can be seen as twinks in the eyes of others. Somehow I doubt most would want to classify themselves as being one since it tends to not be an attractive quality when competing with other males for female attention unless the females are teens.
Nuttypea
I think it’s fine if straight actors want to be lumped in with twinks, I personally love gay4pay
hocuspokeme
Ugh, come up with your own term. Let us have this.