While Speedos and tiny swimsuits in general are commonplace in gay enclaves like Fire Island, Palm Springs, P-town and South Beach, that isn’t the case everywhere.
On Reddit’s r/GayMen forum, a user with the handle u/blackmamba4554 recently rued the “Speedophobia” that’s so prevalent in the United States.
“It’s important to remember that men have been wearing swim briefs for decades because it is the most reasonable swimwear for swimming and sunbathing,” he wrote.
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In that post, u/blackmamba4554 also complained about society expecting men to don “huge, shapeless shorts” for swimming outings. “They try to convince us that this is due to the desire for modesty,” he wrote. “However, all arguments against [Speedo] were certainly accompanied by homophobic and body-shaming slurs.”
Many Reddit commenters agreed, and some pointed out how different it is in other countries.
“In Australia, straight and gay men have worn Speedos (or budgy smugglers, as we jokingly call them, after a small common bird that would fit down the front) with complete freedom since at least the ‘70s at any beach, pool, or resort,” one wrote.
“At the beach, the lifeguards all wear them, and at the pool, the lap swimmers in training wear them, so why not? … Additionally, women often go topless at public beaches while sunbathing without anyone caring. I suppose it’s all very European, but we just don’t have the same hangups about partial nudity as the U.S.A.”
Another Aussie concurred. “Budgees are such a confidence booster for me,” he wrote. “It took me so long to gain that confidence I’m not letting it go now. Come to Australia—a lot of men sport them with pride, and seriously, no one cares what you’re wearing at a beach/pool/lake/lagoon here. Take it from a trans guy who wears just ‘Speedos’ and medical tape across the chest to flatten. We just want to chill.”
It’s not just Australia either.
“In some places in Latin America and Europe, Speedos are the default. I’m pretty sure elsewhere, too,” another user said. “I hate seeing all that fabric and the feeling of it around my junk. Also, men who wear their boxers or other undergarments with their trunks, yuck, stop doing it.”
But Brits experience Speedophobia, too, apparently. “It’s a problem in the U.K. as well, which is probably where Americans got it from,” a fourth commenter explained. “Speedos are heavily looked down upon here, and seen as either gay, perverse, or just silly. In anything even vaguely related to sex, we’re still very puritanical outside parts of the gay scene.”
Indeed, Speedos had a lot of support on the thread.
“I will wear a Speedo to swim regardless of where I am or who’s around,” one commenter declared. “If someone feels uncomfortable, they can look the other way. I don’t care. … That being said, I live in Mexico and only three kinds of people wear Speedos here: gays, old men, and gay, old men. So there’s that.”
Another person praised the practicality of the swimwear: “Speedos are so much easier to take on and off and dry so much quicker.”
Not everyone, though, is wiling to smuggle any budgies.
“I don’t really care for Speedos, but I like the fitted short trunks,” one person replied.
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Said another, “I wear swim shorts that are just as short as I am comfortable wearing. They are not Speedos or briefs. It has nothing to do with anyone else’s opinion; it is entirely about my comfort.”
And someone else noted that longer-hemmed swimwear can be practical, too: “I wear swimming trunks because they have pockets and because I can continue to wear them around after I’m done swimming instead of having to go home and change immediately.”
In a welcome surprise, the thread also shows that Speedo fans need not be gay.
“I’m a straight guy and I will now only wear swim briefs to the beach and even smaller more revealing swimwear at the pool because I refuse to be modest so that weak-minded people can feel comfortable,” one guy wrote. “The male body is beautiful, too, and it’s about time men everywhere start with themselves and be the change they want to see. Men need a swimwear revolution.”
You hear that? Rise up, Speedo lovers!
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bachy
Not sure it’s entirely about the swimsuit, but about the fitness and beauty of the body wearing it. Fashion is based on the fact that clothing can flatter, or look ridiculous depending on the person dressed in it.
For instance, people are cool seeing Lupita Nyongo in an itsy-bitsy bikini at the beach – but they might blanch at seeing Lizzo in the same attire.
Physical beauty is not fair and it is not a democracy. People are certainly free to wear anything they wish. But it does not mean they look good in it.
abfab
ie: MTG
Troyfight
@bachy so true.
dbmcvey
No, the Speedophobics go after even objectively hot people.
1898
is this a regional thing? i live in the northeast US and have not seen / heard / experienced “speedophobia”
besides, americans are glued to their tv sets every four years to watch the swimmers and divers at the summer olympics. ive never heard anyone complaining about those speedos
Man About Town
Jeez, talk about your non-issues…
Imjustsaying
Oh for Heaven’s sake, most guys are average and have no interest in advertising the fact. That’s what it’s about, nothing more.
preciouslotus
Americans and their pruddishness…
dbmcvey
Exactly!
abfab
And don’t even get us started with how hung up Americans are about nude beaches. Are there any?
Raphael
If you mean USA, probably yes, but America, doesn’t. A lot of countries in America, south and central, don’t have a problem with speedos.
LumpyPillows
I think it goes to the size issue and the fear of being made fun of. The speedo is just the obvious example of the underlying problem. With the internet now and every boy and man seeing mostly huge penises online, thinking that huge is normal, I think it is an issue that should be addressed. I do think it is great that more and more guys are online in speedos with what appear to be average packages and super-hot bodies. If we can normalize fat broads in bikinis, lets normalize average and small wangs in speedos.
dbmcvey
We all spend too much time worrying about (and judging) what other people wear. Who cares if a man with a belly or a small penis wears a Speedo? I certainly don’t.
gymnofrater
I think this guy said it all: “I refuse to be modest so that weak-minded people can feel comfortable.”
azjeff17
Straight guys have a problem seeing then on other men. Their fagile sexuality can’t handle seeing another man in a speedo because they are tempted to look at the crotch.
abfab
Yes…straight guys are super uptight and have so many hangups. I bought my first pair at 18 on Saint-Tropez beach…..I was determined to get that Ban du Soiel tan and boy did i ever.
bachy
Oh baby I bet you did…!
KellyRobinsonJr
I find a man’s confidence to wear a speedo very attractive and admirable. In fact, his confidence is more appealing to me than the fit of his speedo.
Slash
In general, American’s do have Speedophobia. Competitive swimmers no, the gays mostly no, FL and CA beachgoers sometimes no. But everyone else heck yeah. And it is funny when outside the US because most all other places (except maybe the UK) don’t care at all. Me personally, its about my gut, not my dong. The older I get I’ve moved more to shorts just because I’m no where near as tight and cut as I use to be. If you’re hanging a bit of a ponch, I just don’t think that looks good in a Speedo.