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This profile is part of Queerty’s 2021 Out For Good series, recognizing public figures who’ve had the courage to come out and make a difference in the past year, in celebration of National Coming Out Day on October 11.
Name: Marvin Cortes, 28
Bio: Cortes is a model and entrepreneur, most known for placing second on the 20th cycle of Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model. According to OUT, Cortes made history as the first male contestant to place as the runner-up on the show. The Bronx native has worked with many brands, including Guess, Hugo Boss, Givenchy, Coca-Cola, Sears, and Samsung. But like, more importantly, he has an OnlyFans. Who says you can’t be on top?!
Coming Out: Last month, Cortes came out in a heartfelt, 11-minute video posted on Instagram.
“Hey guys I want to let you guys know that I’m coming out as openly bisexual,” he said. “I’ve been in love with both men and women and I’ve been proud to be a part of the gay community in my personal life and just want to share it now publicly, online.”
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In the video, Cortes, 28, revealed he delayed his coming out largely because of his family, who instilled within him “traditional values” growing up.
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“I just feel like my family, I respect them so much and their values — whether they can come across as ignorant, I still respect them so much and I respect their views.” he said. “And I’ve always felt like it’s not my business to change people’s minds. Especially in my family, they think one way and it’s 100% understandable. And I want them to know that I’ve delayed this as much as possible because I respect them very much.”
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Chosen Family: Cortes also offered hope to anyone else struggling with their sexuality.
“I just want you to know that it’s okay to be bisexual or be gay or be straight… I know that it [can be] hard, that it feels like you are alone, like you were born into a world that has specifically targeted you to be less than, and I just want you to know that you are not less than. If anything, you are better.”
Cortes’ coming out paves the way for many others – not just for those who are bisexual, but also for the LGBTQIA+ Hispanic community, who are said to encounter heightened levels of discrimination. His love for family, even in the face of adversary, is admirable. And though it may have taken Cortes a little longer to come out than others, the fact is that he is now living as his authentic self and encouraging others to do so. And for that, he deserves the top spot in our hearts.
And hey – even though Cortes has not commented much on his sexuality since coming out, he seems to be doing just fine, according to his thirst traps Instagram.
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Those who came out to make a difference
Donston
You guys don’t have to create these filler, kiss-ass pages to remind us that you already wrote an article about whatever social media/reality TV “celebrity” taking a spot in the queer spectrum.
Marvin has some cute factor, but he didn’t “come out” in the most tactful way. It will always seem a lil’ desperate and sketchy when someone’s public outing is marked by starting an OnlyFans and publicly selling same-sex behaviors. Also, he doesn’t seem that concerned with his family’s “traditional values”.
DarkZephyr
You seem to slowly be getting more and more negative and mean when it comes to these coming out stories. You used to seem a lot more supportive of your LGBTQ+ siblings and less prone to bitching about them or queerty for reporting on them when they come out.
Christ, with the way queerty commenters are these days ANY time a coming out story is posted, I would be afraid of coming out for fear bitter snide gays would pop up and attack with snotty, pessimistic, accusatory comments.
Donston
Um, I just defended Kal Penn like hell. I’ve defended a handful of others recently as well. But I’m also not a queer Polly-Anna. I look at every situation individually and with as much nuance at possible. I will admit that that comment came off bitchier than I would have liked. However, that’s like the fifth dude this past year from some reality TV show attaching himself to queerness and then automatically using it to try and get on another reality show, to promote some new single, to get people interested in their OnlyFans. It’s difficult not to be suspect and cynical. Even though I relate to a lot of folks’ dimensions and struggles, people can be manipulative, deceitful, calculated, leeching, exploitative. It is what it is. More than anything, it’s a bit grating how these sites try to prop up these random “reality stars” from shows from ten years ago as long as it’s a “hot guy.”
DarkZephyr
It used to be that gay men LIKED hot guys.
I’m 44 years old, so I remember the days when every where you looked it was mainly female T&A, male beauty was rarely celebrated outside of gay porn (which was nowhere near as easy to come by as it is now, back in the day, btw).
I dunno, I for one am tickled pink that celebration of male beauty is much easier to come by nowadays and that queerty writes articles about sexy dudes. That’s not ALL they focus on, though. Why can’t we have sexy fluff along with the serious stuff too?
I miss when this site had the “Morning Goods” segment. I think they ultimately got rid of it because of all the bitching and lack of support. At 44 I sometimes feel like I have entered the twilight zone with all the gay men bitching when attractive guys are featured here.
I wish all the sex negative gay men would go to some other gay blog that suits their distaste for sexuality.
Res1
I agree with you, Donston. Nothing today is genuine and everything is about shilling for a profit.
DarkZephyr
@Res1
So cynical and unpleasant.
Donston
There is nothing in either of those posts that is “sex negative”. And no one is stopping you from lusting after “hot guys”. I’m sure Marvin has had his struggles and is on his own journey. And I respect that. While I’ve always talked about the individuality of everyone’s journeys when it comes to sexuality, being “out”, fluidity, internal and external struggles, the gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotional investment, relationship, commitment spectrum. But there’s no denying how inauthentic and manipulative people can be, how much people use sex and sexuality for ego and profit purposes, how much so many public figures only want to be “out” when it’s absolutely convenient for them and when they can use it for a career boost or an ego boost or to sell something, how much people are guided by sociology, money, ego, self-righteousness. It’s not about being “cynical”. It’s just human nature. And once again, it’s not really about Marvin. It’s more about how obsessed “gay media” is with hyping and praising everybody that attaches to “queerness”, especially if they’re good-looking white/white-ish males.
There should be space for fluff? Everything has turned into fluff.
Jim
It’s the 21st Century. Get over yourself.
But it is hard for media whores to do.
Donston
This is such obvious, basic trolling that it’s not worth addressing. However, please get over your “get over yourself” phrase. It’s time to come up with another slogan.
I will say that when it comes to these male “reality stars” attaching themselves to queerness, too often there’s a heavy layer of self-promotion, duplicitousness, messiness going on. It doesn’t make them all bad people or anything. Everyone is a different case. And I understand that sexuality, internal struggles, social circumstances, love, relationships are very individual things and everyone has their own journeys. But there just always seems to be some mess that comes with them.
Sqwoah
This is pathetic.
SDR94103
“Marvin Cortes’ coming out deserves the top spot in our hearts”
NO HE DOESN’T. GEEZUS.
CityguyUSA
Male beauty was celebrated in GQ and the Undergear Catalog.
KRobert57
Yes, I agree…this is pathetic…also, he isn’t cute at all.