“I was surprised by the reaction because the outfits are way more conservative than the shirtless guys in Speedos and jockstraps I typically have in my videos.”
That’s gay rapper Cazwell — previously from New York, now based in Los Angeles — commenting on the polarizing opinions he received after posting a teaser Instagram photo to promote his new single “Loose Wrists,” which features the blue-eyed performer and his backup dancers twerking in lacy rompers:
Related: WATCH: Want To Take A Warm Bath With Cazwell?
“I moved to Los Angeles a year ago,” Cazwell says, “and I wanted to make a song that people could drop their convertible tops down to and head bang along with.”
“I noticed a Femme Pride movement brewing a few years back, but it has not been so visible until now. It’s about time we all embrace femme. Whether we are gay or straight, when men get in touch with their feminine sides, it gives a real sense of empowerment.
We have a president that wants to take us off of the census and a vice president that believes shock therapy will cure gayness. At the end of last year, I vowed to be as gay as possible with my music and videos. We have to be more visible than ever, and I hope I inspire that.”
Check out the new single below, and do your part to make lacy rompers a thing:
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Josh447
Too funny. Like gay guys need to learn to get in touch with their (think RuPaul everyday) feminine side.
I think they got it quite backwards.
Donston
I believe it’s a reaction to the sometimes toxic ultra masculinity that many gay men aspire to.
mhoffman953
@Donston
“Toxic ultra masculinity” doesn’t exist. It’s a buzzword to hate on men for being men.
There are a-holes in both genders, as well as in gays and straights. It has nothing to do with gender. Masculinity and femininity determine who we are. Labeling one toxic is blaming men for being born male.
As a society, we need strong men. Throughout history, masculine and strong men have sacrificed themselves physically and emotionally to feed, house, protect, and care for women, children, and their fellow man. Labeling all masculinity as toxic, negates all of that and paints strong, masculine men as oppressive jerks who exploit others.
Donston
Yeah, I don’t recall labeling masculinity itself as “toxic”. But clearly, fem-phobia and the desperation that many gay men have to separate themselves from anything in the least bit “fem”, to prove that homos can be “real men” is very much an issue of many. And this self-consciousness helps lead to self-hatred, self-denial, anxiety, segregation and hetero worship. I experienced these issues myself. And I see many going through it still almost every day.
It’s not a soapbox or a generalization. It’s a reality. And who says effeminate men haven’t sacrificed things for their country and families? I’m all about embracing the reality and the diversity of a popular. Once you do that you realize none of it really matters.
Donston
However, I don’t truly believe these guys are thinking that deep. They’re just looking for attention and a reason to shake their asses.
mhoffman953
@Donston
What do you mean you don’t recall labeling masculinity as toxic? You did in your response by using toxic as an adjective to masculinity. There is nothing toxic about masculinity and there is nothing toxic about men who carry themselves as masculine men.
When you say, “I experienced these issues myself”, sounds like you just had a bad relationship with a guy who was masculine but also a jerk. Being masculine and a jerk are not synonymous with each other. Anyone can be a jerk.
Then you said, “And who says effeminate men haven’t sacrificed things for their country and families”, I’m not sure who said that. I know I didn’t say that in my response. You implied that I said that but I didn’t. I stated that we need masculine men in society and to describe them as toxic starts to punish men for being men.
Donston
“the sometimes toxic ultra masculinity that many gay men aspire to”
That doesn’t mean masculinity equals toxic. That means as it reads. Gay men who put forward tons of effort to present themselves as masculine and who feel the need to constantly prove their masculinity often have toxic lives.
I consider myself fairly masculine, and I married an “everyday” guy, though my attractions range wide. It’s not something I hold to some high esteem like some homos. It’s just what it is. When I say I went through my own thing I meant that I got annoyed being surrounded by gays desperately trying to prove how manly they were, how much of a “bro” they were and always making snide and superior comments about any guy who showed a whiff of femininity. While many of these dudes were a lot more “obvious” than they would like to admit. It’s definitely an issue for us, one of many. It’s why the majority of my male friends now are straight dudes and guys who lean towards fem.
DarkZephyr
@mhoffman953 I wish you would stop confusing BEING masculine with *identifying* as masculine with a obnoxious cult mentality about it. Two very different things. Masculine men find that kind of toxic masculinity to be just as repugnant as anyone else does. Trust me. So stop defending it every chance you get.
jayceecook
Those aren’t rompers but matching shirt and shorts. Rompers are a one piece item of clothing.
judysdad
And why the bell would a man have any desire to do this? Ridiculous.
DarkZephyr
Why do you care?
Orgoglio Masch
Exactly. Also interesting how Cazwell obviously associates being “gay as possible” with effeminacy. Isn’t that a stereotype?
I totally don’t expect men to be walking around in lace this summer (thank God), but nice try on using Pence to justify this train wreck. Let us not forget that Cazwell’s signature is featuring half-naked Puerto Rican trade in his videos.
Chris
Those outfits, they’re different! — “I vowed to be as gay as possible with my music and videos.” — Mission accomplished. LOL
stevetalbert
They look like they are made of polyester. How horrible moving around in heat. I mean the clothes.