More and more straight-identifying guys are declaring themselves “homiesexuals.”
According to Urban Dictionary, “homiesexual” is “a sexuality where we homies but it ain’t gay cause we’re just homies.” It’s sort of like being a bromosexual, but somehow different.
Bisexual singer Tayla Parx, best known for co-writing Ariana Grande’s smash hit Thank U Next, helped popularize the term when she released the single “Homisexual” last year, in which she talks about how she “only f*cks with my homies.”
“I’m a homiesexual,” she sings. “But if I let you kick it, don’t go feeling special.”
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Now, a year later, the trend has made its way onto TikTok.
The New York Times recently highlighted a few of the platform’s most popular homiesexuals, some of whom are racking up tens of millions of views with their gay baiting videos, which they’re actually using to attract female followers, not male ones.
Connor Robinson is a straight-identifying 17-year-old who says he likes to “break some barriers” by posting snippets of himself and his male friends mimicking gay puppy love, cuddling, or pretending to engage in passionate lip locks.
“Normally, I do jokey dance videos and stuff like that, but it seems like things have kind of changed now,” he told the New York Times, adding, “Girls are attracted to two attractive guy TikTokers with massive followings showing a sexual side with each other.”
Then there’s Josh Richards, who has amassed a whopping 23 million followers by regularly posting videos of himself dropping his towel in front of his straight “boyfriends” or pretending to make out with another guy.
Ercan Boyraz is the head of influencer management at Yoke Network. He says homiesexual videos are a super effective way for aspiring social media stars to accumulate more followers as many young women enjoy watching two guys mess around together. They find it sexy. Sort of like how straight guys often find two girls messing around together a turn on.
“Straight guys have always been attracted to girls being flirtatious with each other,” Boyraz explains to the New York Times. “Girls are just taking the same idea and switching it around.”
Clearly the message is being received by content creators because if your search of “#homiesexual” on TikTok, you’ll get over 50 million results. We have a feeling this trend isn’t going away anytime soon, and we’re perfectly fine with that.
Related: More and more straight dudes are engaging in ménage à trois to help strengthen their bromances
Chrisk
Dear Gen Zs, this is not a new thing. Young guys have always played around the “homiesexual” thing for a very long time. Locker room talk and all.
Also celebs have used it long before as well. It’s just a safe way to get some attention without labeling yourself.
Diogenes
Exactly so.
barkomatic
When I was young and gay, I was held in the same esteem as people who had sex with animals. Now, straight guys are being affectionate with each other on TikTok to be more interesting and appeal to followers. Overall, I’m happy to see this. If a straight guy is secure enough to post this, then that guy will probably not support stripping gay people of their rights.
Donston
That’s not really the reality though. They’re not making out or hugging to break down homophobia or gay shame. They’re doing it for attention and likes. They are sensationalizing homo behaviors. It’s made more sensational because it’s “straight” guys doing it. I’ve noticed more and more “gay” guys on social media indulging hetero behaviors for attention and likes as well.
It does help to normalize homo affections and homo passions. However, there’s plenty of “gay4pay“ dudes who are homophobic. There’s plenty of “queers” who contend with internalized homophobia or gay insecurities or femme-phobia. There are many guys who indulge “experimentation” or who will “act gay” with their friends but will still judge “gays” or look down on homosexuals.
So, one doesn’t automatically relate to the other.
Donston
People have always used sex and behaviors for sensationalism, attention and/or validation. It has especially become widespread since views, likes and followers have become such important commodities for many. Indulging “bromo” behaviors was a very popular thing on the internet ten years ago. So, none of this is anything new. While many dudes (even gay identifying males) are aware that boosting up the homo factor will equate to more people giving you attention. Even many gay couples on social media go out of their way to appease followers’ desires to see homo passions and homo-eroticism.
Is it problematic? I guess to some degree it is. But there’s so much shit people do for attention or validation on the internet. There really isn’t any point at getting mad at everything. I do sometimes feel this stuff is a way for some folks (especially dudes) to indulge their curiosities and affections while also making sure that they maintain a safe distance from “gay” (or in some cases, keep a safe distance from “bi” or “straight”). We are not yet at the point- and may not ever be at the point- of not sensationalizing homo behaviors. We are not yet at a point of accepting that curiosities, fluidity, paraphiliacs, hyper-sexuality are things. While many still have a hard time accepting that the sexual, romantic, affection, emotional, commitment preference spectrum is wide and varied.
Insecurities and validation remain at the forefront. While wanting to connect to “this” or keep a distance from “that” is very pervasive. This all leads to people coming up with “labels” with the silliest shit. Once again, none of it is anything new.
LegionKeign
Excellent Post!
WashDrySpin
This is gay for pay in 2020
amanwithanedge
oh look, 2 straight guys acting gay.
WashDrySpin
for money and of course many gay men think the following:
1. this is hot
2. they have a chance
3. they are really gay
4. all of the above
Donston
WashDrySpin, the difference is, “gay4pay” was/is mostly about appealing to dudes who are homosexual/homo-romantic/overall homo-leaning/“gay”. A lot of these guys on social media indulge homo-eroticism mostly to get the attention of girls. Male homo behaviors, fluidity or “open-mindedness” have become a big commodity on social media because it means more women will give you likes and attention and validation. Even when it comes to women who disapprove, it’s still a net win if all you’re aiming for is attention. It’s very reminiscent of females indulging things with women mostly to get the attention of males. It is problematic is some ways. But sexuality as a commodity and using homo behaviors for sensationalism will never not be a thing.
It wouldn’t be a thing if our society wasn’t both so puritanical while also being so sex-obsessed, if there wasn’t still so much homophobia and internalized homophobia, if we saw same-sex affections and passions and love as “normal” and if people more acutely understood sexuality and orientation.
linx1240
“straight homosexual”? Really? what BS
Donston
Making out with your sex or being hugged up with your sex does not make someone a homosexual. Those are mere behaviors. While this article is about behaviors being driven by a desire for money or social media validation. Where in this article did anyone claim to be homosexual? Mentalities like yours is why male homophobia is still so persistent and why some guys are scared to show any type of same-affections or curiosities. Let’s not be so basic to think that male-male behaviors or signs of affections all equate to homosexuality.
There are guys who are hetero-leaning when it comes to the sexual parts of their orientation, but they are more homo-leaning when it comes to romantic passions, affirmation, emotional investment, relationship commitment preferences. Just like there are guys who are inherently homosexual but overall have female preferences when it comes to their entire orientation. However, those are very different things from what this article is talking about.
bachy
I checked out some of the vids and found that most of the same sex trend is treated as a “big joke,” teenagers “goofing” on each other (and the viewer). I don’t know what the teen girl fans referenced in the article are seeing, but none of it is what I’d describe as “hot.” If you’ve ever had a teenage relation you know their sense of humor can be an odd combination of smug and mind-numbing.
Donston
Most of the time it is just crude humor or “goofing around”. But I’ve seen my fair share of dudes indulging homo-romanticism or eroticism for attention. However you feel about that, it does happen. I see it as mostly harmless. Though I do think “queers” obsessed with “straight guys” doing homo things is mostly lame and sometimes harmful. But that’s another discussion.
Josh447
Blah blah blah let people just do what they want, judgement excluded.
Donston
You’ve done a lot of identity pushing since you started posting here. You’ve also done a lot of judging people and being dismissive towards people since you started posting here. You’ve said a handful of insensitive and sometimes hateful things. Now you develop a live and let live mentality? Have you grown? Probably not. It’s likely just another one do your insecure shields and lame attempts to dismiss any type of nuanced discussion.
wooly101
The net never ceases to amaze I wonder if yu can charge people for just looking at you?
CityguyUSA
Sounds like another excuse to test the waters.
Josh447
The ultimate tease boys (watch out) that may even fall for each other. Good fun.
There’s alot of other truly gay stuff on TT that’s pretty cool and can be worth some recreational time.
1898
i mean, bisexuals are constantly complaining about bi erasure and blaming it on the gays, but terms like homiesexual and bromosexual are being made up by bi guys who refuse to identify as bi. self erasure i guess?