Earlier this year, pro wrester Anthony Bowens came out as bisexual on YouTube followed with a moving personal essay published by Outsports. Now, the 27-year-old athlete/fitness model is speaking out against the stigma and erasure of bisexuality.
In a new interview with Party Foul Radio with Pollo & Pearl, Bowens reflects on the response to his coming out.
“I woke up the next day, and my phone was just melting because of the notifications and how many people were sharing it, news outlets online that were picking it up,” he recalls. “I was getting messages from literally around the world thanking me. Saying I was an inspiration.”
Bowens says he would have come out sooner, but he was afraid it might have a negative impact on his career; however, after seeing the response to his story, he quickly realize that wasn’t the case. Most people were tremendously supportive.
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“If it wasn’t for wrestling, I probably would’ve come out a long time ago but I didn’t know how people would react,” he says. “It’s the fear of the unknown.”
Which is not to say he didn’t receive some criticism. He did; however, most of the naysayers, he noticed, didn’t seem to understand what it means to be bisexual and assumed he was just gay and too afraid to admit it.
“I thought there would be more negativity around the stigma of [a pro wrestler] being part of the LGBT community,” Bowens says, “but the negativity came more from people getting in arguments over bisexuality. You can’t control what people are going to think, but at some point, you have to look past that, be yourself and not care.”
Today, Bowens says he’s happier than ever and he’s excited about the future.
“You can date a dude or marry a dude and be with him the rest of your life, and that doesn’t change the attraction. The stimulation doesn’t change,” Bowens explains. “That’s the reason why it’s LGBTQ—lesbian, bisexual…The LGBTQ community comes in all shapes and sizes.”
Donston
And this partially is why I identify as homo-dominant as opposed to simply bi. This guy clearly has no sexual or romantic interests in women and only minor attraction to them but chooses to identify as bi because that may be simply what he is inherently. However, “bisexual” has about 50 different meanings now for 60 different people who identify as it (sexual attraction to multiple genders, “physical attraction” to multiple genders, being able to get some type of enjoyment out of sex with multiple genders even if there is no sexual attraction, being able to develop “romantic feelings” for multiple genders, building a family with a gender you have no sexual or romantic attraction to, etc). It has kind of lost all its practicality and has become an “identity” all about agenda and social politics. I almost feel “bisexual” should be left for individuals who actually have real and substantial sexual attraction to multiple genders and who can also view multiple genders as a potential romantic/life partner.
But we do need more non gay-identifying people willing to be upfront about who they are beyond whatever “label” and more non gay-identifying people who are actually comfortable with a “gay lifestyle” and having a real homo relationship. So, this is refreshing to see. However, I have no idea who this guy is.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Wow. Anyone else feel ready to tackle Finnegan’s Wake now?
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
“This guy clearly has no sexual or romantic interests in women and only minor attraction to them”
From where are you getting this insight (is it from the radio interview?)
“[b]ut chooses to identify as bi because that may be simply what he is inherently”
Huh?!?
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Bisexuality” is a SEXUAL ATTRACTION, to any degree, to two genders Anything else is ancillary to the definition (I.e. you can have deep love for a fiend but without a sexual attraction component it remains no more than a loving intimate friendship) Certainly one can have sex with an individual of either gender and even obtain a degree of sexual pleasure, yet not necessarily be attracted to them sexually (I.e. prostitutes, gold diggers etc) — this is NOT bisexuality. SEXUAL ATTRACTION is the basis that constitutes sexual orientation (clue’s in the name).. So stop overcomplicating shit.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
^For a friend* (OR a fiend ..I mean love you Donston <B
dash_board1
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID, exactly. I have no idea why people keep trying to complicate matters. Bisexuality just means you are sexually attracted to men and women, that’s it. It says nothing about the degree of the sexual attraction either way or whether you choose to upon it. Heterosexuality and homosexuality lie at two polar ends of the spectrum, everything along that spectrum is bisexuality.
dash_board1
should be: choose to act upon it
frankcar1965
Man can you squeeze anymore BS into a post for us?
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Nice mountain range… I’d love to climb all over it.
alfred
Its always funny how bi guys are always ‘offended’ when people think they are gay, and yet you never hear them complain about people assuming them to be straight…I wonder why that is? *eyeroll*
KennyJ
While that is an issue, I don’t think that that’s the issue here. This man is just trying to address the fact that people don’t think bisexuality exists and brush it off as people who are gay but too afraid to say/accept it.
alfred
The ‘issue’ is exactly that. It is ALWAYS this way round and that says alot. And its because most of the time they are gay or ‘essentially’ gay; im proof. I actively identified as bi for 10 years. Married and all that. Took me a lot of soul searching to break down my ego and let go of that label. Funny thing is that I agree with alot of bi activists in that most people are physically capable of bisexual attraction. But ACTUAL, consistent, and ‘real’ bisexuality is pretty rare – in men certainly. Being able to have sex, and enjoying it on one level doesnt mean its your base line attraction. Wont go on too much, ill leave that to Donston 😉 Peace.
Kangol
He is so beautiful. Represent for bi /gender fluid men, Anthony Bowens!
Keebler ILF
His boyfriend (in the last photo) has some nice pics on his instagram page as well.
After seeing the videos on Bowen’s Instagram, that fake wrestling looks very dangerous.
dustychiffon
Dude. So many kinky thoughts about him, I didn’t even read the article.
Hank
damn yummy hottie.