What does Gay look like?

Wanna know what gay looks like?

Check out the latest issue of Genre, Out, or even the Advocate and pay attention to the images presented. You'll probably notice low body fat, muscular men (usually white) with no blemishes (or pores for that matter), all very good looking, and and almost always altered in some way with a computer. They've been photoshopped to have a sharper jawline, smoother skin, longer neck, bigger bulge, etc.

There's a lot of sociological thought and research out there indicating that these images shape our idea of beauty for OURSELVES and OTHERS. In other words, the bar of what is attractive and desirable is being set by media using body types that literally do not exist - except in celluloid and print.

This is significant because we're told we need to be something that is physically impossible to be. Yet many of us -across the nation - are still trying. We put a lot of energy into trying to mimic the media's standard of beauty. Basically, advertising is shaping our identities. No wonder a growing number of gay young men are anorexic and bulimic. If you'd like to read more about the media's impact on gay body image detailed check out this article (registration required to view entire article).

(Josh Newbury and Daniel Gomez lead lively discussions every Wednesday at Coffee Talk. Want to be a part of the conversation? Join us Wednesdays at 6pm @ SL Roasting Co.)