Gay pornography

Gay pornography as an industry has naturally mirrored the "straight" side of the pornography industry. Unlike the production of straight porn however, sodomy laws in many states meant that the images could not only be considered obscene, but also evidence of a crime. (No longer the case since such laws were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2003. See Lawrence v. Texas.)

Related Topics:
Pornography - Sodomy - Lawrence v. Texas

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Because of these restrictions, early gay porn primarily consisted of pictures of individual men either fully naked, or with a g-string. Early gay porn in the 1940s and 1950s focused on athletic men or body builders in statuesque poses. They were generally young, muscular, and with little or no visible body hair. Since most gay men of this time were deeply "in the closet", actual depictions of sexual activity were rare. A reader of this type of porn could "pass" as a fitness enthusiast. Although now considered quite tame or soft-core, this type of porn still exists today. Often this sort of material is the only erotic stimulation available to young men or boys, those who live outside of major urban centers, or those who have no web access.

Related Topics:
Gay - G-string - 1940s - 1950s - Body builders - Body hair - Web

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The early gay pornographers were men who had an interest in or a business related to photography. Sets of photographs were a very popular form of porn, as they featured full-frontal nudity. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the advent of 8mm film cameras enabled these photographers to produce underground movies of gay sex. Sales of these products were either through mail-order or through more discreet channels: some of the early gay pornographers would travel around the country selling their photographs and films out of their hotel rooms, with advertising only through word of mouth.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1970s - 8mm film - Underground

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The sexual revolution had a profound impact on gay porn. The seventies saw not only the rise of the gay adult theatres, where men often had sexual encounters, but also the rise of gay publishing. Most gay men who purchased porn, did so via gay porn magazines, as they neither had access to adult theaters, or could not enter such establishments for fear of being "outed". During this time many publications were started including In Touch, Blueboy, and Playgirl, which, while ostensibly produced for women, were purchased and enjoyed by gay men.

Related Topics:
Adult theatre - Gay porn magazines - Blueboy - Playgirl

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Today, however, gay pornography has become a highly profitable enterprise, ranging from the "All-American straight-guy" porn of MarineMeat.com and Sean Cody, to the 'twink' European men of Bel Ami.

Related Topics:
All-American - Straight - MarineMeat - Sean Cody - European - Bel Ami

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A booming ethnic gay-porn industry, led by studios such as Latino Fan Club, Enrique Cruz and Kristen Bjorn, markets an aggressively masculine street-thug image with its models, some studios catering to the urban "down-low" subculture. Tiger Tyson, among others, has emerged as a superstar of this genre.

Related Topics:
Ethnic - Latino Fan Club - Enrique Cruz - Kristen Bjorn - Masculine - Thug - Urban - Down-low - Subculture - Tiger Tyson

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In recent years, gay pornography has had a certain amount of controversy and infighting, as barebacking (condomless) studios such as Treasure Island Media and Hot Desert Knights have been accused of adding to the HIV problem by "safer-sex" studios such as Falcon Studios and Lucas Entertainment and Titan Media.

Related Topics:
Barebacking - Treasure Island Media - HIV - Falcon Studios - Lucas Entertainment - Titan Media

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