Do you remember the first time you watched a gay porn video and enjoyed it? Was there one that was hot and felt good to watch? Was there one that took your breath away and made you smile? I’m sure you can guess what was so special about it… not the details like who starred in it, what fetishes were explored, or the gender of the actors, but something more meaningful and familiar to all quality gay porn videos: authenticity.
Now, think back to the last time you were bored watching a gay porn movie
There’s something about this video that I found funny, and the idea behind it is excellent, but there’s something about it that I don’t like. You can guess why: it’s because it’s authentic.
A gay porn movie without authentic chemistry is like a lousy commercial
Someone tries to sell you something, and you don’t buy it. And let’s be honest, gay porn videos are a sales industry, and as creators we want people to buy. As an essential starting point, authenticity is only helpful. However, marketability aside, there are other reasons why authenticity of content should be a priority.
When I create something in front of or behind the camera, presenting an authentic exploration of sexuality is fundamental to my work because I believe that gay porn videos have the power to change and transform people’s relationships with sex and their bodies. Their relationship. Gay porn videos are a powerful medium to tell stories about human sexuality, and this work carries a great responsibility.
Do you remember the first time you watched a gay porn movie and enjoyed it?
Gay porn videos are not just something that arouses us. For many, it is sex education. A lot of that is due to the lack of comprehensive sex education in schools, but it is still a reality. As a creator, knowing that gay porn videos are being used for sex education was an important starting point for me. I wanted to help create better and more authentic gay porn videos that show the diversity of sex. I haven’t seen many gay porn videos that reflect my own sexual experiences. When I found my first gay porn video that felt authentic, I learned about things I wanted to try, saw bodies like my own portrayed attractively, and was just blown away by how hot it was. What message do the scenes you made convey?
Making authentic gay porn videos is an integral part of a story about healthy human sexuality
It looks very different but ultimately depends on the participant’s experience. How are the actors feeling? Safety, commitment, excitement, arousal, comfort, or consensual discomfort… I don’t want to say which combination of emotions is the “right” one, but I want to know how the performers feel and if it feels “right” for them.
The “right” combination of emotions, when I perform, is
Safety, trust, respects, and excitement being aroused is undoubtedly a plus, but it’s not something I need to make gay porn videos look authentic. I think what many people imagine when they think of authentic porn is authentic “natural” arousal… It’s similar to talking to people who claim to support sex workers but never hire them themselves. When I ask why, I almost always get the answer: “I want it to be authentic, not about getting someone to pay me to be with me.” If sex is not the standard we set for ourselves, why is this mindset so widespread about sex? Is it for other professionals? No one says, “I won’t go to the doctor because if I don’t pay them, they don’t care about my health.” Should this helping profession be paid for its work but not for a profession that involves deep vulnerability, intimacy, and care?
