"Since the start of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, gay men have had a complicated and varied history with body hair. The '70s, the 'Castro Clone' aesthetic took precedent with the hyper-masculine look of working class men that involved snug Levis, tight T-shirts and plaid shirts. Mustaches, side burns and a hairy chest were also prominently displayed."
"Over the last 15 years or so there has been a trend toward embracing beards and hairy chests in most big-city gay metros. Social media saw the rise of accounts like The Bearded Homo as gay men with facial scruff and chest pubes began to become more and more the norm."
"These days, go to any gay club from Brooklyn to Silverlake and you're more likely to find an unruly mane emanating from a tank top than an ingrown hair. And when gays post those thirst traps asking 'if they should shave?' the overwhelming answers are always 'no', 'never' and 'don't you dare!'"
The LGBTQ+ community has experienced a complex relationship with body hair over the decades. In the '70s, the Castro Clone aesthetic emphasized hyper-masculinity with body hair. The '80s saw a shift towards hairlessness, influenced by gym culture and the AIDS crisis. However, in the last 15 years, there has been a resurgence of beards and hairy chests, particularly in urban gay scenes. Social media has played a significant role in normalizing this trend, with many gay men now rejecting shaving in favor of embracing their natural body hair.
Read at Queerty
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