No Speed Bumps

'Gay for Pay' on Tyra Banks – Kurt Wild

This Tyra Banks show explores the ‘gay for pay’ phenomenon. Not to any great depth – it’s day time television after all

The representative of the industry for this particular episode is Kurt Wild, with whom some/many/all of us must have had a moist moment … or twenty.

Now, while some/many of us may have issues here, for me, it’s more of a smoke and mirrors situation - it just matters that the guy/s look as though they are having steaming hot great sex. It’s acting - I don’t need thespians playing murderers or child molesters to have these proclivities off screen. So I’m happy to buy into the proposition of this young straight guy with kids choosing gay $3000 or more a time work rather than the $300 straight equivalent.

Watching this video, I guess, as much as anything, I was interested in seeing just how the topic was approached on prime time television. While at least claiming a nominally liberal agenda, a show like this positions itself to be able to also encompass the more conservative sectors of the viewing public. I expected this tension would be realised in the smirking innuendo, the raised eyebrow and the like. Yep!

I don’t want to say too much about this video except that it does raise some interesting issues. Issues like if and when do you tell your kids about your other job. And how specifically you get yourself into the right state of mind to be able to successfully do gay porn.

There are a couple of messy cop out bits, one in particular where Kurt says he’d of course give up the porn industry when he marries his long time girlfriend as he’d ‘want to start with a clean slate’. Go figure.

Before you watch, I will say that there is one cute metaphor, set up by Tyra with enviable timing. It involves the giving and receiving of Xmas presents – I’ll say no more.

Enjoy, and tell us your reactions guys.