I can’t say whether BuzzFeed is really interested in transgression or simply uncomfortable LOLs, but in making these weird videos, they’ve created clickbait that just so happens to graze, affectionately and awkwardly, against something profound. This, of course, is just another way of saying that straight masculinity remains one of the most policed parts of our culture, and so it’s no surprise that transgressing those boundaries will translate to page views. Traditionally, straight guys have existed in the dead center, and so there’s something brilliant about turning the camera back on them and placing stress on the very quality-male heterosexuality-that defines that centeredness. Being on the margins of society in one way or another means that you will be looked at, noted, and examined for your difference. Their motivations often seem opaque, their fears-especially around homosocial intimacy-outsized, and their actions inexplicable. Straight guys, despite being the so-called “norm,” can feel, paradoxically, like the most mysterious kind of person, especially to those of us who are not straight or not guys.
In this behind-the-scenes video, Keegan Hirst, who is a prop forward for the Batley Bulldogs in West Yorkshire, England, stripped down to a tiny pair of Tommy Hilfiger. But beyond that heady mix, I think there’s another layer worth noting. Britain's first openly gay rugby league player seems to be relishing his newfound sex symbol status, and we're loving every second of it.
