This past week, I started using SORA to generate AI content for underwear/speedo/spandex. I created a video of a guy in spandex working out at the gym and posted it on Instagram. When a comment asked, “Why do we need AI” content when we have enough queer content creators to make this?” my initial respo” se was that very few creators are making this type of content. I chose to use AI because it allows me to explore creative ideas and visualize concepts quickly and efficiently. AI adds value by offering new perspectives and enhancing my ability to produce diverse content. Importantly, it complements the work of real creators by giving more visibility to themes that might otherwise be overlooked.
My video creation
The video’s general theme is a guy wearing spandex. He says it’s not about showing off; it’s about wearing what he wants, feeling confident, and showing what real masculinity is to him. And then the gym goers clap. While creating the video, I learned that crafting effective prompts is key to achieving the desired outcome with AI tools. Although this video turned out perfect, others were a bit off, which taught me the importance of trial and error in AI content creation. I encourage others to experiment and refine their prompts to explore this creative avenue. By sharing our methods and improvements, we can help more people get involved and demystify AI as a tool for creativity.
Thirst Traps and not a drop to drink.
I love spandex and the spandex community. It’s a community that has been in the shadows for far too long. Most guys who love spandex have kept it hidden and feel like an outcast in the bigger kink community. I know I have at times, and it’s hard when you feel like you are the only one who likes it. The internet has made it easier to meet other guys. Sites like Spandex Party, Fetlife, and even social media bring guys together like never before. I applaud this so much.
However, when you look at most of these sites, it’s mainly the thit’s trap and sexual side—scrolling through the super hot pics. Don’t get me wrong, don’t love a Thirst Trap as much as the next spandex lover. However, a small percentage of the guys posting talk about encouraging others to wear the gear. To change this narrative, members could start by sharing posts that inspire confidence and creativity in wearing spandex. They can share stories of how wearing the gear has positively impacted their lives, create challenges that encourage others to step out of their comfort zones, or provide styling tips to make spandex part of everyday attire. By sharing these empowering messages, we can foster a more supportive and inclusive community.
There could be several reasons for just posting thirst traps.
- Lack of outlets – Many sites are not set up to post anything other than pics. There is no place to post longer content other than captions.
- No or low community involvement – Guys don’t have a community that embraces spandex love, and the only way they know how to interact is by posting pics.
- Posting pics is their empowerment. Guys can assert their control over their images and show their confidence. It’s empowerment over objectification..
- Transformation process – Some guys go through a physical change (working out, losing weight, etc.) or a life-changing event (breakup, death of someone close, a move across the country), and it’s their way of showing the new person they have become.
- Seeking validation – People do post pics for validation. This is where the likes, comments, and follows feed their self-confidence, and the more they get, the more they want the validation. However, this can be a slippery slope and get out of control, and not be good for your mental health.
There is nothing wrong with any of these. If you want to post pics in gear, do it and enjoy!
Kink vs. real life
Pedro at Hung Out Dry proposed this theory to me: there are two sides to spandex love—the sexual/fetish side and the everyday side. The everyday side means wearing it to the gym and incorporating it into daily life: wearing it to the gym, the store, or just hanging out. Some guys can’t separate these two sides. An example of this is a guy can wear it to a Fetish/Spandex night at a bar, but gets anxiety when wearing it out in public, like to the store, or for a walk. He’s worried he may get too excited.
I personally want both sides of this coin. I want to feel sexy in my gear and also make it part of my life. My initial journey definitely started with the “fun” side of gear. I would buy singlets, spandex shorts, tights, and get so turned on. I then started wearing them to the gym and mixing the two sides; sometimes I got turned on, and other times it became like a normal thing. My mind eventually got to the space when I was at the gym or out, the sexual side wasn’t as intense. I will still feel sexy, but it’s not a sexual turn-on. And then there are times when it’s the total kink side, and I really enjoy it, and let go.
Starting on the kink side makes it a little more difficult to embrace the non-sexual side, at least for me. Sliding on the spandex just feels so amazing and fun; you get lost in your mind. Whereas I think a guy who cycles or wears spandex for a sport or exercise may have the reverse problem. I have met cycling guys who think spandex is purely functional and not a sexual thing, and they don’t want it to be sexual in any way.
The community I am trying to build
Back to my point of this post. I want to build a community where there is no shame around spandex/lycra. Whether you want to focus on the sexual side, the non-sexual side, or both, men should feel empowered to wear what they want and encourage others to do the same. Here is what I want to see in a community: I also invite all of you to share your own stories, experiences, and ideas on how we can build this community together. Your insights are invaluable, and by sharing them, you help foster a sense of belonging and engagement among us all.
- The end of “Toxic Masculinity” and the “a real man wouldn’t wear that.” – Masculinity, to me, is having the courage to be yourself and not follow rules that don’t make sense. Be a rebel and define what your masculinity is.
- A social space to be open – We are gaining these, but a social space where I can celebrate other guys for taking the courage to share their love of spandex/lycra. Also, where can we get to know each other as people, not gearheads? A lot of us keep ourselves guarded and don’t share too much about who we are in real life. We compartmentalize our lives and rarely mix the two. However, for me, to be authentic, I need to mix the two and be seen beyond the gear. I want guys to get to know who I am and become friends with me.
- Encourage more positive content – As I said above, I see very few people posting about positivity, wearing what you want when you want. Encouraging new community members to find affordable gear or educating them about which companies to check out. This also includes body positivity, specifically in the gay community, where you have to be white, ripped, have abs, and be under 30. I want to see people of color, older, younger, bears, otters, twinks, and everything in between wearing Lycra/spandex. I want these guys to use their voices to explain why spandex has changed their lives, what they love, and how they came out as gear lovers. I’m in a unique position because I have a podcast where I talk about these things, but I also have guys like Scott (Fourway333), Andy (AndyELycra), Stephen (Spandex Kings), and more to talk to and share many of these things. The content tells how they overcame their fears to wear in public. Also, what gear do they love and why? Is it the fit, the colors, or why do they love the Amoresy suit with feet over the one that doesn’t have feet? How they discovered their love of gear, an origin story, never gets old. What gear do they wear for different activities? Which brands are educating and sharing their knowledge with others? Gear is expensive, and it’s good to get an opinion on things we may want to buy or a brand we are considering buying for the first time.
- I want to see the personality and not the persona – We all have an online persona. I have one, which is a lot more outgoing than I actually am. That said, I want to know the guy’s personality, not what he portrays in his persona. And to be fair, sometimes the persona is not embraced by the person posting but by the viewers. A prime example of this is Jai. When you see his pics, he is huge, with abs, a bulge, and the ideal man. Therefore, you assume he’ll be conceited and all about himself. This is so far from the truth. He’s one of the sweetest guys I have met, and one of the smartest guys I know as well. We need to watch what we project, too. I encourage you guys to show who you are, and show things not related to spandex, like your geeky side, hobbies, and more.
- Take the shame out of gear – We all feel different when we start out with our fetish. We want to connect with others, but we often get rejected and called strange or weird for wanting to incorporate gear. This has a negative effect on us and our self-confidence. It’s like “what’s wrong with me, no one else likes this. So it must be me who has the problem.” No, everyone has a kink they enjoy, and you should embrace it and not let anyone shame or belittle you for liking what you like. When you have friends who share the same thing, it increases your confidence, and when something like this happens, you can go talk to your friend. As I’m sure they have been through it before, they can be a great person to vent to or to lend advice on how to deal with it.
- Making real-world connections – Online lets us meet guys we would never meet in our city or country. However, I want to do real-time meet-ups in gear or in regular clothes. I have found in the last few years that when a guy knows I love undies/speedos/spandex, I tend to open up more about my life and trust them more. I don’t have to explain the entire thing; they get it, it’s a non-issue, and we can move on to finding out more about each other.
I know I got on my soapbox, but this kind of set me off today. I am not trying to use AI content to take away from any creator; in fact, if we had more doing this type of content. I wouldn’t have made it in the first place. Second, I think many guys want this type of content (positive, not AI). I get a lot of feedback from the podcast about how we have someone with this giant love who wants to share and talk about issues that never get any coverage on social media or kink sites.
I welcome anyone who wants to have a discussion with me to get in touch with me. I know many of you don’t care for AI content. I see it as a tool to accomplish goals, not as a replacement for content creators. Hearing from so many guys who want this type of content, I challenge you to create it. By the way, I will always share that something was created with AI. My intent is not to fool or trick people. To foster a more inclusive community, I invite you all to share your thoughts and ideas. You can reach out via email, the podcast comments section, or by being a guest on Stretching the Truth Podcast. Let’s build this community together by contributing your unique experiences, whether through posts, discussions, or new content ideas. Everyone’s participation is valuable, and I encourage you to connect and become an active part of the conversation.
FYI, I use Grammarly to write and correct my posts. Including this one. Being dyslexic has helped me fix many of my grammar and word issues.
