When I started UNB almost 10 years ago, the site’s readers were almost 100% gay. This was not a shock to me, being a gay guy who has always loved underwear. I wanted to share my passion with others and introduce others into the world of amazing men’s underwear. As we grew, our readership grew and so did our straight readers. I would interact with them and have become friends with quite a few straight guys. They would tell me friends and ex’s would tell them they were gay for wearing something such as a bikini, lace, thong or anything else skimpy and bright.

This made me go WTF? Underwear makes you gay? If only, I could finally date someone into undies (I jest!). Straight guys are supposed to wear boxers and boxer briefs. These pairs should have no fashion or form. Look at the pairs in the big box stores. Granted, they have improved over the last 10 years but they still don’t offer the support and fashion of men’s “fashion underwear.”

Where did the “gay” label come from?

After talking to Salvatore the other day via text about this. It got me thinking. He mentioned he read an article where gay guys in the North East wore swim briefs and labeled the entire line “gay”.  Yeah, this could have happened but it goes deeper than just a regional thing. This is all over the US and has been for a while.

One of the biggest is peer pressure. Even when we get out of school a lot of people want to fit in and not rock the boat. If all their friends are wearing boxer, you should be wearing them too. If you deviate from the norm you are labeled as strange or in this case gay. I can’t tell you the number of guys who have told me they wore boxers over their bikinis or thongs so their friends wouldn’t find out they loved something skimpy. If they didn’t do that, they would wear something basic when out with friends.

The next reason is the view of sex and of men in the US. Each year a big event during the holiday season is the Victoria Secret Runway show. It was broadcast on National TV during prime time. I think it ended last year. There were no thoughts of a woman in skimpy lingerie walking down a runway. Now, put a man in a bikini down the same runway and it’s “WAIT A MINUTE.”  Men in the US can’t be objectified as sexual beings. On broadcast TV you never see a guy in anything but boxers or boxer briefs. This is definitely a double standard in the world. We have seen this personally in ads we have wanted to run and a reluctance of some for working with us (some underwear brands and other brands.)

Was it always this way? 

In the 70’s and 80’s underwear was moving towards bikinis and colors. It was not uncommon for guys to sport a bikini or something fun. I was in my early teens at the start of the 80’s and the underwear choices in department stores blew my mind. Jockey has some of the best bikinis, yes Jockey. If you know the Jockey of today it seems almost foreign. This is also where the nylon underwear came into popularity. Google underwear ads of the 70’s and 80’s

If you’re younger, one thing that will blow your mind is we had MLB and NFL players doing print ads for underwear. I”m not talking the Tim Tebow Jockey ads where you never saw him in the undies. Jim Palmer was in the pages of People magazine. He was wearing Jockey Elance or similar bikini. I remember seeing this and it blew my mind and I had to have those bikinis. Today could you picture your favorite baseball or football player wearing bikinis for all to see?

We also didn’t have the amazing fabrics of today. They were made of nylon, nylon blend, cotton and very few stretchy materials. I remember one of my favorite Jockey bikinis got a run in the pouch. A run like you would get in women’s stockings. Being a broke high school kid, I didn’t have the money to replace them. Then shortly thereafter the line was retired.

Then it all came to an end by the end of the 80’s. We saw the introduction of the boxer brief. Then the dull period of underwear. Where you could get colors but only black, grey, or white. It was this way for a while. Luckily the internet came along and brands were able to find markets for their smaller cuts and bold colors.

Is Underwear Currently Gay? 

When you think about what the public considers gay underwear. They include thongs, lace, bikinis, and bodysuits. The general public my turn its nose up at those but we have straight writers who love them. UndiesDude, TheBottomDrawer, TheThongedGinger and UNB Ryan all love thongs. They are some of the biggest thong lovers I have ever seen. As for lace, UNB Mike has really taken to lace and finds it super sexy. UNB Ryan wants to try a bodysuit.

Speaking of straight guys loving underwear. Right now the majority of UNB writers are straight. I didn’t think this would happen for quite a while. When I think about it I think I am the only gay guy, active on the site right now. After working with these guys they have a massive love of underwear. At times I think their love for undies stronger than a lot of gay guys. It makes me smile to see them really get involved in the underwear world. I consider these as friends as well. It’s awesome that underwear brought us together.

What happens next? 

We are slowly moving towards a world where guys can wear what they want. It’s slow! From 2008 till now I have seen movement in what companies are producing. Going are the boxer briefs and briefs and bikinis are growing in new lines. The double standard is still there where you can’t objectify a man.

Unlike in the 70’s-80’s, we now have the internet and blogs where guys can find what they want and meet other guys into the same undies. Guys can be anonymous on the net. There are many straight guys on Twitter and Instagram showing their love of undies. One of them is JayinCA who has become a part-time guest writer here. Remember, if a straight guy is posting pics of him in underwear, don’t assume he’s gay. This goes to the gay guys, people like to show off and share their love of underwear. Don’t call them gay, ask to see X pics or send them dirty messages. Send them messages of encouragement for putting themselves out there. Social Media can be harsh and we need to support our underwear brothers. Our brothers who are gay, bi and straight!

Curious as to how you think we can change this going forward. I don’t have one right answer for moving forward. It’s a very complex issues. Some would say its a trival one but it reflects the society in general. Let’s have a real and honest discussion about this guys.

A year ago we brought you the Holiday Guide, This year it will be out this Saturday! Stay tuned for that! This is from last years featuring our models Drew, Wes and Damien. Wearing Croota and photographed by Taylor Campbell

Our Holiday Guide features our two video reviewers Andrew and Martin. Introducing new model Jacob! It was a fun shoot that I can’t wait to show you. This is a BTS pic! More to come soon!

It’s Baskit $12 Tuesday!!  The perfect day to get some excellent Xmas presents. This weeks pair is the Body Art Trunk.  Based on a tattoo pattern   It’s an awesome pair. Check it out and all the pairs on their sale page.  Shop the Baskit site