Hot Spotting: Fatphobia in the Gay Male Community

Sadly, fatphobia and weight stigma are on the rise within the gay male community, leading to instances of fat-shaming, discrimination, hurtful comments, and exclusion. This toxic environment often alienates members of the community and can have detrimental effects on both mental and physical health.

Despite the desire for inclusivity within the gay community, many individuals perpetuate exclusionary and fatphobic attitudes. Gay men, in particular, face immense pressure to conform to narrow ideals of masculinity, exacerbated by platforms like Grindr, where discriminatory "preferences" are openly expressed.

With my project, Hot Spotting: Fatphobia in the Gay Male Community, I aim to shed light on this issue. By appropriating the visual style of typical gay male magazines like Hot Spot and utilizing images captured at various gay pride events in Miami, I seek to challenge the traditional cover imagery dominated by lean, muscular bodies. Through this visual narrative, I confront society's harmful beauty standards and promote dialogue around body image and attractiveness within the gay community.