The Best Boyslut Articles of 2021
The Boyslut shares the favorite works he's written in 2021, including pieces in the NYT, Daily Beast, VICE, and BOYSLUT.
I was trying to come up with some inspirational content for an end-of-the-year post—something about what I learned in 2021 or being grateful for the things that weren’t terrible. But honestly, fuck it. I have no desire. This tweet encapsulates my current thoughts.
So instead, here are eight articles from 2021 that I wrote, edited, or was an expert in. I’m particularly proud of these pieces!
This was the first (and currently only piece) I’ve ever written for the NYT. Outside of it always being a dream to write an op-ed for the Times, I know that this piece has had the most impact of any piece I’ve ever written. It was the top piece in the online op-ed vertical for 36 hours, and hundreds of thousands of people read it. Readers who don’t see my work in Men’s Health and my other usual outlets. This is the impact I strive to have for the bi community.
This actually wasn’t that wild of a piece, all things considered. It was well-written, but I was surprised to learn that it went viral. I forget that I’m one of the (if not the only) mainstream sex writers who talks about all the sex he has at parties. When other sex writers attend sex parties, they review it. They don’t partake. (Where’s the fun in that?) I talk about getting the fuck down, and most people aren’t used to reading about that, at least they’re not in The Daily Beast.
What I liked about this piece for VICE was that it assumed that the girlfriend wasn’t a biphobic asshole. It was a well-meaning woman who just has some questions and insecurities. How will the relationship change if my boyfriend is bi? How can I best support him? I like the ability to write more specific bi content like this.
I loved this piece. I absolutely fucking loved it. It was not only hot, sexy, and fun, but it also spoke to the intergenerational differences between the older swinger, capital L-Lifestyle and the younger, millennial, ethical non-monogamous approach to relationships.
I don’t write too much about growing up with severe OCD. It’s not because I’m ashamed or embarrassed; it’s because it’s outside the scope of my beat. I write about sex and relationships. My pediatric OCD usually does not intersect with my adult sex life. That’s why I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to discuss my OCD in the context of my bisexuality. (FYI, I write a lot more about growing up with OCD in my memoir-manifesto, BOYSLUT, slated to come out in Spring 2023. Yes, I am starting to plug my book a year-and-a-half in advance.)
I didn’t write this piece, but I was an expert in it. Over the past two or so years, I’ve heard countless stories of gay men recognizing that they are, in fact, bisexual. (This wasn’t something I heard six years ago when I first started writing about bisexuality.) The experience of being a straight-identifying man realizing he’s bi is in no way similar to a gay-identifying man realizing he’s bi. This piece explores the latter in a way I’ve never seen explored before.
This Sexplain It went viral simply for the title, but the piece itself actually addresses a number of important issues. First: How sexual health risk exists on a spectrum of low to high. It is completely okay to be high on the spectrum as long as you’re honest about it with your partners. Second: How your boundaries dictate what you can do, not what your partner does. If you don’t like something, you can leave or break up with your partner. But if, say, they’re high on the risk spectrum, and you’re low, and you want them to only wear condoms, and they don’t want to, you can’t force them to wear condoms. You can and should break up with them and find a partner you’re more sexually compatible with.
In this piece, an anonymous Boyslut recounted how he overcame his sexual insecurities at the first-ever BOYSLUT party. It made me so damn happy that he had a great time, and fuck, the party was such a success. BISLUT, the mixed-gender sex party, was initially slated for Jan 22, but sadly, I think there’s a decent chance we’re going to have to postpone.
That’s a wrap on 2021. Here’s to hoping 2022 is better. I’m excited to announce that I have a few new contributors writing original BOYSLUT content that will be available for paid subscribers.
If you’re interested in becoming a writer for BOYSLUT, please read the submission details here and send me a piece!
xoxox,
The BOYSLUT