Does America have a “Speedophobia” problem?
Fire Island, Palm Springs, P-town and South Beach, that isn’t the case everywhere.On Reddit’s r/GayMen forum, a user with the handle u/blackmamba4554 recently rued the “Speedophobia” that’s so prevalent in the United States. “It’s important to remember that men have been wearing swim briefs for decades because it is the most reasonable swimwear for swimming and sunbathing,” he wrote.Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.In that post, u/blackmamba4554 also complained about society expecting men to don “huge, shapeless shorts” for swimming outings. “They try to convince us that this is due to the desire for modesty,” he wrote. “However, all arguments against [Speedo] were certainly accompanied by homophobic and body-shaming slurs.”Many Reddit commenters agreed, and some pointed out how different it is in other countries. “In Australia, straight and gay men have worn Speedos (or budgy smugglers, as we jokingly call them, after a small common bird that would fit down the front) with complete freedom since at least the ‘70s at any beach, pool, or resort,” one wrote. “At the beach, the lifeguards all wear them, and at the pool, the lap swimmers in training wear them, so why not? … Additionally, women often go topless at public beaches while sunbathing without anyone caring.
I suppose it’s all very European, but we just don’t have the same hangups about partial nudity as the U.S.A.”Another Aussie concurred. “Budgees are such a confidence booster for me,” he wrote. “It took me so long to gain that confidence I’m not letting it go now.
Come to Australia—a lot of men sport them with pride, and seriously, no one cares what you’re wearing at a beach/pool/lake/lagoon here.
Take it from a trans guy who wears just ‘Speedos’ and medical tape across the chest to flatten. We just want to chill.”It’s not just Australia either.
