by Clemens Egger (he/him), 21 May 2023

But, as far as research shows, there is a need to talk about the facets that come with men who identify as g0y. So, make yourself comfortable and brace yourself for a deep dive into the misogynous and homophobic world of g0ys.

After researching this topic, I first thought it was just a typo, but it didn’t take too long for me to lose myself in the subject. The deeper I read into it, the more confusing it got. So here I sit in my favorite café in Berlin, trying to put all this information in context for you.

First of all, let me start with a brief definition.

The Urban Dictionary defines g0y as:

“a guy who finds men attractive, but (for whatever reason) is offended by the stigmas that currently define the 'gay community' in the public psyche.”

G0y is not a sexual orientation. You can identify as gay, bisexual, or even straight and be g0y. It is more of a self-describing word for men who are attracted (emotionally as well as physically) to men, more specifically masculine men. A g0y can have one or more sexual encounters with other men and don’t have the language to describe their feelings & relationships. While they might identify as straight, they still have these deep feelings for masculine affection.

The term g-zero-y is of biological nature. In the field of cellular biology, there is a state in mitosis where the cell is currently in between activity states. This condition is called G0. For g0ys this state is comparable to the state of puberty, where socially typical pair-bonding is essential and therefore fits the biological condition of G0.

Following that definition, men who identify as g0y, distance themselves clearly from all gay stereotypes. If you type in gay pride on Google Images, you will find a collection of pictures that help to identify these stereotypes a g0y so desperately opposes. Let me paint you the picture:

You see men dressed in the smallest trunks with rainbow-colored wings, hats, or other accessories. Some of them have glitter on their faces or wear typical fetish clothing like harnesses or chokers. And, let’s be honest, we all have a preconceived image of a stereotypical gay man, but I hoped that one would be able to differentiate, that that is not common and “just” a stereotype. Well, apparently some men don’t have the ability to differentiate between a stereotype and reality. They even have the urge to distance themselves from everything feminine and stereotypical gay that they need a whole identity for it: the g0y identity.

If you are wondering right now, following that introduction, you yourself might be g0y because you are not a big fan of wearing tutus, glitter, or rainbow hats — please stay with me, it is way bigger than that. Because that definition falls a bit short to explain the g0y phenomenon. More so, g0y can be understood as a “paraphilic identification”. These men create a new form of identity from their sexual tastes (philias). G0ys not only oppose the stereotypical image of gay men in society but the connection between gay men and femininity as well as the sex practice of anal intercourse. See, I told you there’s more.

But what is the g0y’s philia? G0ys are attracted to men. Manly men. Their philia can be understood like the definition of ANDROPHILIA, “the aesthetic, affective, and non-exclusive sexual attraction, towards the male”. What g0ys are not attracted to, are feminine men or any form of sexual behaviors that can be identified as “not manly”. When it comes to sex, g0ys oppose the idea of having anal intercourse. They refuse anal intercourse because for them it is a "violent act" that embodies the ultimate form of sexual disrespect. On their “official” website g0ys.org they write:

"G0YS reject anal sex! It's dirty, dangerous & damn - disrespectful to masculinity".

Considering the numerous bible verses cited on g0ys.org, there is reason to believe that they have a strong relationship to religion. And that might even make more sense when we consider that the intimate and emotional relationship between two men was never condemned in the Bible. Take the example of Jonathan and King David: “Your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.” Only anal intercourse is condemned and prohibited, as it is said in Leviticus: “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them” (Leviticus 20:13). So, the g0ys don't get off so badly in the holy scripture. It's only the effeminate men who have anal sex who should be stoned to death: lucky you g0ys!

But let's cut to the chase: There really is no problem with men identifying as g0y. If you want sexual relationships with both, women, and men - that's fantastic! If you are more into masculine guys - that's great. If you are not into anal sex - that is ALSO fine. The problem lies within this deep misogynous and homophobic, toxic masculinity that you base your “identity” on. Because what is NOT fine is calling the gay community bad, disgusting, or harmful for masculinity. Considering all things feminine as dangerous for “masculinity” and calling gay sex unsafe, dirty, and sinful is beyond problematic, toxic, and wrong. You are on your journey trying to embrace a new form of masculinity that goes beyond the heteronormative world we are living in, and that is just great for you. We are fighting the same fight here actually. But it will neither help your community, nor the gay community if you spread your homophobic and misogynist ideas with incorrect statistics around (especially) young pubescent men.

Thank you very much.

P.S. Fix your website.