I am sure that by now we have all at least heard of sites like Onlyfans and Fansly: websites that allow for people to subscribe to creators for various reasons, notoriously including sexual content. During lockdown, these sites became a beacon of light for many of these creators, as they found a source of income that allowed them to work from home. Subscribers latched on, perhaps because of the new stay-at-home rules, which meant more cash for creators and therefore more motivation and freedom to continue what, for some, might have been their biggest (or only) source of income.
I have been following some of these creators for a long time. Aside from their sexual content, the Onlyfans creators that I follow also post about personal, social, and even political topics. They are queer, creative, and artistic creators and many share with their audience the realities of what it is like to live their lives. This personal touch to their platforms is what I and many others like about their online personas: they are “real” people, relatable in many ways, and honest about their opinions on online sex work.
One of my favorite creators is Hank from The Hanky Panky Podcast: a former stripper, dominatrix, and sugar baby turned Onlyfans girl and podcast host. On her show, she invites fellow creators and people involved in the world of sex work to talk openly and honestly about what this world is like. Hank also collaborates with her fellow queer online sex workers to create a perspective that mainstream pornography does not bring. This independent, queer, and alternative sexual content I believe represents an important shift in the world of pornography—a shift which has been capitalized on by these new independent Onlyfans and Fansly creators.
Much mainstream pornography, on the other hand, has been found to involve problematic race and gender dynamics. Many mainstream pornographic videos lead to aggression, use misogynistic and racist language, and show degrading scenes of marginalized groups. Many academics and sexuality educators speak about the potential issues involved in mainstream porn, like lack of protection or consent. Moreover, these issues are escalated with the lack of quality and comprehensive sexuality education given to children, who end up using porn as a tool for learning about sex and sexuality.
Seeing the state of mainstream pornography, the subversive potential for queer pornography to eliminate hegemonic gender discourse is nicely summarized in this quote by Cherie Seise:
“Queer Porn is an emerging genre of alternative pornography that celebrates the authentic queer identity of participants while playfully pushing the boundaries of sex roles and identities through performance.”
Of course, pornography is not going to solve the social issues that we see mirrored in much mainstream porn, such as non-consensual aggression, degradation, and humiliation of minority groups. However, if people are going to consume porn (which they will!), why not make it more inclusive and independent from mainstream market forces which have capitalized on and fostered racism, sexism, and ableism?
Tay Allard (they/he) is another queer and independent creator. An ex-model turned creator and director, Tay has always taken a stand for the things they believe in. They are an outspoken queer creator with an incredible eye for detail in their work. Their new project, alongside their partner Edotstreetcar (she/they) is called Golden Age, a “movie quality XXX” where a range of bodies, sexualities, and desires can be seen. They are real artists whose storylines are creative and whose scenes are beautiful to the eye. Moreover, as a trans couple who feature in many of their own films, they are remaking what it means to direct and create professional pornography, both in the way that their work relates to their personal and emotional life and by rejecting the cis-dominant tendencies in mainstream pornography.
The topic of pornography is still such a taboo subject. However, if we do not talk about the issues in these massive industries, there is no chance we can open a discussion about how to tackle what needs to change.
Queer and trans creators in this line of work are doing an important and difficult job. It has its pros and cons, but at the end of the day, queer bodies and sexuality have been pushed to the margins for years. I think it's commendable that these creators are taking their sexual expression into their own hands and trying to create an alternative space in what is a mostly exclusionary, masculinist industry.
Written by Alicia Caldentey Langley.