Stud Country Rides Again, Gay Cowboys Have Always Been Here

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If you thought country was only for straight cowboys tipping dusty hats, think again, sugar, because queer line-dancing culture is bucking back into town with a rhinestone twinkle in its eye.

📷 Instagram: @ stud.country
📷 Instagram: @ stud.country

At the center of this revival is Sean Monaghan and his project Stud Country, a roving line-dancing event where LGBTQ+ folks can two-step without worrying about bumping into judgmental stares—or worse, red hats.

Western imagery has always carried a certain homoerotic charge, from Hollywood classics like Red River with Montgomery Clift smoldering onscreen to modern queer cowboy epics like Brokeback Mountain and The Power of the Dog.

But in today’s pop landscape, it’s Lil Nas X breaking records with “Old Town Road,” Orville Peck crooning behind his fringe mask, and Beyoncé dropping Cowboy Carter that’s making Western culture pop again with a queer twist.

Meanwhile, our friends in queer nightlife never really let the cowboy boots gather dust—Western bars like Oil Can Harry’s were once safe havens, and line-dancing has long been a gay pastime from Los Angeles to Texas.

📷 Instagram: @ stud.country
📷 Instagram: @ stud.country

Monaghan calls his events “Church,” because for many, dancing in boots with your chosen family feels more spiritual than Sunday service ever did.

And if you’re nodding along thinking about another cowboy icon who’s been spilling tea and singing raunchy duets, you’re right on track—Orville Peck gave us just that in a recent sit-down. Read about his cheeky side here.

📷 Instagram: @ stud.country
📷 Instagram: @ stud.country

What’s fabulous is how Stud Country reminds us that country music and queer identity aren’t contradictions—they’re both about storytelling, survival, and a little bit of swagger.

And darling, let’s be clear: gay cowboys aren’t a new invention, they’ve been part of the rodeo all along, quietly boot-scooting while straight culture claimed the spotlight.

📷 Instagram: @ stud.country
📷 Instagram: @ stud.country

Now they’re dancing front and center, Stetsons high, making sure nobody forgets whose hips make the two-step sizzle.

If you still need convincing that this revival is more than a trend, let another ride through our archives sway you—because Orville Peck and Willie Nelson once teamed up to remind us that cowboys and Pride go hand in hand. Take a look at that joyful country moment. 😉

Miles Heizer Tackles “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Drama in Netflix’s Boots

Hold onto your dog tags because Miles Heizer is about to take us on a march through one of the most turbulent chapters in queer history with Netflix’s upcoming series Boots.

📷 Netflix
📷 Netflix

The new one-hour dramedy follows Cameron Cope, a closeted teen who enlists in the Marines during the 1990s, when serving openly wasn’t just frowned upon—it was flat-out illegal.

“My life needs a change, sir. I want to be somebody else,” Cameron whispers in the show’s first trailer, only to be told that boot camp is the machine that turns boys into men.

What follows is a blend of grit, humor, and aching truth as Cameron, played by Heizer, navigates training while guarding the secret that could end his career before it even begins.

Based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, Boots brings a raw, sometimes biting, but deeply human look at the cost of hiding who you are when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

📷 Netflix
📷 Netflix

Adding extra firepower to the cast, Vera Farmiga steps in as Cameron’s narcissistic mother, while Max Parker plays the no-nonsense Sgt. Sullivan, alongside a roster of rising names like Liam Oh, Cedrick Cooper, and Ana Ayora.

Meanwhile, if taboo intimacy under pressure sounds familiar, it may remind you of a much more playful short film that explored desire and secrecy in a very different kind of “training ground.” That cheeky queer short film about bathroom hookups was equally raw about longing, albeit with a whole lot more steam than camo.

What makes Boots stand out is how it refuses to sanitize the contradictions of its era—where the U.S. military called for bravery but demanded silence from those brave enough to love differently.

📷 Netflix
📷 Netflix

Heizer, who first captured hearts in 13 Reasons Why and Love, Victor, seems primed for this tougher, meatier role that will let him flex his dramatic chops beyond teen angst into adult stakes.

It’s a bold career move that not only honors a memoirist’s lived reality but also reminds a new generation how recently “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” dominated American policy.

With Netflix setting the premiere for October 9, expect social media timelines to light up as audiences debate, swoon, and probably shed a tear or two.

And if you’re craving even more screen heat, just wait until you catch Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth raising the temperature in their cop-and-lover thriller. That trailer is already leaving fans hot under the collar, so consider it your next double-feature after Boots. 😉

Gay Gymnast Sam Phillips Honored with VIP Moment at U.S. Open

Ready for a summer glow-up story that blends athleticism, activism, and a side of VIP glam? Meet Sam Phillips, the openly queer gymnast who just wrapped his season with a seriously dazzling moment.

📷 Ins @ samphill
📷 Ins @ samphill

Sam kicked off his U.S. Open experience as part of a Pride in Sports panel alongside legends like Carl Nassib and Candace Parker, where he praised inclusion, saying, “sports are for everyone and should be everyone.”

And because he’s living his best life, he didn’t just stop there—after the panel, our star in a breezy light-blue polo got the royal treatment, stepping onto the iconic U.S. Open court to perform the opening coin toss, eyes shining, waving to the crowd, and crowing, “Had the best day today! So much joy and excitement!”

📷 Ins @ samphill
📷 Ins @ samphill

Now, talking real through the air, let’s zoom out and look at the full tapestry of Sam’s glow-up journey. He began as one of the most visible out gymnasts in the NCAA, first making his mark at Nebraska—shining through adversity and earning All-America status while also serving as SAAC President and founding advocacy groups on campus.

📷 Ins @ samphill for Pump Underwear
📷 Ins @ samphill for Pump Underwear

Since transferring to Illinois, Sam continued to soar—in more ways than one. He’s racked up accolades like Big Ten championships, All-American honors, Academic Scholar awards, and even a Nissen-Emery Award nomination—all while pursuing a master’s in management.

📷 Ins @ samphill
📷 Ins @ samphill

Meanwhile, speaking of out athletes who make stadiums swoon, Trey Cunningham recently reminded everyone that winning and queer joy look fabulous together, and his kiss-blowing victory is pure mood, darling, so take a victory lap with this gem here: B-Gay’s Trey Cunningham story.
Back to our gymnast du jour, Phillips knows visibility is a relay, and he’s happily grabbing the baton from tennis icons and pro pioneers who pushed open these gates long before the coin landed.
There’s still room to grow, especially when it comes to out men competing on tennis’s biggest stage, but moments like this one tell young athletes that the arena belongs to them too.
And while he’ll be back on the apparatus soon enough, do not be shocked when this charming showman keeps popping up at the glamorous crossroads where sports and pop culture flirt.
If you’re in the mood for another candid locker-room-to-spotlight journey, rugby trailblazer Keegan Hirst lays it all bare about shame, sex, and self-love in a read that pairs beautifully with a post-match spritz: B-Gay’s Keegan Hirst profile. 😉

Liam Cooper & Samuel Levi From Married at First Sight Are Engaged

Liam Cooper & Samuel Levi From Love at First Sight Are Engaged

If you ever doubted reality TV could lead to real love, then honey, sit down and grab a glass of bubbly, because Liam Cooper and Samuel Levi just served up the ultimate “from screen to soulmate” storyline.

Instagram: @\_samuellevi
Instagram: @_samuellevi

The dashing duo—both alums of the Married at First Sight franchise—have just announced their engagement, and yes, it’s as heart-meltingly romantic as it sounds.

Liam, who bravely came out as MAFS Australia’s first openly bisexual groom back in 2021, shared the joyful news on Instagram with a photo that could launch a thousand fanfics: the two sharing a kiss, rings glinting, eyes sparkling, hearts obviously bursting.

Instagram: @\_samuellevi
Instagram: @_samuellevi

“A day I’ll never forget,” he wrote, adding that he had proposed to his “best friend, soulmate, and forever” @_samuellevi—cue the collective awww from fans across the internet.

Samuel, for his part, shared a dreamy recap of the moment Liam popped the question at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa in Daylesford, Victoria—because, of course, even their engagement had spa day energy.

Instagram: @\_samuellevi
Instagram: @_samuellevi

“Still pinching myself,” Levi wrote, gushing that Liam asked to be his “forever” on August 20, 2025—a date we are now unofficially calling Bi Pride Proposal Day.

The couple had kept their relationship mostly under wraps until now, making this public reveal feel extra intimate—and, dare we say, delightfully cinematic.

Liam, who was previously paired with Georgia Fairweather on the Aussie version of the show, opened up about his bisexuality during his season, earning praise for his vulnerability and honesty in a genre not always known for its inclusivity.

Instagram: @\_samuellevi
Instagram: @_samuellevi

Meanwhile, Samuel brought charm and cheekbones to the 2019 season of MAFS New Zealand, where he was matched with Tayler Morgan—but clearly, Cupid had other plans.

Reality TV sparks don’t always last, but these two have clearly found something real in the glittery chaos of the spotlight.

If you love seeing queer men own their journeys with heart and honesty, don’t miss rugby player Keegan Hirst opening up about gay sex, shame, and self-love.

Support from fellow MAFS stars poured in, with Lizzie Sobinoff calling the news “absolutely gorgeous,” while Duncan James (no, not that Duncan James—but we still stan) chimed in with a joyful “Congrats!!!!” and several well-deserved exclamation points.

And just in case this real-life love story wasn’t enough to restore your faith in TV matchmaking, Levi credited the whole series for bringing them together, saying, “Who would have thought a show like Married at First Sight would have brought us and this love story together?”

Honestly, who indeed?

But now we’re just counting down until they say “I do,” and you know we’ll be here for every spa-day, surprise-party, and steamy-posted kiss until then.

And if romance with a side of reinvention is your thing, you’ll eat up John Whaite’s sweet and saucy next chapter—brownies, biceps, and all.

To Liam and Samuel: may your love be as real as your TV plotlines were chaotic—and may your guest list include at least one dramatic reunion episode cameo.

Mitch Brown Comes Out as AFL’s First Openly Bisexual Player

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Every so often a sports headline comes along that makes you sit up straighter, smile wider, and maybe even shed a tiny proud tear, and this week it belongs to former AFL star Mitch Brown.

Instagram: @mitchbrownie
Instagram: @mitchbrownie

The 36-year-old, who played 94 games for the West Coast Eagles between 2007 and 2016, has come out publicly as the Australian Football League’s first openly bisexual man.

Brown revealed that the burden of hiding his sexuality weighed heavily during his career, admitting it even contributed to his early retirement at just 28.

Instagram: @mitchbrownie
Instagram: @mitchbrownie

He described AFL culture at the time as “hyper-masculine,” a space where casual homophobic slurs made it unthinkable to open up about his truth.

“I see you and you are not alone,” Brown said in his coming-out statement, making it clear his decision is about visibility and helping the next generation feel safer than he did.

Instagram: @mitchbrownie
Instagram: @mitchbrownie

While some are quick to celebrate the “firsts,” Brown downplayed that label, emphasizing that his real goal is to break the silence for others who may still be hiding in locker rooms across Australia.

It’s a story that resonates far beyond Aussie rules football, echoing the brave steps of young athletes around the world who are demanding space to be themselves, much like the English footballer featured in Jake Daniels Beyond the Label of ‘The Gay Footballer’.

Brown also spoke about the toll of living inauthentically, sharing how it affected not just his sporting career but also his mental health, relationships, and sense of belonging.

Instagram: @mitchbrownie
Instagram: @mitchbrownie

Now, a decade after leaving professional sport, he says he is happier, healthier, and finally ready to live without fear — and his story has been met with an outpouring of support from fans, Pride Cup, and organizations like Health Equity Matters.

It’s a major moment for Australian sport, one that may open the floodgates for other athletes still struggling with identity in a game historically reluctant to talk about sexuality at all.

And if you’re hungry for more stories of athletes swapping secrecy for authenticity, you’ll love Pro Tennis’ João L Reis Comes Out & Serves Love On and Off the Court, which shows the courage of visibility is as powerful as any championship trophy.

Here’s to Mitch Brown — proof that sometimes the bravest wins don’t come from the scoreboard, but from the heart.