Yes, This Did Happen

And to prove that the American political process is totally screwed:

Gay Wrestling Is Cool......In Mexico?

From Towleroad:

Mexican wrestling's "latest sensation" are a group of effeminate male wrestlers called 'Exoticos' who kiss their opponents and "[secure] victory with plenty of mincing and slapping." One wrestler in particular, named Maximo, is getting quite a bit of attention.

The AP reports: "In a hot-pink Mohawk haircut and leotard to match, he pirouettes before taking down his muscle-bound enemies with a swift kick to the groin. Maximo, Mexican professional wrestling's latest sensation, then delivers a crowning blow -- a kiss on the lips of his macho opponent -- to the delight of a roaring crowd. Maximo is one of the 'Exotics,' a group of effeminate fighters in the testosterone-fueled world of Mexico's Lucha Libre, the inspiration for the World Wrestling Federation, now World Wrestling Entertainment. Known casually as 'gay' wrestlers, Exotics have been around since the 1970s but are experiencing a wrestling revival. Their characters are strong, yet sensitive good guys overcoming evil, they say. But showing your soft side in the ring isn't as easy as it might look, Maximo says. 'It's kind of hard playing this part, no? Especially because the sport is about being tough, rude and violent,' he said. 'But as long as the public loves us, we'll be there.'"

Florida Continues To Blow

From boingboing:

Over on the Sociological Images blog, a post entitled "The Male Gaze Does Not Allow for Boy Nipples" notes that the men in this giant wrestling billboard have all had their nipples removed.

They were photoshopped out because of a law in Florida that prohibits the display of nipples. Since men's nipples are not sexualized in the same way that women's are, the authors of the law were likely thinking of women's bodies as they penned this ban. Thus, it illustrates that it is women's bodies that we think of when we think of bodies on display because of the adoption (by men and women alike in this culture) of a (heteronormative) male gaze.

via boingboing