Nov 05, 2025
3 min read
As the first openly gay sexiest man alive, Jonathan Bailey surpasses his movie star looks and helps save lives.
One of my first assignments when I started in entertainment journalism at the now-defunct film magazine Premiere was to interview Nathan Lane for The Birdcage.
The first look at the film was for a magazine section called "In the Works", which we published in a 300-word article.
An English-language adaptation of the 1978 French comedy La Cage Aux Folles, The Birdcage stars Lane as Albert, a professional drag queen whose partner Armand is played by Robin Williams.Albert is asked to leave his home for the night when their son (Dan Futterman) comes home and plans a family dinner for his fiancee (Calista Flockhart) and her right-wing politician father (Gene Hackman) and mother (Diana Wiest).All hell breaks loose when Albert appears as Armand's wife in a completely conservative middle-aged woman's dress.
The year was 1996. The film directed by Mike Nichols was a landmark for gay representation in cinema.It was a major film from a major studio.Williams, who was straight at the time, was called "brave" and "brave" for playing a gay role.On the other hand, there wasn't a gay actor far away.
In short, there's no question that he's gay playing gay.
Len has come for the first time in three years, he dares to tell his truth that I did not come to kill Matthew Valley.
Much has changed in the 30 years since our personal and road interviews.
The LGBTQ landscape in Hollywood in front of and behind the camera has grown and progressed in ways I couldn't have imagined in three coobers;From "Philadelphia" and "Badback Mountail" to "Rupaul's Sopo Place" and "All Our Strangers."In 2025 we have "Voice History", "Marriage Fun", Forgiveness, "Enliona" and "Boots".The list goes on and on.
And now, last night, People magazine crowned Jonathan Bailey as this year's "Sexiest Man Alive."
The theme is many.He was successful in terms of physical appearance.Of course, Bailey, as Ariana made it in the congratulatory video "evil inside," but let's be in the star of people this week if she doesn't look like a movie star.Several photoshots of the thirst trap in the past few years have guaranteed the "boy of the Internet."They helped cover up sex.
But what's most important about this year's selection is the milestone that Bailey is the first gay man chosen by the people for his legacy franchise.One cover shows Bailey submerged in water with only his face sucking and glistening with wet hair and skin captured by the photographer.Another cover shows him shirtless and holding his dog.In the magazine, he is lying on the beach, with his six-pack on display.Gay-coded photos include Bailey in a spandex T-shirt and another of him licking a popsicle.
But let's not forget that the body took some time to look and understand what it really means to live and compete as a gay man.Oh, how I love having an actor like Bailey to keep the kid.Today being a young man today and Bailey can celebrate to trust you well and we dream.Visual matters.An example can help save people.
Sexiest Man Alive will not eliminate the homophobia that underlies much of the physical and emotional abuse of the more violent child abusers.Bailey's photos and videos stop political attacks on the LGBTQ community.Seeing Bailey may cause some, if not many, homophobes to dig even deeper because his presence, fame and sexuality threaten their complex narratives that gay people are a threat to society.
But Bailey may fear homophobia and some of those who enjoy it and those who enjoy it.It is the greatest progress.
In May 2024, on the Red Cross Club, I interviewed the youth."
The same is said about the most famous of the Year alive: He does all the favors.
