From fan fiction, the world of smut, and audio porn women are devouring male homeosexual erotica now more than ever. With the rise of the steamy show “Heated Rivalry”, where two male hockey players fall in love, women are pining over it. But now conversations are coming into play as to why? 

Most coverage tries to play it off as a trend, but queer sex therapist Shae Harmon says it’s here to stay with male erotica opening a door for women to explore their sexuality without labels.

“Queer sex dismantles stereotypical roles in sexual relationships I think women are drawn to gay and queer erotic content because it is not generally made by and for the gaze of heterosexual cis men,” says Shae, “heterosexual content is often degrading, and makes its money off of dehumanising women. Queer sex can feel more authentic and relational, and removes women as the object and performer.”

Shae Harmon is a trans qualified sex and relationship therapist focusing on queer relationships and queer sex. With over 10 years in their field they believe that there is not necessarily one explanation to the motivation women have towards their fantasies but rather a flexibility and opening in how desire can be experienced and needed.

“In psychosexual therapy, we often discuss responsive and spontaneous desire types – and the stereotype is that women experience responsive desire, meaning they need a build up of desire in order to experience arousal. This often creates the unfair and generalised assumption that women are “harder work”, have a lower libido, and are the gate keepers of sex with men.

“But straight cis men are often thought of as having spontaneous desire – which means they need little build up to become aroused, and ready for sex.” Says Shae

According to data published by the New York Post, adult entertainment site Porn hub had an influx of searches relating to”hockey” “male on male hockey” in weeks after the HBO Max hit show Heated Rivalry aired. But this has been a steady rise over the last 10 years, wiith Porn hub seeing an influx in women searching and consuming male on male porn, with it rising 42% since 2012 meaning women make up more than half of the viewers of male homosexual porn. 

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean women are becoming more sexual but finding safe ways to explore their fantasies.  

A women who wishes to remain annoymous, finds herself head over heels for male on male on erotica. From gay porn to Heated Rivalry being one of her favourite reads and now shows, she says seeing men embrace their queerness has made her feel seen and that “healthy masculinity is sexy.”

“It feels less perosnal, I can just enjoy two hot people having sex without the pressure of trying to imagine myself in it,” she says, “there is an element of scandal I suppose but also it feels less violent and objectifying compared to straight erotic content as its two attractvive people consenting and able to handle each other.

Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reids erotic enemies to lovers novel and the show reaached over 8 million wacthes per epsidoe when it first came out in Novemeber and took social media by storm with #heatedrivalry taking over 860 million views and over 100,000 fan edits. Even though a trend, the conversation still stands and even now women are still expressing how seeing queer repsenation on TV allowed them feel sexy within their own sexuality.

“With shows like Heated Rivalry its nice to see that shift away from traditional staunch masculinty and seeing men embrace their queerness is so sexy to me. If thats not your thing thats fine but its comforting to see more identities and expressions of love on the mainscreen.” She says.

However it is not just hot and heavy sex that creates excitement and lust, it is sex without patriarchy, and misogyny and gendered stereotypes and pressure allowing women to feel safe to explore.

“Women might enjoy queer erotic content because it isn’t centred on penetration or reliant on gender roles or even orgasm, but focuses on shared desire and pleasure. It is not predictable and leaves room for imagination outside of heteronormativity,” Thearpist Shae says, “I think exploring erotic content can be helpful and in many areas of my work I help people explore their desires and fantasies through ethical erotica. You can learn so much about yourself, and seeing or reading other stories about sex and bodies helps to normalise our own fantasies and foster a sense of self acceptance.”

 Desire and fantasies are needed for women to explore their sexuality, but it is not necessarily who is involved but how they are involved with each other, and seeing the power of consent. In an article published by NBC news, who surveyed over 500 women who watch male gay porn, say they felt “exploited” when watching hetrosexual porn. It is clear that the space gay porn holds for women is one without objectification or rigid expectations.

“If women have a type of desire, they are slut shamed – and often in porn are treated as objects and solely to give men pleasure. In gay and queer erotic stories, there is a balance to pleasure. Preferring queer and gay erotic content is not a new interest for women – it’s just more accessible and mainstream now. There’s a reason why many women prefer the company of gay men or other queer people. Look at Svetlana, Elena and Rose in Heated Rivalry – all have close bonds with gay and queer men. Gay and queer people’s friendships feel safer because there is an onus on the connection, instead of potential ulterior sexual or romantic motives.

“Especially at a time when world leaders – the cis het men in charge – are not held accountable for sexual assault. Queer people, gay men and straight women suffer under patriarchy and toxic masculinity, so it makes sense that relationally there would be the opportunity to enjoy intimacy outside of the cis het male gaze.” Says Shae

Most likely hidden in their private browser history and a secret they keep close to their chest, many women would have felt shame before their social media blew up when the popularity wave of “Heated Rivalry” took over.  Thearpist Shae argues this and says just because of a womans fantasties may be different for other people it doesn’t make them “weird” and they should be celebrated.

“People are often scared of the “taboo” and what it might mean about them, but just because you find yourself aroused by something you think you shouldn’t or is widely considered “immoral”, it does not mean you are weird. Our fantasies are information and a controlled way of learning about ourselves and what is pleasurable and exploring them can be fun.” Says Shae.