BUTCH interview for MANNER Magazine

This is the English version of the interview for the German magazine, MANNER. Obviously, it was for the “Butch” issue, on newsstands now.

What does “butch” mean for you?
I think butch is the extreme side of masculine or a manly man.

Is that a question of appearance or character or both?
It is definitely both character and appearance. A guy can look like he stepped right out of a Tom of Finland picture and be the physical ideal of masculinity… but be a bitchy gossip queen that cries when he gets a hangnail or scuffs his Prada boots. That is certainly not butch… Prada is never butch!

What body parts/characteristics are butch?
I think nearly everyone would agree a hairy chest, muscles, facial hair and a deep voice are butch physical attributes but I also think that integrity, honesty, loyalty and discipline are equally important components of masculinity.

Is it a must for porn stars to be butch?
Is it a must? No… And rightly so, not everyone is into butch guys.

Does being butch in porn equals being a top?
Hell no! A real man can take it just as well as he can give it. Actually, I think guys who say they are “total tops” are just pussies. I may not want to get fucked by that guy or even fucked right now, but at least I am man enough to admit I like it… love it, in fact with the right guy!

Have you always thought of yourself as being butch?
Honestly, I haven’t really thought about it but everyone seems to say I am. I’m just me, trying to be the best man I can be. So maybe that is what makes me butch?

Did you work hard to become butch?
I know when I was younger and trying to fit into what I thought it meant to be gay, I probably wasn’t as butch as I am today. But I think that is a common thing for young guys; you have to explore the spectrum to find what suits you best. For me, it is just something that has developed over time as I have become more secure in who I am and what I want out of life.

Are you only attracted by guys that are butch?
Yeah, pretty much. Many times I have seen a guy and lusted after him for months – or years – thinking they are very masculine or butch. But then you finally meet them… and not so much!

Is butch also a question of age (not too young but also not too old?)
I don’t think it is necessarily a question of age but I think as guys mature and find themselves, they may shed those mannerism or characteristics that they had when they were younger. But, I have to say, I met some really young guys who already know what it means to be a man.

A lot of people have argued that there is such a thing as a “butch turn” in gay culture, everybody wants to be butch these days, is that your observation too, and if so can you comment on it, what does it mean?
I don’t think it is a recent phenomenon; you can look at old Colt videos or photos from the 80s of guys on Castro Street or Christopher St. Pier… those were hot manly men!