Sculpting pride: Freeing the ‘Inner Auntie’ in racialized queer and gay men’s workouts

Daniel Uy

This research explores why racialized queer men workout prior to Pride and Pride events in Toronto and Montreal. It argues that the pursuit of a muscular physique among racialized queer men requires recognition of multiple bodily ideals, often overlooked within Canadian homonormative culture. The study employs ethnographic qualitative methods via interviews and participant observations to gather nuanced data on how individuals negotiate and reconcile conflicts surrounding aesthetic and identity within gym spaces and Pride events. Racialized queer men recognize that being more muscular increases one’s attractiveness, and this attractiveness is a form of gay social capital within homonormative gay/queer communities. However, muscularity may also increase fetishization of their racialized bodies. Some participants acknowledge pressure to conform to homonormative standards. Others choose to focus on what they can control and prioritize their mental and emotional well-being, viewing physical fitness as a means to attain “the right headspace” mindset for Pride and daily life. This latter observation is developed through my concepts of ‘mental armour,’ which I also refer to as an ‘Inner Auntie’ voice as a way of de-centering whiteness. The study underscores the importance of acknowledging and addressing the complexities faced by racialized queer men in their pursuit of physical. It highlights the need to understand the internal complexities of queers of colour and how we as exercise researchers should be aware of this underpinning. Moving forward, efforts to create more inclusive and affirming spaces for racialized queer and trans people is imperative.