Why I Stand With Rentboy

The anti-gay backlash has begun.

I’m Alexander Cheves, and this is LOVE, BEASTLY—a blog about sex, feelings, and manhood. It’s written mostly for men—gay, straight, bi, MSM, or just curious—but some readers are women, and some don’t fit into categories. Everyone’s welcome here. 

This is one of my more personal essays. Heads up: these can sometimes include explicit content or emotionally triggering subjects.

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Last Tuesday, the U.S. feds raided the Manhattan offices of Rentboy.com and arrested seven people, including the CEO.

Kelly Currie, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said: "As alleged, Rentboy.com attempted to present a veneer of legality, when in fact this Internet brothel made millions of dollars from the promotion of illegal prostitution."

This "brothel" had been publicly advertising its business on social media since 1996. So, why now? Yes, prostitution is illegal in the United States—a fact that only makes sex work more dangerous for those in it and results in the disproportionate incarceration of black people, trans women, and other minority groups who find viable, life-saving income in it—but this business was not exactly quiet about what it was or what it offered. Why now?

I think I know why. Thanks, same-sex marriage activsits—the backlash has begun.