ABSTRACT
Queer pornography is an emerging genre of pornography both in film and web-based explicit sexual content (Cork 2009). Pornography or porn is generally defined as a range of sexual representations designed to sexually excite consumers, although the definition of porn is also social: what is considered pornographic or sexually explicit varies in different historical, cultural and social contexts (Andrews 2012). This chapter explores queer pornography or “queer porn,” a genre that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* 1 , queer or genderqueer (LGBTQ) performers, or creators (including directors or producers). This definition is supported by participants who describe queer porn not based on the sexual acts featured but by the queer identity of the performers and producers creating the work. The academic study of porn has addressed issues of power, sexual expression, sexual health and a number of other topics related to human sexuality and health (Williams 2004a). Although other genres of porn have been addressed in academic writing, little to no attention has been given to fat bodies within pornography, including a lack of literature on BBW (Big Beautiful Women) pornography with a few notable exceptions (Goddard 2007; Flores 2014). This chapter focuses on the experiences of fat-identified performers and directors from within the queer porn community in the Bay Area of California. First, relevant literatures on the sexuality of fat bodies are reviewed followed by an introduction to the participants interviewed for this study and methods of analysis. The central theme of queer porn as community is introduced to situate the rest of the main themes of the chapter. Analysis of queer porn debut narratives reveal activist leanings and motivations for pursuing queer porn work followed by a related discussion of the importance of visible fat, queer bodies on screen within queer porn and how these bodies are gendered. Finally, the implications of this study and future projects on the sexuality of fat bodies within pornography are discussed.
