What is Mascul-IN-timacy℠ ?

This is the first in a short series of articles introducing the Mascul-IN-timacy℠ program.

Mascul-IN-timacy℠ is what happens when two men let go of anxiety and enter into a homoerotic relationship of authentic trust.

Masculine intimacy is a sense of mental, emotional, or physical closeness or openness between two men. It is a characteristic of the close relationship a man has with his TL, with whom he can share everything. Homoerotic relationships should be characterized by authentic, shared intimacy.

How conditioning and stereotyping, and fantasies of social media exhibitionism and narcissism confuse and distract men-who-love-men (MLM) into avoiding emotional commitment and homoerotic relationships.

Many men suffer from anxiety and emotional distress because they feel “strong-armed” into a stereotypical relationship; any man in that situation is left with a sense of insecurity and guilt. He should soon realize that the one thing he may not have tried was having an open, heart-felt communication about his struggles relating to trust and openness, two core factors in Mascul-IN-timacy℠.

Homoerotic Tantra:Mascul-IN-Touch℠ and Homoerotic Hesion℠ provides a safe sacred space for that life-changing conversation.

The problem may boil down to being the challenge presented by vulnerability, which for some men in both camps may be perceived more as a threat than anything else.

Some writers suggest that many MLM opting for open relationships find satisfaction and fulfillment; other authors interpret the decision to open their relationships as a symptom of mistrust and fear of the vulnerability posed by intimacy and emotional commitment. While MLM desire and certainly do form meaningful, loving, long-term relationships, some allow traumatic experiences they may have experienced in a heteronormative culture — such as homophobia, prejudice, and discrimination — to make it difficult for them to accept the cultural and social conventions associated with heteroerotic relationships (monogamy, commitment, parenting, etc.).

Men, both straight men and MLM, are conditioned and socialized in ways that discourage intimacy in general. Any expression of a need or desire for intimacy and openness to another human being is often interpreted as a weakness in a man’s masculinity. Stereotypes very often play a significant and often negative role in a man’s commitment to authentic intimacy, and even many gay writers preach a message of polyamory, further increasing the already powerful anxiety some men have when entering into a relationship with another man particularly concerns about past or future promiscuity—Will he be faithful? Is he disease free? Will I be able to keep him interested? But most of these questions may also be viewed as premature or even self-defeating. Are such questions even necessary or do they reflect a deeper personal problem?

In Homoerotic Tantra:Mascul-IN-Touch℠ and Homoerotic Hesion℠ and particularly in Mascul-IN-timacy℠

Read the entire article at GayMenTantra.

Mascul-IN-timacy℠ clearly and effectively recognizes and neutralizes many if not all of the pernicious effects of today’s culture and society on men. Mascul-IN-timacy℠ recognizes and promotes the knowledge that many MLM desire meaningful and intimate relationships, and that the pandemic of objectification of men in general and the promotion and perpetuation of misleading and negative cultural, social, and stereotypical misconceptions of Men-who-Love-Men can be confronted and challenged by men who have the stamina and courage to face themselves and society as homoerotic Warrior-Heroes.

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Notes:

[1] Meyer, Ilan H. “Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence.” Psychological bulletin vol. 129,5 (2003): 674-697. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674; Chaudoir, Stephenie R et al. “What reduces sexual minority stress? A review of the intervention “toolkit”.” The Journal of social issues vol. 73,3 (2017): 586-617. doi:10.1111/josi.12233

Image credit: The title image is attributed to the online publication https://attitude.co.uk/, Attitude, Jesse & Ben, of the short film I Want Your Love (Director: Travis Mathews, USA, 2011), which looks at the growing intimacy between a couple of gay friends.