Every so often, a little fact about human desire surfaces that makes you stop and think, huh, that’s interesting. Like the fact that a surprising number of straight women love watching gay male porn.

It’s not a niche thing either, studies and sales suggest that a significant percentage of gay porn viewers are women. Pornhub’s analytics show that “gay male” is one of the top categories watched by female users, and research has found that many of these women prefer it over straight porn. In fact, a study from Middlesex University found that 82% of women who watch gay male porn prefer it over other genres. And according to research highlighted in the Mail & Guardian, 37% of gay male porn viewers are female, with women aged 18-24 being 83% more likely to watch it. Clearly, this isn’t just a passing curiosity, it’s a viewing preference. But why?

The problem with straight porn

A lot of women say that traditional straight porn just isn’t doing it for them. The focus is often on exaggerated performances, unrealistic bodies, and a very specific idea of what female pleasure should look like (one that’s usually scripted for a male audience). The camera lingers on the woman’s body, the angles are meant to emphasize her, and the sex can feel more performative than mutual.

Gay porn, on the other hand, shifts that focus entirely. There’s no staged moaning for a man’s benefit, no forced arching of the back for a money shot. Just two men (both active participants) who seem to be actually enjoying themselves.

Watching without being watched

One theory is that women like gay porn because it frees them from the “male gaze.” In straight porn, the female body is often the centerpiece, which can feel objectifying or just plain distracting. With gay porn, women can enjoy the pleasure of watching without the added baggage of being reminded how they’re supposed to look or perform in bed. It’s about male pleasure, but in a way that feels more reciprocal, more about sex as an experience rather than an act.

It’s not (always) about attraction

This isn’t necessarily about women secretly wanting to sleep with men who sleep with men. For most, it’s not about that at all. It’s more about seeing male sexuality without the filters of traditional straight porn: No over-the-top dominance, no women being reduced to props, just men experiencing pleasure in a way that feels more equal.

And let’s be honest: Gay porn often showcases a kind of physicality and passion that straight porn tends to miss. Two men, both actively engaging, touching, and responding to each other in a way that feels… well, real. That’s hot, no matter who you are.

So what?

So what does this all mean? Maybe it’s just a reminder that desire doesn’t always fit into neat little boxes, maybe it’s a quiet protest against the way straight porn presents women, or maybe it’s simply a more enjoyable, less performative depiction of sex.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Surprised? Not surprised? Let’s talk.