"Hightown": Is it homophobic to show some gay leathermen beating up a straight man?

 

I was conducting research for that other website when I came across a short video of two leather masters (Hank Strong, left, and Mark Haynes, below) pulverizing a guy, punching him in the face, the chest, and the crotch until he's a bloody pulp. Great, keying into the stereotype of gay men as violent predators.

Further research revealed that it was a scene from "White Whale," Episode 1.6 of Hightown (2020). The show has a depressing premise: "Set in the world of beautiful but bleak Cape Cod, one woman's journey to sobriety is overshadowed by a murder investigation dragging her into its fold."  The episode description sounds like you need a scorecard: "Jackie and Junior struggle to cope in the wake of a traumatic event. Ray's investigation picks up speed. Ray is there for Renee when she really needs him."  But at least I discovered that the pulverized guy is Junior, played by Shane Harper.

The cast list sounds rather homophobic. There's a Muscle Queen, played by Michael DeMello (left).  What does he do, lisp and limp-wrist his way across the screen?

Plus a Creepy Guy and a WeHo Queen, played by Isaac Josephthal.

But wait -- a review on Out states that the show is queer-inclusive: the main character is a lesbian, played by a bisexual actress. But you can be a lesbian ally and promote stereotypes about gay men -- it happened all the time when I lived in West Hollywood.

Watching the scene in the context of the episode, it becomes a little less problematic.  Junior, a drug dealer, is devastated by the death of his girlfriend.  While making a drug delivery, he notices that his clients are three buffed leathermen, and gets an idea: he overcharges them.  

Leather Daddy #1 (Mark Haynes) becomes irate and asks "Do you think I can't fuck you up?"  Junior replies: "Yeah, on steroids and meth.  Doesn't make you a man."  The Leather Daddies proceed to pulverize him.

No matter how homophobic you are, it's stupid to insult three bodybuilder leathermen.  But Junior is smiling: he wanted to get pulverized, or maybe killed.  Suicide by leatherman.

Frontal, bulge, and rear photos of the actors are on Righteous Gemstones Beefcake and Boyfriend.