Nyle DiMarco and Chella Mann: Deaf queer actors with sitcoms, superheroes, backsides, and baskets. Plus Ryan's bottom and Mustafa's c*ck

 

Link to the n*de dudes

Having dated (or hooked up with) several guys who were disabled or had visual differences, I am deeply invested in promoting their on-screen representation and aesthetic beauty  But my profile of the deaf actor Mustafa Alabbsi has only 60 pageviews to date, far fewer than James Stockdale (190), Gavin McHugh (230), Lenny Rush (260), Noah Matthews Matofsky (300), or Knox Gibson (320).  Is  there something about being deaf that viewers find unappealing?

So I searched for  another deaf actor with a physique, preferable queer, and found Nyle DiMarco.  Born in 1989, Nyle graduated from Gallaudet University in 2013, and sprang into the public eye in 2015 on America's Next Top Model.  He was the second man and the first deaf person to win the season.  Soon he was represented by the prestigious Wilhelmina Models, he had a book contract, and he was performing on Dancing with the Stars. 

"Nyle takes his shirt off so you'll pay attention to deaf rights." That may have backfired, buddy -- we're too distracted by your pecs.

He has seven acting credits listed on the IMDB:

Switched at Birth (2011-17), a teen drama about two girls who were literally switched at birth. Daphne is deaf, and there are several other gay characters, such as best friend Emmett (Sean Berdy), and the other girl's boyfriend Garrett (Nyle).

On a 2016 episode of Difficult People, about a gay man/Jewish woman friendship (hey, that's Will and Grace), Billy (Billy Eichner) goes on a date with Doug (Nyle) and his ASL interpreter, who tries to sabotage the relationship.

I always thought that Station 19 was post-apocalyptic, but it's about firefighters. In a 2019 episode, "openly" gay Travis ( Jay Hayden is surprised to discover that the firefighter who saved the day (Nyle) is deaf.  They kiss, but the guy never appears again. 

This Close (2018-19) is about two best friends, a straight woman and a gay man (hey, that's Will and Grace again).  They are both deaf, as are many of their friends and associates, such as Ben (Nyle), who dates the woman in four episodes.  

But he goes back to playing a gay character on a 2022 episode of the new Queer as Folk, when gay couple Marvin (Eric Graise) and Ali (Sachin Bhatt, right) throw a party for disabled queer people. He doesn't appear in the plot synopsis, but AZ Men has a video of him with Ryan O'Connell (star of Special, who has cerebral palsy). 

Nyle is also the producer/director of Deaf President Now! (2025), about the students at Gallaudet University struggling to get a deaf president in 1988: "a pivotal moment in deaf rights and representation." 

More after the break

Gemstones Episode 1.3: Kelvin outs himself, Baby Billy get n*de, and Scotty shoves his wiener into Gideon's face

 

 Link to the n*de photos

In Episode 2, we saw problems in the developing Kelvin/Keefe and Judy/BJ relationships: Kelvin is too hesitant, and BJ too eager.  But the main takeaway was Gideon: Jesse's estranged son is one of the blackmailers!  Episode 3 will develop the Gideon/Scotty plot arc further, postponing Kelvin/Keefe to their centric episode, "Wicked Lips."  But first we need Kelvin to out himself a few times.

Title: "They are weak, but He is strong."  From "Jesus Loves Me," a hymn by Anna Bartlett Warner published in 1862, but based on 2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV: "When I am weak, then I am strong."  You can't get much weaker than these guys.

Baby Billy is n*de:  The childhood home of Eli's late wife, famous Gospel singer Aimee-Leigh. A poster advertises the "Sing for Joy" concert tour, featuring the Freeman's Gap duo, Aimee-Leigh and Baby Billy.  Two children on the cover of a single album, "Misbehavin'."  They must have been a brother-sister act as children, before Aimee-Leigh became a serious gospel singer.  A young woman yells that Baby Billy's hot milk is ready; she brings it to him as he bathes outside.

We see the back of his head -- now white-haired -- as he describes the satellite church his brother-in-law Eli is giving him -- "in the middle of everything -- fun chain restaurants, name-brand clothing stores."  We see his face -- fans of Danny McBride's work will recognize him as Walton Goggins of Vice Principals in old-age makeup. 

He stands -- he's huge!

Although Walton Goggins has been n*de on camera before, in this case they hired a stunt cock belonging to an unidentified 80-year old man from town.

Trivia note: Baby Billy is actually 66 or 67 in this scene, and Walton Goggins is 51.  

Baby Billy promises Tiffany, his new wife -- Number Four, plus a number of boyfriends -- a world of "riches and glamour" with the Gemstones. 

Eyes on the Prize: Gideon meditates on the Tao te Ching as the family prepares for church: "Eyes on the prize. To the still mind, the entire universe surrenders."   He's actually quoting the Tao te Ching wrong.

On the way to the Salvation Center, his brothers ask about the celebrities he met in Hollywood.  Well Vin Diesel (left). Jesse tries to one-up him by claiming to have met Telly Savalas, star of Kojak (1973-78). Jesse was not born until 1981, so he couldn't have watched in real time.

The Satellite Church: Judy, BJ, and Kelvin are scoping out the dying shopping mall where they opened the satellite church: "All around America, capitalism is dying," Kelvin points out. "That's when we step in."  He will never display this insightful knowledge of economics, or anything other than muscles, again.  

Queer code: First Kelvin does a little femme flutter and hand-on-waist.  Then a hot girl walks past: an opportunity for him to demonstrate that he is heterosexual with a double-take?  No,he  looks the other way. 

Baby Billy is greeting the congregants in front of gigantic photos of himself and Kelvin.  Why Kelvin, in particular?  Maybe to indicate that they're both outsiders, struggling to be taken seriously by the family.  Or because they both have huge cocks.

As Baby Billy begins the service, the siblings watch from offstage.  Gideon tunes up his guitar.  Judy comments that he's "looking tasty. Staying in shape." Kelvin agrees; "He is. That's showbiz, right?  You to to keep a tight physique."  You just outed yourself to your sister, Kelv Baby.

Jesse disagrees: lots of people who work behind the scenes are "fat as fuck,."  But, Kelvin insists, if you want to be a star, you have to be a "specimen...a straight unit." According to the Urban Dictionary, a "straight unit" is a guy who is tall, strong, muscular, and well-hung. How much farther out can Kelvin get?

Afterwards the siblings meet Tiffany.  They disapprove of her countrified lack of refinement, her teeth, and her insistence that they call her Aunt Tiffany, even though she is younger than 

My Wiener in Your Face:  That night, while Jesse and Amber discuss whether Gideon is Saul or Paul (before or after finding Jesus), Gideon answers the question for us: he goes through his parents' stuff, looking up the value of things he could steal and sell, now that the blackmail plot has fallen through.  Their nightstand, for instance, cost $2700.

Meanwhile, at the campground where Scotty is staying, he stumbles out of the van and urinates in front of everyone. A guy protests "Don't nobody want to see that penis!" Scotty counters: "Then quit lookin' at it."  A reference to Scotty liking guys to appreciate his penis?

Gideon brings him the list of stuff to steal, but Scottyy tears it up: he doesn't want furniture and jewelry, he wants money. He begins to erupt, but Gideon assures him: "I can get it, but my parents don't trust me yet. Be patient."

To demonstrate how unhinged he is, Scotty puts a cigarette out on his tongue and waves a wiener on a wire in front of Gideon's face. This is, of course, a symbolic threat of sexual assault.

Jesse Discovers Who Did It: Kelvin is singing to his siblings and the crew: Jesse  notes that "Music has always calmed my vicious temper."  Gregory wants to give them all coins to memorialze their bond, but they point out that "We did it!" sounds like a confession of guilt.  I still don't understand what Kelvin did.

Next, Jesse annoucnes that he has discovered the identity of the third blackmailer; slender frame walks with a swagger, used to being on stage, and very close to him. Sounds like Gideon, right? 

Nope, it's Levi (lead guitarist in the Gemstone rock band).  Jesse threatens him with a knife. Kelvin is horrified, but Judy loves it: "Put it in his bottom!", another assault.   Why doesn't Kelvin intervene?  He seems to have trouble speaking ip when he sees his siblings doing something awful.  

Jesse finally decides that Levi is innocent and "forgives" him.   He runs out, yelling: "That's too far.  You play too much."  .One expects him to break up with Jesse and the crew, but he sticks around as if nothing life-threatening has happened.

I feel bad about pretending that "wiener" meant p*nis instead of "hot dog" to drive up pageviews, so RG Beefcake and Boyfriends has some real wieners.

More after the break

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg's Last Straw. Cartoon mayhem with a few gay hints, at least one gay actor, and a pleasant absence of The Girl.

 Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with the illustrated adventures of self-centered, accident-prone middle-schooler Greg Heffner, began as a web series in 2004.  It spun into a series of chapter books, 20 to date,  plus seven movies and a stage musical.  While author Jeff Kinney is a gay ally, he has kept LGBT characters and most of the gay subtexts out of Greg's life, instead making his buddy Rowley too weird for romance, and giving them both regular crushes on girls.  

The movies are a mixed bag of gay-subtext, heterosexism, and downright homophobia: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) doesn't give the guys girlfriends, but moves into gay panic when Greg and Rowley (Zachary Gordon, left, Robert Capon)  accidentally touch hands and spring away in disgust: "I touched a dude!  That means I'm...ugh!" 

Rodrick Rules (2011) features Greg's attempt to win the Girl of His Dreams, but his brother Rodrick (gay actor Devon Bostick) has no interest in girls.

But in Dog Days (2012), both Greg and Rodrick pursue the Girls of Their Dreams. 

So I'm approaching the latest animated film, Last Straw (2025) on Disney Plus, with some concern. But I'm reviewing it just in case (besides, it's been sitting in my "to review" file since early December).

Scene 1: Unreliable narrator Greg (Aaron Harris)  discusses his problem: Dad (Chris Diamantopoulous) likes everything to be organized, and Greg likes to "go with the flow." On Christmas morning, he takes his time in the shower, making the family late for church.  As they are waiting, in the car Mom and Dad discuss Greg's woeful lack of life skills.  He can't even use the house key to lock the door.  Rodney, however, is fully competent.

Left: Now Rodney is played by gay actor Hunter Dillon.  I wonder if it's significant that they keep casting gay guys to play Rodney, even though nothing can be stated in the movies.

Scene 2: The church has some nondescript stained glass windows and a lot of Christmas trees, but no crosses anywhere.  The priest mentions the Wise Men but not Jesus. There are medallion of a horned stag and a rabbit, and a giant statue of a female angel behind the altar. What religion are these people, Manichean?  (In the novel, it's a regular Christian church, at Easter).

Uh-oh, Greg sat on chocolate in the car.  He tries to keep covered, but everyone can see, and thinks that he pooped his pants.

Scene 3: After the chocolate disaster, Dad worries that he hasn't taught Greg the things he needs to know to become a man. Sounds like you have some old-fashioned ideas about masculinity, buddy. Mom says not to worry, Greg is fine: he and his friend Rowley are starting a snow removal company.  Capitalism solves everything.

Scene 4: It's Beefcake Snow Removal, with a drawing of the Greg and Rowley as muscular, shirtless grown-ups: "pamper yourself with our service."  

Their first customer expected two grown-up hunks to shovel with their shirts off (so he's gay?), and angrily rejects the two kids.  As do others on the block.   When they finally find an old lady willing to hire them, they don't have snow shovels.Plan ahead?  Rowley scrams, and Greg tries to use a lawn mower, with slapstick mayhem results.

More after the break

Justin Ellings: Kyle from the awful clown episode of "Modern Family" plays Corey Haim and Sean Giambrone, shows his physique and his d*ck

 

Link to the n*de photos

In Modern Family Episode 11.1 (2019), high school vice principal Cam invites a group of "wayward teens" to his house to gain their trust by being the "cool mentor."  Things go wrong when his beloved, awful clown figurine goes missing, and he accuses them of stealing it, horrifying the viewers and his husband Mitchell with his increasingly vituperative insults: "You're trash! You're garbage!  Everyone has given up on you!"   Finally Mitchell can't stand it anymore, and announces that they are innocent: he threw out the figurine because it was incredibly ugly.  

Then Cam comes clean -- the kids are actually the high school drama club, playing wayward teens to force Mitchell to confess.  

I'm not happy with the plotline.  Seeing Cam lash out was rough.  And why would  you destroy something that your husband valued?  Something that was on prominent display in the living room?  But it was worth it to see  drama club member Kyle, played by Justin Ellings.

19 years old when he filmed the episode.

A Short Guy, 5'6"  Forget the five feet; tell me more about the six inches. 

Endless beefcake photos on his Instagram and Facebook pages. 

Interestingly, Justin's official website shows a map of his location (so you can stalk him?).  He's on Cahuenga just north of Lexington, near my old gym in West Hollywood.  Cue the nostalgic reminiscences of my years in the gay mecca.

Justin grew up in Milwaukee, where he starred in The Music Man (2011) and The Sound of Music (2012) at the Skylight Opera Theatre Center.  He graduated from Arrowhead High School at age 16, then moved to L.A. to pursue his acting career.

His first major acting role was on the Nickelodeon teencom Sam & Cat (2013): he played Jarvis, one of the kids that the former ICarly star and her girlfriend babysit.  According to the fan wiki, Jarvis is gay.

I doubt that a Nickelodeon show would have a canonical gay character, but even if it was subtext, it's a great beginning.  Unfortunately, Justin's characters in other tv programs, on Girl Meets World (2015). Game Shakers (2017), American Housewife (2018), and Wandavision (2021), don't appear in the plot synopses. 

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Justin is primarily interested in stunt work.  He has 33 stunting credits listed on the IMDB, including episodes of The Middle, Young Sheldon, 13 Reasons Why (where he was presumably Miles Heizer's b*tt double), 9-1-1, Stranger Things, and The Fabelmans.

 He was Sean Giambrone's stunt double on 19 episodes of The Goldbergs.

More after the break.