Is it the summer of swim trunks?
Long synonymous with the speedo, gays are apparently moving in a longer direction. A person on X named Cesar shared his now-viral observation over the holiday weekend. “Sad to report swim trunks are on trend right now and gays are kinda phasing speedos out,” he posted.
The declaration, which has been viewed more than 240,000 times, sparked competing feelings of consternation and elation, as well as a few doubts. A plugged-in gay reported that Fire Island and Provincetown were stuffed with speedos over the weekend. “Not so sure they’re being phased out,” he added.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Judging by my Instagram feed, speedos still appear to be the swimwear of choice among sun-kissed gays. Trips this summer to Chicago’s beloved “gay beach” and The Dunes resort in Saugatuck, Michigan (the preferred summertime spot for Midwestern gays) have confirmed my IG-tinged observation. In fact, I’ve seen more swim thongs than swim trunks, with bandana speedos not very far behind.
But that’s not to say I haven’t also seen trunks. Gay fashion has moved in a looser direction, and swim trunks fit in with that trend. As straight guys appropriate short shorts, gays are donning their baggiest jorts. Walk into queer watering holes in cool urban hoods from Silver Lake to Bushwick, and one will notice a sea of cargos and relaxed Carhartt tees.
The astute fashion writer Max Berlinger has dubbed this brand of Y2K cosplay ” Heartland Drag.” As straight men become more comfortable wearing items that gay men used to wear, gay men are dressing in a more hypermasculine way.
At their core, gay aesthetics have always been counter-cultural. That also explains the shift towards hairier, muskier men. Tr*mp likes to coo over smooth UFC fighters and ” good-looking” Coast Guard graduates. Meanwhile, gays are showing off their fury pits and posting bush. In an automized world full of AI slop, GQ argues that posting bush may actually be the most human of acts.
But when it comes to wearing skimpy swimwear, an unwieldy bush sticks out–literally. The conundrum recently sparked OF model Justin Laid to solicit some input: is it OK to wear a speedo if you’re a little hairy, ahem, down there…
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Is it OK to wear itty-bitty swimwear if your front lawn isn’t trimmed?
With that contrast in mind, swim trunks may better meet the moment–especially since speedos are now more mainstream. No longer hampered with ” Speedophobia,” American men are embracing skimpy swimwear. Over the last year alone, numerous pubs, including the New York Times and Slate, have reported on the shift in straight style.
As gay men know, speedos are the best way to accentuate one’s assets. But at what cost? Speedo critics argue the polarizing swimwear is uncomfortable and ill-fitting. Sunken speedos often resemble diapers, which nobody wants to see in the pool.
True, the speedo is tacky and gauche.
— Mystery Worm (@wormhellscape) July 5, 2026
Now, it’s worth noting that swim trunks are not board shorts–the baggy monstrosities that travel well past one’s knee. When worn well, trunks hug the skin and show off just enough thigh. As a reference point, take a look at the trunks modeled by the swimwear company Bermies.
As a long-time wearer of scantily clad swimmies myself, I count myself among the trunk-intrigued. I’ve already discarded my booty shorts in favor of baggier pull-ons. Perhaps my speedos will soon join my bum-hugging bottoms at the back of my closet.
But they’re not there yet. That’s because, despite what the trends indicate, most of my friends still show up to the gay beach in nothing more than a tight little speedo. Of all the swimwear, it remains the most attention-drawing.
It’s hard to turn those wandering eyes away!
Speedos still all over the Pines and Riis, not sure this is accurate
— JⱯY (@SineKing8) July 6, 2026
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Anywhere, everywhere & beaches in between: Gays reveal where they’re most comfortable wearing speedos
While speedos may finally be going mainstream in America, the garment remains polarizing…
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