Jordan Stephens slams straight men’s sauna hypocrisy over being ‘sexualised’ by gay men
Jordan Stephens (Image: Getty Images)
Jordan Stephens said he challenged a man in a gym sauna who claimed he could not relax around gay men, calling out what he described as a double standard about sexualisation in straight spaces.
The musician and actor shared the story on the Miss Me? podcast with co-host Miquita Oliver, while talking about why he enjoys queer venues.
Stephens, who recently split from LGBTQ+ ally and all-round icon Jade Thirlwall, said he feels “able to experience joy” in a “non-judgmental space” in queer spaces, referencing London venues including Dalston Superstore and The Divine.
What Jordan Stephens said happened in the sauna
Stephens said the conversation began in “a sauna at his local gym”, after he overheard one man asking another about enjoying a night out at a gay bar. He said he joined in, agreeing with the idea that queer parties can feel safer.
He recalled the man describing an atmosphere where “there wasn’t this kind of like base level aggression”.
Stephens then recounted the moment the second man voiced discomfort about being sexualised by gay men.
“One of the guys went, ‘Yeah, but the thing is, when you’re in these spaces, yeah, like, I don’t know if I can relax ’cause I don’t know what they’re thinking,’” Stephens said.
He said he pushed back by pointing to what he saw as hypocrisy in how some straight men behave in other nightlife environments.
“Yet you’re willing to be in a straight space where you’re doing the same thing to women,” Stephens replied.
He added: “So you know that there’s a level of discomfort with experiencing the idea that you might be being sexualised, but you are willing to be the person doing it in a whole other space.”
Jordan Stephens’ allyship
Stephens is an English musician and actor, best known as one half of the duo Rizzle Kicks. He has also acted in film and TV, including fronting independent drama Tucked which saw him take on the role of a drag queen, in 2018.
This year, Stephens attended the Trans Mission Live benefit concert for Not a Phase and the Good Law Project. Speaking at the event, he said: “Honestly, I feel like straight men will benefit from being in these spaces.”
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