When it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, new terms are constantly popping up. This goes beyond simple slang. Fresh identities, genders, and sexualities are consistently being fined out and added to the long list of LGBTQ+ terms that already exist.
Whether your identity falls somewhere within the LGBTQ+ space or not, there’s always more to learn.
If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably caught yourself wondering what is a twink? Is it a nasty slur you should avoid or an acceptable way of describing someone?
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What is a Twink?
Put simply, “twink” refers to a slim gay or bisexual man with a youthful appearance. There is no specific age attached to this term, but they tend to be under 30 and clean-shaven.
Some twinks may lean toward a more feminine personality, but the term twink is about physical appearance more than anything else. Twink is similar to the term femboy in some ways, but it focuses more on body type.
As long as a gay man’s features stay young and their figure remains skinny, there’s no escaping the word. Some people fall into this label by simply existing, while others find being a twink to be something they strive for as it’s typically a well-appreciated member of the gay community.
It’s worth noting that being a twink is considered to be an early stage of life on a gay man’s journey by some. When they’re young, they may check all the boxes to be considered a twink, but later in life, they align more with the terms twunk, otter, or bear.
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Is Twink a bad word?
The LGBTQ+ community has reclaimed many hateful words over the years. Some consider twink one of the words taking on a new life, but others don’t think this word has ever been negative.
Within the LGBTQ+ community, the word twink is thrown around without a second thought. Cisgender and heterosexual individuals may want to tread with a bit more caution, but you should be safe to use the word, too, as long as you mean no harm.
There’s no escaping the fact that there are some people who will use LGBTQ+ terminology to be cruel, but you probably won’t see that a lot when it comes to this one.
The term twink has been tossed around as an insult in the past, but plenty of gay men love the label and have no issues with it. It all comes down to your tone and intention, but in most cases, you will find those who align with this term don’t mind being referred to as a twink.
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The problem with the word Twink
Now that you know the term is not a slur and is generally accepted, let’s discuss what makes it slightly problematic. This isn’t meant to scare you away from using the word, but it’s good knowledge.
The term twink is not a bad word in itself, but it puts pressure on gay men to fit into a specific mold. The term is can be considered fatphobic, given the main requirement to be a twink is as simple as being skinny.
Twinks are often hypersexualized both inside and outside of the community. College-aged people, in general, find themselves the target of unwanted advances and sexualization, but being gay adds another layer.
Being a twink is sometimes the goal for young gay men as they seem to get the most adoration and attention. Twinks are seen as handsome and worth lusting after. When men in the media who look and act a certain way make the majority of those who like men swoon or drool, it’s only natural for others to strive to become just like them.
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Where did the word twink come from?
Twink is not a new word; we just see it more often these days. Skinny gay men existed well before this term grew in popularity. The term twink has been around for decades but has increased in popularity over the past few years.
The term twank (no, that’s not a misspelling) is believed to have been around since at least the 1920s. This word refers to the client of a gay male prostitute or a sugar daddy. It’s possible the word twink blossomed from that, but it’s difficult to trace.
Around the early 2000s, twinks started appearing more often in TV shows and movies. Kurt Hummel from Glee is the perfect example. While some may have found this portrayal of a gay man offensive or underwhelming, there is no denying that Kurt was a twink. Other shows and movies have depicted twinks or used the term, including Queer as Folk and Love, Victor.
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Celebrities and characters who are most definitely twinks
This one’s for you visual learners. If you’re still having trouble wrapping your head around what is a twink, there are plenty of well-known celebrities and characters that will help.
Another example is Zac Efron. He’s supposed to be straight in High School Musical, but Troy Bolton is a twink, or even, a twunk. This is true for tons of other male Disney leads. A few more include Tom Holland, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Chad Michael Murray, Ryan Gosling, and Timothée Chalamet.
A person doesn’t have to fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella to be considered a twink. Many Hollywood big-shots end up on the list during the early years of their career. Take Leonardo DiCaprio, for example. Few would deny that his characters from the ’90s were twinks.
Regarding the music industry, Troye Sivan might be the number one twink that will grace your feed these days. Current Harry Styles is up there, too. This one might just be for the girls, gays, and theys, but early Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson were peak twinks and shipped by many ‘Larry’ fans.
Justin Bieber fell into this stereotype during his early career, as did some boy bands, like The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.
You’ll see Twinks in video games and animated shows too. Link from Zelda and Peter Pan are great examples. The list goes on and on.
