How beauty standards for LGBTQ people impact body image, mental health

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Aron DoSouto has been doing drag in Saskatchewan for more than 25 years. Now, he's increasingly finding it difficult to book venues.

"They want a slender Barbie doll who will look good in a pair of underwear and a bra," said DoSouto, who performs under the drag name Iona Whipp.

As a gender fluid person, DoSouto does not find himself aligning with the well-entrenched body ideals for gay men, which he described as "chiseled, built and butch or bone-thin skinny twink." 

The 43-year-old Saskatoon resident said while the media pressure to conform to certain beauty standards for LGBTQ people has long existed, partly due to the influence of "porn, erotica and films," shows like RuPaul's Drag Race have further perpetuated them. DoSouto said he's recently received backhanded comments during shows about his appearance, including his weight.

"Many of us queens come from theatre — the old school where it was about selling the song — but nowadays there's this constant need and push all about being skinnier and real thin," he said. 

"It's a big thing affecting our community. If event organizers are willing to shell out the money, they will bring RuPaul girls in who can show a bare, slender midriff, instead of supporting the local community."

Narrow beauty standards can have serious impacts on body image for LGBTQ people, who already face higher rates of eating disorders and other mental illnesses. Further fuelling fears of not being accepted over their identity or orientation, some people can go to dangerous lengths to look a certain way.

Moose Jaw, Sask., resident Ell Bird grew up around "toxic ideas about body image."

"Those standards entrenched in patriarchy are carried over in the queer community," said Bird, who identifies as two-spirit and gender-queer.

One example: androgyny (combining masculine and feminine characteristics) is often presented as a "neutral colour palette or square cuts of clothing," said Bird, and that stems from trends among cisgendered men. 

"I have often been told to not wear loud colours," they said.

A desire for plus-size bodies to be an hourglass shape also draws from heterosexual beauty standards. 

It makes Bird feel excluded. They said coming across dating profiles in the past with fatphobia listed as "personal preferences" triggered the binge-eating disorder they have struggled with since childhood.