New York Magazine's first 'Men's Style' issue features shirtless trans actor Elliot Page
New York Magazine has released a new men’s style issue, a first for the company, and decided to feature the transgender actor and biological female Elliot Page.
In an article headlined "The Men’s Style Issue," the magazine recalled its history covering men's fashion.
"Over the years, we have often returned to the subject of men’s style. There was the 1971 cover story wondering if men would get into high heels for fall and the 1996 profile of male supermodels (‘They’re hot, they’re rich, they’re openly straight,’ read the cover line)," the magazine wrote. "For several seasons starting in 2006, the back half of the women’s fashion issue was a mini men’s magazine and featured a baby Thom Browne fresh off his first CFDA Award win and metrosexuals done up in their aughts finery sipping Peronis at Bungalow 8."
"Now, 20 years later — when even 15-year-olds are ‘hype’ about Ralph, Armani’s got a brand-new designer, and a pair of worn Chrome Hearts jeans can go for $100,000 — feels like the right moment to devote a special issue to men’s style: the power players shaping the business, the new characters shaking up the scene, the old ‘semi-supermodels’ who are still around," the magazine continued. "We stopped short of announcing another revolution in men’s clothes, though you may soon find guys sauntering through the city in sarongs."
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The issue featured multiple covers, including one with Page, and linked to an article headlined "The Boys in the Baths." The magazine described the piece as "Shvitzing and kibitzing with some of New York's most stylish men at the East Village's Russian & Turkish Baths."
Page was among numerous others featured largely unclothed and described the bathhouse experience.
"I went to a bathhouse recently. I’ve only in the past couple of years been like, 'Yeah, that sounds nice, to like go somewhere and sit around in your body like that.' I do sing in the shower sometimes," Page said. "The same songs and lyrics will get stuck in my head, and I don’t know why. Like ‘Do you believe in life after love?’ That’s one I’ll belt out. Or ‘The Sound of Music’: I’ve never seen the movie, which seems crazy, but for some reason I find myself belting out that song in the shower. I can’t explain it."
Political commentator Link Lauren criticized the magazine for promoting a biological female in a male space, arguing that displays of masculinity are already rare in the media.
"There is a shortage of masculinity in mainstream media, and for years masculinity itself has been degraded and dismissed as ‘toxic.’ Now New York Magazine launches its first-ever men’s style issue with Elliot Page shirtless, wearing little more than a flimsy necklace with visible mastectomy scars. It’s supposedly about fashion, yet there are barely any clothes. They knew this cover would generate attention and controversy. I don’t think they actually care about men or style — they care about clicks. If it weren’t for 'transitioning' we wouldn’t even be talking about this actor. They hadn’t been relevant in years."
Tim Graham, executive editor of media watchdog NewsBusters, blasted the magazine for its choice.
"My first reaction is this: I thought these New York Magazine people are the smartest graduates from the best journalism schools, and they can't figure out who is a man and who is a woman for a ‘Men's Style’ feature. They want to pretend that this guy is a slightly thinner Channing Tatum who could dance in a Magic Mike sequel. They want to pretend none of [us] remember Ellen Page playing pregnant in ‘Juno.’"
He concluded by saying that this is part of a larger phenomenon: "Obviously, they seem like they're borrowing from Glamour magazine making a ‘trans woman’ model one of their ‘Women of the Year’ a while back. They're striking a woke pose and they expect a round of progressive applause."