The New Crossover – Queer Nation
What ‘s commonly thought of as a move from hardcore to mainstream movies, the term “crossover” is taking on a whole new meaning in adult as a new breed of “queer” performer is changing the face of porn.
Not exclusively straight nor gay, queer talent can’t be defined by any type of sexual act or even common sexuality.
Dylan Ryan is not who most of us think of when we hear the words “porn star.” Five-foot-nine with a willowy, boyish frame and austere features that might best be described as “handsome” she brings to mind the brainy, slightly too-tall chick from college you secretly wanted to fuck. Art deco photographers from the ‘30s would have no doubt worshipped her brooding, androgynous sex appeal; but this is 2010, and it’s porn we’re talking about. The prototype here is a hot, skinny, blonde with zeppelin-like breasts and ersatz tan who answers to the name “Jenna.”
Yet during what is arguably the worst dry spell in adult film’s history, Ryan’s unlikely star is on the rise. Mainstream porn studios Vivid, Sweet Sinner and Naughty America often book the Canadian starlet weeks in advance for their high-profile feature and gonzo films. Ryan now frequently travels from her home in Toronto to Porn Valley, USA, to satisfy the growing number of requests to shoot her.
“There’s something sexy about her,” a 30-something male fan sporting an MMA Affliction t-shirt told me as we watched Ryan accept her trophy for “Stud of the Year” at the 2009 Feminist Porn Awards. “She seems … different.”
“Different” may be too simple a word to describe the 29 year-old Ryan, who holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and studied literature and philosophy as an undergrad. Because even more unusual than her unorthodox looks and impressive education is that, along with fellow performers Jiz Lee, Wolf Hudson, and Drew Deveaux, Ryan represents a new breed of porn star that some industry watchers have dubbed “The Queer Mafia.”
“I identify as a queer, cis-gendered* female,” Ryan says in a surprisingly sweet, girlish voice. “But my queer identity is pansexual, which means I have sex with people of all genders and sexualities.”
Cis-gendered. Transgender. Gender-queer. Not quite sure what these terms mean? Well, you’re about to learn. Ryan and performers like her aim to challenge our beliefs on gender, sex, and eroticism. Because they can. They have our attention. In fact, we can’t take our eyes off them.