Tom of Finland

Tom of Finland

From Bad Gays by Huw Lemmey & Ben Miller

February 10, 2026 · 1h 25m · Season 9 · Episode 133

About this episode

The episode discusses the life and impact of Tom of Finland on gay masculinity and culture.

Subscribe to Extra Bad Gays on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to support our work, get monthly bonus episodes, and join our community of listeners! Live from Helsinki, we close out our season with Tom of Finland, the man who advertised the concept of gay masculinity to gays becoming men. Originally his illustrations were controversial because of his graphic depictions of gay sex, of sodomy and cocksucking and fisting in a pre-liberation, pre-internet age. Today, things have changed so much you can buy Tom branded products in department stores like Selfridges, and books of his drawings in Barnes and Noble. But at the same time, his representations of Black men and of Nazi aesthetics have drawn new criticisms, even while the fisting and piss and cock-sucking have become perfect home decorations. And the influence of his work on gay male sex cultures, on ideals of queer masculinities, and especially on leather scenes, remains enormous and contested. ----more---- SOURCES: F. Valentine Hooven III, Tom Of Finland: His Life And Times (St. Martin's, 1992) Arnie Kantrowitz, Swastika Toys, in Leatherfolk, edited by Mark Thompson, pp. 193–209. Hunter Scott, “Facing Sameness: Reconsidering the…

Topics covered

  • gay masculinity
  • art
  • sexuality
  • cultural criticism
  • history

Keywords

  • Tom of Finland
  • gay sex
  • queer masculinities
  • leather scenes
  • graphic depictions

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Arpeggia Colorix, Tom branded products, books of his drawings

Books & works: Extra Bad Gays, Tom Of Finland: His Life And Times, Swastika Toys, Facing Sameness: Reconsidering the Radicality of Tom of Finland, InVisible Culture

Places: Helsinki

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