Tré Xavier: What The Blatino Awards Aren't

(Tré Xavier, originally naming his persona as a porn actor, has now become more known for his being the author of the blog, Tré's X-Ray Vision . Tré has performed for a variety of studios including Pitbull Productions, Tyson Cane Videos and Forbidden Funk Media. This work has been wholly unredacted.)

In my recent interview with Papi Chulo, there are some things that may have just come to light for you. Such as the fact that I was in talks with FlavaWorks to start my own video line and that I put an end to those talks. Those of you who have not read the interview can click HERE to find out why. Also, in putting an end to those talks, I withdrew myself as a judge for their upcoming Blatino Awards. I have wondered was severing my ties with them a wise move on my part, but looking even this soon after, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that I made the right choice, and that regretting that choice will never come to fruition.

You know I can't help but be honest about my observations.

I feel I made the right choice because practically all of the studios nominated propagate the image of Blacks and Latinos as homo-thugs. Few (if any) show Blacks and Latinos dressed in regular fitting clothes, or if they wear a baseball cap, it's rare to see it not being worn either sideways or totally backwards, and the way they speak makes you wonder when is the last time they saw the inside of a school. All this sends the message that the hip-hop style of dress and lack of a hold on the English language is the ONLY way blacks and Latinos can be portrayed to any popular degree in gay porn, AND based on its popularity, the even worse message is that such behavior is the only way to be accepted by the majority of their own. And if that's the message being sent out by these ethnic porn studios, then I'm glad I got out when I did, because I want no part of sending out such a message. Showing the EXACT OPPOSITE is what I wanted to do with the video line I would have made with FlavaWorks. For it is long overdue that Blacks and Latinos are seen in a better light in gay porn, and I would like to believe that American society has progressed enough by now to where audiences find the homo-thug image hot some of the time, but not all the time.

Truth be told, I never wanted to do ethnic porn for the very reason I just mentioned. Doing ethnic porn was basically something that my being a Black man who is fit, but of smaller stature was confined to doing if I wanted to do porn at all, because of the racism in gay media that I have referred to in the past as “White America’s Slave Fantasy ”. While this racism has lead to the popularity of my fellow actor, Diesel Washington, as one of (if not the only) Black porn actor fans of more mainstream gay porn can name, it has also lead to his typecasting as the “big Black brute” that big name gay porn companies portray Black men to be. Luckily, with thanks to some reporting by a few gay porn news sites, my blog has become a way to make myself a name in the mainstream porn world, much to the chagrin some major studios. 

Since I’m sure in this age of cynicism, some may try to say that I am envious of Diesel Washington, I am giving you notice now that my previous statement by no means says that I am envious of Diesel to any capacity. Because Diesel is Diesel, and Tré is Tré. And while I like Diesel, I am in absolute awe and LOVE who I am, inside and out. 

I believe that if one or more of these studios step up its game, and portray Blacks and Latinos in a more positive light, it would generate more of an acceptance by mainstream porn where Blacks and Latinos in gay porn are not looked down upon as they are. And once again, truth be told, by parlaying the “homo-thug” image as the only plausible image of minorities in American gay porn, the look-down from more mainstream companies is understandable. And this is by no means me being ungrateful for the fan following (however big) that I have amassed, because I’m sure most of my current fans are my fans because they followed me from ethnic porn beginnings to the words in my blog today. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that they followed me wanting the same positive image of Blacks and Latinos as I, even while watching me in an ethnic porn production. And should I decide to continue on in the adult entertainment industry in any way, I will be sure to give that to them.

Comments

[DrAce]

My first thoughts were "unredacted" - what a brilliant word!

After that, I really have little to add, except to applaud you for the stand you are making. I won't lie... I watch more than my fair share of the videos you dislike, although I really do have a wide variety of other works in my collection. Fact is, it's kinda hard to find much else.

[Tre Xavier]

The fact that there isn't much else is exactly the point of this post. What makes it worse is that some of the owners of these comapnies are NOT Black or Latino, they're White. So the question this poses to the Black and Latino audience ---- Is this how you want them to keep seeing you? If NOT, then it's time to demand a change.

[Markus Ram]

Nice post man... this is what so many of us Black and Latino models struggle with in this industry. I make no judgements on the path that other models take, but I do think we have a better chance of effecting a change if we don't allow ourselves to be portrayed in ways that we are NOT.

[Ian Rock]

I want to point out that I do agree with what you're saying. And if u want to experience "ethnic" companies that are doing their best to eradicate the unfortunate stereotype then I invite u to check out the following companies:
(one of which u worked for)
Forbidden Funk Media
PapiThugz.com
DawgPoundUSA.com
These are 3 I've personall experienced working with and have enjoyed each film and each moment. We've got to start somewhere and as ethnic models/actors in this business, we can only do so much. It's going to take companies and the leaders of companies like the 3 I've mentioned to really affect change and provide the diversity of work that is wanted and needed. Help 'em out!! These companies are truly showing that minority gay men come in all flavors, shades, attitudes(including thug) and have sex in all kinda' nasty and hott ways..the way it should be.. Patronize their site and videos and then use the power we as consumers have to contact not only the "thug" companies but the "mainstream" companies as well(cause they are not blameless) and let them know what u, as the consumer want to see and will support or not support. We can all "talk" about it and "take stands"; now let's start doing something about it.
I want to say, I was nominated for a Blatino Award(America's Best Acting Top); I stuck with the nomination because, unless Flavaworks was not being honest, these awards and nominations were voted on by the public. Hell...the public is the reason me or anyone else who calls themselves, performers in this biz are here. I cannot and will not reject the love shown by fans!!

Let's direct all our energies is ensuring that minority actors are treated with the same respect, honesty, pay and safety that our white counter parts get as a matter of fact...and ensuring we are doing everything we can even in our own little way, to "open those doors" and provide the quality, hot work that is sorely needed specifically, in gay, minority porn.

Alwayz kepn it xexi and real!!
IanRock
That's the key