(Ed. Note: This interview has been edited for clarity.)
There are those that are merely large and then there are those that are larger-than-life. Peter Le is just such a person. Brimming with confidence, sexual or otherwise, you never doubt for one second that he is, in every moment of his life, a man in charge. He is a posterboy of human sexual potential and he just happens to be Asian.
(Ed. Note: This interview has been edited for clarity.)
There are those that are merely large and then there are those that are larger-than-life. Peter Le is just such a person. Brimming with confidence, sexual or otherwise, you never doubt for one second that he is, in every moment of his life, a man in charge. He is a posterboy of human sexual potential and he just happens to be Asian.
You may already know Peter Le from his short (but effective) modeling stints with Freshmen, Torso, others. Or you may have been introduced to him through his Asian Muscle worship site - PeterFever.com - as I was. Muscle Prince, this is not. His work is high-end softcore erotica that focuses on the value Asian men bring to the sexual table which, naturally, includes lots of replenshing oils and frequent sudsy showers. That theme though - Asian mens' sexual worth - was one that Peter repeatedly emphasized in our sprawling, two-and-a-half-hour conversation.
You may already know Peter Le from his short (but effective) modeling stints with Freshmen, Torso, others. Or you may have been introduced to him through his Asian Muscle worship site - PeterFever.com - as I was. Muscle Prince, this is not. His work is high-end softcore erotica that focuses on the value Asian men bring to the sexual table which, naturally, includes lots of replenshing oils and frequent sudsy showers. That theme though - Asian mens' sexual worth - was one that Peter repeatedly emphasized in our sprawling, two-and-a-half-hour conversation.
And by the end of what seemed like only five minutes, Le was off into the future, maybe to shoot a new video for PeterFever.com or talk to another writer or promote his budding physical fitness franchise - PetePhysique.com - on YouTube or answer his many Facebook messages. Whatever the case, his image - muscular, sexual, Asian - is at the forefront of a new decade in gay sexual iconography and given a map of current tastes, his star couldn't be rising at a more propitious moment.
And by the end of what seemed like only five minutes, Le was off into the future, maybe to shoot a new video for PeterFever.com or talk to another writer or promote his budding physical fitness franchise - PetePhysique.com - on YouTube or answer his many Facebook messages. Whatever the case, his image - muscular, sexual, Asian - is at the forefront of a new decade in gay sexual iconography and given a map of current tastes, his star couldn't be rising at a more propitious moment.
MOC: Welcome, Peter, to MOC Blog.
Peter Le: Thank you.
MOC: I keep thinking I know which question I want to ask to begin...How about we start with your body since that's the thing people see first about you. When did you look at yourself and realize you were growing competitively muscular?
PL: I started modeling again in 2008 with different photographers on ModelMayhem.com and they were surprised that I could be ready for a photo shoot in two weeks. Usually body builders have to take up to six weeks to be photoshoot-ready. I mentioned to the photographers that I look the way I am from day to day. And that is when I started to compete in body building shows. I perform better in natural shows.
MOC: Okay, so you modeled for a while. Why don't you give the highlights of your career so far?
PL: I was very naive growing up. I started nude modeling in college as a freshman when I was 18. I was in Freshman, Torso, Playgirl, and some I've forgotten. I only modeled for a few months. My sophmore year I moved back home to continue school and forgot about modeling again until 2008. At the time, I thought because I wasn't white I wasn't what people wanted. I discovered that being different is good and people of color need more representation in the media.
MOC: So where are you original from, Peter? Where did you grow up? Give us a biographical sketch.
PL: I'm full Asian and born and raised in CA. The Bay Area is my home. I went to Fresno State on a wrestling scholarship and finished my psychology degree at San Jose State.
MOC: What do you mean a "full Asian born and raised in California?"
PL: Well my parents are from Asia and I was born in California. I try not to say what part of Asia my parents are from because I feel like representing all Asians.
MOC: Do you? Represent them all? How?
PL: Yes. And I think it's an Asian thing. For example, if a Chinese guy asked me what part of Asia I'm from and I say China (not really), they will feel a comfort zone. Like, yes, I knew Chinese guys are good looking. It must be the Chinese genes. If a Japanese guy asked me, I say I'm half Japanese.
MOC: But surely Asians can tell differences in the races? Wouldn't the person you're telling know?
PL: For me, I can get away with everything because I dont look like a certain part of Asia. I fool 9/10th of the people.
MOC: Are you biracial?
PL: No, but if you are/ were white, I would say 'yes.' Haha.
MOC: Alright, let's add some 'gay' into the mix. You are gay, yes?
PL: Gay? Well, I don't like to label myself.
MOC: Okay, but let's talk about how you represent your sexuality on camera, then. Who do you market the videos on PeterFever.com to? Who is your target demographic?
PL: I'm in the fantasy business and I cater to men and/or women who are
Peter Le: Thank you.
MOC: I keep thinking I know which question I want to ask to begin...How about we start with your body since that's the thing people see first about you. When did you look at yourself and realize you were growing competitively muscular?
PL: I started modeling again in 2008 with different photographers on ModelMayhem.com and they were surprised that I could be ready for a photo shoot in two weeks. Usually body builders have to take up to six weeks to be photoshoot-ready. I mentioned to the photographers that I look the way I am from day to day. And that is when I started to compete in body building shows. I perform better in natural shows.
MOC: Okay, so you modeled for a while. Why don't you give the highlights of your career so far?
PL: I was very naive growing up. I started nude modeling in college as a freshman when I was 18. I was in Freshman, Torso, Playgirl, and some I've forgotten. I only modeled for a few months. My sophmore year I moved back home to continue school and forgot about modeling again until 2008. At the time, I thought because I wasn't white I wasn't what people wanted. I discovered that being different is good and people of color need more representation in the media.
MOC: So where are you original from, Peter? Where did you grow up? Give us a biographical sketch.
PL: I'm full Asian and born and raised in CA. The Bay Area is my home. I went to Fresno State on a wrestling scholarship and finished my psychology degree at San Jose State.
MOC: What do you mean a "full Asian born and raised in California?"
PL: Well my parents are from Asia and I was born in California. I try not to say what part of Asia my parents are from because I feel like representing all Asians.
MOC: Do you? Represent them all? How?
PL: Yes. And I think it's an Asian thing. For example, if a Chinese guy asked me what part of Asia I'm from and I say China (not really), they will feel a comfort zone. Like, yes, I knew Chinese guys are good looking. It must be the Chinese genes. If a Japanese guy asked me, I say I'm half Japanese.
MOC: But surely Asians can tell differences in the races? Wouldn't the person you're telling know?
PL: For me, I can get away with everything because I dont look like a certain part of Asia. I fool 9/10th of the people.
MOC: Are you biracial?
PL: No, but if you are/ were white, I would say 'yes.' Haha.
MOC: Alright, let's add some 'gay' into the mix. You are gay, yes?
PL: Gay? Well, I don't like to label myself.
MOC: Okay, but let's talk about how you represent your sexuality on camera, then. Who do you market the videos on PeterFever.com to? Who is your target demographic?
PL: I'm in the fantasy business and I cater to men and/or women who are
into muscular Asian men. However, 99.9% are guys. [In fact], there are some straight guys who have been to my website and claimed I turned them gay.
MOC: Did you?
PL: I know of at least three people so far. Maybe I was their way out of the closet.
MOC: Did you?
PL: I know of at least three people so far. Maybe I was their way out of the closet.
MOC: So what gave you the idea of launching PeterFever.com? And tell us a little bit more about the site.
PL: Well, when I look up [the search term] 'gay Asian' I see guys who are not in the best shape and do not fit the norm. So I decided there needs to be more hunky Asian guys on the web.
MOC: So what gave you the idea of launching PeterFever.com? And tell us a little bit more about the site.
PL: Well, when I look up [the search term] 'gay Asian' I see guys who are not in the best shape and do not fit the norm. So I decided there needs to be more hunky Asian guys on the web.
MOC: What do you find in your search results? Were you directed towards a lot of twink-ish Asian sites?
PL: I find emasculated Asian types -- much like the guys who are portrayed in an unflattering way by the media. The William Hung types...the skinny, nerdy guys...So I wanted to debunk the myths and misconceptions about Asian men with PeterFever.com.
MOC: But you actually had a little more in mind since you could have just as easily skipped PeterFever.com and gone straight into your fitness videos?
PL: There's also the widespread notion that Asian men are not appealing in a sexual way...that it's unusual for them to be sexual. And that's what PeterFever is about -- a muscular Asian guy who IS sexual. A guy that hopefully women and men can look at and say, "Wow, that guy is attractive. And he's completely comfortable in his own skin. And he's sexual." To me, that is a much more representative image of Asian men than, say, the nerdy guy on NBC's "Heroes." Or the Chinese food deliverer who can't speak English. Or the Asian gangster in [movies like] "The Hangover."
MOC: Well, you've raise a good question. Why are there so few Asian men - let alone ones with worked-on bodies - reluctant to step in front of the camera and expose their, er, manliness. It's like pulling teeth.
PL: I think it's more of a cultural thing. From my experience, Asian people are generally more conservative and it takes a bigger push for Asian men to defy generally accepted social notions and participate in a field that may not always be portrayed in a positive light -- like Gay Adult entertainment.
I have a lot of people in my life who don't agree with what I'm doing, including various family members. And it's one of the difficulties that most guys would face if they choose to do what I'm doing.
MOC: How do you see them being portrayed?
PL: It seems like they're more of the "bottom" type. The submissive role, even in the gay movies. Again, they're emasculated.
MOC: Is that bad only if they're being seen as "emasculated?"
PL: Yes...because men (and women) find men attractive in a big part because they're masculine. But to make a guy less of a man is to make him undesirable. And that's what happens in mainstream and gay movies. In mainstream movies, Asian men can't speak English. They're weak. They're just not conventionally attractive. In gay movies it's the same. They're "the bottoms."
MOC: You said earlier that Asians come from a more culturally conservative background and, clearly, porn is a no-no. But what about being gay? Take their temperature for us.
PL: I find emasculated Asian types -- much like the guys who are portrayed in an unflattering way by the media. The William Hung types...the skinny, nerdy guys...So I wanted to debunk the myths and misconceptions about Asian men with PeterFever.com.
MOC: But you actually had a little more in mind since you could have just as easily skipped PeterFever.com and gone straight into your fitness videos?
PL: There's also the widespread notion that Asian men are not appealing in a sexual way...that it's unusual for them to be sexual. And that's what PeterFever is about -- a muscular Asian guy who IS sexual. A guy that hopefully women and men can look at and say, "Wow, that guy is attractive. And he's completely comfortable in his own skin. And he's sexual." To me, that is a much more representative image of Asian men than, say, the nerdy guy on NBC's "Heroes." Or the Chinese food deliverer who can't speak English. Or the Asian gangster in [movies like] "The Hangover."
MOC: Well, you've raise a good question. Why are there so few Asian men - let alone ones with worked-on bodies - reluctant to step in front of the camera and expose their, er, manliness. It's like pulling teeth.
PL: I think it's more of a cultural thing. From my experience, Asian people are generally more conservative and it takes a bigger push for Asian men to defy generally accepted social notions and participate in a field that may not always be portrayed in a positive light -- like Gay Adult entertainment.
I have a lot of people in my life who don't agree with what I'm doing, including various family members. And it's one of the difficulties that most guys would face if they choose to do what I'm doing.
MOC: How do you see them being portrayed?
PL: It seems like they're more of the "bottom" type. The submissive role, even in the gay movies. Again, they're emasculated.
MOC: Is that bad only if they're being seen as "emasculated?"
PL: Yes...because men (and women) find men attractive in a big part because they're masculine. But to make a guy less of a man is to make him undesirable. And that's what happens in mainstream and gay movies. In mainstream movies, Asian men can't speak English. They're weak. They're just not conventionally attractive. In gay movies it's the same. They're "the bottoms."
MOC: You said earlier that Asians come from a more culturally conservative background and, clearly, porn is a no-no. But what about being gay? Take their temperature for us.
PL: That's hard to say. I hate to generalize. Mainly, I think it depends on where a person lives (China? Vietnam? America?) and how socially liberal their family and friends are. I know a lot of Asian parents who are ashamed to have gay children...but I also know a lot of Asian people who accept and embrace gay people, regardless of their sexual orientation. It really runs the gamut.
(Image courtesy of Menmachine.com)
MOC: What about same-sex marriage? Asians, like their white counterparts, voted in the majority against Proposition 8 (the proposal that outlawed gay marriage in California.) Would you like to venture a guess why that is? Why voting Asians appear to be more open to same-sex marriage.
PL: It's probably tough to venture a guess, since people vote based on various reasons. I hate to generalize and look like an idiot. I can answer based on my experiences or perhaps those that I know, but otherwise it's a bit difficult.
MOC: Okay, let's backtrack to your site. How is it going? Can you retire? Your site is, what, a year-and-a-half-old now?
PL: Yup, that's how old it is. And it's doing really well. Through smart marketing, word-of-mouth, blogs, etc. we've been increasing our subscription base every month. If it keeps going at this rate, I could conceivably retire...But I am thinking more long-term. Perhaps make this even bigger, by featuring other Asian men as well.
MOC: How would one find you if they were in the market for your brand of sexuality?
PL: It's probably tough to venture a guess, since people vote based on various reasons. I hate to generalize and look like an idiot. I can answer based on my experiences or perhaps those that I know, but otherwise it's a bit difficult.
MOC: Okay, let's backtrack to your site. How is it going? Can you retire? Your site is, what, a year-and-a-half-old now?
PL: Yup, that's how old it is. And it's doing really well. Through smart marketing, word-of-mouth, blogs, etc. we've been increasing our subscription base every month. If it keeps going at this rate, I could conceivably retire...But I am thinking more long-term. Perhaps make this even bigger, by featuring other Asian men as well.
MOC: How would one find you if they were in the market for your brand of sexuality?
PL: Can you elaborate?
MOC: Sure...When I visit gay blogs, more specifically gay porn blogs or gay porn fan blogs - I see the same names and the same advertisements for the same companies. I hope I don't hurt your feelings but you don't have much of a web presence. As far as mainstream gay porn goes, you're buried treasure.
PL: I totally understand. No offense taken. Honestly, I just started hiring a guy who does strictly marketing about two months ago. Before that, my subscription base stayed at the same level. I've also extended my presence in networking sites: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Also, it's more of a niche market and I think if you're specifically looking with key words in mind like "Gay, Asian Bodybuilder" I'd be relatively easy to find. I traveled recently to Thailand and all these strangers came up to me because they had heard about me or seen my pictures on the Internet.
MOC: What's that like?
PL: It feels great to be recognized. It's a form of validation. It's nice to know that strangers -- people you've never seen in your life before -- can spot you out of the crowd because you stuck out in their minds in some way.
MOC: Speaking of sticking out, what do we see in the videos on Peter Fever? Showering? Masturbating? Climax?
PL: Ha! You've got to subscribe to find out! And tell your readers that too! Haha.
MOC: Have you had sex on film?
PL: No.
MOC: Would you?
PL: Nothing is out of the question. I try not to limit myself in anyway. Everything is a possibility.
MOC: Who are some of the most good-looking Asian men today in your eyes? Names from, say, Asian movies or television, or even here in the states?
PL: Some random names of the top of my head: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (amazing actor!!!), Russell Wong.
PL: Can you elaborate?
MOC: Sure...When I visit gay blogs, more specifically gay porn blogs or gay porn fan blogs - I see the same names and the same advertisements for the same companies. I hope I don't hurt your feelings but you don't have much of a web presence. As far as mainstream gay porn goes, you're buried treasure.
PL: I totally understand. No offense taken. Honestly, I just started hiring a guy who does strictly marketing about two months ago. Before that, my subscription base stayed at the same level. I've also extended my presence in networking sites: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Also, it's more of a niche market and I think if you're specifically looking with key words in mind like "Gay, Asian Bodybuilder" I'd be relatively easy to find. I traveled recently to Thailand and all these strangers came up to me because they had heard about me or seen my pictures on the Internet.
MOC: What's that like?
PL: It feels great to be recognized. It's a form of validation. It's nice to know that strangers -- people you've never seen in your life before -- can spot you out of the crowd because you stuck out in their minds in some way.
MOC: Speaking of sticking out, what do we see in the videos on Peter Fever? Showering? Masturbating? Climax?
PL: Ha! You've got to subscribe to find out! And tell your readers that too! Haha.
MOC: Have you had sex on film?
PL: No.
MOC: Would you?
PL: Nothing is out of the question. I try not to limit myself in anyway. Everything is a possibility.
MOC: Who are some of the most good-looking Asian men today in your eyes? Names from, say, Asian movies or television, or even here in the states?
PL: Some random names of the top of my head: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (amazing actor!!!), Russell Wong.
(At this point, Peter indicated to me that he had to go.)
MOC: Peter, thank you. It was - in the very best sense of the word - intense.
PL: Thank you! I enjoyed being interviewed! Hope we can do this again soon!
(At this point, Peter indicated to me that he had to go.)
MOC: Peter, thank you. It was - in the very best sense of the word - intense.
PL: Thank you! I enjoyed being interviewed! Hope we can do this again soon!
Great interview - from you end at least.
I do however take some offense to Peter's comment about being the "bottom" type and how it's an emasculatiing scenario. For it generalizes what it means for a man (Asian or otherwise) to be a bottom. For bottoms are not always submissive, nor are they always emascualated just because they are bottoms. So he needed to elaborate more on that.
As you know, while I've only bottomed on-camera, I have not always played the submissive bottom, or rarely felt emasculated for being a bottom. I would have never entered the industry or stayed as long as I did if that was the case. So it is how the bottom is portrayed that makes the difference as to whether or not they are emascualted.
Now if that was the point Peter was making, I can accept that a great deal more than the answer that was given.
Feel free to pass this comment on to Peter.
Posted by: Tré Xavier | January 07, 2010 at 11:34 AM
I understand what Peter was saying. It is different for Blacks or Hispanics, they can function as a top or a bottom much like White people, but if you're Asian there is the perception that you could only be a bottom. The truth is that looking at Asian men as anything other than a submissive ladyboy is somewhat new in gay society. Look at the number of gay men who go to Southeast Asia as an example.
Posted by: anon | January 07, 2010 at 12:00 PM
I am thinking that Peter must be Southeast Asian, probably Vietnamese, with Chinese mixed in there somewhere. He doesn't have the look of a Japanese/Korean person, but he did mention alot of Chinese actors so its possible he is Taiwanese because Chinese would just be too obvious.
Posted by: anon | January 07, 2010 at 12:08 PM
anon,
Your commment is as insulting to Asians, as Peter's comment is to bottoms.
It is NO DIFFERENT for ANY ethnicity. It is as I said before - HOW THE BOTTOM IS PORTRAYED. A White bottom can be portrayed in an emasculating fashion, just as easily as an Asian one. Stop giving Peter excuses for being short-sighted. I'm not, and I WAS once a fan. This interview however, has me questioning that.
Peter's comment shows that he (like many people of various backgrounds) have taken in the rules of their native culture. Hence why he calls himself 100% Asian, and in no way defines himself as American. While his website may show him going against the grain of Asian culture, his comment shows that he is loyal to their over-masculated mindset, instead of developing one of his own.
Posted by: Tré Xavier | January 07, 2010 at 01:23 PM
Peter's comment was based on perception that other people have about Asians. In truth, when people outside of the Asian culture look at Asian men they see them as being only capable of being a bottom. I am not insulting Asians, I am stating a perception that other people have about Asians. When people look at you, they don't automatically pin the label bottom on your forehead. Again if you are Black, White or Hispanic you could be both without people batting an eye, but if you're Asian you are automatically deemed a bottom. It is emasculating when other cultures view you as being only capable of being a bottom, because an Asian can not satisfy a man because of the stereotype associated with Asian men being small in the penis department If you knew anything about Asian men, you would know that Asians, straight or gay are not hyper masculine, and at time seem effeminate. If Peter seems hyper masculine, it is because he is trying to show that just because you're Asian it doesn't make you that stereo type portrait of an Asian. When he referred to himself as being 100% Asian, he was referring to himself as being genetically unaffected by other cultural genetics. The fact that he is an American is a given, he is trying to make clear that he is the way he is because he is Asian and that there is no other outside genetic influences. Tre, just as I can't tell you what it is like to be Black, I can tell that you can't tell me or Peter what it is like to be Asian. You and I are both people of color but our experiences are different.
Posted by: anon | January 07, 2010 at 05:11 PM
anon,
Actually, I can understand the perception of Asians always being perceived as a bottom, as I've experience the reverse. For because I'm Black, people have often deemed me as a top, so they are shocked at me for choosing to be a bottom in my movies. I've experienced that in my on and off-camera life. So I don't excuse Peter's hyper-masculinity issues. My rule is this - BE TRUE TO YOU AND FUCK EVERYBODY ELSE. Following this rule is the reason why I am not the steretypical Black man and have been quite vocal in how I DO NOT support the "thug" image of Black males in gay porn. I have my own mind, and am not ruled by some of the ignorant rules that are considered OK by Black, or hip-hop culture. I am ruled by the rules of Tre's culture. Peter needs to do the same in regards to Asian culture.
Posted by: Tre Xavier | January 08, 2010 at 07:44 AM
This guy is a total idiot. Fuck you for thinking that you can be the voice for gay Asians. Why don't you just shut up and look pretty and not open your mouth?
What a cocky dumbass. You don't LOOK filipino, Viet, or Japanese. So shut up and just be truthful when people ask you what your background is. It's insulting to other Asian countires.
Posted by: Allan | January 10, 2010 at 11:03 AM
How does Peter think that HE is the face for all gay Asians??? Hysterical!
This guy is STRAIGHT and calling us (gays) suckers by marketing directly to us. DO not subscribe to his website or buy his products.
Just another dumb personal trainer.
Posted by: Anon | January 10, 2010 at 08:30 PM
"Le" is most often a Vietnamese name.
This interview was quite interesting and by his answers, it shows Peter Le's lack of intelligence and true depth of understanding about Asians, gays and gay Asians.
From my understanding, he is just another ST8 jock out to make a buck from people who are gay.
Mr Le can not be a voice for Gay Asians because he is not gay.
Posted by: Anon | January 10, 2010 at 10:36 PM
Tre:
I very much agree with your comments, Peter choice of words was very disturbing. I am a while bottom, sometimes I am submissive.
Most of the time I am a very aggressive bottom, and end up being the one in control and running the show. I guess that puts me as a power bottom?
I enjoy being a bottom, the few times I have attempted to top i came way too fast. So what if Tre choses to bottom in his movies, and why should anyone care,comment or judge that. I find that HOT!
PJW
Posted by: PJ Walsh | January 12, 2010 at 09:41 AM
what a fruit
Posted by: lemi | December 02, 2011 at 02:33 PM