Oct 4
Gay Twitter Gags for TikTok Clips on How to Reassure Women on the Hiking Trail
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
It's what every woods-loving weekend warrior needs to know: Viral TikTok videos from influencer Stan Chris illustrate how men can make women feel safe should their paths cross on hiking trails by making a show of being queer. Gay Twitter is loving it.
Chris' comedic clips, titled "pov: subtly letting women know they're safe when we pass them on a hike," adopt the view of a theoretical female hiker. The short scenes show men coming up the trail while making flamboyant arm gestures, holding their boyfriend's hand, making remarks on a woman's hot boyfriend, mentioning TV shows that are popular with LGBTQ+ viewers ("'Heartstopper,' Season Three!"), or simply putting it out there: "My glutes haven't been this worked out since my ex-boyfriend, you hear me?" one grinning hottie says in passing, while another (played by Chris) simply declares, "I like men."
@stanchrissss the last one 😭 @Chrisxquick @Beefyotter ♬ original sound - stanchris
A second clip continues the gag, with one character pointing out a tiny tattoo on his massive bicep - "Gay Pride!" he explains - while others burst into dance moves, listen to extended versions of dance club songs, or search for poppers in the wilderness.
The viral clips soon spread beyond TikTok to X, where Gay Twitter promptly embraced them.
The posts follow another viral video in which women are asked whether they would feel safer encountering a bear in the woods, or a man they did not know.
@opinionnigeria The View's "would you rather be in a room with a man or bear" goes wrong. #fyp #foryou #foryourepage #creatorsearchinsights ♬ original sound - Opinion Nigeria
Many women chose the bear - a result that the responses on X also acknowledged.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
