Happy Thursday!

Welcome back to Lore Drop, an interview series from Yap Year asking culture writers and makers about the formative interests and experiences that have led them to where they are today.

Today, we have Moises Mendez II discussing Grindr, Davey Wavey, and Rihanna.

Also in this edition, the woman on TikTok who “fell in love” with her psychiatrist, the apparent worst songs ever made, and the new screenlife version of War of the Worlds. Subscribe to the Yapper tier to read the full newsletter. 

Out Magazine’s Moises Mendez II

Moises Mendez II is a staff writer at Out Magazine. He has written about the internet, entertainment, and LGBTQIA culture for places like TIME, Business Insider, and Rolling Stone.

From getting queer sex-ed online to joining Rihanna’s Navy, here’s a snapshot of the media that made him.

Davey Wavey Made Me Gay

When I was but a wee child, I did what every young boy questioning their sexuality did and executed a rite of passage: I typed “boys kissing” into YouTube. 

I watched the first video that came up and was immediately overwhelmed by the rush of emotions. Quickly, I rushed to the “History” tab, deleted the history, and exited the browser. But the gravitational pull of men kissing brought me back in any time I was alone in my family’s computer room. One day, I stumbled upon a video from a YouTuber named Davey Wavey.

For those who don’t know, Davey Wavey is a gay content creator who fits the idea of conventional attractiveness to a T. He usually films his videos about his queer experiences shirtless. When I was doing my daily search for sexually suggestive videos on YouTube, his piercing blue eyes, chiseled jawline, and perfectly formed pecs stopped me in my tracks. 

I obviously was enamored. Later, his videos became more than just enticing his viewers to look at him. He started sharing tips about sex and the queer community as a whole, an education I never received in the real world.

I wasn’t out in high school, and there wasn’t anybody in my family that I could talk about sex with. I turned to the only place I knew would give me the tools to safely and honestly teach me about things I’d never even heard of. This is where I learned all of the terms and how to communicate with a partner. It just gave me a sense of confidence I never knew I could find. I mean, let’s face it, he also made videos that toed the line of what is acceptable on YouTube. Still, he was a pioneer for the copycats that have taken his place as he stepped down from the mantle to focus on his adult entertainment business.

Upgrade your subscription to read the rest.