It’s not a joke; in fact, it almost doesn’t even exist. Aside from a handful of recent developments in the past decade, the appearance of Asian American men has been few and far between when it comes to porno. This is to say, web and video distribution in the United States — because the adult film industries of Japan, China, and a multitude of other Asian countries have no issues finding male actors. In the USA however, the reflection of their sexuality on screen is rare.

Comedian Greg Pak released a hilarious spoof on Asian porn that starred David Henry Hwang in Asian Pride Porn xxx. The short makes fun of how Asian women are eroticized, how Asian men are feminized, and delivers several clever porn titles. It’s a good joke. Cultural revolutions have a pattern of progression that starts with a punch-line. Look at Margaret Cho, as funny as she is, she’s paving the way for representation (and still being true to herself). Greg Pak and Jefferey Lei are no exception. Leaders inspire others and before time, a niche is created, cultivated, and expanded into the mainstream. In time, people are amazed there ever was such a thing as no female politicians, that there was a ban on interracial marriages, or that there used to be no straight Asian Porn stars… at least, that’s the idea.

This isn’t a new idea to Dr. Darrell Hamamoto, the Standford professor who made headlines (well, if you count Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show and “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno) when frustrated with the lack of representation, he took matters into his own hands and invested in his own self-produced adult film titled Skin to Skin.

The video was documented in James Hou’s 2003 documentary Masters of the Pillow and starred established Asian American (Thai/Cambodian) porn star Lyla Lei and a Korean-Canadian porn virgin Chun. The film was shot on a single camera in a hotel room and for a low-budget film it satisfied the need for Asian-to-Asian sex on camera.

Another Asian to put out for the camera includes Rick Lee, who runs Asian-Man.com. In the site, Lee has sex with a number of women but conceals his face. Lee originally wanted to use an actor for these scenes, but when no one stepped up to the job he decided to do it himself.

Jeffery Lei directed a hilarious and poignant commentary on the lack of representation in the documentary Dick Ho: Asian Male Porn Star. The film stars its director and interviews notable late 70s adult stars Annie Sprinkle, Sharon Mitchell, Kay Parker, Juliet Anderson… and also sexy radical starlet Mika Tan. The mockumentary suggests a conspiracy that concealed the star’s existence in porn, as well as the size of his purportedly enormous penis.

Much of Lei’s Dick Ho makes similar comedic references to Asian stereotypes that we saw in Asian Pride Porn XXX, however this time, we’re making some progress.

Shortly after the film was released, Mika Tan announced that she would be helming her own film and put out a call for Asian males to apply. The film is titled Year of the Cock and if all goes well it may be the best example of Asian American heterosexuality yet, and by a female director. Whoot.

Of course, let us not end before acknowledging the work of trans porn purveyors. One aspect of Asian American male sexuality that has yet to be discussed in the handful of articles about Asian men in porn, including Hamamoto’s own “Joy Fuck Club” is the prior work of Christopher Lee. (Yes, though Buck Angel deserves immense credit for his work in the industry, Buck is not the first and only FTM Porn Star.)

When transsexual male pornographer Christopher Lee filmed Alley of the Tranny Boys and the gothic artcore porn Sex, Flesh in Blood, he not only directed and stared in his movies, but also became one of the first FTM trans porn stars, and an Asian, to represent a new genre of porn cinema.

Ten years later, a good number of Asian and hapa (mixed race) trans/genderqueer porn stars are featured through Pink & White Productions. A producer at Pink&White, Shawn presents masculine on screen. Shawn, Mik, Vai, and others found a radical outlet for sexual expression that brings marginalized sexual voices to the forefront.

Asian American culture is often heavy with familial obligations and societal excellence. This may explain one reason why queer Asians are a little more ‘free to be’, than their straight brothers. If you’ve already disappointed mom and dad by coming out as being queer, and the thought of grandchildren is out of the picture, there’s not much else you can do but own up to your sexuality and join the queer community where the sexual liberation front is reclaiming our images through pornography.

So now that means Asian and hapa Gays, Transwomen, FTMs, and genderqueers are having their slice of the porn pie. Straight Asian men, it’s time for your close up, are you ready?
Pick up your camera or give Mika Tan a call. We’re waiting.

Mika Tan wants YOU.