AJ’s Screening Room: All Aboard the Shortbus

June 16, 2023
AJ SLOAN

When I was a teenager, I was such a slut. I was cruising before I even knew what cruising was. At the same time, I was a catholic schooler and altar boy who went to mass twice a week and prayed the rosary every Sunday with the fam (I preferred Uno). Even though it definitely didn’t stop me, my religious upbringing gave me shame and embarrassment about my desire to play with dick. There was one movie that I saw at a very early age that taught me that sex was nothing to be ashamed about. Rather, it should be a f*cking celebration. That movie was Shortbus.

Written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell (who also appears in the film) Shortbus is a 2006 queer indie flick that revolves around the lives of several interconnected characters in New York City seeking emotional and sexual fulfillment. Through their encounters at a sexually liberated club called Shortbus emceed by none other than Mx Justin Vivian Bond, the film explores themes of love, intimacy, and human connection. With explicitly honest depictions of sex and sexuality, the film delves into the personal struggles, desires, and vulnerabilities of its diverse cast, ultimately aiming to challenge societal taboos and celebrate the complexities of human relationships and sexuality.

Shortbus features oh-so-many hot sex scenes that explore the characters' experiences and relationships with each other, with themselves, and with sex. Some of the notable scenes include a threesome involving three dudes which showcases their exploration of pleasure and connection. Another scene involves a dominatrix showcasing some hot BDSM activities with her clients, exploring themes of power dynamics and fetishism. These explicit scenes are integral to the film's narrative and thematic exploration of sexuality, intimacy, and personal growth

I must have seen this flick at least a dozen times, and it has instilled in me a whole new set of visuals when I hear the national anthem. This film is entirely unabashed in the way that it tackles themes of shedding such shame and ignoring stigma to embrace the joys of sex and the connectivity that it can bring. If it weren't for this film, I'd likely have turned out to be one of those gays that avoids eye contact with the dude whose load I swallowed yesterday in the parking lot. If there is one thing that Shortbus taught me, it is that life is too short to give a f*ck. Sex is a celebration, so start celebrating.