HomeMen Who Take Baths
Nathan Sitcheron
Canada, 2019
My upbringing was very strict and religious but I made sure I didn’t let that define how I saw the world.
What does "being a man" mean to you?
I was raised Christian and Jamaican. Masculinity wasn’t necessarily at the forefront of the way I was raised but it was definitely an undertone, like, as long as you don’t do anything girly or act too girly then there would be no problem.
Knowing a bit more about myself now, and seeing other people go through different experiences, has opened my eyes and assured me what I already knew, that it’s all how you perceive yourself. My upbringing was very strict and religious but I made sure I didn’t let that define how I saw the world or people from different walks of life.
What in your life has had a profound impact on the way you behave?
It’s going to sound so weird but there is a podcast I started listening to maybe four years ago and it’s called The Read, hosted by two black, queer individuals. They rant and vent every week about the struggles of being black and gay, but also the triumphs. Kid Fury, one of the hosts, is one of the bigger reasons for me coming out because he made me feel like it was OK to be different—and he was raised Christian and Jamaican too. The person I am today, I owe a lot of it to Kid Fury, which might be weird because I’ve never met him but he helped me accept who I was.
...he made me feel like it was OK to be different.
Why did you say yes to doing this?
I have never done anything like this before. A wave of fear took over me on my way here. I never take my shirt off—ever. Even when I go to pools, I’m the one wearing the black t-shirt. I used to be so, and I’m speaking in past tense because I guess after this I’m not going to be as shy, but I used to be so self-conscious about my weight. I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I said yes because it’s super outside my comfort zone. Even on my way here, I’m on the highway and thinking maybe I could say I got sick or something. But I’m very happy that I came. I also low-key wanted to work with Jah.