New York Magazine’s historic special issue The Boys In The Baths stars queer icons including Elliot Page, Troye Sivan and Marlon James sweating it out in the city’s oldest bathhouse.
A shirtless Elliot Page features on the cover of New York Magazine’s first ever Men’s Style Issue, making history both for the magazine and the trans community.
But he’s far from the only man (or even the only queer man) in the issue. Singer Troye Sivan, novelist Marlon James, and playwright/actor Jeremy O. Harris are among the incredibly handsome 19 subjects featured in the 20-page portfolio.
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Elliot Page’s historic cover
As the cover star of The Boys In The Baths special issue, Page makes a powerful statement.
He has made history before — by becoming the first openly trans man to appear on the cover of Time magazine, or starring in such major successes as Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey — but this time, he appears as the focus of an issue concerned particularly with masculinity and sexuality.
His body is not only centred, but celebrated, in an undeniably sexy piece.
The actor said in the issue, “I went to a bathhouse recently. I’ve only in the past couple of years been like, Yeah, that sounds nice, to, like, go somewhere and sit around in your body like that.”
It’s not the first time Page has opened up about his experiences transitioning publicly.
He told the Los Angeles Times in 2023, “Interacting with people feels so much easier and more connected, because I’m not feeling lost in myself and not seen in the right way.”
‘I feel like I could maybe do some of my best work now’
The Oscar-nominated actor’s comments drew attention earlier this month after he revealed he hasn’t been receiving many offers for roles, despite his success in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey.
In an interview with On Film…With Kevin McCarthy, Page was asked if he was getting “a zillion calls.”
“No, Kevin, I’m not,” Page replied, laughing. “I know I get some pushback for being Canadian. I don’t know what it’s about,” he jokes.
Though this was the part of the interview that gained the most attention online, Page also had some equally important, incredibly joyful things to say about his transition.
“I’d really love to do good work. That’s what I’d love to do.”
“I had such a great time being in [‘Inception’] [and] working with [Nolan], but I was also, personally, really uncomfortable.
“Because that’s removed, and I don’t have to deal with that when I’m acting and my performances. I feel like I could maybe do some of my best work now.
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The New York Magazine’s first Men’s Style Issue
Page wasn’t the only man bringing the heat in the inaugural Men’s Style Issue.
He was joined by a collection of 18 other creative and celebrity men, including musicians, actors, artists, performers, writers, playwright Jeremy O. Harris, and even choreographer Justin Peck.
New York Magazine’s coverage of men isn’t unheard of, but it has never quite looked like this.
“There was a 1971 cover story wondering if men would wear high heels for fall and a 1996 profile of male supermodels,” said the caption of a social media post by the magazine.
“But we’ve never done a special issue on the subject, and 2026 – when even 15-year-olds are ‘hype’ about Ralph and worn Chrome Hearts jeans can go for $100,000 – feels like the right time.”
New York Magazine’s first Men’s Style issue didn’t stop at Elliot Page, but included numerous queer and gay men (thank the gay gods). Singer Troye Sivan, author Marlon James, actor Brandon Flynn and playwright Jeremy O. Harris are all openly queer and/or gay, which is beautifully fitting given the bathhouse theme of the piece.
New York’s bathhouse history
The issue is centred around New York City’s oldest bathhouse, The Russian & Turkish Baths, which has been operating since 1892.
The iconic bathhouse is located just over a mile east of the Stonewall Inn in the famously queer East Village, and has been frequented by a broad range of New Yorkers over its long history.
From Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jackie Mason to Bobby Cannavale or Mark Ruffalo, the clientele that The Russian & Turkish Baths attracts has always been part of its allure.
Though the bathhouse has allowed co-ed bathing since the 1980s, there are still dedicated men’s-only hours on Sundays and Thursdays, which have become known for gay meetups.
The Russian & Turkish Baths form only one part of a rich gay history of bathhouses. Throughout the last century, many bathhouses have provided safe, sex-positive spaces for gay and queer men.
Playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris, who is featured in The Boys In The Baths special issue, commented on the shift away from historic gay bathhouse culture.
“Can I say what I’ve seen in a steam room that needs to stop? Young men who are obviously sort of like on a no-homo tip, very much in finance, wearing full socks and shoes in the steam room with their gym shorts.”
“Also people wearing headphones in there. Like, actually take in the sounds. There are really interesting sounds in a steam room.”
The shift away from exclusively gay bathhouse cultures in New York has drawn comment since the 1980s.
“Considering that a Turkish baths in New York now has a women’s night…almost anything is possible,” the gay poet Thom Gunn wrote to a friend, speaking of The Russian & Turkish Baths.
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