Finally! You deserve credit for your honesty. A lot of folks here never admit to anything. All in all, watching muscular men in thongs posing for the possible win of a plastic statue and some pocket change is pretty gay. And, there is nothing wrong with that.
When I first saw Pumping Iron I was very inspired by Arnold, Franco, Serge, Lou... Watching them train was also very inspiring. I found nothing, absolutely nothing, sexual about it. It was just a non-issue for me. Most men admire strength and power. You find it gay because you are gay. You are attracted to men. Just like I find women physique and bikini sexy because I am attracted to women. I doubt most women are turned on by these women on stage. It is unfair and disingenuous to attribute and project your sexual attraction to males to other men. Men who genuinely find other men sexually attractive is a tiny percentage. Anywhere from 2 to 4%. It's an aberration. Gay people are obsessed with trying to normalize homosexual behavior.
When I first saw this watching PI as a teenager it was just jaw-dropping. I never saw anything like it. Arnold just exuded strength, power, and perfection. Serge just standing there breathing with his abs contracting was something I never saw before. Franco with that split chest was something that has never been seen before or since.
Sexual? Not even an afterthought. Do I get credit for my honesty?
And that tired old comment about plastic trophies was old and worn out ten years ago. They are not made of plastic and a lot of lucrative careers has been launched winning bodybuilding and physique shows. A lot of people are getting rich, more than ever before, off their physiques.