Is Santa Claus an erotic figure for gay men, other than the obvious "bear" or "daddy" imagery? The gay S & M imagery is also obvious, the shiny black boots and the cracking whip he uses during his sleigh ride. When did Santa Claus, if ever, become a figure of gay erotica, even in a satirical mode?

Gaysexpornblog offers detailed information on current videos and web sites that offer variations on the usual "gay dirty old man" image of Santa. The Internet is also rife with speculations about the homosexuality of other figures developed in various midrash about Santa, such as Rudolph and the elf Hermy (outcasts, scapegoats, like gay men throughout history? Hmm .. interesting). There's a literal embarrassment of riches on this subject. Santa Claus is cumming to town.

I do wonder if perhaps making these connections is essentially breaking a taboo. Santa developed in the 20th century into a rather sentimental figure associated with children's happiness and all that is good and wholesome. It's hard to find subliminal eroticism in fare such as Miracle on 34th Street. But then, the sultry Eartha Kitt, much later, in those taboo-breaking sixties, played on the materialism of a commercialized Christmas by asking "Santa Baby" to bring her a sable fur coat. Was she being tongue-in-cheek here?

We make Santa Claus in our own image. He often becomes a focus for our most significant cultural values. By satirizing the figure of Santa Claus, even in porn, which itself often becomes satire, aren't we perhaps looking closely at our own desires?

It seems like the real message her is abundance. Previous images of Santa Claus and Father Christmas sometimes depicted him with the horn of plenty, the cornucopia filled with not just toys, but food. A figure linked with abundance could morph into a being that grants material desires, which of course include food and its sister in desire, sex. Santa could represent the satiation of what is often insatiable. Santa could represent inexhaustible giving. He doesn't need to take, like us; he only gives.

Yes, Virginius, there is a gay Santa Claus. As gay men, we often have to break taboos to really give of ourselves to others. Insatiably and unconditionally.