Theory: Toby is straight

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On the commentary, the director makes it clear that Toby is a highly sexual being and capable of going either way. Proabably would have had sex with one of the trannies at Mary Ellen's party if the situation came up.

"And he stars farting with his arm. This made clear he was actually still a child and doesn't really know who he really is"

This sounds like a lot of men. I guess there are lot of men who are still children inside LOL

I also agree with the fact that he might be straight and that his bisexual or gay experiences and, later on, his part in gay porn, are strictly a "business arrangement".

The interesting thing about Toby is that he doesnt know what his sexuality is and probably is straight. He was on the streets after an abusive step father experience, and learned to make a living as a hustler of sorts. He just sees gay porn as a way to make a living. He offers to marry Bree, because she is the first person who cared for him. His offer of sex to her demonstrates that even more. He thinks sex is a way to get close to people or get what you want.

This is a display of a highly disfucntional character who had to learn how to cope and it would probably take years for him to break down his barriers to actually figure out what intimacy or love really is.

The end shot of him getting fluffed from the female because he cant get an erection, seems more like a plea from the director to say "hey everyone he isn't really gay, this isn't really a gay film, its about people". Or something along those lines. It was funny, but kind of didnt make sense for the character really. Though I suppose it could be showing he is really not into the whole sex thing he keeps trying to live up to. On that level I think its brilliant :)

I really got the sense that Toby was bi, though I got the feeling that he might lean towards women if he had his choice, but I'm not sure why I get that impression.

Toby struck me as a very sexual person, in general, though most often in the movie you don't hear him reference sex in relation to his own desire, it was usually tainted... childhood sexual abuse, hustling on the streets for drug money, shooting a porno... the only times he initiates something because of his own interest is when he makes out with the girl in the store and in the scnee where he offers himself to Bree. From what we see in the movie he's not really expressing any real sexual preference towards one sex or the other.

He seems to be pretty comfortable with all sorts of people, or at least comfortable enough to get involved with them, even though it was often in "desperate" situations (needing money) and not out of his own desire.

I know many men who seem to think the idea of doing anything remontely sexual with other men would be impoaaible for them (in fact, in my experience, most straight men feel this way) though most men haven't been through what Toby's been through so who knows what changes in a person under such traumatic circumstances at a young age! So often children who are abused have issues with their own sexual identities. Toby's charatcer's sexuality would be a lot harder to understand without this bit of information.

I thought the scene where he couldn't stay erect while filming the porno was due more to how inwardly distressed he was feeling about the rift in his relationahip with Bree. I'm pretty positive the fluffer was a man, too... I remember noting it specfically, but I must be wrong... now I'm curious... gotta watch it again and check!..... Yeah, it was definately a man.

Good question though! I hadn't really disected this aspect of Toby's character. It was really interesting to think about.

No, he is a pansexual!

He doesn't really care, as long as he can get sex, he'll do it, such as, why did he choose gay pornogrpahy? He could've easily just have been in straight porn films, yet he chose guys and also through out the film he has sex with an old guy and almost a young girl AND Bree who at the time had both boobs and a penis. He doesn't know what he wants and he doesn't care. He has no sexual preferences, those are my thoughts...

When the speeding melon hits the wall, it is Christmas for the crows...

I thought it was pretty obvious that he was straight. Because of what his step-dad did to him and what he had to do to survive in NY, that was all he thought he was good at/worthy of.