HOOK: E-zine By, For, and About Men in the Sex Industry

The photos featured on Louis Jeralds’ website (http://www.louisjeralds.com) exude nothing but pure sex. Okay, maybe a bit of machismo and sensuality, but it’s proof of how and why he won the Male Escort Award Sexiest Escort 2002. Looks aside, though, and as his advertisement's claim, Louis is in a loving and committed long-term relationship. So how does one manage escorting and a boyfriend? I chatted with Louis over coffee on a rainy day to find out.

A few years ago, Louis was dating the person who introduced him to the world of bodywork. “He shocked me a bit when he mentioned he escorted, but we actually broke up before I entered the ‘business," Louis recalls. “I went to college and got my degree in architecture and design, but after graduation, the economy wasn’t doing so well. A friend of mine used to do massages and wasn’t using his table anymore, and I bought it from him and went out on my own. So I was a masseur for about five years before I started escorting.”

Things began to heat up after an encounter in a chat room. “I was just cruising on AOL when I was approached by someone and I asked for a picture, but I just wasn’t attracted to him. So he offered me some cash and I thought it over for a bit, and then decided to go for it.” And the world is now a better place because of that decision.

While Louis was escorting, he would hold parties at his home. “This one just happened to be a Tupperware party, where I met my current boyfriend. A friend of our introduced us and we just hit it off.” And all this time I’ve been searching for the love of my life in clubs. “Even before we got really serious, I was very open and honest about my line of work. He was a little nervous at first, but has been very supportive ever since. We’ve been in a relationship for nine years, and I wouldn’t be escorting if he didn’t want me to.”

Jeez...I can’t even keep a guy for two months. Nine years is almost unheard of in a gay relationship. How do two men stay in such a loving relationship? “Well, it’s not easy. About once a week we just sit down with our planners and try and see if we can spend some time together. It’s tough since he works during the day, and I’m busy some nights.” And what about the getting paid for sex thing? “At first, my boyfriend didn’t want to have an open relationship. He was fine with me and my line of work, but really didn’t want to see other guys. I explained to him that I really didn’t mind, and eventually he warmed up to the idea. That’s not to say that he’s out having sex with different people every night, but that we have ground rules we’ve set up as a couple.”

Louis also keeps close to the rest of his family. Last year, while at his parents’ house for Christmas, he met a younger cousin. “I didn’t really get to talk to him much, but I was chatting with my boyfriend and we both thought, ‘Yeah...he’s probably gay.’ We got a call from him later in the year after that. He got an internship with a business in the Financial District and he needed a place to stay for the summer. We let him, but we still didn’t know for sure if he was gay or not. He obviously knew about my boyfriend and I, and finally felt comfortable enough to come out to us after a few days in New York. And then he started going out to clubs at night, and we rarely saw him. We were both asleep before he got home. We felt so old! But he lives in the South, and it’s pretty conservative, so I was pleased to see him enjoying himself.”

It’s rather obvious that Louis is happy not only with his line of work, but also the relationships that have formed over the past few years. Does he have any advice for people looking to get into the trade? “I wouldn’t start out escorting right away. A lot of people I know tried that after September 11th, since unemployment jumped so high, and it only increased competition for those of us who had established careers and regular customers. Some of them were lucky enough to get the money they wanted, but a lot have taken jobs elsewhere. Instead, you probably want to start out with something light like massages. It’s less stress than sex, and it’ll prepare you for regular escorting if you decide to go on.” Escorting can also be an expensive job to maintain: “I have to pay extra to be listed on the second page at Rentboy.com, and the website I run isn’t cheap, either. But, it does pay off, and I may even retire in the next few years.”

Uh oh! What’ll keep Louis busy after that? “I’m not really sure. My boyfriend and I own a house in Pennsylvania that we’re trying to renovate. Maybe travel a little more. Probably just relax and enjoy the free time.” Hopefully Louis’ retirement doesn’t come too soon...I’m sure everybody will miss the sexiest escort of 2002.