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Is Daddy Just A State of Mind?

Is Daddy Just A State of Mind?

And Why We're Obsessed with Them

Aidan Wharton's avatar
Aidan Wharton
Jun 13, 2025
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Is Daddy Just A State of Mind?
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Picture this: You're out to dinner at a gorgeous restaurant. Your date picks up the hefty bill. Then takes you back to his penthouse apartment. As he starts to undress you, you remember your manners, look up, and say:

"Thank you, Daddy."

The fascination with daddies and daddy culture has been a staple of gay culture and community for millennia (even though the term itself came later). But recently, this dynamic has exploded out of the gay world and across all areas of pop culture. From Murray Bartlett to Pedro Pascal, you can't look anywhere without seeing evidence of our current obsession with daddies.

So, I wanted to know what really makes someone a daddy? Is it age, power, care, sex? Maybe even all of the above?

The answers left me even more intrigued than when I started because it turns out there's so much that goes into daddyhood. From care and education to sexual dynamics and a fair amount of kink, the results are fascinating.

And the number one thing daddies want to give us? It's not what you think.

A quick note before we get into it: this newsletter exists because of paying subscribers. Their support lets me treat this like the job it is, not just writing, but researching, marketing, and building this queer community I love being a part of. So, if you value thoughtful discourse, occasional uncomfortable conversations and queer storytelling please consider subscribing for the low price of $6/month. That's less than the price of one gay iced coffee. If you can swing it, your support would truly mean the world to me.

Now let's dive in.

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