Photograph courtesy of Guy Gonzalez
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On Thursday, May 6, Guy Gonzales will be reading excerpts from his upcoming book, Peep Man/Deuce 42 at Happy Ending, New York, as part of the Sex Worker Literati project, Embarrassing Things I’ve Done for Money. The event starts at 7pm—but since I cannot be there, I asked Guy for an interview about his book, cause I have been hearing stories for a minute now, and I am curious as fuck! Yup Yup.
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Your autobiography, Peep Man/Deuce 42, is nearing completion and I cannot wait to hear more about this project! What has the process of writing your memoirs been like?
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Guy Gonzales: The journey itself is cathartic; the recapitulation process quite revealing. As I scour my brain, the missing pieces fall succinctly into place, allowing me to finally come clean; the ultimate redemption.
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What have you discovered about revisiting your past in this manner?
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GG: Such an undertaking is one thousand percent necessary, for facing consequences that still remain unresolved, especially on an emotional level. However, I am thrilled and blessed to have been an integral component of what was once a glorious transgression, that will inspire countless artists and writers to come!
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Photograph courtesy of Guy Gonzalez
What brought you to Times Square in 1982?
GG: Like a forlorn moth I gravitated toward the neon, which burned incessantly with meaning. Although I am from a decent family, we were soured by dysfunction; the emotional evisceration I endured somehow qualified me for membership amongst the underbelly caste society of Times Square.
What was it like to work in one of history’s most infamous red-light districts?
GG: Times Square and “the Deuce”, 42nd Street, instilled meaning beyond mortal comprehension; an unparalleled sense of belonging. I shall always deeply treasure the indisputable fact that I actually worked in legendary peep palaces like Show World, Les Gals, 711, and The Pussycat. We were just too cool; there will never be anything like it ever again.
Photograph courtesy of Guy Gonzalez
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How did you transform your career from cashier/mop man to Love-Team, performing live sex acts on stage with your girlfriend?
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GG: While swabbing sperm I began to notice that many of the “Love Teams” were actually young couples, although a little strung out. The Fantasy Booths were occupied by showgirls who often did sex shows as well. The “booth babies” often selected someone who worked on the premises, like a cashier, because that was someone you could usually trust, used to handling money. Initially, doing continuous sex shows was invigorating, until we became burnt to a crisp. Then the shows became somewhat sad.
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The May 6th event is titled, “Embarrassing Things I’ve Done for Money.” Was being a performer embarrassing in any way, or are there other stories that fit this subject!?
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GG: Having sex in front of strangers is not embarrassing in the least, if you’re really into it. Especially in that sexually uninhibited period that was the early 80’s. The only incidents I can construe as slightly embarrassing are when the male member of a boy-girl Love Team can’t summon his fabled erector set to perform the show. But that happened a lot, because we were stoned out of our fucking minds…
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You were working in the sex industry at the time AIDS first became a public health crisis. How did this change the spirit of the world you were in?
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GG: We rarely, if ever, used condoms. Regardless of the consequences, we were irresponsible, period. We flaunted a lifestyle of complete abandon. But disease doesn’t discriminate; the fatal wake-up call came too late for many of us. Even more devastating than the health crisis is the hypocrisy were subjected to now!
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Photograph courtesy of Guy Gonzalez