Celebrate Body Positivity at this Puerto Rico retreat!

February 17, 2022 Queer Forty Staff 3 min read

The Unapologetic Body Society organizes first-of-its-kind Men’s Body-Positive Retreat.

The Social Media Algorithm tries to tell us the ideal gay man is chiseled, veiny, white-skinned, smooth-bodied, and spends twenty hours a week in the gym. For anyone who doesn’t fit in this tiny Adonis-shaped box, be they chubby bears or fuzzy twinks, it’s hard to love and celebrate the body we’re born into. Zach Panzeca built his body-positive photography business, The Male Collection, to help everyone see they are beautiful, sexy, and all-around awesome regardless of their body shape.

Now, Panzeca is launching The Unapologetic Body Society – the first-of-its-kind body-positive retreat for men – and is inviting us all—no matter what we look like—to join him in Puerto Rico for an amazing, uplifting, and seriously fun experience. The event takes place May 21–28, 2022, and registration is open now at unapologeticbodies.com.

“My job as a photographer is to help you feel empowered and strong,” says Panzeca. “Most body-positive media is focused on women, but men struggle just as much and it’s harder to talk about. It’s time to change that.”

With this event, Panzeca is creating a space where men can put aside their insecurities and celebrate life in their own skin. “A day at the beach can be nerve-wracking for bigger guys, but by going as a group, we build confidence and enjoy ourselves without worrying what anyone else might say. I dare anyone to try to mock a group of sassy gay bears,” says Panzeca.

(Photo Credit: The Male Collection) body positive — (Photo Credit: The Male Collection)

And in that life-affirming context, the event has a bunch of inclusions that make it a huge bang for the buck. Plus, interest-free payment plans are available to help with your budget. Included in the event:

Seven-night stay at the Tryst Beachfront Hotel
Private photoshoot with Zach, plus beautiful candids from the whole trip
Kayaking in a glowing, bioluminescent bay, one of only five in the world
A boat and beach day at the beautiful Flamenco Beach
Swimming in waterfall-fed pools of the El Yunque National Rainforest
New friends made through meaningful and open-hearted conversations

Puerto Rico is the perfect place for the Unapologetic Body Society’s first retreat. The weather is always 70°–80°, the nightlife is vibrant and exciting, the food is divine, and it’s exceptionally welcoming as the LGBTQ+ Capital of the Caribbean—there’s even a bear bar in San Juan. No passport is required when traveling from the mainland United States, and with a high vaccination rate, this could be the perfect getaway to break out of the winter and pandemic doldrums.