These Gay Twins Are Continuing to Carve Out a Space for Middle Eastern Queerness. Now, With a New Sexy Underwear Line.
Even in New York, Zak and Michael's cultural roots have rarely strayed too far from their work
Gay identical twins Michael and Zak Zakar, known collectively as “the Zakar Twins” and self-described as the “Middle Eastern Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen,” aren’t the type to back down from a new project.
As authors, they transformed their own harrowing personal story — facing “coming out to each other and their crazy Iraqi mother who tried to pray their gay away,” the official synopsis goes — into the book-turned-play “Pray the Gay Away” for both local and national audiences. As influencers and podcasters, we’ve seen them live out loud, despite the severe challenges of being an openly LGBTQ+ Iraqi. “Showing you a different side of the Middle East,” their Instagram bio says.
And boy, are they ever. But this time, in briefs and jocks.
That’s right, the brothers' latest venture has them diving into the world of underwear. The Zakar Twins underwear line, which features the “F*ck Me” jockstrap and “Red Hot Habibi” briefs, takes inspiration from the patterns and colors of Middle Eastern attire.
Zak told Pride Source the garments are more than simply their latest project — for the twins, they’re a symbol of queer Middle Eastern existence and pride. In part, launching a line was a reaction to what Zak says is how he feels about how Middle Eastern people interact with sex.
“The Middle East isn’t sex-positive,” he said. “The underwear and our brand hits lots of [sex-positive] notes that just aren't seen by a Middle Eastern person. So we're very proud to show that.”
For Michael, incorporating Middle Eastern culture into the style was a crucial part of the design process. He explained that by creating a product that combines “a little sex appeal” with traditional patterns and themes, they hope to spark new conversations about the intersections of Middle Eastern culture and queerness.
"We’re Chaldean — I swear only people in Michigan know what that is: Catholic Iraqi,” Michael said. “Writing, art, anything entertainment-wise — we always try to blend our roots because we just think there's a lack of Middle Eastern roots in almost everything.”
“The only representation we have is Aladdin, so we’re just trying to showcase a different side of the Middle East with what we do,” Zak added.
Over the last five years, the Zakars have found themselves bouncing from Michigan to L.A., looking for a creative spark. The Troy natives eventually moved to New York in the beginning of 2024 and have found that Manhattan “definitely puts a fire under your ass.” But as they’ve roamed, their cultural roots have rarely strayed too far from their work.
Meanwhile, they’re working on a new book, “I’m Going To Kathy’s” — the twins’ take on the birds and the bees, or as they say, “the bears and the otters.” Currently, the twins are in the process of locking down a publishing company.
The book, which references their close friend Kathy and works in tandem with the themes of sexuality and culture in their underwear line, is about “what past relationships and experiences taught us growing up. We wanted to dive into the world of apparel to match the marketing of the book.”
And then there’s Kathy, who played an integral part in their own self-discovery. Because of her, they had an excuse to sneak out of the house.
“We used the lie to our Mom, ‘I'm going to Kathy's,’ to explore who we are. So, [using] the facade of our best friend Kathy taught us a lot,” Michael said.
“We always say that we as queer individuals don't get a queer sex ed, so sketchy hookups become our teacher — and this book is that; it's our sketchy hookups,” Zak added. “We learned about our bodies through other bodies.”
The book is packed full of the twins’ coming-of-age experiences. They say, in addition to frank stories about sex, it promises to provide the guidance they wish they had.
“I think sex in general can be very awkward,” Michael said. “Especially when no one is telling you how to do it, what you like, what you don't, what's your border — there are a lot of comfort levels you have to deal with. I think the book will show that between the beautiful moments and the fun, sexy moments, there's a lot of awkwardness that you have to figure out. The book showcases a real side of sex.”
Zak said that he wished sex wasn’t taken so seriously. He encouraged readers to go have fun and discover themselves, all the while teasing a juicy tidbit from the book about his encounters with a closeted priest. “I mean, I have stories of me sleeping with a priest — a closeted priest, very fun,” Zak said.
“I wish I was told that sex isn’t that serious,” he added. “I wish people made it sound more fun.”
As the Zakar Twins look ahead, they said they already have new projects in the works. They encouraged readers to look out for a fresh staging of “Pray the Gay Away,” with the possibility of a starring role from a season 12 contestant of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
“So, right now we're talking to Jackie Cox to play the mom character,” Michael said.
“I think Jackie is perfect culturally, but in theory, I want Ginger Minj — I need someone who’s short, stubby and funny,” Zak added.
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