Younger star Nico Tortorella discusses gender fluidity in Playboy

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Nico, 29, who plays heartthrob tattoo artist Josh in TV Land's Younger, discussed gender fluidity in a new essay for Playboy
The actor has recently started using the neutral pronouns 'they', 'them' and 'their' instead of 'he', 'him' and 'his'
In the new essay, Nico explained that they chose to use the singular they because 'he' and 'she' 'tend to be divisive'
'And when asked if my pronouns are plural I say yes: I am a multidimensional dynamic human being. We all are,' they wrote
Nico, who is in an open marriage with Bethany Meyers, 28, has been open about various aspect of their personal life, such as gender identity and body image

Published: 12:23 EDT, 19 June 2018 | Updated: 14:38 EDT, 19 June 2018

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Younger star Nico Tortorella has opened up about life as a 'gender non-conforming, happily married, polyamorous pansexual' person in an honest essay.

The actor, 29, plays heartthrob tattoo artist Josh in TV Land's Younger, and recently started using the neutral pronouns 'they', 'them' and 'their' instead of 'he', 'him', and 'his'.

Nico, who recreated the iconic Rosie the Riveter image for Playboy, explained in the magazine how they came to rethink their gender identity and question the stereotypical boundaries of gender and sexuality.

Taking after her: Younger star Nico Tortorella recreated the iconic Rosie the Riveter shot in a new spread for Playboy

Striking a pose: The actor, 29, also posed in a shimmery black dress worn on top of a white T-shirt for the magazine, for which they wrote an essay about gender fluidity

'My name is Nico Tortorella and I am a gender non-conforming, happily married, polyamorous pansexual. In other words, I have always been a mouthful,' the actor wrote.

Cultural icon: Rosie originally emerged during World War II as part of a campaign to recruit women in defense industries

'My sexual freedom has always been a work in progress. Isn't everything? Let's unpack that.'

Nico then explained how, through education and getting to know the queer community, they came to 'break down the binary construct of gender, male and female'.

They also explained why they embraced the singular they in reference to themselves.

'Binary pronouns "he" and "she" tend to be divisive, which is one of the many reasons I have started using they/them pronouns for myself,' Nico added.

'And when asked if my pronouns are plural I say yes: I am a multidimensional dynamic human being. We all are.'

Nico, who is married to New-York-City-based fitness instructor Bethany Meyers, 28, has spoken openly about the evolution of their gender identity as well as other personal subjects, such as their struggle with body image.

Message: 'My name is Nico Tortorella and I am a gender non-conforming, happily married, polyamorous pansexual. In other words, I have always been a mouthful,' the actor wrote

In their essay, Nico recounted how their mother bought them their first Playboy issue in 2000.

'I was 12 years old, and it was the December Gala Christmas issue with pink neon-lit Carmen Electra lettering, the bombshell brunette perched in a silver ornament wearing nothing but sequined pumps,' they wrote.

'The sex oozed. I remember jokingly picking it up at the convenience store (not so ironically named The Family Pantry) just blocks from my house when my mom asked me if I wanted it. Without question, as a curiously libidinous adolescent, I said yes. Apparently, this really was The Family Pantry.'

Memories: In their essay, Nico recounted how their mother bought them their first Playboy issue (pictured) in 2000

In hindsight, Nico is still not certain what compelled their mother to purchase the magazine, but they are overall grateful that she did.

'I still am not 100 per cent sure why my mom felt so inclined to buy me that first Playboy, except that she's the coolest mom ever (and that she wanted me to be straight, but that's another piece entirely),' they added.

'F**k, I'm not 100 per cent sure of anything. But I have an idea it was, is, and will forever be a step in the right direction. Thanks, mommy. And thank you, Carmen Electra.'

Nico posed for a series of photos for Playboy, donning a denim shirt and a red bandanna in lieu of Rosie the Riveter's red scarf with white polka dot.

Rosie, a cultural icon, originally emerged during World War II as part of a campaign to recruit women in defense industries.

Another shot sees Nico in a shimmery black dress worn on top of a white T-shirt, with the actor holding both fists at chest level as if ready for a fight.

Candid: Nico (pictured in a promo shot for Younger) previously opened up about struggling with body image after resorting to 'diets, supplements, hormones' and twice-daily workouts

Couple: The actor praised their spouse, fitness instructor Bethany Meyers, 28, for being supportive. The pair, who got married in March, are pictured at the GLAAD Awards in May

Nico has been increasingly open on social media, and last month candidly discussed their struggle with body image on Instagram, shortly after coming out as gender-fluid.

'My weight has fluctuated my entire life. For the past couple years, I started to really get into shape. Working out sometimes twice a day, diets, supplements, hormones, etc,' Nico wrote.

The actor, who explained in their recent interview for the platform Them that they previously decided to stop drinking because they were 'hurting' themselves, added: 'Remember, I am an addict.

'Over the past six months I have worked out less, ate more, wrote a book, and have tried to love myself more and more every day; body, mind, and spirit.

'I have days where I love my body, and days when I'm not happy; wishing I still looked like I did.

'Today I am telling you all of this to shed some light on body dysmorphia and body positivity. Being in shape is so much more than having a six-pack, arms, and tight skin.'

Nico praised their spouse, fitness instructor Bethany, for supporting them, including thanks to a recent text that read: 'Just a reminder that you are beautiful and your body is too. Use this workout tonight to clear your head and strengthen your body for your busy day tomorrow.'

Role: In Younger, Nico plays heartthrob Josh, a hip tattoo artist who falls for Sutton Foster's character, a woman in her forties who passes as a 26-year-old

Bethany married Nico in March after being in a polyamorous relationship with the actor for a decade. The fitness instructor previously took to Instagram to dispel some of the misunderstandings about their marriage.

'I often get asked the question, "How can you be queer if you're married to a man?"' Bethany wrote before explaining: 'Who you're dating or who you've created a partnership with doesn't determine your sexual orientation (if it did, bisexuality / pansexuality wouldn't exist).

'Just because a woman marries a woman, that doesn't mean she's a lesbian (i.e.: Cynthia Nixon).

'If I put myself on scale — 0 = straight, 6 = rainbow — I'd probably mark myself a 5. Nico happens to be so special, they made it to 'lifetime-partner-status' using my remaining 1.

'This works for me because our relationship is open, meaning the other portion of me who is attracted to women, gets to exercise itself. I'm lucky, I know.'

Bethany also reflected on gender identity, adding: 'I don't know that I (or my partner) would label me as strictly 'woman' nor would I label them as strictly 'man'.

'This probably sounds less millennial-quirky than it actually is. If you believe boys should have the freedom to be feminine and girls should have the freedom to be masculine, the breakdown of the gender construct has already begun.'