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21 Things That Were Gay Awakenings For Millennials In The Late '90s And Early '00s

*Walks by Abercrombie...breaks out into a sweat*

1. Those random stars from Disney Channel movies, like Erik Von Detten from Brink!...

Publicity photo of cast of "Brink!"

2. ...and the Lawrence Brothers (specifically in their movie Jumping Ship).

Matthew Lawrence, Joseph Lawrence, Andrew Lawrence on the beach in "Jumping Ship"

3. Any Usher music video.

Screenshot of Usher singing on a fire escape wearing a white tank

4. Danny from The Real World: New Orleans.

Screenshot of Danny from "Real World" opening credits

5. Every issue of Men's Health.

Eddie Cibrian holding a Men's Health issue with him on the cover

6. The scene of Ricky Martin getting candle wax poured on him in the "Livin' La Vida Loca" music video.

7. The shirtless "greeter" in front of Abercrombie & Fitch...

Shirtless guy in a Santa hat greeting people

8. ...the bags from Abercrombie...

Person holding bags and one is an Abercombie bag with shirtless guy on it

9. ...and, of course, the window displays, which you tried not to stare at.

Man walking by A&F store window with a photo of a shirtless man in it

10. Tyson Beckford in the Polo Sport ads.

Tyson Beckford in a red Polo Jeans T-shirt at an in-store event for Polo

11. Rider Strong during the college years of Boy Meets World.

Photo of Trina McGee and Rider Strong from "Boy Meets World"

12. Any time Enrique Iglesias wore tight T-shirts.

Enrique Iglesias onstage lifting his shirt

13. Aladdin and his revealing vest.

Screenshot of Aladdin and Genie

14. Any Real World/Road Rules challenge because it was always in a tropical place, which meant no shirts.

Two men in black speedos

15. The music video for Backstreet Boys' "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)."

16. And the music video for D'Angelo's "Untitled (How Does It Feel)."

Screenshot of D'Angelo shirtless against a black background

17. Trent from Daria.

18. Freddie Prinze Jr. in all his movies, but particularly in Summer Catch...

Freddie Prinze Jr. driving a lawnmower shirtless

19. ...and Chris Evans in Not Another Teen Movie.

20. Vintage Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Photo of the Rock at WWF

21. And last and most importantly: the underwear aisle.

Photo of underwear section at department store

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