Meet the Gay Contestants Competing on 'Survivor 44'

Will these gay men outwit, outplay, and outlast?

The 44th season of Survivor is featuring quite a few LGBTQ+ men in its cast.

Over the course of 23 years on air, Survivor has significantly evolved in many ways. Gameplay has been ever-changing, complex twists have been introduced, Jeff Probst has grown as a host and producer, and casting has become much more diverse.

On Wednesday, March 1, CBS premiered the long-anticipated Survivor 44, which is taking place in the Mamanuca Islands, Fiji. This group of 18 castaways will once again have to outwit, outplay, and outlast their fellow competitors for 26 days.

Survivor season 44 airs Wednesdays on CBS.

RELATED | Meet the Queer Women Competing on Survivor Season 44

Josh Wilder

Josh Wilder is a 34-year-old surgical podiatrist from Atlanta, Georgia. It is very clear that Wilder is a Survivor superfan, and some of his favorite past castaways include Jeremy and Davie. As someone who is clearly very athletic, Wilder has the potential to do well in competitions throughout the season.

Matthew Grinstead-Mayle

​From Columbus, Ohio, Matthew Grinstead-Mayle is 43 years of age and owns a barbershop. He has been a day-one fan of Survivor and feels like he’s ready to compete after having spent an entire childhood in the wilderness climbing trees, swimming, and making fires in his downtime.

Yamil ‘Yam Yam’ Arocho

Yamil ‘Yam Yam’ Arocho is a 36-year-old salon owner from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Arocho started watching Survivor when he was 13 years old and became obsessed with OG winner Richard Hatch, who was already an out gay man even back then. He also really admires Survivor legend Sandra, who is Puerto Rican like him.