Joel Kim Booster Opens Up About His Non-Monogamous Marriage

The 'Scrubs' and 'Fire Island' actor discusses the pressures of physical appearance in the LGBTQ+ community.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:48pm by

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An extreme macro photograph of shimmering, glittering sequins captured in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the glamour and body image pressures faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Hollywood and beyond.A close-up of the glittering textures that can define the entertainment industry's standards of physical appearance.San Francisco Today

Actor Joel Kim Booster has opened up about his non-monogamous marriage to husband John Michael Sudsina. Booster spoke to GQ about the dynamics of their relationship, acknowledging the heightened focus on physical appearance when primarily engaging in casual hookups as a gay man. He noted that while his husband loves him for more than just his looks, hookups are 'probably going to be mostly about what I look like'.

Why it matters

Booster's candid discussion about the pressures of physical appearance in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for gay men, sheds light on the complex realities of modern relationships and the impact of societal beauty standards. His insights highlight the nuances of non-monogamous arrangements and the importance of open communication within partnerships.

The details

In the interview, Booster acknowledged feeling 'more pressure' regarding his physical appearance 'from being gay than I do from being an actor for sure,' adding that 'the standards are slightly different.' He explained that while his husband 'loves me for a lot of reasons other than besides what I look like,' when it comes to casual hookups, 'it is probably going to be mostly about what I look like.' Booster and Sudsina, a video game producer, were married in San Francisco in December 2025 after about four years of dating.

  • Booster and Sudsina were married in San Francisco in December 2025.
  • Booster and Sudsina began dating in 2021 after meeting in Mexico.

The players

Joel Kim Booster

An actor known for his roles in 'Scrubs' and 'Fire Island', who has opened up about the pressures of physical appearance in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for gay men.

John Michael Sudsina

Booster's husband, a video game producer, who Booster says loves him for more than just his looks.

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What they’re saying

“'But being gay and especially being in a non-monogamous relationship, and so primarily only interacting ... I'm not looking for love outside my relationship,' he said. 'We're not polyamorous and so the sex I'm having outside of my relationship is all recreational at this point.'”

— Joel Kim Booster, Actor

“'And so when you're primarily navigating [as someone] not dating, but just hooking up, I think it becomes even more focused on solely what you look like, than the entire package of who you are,'”

— Joel Kim Booster, Actor

“'But when I am hooking up with a rando, it is probably going to be mostly about what I look like. And because I sleep with men, men are much more ... They're much less forgiving about body ideals than anyone else, especially gay men.'”

— Joel Kim Booster, Actor

What’s next

Booster and Sudsina are expected to continue discussing their non-monogamous marriage and the pressures of physical appearance in the LGBTQ+ community in future interviews and public appearances.

The takeaway

Booster's openness about the complexities of his non-monogamous marriage highlights the need for greater understanding and acceptance of diverse relationship structures within the LGBTQ+ community. His insights underscore the ongoing struggle many face to reconcile societal beauty standards with personal fulfillment and self-acceptance.