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We're but days into a new year, but already a landmark human rights milestone has been reached: Straight men who secretly wear pantyhose are finally stepping out of the shadows and embracing their long-stigmatized choice. Yes, the era of "mantyhose" is upon us, and not a second too soon for guys like Mack, 35, who for years "wore women's pantyhose under his clothes to keep him warm while he worked as a landscaper," but now can wear special men's tights like Comfilon's Activeskin Legwear for Men every day, even though he doesn't actually work outdoors any longer. They're just nice and comfortable, OK?

Still, not all prejudice has been eradicated: Mack's wife, for some reason, forbade him from revealing his full name, and if you want some Activeskin Legwear of your own, you'll have to order online since they're just too controversial for shops. But the day will soon arrive, God willing, when even men who aren't drag queens will be unembarrassed to browse department store shelves for plus-size fishnets, at which point we'll truly be able to consider ourselves a free and civilized society.

Mantyhose: Not your mom's pantyhose [MSNBC]