Gay stereotypes
TUC
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One of the striking things listening to the views of gay people is that many (understandably) object to the cliched portrayal of them, particularly in older TV and radio shows, as speaking and acting in an exaggerated camp manner-and yet there seems to be another set of gay people who positively embrace these very cliches in their voice and mannerisms.
Do others see this divide? And can anyone offer any explanations as to why some choose to act up to the very stereotypes that others object to?
Do others see this divide? And can anyone offer any explanations as to why some choose to act up to the very stereotypes that others object to?
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It's not as simple as that. If it was a case of a few isolated individuals you could argue that. Instead one sees a very clear dichotomy with significant numbers of gay people seemingly embracing the very stereotypes that others object to.
Yes. Because it's a lifestyle they like. Nothing wrong with that.
Do you think it's the masculine 'straight-acting' gay guys that are homophobically bullied at school? No, it's the camp ones who would if they could just be one of the lads.
I'll never understand people who believe camp gay men are just putting on an act, and playing up to stereotypes, because what on earth is there to be gained from doing so?
But that's the puzzling thing then. Why should someone's sexuality result in 'camp'-or other-actions? If you saw it in all, or the majority, of gay men, you could say in some puzzling way that it is linked to homosexuality, but the fact that you only see it in certain people makes it much more difficult to establish that link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR8hl_BuQgY
Dont get it twisted!
Yep. Pretty much.
So what exactly is your agenda here? The fact you don't seem to understand that that is how some gay people are would suggest you are a bit thick. Just saying. Or, dare I say it, HOMOPHOBIC. There, I said it.
But seriously theres gay men of all sorts from the bears who can chop a tree down with their chest hairs to the most effeminate camp sorts, i've also met camp sounding straight people so for some people i wonder if the campness is a biological condition and being straight but having a camp voice actually is quite good for pulling so they say as the ladies don't consider you quite the same as other men so its easier to get talking to them and then move in
Ken Wood is super gay.
DS is always slightly homophobic sadly.
I thought it was a food mixer.:D
I have never been remotely camp, never felt inclined to be so, and frankly, can't stand it.
As a young teenager, I used to lurk around near the entrance to the gay pub in my Midlands town, watching the screeching types mince in and out, thinking "Christ, that is NOT what I want to be any part of".
In my day, many young lads came onto the scene and caught it like a virus. I never did. I was always very concious of my "normality" and, frankly, it was always a big advantage in attracting others. In my experience, few gay men are actually sexually attracted by camp but accept it as an occupational hazard. That said, I've also encountered lads who just seemed born that way.
It has always driven me mad that it's the camp ones who get exposure on TV. I remember watching TV at home, having just come out, with that pathetic creature Grayson fannying around, and wanting the ground to swallow me up.
If I had to analyse, I'd say it's a reaction to a macho world in which they need to be seen as different. As a broad rule of thumb, the more macho the country, the camper the gay scene.
I know what you mean. I suppose the main Explanation would be there are masculine gays and feminine gays. The masculine gay tends to be just one of the boys who just happens to be, physically attracted to men. The Feminine gay tends to be more blatant, in their mannerisms etc.
Another explanation could be that, some people seem to find you more interesting if you are gay. So the more obvious you act. The more obvious it is to those people you are gay.
Grahame Norton is a case in point. I could not stand him on channel four. He was so over the top. I thought 'yes you are gay we get it,' He really did live up to the gay stero type.
Now on BBC he has toned it down completely and is in my opinion one of the best chat show hosts in the business. Now he is someone who just happens to be gay without making a big deal of it,
Right ....a bit like that specs guy on C4 . Just seem to act themselves and do a pretty good job.
There is no normal, we are all unique.
When I tell people I'm gay they're shocked, but my boyfriend says I'm supergay. Wonder why..