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Stereotypes about gay men

Gay Stereotypes: Are They True?

Sept. 15, 2006 — -- Gay activists often criticize media coverage of male lover pride parades, saying, correctly, that the media fixate on the extreme, the more flamboyantly feminine men and very masculine women. But that's not us, they say. Most of us are just enjoy everyone else.

Are gays just like straights? Or is Hollywood's frequent portrayal of gay men as feminine more accurate?

We talked to Carson Kressley and Ted Allen, two of the stars of the strike television show "Queer Eye" about the stereotypes. What, we asked, are the stereotypes about gay men?

"It's that you're obsessed with fashion, and that you tan a lot and that you color your hair," they said. But, says Allen, the stereotypes are not always right. "Not all gay men are superstylish. Not all straight men are worst dressers," he said.

There is research that suggests same-sex attracted men do prefer certain professions, like fashion, interior design and hair coloring, and that lesbians are more likely to like sports and the military. Researchers say it's because lesbians, on average, are attracted to more masculine occupations, and gay men t

  • Myth 1: Homosexuality is a choice.

    Reality: Sexual orientation is caused by factors such as genetics and the biology of brain development.

    Parenting, peer pressure, and religious struggles are not causes of homosexuality or heterosexuality.

    Homosexuality is no more a choice or decision than entity straight. Asking a gay person, “When did you determine to be gay?” is similar to asking a heterosexual person, “When did you decide to be attracted to people of the opposite sex?”

    Scientific numbers indicate that sexual orientation (homosexuality or heterosexuality, i.e. homosexual or straight) is biologically based.1 While there is more to learn, studies propose that what leads to a person being gay or straight lies within our genetics (i.e. DNA), epigenetics (i.e. how factors alter our genes), and what occurs in the developing head before birth.2

  • Myth 2: Homosexuality can be “cured.”

    Reality: Therapy cannot change sexual orientation, and “reparative” therapy can be harmful.

    Therapies that claim to change lesbian, homosexual, and bisexual persons into heterosexuals (e.g. “conversion” and “reparative” therapy) have been discredited. A task force within the American Psychological Assoc

    Themarchtowards equality in culture relies heavily on bringing forth truths and challenging untruths about the lives of those who experience discrimination.

    This blog post features ten of the most problematic myths and stereotypes which play a role in the mischaracterization and dehumanization of gay men in the U.S.A. While those who aid LGBT equality sometimes innocently engage in stereotyping of lgbtq+ men, it is ultimately those who promote heterosexist and homophobic agendas who are the most likely to illustrate on myths and stereotypes in their efforts to rationalize discrimination.

    1. Gender: "Gay men are all feminine"

    The idea that male homosexuality is directly linked with femininity is erroneous. While there are of course some gay men who express themselves (via speech, dress and behavior) in ways which are traditionally "feminine," there are many others who do not. Men behaving in an effeminate manner is not inherently problematic or deserving of public shaming. What is problematic is the assumption that all gay men display the alike type of gender behavior. Gay men, as a community, display tremendous diversity in their expressions and displays of masculinity an

     

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    STEREOTYPES

    Tropes | Generalizations | Clichés | Assumptions

     

       

     

    Respectful Language

    Attitude|Self Reflection

    Misinformation and Misconceptions

    Gender Expression

    Homophobia and Heterosexism

    Cisnormative

     

     

    Beyond Queer Generalizations

     

    Everyone has perceptions or preconceived ideas about what it means to be LGBTQ. Many people think they can explain if someone is gay or lesbian by the way they look, dress, or behave.

    By resting on clichés, or resorting to stereotypes or conventional formulaic generalizations, many misconceptions and mistaken identities can easily occur. Stereotypical perceptions may be acquired through interactions with parents, teachers, peers and mass media, or, more generally, through a lack of firsthan