That Piece About The Myths And Misconceptions About Gay Men
Originally published on queereka.com
There are lots of stereotypes about queer people. This post is going to explore some of the stereotypes concerning gay men. Many of the items in the list are not bad things! The issue is when people assume that because you’re a gay man, you’re ____.
The following 13 stereotypes about gay men are myths precisely because they are monolithic. There are plenty of gay men who fit into these categories and even some who like fitting into some of these categories. No problem! But there are also many gay men who do not fit into these stereotypes. “Gay men” is not a monolithic group of white, cisgendered, middle-class men. We’re a diverse group of people that come in all colors of the rainbow! Sadly, many of these myths are perpetuated by gay men. Others are perpetuated by media and “mainstream” society. So, without further ado, let’s get to tearing down some monolithic myths, shall we?
Gay men love anal sex.
Okay, let’s just out with it. An assumption that is made about gay men is that they all just love the butt sex. Like this is something particular to gay men that it is a vital and inseparable aspect of the gay man identity. Sure, there are plenty of gay men who love anal sex–but there are also plenty of people other than gay men who love anal sex. Further, there are plenty of gay men who do not like anal sex at all. It’s not something that all gay men engage in simply because they’re gay. I’m often baffled when people who barely know me encroach on this area in conversation: “Are you a top or a bottom?” or “Do you pitch or do you catch?” Okay. Aside from that being no one’s business, it’s based on a patriarchal view of sex that all relationships require a penetrator and a penetratee. Simply not true.
Gay men are promiscuous.
As long as we’re on the topic of sex, let’s talk about promiscuity. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with sleeping with many people (just be safe!). But the assumption stems from sexist views of what it means to be a man. There is this pervading narrative that men are naturally sex-driven beings, controlled by what’s between their legs and not what’s between their ears. So, it’s exponentially problematic when you put two or more gay men together because, well, we just cannot control ourselves and the unbridled fucking will commence. Unfortunately, this stereotype is fueled by a focus on gay men having sex in public places (which, by the way, straight people do as well–it’s just a lot less scandalous). Known as cruising or cottaging, this practice arose out of the stigmatization of gay identities and sexualities. However, this is not something that all or even most gay men do.
Gay men’s relationships never last long.
Another version of this myth is that gay men don’t have “real” committed relationships. Both are false, and I think they both come from similar understandings of what it means to be gay, as do the first two myths above. There are plenty of examples of gay couples together for multiple decades. And the level of commitment in a relationship is as “real” as the people involved in the relationship make it. The commitment involved in “open” relationships is no less real than the commitment involved in “closed” relationships–it’s just different types of commitment. And, of course, all of this is true across the spectrum of relationships and is not specific to gay men.
Gay men “recruit” children/teens.
Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are popping up in high schools all over the place. The response from the Right is that these are sinister organizations aimed at recruiting children and teens to the radical gay agenda (whatever the hell that means). We don’t recruit–you’re confusing us with organizations like the Church or the armed forces. It’s possible this myth arises out of the fact that many queer folk do not come out until they are a bit older, and so it appears that any interactions they’ve had with other queer people have resulted in recruitment. But today kids are coming out at even younger ages, before they’ve encountered other queer people. The Right blames this on the overall breakdown of society caused by acceptance of queer folk. We are recruiting without even knowing, y’all!
Gay men are more likely to be pedophiles.
This is empirically false. Psychologists (see Groth & Birnbaum 1978, for example) have elaborated on two types of pedophiles: fixated and regressive. Fixated pedophiles have no sexual interest in other adults, and are thus not to be described as heterosexual or homosexual because they focus on children of any sex. Regressive pedophiles are often attracted to other adults, but sometimes regress to immature sexual states where they become attracted to children. Regressive pedophiles do develop sexual orientations under this model, and the majority of them are heterosexual. Fortunately, this stereotype is slowly dying off.
Gay men are effeminate.
Sure, some of us walk with a bit more swish as we sashay into a room. But is this an indicator of sexual orientation? Not necessarily. Just like everyone else, gay men exist on a continuum of masculine and feminine traits (traits which are culturally mediated; in other words, traits one society finds masculine may be viewed as feminine by another society). Some gay men are what our society considers more feminine, while others are more masculine. There are also effeminate straight men (I’m looking at you, Frank Bielec of Trading Spaces fame).
This is typical of confusing gender with sexuality. Gender (how people present as masculine, feminine, genderqueer, etc.) is related to sexuality (who people are or are not attracted to), but one does not determine the other.
Gay men are drag queens.
“When a gay man has way too much fashion sense for one gender, he is a drag queen.” – Noxeema Jackson, from To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything Julie Numar
Drag queens are men who dress and perform as women. They are artists and entertainers who live their everyday lives as men but who don feminine clothing (some as female impersonators, others in over-the-top costumes). They work hard at honing their craft, and they have a particular subculture within the queer community that most gay men are not a part of. Simply dressing in women’s clothes does not a drag queen make! I personally really enjoy drag shows, but I have not the talent, energy, nor desire to be a drag queen.
Gay men are fashionable/interior decorators.
This is probably one of the most pervasive myths about gay men–that we are all fashionistas that make amazing shopping buddies who could snap our fingers and transform your drab living room into a stylish lounge with a warm, inviting ambiance. Even my mother will say things like, “What do you think of that sweater I bought? Do you think it is stylish?” as if I am on top of the current fashion trends simply because I am gay.
I’ll admit, I do love to shop with my best friend, and I do enjoy decorating my house. But it’s not because I’m gay, it’s because those are things I enjoy doing. I have known lots of gay men who couldn’t decorate their way out of a paper bag and others who wear jeans and t-shirts without the slightest fashionistic thought crossing their minds.
Gay men frequent clubs.
I hate gay bars. I don’t think there is even a word in the English language that adequately describes my contempt for gay bars and clubs. There is nothing quite as foul as the scent of sweat, cigarettes, and desperation. I think I have been to a total of four gay bars in all 30+ years of my time on this planet, and each and every time, it was a horrendous experience. For me. It’s just not my scene–and it’s not the scene of plenty of other gay men either. The thing is, our history as a social justice movement began at a gay bar, so I understand their symbolic importance in the gay community.
Gay men are gym rats.
A common theme across many of these myths is that gay men are obsessed with appearances and their bodies. Along with this picture comes the stereotype of the gay man as a frequent gym visitor, on a mission to sculpt the perfect body for his long nights of dancing in drag at gay bars after long days of shopping at Nordstrom’s and decorating houses. Those gay men that do attend the gym usually do so because they are interested in exercise or “getting healthy.” Others (yours truly) hate gyms and the most workout we get is walking around campus or housework. Again, this is a myth based on a monolithic understanding of gay men’s identities.
Gay men abuse drugs.
This myth is, sadly, based on a disturbing fact: LGBT folks are at increased risk for substance abuse than are their heterosexual counterparts. The minority stress model of health disparities indicates that the reason for this may be “additive stress resulting from nonconformity with prevailing sexual orientation and gender norms” (from Institutes of Medicine’s 2011 report The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People, p. 21). Substance abuse is most definitely an epidemic among the gay community, but it is not something that all gay men experience (though it is something that we should all be concerned about).
Gay men know each other.
Yes, people actually think this! There was a dental assistant that, upon finding out that I am gay, asked me if I knew two of her gay friends, and told me their first names only. She was baffled when I replied, “No, we don’t all know each other.” I live in the 7th largest city in the United States! I don’t know why she thought I would be more likely to know them than to know any of her straight friends–oh, that’s right! We all attend the same clubs and gyms, shop at the same stores, and gather together once a month to strategize on how to recruit children. Totally forgot.
Gay men are drama queens.
What??? NO, WE ARE NOT! I’m never speaking to you again!! Oh, wait…
It seems to me that this is just another version of the sexist trope of the emotional, hysterical woman. It’s like any sort of emotion or anger expressed by gay men or women indicates that we all let our emotions run wild. This myth is insidious because it also pushes the idea that gay men purposely use emotional outbursts for their own entertainment. No doubt, there are gay men that pull this sort of crap, just as there are those who are not gay men that act like this, too.
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45 Comments
drizzle
September 07, 06:32Gay men always do decorations or work as chefs.. Lmao!!!!!!!! There are too many myths.
Masked Man
September 07, 06:39Why do I feel like there’s been a similar post.
Dejavu all the way to the end.
ken
September 07, 06:39Some of these are true….at least on some level.
Panther
September 07, 06:43For ALL gay men?
Jamie
September 07, 06:48”Gay men know each other” seems like something that could hold water…lolzz
Masked Man
September 07, 06:54Seems so true.
The gaybourhood in Lagos is creepy. Don’t even think you are doing anything secret. People haff know it finish before you want to even start gahn.
Hi Deola!!!
Teflondon
September 07, 07:32No Thanks to Fbk. Init?
Masked Man
September 07, 07:37Social media generally. People want to even hook up on LinkedIn.
And some kissing and telling too.
For amebo mongers like me that cannot close my ears.
Max
September 07, 07:42Thats true.. The “everybody knows everybody” part. Its annoying because everyone always have a bad thing to say about your new bae. Because they know them. Its really annoying. And the only secret you have is the one you did alone in the house by yourself, once you do stuff with someone, half the town will know about it by the next day.
Hello Deola.
Pink Panther
September 07, 07:45And everyone is greeting Deola in relation to this issue because? *looking at Deola for answers*
Masked Man
September 07, 08:06Because there is only one Deola.
Original like that.
ama
September 07, 18:36Lmao… this is soo true. The gay world is a small world where everyone knows everyone indirectly
Jeova Sanctus Unus
September 08, 07:27If we all knew ourselves…how come we all don’t know each other?? We only just know the social men in our scene, mostly through a large connection of mutual friends. I see hundreds of gay men on the street everyday (#SonarDetection) and I don’t know none of ’em.
Y’all just wanna feel like celebrities???
Gay bus conductors
Gay business execs
Gay PMs
Gay traders
Gay entertainers (y’all don’t know half of ’em)
Gay security operatives
Gay lawyers
Gay doctors
Gay agberos
Gay hawkers…etc.
How many do you know??
Panther
September 08, 07:29Well said, JSU. Well said.
#Chestnut
September 07, 07:23Hehehe…I’m sorry,this might seem a bit myopic and er…”Patriarchal” of me, but whenever I see a naturally effeminate man, my gaydar just starts ticking; I find it hard to think he’s straight…
Oh and that anal-sex,bit?so true! When a guy likes anal sex with his girlfriend,then he must be downlow gay *rme* how does that even make any type of sense?
Panther
September 07, 07:27Did you hear the one about Iyaya? His ex girlfriend apparently DM-ed his cirrent girlfriend in leaked images, telling the current gf that she suspects Iyaya of being gay. Her evidence? That he always likes it when she sucks his nipples.
I laughed so hard at that. Such idiocy. Is the enjoyment of nipple sucking now an exclusive right of gay men?
Mitch
September 07, 07:35Ayayayayai! To think that I am sharing the same oxygen with that leaves me in tears. Such stupidity!
Absalom
September 07, 07:29Don’t all gay men (in Nigeria) know each other, though? 😛
Teflondon
September 07, 07:39Irrelevantly stale topic/ writtren piece posted on a very wrong day.
IMO grown men shouldn’t be chit chatting abt this on a Monday morning. It reeks of irresponsibility.
Mandy
September 07, 07:42Teflondon’s comment yesterday on a post advising gay men to be practise safe sex: ‘…I still skin-dived yesterday. Been skin-diving for years now. Close to 15 years…’
And yet, someone is here preaching about irresponsibility. Pot. Kettle. Black.
Pink Panther
September 07, 07:44Honestly, I wish you guys will ignore this guy’s ‘poignant’ pathetic attempts at notoriety. I’ve seen him for who he is and I’ve resolved to simply ignore him. When someone has decided to sacrifice his intelligence on the altar of cheap controversy, it begins to lose its taste at some point.
Max
September 07, 07:46And they’ve already replied him..*sigh*
Chuck
September 07, 14:56Why would he beg you? Full story or it didn’t happen
Khaleesi
September 07, 11:12Bitch Shut the Fuck up!!! your attempts at grabbing cheap attention when no one notices you is becoming pathetic! if you have nothing good to say, shut your food hole and quit jiggling your unsightly jowls ..
#Chestnut
September 07, 07:44Why is everybody greeting Deola dis morning? Deola,wee u keep kwayet?
Masked Man
September 07, 08:04Deola, that angelic devil.
Oya Deola, coman sit next to me biko.
The tea pot is getting cold.
Max
September 07, 07:45Let’s all resist the urge to reply the mumu on this blog.
Mandy
September 07, 07:48Sadly, he won’t ever stop. Do you want people to think he has started ass-kissing? The sheer horror!
Panther
September 07, 07:49LMAO!!!
Max
September 07, 08:01??
Sinnex
September 07, 08:11Sometimes, I wish I was a fashionista or power dresser.
The writer is so right about everything.
Naija gay peeps dey fear me ooo. For goodness sake, someone asked me for my nude pix, I asked him to send his first, he said I was not serious., then I blocked him. Fast forward to a few days, I was going through my WhatsApp pix and I saw the same guy using my picture as his dp, I had to unblock him oooo…after 2 weeks or so, he stopped using the pix.
I can’t just imagine an effeminate guy being straight sha.
Max
September 07, 08:30Hmmm, the kind of ppl you meet sha
Deola
September 07, 08:22hmmmmmmm.
Peak
September 07, 10:23Hey Cup cake! Won’t u be giving a shout out to ur invisible back up drive? I have seen a glimpse of what ur external memory holds hold, and its one helluva lot!
In caze u are reading thiz, you know ya zelf
Deola
September 07, 11:11Invisible back up drive???
Hmmmm.
Issorai.
JOJOARMANI
September 07, 10:24welcome Deola!…. That part that every gay man wanna fuck all men, i mean wtf! That we are gay dosent mean our choice has been sharterd. U see ugly straight guys be like ”ka obia kpowam ike nsi” mtchww. Sister pinky i cant testify how wicked u are!.. Its been 2weeks! 2 sexy weeks and we havent seen our dear series… Issorait… God stands to judge you!… Ithafdo.
Pink Panther
September 07, 10:32Jojo, biko forgive me. My life has become like kilode. Not even giving me breathing space to go see what’s happening with Declan n co.
Vhar.
September 07, 11:45Forgive? Really?
Okay.
Ramsey
September 07, 12:31This is a really interesting piece especially the “all gays know each other”.. Anywhere u meet a fellow bent guy or guys, they begin to ask if u know this/that person.. Its ridiculous, this kinda attitude also paves way for “tattle tales” which is really common.. C’mon let’s be honest, in our society I.e naija, The “f**k every guy syndrome” is so true… Directly or indirectly y’all wana have sex with the next cute guy
Ruby
September 07, 16:41Amazing, Confusing and Downright Dumb-Ass Misconceptions…
But I’m tempted to believe a few cos most of the Gay people I know (yours truly inclusive) are Fashionistas, Designers, Dancers, Actors, Mildly Effeminate/ Drama Queens *tho that can escalate when we are alone*, Enjoy Drag *tho its a Herculean Task Getting dressed* etc
So I guess some of them could hold water.
Tiercel de Claron
September 07, 17:17Could?.
Some do hold water
clinton
September 07, 18:21damn boy you letting out our secrets here. but I do love the dudes who love anal sex. I love to drill them… LOL…..
BRYANNN
September 07, 22:10STRAIGHTS joins the house and gets a rousing welcome……..Bryannn enters, not even a ‘hi’…….Gay to Gay discrimination, going on since 1895…………..BUHARI prescribed CHANGE…..And i expect to see it here…..
Pink Panther
September 08, 04:36Hahahahahahahahahaaa
Henrie
September 09, 12:05…And there’s also this one about every gay man wants to meet and become pals with every other gay man. You hear straight guys wanting to give you the contacts of all their other ‘suspected’ gay friends..