Straight Acting

[Thylacine]

Why do people on here use the term 'straight acting' it's ridiculous and stupid. It reinforces negative stereotypes and is not going to make any kid out there who's coming to terms with their sexual orientation feel good at all. It makes people feel they have to act differently to who they are. We should be encouraging people to love themselves, you don't need to conform to stereotypes.

Straight acting implies that you're "acting straight", straight means you're attracted to and having sex with the opposite sex. As a gay man you are not doing this. 'Straight acting' is a misnomer, there are masculine and feminine gay men, just like there are masculine and feminine straight men. Using the term 'straight acting' just reinforce pos the stereotype that all gay men are camp and flowery which is a complete lie.

Some men are feminine and some are masculine, that's fine and it's perfectly fine to prefer one over the other. But please, I ask that you don't use the term 'straight acting' all it does is reinforce the stereotype that gay men are always feminine. Let's make a safe place for our youth, not a place that supports negative stereotypes and the like. Let's encourage people to be who theyare , whether that's masculine or feminine it doesn't matter. The stereotype is that gay men act feminine and it does not belong in a community like VT. Recover, learn, and grow together. Live the motto.

[swimmerboy95]

Definitely true. I am just now coming to terms with myself and am definitely more masculine. I will say I fit more straight stereotypes though than gay ones. Thanks for throwing this out there!
--Alex

[sieg]

sometimes people don't really have the choice to be themselves for the sake of self-preservation... if i acted as steroetypically gay as i wanted to, i'd most likely be confronted. just saying, it's not an option for all of us.

[Thylacine]

sometimes people don't really have the choice to be themselves for the sake of self-preservation... if i acted as steroetypically gay as i wanted to, i'd most likely be confronted. just saying, it's not an option for all of us.

It's not the way YOU act that bothers me, it's the phrase and the fact it reinforces a negative stereotype that all gay men are femme.

We need to try and be ourselves, not a stereoype. You can act in anywhich way you like.

What I am saying is by using the term 'straight acting' you are saying all gay men are inherently camp and femme, which is bullshit.

Be yourself, not a stereotype.

[Abyssal Echo]

Call it what you will weather I am a masculine Gay guy or what ever I use the term str8 looking and acting for the pupose of letting people know that in public I do not appear to be gay. I look like any other guy walking down the street or in the mall. I do not have an issue with my sexualality I am out to everyone. I just believe that kind of behavior is for behind closed doors between me and my partner where its our business and no one elses.

[Gordo]

How is camping gay? I don't get that at all.

[Thylacine]

How is camping gay? I don't get that at all.

Camp means effeminate and flamboyant.

[Giles]

I think you're looking into this term far too deeply. Of all the gay slurs and terminology linked to the LGBT community this is by far the least offensive or aggressive. Neither me nor my boyfriend are straight acting, but I have friends that are that way and they openly accept the term as fact - being straight is natural, and therefore the most common sexuality, so it only makes sense to use terms that apply to that sexuality to better represent the other sexuality.

[ExhibitG]

i disagree with this. i don't think it reinforces the stereotype that all gays are feminine at all. in fact, i think it's quite the opposite. i'd think that saying a particular gay person is "straight-acting" would get people to realize "gee, this guy is get yet he's masculine" and therefore assume that other gay people must be masculine too, and draw the conclusion that not all gay people are feminine.