How Do You Present Yourself?

[Bluebyrd]

Gay people (specifically closeted but any gay person can answer really), how do you act in front of different people (family, friends, strangers etc...). Do you conform to the gay stereotypes? Do you think people suspect you're gay because of the way you act? I don't know if this even makes any sense. Feel free to ask me questions if you don't understand... Thanks!

[Jinglebottom]

I'm noticeably sassier than all the other guys (and I fit in with girls better). I think they suspect it but don't actually say anything about it because it's a taboo subject here. Some guys start acting all sexual around me but I push them away any chance I get.

[Hudor]

Well I came out of the closet but I'm back in, to an extent, so I think I can answer.

Do you conform to the gay stereotypes? Nope. Neither do I conform to them nor do I try to actively avoid getting associated with them because stereotypes can be very stupid and I don't want to get bothered with altering my personality and behaviour according to them. I live as I feel right.
That being said, the only friend of mine who suspected I could be gay based it on the fact that I am very sensitive, soft-spoken and her observation of me and she said gay guys that she knows are generally like that. So that happens to be one of the few occasions I was associated with a stereotype. Although it could also be the case that she might be one of the people who can look and people and tell(which I definitely can't).

Do you think people suspect you're gay because of the way you act? Well no they don't. Apart from that one friend I mentioned above, everyone is surprised to know.

Now how I present myself. I used to act straight when I was about 14 to avoid the bullies who were bent on making my life hellish. Then as I grew up, I realized I didn't want to hide from the bullies forever and I just stopped caring about their opinions because there will always be people who will have a problem with you. So about then I dropped the act and started behaving as I saw fit.

[Magenta]

Are there gay/lesbian stereotypes for women? I mean, aside from the "butch" stereotype. I mean, I wear a lot of flannel and I bind my chest but I have long hair, still wear "girly" outfits, blah blah, etc.

My presentation has more to do with my gender identity than my sexuality. I don't think I really present as "gay" through the way I act or look or speak. Then again, I'm also out and very open. I'd be shocked if someone didn't know I was gay just by speaking to me about the topic of relationships or girls or even guys, idk.

I don't think it's so much suspicion as everyone just finds out one way or another and I don't really care. That said, people don't really know when I'm in a relationship so maybe it's a little less obvious in that respect. Some people assume I'm straight just because they never see me dating. Dunno how that happens honestly.

[northy]

I try not to be like the stereotypes as I intend to stay closeted. I neither admit nor deny being gay and generally avoid the topic. I think I do this pretty well because my peers think I'm straight despite having never shown interest in girls around them. I also am subtle when I look at other guys and copy the reactions of straight people about girls etc. I went through a phase of thinking that I came off as gay, but I think I was just acting a little feminine and have since suppressed that.

Oh the joys of being surrounded by homophones and Christians!

[Bluebyrd]

I try not to be like the stereotypes as I intend to stay closeted. I neither admit nor deny being gay and generally avoid the topic. I think I do this pretty well because my peers think I'm straight despite having never shown interest in girls around them. I also am subtle when I look at other guys and copy the reactions of straight people about girls etc. I went through a phase of thinking that I came off as gay, but I think I was just acting a little feminine and have since suppressed that.

Oh the joys of being surrounded by homophones and Christians!

Do you mean homophobes? LOL

[Abhorrence]

Stereotypes piss me off majorly. I don't see the point in conforming to anything just because of my sexual orientation. I just act like myself, which is not "gay" it is just me. I think everyone should just act as themselves but I guess to each their own. The guy I'm kind of dating at the moment acts slightly more feminine than I do but he's also not stereotypical at all.

[northy]

Do you mean homophobes? LOL
Autocorrect. It also just tried to change autocorrect to autocorrelation. SwiftKey is usually good. I just didn't read my post through.

[Zachary G]

I present, to all people, as the average boy -- I dont fit any gay stereotypes unless Im play acting around my friends or something, but otherwise I am just a regular boys boy.

[Bluebyrd]

Anyone else?

[thatonekidjacob]

Gay people (specifically closeted but any gay person can answer really), how do you act in front of different people (family, friends, strangers etc...). Do you conform to the gay stereotypes? Do you think people suspect you're gay because of the way you act? I don't know if this even makes any sense. Feel free to ask me questions if you don't understand... Thanks!

I ain't straight, but I ain't crooked either. :D

[Melodic]

I'm bisexual but I figured I could answer this as well.


How do you act in front of different people (family, friends, strangers etc...)?
I hate saying this because it sounds so cliche but I'm not like most girls. I'm tomboyish personality/appearance wise, but I'm extremely girly interest wise. I tend to have problems with some girls because of how blunt I am and most of my closer friends in my teenage years have been guys. Strangers just think I'm quiet.


Do you conform to the gay stereotypes?
Not really.


Do you think people suspect you're gay because of the way you act?
A few people over the years have questioned my sexuality. I wasn't "flaming" or anything like that. Anyone who questioned was extremely close to me.

[Jamesclarke]

I don't give a damn about acting a certain way around anyone. In my mind I'm a fairly average acting guy like most guys but if I was more feminine then that's how I would act and that would be fine.

[ECSTASY]

I'm somehow masculine/boyish and no one really expects me to be gay ^^

[CheshireCat]

I have short hair, despise makeup and wear lots of vests and blazers so I guess to a lot of people I fit the criteria for the "butch lesbian" stereotype. Most people do assume that I'm gay upon meeting me though because they don't think I'm very feminine in their eyes? It does bug me sometimes because while I do date women, I wish people wouldn't come to conclusions about me based on my appearance.

[Straya]

i act the same way iv always acted as my self

[Karkat]

I wouldn't say I am a stereotypical gay person but, aside from certain company like my parents/family, I'm pretty open. I'll occasionally make jokes in which my sexuality is obvious, but not to be obnoxious, I make jokes out of my life because that's just my personality.

As a transperson, however, I'm less comfortable being open about my identity even though I'm technically 'out' to most.

[DoodleSnap]

I personally don't think so: I act like myself. I don't think that I act 'super-masculine', nor 'super-feminine' - this kinda has to do with the way in which I pay gender very little attention. I am attracted to people who fit somewhere in the middle, with a slight-preference for slightly more traditionally masculine traits. But aside from that, I'm just another straight guy as far as most people are concerned: I like cars, politics, watches, nothing too out of the ordinary.