2005
You old so and so
Why is it that some queers refer to themselves as “straight acting”?
What, exactly, does that mean? What does it imply?
See, for that to mean what I think it means, it would basically insinuate that all queers are stereotypical exaggerations.
Am I over here wearing a flannel shirt and work boots? No. Do I have a zillion tattoos? No. Do I look a little like Rosie the Riveter? No. Do I sound like a trucker? Ok, don’t answer that.
Point is, I may not fit the “sterotype” for a lesbian, but that doesn’t mean I’m not one, and that doesn’t mean I hide the fact that I am one. Since people can’t just “know” when initially meeting me, that I am, in fact, a raging homo, does that mean that I’m “straight acting”? I sure as hell hope not. I don’t ever mean to “act” any way. At all. Ever.
And for men…well, that’s a whole other ball game, now, innit? ‘Cause we all know that any gay man out there is walking around in a pink sequined top, strappy leather shoes, or loafers with no socks, perfectly sculpted abs…and of course he’s super dramatic, emotional, and flamboyant. I mean, he just has to be, right? All gay men act like Nathan Lane in The Birdcage, no?
“I pierced the toast!!”
I hate the ridiculous stereotypes. To imply that there’s such a thing as a “straight acting” queer, basically says (at least in my opinion) that being straight is somehow better. Or at least appearing to be straight. That it’s somehow a good thing to be, and that it’s a “selling point”.
That’s like a poor person saying they’re “rich acting”. Or Charles Manson saying he’s “sane acting”.
Sure, there are queers out there who do fit all the gay stereotypes. There are also a lot of straight folks who do, too.
People are how they are. Neither way is better. Why does it so often come down to comparing ourselves with others?
Maybe instead of people saying “straight acting”, they could just say “not your stereotypical homo”. It’s still ridiculous, but it at least doesn’t have the connotation that being gay is a bad thing.
Jen
outnproud.com
