Why do a great deal of gay men (especially under 40) talk in a high pitched, affected tone of voice?

Question

I appreciate this sounds like a homophobic generalisation, however, it's not meant to be. I'm genuinely curious as to when gay men sound, well gay. Is it hormones? Is it practised?

Answer 1

When it is not a natural affection it is an adoption, a way of 'claiming' one's identity much like members of 'distinct' ethnic & racial groups going out of their way to make certain people identify them as they wish to be identified. In many cultures this is 'enforced.' Gay people are expected to be LOUD, obviously Queer, so that there are 'no misunderstandings.' In fact one will find incidents where a 'macho' male gets beaten up by 'friends' when they find out he is queer and accuse him of hiding the fact from him. And yes, practice makes perfect, there are Gay men who strenuously work to project the right amount of Gay. However there are Straight men with naturally high pitched voices and much like 'dark skinned people' damned as being of various ethnic & racial groups, they are subject to abuse & attack. There have been cases of men being raped simply because it was assumed they were queer because of their voice or mannerisms.

Answer 2

It's not hormones or genetics. It's just how the gay culture developed.

I have a similar question. Why do men who work at the Democratic National Committee usually have effeminate voices and mannerisms? Is this supposed to show how "progressive" they are?

Answer 3

It is totally affected that way, cause they think it makes them sound more effeminate. Talking like that is a choice, just as "being gay" is a choice. And before everyone goes off on my answer, there are people every day who CHOOSE to be gay or not to be gay. There are people who have changed from being straight to being gay, and vice versa. So it is obviously a choice, because if it were genetic, they couldn't change.

Answer 4

In general I would say that with some of the young ones it is very natural -- there are a large number of very lightly built young gay bois -- I'm sometimes amazed at how lightly built. They certainly have that -- I think for them its natural.

For others, often practiced -- after all society says that's what they should sound like. So they do. Same reason for certain hair cuts and certain clothing styles.

Regards,

Reyn
[e-mail]

Answer 5

It's not hormones or anything physical. It's more a cultural thing. If you move to Scotland from England you soon start sounding a bit scottish to people in England even though you still sound English in Scotland... kinda thing. If you meet your girlfriends parents you might talk more 'poshly' or whatever. We just try to fit in as human beings. It's still a minority thing and maybe that comes down to personality, some people are loud, some people are camp.

Answer 6

I consider it more of a sterotype- but I do think many of the gay men who speak in that manner are affected by those sterotypes. I think that we impose ourselfs by certain sterotypes in the gay community

but a good deal of gay men (including my self) do how have a high pitched voice

Matt

Answer 7

More gay men speak in deep voices. You just don't realise they are gay because you have a stereotyped view of what a gay man sounds like.

Answer 8

it is a choice to raise there pitch no hormones involved they do it for attention they are confused by brainwashing media friends ect

Answer 9

its hormones dear
just like we have brown hair or blue eyes
its nothing you can do to change it


I LOVE IT WHEN IMMATURE KIDS ANSWER. NOT

Answer 10

Clench your butt-cheeks and your sphincter then try talking normally.