Why do a lot of gay men act, dress and talk like caricatures of themselves?

Question

It's almost as if they want to play up to the stereotype of what a gay man is. Is it really necessary to talk with an effected lisp, walk in a particular way and call other men 'she'. If you're gay, then that's wonderful but why the 'act'...just be gay and happy with it.

Answer 1

I don't know but some do go ott and there is no reason for it - just be yourself!!!!! It annoys me when gay men must act like that. Alright you're gay but give up on mincing around like a tit.

I went to G.A.Y in London once and all the fellas there were being like that. They looked so funny. I like girls but I dont dress in dungarees and shave my head. I'm female and I wanna look like one!! So it goes the same for lesbians - just masculine.

Answer 2

If you own the stereotype then it doesn't mean as much, doesn't have the same sting as it does if it's just inflicted on you. A lot of people, gays included, are still eking out an identity for themselves. You try different identities on until you settle in to what fits you best. For years, on television and in the movies and general culture at large, we "identified" gay men by their lisps, walk and discourse because that's how we were told to "identify" them, hence, gay-dar. Not all people have someone in their life to look up to, and even fewer (given the population in general, not the lack of high quality gay men) have a gay adult to look up to. Even if it is "stereotypical", it can still be comforting. And for that matter... are there really "a lot" of gay men who "act" as you've said? I would say that the tv character "identity crisis" is only a brief period before really finding yourself.

Answer 3

It is because people like you point out things like this.

Most gay men are usually repressed in their sexuality and feel like they cannot be themselves in society because they will be shunned or ridiculed.

Imagine if you were someone different in society; imagine that your difference was noticed: maybe the way you walked, the way you dressed, the way you did your hair. Now, imagine if that difference was projected at you, orally, on a daily basis - people calling you names in the street, people smirking at you, making a joke of you.

What would you do? If you felt that how you acted, or what you were, should be of no-one's business but your own, then you would increase your image to retaliate.

Walking down the road and being called a "poof", or a "batty" or a "queer" is not the gay man's fault. It is down to the ignorance of others...
So who can blame that gay man for exaggerating his sexuality when so many people do it for him anyway.

This is why a lot of gay men act up to the "stereotype of what a gay man is".

Answer 4

Most gay men don't act like this, and as for those who do, why shouldn't they if they feel like it? That's how nature made them, and it does no one any harm. Within the law, everyone should act in the way natural to them without criticism from others. A society which tries to stamp out particular types of speaking and walking, or makes fun of it, is not fully civilised.

Answer 5

i'm constructive its no longer. Feminists are protesting equivalent rights between ladies and men. it may well be a unfastened decision what they might placed on and how they act and communicate. What do you mean by skill of dress like a guy? do no longer you very own a pair of denims? the place's the practise to assert what's adult males's clothing and what's women's.

Answer 6

Ok, let me clarify you one thing, and to some others who answered (and im very straight acting, but not dumb)
where did the caricatures come from?
what was born first, the chicked or the egg?
there are people who have been like that much before any stereotype or caricature.
So you portraying it as "act", it's kind of vile. They simply are like that. and so, caricatures emerged, to humilliate other people.
But that's some of them!most are not like that, but has nothing negative or positive . it's just the way it is, and each one is as he/she should be. and im so happy with that

I saw a nice caricature of a straight guy in a mall 2 months ago. "acting". it was like this: a fat girl, with black hair, a long black (and tight) dress, with makeup all over, and a big guy with really stupid face staring at her and following her like a dog.

so i made a caricature of a monkey to describe that. i hope many wont start following my caricature, and stop "acting" according to the stereotype.

again, each one is the way it is, and we ought to accept them.For me, everyone who respects others is worth praising for who he/she is.

Answer 7

I have straightb friends who are as camp as John Innman and some very macho gay friends. I do know what you mean - some gays really camp it up. I guess it makes them happy and it does not really hurt anyone even if you do end up with a lot of Graham Norton impersonators. There are worse things.

Answer 8

Most gay people I have come across are slightly theatrical in the sense that they express themselves, not only the way they walk etc. but also in their emotions. Of course straight people also feel but they know how to express those feelings and that is why often (but not always) they make the best hairdressers, chefs, designers of all kinds etc. So it is not caricaturism, it is expression - something a lot of us are bad at.

Answer 9

They are in a world of gay bruv, a big gay world in there own minds. In that world of gay, well you can see for yourself.

It's dark and dirty mate maybe it helps them gloss over the true feelings, it's not nice, a little too sinister for me. No offence.

Answer 10

For every "Gay man" you see that act like this there are 10 more that don't. Some are like the stereotype, but it is the exception, not the rule.

Answer 11

I would disagree with your assumption. What you are referring to is very old outdated stereotypes. I do not know ANY gay men who lisp or walk is a "particular" way.