It seems like all the gay guys in two universities I've attended always seem to take a special interest in ASL. Why the obsession? And FYI: yes, they are hearing!
2006-10-12 18:47:59 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Didn't realize my question was going to produce so many punchlines. I guess I should've seen it comin!
2006-10-12 18:54:15 · update #1
That's a good question! I can't speak for the men, but....
I went to a sign language immersion camp for adults for a week last summer, and my friend and I met no less than 11 definite lesbians/bi grrls out of the 100-110 male and female campers there. (Do the math...even if more than half the campers were women, say 60-70, 11 is considerably more than 10% of the womyn! And that's just the ones I 'spoke' to who were definitely out.)
When I go to a women's monthly dance, I often go with a friend who is Deaf, and some of her Deaf lesbian friends and their hearing girlfriends, and there are some other hearing lesbians who go there who are taking or have taken sign language courses. So sometimes there are as many as a ten or perhaps a dozen womyn there speaking in sign. (The bit about it being handy in loud bars and dance clubs is so true! I love not having to yell!)
And at the Toronto Pride parade, there are always 1-2 Deaf Gay groups represented inthe community fair/marketplace.
One thing I think these two groups have in common, is that both gays and Deaf people are apt to be brought up by parents who are different than them (straight/hearing). So both groups actively seek out others from their own subculture, beyond the family unit.
And, akin to straight parents who pressure their queer kids, Deaf people often face prejudice from hearing family members who insist they become 'normal' by learning to read lips and speak, although sign language is a fully functional and complex language, and actually facilitates learning much more easily at higher levels and a faster pace, for Deaf folks. (And it's actually about the 4th most-used language in North America, after English, Spanish and French.) So, we have a lot in common!
2006-10-13 14:12:58 · answer #1 · answered by ladyfraser04 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know for sure why but I know one drop dead gorgeous deaf gay guy so there's one possibility. I've also met several gay people who work in human services fields where they have a lot of contact with the hearing impaired. They may feel a bit of kinship with the hearing impaired because deafness is an invisible handicap and homosexuality is an invisible minority. Many deaf people went to boarding schools where homosexuality was not condemned and so many deaf people are much more accepting of gays than the average hearing person. Gay clubs are usually really loud so maybe they just want a way to order a drink or are concerned about losing their hearing.
2006-10-13 02:24:43 · answer #2 · answered by Kuji 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know.But your other answers seem amusing.Personally I want to learn Spanish so that I know what the locals where I live are saying when they think I can't understand them.It would also open doors in employment to know how to communicate to a larger population of people.Perhaps that is why many of the gays in your university study sign language.
2006-10-13 02:00:02 · answer #3 · answered by BuckFush 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was in university, I enrolled in a sign class and was the only man out of 25 students. Maybe it has something to do with women and gay men being more intuitive in their thinking. So how does this characteristic make learning sign more interesting? I dunno....
2006-10-14 17:39:27 · answer #4 · answered by franco5 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I can't speak for other people, not knowing how to read minds yet - I'm working on it. I know I would really like to learn sign language because it opens up new doors. To be able to communicate with more people and learn new things.
2006-10-13 09:00:50 · answer #5 · answered by Laura 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i don't know any gay guys that know sign language but I'd love to learn it. I've always wanted to be able to talk to deaf people because the ones I've met are so nice but they have to write everything or some one has to translate.
2006-10-13 01:59:19 · answer #6 · answered by angelic_devil30 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Stereotyping again are we?
Want some cheese to go with your whine?
The HONEST answer would be for the same reason ANYONE would take that class.
2006-10-13 06:47:18 · answer #7 · answered by IndyT- For Da Ben Dan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God says, P-Leeease.... an opportunity to b'itch about someone right in front of their face and they haven't got a clue what your saying ..... who wouldn't want a slice of that cake!
2006-10-13 01:53:08 · answer #8 · answered by God 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sign language would
apparently be quite
useful to gay men
when their mouths
were otherwise occupied.
2006-10-13 01:51:19 · answer #9 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
cumbiagermen,
I haven't heard about it, and it sounds like a good thing to know.
Theory: Because they want to do sweet things. No offense.
2006-10-13 01:50:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋