If you consider your self gay, does that come before your nationality and/or race?

Question

I’m a Gay American white male. Thinking back I have always identified with myself as gay first. I had never thought much about it, until in diversity class I was giving, a question came up from one of the participants about how do people identify with themselves. I was the only open gay male in the class and that’s what I said I identified with, being gay The only African American in the class said she is black first then women and the only Latino in the class said he identified with being a Latino first. All other participants who happen to be Caucasian said that they never think about being white or heterosexual they just are. I was just wondering on a larger scale what people thought.

Answer 1

I think it depends on the context. American white heteros don't have to think about those characteristics because they are in a society that defines people who are NOT white and NOT hetero as being different.

You think of yourself as gay first because that's what makes you different with that "norm."

generally, I think of myself as human first, then black, then gay. I think of myself in that way mainly because my racial identity was formed far earlier than my gay identity. But that can change depending on the context. if I'm in a crowd of straight black people, I tend to feel more gay. In a crowd of gay whites, I tend to feel more black, etc...

Answer 2

I'm also an American white gay male. I identify myself in this order:

1. Gay
2. Male
3. White
4. American

Perhaps it is because white (heterosexual) men are in the majority, so I feel the need to clearly differentiate myself from the other white males.

Answer 3

Identifying with a sexuality never really made sense to me. I guess it happens because homosexuals tend to stick together to support each other since most of society doesn't really think highly of them, and maybe there is some kind of "gay subculture"?

It makes sense to me to identify with a culture or subculture, to identify with things you like and activities you participate in. It doesn't make sense to me to identify with personal traits--if someone asked me to talk about myself I certainly wouldn't say "I'm a bisexual female," nor am I particularly proud or ashamed of either.

But I suppose it depends on the person and their values. I don't really mind either way. I identify with my religion and I bet a lot of people find that silly or confusing.

Answer 4

There was another question asked on here not too long ago where someone said are we people who happen to be gay or homosexuals who happen to be people... and its more a matter of personal perspective... I am not my sexuality... I am half white and half puerto rican... and I am gay... and what I mean is, every part of my day does not involve my sexuality for that matter it dosent much involve my nationality either... dont get me wrong I do stand up for what I believe in and I dont allow anyone to talk badly about my sexuality or my nationality but I dont feel the need to live by them either... and also from my white side of the family I do realise that white people in general arent exactly about their heratige its almost like their sexuality gives them something to be proud of not to say that there arent white people that are proud of their heratige but I feel like they tend to feel their sexuality is a little more liberal then their heratige so they might perfer to be gay first and then something else second... so I think its just a matter of whats important to you... I dont know that it answers your question but hopefully I gave you something to think about

Answer 5

American Gay White Male.

My country comes first.

Answer 6

This is more of a "labeling" thing i reckon.... I dont usually prance around telling everyone i meet that i have those labels....I am just who i am...fun, energetic, optimistic and understanding....those i guess are my "labels" i dont really say, im a Filipino-Icelandic-British-Gay-Man! That really sounds wrong! It just confuses people! Dont you think?? Please keep in mind that there are a number of multi-racial people in this world with multiple nationalities....Hmmm, just a thought, maybe after i get my American Citizenship, i might add that to the Label tag too! This is too much! LOL!

Answer 7

Nope;you can't generalize that.

Being gay is a sexual preferance,%95 percent being affected by enviroment,and%5 by your genes.it is known that if a gay gets married,his child has the possibilty of being gay.BUT MOSTLY you are affecting by your parents and by your friends.

So we can't say this race or nation is more likely to be gay.
in every country there are lots of gays,that's normal.But the people who lives in developed countries as USA, have much more courage than the people in developing countries to say i am a gay!

Answer 8

I would imagine we're more sensitive to that part of us that gives rise to the most issues to be dealt with, and maybe in the order in which they require the most effort. I don't imagine that a cat in room full of dogs is giving much thought to how they're all basically domesticated mammals.

Answer 9

i don't put much thought in my race, nationality or sexual orientation. i love my country, my heritage and the fact that i'm gay, but i don't go around waving a american flag, irish flag or gay pride flag. all are just part of who i am, i put more thought into trying to be a better person each day.

Answer 10

Being gay is just a small part of me as a whole. It never comes before of anything.