Gays in minority communities.

The problem arises from the modern conception of sexuality as a fixed constant. "I am gay" or "I am straight" or even "I am bisexual" --- sexuality is perceived to be an innate characteristic, a state of being. Just like being lefthanded.

But you don't have to be lefthanded to use your left hand for something. Likewise with sex. You can be one thing and do the other. If people thought of sexuality as a field of activities and not as an expression of their character they'd be less confounded when someone doesn't seem to fit into a fixed category. Including themselves, of course.

I'd say that people on the DL are using both views of sexuality, but considering straight to be their natural state of being and the gay stuff just an activity.

eta: sometimes you see, particularly in medical literature, the terminology shift from "gay" to "men who have sex with men". There's a philosophical difference there.
 
Last edited:
Sir Robin Goodfellow said:
....You do see the stereotypical "flaming queer" hispanic male, usually played up for laughs.
Click to expand...


That's one of the outstanding differences between the Hispanic gay community and the USA
Anglo gay community. One is very sensitive to any real or imagined slight. The other couldn't care less and its members even cooperate in the attempts to view their lifestyle as somehow worthy of mockery or of being viewed as comical. The same treatment on English speaking shows would have the Anglo gay community immediately up in arms via demonstrations and protests.

BTW

The same phenomenon seems to be applicable to the Spanish speaking African Hispanic community. No protests, no demonstrations. In contrast the English speaking USA African American community would immediately take action if subjected to similar situations. Any explanations?
 
Last edited:
I don't know. I guess it's about how the humour is done and the overall tone of the program. A homosexual character can be funny without it being insulting to gay people in general. I would imagine most black people don't take offense when a black character is used for laughs, but that probably changes when the laughs are coming because the writers are playing up stereotypes (watermelons, fried chicken, "black names", and so on.)
 
Redtail, I know a lot of UT alums.

The inside gossip on Vince Young over the past year -- Vince is very well liked by alums and people who know him in the UT circle, he's a warm and decent young man -- is that he's a star, but is uncomfortable with his current form of stardom. Inside dop? He is not particularly happy with the NFL. The reasons probably go deep into the NFL being the "No Fun League" and his own personality fit with the ruthless, business is business atmosphere.

Interesting that there is speculation on his sexual identity being part of the fit, I have no useful insight to provide on that score.

I am a Vince Young fan. He leaves it all out on the field, and he works his tail off to improve at a damned hard job. QB in the NFL is not for the faint of heart.

He had a hard decision to make, staying another year at UT where he was in his comfort zone and nearly idolized, or taking the risk and going NFL early. He took the risk, and for my money, has acquitted himself very well. He's not the first good QB from college to get a wake up call in the NFL. He's succeeded where a lot of first round picks, golden boys like Ryan Leaf, failed miserably.

DR
 
TragicMonkey said:
eta: sometimes you see, particularly in medical literature, the terminology shift from "gay" to "men who have sex with men". There's a philosophical difference there.
Click to expand...

Well because medical effects it does not matter if say a person would like to have sex with men, but for what ever reason is not. In describing things based purely on behavior and not on inclinations you are clearly defining what the characteristic you are concerned about.
 
Sir Robin Goodfellow said:
I don't really know any black folks, or any "out" gay people, so I can't really offer much in that way.
Click to expand...
I've got several friends who are ethnic minority GLBTs; and quite a few more aquaintances who are. Mostly Black and Asian, including one of my wife's friends who is Cambodian and lesbian; and is reviled by her entire family. Demeanour pretty much varies through the entire spectrum between uptight yuppie and flaming queen. Overall, I'd say the level of acceptance by relatives and communities appears to be far lower for them than it is for white GLBTs. I've heard some Black "community leaders" claim that homosexuals are "race traitors", and normally only whites suffer that disease.

I think what someone else said about minorities being more religious is probably true. Interestingly, male homosexuality seems to be quite acceptable in many southeast Asian cultures, with female homosexuality considerably less so.
In the media, though, you never really see homosexual black people. You do see the stereotypical "flaming queer" hispanic male, usually played up for laughs.
Click to expand...
That's not entirely true. Perhaps in the mainstream entertainment media; but there's a lot of good indie stuff out there with positive, non-stereotypical minority homosexuals.

A good example is Hooper X from Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy. Probably my favorite character in the film.
Holden: "Your publisher condones these theatrics?"
HOOPER: "Condones? Honey, they insist. I need to sell the image to sell the book. Would the audience still buy the 'Black Rage' angle if they found out the book was written by a.. you know..."
Click to expand...
HOOPER: Look at what I have to resort to for professional respect. What is it about gay men that terrifies the rest of the world?
Click to expand...
And this is probably my favorite exchange in the entire movie:
HOOPER: Oh Holden, I beg you - please don't drop fifty stories in my opinion of you by falling prey to that latest of trendy beasts.
HOLDEN: Which is?
HOOPER: Lesbian chic. It's oh-so acceptable to be a gay girl nowadays. People think it's cute, because they've got this fool picture in their heads about lipstick lesbians - like they all resemble Alyssa - while most of them look more like you.
HOLDEN: Do I detect a little inter-subculture cattiness?
HOOPER: Gay or straight - ugly's still ugly. And most of those boys are scary.
HOLDEN: I thought fags were all supposed to be super-supportive of one another.
HOOPER: Screw that 'all for one' ◊◊◊◊. I gotta deal with being the minority in the minority of the minority, and nobody's supporting my ass. While the whole of society is fawning over girls-on-girls, here I sit - a reviled gay man, and to top that off, a gay black man - notoriously swishiest of the bunch.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
richardm said:
One would have thought that they would have a basic idea of what makes safe sex, but the problem is that people do seem to simply forget about the importance of it if they're not reminded.
Click to expand...
One also has to keep in mind that there are a lot of misconceptions and myths involving sex, and that minority communities (particularly Black) are bastions of this. Education is frequently devalued; and sexual education is close to non-existent.
 
Delvo said:
What does that refer to?
Click to expand...
Strict uniform rules (can't wear anything not approved by the league, can't leave your shirt untucked), penalties for certain celebrations (justified IMHO by certain asshats who took it too far), penalties for trash-talking, penalties for picking up the QB and slamming him head-first into the ground... ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom