GAY MEN IN DEFENSE OF STRAIGHT MEN
I’m one of the few gay men on this planet who does not get joy out of straight men accused of being gay. I think it’s an ignorant practice and does nothing but reinforce and advance this notion of what levels of masculinity are acceptable and unacceptable for one to be straight.
It appears that people are once again accusing R&B star and producer Neyo of being gay. I don’t know why people want this man to be gay so bad or maybe I do but on the whole its really annoying. I’m so tired of people thinking they know someones sexuality based solely on arbitrary mannerism tests.
I do not think Neyo is gay and I never have. I’ve known to many straight men like him. They may be more sensitive, they aren’t raging macho fakes, but they are straight.
But Neyo if you are going to defend your heterosexuality (something I don’t think you should have to do) please do not cite your ability to reproduce as proof of you being straight. I mean I know on the surface this seems like a good idea. Any man who would enter the vagina of a woman has to be straight, but only sexuality isn’t that simple. Many gay men have had sex with women and many gay men have procreated with women. The ability to have sex with and conceive a child with a woman is not proof you are straight. Its just proof that you can have sex and you are fertile.
I know your career depends a lot on your perceived heterosexuality and masculinity but honestly just stop feeding into the ignorance. You are a straight man no need to defend that. And if you are going to defend your heterosexuality I recommend you doing so more convincingly than declaring “I have sex with women.”
Posted on July 23, 2010, in End Patriarchy, Feminist Thought. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
Assuming someone is gay based on personality, tastes or mannerisms just reinforces stereotypes about us. I don’t think anyone should support or tolerate that – least of all GBLT people.
And that’s aside from the fact that accusations of being gay are inevitably meant to BE accusations – attacks, as if there’s something wrong with being gay
And then we have the third level that if someone IS gay it’s absolutely no-one’s business to out them (closeted homophobes aside) and we should all know better than that
So yeah – many kinds of fail and badness there.
Nice post! I think there’s a large number of closeted homosexual artists particularly in R&B, Hip-Hop, rap, etc. genres where WE are present yet ashamed to be ourselves. I think promotion of life as hetero only to sell & capitalize off an image is the wackness in 2010. It’s better for everyone to be honest, live and maintain an honest image to encourage righteous living and acceptence in others. If 10yrs later an artist jumps out of the closet, I can’t fully repect the lie created in order to gain a fan. So-you would loose the fan & respect. Basically-I wish most artists, including Neyo would just be honest. The music quality/talent remains the same & I can relate more to the artist. Neyo…I’m hinting at you (and several others).
you hit the nail on the head