What About the Guys Who Do Fit the 'Gay Stereotype'?

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/05/what-about-the-guys-who-do-fit-the-gay-stereotype/276407/


When Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers took the pitch on Sunday, he became the first openly gay man to play on a major professional team in the U.S. (Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

A couple weeks ago, Mark Carson, a 32-year-old gay man dressed in a tank top, cut-off shorts, and boots, was walking with his friend in the West Village when they were approached by Elliot Morales. "Look at you faggots," Morales allegedly said. "You look like gay wrestlers." Morales followed the men down the street shouting anti-gay slurs before fatally shooting Carson at point-blank range just blocks from the Stonewall Inn. Carson's murder comes at a time when anti-gay crimes in New York City are on the rise, according to the NYPD. There have been 29 reported this year, up from 14 in the same period last year, even as hate crimes overall have declined during that time by almost 30 percent.

This recent uptick in anti-gay violence also comes during the same month that three more states passed laws legalizing same-sex marriage and just weeks after NBA veteran Jason Collins revealed that he is gay—and was largely greeted with open arms by the sports world. Last week, soccer player Robbie Rogers, who had said he would leave the game when he came out back in February because he didn't "want to deal with the circus," had a change of heart. When he took the pitch in a Los Angeles Galaxy match on Sunday night, he beat Collins to the punch to become the first openly gay athlete to play in a major U.S. men's professional sport.

This moment of staggering contradictions seems like a good time to take stock of how far we have—and haven't—come in dismantling homophobia. And the hopes we pin on these pioneering athletes may offer some key lessons.

Shortly after Collins came out, Brendon Ayanbadejo, former Ravens linebacker and advocate for marriage equality, explained the importance of his announcement on Meet the Press. Of course, given the sheer number of Americans who tune in to watch professional sports, athletes have an unprecedented platform to offer positive representations of LGBT people to large swaths of the population. But Ayanbadejo got to the heart of why the importance of a figure like Jason Collins extends beyond the celebrity factor: "People think gayness has something to do with femininity when really we just need to erase that stereotype from our minds," he said. "LGBT people come in all different types and shapes and forms."

[Fearless]

1. Some people are afraid of others who are different than them

But also some people are extremely afraid of people who they actually try not to be like even when they know they are.

The point where it becomes acceptable to shoot someone for dressing, acting, "looking", talking, etc. a certain way is very troubling to me.

[William769]

2. I have never understood that question.

[xchrom]

3. Think back to the 80s - where everything was

'straight acting, straight appearing'

'no fats, femmes or freaks'

There is a kind of looking down on the 'gay acting', effusive, effeminate man - and it gets more pointed in our own crew.

Not to mention that 'disparaged' group probably disses 'uber masculine' types.

A regular family free for all.

[William769]

4. Lee (a very dear sweet friend of mine, may he rest in peace)

For all intents and purposes was our "Liberace" here in S.W. Florida. I on the other hand, one would say is 'straight acting, straight appearing' (not that I try to, it's just who I am).

I guess the reason I don't understand the question is I reject the premise of the question. Does this make sense?

[xchrom]

5. Yeah that makes sense.

I think back on all the guys I knew who were ever targeted and often they were
'identifiable' by their clothes, physical gestures, etc.

A lot of those guys were also smaller and slighter in stature.