I've heard a lot about how "gay culture" is this and "gay culture" is that. But does it really exist? I've never experienced it. Does being gay mean that certain ideas are shared that are different to those of straight people. Personally I just see being gay as just liking the same sex, that's it. When ever people talk about "gay culture" I feel like I'm some sort of outcast who hasn't been allowed into to some exclusion "gay scene". It this true? Do you guys have a "gay scene" membership card? Did they forget to send one to me?
I haven't renewed my gay membership card yet. I need to pay my dues. :lol: Honestly, I think "gay" culture is as varied as the members who compose the LGBT community. I doubt there is a monolithic gay culture.
Wouldn't things like Pride, drag shows, and leather bar all be a part of "gay culture"? Perhaps musicals for gay men and women's festivals for lesbians?
You beat me to it. I think the reason we've developed our own culture is because we weren't free to express ourselves within mainstream culture.
I think there's definitely a gay culture, or perhaps several gay cultures--and then there are a lot of gay people who don't particularly participate in those cultures. There are certain cultural presuppositions that I assume when I am dealing with someone who is out and actively involved in the gay scene--certain tropes, certain modes of communicating. When I find out that someone is gay there is a certain recognition and comfort--it's not like all the walls come down but several do. It's like if we were both Assyrian (I assume)--it doesn't mean we will be best of friends but it means if we were going to maybe it would happen faster because we might share certain experiences and vocabularies. I think culture is actually the perfect word for it.
I prefer 'gay culture' to 'gay lifestyle' which has become a derogatory term used by homophones to justify their hatred/dislike/revulsion towards LGBT folks. Anyway, OGS has answered the question well I think.
OGS gave an excellent answer. Just as not every American like football (Merkin) not every person that falls under the LGBT umbrella will participate or even give a damn.
Yes, there is gay culture. You will see it mostly in the Butch/Femme, BSMD, Daddi/babyboi/babygirl, Leather, and Drag communities. Are all Gay people part of these cultures? No, so that means they may not experience it as much. However, when you go to a gay club, there is certain music played, certain singers loved by the gay community, and even in entertainment certain movies, plays and actors are part of it all. There are ways of looking at people, certain hairstyles and mode of dress that mark us as gay. The whole Metrosexual movement in the 90s started from the gay male and his habits of taking care of himself and using products for his hair and face. There are certain words and terms that are used in the gay culture, such as Bear/Cub, Butch/Femme, Mary, Size Queen etc and so on. It makes me sad that the younger generation are losing our culture in the effort to blend into the straight world.
I believe it exists because straight culture is generally different than us. It's not to say all gay men are feminine or stereotyped or whatever, it's to show that we're non-heteronormative and have a different variety of looking at things.
Actually, I'm starting to see more and more cishets using terms like "bear/twink" and "top/bottom", at least online. Whether this has always been the case, or I'm just becoming more aware of it is anyone's guess, though.
The concept of culture exists in many domains. I think some aspects of gay culture are perhaps related to historical societal shunning and exclusion from the public square. Nowadays, many LGBT persons assimilate in the "rest" of society. But the shared interests, struggles etc. help form the "culture."
You could call it blending in. But you could also see it as a sign that being gay no longer causes someone (in most of the west) to be excluded hence this culture is no longer necessary.
Of course it exists! Minorities have their distinct culture. There are several subcultures within gay culture, it's very wide ranging. Some gays don't identify with it or don't associate with it.. But gays are different to straight people in some ways and gay men tend to have different interests from straight men... you know how the theater is a gay thing. Liza Minelli? Godmother of the gays. Pop music and female pop stars are definitely a part of gay culture. I mean Madonna? Lady Gaga? So gay. I used to be on a pop music forum and more than half the men on that site were gay. We were all wondering how it"s possible to have so many gays around when it isnt even a gay site. Nearly everyone was gay there. If someone said they were straight we were wondering if they were lying. Drag shows, cross dressing, pride parades, gender bending stuff, that's all GAY. Of course there are those gays who aren't interested in these things. Which is fine. We cant all float around on a parade boat. There wouldnt be enough space. But there are those with internalized homophobia who see these as a negative thing because they want to be 'normal' and 'act like straight people' and think they're above other gays just because they aren't a flaming queen. Those people have problems and need to sort themselves out. ---------- Post added 2nd Sep 2014 at 11:35 AM ---------- I dont think the younger generation is losing our culture at all! Its just become a mainstream thing now and straight people participate as well. That isn't a bad thing at all!
I don't think this is fair - some people don't make a conscious effort to avoid fitting into the 'gay culture' - it's just not something they're apart of because.. they're just not. It's like I don't go out of my way to avoid gay bars - I just prefer the bars that I currently go to, and see no reason to go to a any establishment just because of my sexuality. I can't speak for anyone else on here, but my identity is not largely based around me being gay. I don't even tell people - it only comes up in conversation if they inquire. Sure, it's relevant, but it doesn't define who I am as a person, nor does it dictate what people I hang around with, what music I listen to or what bars I go to.
Yup, I'd say there is a "gay culture" or "gay scene" that exists that some gay people like to be a part of. I'd say it encompasses gay clubs, urbanite living, drag events, pride, certain music, certain sexual tastes/interests, movie or musical tastes, ******, slang, popular culture references etc. Certain things like that. I'd actually guess its more of a minority group interest or subculture within gay people, which is why "gay culture", "gay scene", "gay community" etc are probably misnomers - they conjure up the idea that these things are universally liked/done by all gay people, or are even exclusive to gay people. Not necessarily the case, take drag for example. You'll find a lot of gay people for who have no interest in it or who actively dislike drag for various reasons, likewise you'll find straight men and women who enjoy it or actively participate. Those pesky homophones! Always creating confusion! ---------- Post added 2nd Sep 2014 at 02:32 PM ---------- I don't think this is fair - some people don't make a conscious effort to avoid fitting into the 'gay culture' - it's just not something they're apart of because.. they're just not. It's like I don't go out of my way to avoid gay bars - I just prefer the bars that I currently go to, and see no reason to go to a any establishment just because of my sexuality.[/QUOTE] I feel the same. Unfortunately it seems many queer theorists share a similar view to Lipstick Leuger's which to me is a failure to understand a rather basic premise: that not all gay people are identical. Not all gay people are "queer", or subvert traditional gender or social norms. Some are, but some of us just tend to naturally slot into traditional roles. That does not automatically mean we are "rejecting gay culture", are "heteronormative sheep" or "trying to fit in". It does strike me as an odd position; calling someone out on being "conformist" then wanting all gay people to share the same interests without objection. Now I could force myself to go to drag shows, sing Judy Garland songs and reference gay cult movies but I would not be being authentic as those things just aren't my bag. Being inauthentic is really the opposite of what we should be aiming for.
And yes, it can be a good sign, but does any other culture loose their own, when they immigrate? We should not forget where we came from. ---------- Post added 2nd Sep 2014 at 04:16 PM ---------- I hope so......