Agree. There's not doubt that stereotypes can be played for humor - but are you laughing at us, or with us? And if someone thinks they arise because they're true of all or most of the demographic, then that someone is at best misinformed. There are so many stereotypes of gay men that don't apply to me as a gay man that it can sometimes feel like entering the twilight zone when someone starts spouting them. Those that do apply mostly don't strike me as actually having anything to do with being gay.
Stereotypes about anything are of limited value . Not just about Gays . But don't forget that we need something like stereotyping as a first way of broadly making assessments about incidents and people . Such assessments or judgements are quickly changed and improved as more information is received and then processed . A full life demands an initial system set up in this way , otherwise you would waste most of your time getting one piece of information 100% correct , rather than a dozen pieces , 75% correct , say .And then correcting and updating as appropriate . It's common sense . We all have to do it because there is not enough time to be constantly PC and get nowhere . Obsessives go for details . Decision makers go for the broad picture but constantly check , re-assess and keep their minds receptive .imo.
I completely agree. Now that DADT has ended, I rather like the fact that the people around me in the military just take gay people as people (for the most part). There are FEWER of those games where it was almost sporting to flush out a gay person, because it meant legal 'fireworks' of some type. I've seen all types of gay people since I've been in the military; and believe me, you cannot tell who is homosexual... unless they reveal it to you. Used to be, that I knew I was covered well, when the guys felt comfortable enough to go into some horrible anti-gay joke or comment. My defense then, was to smile (as if I thought it was humorous as well). Sometimes I'd say something to deflect and move to another topic. Now, I just say something like this: "Yeah man. There are gay people all around us. And they're human just like everyone else." Most people still don't know I'm a homosexual; the "closet" door is still shut, but I took the 'lock' off of it.
