What Does GAY Look Like?

Submitted by C. Bell

“You’re gay? You don't look gay.” A comment and question that many self proclaimed heterosexual people utter when they encounter an openly gay person. For the not so bold heterosexuals I'm sure this is a statement you may ponder if you meet a gay/lesbian person who doesn't come off looking stereotypically “gay”. Is it that all people who identify themselves as homosexual must dress a certain way, live in rainbow colored houses, or be branded somehow so that everyone knows their sexuality before ever getting a chance to know the person?

In this video, you will see how silly it is that society has made us all think that being gay has to look a certain way in our everyday clothing and mannerisms. Which is a huge part of “doing gender” for both men and woman. It shows in a comedic way that if your a lesbian people expect you to look and act “manly” and do things in a manly way to I guess instantaneously be noticed and labeled as a lesbian.

Wanting to just give another eye opener on how hilarious it is that we choose to label and categorize everyone and everything. I choose this video because the very first thing that came to mind was the reading by C.J. Pascoe, “Dude You’re a Fag”. This video shows exactly how simple it is to be labeled gay by doing simple everyday things. It shows how we label people before we even give them a chance to just be themselves.

In the reading, “What It Means to be a Gendered Me” the writer gives details of her own life that I could directly relate to and its all because most of the world believes there are only two genders male and female, girl and boy. To physically be a woman and dress in men's clothing everyday doesn't show that I'm uncomfortable dressed in tight feminine clothing but that I’m not correctly displaying my gender and I could possibly be gay. Being gay, bisexual or lesbian makes you look exactly like who you are everyday. Lets get our prejudices in order people we need to educate ourselves and our children for the future to be more open-minded to a variety of situations. And just a funny tidbit of my own, the next time you hear someone say, "You don't look GAY". Ask them where can you purchase some GAY because obviously it comes in a can.