The gay world is often reprented as some sort of monolhic whole that has the same culture. That is a lie. It is actually broken down to a handful of substrata to which each gay belongs. Here they are.
Contents:
- A HANDY GUI TO ALL GAY MEN
- WHICH GAY TRIBE DO YOU BELONG TO?
- AN ILLTRATED GUI TO REGNIZG YOUR GAY STEREOTYP
- ‘GAY TRIB’ ON GRDR: WHY ’S TIME TO STOP TEGORISG EACH OTHER
- A GAY UPLE RAN A RAL RTRANT PEACE. THEN NEW NEIGHBORS ARRIVED.
- IF YOU SAY BEG GAY IS NOT AIN, YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR HISTORY
- IN MY TRIBE: GAY CULTURE, TRADNALISTS AND "THE NEW WAVE"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY DENNIS STONEJUNE 7, 2012/7:40 AMBY DENNIS STONEJUNE 7, 2012 / 7:40 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"IN MY TRIBE: GAY CULTURE, TRADNALISTS AND \"THE NEW WAVE\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-06-07T11:40:37.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-06-07T11:40:37.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DENNIS STONE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON MARCH 31, 2011, 43-YEAR-OLD BRYAN STOW ATTEND A BASEBALL GAME AT DODGER STADIUM. FOLLOWG THE GAME, HE WAS ATTACKED BY TWO MEN THE PARKG LOT AS HE WALKED TO HIS R. ONE MAN LAND A VIC BLOW TO HIS TEMPLE, AND STOW FELL TO THE GROUND, HTG HIS HEAD ON THE NCRETE. THE MAN THEN KICKED STOW THE HEAD SEVERAL TIM. THE SEND MAN ALSO KICKED HIM, THEN STOOD FIANTLY OVER THE PRONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO WHAT WAS THIS BEATG ABOUT, MTED BY TWO MEN WHO HAD NEVER BEFORE MET THE VICTIM? ANOTHER GAY BASHG BY NEANRTHAL HOMOPHOB? NO. THE MOTIVE WAS THE FACT THAT THE VICTIM WAS WEARG A SAN FRANCIS GIANTS SHIRT, AND THE ATTACKERS WERE FANS OF THE HOMETOWN DODGERS. AS LUMNIST JOHN STEIGERWALD SPECULATED: “THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT THEY WERE DOG THEIR DUTY AS DODGERS FANS. THEY WERE PROTECTG DODGER TURF.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ATTACKERS WERE VLENT GOONS, LIKELY FUELED BY ALHOL. BUT THERE IS SOMETHG MUCH EPER AT PLAY HERE. A NEW BOOK, THE SOCIAL CONQUT OF EARTH, BY PULZER PRIZE WNG BLOGIST AND NATURALIST E.O. WILSON HAS THE ANSWER AS TO THE ULTIMATE UNRLYG MOTIVATN: TRIBALISM. TO QUOTE WILSON:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“HAVE YOU EVER WONRED WHY, THE ONGOG PRINTIAL MPAIGN, WE SO STRONGLY HEAR THE PIP LLG TO ARMS? WHY THE RELIG AMONG BRISTLE AT ANY CHALLENGE TO THE CREATN STORY THEY BELIEVE? OR EVEN WHY TEAM SPORTS EVOKE SUCH TENSE LOYALTY, JOY AND SPAIR?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE ANSWER IS THAT EVERYONE, NO EXCEPTN, MT HAVE A TRIBE, AN ALLIANCE WH WHICH TO JOCKEY FOR POWER AND TERRORY, TO TERME THE ENEMY, TO ANIZE RALLI AND RAISE FLAGS. AND SO HAS EVER BEEN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WILSON SAYS THAT THE URGE TO JO IS EPLY GRAED HUMANS. IT IS OUR NATURE AND, AS WH BEG GAY, WE DON’T HAVE A CHOICE THE MATTER. JOG TRIB IS AN NATE URGE WE ALL POSSS, GOG BACK, ACRDG TO WILSON’S SPECULATN, SIX LN YEARS, TO A TIME BEFORE OUR ANCTRAL LE SPL TO THE CHIMPANZEE AND HUMAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TRIB N REPRENT ALL LEVELS OF SIGNIFINCE. LA DODGERS FANS ARE A TRIBE, WH THE TRIBAL NNECTN PROVIDG INTY, SOMETHG TO CHEER (AND FIGHT) FOR, SOMETHG TO GET EXCED ABOUT, A SENSE OF SOLIDARY AGAST THE “ENEMY”, AND JT THAT IMPORTANT SENSE OF BELONGG TO SOMETHG BEYOND THE DIVIDUAL. SAN FRANCIS GIANTS FANS ARE A TRIBE. AS ARE EVANGELIL CHRISTIANS, LIBERALS, NSERVATIV, HEAVY METAL FANS, ATERNI, GANGS OF ALL TYP, OBSSIVE GLEE FANS, AND A VAST ARRAY OF OTHER GROUPGS. A FAY IS A TRIBE A VERY REAL SENSE. AND THE GAY MUNY IS A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY KIDS HAVE HISTORILLY GROWN UP FEELG DISNNECTED OM THEIR PEERS. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE REALIZATN OF BEG GAY WAS GENERALLY ACPANIED BY AN TENSE FEELG OF ISOLATN. THOSE OF BORN BEFORE 1980 OR EVEN LATER HAD NO TER, NO SGG GAY UPL ON WORK TV, NO BLE CHANNELS ON WHICH TO SEE ANYTHG BEYOND EXPRSNS OF WHE BREAD MIDDLE CLASS VALU, NO GAY NOVELS THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY, ETC. THERE WAS NO ONE TO TALK TO. EVERYONE WAS STRAIGHT, AND WE DIDN’T DARE SHARE OUR FEELGS WH ANY OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EVENTUALLY YOUNG GAY KIDS MOVED OUT TO THE WORLD, GOG TO LLEGE OR LIVG ON THEIR OWN. THE SPERATE NEED TO MEET OTHERS LIKE THEMSELV LED TO EXPLORG AND REACHG OUT, AND FALLY THEY WERE ABLE TO HOOK UP WH OTHER STRANGERS THAT STRANGE LAND. AND THEY DISVERED THAT THERE WAS AN ENTIRE MUNY OF MEN WHO LIKED MEN. THEY DISVERED THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EXPERIENCE OF ULYSS DIETZ, AN ART MM CURATOR OM NEW JERSEY, AND WELL KNOWN TO REGULAR AFTERELTON REARS, IS TYPIL OF MANY GAY MEN. HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS TRODUCTN TO THE GAY MUNY WHEN HE WAS A LLEGE STUNT 1975. “BEG A KSEY 6, I KNEW MY ONLY CHANCE FOR A SOCIAL LIFE WAS AMONG MY OWN,” HE SAID. “FROM THE MOMENT I WALKED TO MY FIRST MEETG OF THE GAY ALLIANCE AT YALE, I KNEW THAT THE WERE MY PEOPLE. THE GAY MUNY OF MEN BEME EVERYTHG, ALL ENPASSG. I WAS STILL A LLEGE STUNT, SO WAS EASY TO IMMERSE MYSELF, AND I’D BUILT NO SORT OF SOCIAL WORLD OTHER THAN THAT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND HE BEME AN ACTIVIST. THAT REFLECTS ANOTHER MON ASPECT OF TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP AS SCRIBED BY WILSON: THE IMPULSE “TO ANIZE RALLI AND RAISE FLAGS”. BUT ’S NOT JT FOR SHOW OR EGO GRATIFITN. FOR OUR TRIBE, AS FOR THE HISTORIL TRIB OF THE PAST, THERE ARE VERY REAL DANGERS AND CHALLENG OUT THERE. BY ACTG TOGETHER WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO FEND OURSELV, PROTECT AND ENHANCE OUR RIGHTS, AND MAKE THE WORLD A MORE HOSPABLE PLACE FOR OUR BROTHERS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR DIETZ THE SIRE TO “RAISE THE FLAG” AND FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE TRIBE FED NEARLY EVERYTHG HE DID. WHEN HE AND HIS PARTNER GARY MOVED TO THE SUBURBS WAS A NSC CISN TO “BE THE GAY PNEER BOYS LEAVE TO BEAVER LAND", AS HE PUT . WH THE HELP OF THE ACLU THEY FOUGHT THEIR TOWN UNCIL AND WON THE RIGHT TO JO THE TOWN’S SWIM CLUB AS A FAY OF TWO. EVEN THE QUT FOR CHILDREN (HE NOW HAS TWO TEENAGERS) HAD AN EDGE OF ACTIVISM. IT WAS “THE ULTIMATE GAY ACTIVIST THG,” HE SAYS, AND “WAS FULL OF TEGRATG MOMENTS, WHEN WE AS A GAY UPLE TALKED AND SHARED OUR DREAMS WH STRAIGHT UPL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR THOSE OF WHO ARE GAY, THE REALY OF THE TRIBAL BENEFS – MARARIE, INTY, A SHARED SENSE OF PURPOSE FIGHTG FOR THE GROUP – IS NOT NEWS. BUT THE SAME TRIBAL IMPULS THAT PRODUCE THOSE POSIVE BENEFS ALSO PRODUCE SUATNS AND REACTNS THAT ARE NOT SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CONSIR FOR A MOMENT THE SORT OF TRIBE FOR WHICH THE TERM WAS ORIGALLY ED, SUCH AS THOSE THE AMAZON JUNGLE. IN THAT TYPE OF SOCIETY EACH PERSON’S LIFE AND ACTNS HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE OTHER TRIBE MEMBERS. THE SOCIETY HAS RATHER STRICT L FOR HOW THE MEMBERS SHOULD ACT. CONFORMY TO THOSE L IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRIBAL LIFE AND OF THE QUT TO MAXIMIZE THE WELFARE OF THE TRIBE. IN A SENSE, EACH MEMBER HAS AN OWNERSHIP STAKE THE LIV OF THE OTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNFORTUNATELY, MANY TODAY’S GAY MUNY SEEM TO HAVE A MISPLACED SENSE OF OWNERSHIP THE LIV OF OTHER GAYS, OR PERCEIVED FELLOW TRIBE MEMBERS. THERE IS AN RMAL OF NDUCT FOR HOW A “GOOD GAY” LIV HIS LIFE. FEW ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY THK OF THGS QUE THAT WAY, BUT THEIR REACTNS TO OTHERS BETRAY THEIR OUTLOOK. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU’RE A GAY NSERVATIVE DON’T E KNOCK’ AT OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON WHAT THEORETIL BASIS ARE WE MICRO-ANALYZG AND JUDGG HIS LIFE AND HIS CISNS? THE ONLY ANSWER TO THAT IS THAT WE FEEL AN OWNERSHIP OF HIS LIFE ON SOME LEVEL, AN OWNERSHIP BASED ON OUR MON MEMBERSHIP THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT WAS BORN OF A SIRE THAT OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD NOT TELL HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUR LIV. HOW IRONIC IS WHEN WE TRY TO TELL OUR FELLOW GAYS HOW THEY SHOULD LIVE THEIRS. “LIVE AND LET LIVE” SHOULD SURELY BE ONE OF THE TEN MANDMENTS OF THE MORN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE OF THE BIGGT ISSU AND SOURC OF NTROVERSY THE GAY MUNY TODAY IS THE VERY NATURE OF OUR MUNY MOVG FORWARD. SOCIETY IS CHANGG AS A NEW GENERATN OF AGE, AND THE GAY TRIBE IS BEGNG TO CHANGE AS WELL. THOSE CHANG HAVE RULTED A GOOD AL OF TENSN BETWEEN WHAT I'LL LL "TRADNALISTS" AND THE “NEW WAVE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NEW WAVE PEOPLE ARE FAR LS FOCED ON THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN AS THE PRIMARY ATTRIBUTE THEIR LIV. THEY SIMPLY DON’T SHARE THE TRADNALIST PERCEPTN THAT BEG GAY LORS ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE, AND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LET ME TRODUCE YOU TO A NEW GENERATN GAY. “SEAN” IS AN ARTICULATE AND THOUGHTFUL HIGH SCHOOL STUNT OM A SUBURB OF MY HOME CY OF MNEAPOLIS. (SEAN THORIZED ME TO E HIS REAL NAME, BUT SCE HE IS A MOR I CHOSE TO E A PSDONYM.) HE ME OUT TO HIS ENTIRE SCHOOL EARLY HIS NTH GRA YEAR, WH VERY LTLE NEGATIVE NSEQUENCE. HE TALKS AND JOK OPENLY WH HIS IENDS ABOUT HIS ORIENTATN. AS WH STIL AND DANNY ON TEEN WOLF, SEVERAL STRAIGHT GUYS HAVE ASKED IF THEY’RE ATTRACTIVE TO HIM. HE’S JT ONE OF THE GUYS, AND REMAS A POPULAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HIS STORY AND PERCEPTNS OF HIMSELF AS A YOUNG GAY PERSON ARE A FASCATG UNTERPOT TO THE STORI OF MOST OF WHO GREW UP PRR GENERATNS. I’LL LET HIM TELL THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I ALREADY KNEW KRGARTEN THAT GAY DUS WERE GUYS WHO ‘LIKED’ OTHER GUYS THE SAME WAY STRAIGHT GUYS ‘LIKED’ GIRLS. I GOT THAT OM FRIENDS, WHERE THE CHARACTERS SUALLY HUNG OUT WH CAROL AND SAN AND THE BABY THEY RAISED TOGETHER. I DIDN'T THK WAS A BIG AL, BUT I FELY PICKED UP ON HOW NERVO ANY OF THE STRAIGHT MALE CHARACTERS GOT WHEN ANYONE THOUGHT THEY WERE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“HOWEVER, I LEARNED OM A VARIETY OF OTHER TV SHOWS AND "CHICKEN SOUP" STORI THAT WHEN GAY MEN ME OUT, THEY WERE PROMPTLY REJECTED BY EVERYONE THEIR LIV, AND WENT TO A GAY NEIGHBORHOOD WH GAY BARS AND GAY SPORTS TEAMS AND GAY NEWSPAPERS AND GAY PARAS AND GAY IENDS AND LIVED THERE FOR THE RT OF THEIR LIFE, NEVER SEEG ONE OF THOSE AWFUL, OPPRSIVE STRAIGHT PEOPLE EVER AGA. I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH REACTN TO THAT IA AS A KID, OTHER THAN TO THK THAT THOSE HOMOPHOB WERE TOTAL DICKS AND IF I HAD A IEND WHO WAS GAY, I WOULD BE TOTALLY ACCEPTG OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“IT WASN'T UNTIL 6TH GRA WHEN I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT I WAS GETTG BONERS FOR BOYS THAT I WAS SUDNLY FORCED TO FACE THE IA OF NEVER SEEG A STRAIGHT PERSON AGA. I MEAN, I LIKED MY IENDS! I LIKED MY FAY! I LIKED MY LIFE! I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE ALL OF THAT! I WOULD STAY UP LATE AT NIGHT IMAGG GOG TO A GAY GROUP AND TELLG THEM I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE GAY, AND THEM TELLG ME TO NEVER BOTHER TRYG TO TALK TO ONE OF MY OLD IENDS AGA. I ULDN'T TST THEM, AND I WOULD BE WAY HAPPIER THE GAY COMMUNY, WHERE EVERYONE WAS NICE TO EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME. BUT I ULDN'T LOSE MY IENDS! SO I ULDN'T BE GAY!”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT SEAN WAS ED GAY, AND WH GREAT TREPIDATN BASED ON THE PERCEPTNS HE GOT OM THE MEDIA, HE URAGEOLY CHOSE TO E OUT AT FOURTEEN, STEELG HIMSELF FOR REJECTN AND NEGATIVE REACTNS. WHAT HE GOT STEAD WAS A BATN OF CURSY AND A “NO BIG AL” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT IS ONE BOY’S STORY, OF URSE, AND AS WE KNOW, LARGE NUMBERS OF YOUNG GAY BOYS AND GIRLS ARE NOT SO LUCKY. BULLYG IS SICKENGLY MON MANY SCHOOLS. BUT NEHER IS SEAN UNIQUE. I’VE HEARD AND READ THE STORI OF MANY OTHER YOUNG GAYS WHO HAVE E OUT TO PREDOMANT SUPPORT. A -WORKER TOLD ME ABOUT HIS DGHTER’S PROM, WHERE TWO SEPARATE GAY UPL WENT THROUGH THE PROCSNAL ARCH AMID THE WILD CHEERG OF THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE POT IS THAT KIDS LIKE SEAN ARE NOT RARE, AND THEIR NUMBERS WILL NTUE TO GROW AS TIME GO ON. THE QUTN THEN BE: WHAT DO THIS EMERGG GENERATN, G OF AGE WH FAR MORE ACCEPTANCE, FAR MORE ROLE MOLS, FAR MORE RIGHTS, FAR MORE POLIL SUPPORT, FAR MORE VISIBILY, MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GAY TRIBE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WILL ED EVABLY CHANGE. THE GAY MUNY THAT MOST OF GREW UP WAS A DIRECT RPONSE TO THE SOCIAL PRSUR AND FEARS AND DISCRIMATN THAT WE FACED. HOW ULD BE OTHERWISE? THE GAY MUNY OF THE FUTURE WILL LIKEWISE BE A RPONSE TO THE SOCIAL SUATN OF THE DAY, AND SCE THAT SOCIAL SUATN WILL BE FAR DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE WE GREW UP THE MUNY WILL ALSO BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I ASKED SEAN ABOUT HIS FEELGS ABOUT THE GAY MUNY. HE REGNIZ S IMPORTANCE HISTORILLY, WHILE SHUDRG AT THE CIRCUMSTANC THAT PRODUCED . HE’S EXTREMELY CUR ABOUT THE PAST, WANTG TO KNOW, AS HE PUT , “HOW A TEENAGE BOY LIKE ME WOULD'VE LIVED 30 YEARS AGO. WOULD HE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE DIRTY JOK ABOUT GUYS AROUND HIS STRAIGHT GUY IENDS? HOW WOULD HE HAVE DISVERED THAT HE WAS GAY THE FIRST PLACE? WOULD HE HAVE BEEN BEATEN TO ATH A LOCKER ROOM?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ALTHOUGH HE’S FASCATED BY THE GAY EXPERIENCE OF THE PAST, HE’S NOT SURE THE TRADNAL GAY MUNY IS SOMETHG THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT HIS LIFE. I’M GOG TO QUOTE HIM AT LENGTH BEE THE FOLLOWG MENTS ARE FASCATG MANY WAYS, AND REALLY SHOW HOW DIFFERENT THE EMERGG WORLD IS FOR SOME NOW, AND FOR MORE THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE THE FACT THAT I'M GAY, BUT I DON'T SEE WHY I SHOULD HANG OUT WH CERTA PEOPLE JT BEE THEY HAVE THE SAME SEXUAL ORIENTATN AS ME. I SHOULD HANG OUT WH THE PEOPLE I LIKE HANGG OUT WH. OF URSE, I STILL FEEL THE NEED FOR CHANGE TO OCCUR THIS UNTRY, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE SOLUTN TO THAT ISN'T HANGG OUT WH OTHER GAY PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY TOTALLY ACCEPTG OF GAYS. NO, 'S TO HANG OUT WH THE FEW STRAIGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL A LTLE WEIRD ABOUT . I MEAN, FOR THE FEW PEOPLE AT MY SCHOOL WHO HAVE ADMTED TO HAVG A PROBLEM WH ME BEG GAY, WHAT'S GONNA OPEN THEIR MDS: ME GETTG MAD AND IGNORG THEM FOR THE RT OF THE YEAR, OR ME PLAYG MAR KART WH THEM AFTER SCHOOL, AND BRGG UP MY EX-BOYIEND WHEN THE SUATN LLS FOR ? ("HEY, YOU THK YOUR DATG LIFE SUCKS? MY EX-BOYIEND TEXTED ME THE "LET'S JT BE IENDS" SPEECH TO BREAK UP WH ME!", WHICH UALLY LEADS EVEN THE HOMOPHOB TO CHIME WH A "THAT SUCKS, MAN," BEFORE THE NVERSATN MOV ON.)”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SOME PEOPLE MAY BE OFFEND BY SEAN’S APPARENT DISMISSAL OF THE MUNY, AND OTHERS WILL LIKELY SEE HIM AS NAïVE. BUT I THK WE MAKE A HUGE MISTAKE IF WE DISMISS SEAN AND HIS VIEWPOTS. THEY E OM A GENUELY NEW REALY, AND THEY DO REFLECT THE FUTURE. Y, ’S OBV THAT MANY, MANY KIDS AREN’T ABLE TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCE, BUT AS THE 21ST CENTURY PROGRS, MORE AND MORE OF THEM WILL. IN MY OPN, IF SEAN IS REPRENTATIVE OF THE YOUNG GAY PEOPLE OF THE NEXT UPLE OF GENERATNS, OUR FUTURE IS GREAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I THK MUCH OF THE RENTMENT OF THE TRADNALISTS TOWARD THE NEW GENERATN OM A FEAR THAT THEIR MUNY, THEIR TRIBE, MAY SOME DAY BEE OBSOLETE. AND OM RENTMENT THAT A FORCE THAT DOMATED AND RMED ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIV IS NOT APPRECIATED BY PEOPLE WHO DON’T UNRSTAND WHAT THE PAST WAS LIKE FOR GAY PEOPLE. LARRY KRAMER HAS OFTEN LAMENTED THE LOSS OF THE GAY MUNY AS HE KNOWS AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE, AS HAVE MANY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT NONE OF THIS MEANS THAT THE GAY MUNY AS EXISTS TODAY WON’T NTUE TO FLOURISH. THE OLR GENERATNS AREN’T GOG ANYWHERE. AND SEAN AND HIS GENERATN ARE STILL PART OF THE MUNY, THE TRIBE, EVEN IF ISN’T AS DOMANT THEIR LIV AS WAS FOR PREV {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN WHEN WE SOME DAY ACHIEVE FULL EQUALY, THERE ARE TRAS AND EXPERIENC THAT WE SHARE THAT WILL UNE . THE NATE TRIBAL URGE WILL ALWAYS PULL TOGETHER, BUT WILL CREASGLY BE A MATTER OF CHOICE RATHER THAN A MATTER OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
A HANDY GUI TO ALL GAY MEN
* gay tribes *
Here they like the world at large may stereotype gays as mcg wrist flippers wh great taste bent on givg everyone they meet a make over. That said, when the gays see a fellow homosexual the public sphere, we try to plug them to the nvenient taxonomy the muny has ma for self. They may not be very faiar to the world at large, but they are certaly faiar to the brothers butt say that each gay person belongs to one of the typ is a b ceptive.
Dcriptn: This young breed of gays is never over 30 and tends to be on the queeny si and hews closely to the nventnal stereotyp of gay man.
Wild, ornery, and still gettg over their g out issu, the twk is the gay gone wild, and is ba to olr men who are to tryg to suck off their youthful energy.
WHICH GAY TRIBE DO YOU BELONG TO?
For Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, and Queer Pri Month, Dennis Zotigh, a cultural specialist at the Natnal Mm of the Amerin Indian, ved Native iends to tell how their tradnal culture saw s LGBTQ members. A Chirihua Apache iend replied, “Now, Dennis, this is a human qutn, not [jt] Native.” We agree. But we also appreciate hearg what Native Amerins have learned, renstcted, or been unable to renstct about this part of our shared history and experience. * gay tribes *
Celebry Example: This is such a specific type don't really exists the world at large, but the Platonic ial of a circu boy is DJ Brett HenrichsenGay-Listers. They ually work advertisg, PR, marketg, or the entertament dtry and make a ton of sh which they e to have perfect apartments, fantastic wardrob, and summer hom near all the other gay-listers. He drs eher the most current prissy fashns or like a homo versn of Terry Richardson, big glass, flannels, and jeans that looks so thrown together that took him hours to put together.
You're more likely to fd them at a gallery openg or mol party, but every so often they'll be at a gay bar to b elbows, and other parts, wh the other homos. The drag queens are not only the urt jters of the gay muny, drsg up like clowns for our entertament, but they are also a bridge to the straight world. In the spir of batg stereotyp by reclaimg and celebratg them, BBDO NY Art Director Jam Kuczynski and illtrator Pl Tuller have created a “Gui to Gay Stereotyp, ” a seri of silk screened imag pturg the sence of your neighborhood gay posters, released this week as we head to Pri season, celebrate the recent Supreme Court cisn on DOMA.
The posters are available for $18 each, and some of the proceeds will go to the “Thk B4 You Speak” mpaign, which supports LGBT teens and rais awarens about homophobia and the e of terms like “That’s so gay, ” “Dyke” and “Faggot. Yet perhaps even more ridiculoly, a 'gay tribe' refers to a way of differentiatg between men on the gay datg app 'Grdr', and somethg which has found s way to our everyday disurse about gay men.
AN ILLTRATED GUI TO REGNIZG YOUR GAY STEREOTYP
And then jt scends to a natnal geographic subscriber’s paradise: scendg orr of size/ amount of hair (hair really is a theme the gay world apparently), you've got a bear, an otter, a wolf – WOLF! The article nclud by sayg, ‘The ia of “trib” don’t have anythg to do wh discrimatn wh the gay muny, ’ attributg any lack of acceptance of one’s tribe to the ‘issu’ of an dividual. Other Ain lears, pl several other people on the ntent have shared his view, and this has eliced homophobia, persecutn and anti-gay laws untri like Uganda, Tanzania, Moroc, Nigeria and Kenya.
Wh the addn of "Grdr Trib, " members of the gay workg app now have the abily to classify themselv unr 12 tegori: Bear, Clean-Cut, Daddy, Discreet, Geek, Jock, Leather, Otter, Poz, Rugged, Trans, and last year's relnch of (om Here Media), ers had already been dog the same wh a functn lled "muni. The bsman and his wife, Melissa, first plaed to the Front Porch proprietors about pre-dawn vendor liveri 2019, not long after the nservative Christian uple moved their fancial firm right next door to the rtrant, which fli a gay Pri flag. (Front Porch Market and Grill)What’s more, the Washers say, the ad rat was jt one more sult that the uple, who once planted an “all liv matter” sign their ont yard, have endured sce movg next door to a rtrant owned by a gay uple.
They married 2020, five years after they opened the Front Porch, which quickly beme a statn The Front Porch has been flyg a Pri flag on s pat sce 2016, not long after a gunman killed 49 people a gay bar Orlando. Waybourn was print of the Dallas Gay Alliance when sued Parkland Memorial Hospal for failg to provi readily available medic to AIDS patients. “I had so many threats agast me that even the Dallas police statned squad rs outsi our home, ” Waybourn an activist, Waybourn says, his goals were clear: same-sex marriage, gays and lbians the ary, accs to lifavg medic.
‘GAY TRIB’ ON GRDR: WHY ’S TIME TO STOP TEGORISG EACH OTHER
To the activist, feels like a step backward after a lifetime of fightg for gay pack the seats at the Board of Zong Appeals hearg hosted at Grace Epispal Church. “I have que a few gay iends, clients and a fay member, and I have patronized a gay-owned rtrant for years, ” he whether the Washers are tryg to remake The Plas to their image of Ameri — Whe, nservative, Christian — Melissa said, “I n see where you’re g om. I foced specifilly on the gay muny on a small liberal arts llege mp and ral, more nservative muni, like the on my rmants live and study , the Midwt.
The fdgs of my rearch led me to nclu that llege-aged gay men, particularly those studyg at a small liberal arts llege, face a variety of challeng different om those their heterosexual unterparts face and that the men have many ways of pg wh the difficulti. Fally, thgs that are nsired to be general issu faced by all gay men are addrsed at the end of the sectn, cludg: fear of hate crim, difficulti wh people’s relig beliefs (both the beliefs of gay men and those of the people they teract wh), stereotypg, and the rise of the “GBF” (or gay bt iend), as well as self-acceptance and the popular view that homosexualy is a choice.
One of the first, and possibly biggt, challeng a gay man fac is the cisn to “e out”, or reveal his sexual orientatn to his fay, iends, and acquatanc.
A GAY UPLE RAN A RAL RTRANT PEACE. THEN NEW NEIGHBORS ARRIVED.
Though there is the mon ia that g out has to be a specific s down talk, there are many other ways gay men choose to munite their sexual orientatn, which vary greatly based upon the ntext which a person out.
IF YOU SAY BEG GAY IS NOT AIN, YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR HISTORY
Simon mentned that his boss and many of his workers disvered he was gay bee they heard him mentn durg a nversatn wh another worker.
IN MY TRIBE: GAY CULTURE, TRADNALISTS AND "THE NEW WAVE"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY DENNIS STONEJUNE 7, 2012/7:40 AMBY DENNIS STONEJUNE 7, 2012 / 7:40 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"IN MY TRIBE: GAY CULTURE, TRADNALISTS AND \"THE NEW WAVE\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-06-07T11:40:37.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-06-07T11:40:37.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DENNIS STONE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON MARCH 31, 2011, 43-YEAR-OLD BRYAN STOW ATTEND A BASEBALL GAME AT DODGER STADIUM. FOLLOWG THE GAME, HE WAS ATTACKED BY TWO MEN THE PARKG LOT AS HE WALKED TO HIS R. ONE MAN LAND A VIC BLOW TO HIS TEMPLE, AND STOW FELL TO THE GROUND, HTG HIS HEAD ON THE NCRETE. THE MAN THEN KICKED STOW THE HEAD SEVERAL TIM. THE SEND MAN ALSO KICKED HIM, THEN STOOD FIANTLY OVER THE PRONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO WHAT WAS THIS BEATG ABOUT, MTED BY TWO MEN WHO HAD NEVER BEFORE MET THE VICTIM? ANOTHER GAY BASHG BY NEANRTHAL HOMOPHOB? NO. THE MOTIVE WAS THE FACT THAT THE VICTIM WAS WEARG A SAN FRANCIS GIANTS SHIRT, AND THE ATTACKERS WERE FANS OF THE HOMETOWN DODGERS. AS LUMNIST JOHN STEIGERWALD SPECULATED: “THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT THEY WERE DOG THEIR DUTY AS DODGERS FANS. THEY WERE PROTECTG DODGER TURF.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ATTACKERS WERE VLENT GOONS, LIKELY FUELED BY ALHOL. BUT THERE IS SOMETHG MUCH EPER AT PLAY HERE. A NEW BOOK, THE SOCIAL CONQUT OF EARTH, BY PULZER PRIZE WNG BLOGIST AND NATURALIST E.O. WILSON HAS THE ANSWER AS TO THE ULTIMATE UNRLYG MOTIVATN: TRIBALISM. TO QUOTE WILSON:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“HAVE YOU EVER WONRED WHY, THE ONGOG PRINTIAL MPAIGN, WE SO STRONGLY HEAR THE PIP LLG TO ARMS? WHY THE RELIG AMONG BRISTLE AT ANY CHALLENGE TO THE CREATN STORY THEY BELIEVE? OR EVEN WHY TEAM SPORTS EVOKE SUCH TENSE LOYALTY, JOY AND SPAIR?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE ANSWER IS THAT EVERYONE, NO EXCEPTN, MT HAVE A TRIBE, AN ALLIANCE WH WHICH TO JOCKEY FOR POWER AND TERRORY, TO TERME THE ENEMY, TO ANIZE RALLI AND RAISE FLAGS. AND SO HAS EVER BEEN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WILSON SAYS THAT THE URGE TO JO IS EPLY GRAED HUMANS. IT IS OUR NATURE AND, AS WH BEG GAY, WE DON’T HAVE A CHOICE THE MATTER. JOG TRIB IS AN NATE URGE WE ALL POSSS, GOG BACK, ACRDG TO WILSON’S SPECULATN, SIX LN YEARS, TO A TIME BEFORE OUR ANCTRAL LE SPL TO THE CHIMPANZEE AND HUMAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TRIB N REPRENT ALL LEVELS OF SIGNIFINCE. LA DODGERS FANS ARE A TRIBE, WH THE TRIBAL NNECTN PROVIDG INTY, SOMETHG TO CHEER (AND FIGHT) FOR, SOMETHG TO GET EXCED ABOUT, A SENSE OF SOLIDARY AGAST THE “ENEMY”, AND JT THAT IMPORTANT SENSE OF BELONGG TO SOMETHG BEYOND THE DIVIDUAL. SAN FRANCIS GIANTS FANS ARE A TRIBE. AS ARE EVANGELIL CHRISTIANS, LIBERALS, NSERVATIV, HEAVY METAL FANS, ATERNI, GANGS OF ALL TYP, OBSSIVE GLEE FANS, AND A VAST ARRAY OF OTHER GROUPGS. A FAY IS A TRIBE A VERY REAL SENSE. AND THE GAY MUNY IS A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY KIDS HAVE HISTORILLY GROWN UP FEELG DISNNECTED OM THEIR PEERS. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE REALIZATN OF BEG GAY WAS GENERALLY ACPANIED BY AN TENSE FEELG OF ISOLATN. THOSE OF BORN BEFORE 1980 OR EVEN LATER HAD NO TER, NO SGG GAY UPL ON WORK TV, NO BLE CHANNELS ON WHICH TO SEE ANYTHG BEYOND EXPRSNS OF WHE BREAD MIDDLE CLASS VALU, NO GAY NOVELS THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY, ETC. THERE WAS NO ONE TO TALK TO. EVERYONE WAS STRAIGHT, AND WE DIDN’T DARE SHARE OUR FEELGS WH ANY OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EVENTUALLY YOUNG GAY KIDS MOVED OUT TO THE WORLD, GOG TO LLEGE OR LIVG ON THEIR OWN. THE SPERATE NEED TO MEET OTHERS LIKE THEMSELV LED TO EXPLORG AND REACHG OUT, AND FALLY THEY WERE ABLE TO HOOK UP WH OTHER STRANGERS THAT STRANGE LAND. AND THEY DISVERED THAT THERE WAS AN ENTIRE MUNY OF MEN WHO LIKED MEN. THEY DISVERED THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EXPERIENCE OF ULYSS DIETZ, AN ART MM CURATOR OM NEW JERSEY, AND WELL KNOWN TO REGULAR AFTERELTON REARS, IS TYPIL OF MANY GAY MEN. HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS TRODUCTN TO THE GAY MUNY WHEN HE WAS A LLEGE STUNT 1975. “BEG A KSEY 6, I KNEW MY ONLY CHANCE FOR A SOCIAL LIFE WAS AMONG MY OWN,” HE SAID. “FROM THE MOMENT I WALKED TO MY FIRST MEETG OF THE GAY ALLIANCE AT YALE, I KNEW THAT THE WERE MY PEOPLE. THE GAY MUNY OF MEN BEME EVERYTHG, ALL ENPASSG. I WAS STILL A LLEGE STUNT, SO WAS EASY TO IMMERSE MYSELF, AND I’D BUILT NO SORT OF SOCIAL WORLD OTHER THAN THAT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND HE BEME AN ACTIVIST. THAT REFLECTS ANOTHER MON ASPECT OF TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP AS SCRIBED BY WILSON: THE IMPULSE “TO ANIZE RALLI AND RAISE FLAGS”. BUT ’S NOT JT FOR SHOW OR EGO GRATIFITN. FOR OUR TRIBE, AS FOR THE HISTORIL TRIB OF THE PAST, THERE ARE VERY REAL DANGERS AND CHALLENG OUT THERE. BY ACTG TOGETHER WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO FEND OURSELV, PROTECT AND ENHANCE OUR RIGHTS, AND MAKE THE WORLD A MORE HOSPABLE PLACE FOR OUR BROTHERS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR DIETZ THE SIRE TO “RAISE THE FLAG” AND FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE TRIBE FED NEARLY EVERYTHG HE DID. WHEN HE AND HIS PARTNER GARY MOVED TO THE SUBURBS WAS A NSC CISN TO “BE THE GAY PNEER BOYS LEAVE TO BEAVER LAND", AS HE PUT . WH THE HELP OF THE ACLU THEY FOUGHT THEIR TOWN UNCIL AND WON THE RIGHT TO JO THE TOWN’S SWIM CLUB AS A FAY OF TWO. EVEN THE QUT FOR CHILDREN (HE NOW HAS TWO TEENAGERS) HAD AN EDGE OF ACTIVISM. IT WAS “THE ULTIMATE GAY ACTIVIST THG,” HE SAYS, AND “WAS FULL OF TEGRATG MOMENTS, WHEN WE AS A GAY UPLE TALKED AND SHARED OUR DREAMS WH STRAIGHT UPL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR THOSE OF WHO ARE GAY, THE REALY OF THE TRIBAL BENEFS – MARARIE, INTY, A SHARED SENSE OF PURPOSE FIGHTG FOR THE GROUP – IS NOT NEWS. BUT THE SAME TRIBAL IMPULS THAT PRODUCE THOSE POSIVE BENEFS ALSO PRODUCE SUATNS AND REACTNS THAT ARE NOT SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CONSIR FOR A MOMENT THE SORT OF TRIBE FOR WHICH THE TERM WAS ORIGALLY ED, SUCH AS THOSE THE AMAZON JUNGLE. IN THAT TYPE OF SOCIETY EACH PERSON’S LIFE AND ACTNS HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE OTHER TRIBE MEMBERS. THE SOCIETY HAS RATHER STRICT L FOR HOW THE MEMBERS SHOULD ACT. CONFORMY TO THOSE L IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRIBAL LIFE AND OF THE QUT TO MAXIMIZE THE WELFARE OF THE TRIBE. IN A SENSE, EACH MEMBER HAS AN OWNERSHIP STAKE THE LIV OF THE OTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNFORTUNATELY, MANY TODAY’S GAY MUNY SEEM TO HAVE A MISPLACED SENSE OF OWNERSHIP THE LIV OF OTHER GAYS, OR PERCEIVED FELLOW TRIBE MEMBERS. THERE IS AN RMAL OF NDUCT FOR HOW A “GOOD GAY” LIV HIS LIFE. FEW ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY THK OF THGS QUE THAT WAY, BUT THEIR REACTNS TO OTHERS BETRAY THEIR OUTLOOK. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU’RE A GAY NSERVATIVE DON’T E KNOCK’ AT OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON WHAT THEORETIL BASIS ARE WE MICRO-ANALYZG AND JUDGG HIS LIFE AND HIS CISNS? THE ONLY ANSWER TO THAT IS THAT WE FEEL AN OWNERSHIP OF HIS LIFE ON SOME LEVEL, AN OWNERSHIP BASED ON OUR MON MEMBERSHIP THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GAY LIBERATN MOVEMENT WAS BORN OF A SIRE THAT OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD NOT TELL HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUR LIV. HOW IRONIC IS WHEN WE TRY TO TELL OUR FELLOW GAYS HOW THEY SHOULD LIVE THEIRS. “LIVE AND LET LIVE” SHOULD SURELY BE ONE OF THE TEN MANDMENTS OF THE MORN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE OF THE BIGGT ISSU AND SOURC OF NTROVERSY THE GAY MUNY TODAY IS THE VERY NATURE OF OUR MUNY MOVG FORWARD. SOCIETY IS CHANGG AS A NEW GENERATN OF AGE, AND THE GAY TRIBE IS BEGNG TO CHANGE AS WELL. THOSE CHANG HAVE RULTED A GOOD AL OF TENSN BETWEEN WHAT I'LL LL "TRADNALISTS" AND THE “NEW WAVE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NEW WAVE PEOPLE ARE FAR LS FOCED ON THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN AS THE PRIMARY ATTRIBUTE THEIR LIV. THEY SIMPLY DON’T SHARE THE TRADNALIST PERCEPTN THAT BEG GAY LORS ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE, AND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LET ME TRODUCE YOU TO A NEW GENERATN GAY. “SEAN” IS AN ARTICULATE AND THOUGHTFUL HIGH SCHOOL STUNT OM A SUBURB OF MY HOME CY OF MNEAPOLIS. (SEAN THORIZED ME TO E HIS REAL NAME, BUT SCE HE IS A MOR I CHOSE TO E A PSDONYM.) HE ME OUT TO HIS ENTIRE SCHOOL EARLY HIS NTH GRA YEAR, WH VERY LTLE NEGATIVE NSEQUENCE. HE TALKS AND JOK OPENLY WH HIS IENDS ABOUT HIS ORIENTATN. AS WH STIL AND DANNY ON TEEN WOLF, SEVERAL STRAIGHT GUYS HAVE ASKED IF THEY’RE ATTRACTIVE TO HIM. HE’S JT ONE OF THE GUYS, AND REMAS A POPULAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HIS STORY AND PERCEPTNS OF HIMSELF AS A YOUNG GAY PERSON ARE A FASCATG UNTERPOT TO THE STORI OF MOST OF WHO GREW UP PRR GENERATNS. I’LL LET HIM TELL THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I ALREADY KNEW KRGARTEN THAT GAY DUS WERE GUYS WHO ‘LIKED’ OTHER GUYS THE SAME WAY STRAIGHT GUYS ‘LIKED’ GIRLS. I GOT THAT OM FRIENDS, WHERE THE CHARACTERS SUALLY HUNG OUT WH CAROL AND SAN AND THE BABY THEY RAISED TOGETHER. I DIDN'T THK WAS A BIG AL, BUT I FELY PICKED UP ON HOW NERVO ANY OF THE STRAIGHT MALE CHARACTERS GOT WHEN ANYONE THOUGHT THEY WERE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“HOWEVER, I LEARNED OM A VARIETY OF OTHER TV SHOWS AND "CHICKEN SOUP" STORI THAT WHEN GAY MEN ME OUT, THEY WERE PROMPTLY REJECTED BY EVERYONE THEIR LIV, AND WENT TO A GAY NEIGHBORHOOD WH GAY BARS AND GAY SPORTS TEAMS AND GAY NEWSPAPERS AND GAY PARAS AND GAY IENDS AND LIVED THERE FOR THE RT OF THEIR LIFE, NEVER SEEG ONE OF THOSE AWFUL, OPPRSIVE STRAIGHT PEOPLE EVER AGA. I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH REACTN TO THAT IA AS A KID, OTHER THAN TO THK THAT THOSE HOMOPHOB WERE TOTAL DICKS AND IF I HAD A IEND WHO WAS GAY, I WOULD BE TOTALLY ACCEPTG OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“IT WASN'T UNTIL 6TH GRA WHEN I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT I WAS GETTG BONERS FOR BOYS THAT I WAS SUDNLY FORCED TO FACE THE IA OF NEVER SEEG A STRAIGHT PERSON AGA. I MEAN, I LIKED MY IENDS! I LIKED MY FAY! I LIKED MY LIFE! I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE ALL OF THAT! I WOULD STAY UP LATE AT NIGHT IMAGG GOG TO A GAY GROUP AND TELLG THEM I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE GAY, AND THEM TELLG ME TO NEVER BOTHER TRYG TO TALK TO ONE OF MY OLD IENDS AGA. I ULDN'T TST THEM, AND I WOULD BE WAY HAPPIER THE GAY COMMUNY, WHERE EVERYONE WAS NICE TO EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME. BUT I ULDN'T LOSE MY IENDS! SO I ULDN'T BE GAY!”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT SEAN WAS ED GAY, AND WH GREAT TREPIDATN BASED ON THE PERCEPTNS HE GOT OM THE MEDIA, HE URAGEOLY CHOSE TO E OUT AT FOURTEEN, STEELG HIMSELF FOR REJECTN AND NEGATIVE REACTNS. WHAT HE GOT STEAD WAS A BATN OF CURSY AND A “NO BIG AL” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT IS ONE BOY’S STORY, OF URSE, AND AS WE KNOW, LARGE NUMBERS OF YOUNG GAY BOYS AND GIRLS ARE NOT SO LUCKY. BULLYG IS SICKENGLY MON MANY SCHOOLS. BUT NEHER IS SEAN UNIQUE. I’VE HEARD AND READ THE STORI OF MANY OTHER YOUNG GAYS WHO HAVE E OUT TO PREDOMANT SUPPORT. A -WORKER TOLD ME ABOUT HIS DGHTER’S PROM, WHERE TWO SEPARATE GAY UPL WENT THROUGH THE PROCSNAL ARCH AMID THE WILD CHEERG OF THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE POT IS THAT KIDS LIKE SEAN ARE NOT RARE, AND THEIR NUMBERS WILL NTUE TO GROW AS TIME GO ON. THE QUTN THEN BE: WHAT DO THIS EMERGG GENERATN, G OF AGE WH FAR MORE ACCEPTANCE, FAR MORE ROLE MOLS, FAR MORE RIGHTS, FAR MORE POLIL SUPPORT, FAR MORE VISIBILY, MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GAY TRIBE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT WILL ED EVABLY CHANGE. THE GAY MUNY THAT MOST OF GREW UP WAS A DIRECT RPONSE TO THE SOCIAL PRSUR AND FEARS AND DISCRIMATN THAT WE FACED. HOW ULD BE OTHERWISE? THE GAY MUNY OF THE FUTURE WILL LIKEWISE BE A RPONSE TO THE SOCIAL SUATN OF THE DAY, AND SCE THAT SOCIAL SUATN WILL BE FAR DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE WE GREW UP THE MUNY WILL ALSO BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I ASKED SEAN ABOUT HIS FEELGS ABOUT THE GAY MUNY. HE REGNIZ S IMPORTANCE HISTORILLY, WHILE SHUDRG AT THE CIRCUMSTANC THAT PRODUCED . HE’S EXTREMELY CUR ABOUT THE PAST, WANTG TO KNOW, AS HE PUT , “HOW A TEENAGE BOY LIKE ME WOULD'VE LIVED 30 YEARS AGO. WOULD HE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE DIRTY JOK ABOUT GUYS AROUND HIS STRAIGHT GUY IENDS? HOW WOULD HE HAVE DISVERED THAT HE WAS GAY THE FIRST PLACE? WOULD HE HAVE BEEN BEATEN TO ATH A LOCKER ROOM?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ALTHOUGH HE’S FASCATED BY THE GAY EXPERIENCE OF THE PAST, HE’S NOT SURE THE TRADNAL GAY MUNY IS SOMETHG THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT HIS LIFE. I’M GOG TO QUOTE HIM AT LENGTH BEE THE FOLLOWG MENTS ARE FASCATG MANY WAYS, AND REALLY SHOW HOW DIFFERENT THE EMERGG WORLD IS FOR SOME NOW, AND FOR MORE THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE THE FACT THAT I'M GAY, BUT I DON'T SEE WHY I SHOULD HANG OUT WH CERTA PEOPLE JT BEE THEY HAVE THE SAME SEXUAL ORIENTATN AS ME. I SHOULD HANG OUT WH THE PEOPLE I LIKE HANGG OUT WH. OF URSE, I STILL FEEL THE NEED FOR CHANGE TO OCCUR THIS UNTRY, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE SOLUTN TO THAT ISN'T HANGG OUT WH OTHER GAY PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY TOTALLY ACCEPTG OF GAYS. NO, 'S TO HANG OUT WH THE FEW STRAIGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL A LTLE WEIRD ABOUT . I MEAN, FOR THE FEW PEOPLE AT MY SCHOOL WHO HAVE ADMTED TO HAVG A PROBLEM WH ME BEG GAY, WHAT'S GONNA OPEN THEIR MDS: ME GETTG MAD AND IGNORG THEM FOR THE RT OF THE YEAR, OR ME PLAYG MAR KART WH THEM AFTER SCHOOL, AND BRGG UP MY EX-BOYIEND WHEN THE SUATN LLS FOR ? ("HEY, YOU THK YOUR DATG LIFE SUCKS? MY EX-BOYIEND TEXTED ME THE "LET'S JT BE IENDS" SPEECH TO BREAK UP WH ME!", WHICH UALLY LEADS EVEN THE HOMOPHOB TO CHIME WH A "THAT SUCKS, MAN," BEFORE THE NVERSATN MOV ON.)”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SOME PEOPLE MAY BE OFFEND BY SEAN’S APPARENT DISMISSAL OF THE MUNY, AND OTHERS WILL LIKELY SEE HIM AS NAïVE. BUT I THK WE MAKE A HUGE MISTAKE IF WE DISMISS SEAN AND HIS VIEWPOTS. THEY E OM A GENUELY NEW REALY, AND THEY DO REFLECT THE FUTURE. Y, ’S OBV THAT MANY, MANY KIDS AREN’T ABLE TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCE, BUT AS THE 21ST CENTURY PROGRS, MORE AND MORE OF THEM WILL. IN MY OPN, IF SEAN IS REPRENTATIVE OF THE YOUNG GAY PEOPLE OF THE NEXT UPLE OF GENERATNS, OUR FUTURE IS GREAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I THK MUCH OF THE RENTMENT OF THE TRADNALISTS TOWARD THE NEW GENERATN OM A FEAR THAT THEIR MUNY, THEIR TRIBE, MAY SOME DAY BEE OBSOLETE. AND OM RENTMENT THAT A FORCE THAT DOMATED AND RMED ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIV IS NOT APPRECIATED BY PEOPLE WHO DON’T UNRSTAND WHAT THE PAST WAS LIKE FOR GAY PEOPLE. LARRY KRAMER HAS OFTEN LAMENTED THE LOSS OF THE GAY MUNY AS HE KNOWS AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE, AS HAVE MANY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT NONE OF THIS MEANS THAT THE GAY MUNY AS EXISTS TODAY WON’T NTUE TO FLOURISH. THE OLR GENERATNS AREN’T GOG ANYWHERE. AND SEAN AND HIS GENERATN ARE STILL PART OF THE MUNY, THE TRIBE, EVEN IF ISN’T AS DOMANT THEIR LIV AS WAS FOR PREV {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN WHEN WE SOME DAY ACHIEVE FULL EQUALY, THERE ARE TRAS AND EXPERIENC THAT WE SHARE THAT WILL UNE . THE NATE TRIBAL URGE WILL ALWAYS PULL TOGETHER, BUT WILL CREASGLY BE A MATTER OF CHOICE RATHER THAN A MATTER OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
This rmal way of g out is credibly popular wh my rmants (and, acrdg to them, other gay men who are already out wh their fay and iends), and many new iends and acquatanc get a more sual treatment than if they had known Simon or Rorich when they were first explorg their new sexual orientatn.
Simon mentned when he began the procs of his “big” g out (the first time he began publicly prentg himself as a gay man, but after he had e out to his close iends and fay) and he was meetg new people, he would drop hts about his orientatn durg a game lled “20 qutns”.
For example, one of Simon’s aterny brothers disvered that he was gay bee he was helpg Simon ed one of his papers for a class which he was discsg his sexual orientatn.