The Impact of Gay Social Networkg Applitns on Datg the Deaf Gay Communy | SprgerLk

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• WHAT DATG IS LIKE AS A GAY DEAF MANSPOILER: IT'S {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;}LIFEBY CONNOR MCLARENAUGT 14, 2017/11:36 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}CONNOR MCLAREN/CHRISTIAN HOPKS PHOTOGRAPHYBY CONNOR MCLARENAUGT 14, 2017 / 11:36 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHAT DATG IS LIKE AS A GAY DEAF MAN","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-08-14T15:36:31.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-08-14T15:36:31.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","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":"CONNOR MCLAREN","KEYWORDS":"OPN","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{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'D BE LYG IF I SAID THAT GROWG UP AF WASN'T 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;}IT BOTHERED ME THAT I HAD TO PAY MORE ATTENTN CLASS TO UNRSTAND MY TEACHERS AND FELT EXCLUD GROUP OUTGS BEE I MISSED OUT ON MUCH OF THE NVERSATN. BUT WHAT REALLY IRKED ME WAS HAVG TO AL WH IGNORANCE OM PEOPLE WHO ASSUMED THAT AF PEOPLE HAD OTHER TELLECTUAL OR EMOTNAL CHALLENG. THAT WE ULDN'T DRIVE, SPEAK CLEARLY, OR EVEN {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 TOOK FORT, THOUGH, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE INTIFIED AS PART OF ONE MORY GROUP OR ANOTHER, AND THAT I WASN'T ALONE. IT WASN'T UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL THAT I TLY BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE I'D BEEN GIVEN A RAW AL LIFE: DURG MY HMAN YEAR, I VELOPED MY FIRST CSH AND REALIZED THAT I WASN'T JT AF BUT GAY, AS {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 REALIZATN CERTALY PLITED MATTERS. THERE ARE SIARI BETWEEN BEG AF AND BEG QUEER THAT POUND MY SENSE OF ALIENATN. FOR EXAMPLE, MOST LGBT PEOPLE HAVE HETEROSEXUAL PARENTS—LIKEWISE, ONLY 5 TO 10% OF AF PEOPLE HAVE AF PARENTS. MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN CREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE BUT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ACCEPT THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE, BUT TWO FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENC BETWEEN {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;}MOREOVER, AF AND QUEER DIVIDUALS BOTH HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVG TO “E OUT” REPEATEDLY. I NOT ONLY HAD TO THK ABOUT WHEN AND HOW TO TELL PEOPLE I WAS AF, BUT ALSO WHEN TO DISCLOSE MY SEXUAL {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;}FORTUNATELY, MY EXPERIENC LLEGE AND AFTERWARD ALLOWED ME TO GA NFINCE BOTH OF THE ASPECTS OF MY LIFE. MANY OF MY IENDS NOW ARE AF AND GAY, AND I REALIZE THERE ARE JT AS MANY ADVANTAG AS DISADVANTAG TO THIS DUAL INTY. THE MON STGGLE OF FACG DISCRIMATN OM MANY DIRECTNS HAS FOSTERED A TIGHT-KN SENSE OF MARARIE AMONG AF QUEER {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;}“QUEER-AF CULTURE VALU GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERGENT IAS AND PEOPLE," MY IEND ROBB DOOLG EXPLAS. "WE'RE THE ‘RABOW SHEEP OF THE FAY.' WE HAVE TWO REASONS STEAD OF JT ONE TO STICK TOGETHER.”{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 THERE ARE DOWNSIS, TOO—MOST NOTICEABLY HOW SMALL THE MUNY IS. “GOSSIP SPREADS MORE EASILY PARED TO HOW WOULD THE AF OR GAY MUNI ALONE—SO THERE IS MORE PRSURE TO PROTECT YOUR REPUTATN,” SAYS ANOTHER IEND, NOE {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;}NOE ADMS WE'RE KD OF LIMED, ROMANCE-WISE: "MY DATG POOL NSISTS OF THE AF GAY MEN MY AREA AND HEARG MEN WHO HAPPEN TO BE FLUENT AMERIN SIGN LANGUAGE. PEOPLE WHO ARE STRAIGHT OR HEARG HAVE SIGNIFINTLY MORE OPTNS.”{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 QUTN THAT UP OFTEN: IS HARR TO BE A GAY MAN  THE AF MUNY OR AF THE GAY MUNY?{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;}TO BE HONT, I FEEL MORE FORTABLE BEG GAY THE AF MUNY. BY AND LARGE, AF PEOPLE ARE VERY ACCEPTG OF MY SEXUAL ORIENTATN. BUT BEG AF THE QUEER MUNY HAS, AT TIM, CREATED A SENSE OF ISOLATN AND LOW SELF-TEEM. GAY MEN N BE UNACCEPTG OF THOSE WHO DON'T F A CERTA MOLD: IF YOU'RE NOT HANDSOME, F AND WHE—AND ABLE—YOU TEND TO GET {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;}BEG A AF GAY MAN HAS ALSO BEEN DIFFICULT JT TERMS OF MUNITN AND CULTURAL UNRSTANDG. MOST HEARG GAY GUYS N'T SIGN AND KNOW NOTHG ABOUT AF CULTURE. THE AF MUNY VALU—EVEN REQUIR—EXPRSIVENS HAND MOVEMENTS TO MUNITE. IN NTRAST, I'VE NOTICED THAT G YOUR HANDS TO MUNITE IS LOOKED DOWN UPON BY SOME GAY MEN, BEE S SO STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WH FEMY. PERHAPS DUE TO TERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA, THEY'RE LS FORTABLE WH GUYS WHO ARE EXPRSIVE THIS WAY. SO 'S HARR FOR ME TO BE MY TE SELF WH OTHER 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;}REGARDLS, BEG BOTH AF AND GAY HAS SHAPED MY INTY FOR THE BETTER. IF I WERE STRAIGHT AND HEARG, I WOULDN'T HAVE AS MUCH OF AN IMPULSE TO HELP OTHERS, OR BE AS TOLERANT OR CULTURALLY SENSIVE. I WOULDN'T HAVE CROSSED PATHS WH SO MANY AMAZG {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;}INSTEAD OF SEEG THE TWO PARTS OF MY INTY AS NEGATIV, I VIEW THEM AS QUALI THAT MAKE ME UNIQUE. I AM BLSED TO BE PART OF SUCH A VIBRANT, TIGHT-KN MUNY AND WOULDN'T TRA FOR {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 AS FOR MY FUTURE PARTNER? I'M MORE THAN WILLG TO BI MY TIME AND WA FOR SOMEONE—HEARG OR AF—WHO ACCEPTS ALL THE PARTS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• THE IMPACT OF GAY SOCIAL NETWORKG APPLITNS ON DATG THE DEAF GAY COMMUNY
• SGLE DEAF GAY GUYS INTERTED IN DEAF GAY DATG
• DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.

WHAT DATG IS LIKE AS A GAY DEAF MANSPOILER: IT'S {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;}LIFEBY CONNOR MCLARENAUGT 14, 2017/11:36 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}CONNOR MCLAREN/CHRISTIAN HOPKS PHOTOGRAPHYBY CONNOR MCLARENAUGT 14, 2017 / 11:36 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"WHAT DATG IS LIKE AS A GAY DEAF MAN","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-08-14T15:36:31.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-08-14T15:36:31.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","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":"CONNOR MCLAREN","KEYWORDS":"OPN","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{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'D BE LYG IF I SAID THAT GROWG UP AF WASN'T 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;}IT BOTHERED ME THAT I HAD TO PAY MORE ATTENTN CLASS TO UNRSTAND MY TEACHERS AND FELT EXCLUD GROUP OUTGS BEE I MISSED OUT ON MUCH OF THE NVERSATN. BUT WHAT REALLY IRKED ME WAS HAVG TO AL WH IGNORANCE OM PEOPLE WHO ASSUMED THAT AF PEOPLE HAD OTHER TELLECTUAL OR EMOTNAL CHALLENG. THAT WE ULDN'T DRIVE, SPEAK CLEARLY, OR EVEN {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 TOOK FORT, THOUGH, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE INTIFIED AS PART OF ONE MORY GROUP OR ANOTHER, AND THAT I WASN'T ALONE. IT WASN'T UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL THAT I TLY BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE I'D BEEN GIVEN A RAW AL LIFE: DURG MY HMAN YEAR, I VELOPED MY FIRST CSH AND REALIZED THAT I WASN'T JT AF BUT GAY, AS {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 REALIZATN CERTALY PLITED MATTERS. THERE ARE SIARI BETWEEN BEG AF AND BEG QUEER THAT POUND MY SENSE OF ALIENATN. FOR EXAMPLE, MOST LGBT PEOPLE HAVE HETEROSEXUAL PARENTS—LIKEWISE, ONLY 5 TO 10% OF AF PEOPLE HAVE AF PARENTS. MY PARENTS HAVE BEEN CREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE BUT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ACCEPT THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE, BUT TWO FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENC BETWEEN {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;}MOREOVER, AF AND QUEER DIVIDUALS BOTH HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVG TO “E OUT” REPEATEDLY. I NOT ONLY HAD TO THK ABOUT WHEN AND HOW TO TELL PEOPLE I WAS AF, BUT ALSO WHEN TO DISCLOSE MY SEXUAL {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;}FORTUNATELY, MY EXPERIENC LLEGE AND AFTERWARD ALLOWED ME TO GA NFINCE BOTH OF THE ASPECTS OF MY LIFE. MANY OF MY IENDS NOW ARE AF AND GAY, AND I REALIZE THERE ARE JT AS MANY ADVANTAG AS DISADVANTAG TO THIS DUAL INTY. THE MON STGGLE OF FACG DISCRIMATN OM MANY DIRECTNS HAS FOSTERED A TIGHT-KN SENSE OF MARARIE AMONG AF QUEER {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;}“QUEER-AF CULTURE VALU GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERGENT IAS AND PEOPLE," MY IEND ROBB DOOLG EXPLAS. "WE'RE THE ‘RABOW SHEEP OF THE FAY.' WE HAVE TWO REASONS STEAD OF JT ONE TO STICK TOGETHER.”{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 THERE ARE DOWNSIS, TOO—MOST NOTICEABLY HOW SMALL THE MUNY IS. “GOSSIP SPREADS MORE EASILY PARED TO HOW WOULD THE AF OR GAY MUNI ALONE—SO THERE IS MORE PRSURE TO PROTECT YOUR REPUTATN,” SAYS ANOTHER IEND, NOE {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;}NOE ADMS WE'RE KD OF LIMED, ROMANCE-WISE: "MY DATG POOL NSISTS OF THE AF GAY MEN MY AREA AND HEARG MEN WHO HAPPEN TO BE FLUENT AMERIN SIGN LANGUAGE. PEOPLE WHO ARE STRAIGHT OR HEARG HAVE SIGNIFINTLY MORE OPTNS.”{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 QUTN THAT UP OFTEN: IS HARR TO BE A GAY MAN  THE AF MUNY OR AF THE GAY MUNY?{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;}TO BE HONT, I FEEL MORE FORTABLE BEG GAY THE AF MUNY. BY AND LARGE, AF PEOPLE ARE VERY ACCEPTG OF MY SEXUAL ORIENTATN. BUT BEG AF THE QUEER MUNY HAS, AT TIM, CREATED A SENSE OF ISOLATN AND LOW SELF-TEEM. GAY MEN N BE UNACCEPTG OF THOSE WHO DON'T F A CERTA MOLD: IF YOU'RE NOT HANDSOME, F AND WHE—AND ABLE—YOU TEND TO GET {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;}BEG A AF GAY MAN HAS ALSO BEEN DIFFICULT JT TERMS OF MUNITN AND CULTURAL UNRSTANDG. MOST HEARG GAY GUYS N'T SIGN AND KNOW NOTHG ABOUT AF CULTURE. THE AF MUNY VALU—EVEN REQUIR—EXPRSIVENS HAND MOVEMENTS TO MUNITE. IN NTRAST, I'VE NOTICED THAT G YOUR HANDS TO MUNITE IS LOOKED DOWN UPON BY SOME GAY MEN, BEE S SO STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WH FEMY. PERHAPS DUE TO TERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA, THEY'RE LS FORTABLE WH GUYS WHO ARE EXPRSIVE THIS WAY. SO 'S HARR FOR ME TO BE MY TE SELF WH OTHER 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;}REGARDLS, BEG BOTH AF AND GAY HAS SHAPED MY INTY FOR THE BETTER. IF I WERE STRAIGHT AND HEARG, I WOULDN'T HAVE AS MUCH OF AN IMPULSE TO HELP OTHERS, OR BE AS TOLERANT OR CULTURALLY SENSIVE. I WOULDN'T HAVE CROSSED PATHS WH SO MANY AMAZG {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;}INSTEAD OF SEEG THE TWO PARTS OF MY INTY AS NEGATIV, I VIEW THEM AS QUALI THAT MAKE ME UNIQUE. I AM BLSED TO BE PART OF SUCH A VIBRANT, TIGHT-KN MUNY AND WOULDN'T TRA FOR {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 AS FOR MY FUTURE PARTNER? I'M MORE THAN WILLG TO BI MY TIME AND WA FOR SOMEONE—HEARG OR AF—WHO ACCEPTS ALL THE PARTS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

It wasn't until high school that I tly began to feel like I'd been given a raw al life: Durg my hman year, I veloped my first csh and realized that I wasn't jt af but gay, as realizatn certaly plited matters. Many of my iends now are af and gay, and I realize there are jt as many advantag as disadvantag to this dual inty. “Gossip spreads more easily pared to how would the af or gay muni alone—so there is more prsure to protect your reputatn, ” says another iend, Noe adms we're kd of limed, romance-wise: "My datg pool nsists of the af gay men my area and hearg men who happen to be fluent Amerin Sign Language.

”One qutn that up often: Is harr to be a gay man  the af muny or af the gay muny? Gay men n be unacceptg of those who don't f a certa mold: If you're not handsome, f and whe—and able—you tend to get a af gay man has also been difficult jt terms of munitn and cultural unrstandg. In ntrast, I've noticed that g your hands to munite is looked down upon by some gay men, bee s so strongly associated wh femy.

THE IMPACT OF GAY SOCIAL NETWORKG APPLITNS ON DATG THE DEAF GAY COMMUNY

Perhaps due to ternalized homophobia, they're ls fortable wh guys who are exprsive this way. Datg webs such as, E-Harmony,,, and OkCupid, have bee more mastream acceptance, and operate as a product of universal sign where DeafFootnote 1 gay men are ncerned.

The apps, or geosocial workg applitns (GSN), have revolutnized the gay datg world by makg easier to screen your potential mat based on looks, mon terts, and even geographil distance om you by allowg the ers to screen for active app ers who are merely a few feet away at that very moment. Growlr is more upont and advertis that they are "the plete social workg app for gay bears" ().

Grdr is a hub for all typ and preferenc, labelg self as "the world's largt social workg app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people" (). Clearly, apps have diversified to sub-genr which ter to very specific terts wh the gay muny. As a rult, the faiar past time of clubbg or bar-hoppg now giv way to different norms of social teractns a digal to the rise populary of geosocial workg apps and ter datg, gay men would meet up at the neart gay bar wh iends, drk a cktail, and be on the prowl for activi such as nsensual sexual play, fdg a romantic partner, or formg a platonic relatnship wh another gay man.

SGLE DEAF GAY GUYS INTERTED IN DEAF GAY DATG

This fearful approach is exacerbated for Deaf gay men not only bee of the externally prentg reasons for rejectn based on appearance but bee there are addnal barriers prent for Deaf, gay men.

Nowadays, Deaf gay men no longer need to have an awkward experience approachg someone at a bar to make a nnectn or experience the pa of rejectn on multiple onts. Wh the advent of GSN apps, Deaf gay men have the optn of makg an nnectn behd a screen before meetg person. However, there is a pcy of rearch pertag to GSN apps and their potentially posive impacts on datg, such as bridgg munitn barriers the Deaf gay Deaf muny the Uned Stat is que small, and the vast majory of muny members know one another timately.

Although no data exists on the gree of separatn for the Deaf muny, the rearchers rely on anecdotal evince and personal experience as members of the Deaf gay muny to timate one gree of separatn, which is exacerbated by social media.

DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.DEAF GAY MEN’S E OF LANGUAGE ON DATG APPS.

In sence, the likelihood that a Deaf rearcher will know their participants is extremely high, makg personal and often secretive or "taboo" behavrs difficult to is difficult to accurately provi a snapshot of how many Deaf gay men e GSN apps, let alone how many dividuals the Uned Stat intify as Deaf and gay.