Eleanor A. Hubbard, Kriste De Wel, "I'm Glad I'm Not Gay!'": Heterosexual Stunts' Emotnal Experience the College Classroom wh a "Comg out" Assignment, Teachg Soclogy, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Jan., 2003), pp. 73-84
Contents:
HOW DO I KNOW I’M NOT REALLY GAY/STRAIGHT?
Do we need laws forbiddg the "gay" sult? * i am not gay kid *
In orr to have doubts about one’s sexual inty, a sufferer need not ever have had a homo- or heterosexual experience, or any type of sexual experience at all. If the sufferer is heterosexual, then the thought may be that they are homosexual. If on the other hand they happen to be homosexual they may obss about the possibily that they might really be straight.
” Some people’s doubts are further plited by havg such experienc as hearg other people talkg or lookg their directn and thkg that the people mt be analyzg their behavr or appearance and talkg about them – discsg how they mt be gay (or straight).
For those wh thoughts of beg homosexual, part of the distrs mt surely be social orig. Let’s face , gay people have always been an opprsed mory wh our culture, and to sudnly thk of beg this posn, and to be stigmatized this way, n be ighteng. I have sometim wonred if those who experience the most distrs om such thoughts as the do so bee they were raised wh more strongly homophobic or anti-gay attus to beg wh, or if is simply bee one’s sexualy n be such a basic doubt.
THE SOLUTN TO "GAY" INSULTS: FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Lookg at attractive men or women, or pictur of them, or readg sexually oriented lerature or pornography (hetero- or homosexual), to see if they are sexually excg. Observg themselv for evince of “lookg, ” talkg, walkg, drsg, or gturg like someone who is eher gay or straight.
Compulsively reviewg and analyzg past teractns wh other men or women to see if they have acted like a gay or straight person. Readg articl on the ter about how an dividual n tell if they are gay or straight to see which group they might be most siar to. Do you thk I uld be gay (or straight)?
How n I tell if I’m really gay (or straight)? Can you sudnly turn to a homosexual (or heterosexual) even if you have never felt or acted that that way? Do I look (or act) gay (or straight) to you?