Homosexual myths

[fireheart17]

I thought I'd put these up here. I did a google search and went for the first three websites that had at least 5 or more myths regarding homosexuals. So here's the links.

http://www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/i...rhealth/myths/
http://www.tenbiggestmyths.net/sexuality/homosexuality/
http://www.kristensguide.com/Activis...osexuality.asp

Basically my questions are...

1) What do you think of all of these links?
2) Do you believe them and why?
3) Are there any other myths that you have heard of?
4) What's the best way to challenge them?

My way of challenging them is along the lines of "Well, they don't do anything that heterosexual couples don't do. They kiss. They hug. They hold hands. They make love-and yes, some heterosexual couples do make love the way homosexual couples do."

[Nyoibo]

1. 1st one a tad optimistic in a couple, 2nd right wing fundie bullshit, 3rd is a little naive mostly from this "Every homosexual was born to heterosexual parents, one male sperm and one female egg.".
2. #7 from the first link.
3. Probably, but I can't think of any atm.
4. Better educate people and actually have a government who actually has the balls to remove religeon from politics.

[draggar]

1) The first site seems to be trying to disspell real myths about homosexuality. They also give supporting reasons why (including some statistics - who knows if they're real or not).

The second one is BS - I would even say religious propaganda in nature.

The third one does also seem to be trying to be trying to disspell myths, but not as good as the first link.

2) I would tend to believe the first one the most.

3) Yeah, I've heard tons of them, some are quite funny and hypocritical in nature. My favorite (was pointed towards an openly gay high school student)"
"All he wants to do is have sex" - what high school male doesn't??

4) No way to challenge the myths. All you can do is educate people about homosexuality but there will still be myths about it regardless.

[smileyeagle1021]

The second one is BS - I would even say religious propaganda in nature.

.

they admit that they are putting forward religious propaganda. As per their mission statement

The mission of Ten Biggest Myths is to foster the creation of a culture of heart & conscience which leads to the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth for everyone with no one and nothing left out.

I liked the first site best.
As far as best way to dispel the myths... well, sadly the best selling fiction of all time is still going strong, so there is a long way to go, and sadly about the only thing we can do is to live our lives and wait for people to realize that "hey wait a minute... these aren't anything like the Bible said... something aint right here."

[Savannah]

I love how the two that are actually trying to provide information and dispel myths are the two that are "pro-homosexuality". The "anti-homosexuality" one just lists myths. *laughing* Apparently they can't find anything to back them up!

[crashhelmet]

they admit that they are putting forward religious propaganda. As per their mission statement



I liked the first site best.
As far as best way to dispel the myths... well, sadly the best selling fiction of all time is still going strong, so there is a long way to go, and sadly about the only thing we can do is to live our lives and wait for people to realize that "hey wait a minute... these aren't anything like the Bible said... something aint right here."

What Myths does the Bible create about Homosexuals? Where does the Bible cite any of these myths? There may be so-called "Christians" that believe these myths, but please show me where the Bible agrees with them.

I think the GLBT Community has to worry about their own members creating and supporting these myths than anyone or anything else. If not by their own actions (public bathrooms, bath houses, etc), then by their support of the television shows, movies, and books that continue to fuel these myths.

CH

[smileyeagle1021]

then by their support of the television shows, movies, and books that continue to fuel these myths.

CH

when exactly did we start supporting these stereotypes on television?
I've yet to meet a gay guy who liked the stereotype on TV and movies.
Sadly, we aren't nearly a large enough demographic to change Hollywood, as long as the 90% of the population that is heterosexual enjoys seeing that portrayal on screen and is willing to pay for it, it's going to be there.

[draggar]

when exactly did we start supporting these stereotypes on television?
I've yet to meet a gay guy who liked the stereotype on TV and movies.
Sadly, we aren't nearly a large enough demographic to change Hollywood, as long as the 90% of the population that is heterosexual enjoys seeing that portrayal on screen and is willing to pay for it, it's going to be there.

So Dumbledore (from Harry Potter) and Camille (Stargate: Universe) are stereotypical?

No one would have guessed with either if the author didn't out him (Dumbledore) or they showed an episode with her going home to visit her partner (Camille).

We also have Willow from Buffy. Neither she or either of her (homosexual) partners fitted any stereotype. True, it is questionable if she was always gay or was bisexual (Due to her relationship with Oz the werewolf).

Elton (Clueless) didn't fit into the steretype, either (other than his alleged taste in movies). You didn't know until he was outed by Murray.

I've personally met homosexuals on both end of the scale - ones you would have never guessed and others that make Liberache look straight. Most of them are happy about the way they live thier life, it takes a lot of confidence and security to be able to comfortably live the "flamboyant" side of the spectrum.

How about "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"? Look who outed himself in that movie - a far cry from the sterotype.

True - there are some overly stereotypical characters out there (even in the previously mentioned film) but remember - there are plenty of less noticeable ones out there, it just isn't as easy to notice them.

[smileyeagle1021]

You'll notice my post wasn't about overall how homosexuals were portrayed, but that as long as the stereotype sold tickets it would be used... and sadly, it still is used quite a bit. It's still used as a punchline in TV shows (legend of the seeker has an episode where the seeker's grandfather dresses up to be a woman to pretend to be his aunt and there's a running joke throughout the entire show about the poor guy who is smitten with him not realizing that it's a guy in drag). Making fun of homosexuality sells tickets... I'll admit, sometimes it can be funny (I loved the Producers, it played up the gay stereotype to the extreme... but then again, it played up EVERY stereotype to the extreme), but sadly most people watching it can't see the difference between making fun of ourselves and who we really are.

[draggar]

You'll notice my post wasn't about overall how homosexuals were portrayed, but that as long as the stereotype sold tickets it would be used... and sadly, it still is used quite a bit. It's still used as a punchline in TV shows (legend of the seeker has an episode where the seeker's grandfather dresses up to be a woman to pretend to be his aunt and there's a running joke throughout the entire show about the poor guy who is smitten with him not realizing that it's a guy in drag). Making fun of homosexuality sells tickets... I'll admit, sometimes it can be funny (I loved the Producers, it played up the gay stereotype to the extreme... but then again, it played up EVERY stereotype to the extreme), but sadly most people watching it can't see the difference between making fun of ourselves and who we really are.

So is the overly obnoxious computer geek.
So is the racist / overpoweing police officer.
So is the "dumb blonde".
So is the asshole football (or other sport) star.
So is the stuck-up executive.
So is the "stupid" fast food employee.
So is the drunken stupor frat boy.
So is the guilt-tripping / nagging Jewish mother.
So is the overweight loser.

But none of these, including homosexuals, are potrayed as the sterotype often. If they truely were as big of a source of income as you're making it look like then there would be far more of it.

You don't see the above mentioned groups complaining that everyone else might think they're all like the sterotype. Is it because they don't care if other people think that way or they realize other people can tell a good joke from reality. Yes, people who fit the stereotype do exist but they are the minority and people realize that.

Homosexuals are no different than everyone else - they're made fun of just as much of the rest of us. This is how it is when one group of people want to be treated like everyone else - you get what you wish for.

[bunnyboy]

when exactly did we start supporting these stereotypes on television?

Someone hasn't seen Logo... watched it for QaF reruns (the took out the softcore porn?! Blasphemy!) and by doing so I realized that even one of the better shows for GLB (oddly never saw the T anywere) seems to keep up the all Gay men want is sexsexsexdrugssexsexsex stereotype.

It's just like I've had to facepalm and rant (on my own LJ back in the day) that furries aren't just gay sex deviants... top sellers at cons for people over the age of 18 ASB (cut out the sexsexsex it's ok) and Heathen City...

yeah a lot of stereotype continue because writers can't just have the gay guy be gay normally, otherwise people might think he's just an asexual or a non-shipped guy. (I'll use QaF characters here) So he's either so flaming as to make a forest fire look like a match (Emmet in the early seasons), a guy who goes from ok to good to drugs and back to ok with the possibility of going right back in (TEd) an asshole (Arguably Justin AND Brian) or Someone who has a partner but still lusts after his friend (Michael).

Personally I think TV just need writers than can be subtle with GLBT characters (OK it's hard to be subtle on the T part but still).

[Wingates_Hellsing]

bunnyboy managed to hit two nails one the head with people lack of ability to differentiate / be subtle.

Not only are the gay and furry stereotypes always over-used, but everything they're accused of is only as true for them as it is for any comparative group (gay men to straight men and furries to misc. fanfic)

In both cases a group is accused of something either ignored or accepted everywhere else, blown out of all proportion and all without a shred of evidence or decency. *sigh*

This is what that guy that's been dead for a while meant when he said history repeats...

[Hobbs]

Would Shinji Ikari be a 'good' example? I know it's not put out there for everyone to know, but the shows/movies/manga pretty much hint that he's bi.

[Rapscallion]

shows for GLB (oddly never saw the T anywere)

Hmmm - would someone who has transferred from one gender to another effectively be treated as a member of that gender? If that's the case, are they actually going to be that visible?

Rapscallion

[smileyeagle1021]

Someone hasn't seen Logo... watched it for QaF reruns (the took out the softcore porn?! Blasphemy!) and by doing so I realized that even one of the better shows for GLB (oddly never saw the T anywere) seems to keep up the all Gay men want is sexsexsexdrugssexsexsex stereotype.

It's just like I've had to facepalm and rant (on my own LJ back in the day) that furries aren't just gay sex deviants... top sellers at cons for people over the age of 18 ASB (cut out the sexsexsex it's ok) and Heathen City...

yeah a lot of stereotype continue because writers can't just have the gay guy be gay normally, otherwise people might think he's just an asexual or a non-shipped guy. (I'll use QaF characters here) So he's either so flaming as to make a forest fire look like a match (Emmet in the early seasons), a guy who goes from ok to good to drugs and back to ok with the possibility of going right back in (TEd) an asshole (Arguably Justin AND Brian) or Someone who has a partner but still lusts after his friend (Michael).

Personally I think TV just need writers than can be subtle with GLBT characters (OK it's hard to be subtle on the T part but still).

OK, I don't get Logo because Comcast sucks... never watched Queer as Folk either...
As far as everything else, the reason the writers do that is because it is recognizable... they don't have to explain anything to the audience... it is of course mostly wrong... but it doesn't need to be explained... and when you have to put maximum content in limited time, less explaining = happier audience.
Sadly, the best show I've seen for fair portrayals of deviations from the norm is CSI... I've seen fair portrayals on there of fat people, little people, furries, and trannies.