This is what happened seven years ago during my sophomore year in high school...
"I don't like gay guys. All they care about is sex..."
As I sat in my U.S. history class - waiting for class to begin - I could overhear my teacher's part of the conversation between her and a fellow student.
"I wholeheartedly agree. I like lesbians too. At least they care about love and not just about the sex."
I was offended by the things she was saying but I sat there in silence and kept my feelings hidden. I couldn't let anyone see that I was offended; that would be a huge signal that I was gay and I wasn't ready to come out of the closet.
I thought to myself that it would be nice to prove her wrong and show the world that gay guys don't just care about sex.
---
This happened two days ago while I was in the living room with my older brother.
I sat comfortably in front of the television when a commercial came on.
I've seen these commercials many times before; another local high school teacher was being acknowledged for being an outstanding teacher.
Lo and behold,
it was my old U.S. history teacher.
it was my old U.S. history teacher.
"That's my old history teacher from high school," I told my older brother. I didn't exactly sound enthusiastic and my older brother immediately noticed.
"Something wrong? You don't like her?"
"Nope... I don't like her..."
As I watched the commercial, I saw someone who believed that gay guys only care about sex. Suddenly I hated the fact that I was promiscuous just a few months ago.
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13 comments:
It saddens me that us men in the queer community have to constantly fight this image and reputation of hypersexuality. I agree with you: I just don't care about sex. A relationship and emotional connection with someone beats all the sex in the world.
i understand you my friend. she should not generalized. i am an exemption to that too... wish people would see us differently...
cheer up! we will surely find the right person to value and appreciate us. keep hoping and praying...
btw, i love the music...
JJRod'z
Some people just don't understand us gays. They let other's prejudices cloud their opinion.
generalizations are for the small minded!
have a great day
She needs a teacher.
People change. Hopefully she is not only OLDER, but WISER.
She sounds "Anti - Man" to me, as in "all men think with their other 'head'" :/ .
As a teacher, I can say that it pains me to hear that a colleague spoke in such a closed-minded and unprofessional way. I hope that you have had other teachers who were more accepting and professional than this one. And I do hope she has grown and learned since then. It always amazes me to hear some of the things teachers say, not realizing that their words are sometimes going to stay with a student for life.
Sup everyone!
@ InItsGrip
Tell me about it. It's a tough battle. People are constantly bombarded with images of sexually driven gay guys (just look at some of the gay blogs on Blogger).
@ JJ Roa Rodriguez
I'll keep the hope alive.
@ imarei
Even I don't understand everything about gays and I'm attracted to guys myself haha... but yeah, no one should ever say that gay guys only care about sex. Men can be very sexually driven, but it's not the ONLY thing they care about.
@ David Allen Waters
David I think this was the shortest comment you've ever given me haha
@ thegayte-keeper
And this post gives the lesson.
@ Pat
Yeah, it's true that she might no longer believe that. It's hard to forget what she's said though. It's bothersome that there are some people that truly believe that a gay guy's main priority in life is to have hot sex.
@ FOGGY
She did seem to pick on the guys in the class and not the girls...
@ Jen Marshall Duncan
It's nice to have a teacher backing me up on this. Thank you. That makes me feel a whole lot better.
I questioned that to someone a few weeks ago- though i did not get a response. but i must ask: is it the media that reinforces these ideas?
http://stumblethesewords.blogspot.com
Your former teacher has a very narrow view of reality. Its a generalization that we need to resist. There's a lot of learning yet to do on all sides! - V
@ Jacky Le
Hmm... not sure if I'm the best person to ask that question too. LOL.
It's possible that gay men themselves contribute to this idea. Something as simple as posting pictures of goodlooking guys whenever they post a new post on their blog gives others the idea that gay guys do just care about the physical aspects of relationships.
It also amazes me that straight men go into the gay porn industry because apparently the gay porn industry has a very productive pay-off.
@ SpiritMountainGuy
You're right. We can all learn to be more understanding of why gay guys are idealized this way. I'll keep my eyes open and be more aware of what exactly contributes to this image of gay men.
I can really relate to this. Whenever the person I admire suddenly say something really stupid or give a totally fucked up opinion, I usually lose an ounce of respect for that person. But then again, I get reminded that they're humans as well. So in the end, I tend to become very practical whenever I admire someone. I admire them only to a certain point.
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