lonewriter
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Stereotypes?why is it that some people think that if a man likes musicals then they must be gay? Of course most of these fools believe there is something wrong with being gay and anybody with a brain knows their isn't. I am straight but my best friend is gay (I was the first one he came out to at 16) I just don't get it.
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Beagle On Stage
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I find that the stereotype is there, but it doesn't take people long to get over it. It's on its way out. I know a lot of people in a lot of theatre circuits, and honestly I can only name a handful of gay guys.
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lonewriter
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| Beagle On Stage wrote: | | I find that the stereotype is there, but it doesn't take people long to get over it. It's on its way out. I know a lot of people in a lot of theatre circuits, and honestly I can only name a handful of gay guys. |
maybe not where you live but here in Texas, that is the first thing they say and I don't like it.
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Set_Buildin_Dad
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It's not just limited to theater, any guy who participates or enjoys artistic pursuits is subject to suspicion. I know, I'm a straight figure skater as well as being a fan of the arts. As you get older there is less of that assumption. It's just a predjudice that you deal with. BTW - I find that the lower the IQ is of the opinion holder, the more likely they are to make that assumption.
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lonewriter
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that's the truth, it seems that everyone who has called me a "friend of Dorothy" seems to have the IQ of a fly.
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Lepitot
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| Beagle On Stage wrote: | | I find that the stereotype is there, but it doesn't take people long to get over it. It's on its way out. I know a lot of people in a lot of theatre circuits, and honestly I can only name a handful of gay guys. |
Interesting. At the arts school, the director was gay. And so were over half the guys in the cast.
Not that that makes much difference, just pointing it out.
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Buff Daddy
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In the last production I was in (a cast of 15) 4 people were gay. From where I live, that is a high percentage (about 25%). In other productions, the percentage would be much lower.
I don't know know whether that means there are not many gay people involved in theatre where I live or the "assumption" that all people in theatre are gay or what, but the stereotype still exists. My family (including my wife!!!) often joke about me being gay because I do theatre!
Buff 
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Set_Buildin_Dad
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| Buff Daddy wrote: | I don't know know whether that means there are not many gay people involved in theatre where I live or the "assumption" that all people in theatre are gay or what, but the stereotype still exists. My family (including my wife!!!) often joke about me being gay because I do theatre!
Buff |
Look at it this way. I often just translate those remarks to mean that I have an appreciation of the arts. The arts are one of the few things that endure in this world. Long after sports seasons have been forgotten, great artistic works will endure for future generations. Look at yourself as a visionnary.
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PappyCat
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I think you'd get asked the same question if you were a female in mechanics. Or golf. I don't think it makes you ignorant. My very educated, very open parents have been surprised at the small number of gay guys in my theatre department.
I guess I just don't think, in general, it's a very hurtful stereotype. Unless of course, people are calling someone a derogatory term just because they like MT. But just the assumption that MT = Gay isn't a horrible one. I've mockingly exclaimed "But you're GAY!" to gay friends when I find out they don't know much about Musical theatre.
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lonewriter
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you are right about it not just being theatre, I also like the ballet and classical music and you would think I am a space alien when some people find this out.
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Beagle On Stage
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| Lepitot wrote: | Interesting. At the arts school, the director was gay. And so were over half the guys in the cast.
Not that that makes much difference, just pointing it out. |
I do think, however, that gay guys would be more likely to follow through with going the whole nine yards and attending an arts school. I was talking in terms of the general public.
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sopranodespair
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I don't like that stereotype. In my area, most of the guys that get the main parts in musicals are straight. I'm sure that there's someone who's gay, but I don't go around trying to figure out everyone's orientation.
I just hate it so much. Mostly I heard it said by high school jocks.
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Robinflamingo
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My very masculine, black belt, maintenance engineer husband and I met in theatre. He also took a year of tap as an adult and acutally appeared in a recital wearing a glittery vest and white buck tap shoes.
People have often said "you must have found the last straight guy in theatre."
The interesting thing is that he doesn't like team sports either...we saw Patrick Ewing in an airport once, and I got all excited, and he said "Basketball, right?"
On the other hand, my best male friend Tom, a phenomenal artist and actor, wore flannel shirts, loved football, and had an ugly gross apartment. He was often told he was a piss poor excuse for a homosexual.
Stereotypes are ridiculous.
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wicked_boy
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I used to get really horrible remarks from people who knew that I loved the arts. They all said I was gay. I wasn't, I had a long term girlfriend at that time. But then, we grew up, no one really cares any more.
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