why do gay people have to say it

[Anonymous]

why do gay people have to admit they are gay? Since now being gay is normal why do they need to tell people they are gay? IMO Gays are cool with me and I don't have a problem with it but I am not yelling and saying I am straight why cant they keep it till them self too?

[Anonymous]

Because for most of humanity, straight people have been yelling and saying that the only acceptable way to be, is straight - everything else is/was considered shameful, to be suppressed, quieted, swept under the carpet.

Hence the term "pride." Own it, say it, because it's actually acceptable to be gay.

[Anonymous]

Honestly. Sometimes I find it helps bigoted jerks not make themselves sound like bigoted jerks in public fora. Few things are more awkward than having someone spew nonsense in a room full of people at least half of whom know I am queer and then having the person find out/realize that they are spewing nonsense abt me, who happens to be their supervisor, kid's classmate's parent, neighbor, etc. Basically, I am providing you the opportunity to stay closeted by not being closeted. Second, and more importantly, it's just part of who I am, my family structure, my reality, etc. I am not ashamed of it and just as I would reveal growing up in a particular place, or ethnic origin, or my love of some food, it may just come up in conversation. It has absolutely nothing to do with whether you are "cool" with it. Lastly, I like to make others, who may not have yet come out or are questioning, feel safe around me. One easy way to do that is to be comfortable and open about who I am. You do not have these feelings likely bc you are in the majority and bc when people assume you are straight, you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why do gay people have to admit they are gay? Since now being gay is normal why do they need to tell people they are gay? IMO Gays are cool with me and I don't have a problem with it but I am not yelling and saying I am straight why cant they keep it till them self too?

If you don't have a problem with gays and think they're cool then ask one why they can't keep their sexuality to themselves.
Maybe you'll get a more definitive answer talking to someone in person than going off what you hear on an anonymous message board.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to announce you're straight because society presumes you are unless you tell them otherwise. Gay people are basically forced to announce it to keep people from making inaccurate assumptions about them. Imagine you were somewhat androgynous in appearance, and people kept assuming you were the opposite sex. Would you be okay being called Mr. all the time if you're a woman or Ms. if you're a man? Probably not, you'd want people to know who you are. Same for gay people.

[Anonymous]

I am gay and can't tell you the last time I announced it. I might say, "Oh, you spoke to my wife on the phone last week." or sign a note to someone I don't know, (Susie and Sammy Smith, Larla's moms) Do you considering this "telling everyone"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to announce you're straight because society presumes you are unless you tell them otherwise. Gay people are basically forced to announce it to keep people from making inaccurate assumptions about them. Imagine you were somewhat androgynous in appearance, and people kept assuming you were the opposite sex. Would you be okay being called Mr. all the time if you're a woman or Ms. if you're a man? Probably not, you'd want people to know who you are. Same for gay people.

This exactly. We're forced to announce it or just lie, depending on the situation and our concern for our own comfort or even safety. I'm a married lesbian with a kid, and was recently getting my hair cut at a place where I've once taken DS. The woman cutting my hair asked "Oh, is your son home with Daddy?"

What would you have me say to that?

[Anonymous]

I don't know that I voice it but I likewise don't hide who I am. If you ask me about my wife I will correct you to husband and then answer. Similar assumptions and statements and questions are made literally dozens of times a day every day.