Straight Acting or Camp? Do you have a preferance?

ajmurphy62

Just from asking around it appears that alot of straight acting guys dont like to be seen with camp guys, or to get with them. I was just wondering which people prefered and why?

damien

I despise the term straight acting. It's like the people who are masculine and don't adhere to some camp over-the-top stereotype are going against their gay nature or something and not being themselves.

fletch

I prefer straight acting guys.....actually I prefer straight guys

azezil

I'd much prefer to be with someone who was as camp as knickers than someone who'd pretend to be something they're not.

Hmm_Messiah

straight acting ?

Doesn't the term suggest so much ignorant opinion of LGBT that it should be avoided. Its a nonsense anyways
In behaviour how is straight different than gay (other than the obvious activities ) ?
and the word "acting", some people complain that "camp" is pretensious and so put on, how the hell does it differ from "acting" ?

Easily the question could be asked which do you prefer camp or non camp.
I find very camp people annoying erm "objectively" but peopel I get to know who have those traits I enjoy very much.
If a question of which I'm "attracted to" have to say - the person , I can't see the magick confusion of human attraction being quite so ...pathetic

swiss

Straight acting. A contradiction in terms.

But since I know what you mean, I have to say that it doesn't really bother me either way. I don't like the behavioral extremes of being either very butch or very effeminate, but very few guys would belong to those stereotypes. However, given the choice between a guy who was quite butch, or a guy who was quite camp, I would probably choose the latter. But it's quite low down on my list of priorities.

fletch

azezil wrote:

I'd much prefer to be with someone who was as camp as knickers than someone who'd pretend to be something they're not.

What you are implying there is that all straight acting guys are pretending to be something they are not.
I have lots of striaght acting gay mates. Two of them are rugby players and have a genuine interest in sport, they're not trying not to be camp, they just aren't

ajmurphy62

Well i'd be attracted to either. Yea, sometmes camp guys are head wrecking, but then again sometimes there are straight acting guys just as annoying

Hmm_Messiah

fletch wrote:

What you are implying there is that all straight acting guys are pretending to be something they are not.
I have lots of striaght acting gay mates. Two of them are rugby players and have a genuine interest in sport, they're not trying not to be camp, they just aren't

he isn't implying anything, straight acting means just that, a pretence. And even when its not used in that way like the examples you gave it is somehow shallow, A gay person acting straight ! How else is there to understand it .

And the idea of Rugby and sport demostrating their straightness, perpetuate a stereotype why don't ya

azezil

fletch wrote:

What you are implying there is that all straight acting guys are pretending to be something they are not.
I have lots of striaght acting gay mates. Two of them are rugby players and have a genuine interest in sport, they're not trying not to be camp, they just aren't

I'm doing nothing of the sort.
Perhaps a better way of putting it would be someone who "pretends to be straight", who hides in the shadows and won't accept who they are.

damien

fletch wrote:

Two of them are rugby players and have a genuine interest in sport, they're not trying not to be camp, they just aren't

Then they are themselves, they are not acting, so they can't be classed as "straight acting". The term seems to be used a lot in negative way by people who are uncomfortable that some guys like to watch a game of rugby and drink a few beers and couldn't give a flying fck about Kylie. All of a sudden this is classed as an attack on the sequins and tiara mafia and they used the term to imply those people are not being themselves and are false.

I do know those who call themselves "straight acting" and haven't a clue about sports apart from wearing sports kit and do their best (in hilarious ways at times) to act "manly" and have often been heard giving out about the "bloody queens and fags around here" yet give them one pint and they are more over-the-top camp than an Azezil at a Boards Beers.

[off-topic] My home is starting to get quite cold. Who would have thought I'd agree with hmmm_messiah on something?

ixoy

Dreadful labels aside, we all know what you mean here. I don't like either extreme ends because I find both a bit off-putting. Beyond that, I take it on a case-by-case basis: those who are too butch can be less fun to be around whereas those too-camp can be too draining to be around (IMHO). It'd never stop me, in any way, from getting to know someone though.

Hmm_Messiah

oops
Just realised your the guy who just started contributing posts, so I don't mean in anyway to be vicious or anything.

But the term straight-acting is very "iffy" even when your intention is known.

fletch

Striaght Acting is merely someone who doesn't conform to the commonly perceived stereotype of what a gay person is. It's simply a label used to describe a gay person who doesn't act overtly gay. Why you would take issue with the term is beyond me?
"Most"(generalization accepted) straight men don't go around in 3quarter length pants, a pink tank-top, spiky hair, spray on tan & have a lisp in their voice. Therefore gay guys that don't conform to that standard are seen as straight acting in the same light that guys that do fit that stereotype are labelled "camp" So what, it's just a label

swiss

straight acting means just that, a pretence

Literally interpreted, yes.

However as I understand the term in common parlance it indicates that a person shares behavioral traits that are considered by society to be the preserve of heterosexual people, or conversely that such a person does not broadly share the traits that again would be considered by society to be the preserve of homosexual men.

As the definition above implies, the term "straight acting" is a misnomer. Heterosexual men may act in a very camp manner. Homosexual males may (and often do) act in what is perceived to be a non camp or "straight" manner. Hence it is probably best to avoid using this term because of its ambiguity and also for the reasons you've outlined. But it doesn't annoy me as much as it seems to irritate other posters here.

Sport and rugby do not "demonstrate" straightness, but it again fits in to societal perceptions of camp and non camp. What are you really railing against? The use of the term "straight acting", or the connotations it invokes?

damien

fletch wrote:

Striaght Acting is merely someone who doesn't conform to the commonly perceived stereotype of what a gay person is.

No, it is a term concoted by bitter gay people who do their best to belittle and discriminate against others in their community that they feel insecure about. The ones that so nastily use this term want everyone to be like them and if they don't conform, they are branded fakes.

Hmm_Messiah

For the record, it does offend me as a term , or irritate me greatly. I am very much the kind of person who would be called straight acting.

The thing is I am not acting, this is me. Where it annoys me is where people find me more acceptable than Camp Cyril simply on my behaviour. Maybe its a reaction/overrreaction to the amount of secrecy/mistruths about being gay or not in my past.

Other than that I just think its a phrase we could do wellto replace, like phrases like gaybashing, I guess I like words to have a literal meaning

Now I am off to get in a spot of rugby, followed by some 5 aside, maybe check those manly Foo fighters in concert, oh and I might hurl some verbal abuse as some women in the pub, all the while unknown to any one listening to some Madonna remixes on the Zen

Hmm_Messiah

any one for an arm wrestle ? :rolleyes:

fletch

damien.m wrote:

No, it is a term concoted by bitter gay people who do their best to belittle and discriminate against others in their community that they feel insecure about. The ones that so nastily use this term want everyone to be like them and if they don't conform, they are branded fakes.

Oooh opened up an old wound there I think.
Anyway I've said my piece so there ya go. Your personal experience of the term has obviously been very different to mine

damien

fletch wrote:

Oooh opened up an old wound there I think... Your personal experience of the term

Nothing to do with personal experiences per se. Personal observations of people who use the phrase as well as some of anthropological research brought me to this viewpoint. I don't like the term and I think it is divisive to our community.

Stark

I've had the term "straight acting" used on me a few times. I'm sure damien.m would disagree, which is kind of reassuring. It means I haven't gone down the "gaa kits & jock straps" road yet The way I see it, I didn't dump one set of stereotypes (girls, cars & football), just so I could get bogged down with another set (Kylie, river island and highlights).

Now I'd shout a few slogans about being proud to be simply me and all that, but I don't want to turn into a black woman either

BuffyBot

Way too many people get way too worked up about small things like this. It's what drives me insane about gay people somedays.

MicraBoy

I always took the term str8 acting to mean non-camp. Nothing to do with your interests neccessarily, but to do with mannerisms. Hence I would describe myself as str8 acting and would prefer guys who are str8 acting.

I don't know another term used commonly to describe the state of being non-camp (lol aside from non-camp, but that won't do). Of course these are all labels and labels are bull, but in the modern world of the internet they are useful tools on occasion (on gaydar more like).

bopper

damien.m wrote:

No, it is a term concoted by bitter gay people who do their best to belittle and discriminate against others in their community that they feel insecure about. The ones that so nastily use this term want everyone to be like them and if they don't conform, they are branded fakes.

Bull****! Two of my closest friends are in no way camp, Fletch is one of them. I am. But not once has either of them ever called me fake, or made me feel insecure about who I am. Now and again they might take they piss, but it's always only meant as a bit of friendly banter, and I understand that, they're never nasty about it.

At the end of the day "straight acting" is a term commonly used among the gay community for people who aren't camp or effeminate. I don't see the harm in using it myself. If you don't like the term just get the **** over it and use something else.

damien

BuffyBot wrote:

It's what drives me insane about gay people somedays.

But worked up in a "not getting upset about such a small thing" kind of way?

damien

bopper wrote:

At the end of the day "straight acting" is a term commonly used among the gay community for people who aren't camp or effeminate.

It's a terrible pity that people need to create a new label for people that are classed as a subset of the gay community just because they are not camp or effeminate. One would have thought if people were to be labeled that "gay" alone would have sufficed.

TCamen

It's a terrible pity that people need to create a new label for people that are classed as a subset of the gay community just because they are not camp or effeminate. One would have thought if people were to be labeled that "gay" alone would have sufficed.

I think people will always need adjectives (or labels if you will) to describe others. If 'camp' and 'effeminate' are acceptable adjectives, I don't see any reason to exclude 'straight-acting' as a descriptive term as long as there exists a person or persons to which it applies. I'm not sure what alternative there really is to describe gay men who aren't overtly camp or effeminate, I would imagine suggesting 'manly' or 'masculine' would be just as offensive to the posters who've taken offense to 'straight-acting'.
IMO, simply saying 'gay' to most people conjures more a mental image of Graham Norton than perhaps a typical grrr manly man that just happens to enjoy the company of many men (or Graham Norton)

I really don't think it's a big deal, but each to their own. As to the original question, I'd gravitate towards the middle ground rather than extremes, but in terms of friendship, variety is always a good thing.

Pet

I have quite a few gay friends, and it came as a shock to me when some of them told me, because they didn't fit the stereotype. I soon came to realise that the camp, bitchy effeminate queens were only a small, vocal minority.

I'd imagine it must be pretty damn annoying to be lumped in with the aforementioned queens if you're just a regular guy who likes other men instead of women, so I see no problem with using the term "straight-acting". But someone should invent a replacement, because it's not necessarily about "acting straight", it's more about "not acting camp"...

TCamen

I'd imagine it must be pretty damn annoying to be lumped in with the aforementioned queens if you're just a regular guy who likes other men instead of women, so I see no problem with using the term "straight-acting". But someone should invent a replacement, because it's not necessarily about "acting straight", it's more about "not acting camp"...

This is what I was trying to get at -- there isn't really a generally acceptable and widely used alternative to 'straight acting' that can be used to describe the 'non-camp' gay guys, so until there is, I don't see the big deal.

damien

TCamen wrote:

This is what I was trying to get at -- there isn't really a generally acceptable and widely used alternative to 'straight acting' that can be used to describe the 'non-camp' gay guys, so until there is, I don't see the big deal.

But this would imply that non-camp guys are not sufficiently labeled by "gay" and the fact that they get lumbered with the term "straight-acting" further implies that gay people in general are camp and effeminate. Why is there a need to find a polar-opposite to camp? Is there an opposite to "Blue Eyes" or "Dubliner"? Why do we need to create special types of gay that strenghten stereotypes that gay means camp, apart from special circumstances and that these special circumstances are when gay men overcome some natural handicap and go against the grain to become ordinary?

Sounds like some midweek TV movie. "Overcoming all the odds and impediments, Scott StLovehard trained in the ancient ninja ways to remove all traces of a lisp in his voice and a mince in his step, to become Bob Smith, an ordinary guy who talks about rugby, drinks alcohol from umbrella-less glasses and who just happens to fck men."

We have camp straight men, we don't have straight-acting straight men do we?

TCamen

But this would imply that non-camp guys are not sufficiently labeled by "gay" and the fact that they get lumbered with the term "straight-acting" further implies that gay people in general are camp and effeminate. Why is there a need to find a polar-opposite to camp? Is there an opposite to "Blue Eyes" or "Dubliner"?

My original point was that people - straight, LGBTQ or otherwise - will always look to find labels for groups of people. I don't see it as perpetuating the notion that gay = camp. I don't know why everything has to be about presenting a united gay community, because it's ridiculous to assume that all gay people are the same as much as it is to assume that all Irish people think and act the same. IMO, 'gay' is a more general term, and because of the social ideas attached to that word (i.e the more camp Graham Norton, Carson from Queer Eye kind of gay man), often a further distinction should be made or is sought to be made in order to qualify different types of gay persons.
In the same way there's butch, lipstick, diesel lesbians, there are camp and there are straight-acting/non-camp men (to identify two broad gay male types). I don't think that the non-camp men should have to forgo the distinction out of respect for a greater gay community and that offense might be taken if they require the distinction to be made.

Why do we need to create special types of gay that strenghten stereotypes that gay means camp, apart from special circumstances and that these special circumstances are when gay men overcome some natural handicap and go against the grain to become ordinary?

I really don't believe that by referring to oneself as 'straight-acting', it somehow demeans gay men that are happy to simply call themselves 'gay'. The way you've phrased it, it sounds like it's something to be ashamed of to actually somehow be an ordinary (i.e apparently straight) guy who happens to like men. The gay community with the camp people and the non-camp people is just that - a community. However, within that community, sections might seek to label themselves or others in one way or another in order to set themselves apart - I mean gay women generally go with 'lesbian', I'm not quite sure why certain people need to say 'queer' as opposed to 'gay', but I'm not going to judge them for it, or insist them use preferred terms.

we don't have straight-acting straight men do we?

No, mostly because the term would be quite redundant generally speaking. Personally I don't qualify my being gay with anything further, but I certainly don't begrudge anyone who wants to make a distinction between 'camp' and 'straight acting' on their own behalf or on the behalf of others. I just don't see the insidious connotations of the phrase that others clearly do.

Hmm_Messiah

It looks like people are arguing about different things thinking they are the same.

adjectives/labels are necessary I guess and so if some guy wants to differientiate himself from Graham Norton as menioned then he could say str* acting ( or just NAGN - Not a Graham Norton)

I think people having the problem (inc. me ) is that the label is inaccurate, if these people are not "acting". Acting is being other than you are. If people. mean straight behaving there might be a subtle difference but still the question would be

so what is gay acting/ gay behaving ?

I understand it as physical/emotional attraction to same sex and having same sex relationships. In that single trait how do they differ ? they don't

so what are they trying to differentiate themselves from ..... well campness I'd guess
So there lies the problem: the term straightacting continues to perpertuate the idea camp = gay. And I just would of thought it time the " gay community" would prefer to lose the myths, the stereotypes.

I don't like being called straight acting because it makes me sound like I am putting on a performance other than simply being me. I don't like how "some" others use it because it comes across as a dislike of something that is essentially them, being gay!

As for alternatives ? if the inuit can have 40 words for types of snow (hehe i know they don't, another myth) then I am sure the vocabulary can stretch to some new phraseology. In fact, technically I'm not really gay, 'cos Im a miserable git.


How about
LTBBOJLU- Likes the boys but otherwise just like you

or

LTPWB - Likes to pay with balls

damien

I find myself agreeing with hmmm_messiah again, I'm getting dizzy over it.

I find it quite offensive that gay people have an inert negative feeling towards the word gay. The fact that bopper and micraboy see "straight acting" as an opposite to camp implies to me that the word "gay" is not enough to describe someone that cannot be differentiated from a straight man apart from who they sleep with.

We don't label straight men as "straight acting" yet we feel the desire to label gay men as "straight acting". The opposite to gay is straight, so the opposite to straight acting is "gay acting" is it? and yet people say the opposite to camp is straight acting too.

The straight world assumes that the majority of gay people are camper than camp. I find it sad that the gay community instead of saying camp is just a trait of some people go ahead and enforce the stereotype by creating a subclass of gay folk known as "straight acting" to describe ordinary guys.

There should not be a need to use "straight acting" to describe "non-camp", there should be no need to create a new label at all when the word gay should be sufficient. Using the term straight acting to label a gay guy who is just as ordinary as a straight guy does nothing but keep the divisons between gay people and straight people intact.

MicraBoy

I think we're largely all agreed that the term str8 acting isn't really the best phrase in a literal sense.

I personally think the word gay describes someones sexuality not their mannerisms. Str8 acting describes something more akin to traits like eye colour, where the person is from, serious/funloving, shy/outgoing etc. It's just a way of describing something about yourself or someone else. If someone said to you "I'm quite outgoing" you wouldn't start waving your fist saying "Are you implying I'm shy?"

*Can of worms*
The word gay originally meant lighthearted/happy, so it technically has nothing to do with sexuality and so shouldn't we apply a similar argument and say not all gay people are happy so we shouldn't label ourselves as such.
*Can of worms*

It also strikes me that str8 acting is a phrase like queer or n***** that may have started off as an offence term in some way but is now adopted with pride by those who aren't camp. Similar to the word queen which is used both proudly and derogatorily.

hazimel

damien.m wrote:

The fact that bopper and micraboy see "straight acting" as an opposite to camp implies to me that the word "gay" is not enough to describe someone that cannot be differentiated from a straight man apart from who they sleep with.

But it's not enough. Not for gay people, at least, which is the predominant issue here. Your issue seems to be that gay people using the term "straight-acting" enforces a stereotype (to straight people?) that most gay men are camp, except for those that go out of their way to act non-camp, is that about right? But the fact is that it's mostly gay people that use this term and use it to describe a sexual preference.

"Gay 1: So what kind of man do you fancy?
Gay 2: Gay men.
Gay 1: Yeah, I sure wish someone would invent more words to describe
subsets of gay men, my gaydar profile just says I'm gay."

The term may not be the most PC term imaginable, but it suits our needs and since we all on this board seem to agree that "straight-acting" means "non-camp" and has nothing to do with the "naturalness" of being camp or not camp, I think you're generating a prejudice where none exists.

damien.m wrote:

We don't label straight men as "straight acting" yet we feel the desire to label gay men as "straight acting".

We don't need to label straight men as "straight-acting", it seems to come quite naturally to them.

damien.m wrote:

there should be no need to create a new label at all

I'd proffer a suggestion. What everyone here needs is a hyphen.
"Straight-acting" meaning "someone whose mannerisms are typical of the mannerisms of a straight person". This is as opposed to "Straight acting", meaning "an actor who performs an impersonation of a straight person".

ajmurphy62

MicraBoy wrote:

*Can of worms*
The word gay originally meant lighthearted/happy, so it technically has nothing to do with sexuality and so shouldn't we apply a similar argument and say not all gay people are happy so we shouldn't label ourselves as such.
*Can of worms*

I agree. That is a very good point. Not Every gay person is a happy one, and the meaning of the word gay is happy, therefore why do we use it?

lucernarian

I always thought that "straight acting" meant someone in denial of their (homo)sexuality, like those men who are married for 20 years and have kids but one day leaves them to go off with a man (just an example).

As for non-camp people, I think the word is stupid, and is grossly misused. I daresay that most words relating to homosexuality are stupid, based on ignorant stereotypes that the majority of people (most heterosexuals) have. I mean, think about the word "queer". But at the end of the day, that's the words that most people use and if you try to describe someone, you use words that they will understand. "Camp" may be a stereotype but it can be a pretty accurate one for some people, especially those who go out of their way to be effeminate.

Edit: I agree with the last few posts and the word "gay" is a good example of stereotypes although to be fair, people nowadays are less ignorant of homosexuality and while they may use the word "gay", they don't mean it literally

Hmm_Messiah

I agree. That is a very good point. Not Every gay person is a happy one, and the meaning of the word gay is happy, therefore why do we use it?

This is a good point ? "A" meaning, "one" meaning of the word is happy

goodbye means "god be with ye", should all agnostics/atheists no longer say goodbye ? words evolve in their meaning.

the problem with "straight acting" is it deliberately suggests a differentiation between it and the opposite being "gay acting".

Maybe if we remove the sexuality from it for a second

If you said you were "single acting" would your partner be thrilled or wonder why you need to describe yourself that way ?

Hmm_Messiah

suggest poll format

Do you prefer :

* the same sex

* the "opposite" sex

* either

* other

If same sex do you prefer:

*Camp as Christmas

*Less Camp than Christmas but tends to wave arms about quite abit and has kylie posters on the wall

* the guy with Oasis Posters, even a Ramones poster up, though he doesn't know any of their songs

* the guy who insists on constantly mention his girlfriends, or p***y as he does ya

* the guy who won't acknowledge you socially but back atthe flat wants you to call him honey and has more skin treatments in his bathroom than liz hurley

* the guy who plays soccer, and rugby, and rowing, and works out, and NEVER even notices the naked guys in the locker room

* the guy who holds your hand all night when your out, interrupting ever conversation with kisses and stroking your face

TCamen

I find it quite offensive that gay people have an inert negative feeling towards the word gay.

I don't see how wanting to describe certain traits in gay people is working against some grand scheme of 'the gay community'.

There should not be a need to use "straight acting" to describe "non-camp", there should be no need to create a new label at all when the word gay should be sufficient. Using the term straight acting to label a gay guy who is just as ordinary as a straight guy does nothing but keep the divisons between gay people and straight people intact.

But it's not enough. Not for gay people, at least, which is the predominant issue here. The fact is that it's mostly gay people that use this term and use it to describe a sexual preference.

Indeed, the original poll question was pretty much only focusing on sexual preference with regard to 'straight acting'. It bewilders me how the phrase makes some people so angry and offended to be honest. I never realised it was such a contentious phrase. I think my main issue is that I don't see the leap from descriptive phrase used amongst gay people to promoting division between gay people and straight people.

The term may not be the most PC term imaginable, but it suits our needs and since we all on this board seem to agree that "straight-acting" means "non-camp" and has nothing to do with the "naturalness" of being camp or not camp, I think you're generating a prejudice where none exists.

Again, totally agree. I don't think it has to be anything more than a means to an end, which is to describe certain gay men. "omigod he is like so straight acting" etc. :rolleyes:

Enigma365

I soon came to realise that the camp, effeminate queens were only a small, vocal minority.

I would agree with you 100%. I think the vast majority of gay people are not camp and could be regarded as "straight acting".

The only reason that society has a stereotype of gay people as camp is because if you are camp, you are more obviously gay.

For example, if a person walked by 100 people in one day, 10 of whom were gay but only 2 camp, he might think that he only saw 2 gay people that day, 100% of them who were camp. However he would not realise that he actually met 10 gay people, of whom only 20% were camp.

I have nothing against campness though....

MicraBoy

goodbye means "god be with ye", should all agnostics/atheists no longer say goodbye ? words evolve in their meaning.

Putting aside the fact that that, is the origin of the word not the meaning, why's it so hard to accept that the phrase "str8 acting" has evolved into meaning "the opposite of camp".

The word "acting" also has more than one meaning. Folks only seem interested in its use as "pretending".

the problem with "straight acting" is it deliberately suggests a differentiation between it and the opposite being "gay acting".

Well "gay acting" is a phrase you made up, so I don't have any understanding of it. It sounds like a literal opposite with no account taken of the meaning of the phrase "str8 acting". Particularly not in the context used by the OP.

Again "single acting" I dont understand the phrase as you have just invented it. Is it the opposite of "coupley" or the opposite of "double acting"?

hazimel

Enigma365 wrote:

I would agree with you 100%. I think the vast majority of gay people are not camp and could be regarded as "straight acting".

That depends on your definition of "camp", though

I actually think that a lot of gay people are pretty camp. And since I'm not attracted to camp men, the usefulness of the terms "camp" and "straight-acting" are abundant to me.

Hmm_Messiah

straight acting was a term some one once made up
as was gay etc etc

Its kinda simple: some people see it as a useful way to describe a trait , just like it would be ok to say you were quiet, or loud, or extroverted etc. That's all fine.

The fact does remain some people find the term unhelpful, unnecessary or offensive, and with valid reasons.

Simply though what then is the "opposite" to straight acting?

And I accpet that if a guy tells me he is straight acting then I know mre about him, just like if he told me he is into techno or garage etc. I just would not have much interest in some one who finds thats the best way he can describe himself, how he acts would become apparent I'd hope as i got to know him.

noncamp would distinguish me from camp, serious from frivolous/silly, masculine from feminine, quiet from loud, I don't have to continue a term which does to some people reinforce misundertanding. It is withing the wish of the " gay community" to be accepted/understood that I find it a misnomer.

I think thoose the opposing views have been repeated now quite a number of time sin the thread.

going back to the OP the choice is between S/A or Camp. Isn't there a significant number who fall in between ?

shay_562

Being entirely honest, I don't really get what all the fuss is about. I'd see myself as being straight-acting (with occasional bursts of campness) and I'd describe myself as that if I were talking to someone about it, but I don't think that means I'm somehow betraying my community or being homophobic or something. I think it's pretty clear that "gay" alone doesn't sum a person up (and thank god for that - sexuality alone doesn't define a person) and if you use the term "camp", you need an opposite, something to describe a gay person who isn't camp - in a way, I'd see someone specifically describing themselves as "not camp" as being more negative towards the stereotype. The term that's come into common usage is straight-acting, and while it may not be the most correct term (either politically or etymologically) it's the one most people would think of. What's the alternative?

BuffyBot

But worked up in a "not getting upset about such a small thing" kind of way?

Naturally..

Talliesin

I don't really find people that fit either label very well all that attractive. Someone who can camp it up, but who isn't camp I wouldn't necessarily find unattractive, but someone who being very camp, or very straight (as in, very much in-line with all of our society's norms) would be a bit of a turn off.

eskimo

Straight-acting. Camp guys remind me of women. And I'm gay. 2+2 = 4.

ajmurphy62

WOW! i just wanted to know which people preferd to Shag. LOL! never knew it was such an issue.

Stark

ajmurphy62 wrote:

WOW! i just wanted to know which people preferd to Shag. LOL! never knew it was such an issue.

Well now you know

rsynnott

Prefer camp guys myself. Realistically, though, beggars can't be choosers :P