How many people here know somebody who is gay?

tayto lover · 14-01-2014 12:16AM

The_Pretender wrote: »

Recently found out one of my friends from school has come out. And here was me thinking he was just hipster :pac:

What is a hipster? Never heard that word used before.

14-01-2014 12:46AM

I don't have any friends or family members who are gay, not even any acquaintances as far as I know. I know of one or two people who are but I wouldn't even know them to talk to so I answered no.

Lou.m · 14-01-2014 12:51AM

Yeah lots ...lots of friends ...and a family member my uncle. I am a bi girl.

I don't know how you can't know anyone. Usually a couple of people from your school would have had to have been. Also you are working with at least one gay person I imagine.

rainbowdrop · 14-01-2014 01:35AM

I'm lesbian, and I would say about 10 people in my year at school are out as well (going by their facebook).

I work in a call centre, and there is a fairly sizeable proportion of us inflicted with 'teh gay'. I'd say about 10 guys and maybe 4 or 5 girls (out of 120 employees).

The 10% of the population being bi/homosexual estimate seems about right to me, but not everybody acts on homosexual feelings or would admit that they've had same sex experiences, so the % actually identifying as gay/lesbian would be less than that.

Also, to the people saying they don't know any gay people... Unless you live under a rock, then you DO know some. You just don't know you know them.

If you met me in the street, you'd think (assume) I was straight, because I don't look like a lesbian is supposed to look according to the stereotypes. Long-ish blonde hair, make-up etc. I'd say your average boardsie talks to gays/lesbians regularly and don't even realise it!

Manach · 14-01-2014 01:39AM

One friend. Topics of conversation do not include his personal life or my rather traditional brand of Catholicism

Galwayguy35 · 14-01-2014 01:42AM

Lou.m wrote: »

Yeah lots ...lots of friends ...and a family member my uncle. I am a bi girl.

I don't know how you can't know anyone. Usually a couple of people from your school would have had to have been. Also you are working with at least one gay person I imagine.

Yes they might be working with someone who is gay but might not know it, so it is possible to not know anyone who is gay.

You're comparing your situation in the capital which would be different to rural areas which have a much smaller population.

Mars Bar · 14-01-2014 02:05AM

I did a female soccer course in Dublin so my number of gay friends doubled in that time. Only 4 of the 18 of us were straight. I'd say i know 25-30 gay people.

weemcd · 14-01-2014 02:18AM

What a stupid fúckin thread, if you know more than about 20 people, then you know someone who is gay :rolleyes:

Lyaiera · 14-01-2014 02:32AM

There's a big difference between knowing someone who is gay and being friends to or a relation of someone who is gay. If you work in a big office chances are you "know" someone who is gay, but the topic might literally never come up over your monthly inter-department meeting and weekly "Howya!" as you walk past.

If you go by that line then there's probably not that many people who don't know someone who is gay. If you mean someone who interacts with a gay person on a personal rather than passing or professional level then it's probable that there are plenty of people who don't really interact with gay people.

diograis · 14-01-2014 03:06AM

Manach wrote: »

One friend. Topics of conversation do not include his personal life or my rather traditional brand of Catholicism

charming

hinault · 14-01-2014 03:10AM

I know several people who are homosexual.

My former neighbour, he is homosexual.
I worked with three people in different companies who are homosexual.

XxMCRxBabyxX · 14-01-2014 03:25AM

keeponhurling wrote: »

i don't think even gay people believe that stuff about 10%+ of the population bring gay.

It's just a way to reassure those who might have fears about coming out that its not unusual, and not such a big deal

Based on my experience I'd nearly expect it to be higher! At least three of the girls I went to school with have since come out, one of the lads in my group came out while we were still in school, a surprising proportion of my college class are gay males, a second cousin of mine is a lesbian (which tends to cause hilarious reactions with my Nana. She doesn't actually have any problems with her and her girlfriend, she's just not the most comfortable with the subject having come from rural 1930s/1940s Donegal!) and I know plenty of others between home, work and college!

Maybe I just attract them! :P

whirlpool · 14-01-2014 03:29AM

This thread is about 20 years late.

efb · 14-01-2014 03:30AM

I know me!

meoklmrk91 · 14-01-2014 03:31AM

I know a good few people who are Gay, none in my immediate circle of friends but a good few that I would meet and chat to. It's still really hard for people who are from the country to come out, it's a much bigger deal here and I think that in 20 years time I will know an awful lot more because the people I went to school with etc. will end up coming out. It's quite sad really, I know of someone who is around my age, considers themselves bi but would prefer to be in a relationship with someone who is the same sex, they know that their parents wouldn't accept it so they are now in a relationship with someone of the opposite sex and having a kid, it's sad really because I can't see it ending well, I think they are gay but just don't feel that they can be themselves.

Epi · 14-01-2014 03:54AM

Jacob Creek wrote: »

Gay seems to be the 'In' thing now

No, this is wrong.
Being gay is not 'In'.

Humans are simply finally starting to accept the fact that it is natural and people are less afraid of the consequences of admitting it, therefore more and more people are 'coming out'. I'm an 'only' 21yo Bi girl, I have lots of gay friends, some where you'd never guess it judging by the way they act and look, and others, where you simply know that they're gay.

My parents are (thankfully) totally accepting and have supported me in every relationship, no matter if my partner was m or f, but I know stories from my parents that being gay was not a 'simple' thing to admit during their youth. They told me horrible stuff about friends who were literally hunted and beaten for being gay, which is why I'm glad to be a part of this generation, where I can proudly say I'm Bi. :P

Kiwi in IE · 14-01-2014 04:04AM

Are there really people who don't know a single gay person? WTF? Are you living under a rock?

Sir Arthur Daley · 14-01-2014 04:09AM

I live in rural Ireland, no gays in my village.

Darkglasses · 14-01-2014 04:20AM

I live in rural Ireland, have 6 gay friends I can think of off the top of my head, probably more.

Sir Arthur Daley · 14-01-2014 04:23AM

Darkglasses wrote: »

I live in rural Ireland, have 6 gay friends I can think of off the top of my head, probably more.

That must be the gayest village in the country

whirlpool · 14-01-2014 04:27AM

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

Are there really people who don't know a single gay person? WTF? Are you living under a rock?

When I opened this old thread, I honestly expected to find that it had been started at least ten years ago. Turns out it was started last summer.

It has to be one of the most bizarre threads I've come across on here.

Jamsiek · 14-01-2014 05:14AM

tayto lover wrote: »

What is a hipster? Never heard that word used before.

Google it

The_Kew_Tour · 14-01-2014 05:23AM

Have couple of gay friends. No real big deal in this day and age is it?

Eeden · 14-01-2014 11:50PM

Why can't I answer:

Yes, Close family member

AND

Yes, Friend/Aquaintance ?

GLaDOS · 14-01-2014 11:52PM

Mars Bar wrote: »

I did a female soccer course in Dublin so my number of gay friends doubled in that time. Only 4 of the 18 of us were straight. I'd say i know 25-30 gay people.

Heh, only girl I know who plays football is also gay

I'm close friends with 3 guys who are gay, few more acquaintances too. I'd assume there's a few I don't know about too.

Also a trans-gender friend to boot (not physically).

How many people here know somebody who is gay?

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