When gay men make sexist jokes

[Le Libérer]

I would like some feedback from you guys in this regard. But the preface the question, over the years, and especially with younger immature gay males, I have been the victim of, or watched gay men make sexist jokes towards women as if they are entitled to. Many of the jokes are on the lines of calling women fish or tuna, making fun of body parts etc.

I have always not laughed at them, pointed out to them that those jokes are sexist in nature and demoralizing. Even more astounding is the attitude of entitlement, that for some reason because they are not straight men, they can pick on women.

We have seen here on revleft, the excuse many times, "I was just joking', and I think at this point we can all agree, a racist, sexist, or even a homophobic joke is still racist, sexist, and homophobic, whether it is a joke or not.

So, what thinketh you? And do you believe that gay men can be as sexist as straight men? Does sexual preference even matter when it comes to sexism?

Thanks in advance to those who approach this question in a serious manner. Those who don't I pretty much can promise your response will be considered spam.

[Manic Impressive]

I agree with you COTR some of my gay friends don't like women at all and can be quite disrespectful while others love them and prefer their company to those of men, I think partly because of the status of both groups in society. Being part of an oppressed group doesn't mean you can't be an arsehole. Non-european people can be homophobic, women can be racist and homosexuals can be sexist. Or any combination. Homosexuals can even be homophobic and women can even be sexist and non-european people can be racist.

Maybe this is off topic a little, if so I apologise. But homosexuals can even be guilty of objectifying men. I used to have a gay manager who always used to pinch or slap my arse when I walked by. It was just a joke though.

[Le Libérer]

Maybe this is off topic a little, if so I apologise. But homosexuals can even be guilty of objectifying men. I used to have a gay manager who always used to pinch or slap my arse when I walked by. It was just a joke though.
Did it feel like a joke to you? I think the one who is targeted is the one who should be the judge as to whether it is a joke or not.

If a woman keeps telling gay men, look what you are saying isnt funny, its not a joke as far as I am concerned, then they should be listened to. When the one who is making the sexist jokes says, " I am not sexist" over and over when being called out, and they continue, then at some point, it becomes bullying.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

When it comes to sexism I do not think it matters as to what orientation is speaking the words as it still constitutes sexism; the effect is not negated simply because the phrase came out of a gay man's mouth. One must remember that during the movement following the Stonewall Riots many Lesbians left the Gay Liberation Front because of chauvinism and sexism to form their own independent groups (such as the Lesbian Avengers). In this manner we must remember that patriarchy is a living system and finds new ways of asserting itself for every inch of ground it "gives".

I think a lot of the ambivalence and sexist humor on the part of gay men is stemmed, in part, from not only the already existing systems of oppression, but also from cultural cues given by media so that shows,programs,and other outlets can factor in their man-centered ideology while seemingly giving credence towards the "normalization" of gay people. I tackled part of this effect in an article I wrote for Kasama (http://kasamaproject.org/2012/07/25/the-liberal-media-establishment-friends-or-enemies-or/).

I think that part of the entitlement these people show in believing that because they are not heterosexual they can belittle women has several cornerstones, such as: stereotypes which depict gay men and straight women as natural best-friends as well as the mind-set which meshes in feminism and gay liberation into a single unit; while there are parallels which enable these two oppressed groups t work together I do not think they are one-in-the same to the extent where gay liberation is feminism and vice versa.

Such are my thoughts, anyway. I am sure there are many more angles I am forgetting to examine but these are what come to mind foremost.

[Manic Impressive]

Well yeah it did make me feel uncomfortable sometimes but I was just like whatever. I wouldn't want to cause trouble and I wasn't the only one he did it to and he was a pretty nice guy and he did have the power to get me sacked so yeah I thought it was best to take it as a joke.

[Le Libérer]

Well yeah it did make me feel uncomfortable sometimes but I was just like whatever. I wouldn't want to cause trouble and I wasn't the only one he did it to and he was a pretty nice guy and he did have the power to get me sacked so yeah I thought it was best to take it as a joke.

If you felt uncomfortable, then it was sexual harassment.

[Manic Impressive]

Actually thinking back you are probably right. I did used to flirt a lot with my gay friends in a harmless joking way and it was all good fun but this was slightly different. I think because he was in a position of authority and I couldn't really tell him to fuck off like I could with an equal. But anyway enough of my personal reminisces sorry for going off topic. :)

[Le Libérer]

It not off topic at all.

[piet11111]

Sexism is discrimination against gender just that they are gay doesnt change a thing.

[soso17]

This all relates to some theories I've been thinking about for a while regarding sexism and homophobia.

I believe that homophobia stems from male chauvinism. The idea of a man taking a "passive", i.e. feminine and lesser (in their way of thinking), role sexually is reprehensible to those working within a strongly patriarchal framework. Gay men are to be hated because they are "lowering themselves" to the role of a woman. This idea is not just regarding roles during sex. Gay men are more free to express themselves in historically feminine ways. I don't think that there is a gene that makes gay men want to be hair dressers and artists and designers, I think they just don't feel as restricted by societal norms as straight men do.

This chauvinism, however, has seeped into parts of the gay community over time. As a gay man, I have called other gay guys out on making fun of "bottoms", acting like the one who is more "manly" in the relationship is more worthwhile, and the other is just a silly, stupid, useless person to be used for sex. Many of the most heinous stereotypes of woman are thrown at more effeminate gay men or those who are typically the receptive partner (or perceived to be so). The "mainstreaming" of gay people has a dark side. When you're mainstreamed into a male-dominated culture, you're in danger of taking on its ideals, too.

As far as sexism towards women, I've seen a lot of that in the gay male community. Lesbian jokes, "fish" references (which I find reprehensible and won't hesitate to call someone out on it), and "dumb blonde" jokes are pretty prevalent. I can't help wondering if this is more of the oppressed being brainwashed into the mentality of the oppressors.

-soso

[Le Libérer]

This all relates to some theories I've been thinking about for a while regarding sexism and homophobia.

I believe that homophobia stems from male chauvinism. The idea of a man taking a "passive", i.e. feminine and lesser (in their way of thinking), role sexually is reprehensible to those working within a strongly patriarchal framework. Gay men are to be hated because they are "lowering themselves" to the role of a woman. This idea is not just regarding roles during sex. Gay men are more free to express themselves in historically feminine ways. I don't think that there is a gene that makes gay men want to be hair dressers and artists and designers, I think they just don't feel as restricted by societal norms as straight men do.

This chauvinism, however, has seeped into parts of the gay community over time. As a gay man, I have called other gay guys out on making fun of "bottoms", acting like the one who is more "manly" in the relationship is more worthwhile, and the other is just a silly, stupid, useless person to be used for sex. Many of the most heinous stereotypes of woman are thrown at more effeminate gay men or those who are typically the receptive partner (or perceived to be so). The "mainstreaming" of gay people has a dark side. When you're mainstreamed into a male-dominated culture, you're in danger of taking on its ideals, too.

As far as sexism towards women, I've seen a lot of that in the gay male community. Lesbian jokes, "fish" references (which I find reprehensible and won't hesitate to call someone out on it), and "dumb blonde" jokes are pretty prevalent. I can't help wondering if this is more of the oppressed being brainwashed into the mentality of the oppressors.

-soso
Do you think that maybe identifying as a gay male at some point (for some) devalues women as lesser beings than men? I really feel this when 2 gay males verbally attack a woman by calling her names like "Fish". It gives them a placement in authority where they are shunned by many straight males. It is very much chauvinism towards women. The very same gay males who will use discriminatory language towards women, will also see straight men as the "prize"; the prize that is also chauvinism towards them.

[Prometeo liberado]

I'm pretty sure everyone here agrees that this issue is less about gender and sexual persuasion than it is about people simply being assholes.

[soso17]

Do you think that maybe identifying as a gay male at some point (for some) devalues women as lesser beings than men? I really feel this when 2 gay males verbally attack a woman by calling her names like "Fish". It gives them a placement in authority where they are shunned by many straight males. It is very much chauvinism towards women. The very same gay males who will use discriminatory language towards women, will also see straight men as the "prize"; the prize that is also chauvinism towards them.

This type of thinking is a very slippery slope. It's the same theory that allowed the RCP to ban gay men from their ranks until, I believe, the early 1980s. The bourgeoisie always tries to turn us against each other, and believing that gay men are such because they devalue women is playing right into their hands. Acting as if homosexuality is a direct assault toward women is not only ridiculous but offensive. Bigots come in all shapes, sizes and orientations.

And I'd be careful with the stereotype that gay men consider straight men some sort of "prize". This is an oft-used defense by straight men in hate crimes of all sorts.

The reason some gay men hold sexist ideas is the same as the reason that white people hold racist ideas. The ruling class indoctrinates us to believe these things so we stay divided and they stay in power.

[Le Libérer]

This type of thinking is a very slippery slope. It's the same theory that allowed the RCP to ban gay men from their ranks until, I believe, the early 1980s. The bourgeoisie always tries to turn us against each other, and believing that gay men are such because they devalue women is playing right into their hands. Acting as if homosexuality is a direct assault toward women is not only ridiculous but offensive. Bigots come in all shapes, sizes and orientations.

And I'd be careful with the stereotype that gay men consider straight men some sort of "prize". This is an oft-used defense by straight men in hate crimes of all sorts.

The reason some gay men hold sexist ideas is the same as the reason that white people hold racist ideas. The ruling class indoctrinates us to believe these things so we stay divided and they stay in power.

I completely understand your concerns, and being a member of the LGBT community myself, I also understand divisive tactics, and on the same page, I was "asking" if you thought these varibles are a consideration, not that I hold any of them as absolute truths.

I will say this because it is my personal experience on more than one occasion; whether seeing straight men as a prize is done by all gay men or not, or if it is used by straight men to bash gay men, it happens, and the irony is there, slippery slope or not.

[soso17]

I completely understand your concerns, and being a member of the LGBT community myself, I also understand divisive tactics, and on the same page, I was "asking" if you thought these varibles are a consideration, not that I hold any of them as absolute truths.

I will say this because it is my personal experience on more than one occasion; whether seeing straight men as a prize is done by all gay men or not, or if it is used by straight men to bash gay men, it happens, and the irony is there, slippery slope or not.

I'm sorry if I implied that you hold these ideas yourself. I get a little passionate about these issues, and I have a tendency to go a little overboard. :cool:

I think that, to the extent that you see these things-gay men perpetuating sexism, seeing straight men as something to be "won" or "conquered'-these are symptoms, not causes. They are all rooted in the divisiveness created by the ruling class. The same is true of "internalized homophobia", the beliefs by some gay people (women and men) that their orientation is wrong, sinful, unnatural, etc. If this weren't a problem, there wouldn't be "ex-gay" ministries and other such nonsense. I believe that gay men developing attraction/crushes/obsessions, etc., towards straight men is just evidence of such internalized homophobia--as if having gay sex with a straight man is "less gay" or something. I have friends who disagree vehemently with me on this point, but chasing after unattainable men in a patriarchal society seems nothing more than trying to "earn your male credentials" or some bullshit. It's sort of like the "stockholm syndrome" of petit bourgeois trying to better itself by siding with the oppressors against their own interests. Pretending to be in the controlling group doesn't make it true.

Anything that divides our community weakens us and strengthens the oppressors, and I personally have had two goals for myself as far as the gay community:

1. We have to move past our divisions, which are all petty when compared to the division of society into an oppressor and an oppressed class, and

2. Visibility is our greatest weapon. Closets are for cowards and are a great liability and obstacle for our cause.

[doesn't even make sense]

I think race and social status play into this quite a bit. A well-off white gay guy is still a well-off white guy, especially in 2012.

[Le Libérer]

Great response, thank you, it is the kind of responses I was hoping for.

Speaking on closets, I was a part of the ACTUP support for the man who outed Jim Mcrery, the Louisiana Republican senator in the documentary, Outraged. McCrerys being a closeted gay man, voting against HIV drug trials, treatment, and services to which is responsible for the lost lives early on in the struggle for HIV treatment and services in North La. (I've been working in this field since the early 90s)

And to tie all this together is, how can after all these years of struggle for equal ground on all fronts in the LGBT community, we have a group of gay men, WHO KNOW what chauvinism is, still showing it to women with in their own community? If anyone should be less chauvinistic towards women, it would be gay men.

In other words, sexist jokes reinforce reactionary stereotypes of both men and womyn, just like racist and homophobic jokes reinforce reactionary stereotypes of different ethnocultural groups and queer people. which is exactly the thing i thought us 'revolutionaries' were meant to be fighting.

[Nihilist Scud Missile]

http://youtu.be/Ir95J9G_72E

I think women can be just as sexist as men. Yes. Gay men can be just as sexist as straight men. Yes. Lesbians can be just as sexist as straight women and so on. The treatment of trans women in the lesbian community comes to mind. Some bad stuff going on there.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Do you think that maybe identifying as a gay male at some point (for some) devalues women as lesser beings than men? I really feel this when 2 gay males verbally attack a woman by calling her names like "Fish". It gives them a placement in authority where they are shunned by many straight males. It is very much chauvinism towards women. The very same gay males who will use discriminatory language towards women, will also see straight men as the "prize"; the prize that is also chauvinism towards them.Well I don't think identifying as a gay male devalues women - general culture does this as it is. But I do think that if this tendency is common (and I've observed it too) it probably does have something to do with the dynamics of oppression in modern countries.

On the one hand it can simply be the case of engaging in chauvanism against another targeted group as a sort of way to alliviate your own sense of being marginalized or oppressed. I think though it could also be a reaction from being a male in this society and told all your life that you should desire women.

Either way it is divissive and I think when possible and appropriate, it's good to explain why this is unacceptable just as we would with a straight male.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Misogyny is part of our society, and young boys are taught its values in relation to women. Some of those boys grow up to be gay men.

[GerrardWinstanley]

I'm sorry if I implied that you hold these ideas yourself. I get a little passionate about these issues, and I have a tendency to go a little overboard. :cool:

I think that, to the extent that you see these things-gay men perpetuating sexism, seeing straight men as something to be "won" or "conquered'-these are symptoms, not causes. They are all rooted in the divisiveness created by the ruling class. The same is true of "internalized homophobia", the beliefs by some gay people (women and men) that their orientation is wrong, sinful, unnatural, etc. If this weren't a problem, there wouldn't be "ex-gay" ministries and other such nonsense.

I agree with you on the thrust of this, but what you say about the ex-gay movement is a little bit simplistic. Many of the men they parade around as successful cases or "cured" are likely to be straight men abused in childhood and who they then put through the requisite abuse counselling (usually they will talk about their dysfunctional relationships with parents, which the ministries lead them to believe is the reason for their "homosexuality"). They are thus not 'ex-gay', but were heterosexual to begin with. It was an ego-dystonic disorder that they recovered from. Many genuinely gay people do take up these harmful therapies, but the end result for them is what the ex-gay movement would rather we don't find out.

Nor can internalised homophobia be entirely to blame for gay people who enter heterosexual relationships. Yes the social pressures are very strong for a lot of people, but for others it can be the same aforementioned symptoms of abuse in childhood or adolescence.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I agree with you on the thrust of this, but what you say about the ex-gay movement is a little bit simplistic. Many of the men they parade around as successful cases or "cured" are likely to be straight men abused in childhood and who they then put through the requisite abuse counselling (usually they will talk about their dysfunctional relationships with parents, which the ministries lead them to believe is the reason for their "homosexuality"). They are thus not 'ex-gay', but were heterosexual to begin with. It was an ego-dystonic disorder that they recovered from. Many genuinely gay people do take up these harmful therapies, but the end result for them is what the ex-gay movement would rather we don't find out.

Nor can internalised homophobia be entirely to blame for gay people who enter heterosexual relationships. Yes the social pressures are very strong for a lot of people, but for others it can be the same aforementioned symptoms of abuse in childhood or adolescence.

Most of the so-called "Ex-Gays" aren't even that but just homosexuals who have a great amount of shame and denial.Some people who go to these institutions spend their entire lives in denial rather than admit who they are while others, a great deal others, either commit suicide or learn to accept themselves. In terms of gay men who are forced to enter into heterosexual relationships it is merely a cover for those who refuse to be open about who they are; when this happens the end is almost never pleasant. I have heard many such stories where young, ashamed gay men enter into a relationship with a women and then, decades later when they learn to accept who they really are, the relationship/marriage must, inevitably, end. Childhood sexual abuse has no little to no place in the topic other than a tool reactionaries use to try and justify their pseudo-science.

[GerrardWinstanley]

Most of the so-called "Ex-Gays" aren't even that but just homosexuals who have a great amount of shame and denial.Some people who go to these institutions spend their entire lives in denial rather than admit who they are while others, a great deal others, either commit suicide or learn to accept themselves. In terms of gay men who are forced to enter into heterosexual relationships it is merely a cover for those who refuse to be open about who they are; when this happens the end is almost never pleasant. I have heard many such stories where young, ashamed gay men enter into a relationship with a women and then, decades later when they learn to accept who they really are, the relationship/marriage must, inevitably, end. Childhood sexual abuse has no little to no place in the topic other than a tool reactionaries use to try and justify their pseudo-science.

I think you make too many broad generalisations. Yes, many gay people enter heterosexual relationships and marriages due to pressure from a homophobic family/society/religion (I think the statistics for people identifying as gay in surveys, last time about 2% in the UK, would be higher if homophobia weren't still the norm) but others do so because their needs, desires and preferences are out of step with the self-image they aspire to, which becomes confused and ill-defined when somebody has been forced to accommodate the desires and wishes of an abusive parent or authority figure early in life.

Homophobia doesn't necessarily have to play a part in this. Compare gay men who came out early in life to those who didn't come out until after a long marriage and I think you'd be less likely to hear of a troubled past in the former.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Precisely, an image which is ascribed to them from a homophobic society.

[Rocky Rococo]

Anything that reinforces a structure of oppression is by its nature part of that structure of oppression, regardless of its source.

[soso17]

I agree with you on the thrust of this, but what you say about the ex-gay movement is a little bit simplistic. Many of the men they parade around as successful cases or "cured" are likely to be straight men abused in childhood and who they then put through the requisite abuse counselling (usually they will talk about their dysfunctional relationships with parents, which the ministries lead them to believe is the reason for their "homosexuality"). They are thus not 'ex-gay', but were heterosexual to begin with. It was an ego-dystonic disorder that they recovered from. Many genuinely gay people do take up these harmful therapies, but the end result for them is what the ex-gay movement would rather we don't find out.

Nor can internalised homophobia be entirely to blame for gay people who enter heterosexual relationships. Yes the social pressures are very strong for a lot of people, but for others it can be the same aforementioned symptoms of abuse in childhood or adolescence.

I feel like I've just entered a pseudo-psychotherapeutic nightmare. Where did child abuse come into this thread? Are we going to talk about weak fathers and overbearing mothers now?

Ex-gay ministries are tools of religious nuts to try to "fix" that which needs no fixing. I've never heard of any confused abuse victims wandering in and realizing that they just THOUGHT they were gay, and thank goodness they found these nice people to show them the way to a normal life!

Here's just one of the many links I found regarding this:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/05/gay.to.straight/index.html

I can find more if need be.

I just can't sit back and watch somebody support this for any reason. Any support for these barbaric, reactionary, bigoted, unscientific "ministries" needs to be stopped.

-soso

[Le Libérer]

I feel like I've just entered a pseudo-psychotherapeutic nightmare. Where did child abuse come into this thread? Are we going to talk about weak fathers and overbearing mothers now?

Ex-gay ministries are tools of religious nuts to try to "fix" that which needs no fixing. I've never heard of any confused abuse victims wandering in and realizing that they just THOUGHT they were gay, and thank goodness they found these nice people to show them the way to a normal life!

Here's just one of the many links I found regarding this:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/05/gay.to.straight/index.html

I can find more if need be.

I just can't sit back and watch somebody support this for any reason. Any support for these barbaric, reactionary, bigoted, unscientific "ministries" needs to be stopped.

-soso
Not sure if you are aware of it or not, but they have banned ex gay therapy in California.

In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, Brown said: “This bill bans non-scientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide.” He added that the therapies “have no basis in science or medicine.”

Source (http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/ex-gay_therapy_banned_in_california_20121001/)

[TheGodlessUtopian]

A similar bill has been introduced in Pennsylvania...

http://www.queerty.com/pa-legislator-introduces-reparative-therapy-ban-20121012/

[Vanguard1917]

I would like some feedback from you guys in this regard. But the preface the question, over the years, and especially with younger immature gay males, I have been the victim of, or watched gay men make sexist jokes towards women as if they are entitled to. Many of the jokes are on the lines of calling women fish or tuna, making fun of body parts etc.

I have always not laughed at them, pointed out to them that those jokes are sexist in nature and demoralizing. Even more astounding is the attitude of entitlement, that for some reason because they are not straight men, they can pick on women.

We have seen here on revleft, the excuse many times, "I was just joking', and I think at this point we can all agree, a racist, sexist, or even a homophobic joke is still racist, sexist, and homophobic, whether it is a joke or not.

So, what thinketh you? And do you believe that gay men can be as sexist as straight men? Does sexual preference even matter when it comes to sexism?

Thanks in advance to those who approach this question in a serious manner. Those who don't I pretty much can promise your response will be considered spam.

Yes, of course gay men can be just as sexist or misogynistic as straight men (there are many historical examples of reactionaries who happened to be homosexuals). However, i don't think that a lighthearted joke here and there necessarily constitutes sexism or misogyny. In order to make a proper judgement on these men's views, you'd need to ask them about their political opinions vis-a-vis women (e.g. on employment rights, abortion services, etc.). Having a horrid sense of humour does not automatically make one a bigot.

[Le Libérer]

Yes, of course gay men can be just as sexist or misogynistic as straight men (there are many historical examples of reactionaries who happened to be homosexuals). However, i don't think that a lighthearted joke here and there necessarily constitutes sexism or misogyny. In order to make a proper judgement on these men's views, you'd need to ask them about their political opinions vis-a-vis women (e.g. on employment rights, abortion services, etc.). Having a horrid sense of humour does not automatically make one a bigot.

Define light hearted. Does it include using discriminatory language in anger? Being screamed at, being called a fucking *****? It certainly has been done in anger as well as constant bullying in front of others.

[skitty]

It's been a very long time; but I used to chalk it up to youth, substance abuse and emotional problems-to-spare. Many didn't treat themselves very well either.

[#FF0000]

Define light hearted. Does it include using discriminatory language in anger? Being screamed at, being called a fucking *****? It certainly has been done in anger as well as constant bullying in front of others.

I think that's different from telling jokes, which themselves constitute a problem if the women around are uncomfortable with it, and the person telling them doesn't cut it out when told this.

[Le Libérer]

I think that's different from telling jokes, which themselves constitute a problem if the women around are uncomfortable with it, and the person telling them doesn't cut it out when told this. It certainly has escalated from joking to bullying, but jokes is where it started and it definitely proves my point of sexism.

[Scarlet Fever]

As a gay man and a feminist myself, I've been horrified by misogyny in the community. Please know that it is not due to sexual orientation itself, for goodness' sake. There is a particular reason for many gay men becoming sexist while others become feminists or sympathetic to the cause of womyn's liberation: coming out as a gay man in a patriarchal society means having your "manhood" questioned, obviously, since it is considered feminine to love a man (and thus, homophobia is derived from sexism). Some gay men realize this link between their oppression and that of womyn and respond with solidarity and further rebellion against patriarchy; others react by deriding womyn, femmes, trans people (especially trans womyn), and "bottoms" in order to demonstrate beyond doubt their challenged masculinity--as a way of saying, "I may be a gay man, but by God, I'm still a man." What causes gay men to go in such opposite directions? Probably factors related to their social upbringing, level of consciousness, and degree of self-acceptance of their own sexuality.

[Le Libérer]

I think it is vastly different for women to come out than men because of how society treats bi or lesbian women so differently than men. When I came out, I went through a period where men repulsed me, at least for a while. I was probably projecting my own feelings into my attempts to understand all of this, thus the question.

But thank all of you for trying to help me understand this situation. You all have been very helpful. I have decided to move out of this house where all of this is going on. The bully is a new room mate who has been here for 3 weeks, now. All this happened within his first 2 weeks here. Because of his outbursts, screaming in my face, using discriminatory language and name calling, I no longer feel safe here. Its been a very long time since anything like this has happened to me. It has had me very upset and disoriented where it is hard to concentrate on my work.

I have asked my sister, Esperanza to weigh in, I hope she does because she is a fountain of information, mostly from personal experience. I've even researched it on the web, and this isnt a topic that is discussed often. I did find this;


Maybe we tolerate this sexism because we worry that if we criticise it, we'll be labelled homophobic. I know if I started a conversation or a blog post challenging sexism of gay men, it wouldnt be accepted as an open topic from this community. I really want to research this topic and maybe use it as my doctorial thesis.


Dr. Peter Robinson, lecturer in sociology at Swinburne University and author of The Changing World of Gay Men, believes that might be the case “but if it's misogyny, it's appropriate to point it out, just as it would be if it were homophobia or racism. The collectivity of the gay community is now large enough and strong enough to have those discussions.”

Source (http://goo.gl/3F4Cd)

Has any other womyn experienced sexism from the LGBT community? Or even other femmes or trans people from gay men?

[Lynx]

Sexists and bullies will exist wherever they are tolerated. Did the new room mate get what he wanted? Did his behavior result in negative consequences for him?

[Le Libérer]

Sexists and bullies will exist wherever they are tolerated. Did the new room mate get what he wanted? Did his behavior result in negative consequences for him?

When he was screaming, its you or me, I suppose he did get what he wanted. And I would usually fight the battle to the end, but I have SO many incredible things going on (2 documentaries, a book signing, another introduction for a book, along with my project on racial profiling and coalition building) that need 100 percent of my attention, I have chosen to move forward.

I did call up my voodoo guy who owes me one though. ;)

[Le Libérer]

Coda, thank you for the reply, even though you felt the need to delete it. I appreciate the sentiment.