AskGayBros subreddit. He asked, “How can I come off gayer?” Then he went on to explain that people always presume him to be straight.“I talk like a straight guy, I only wear comfortable clothes, and it makes me look even straighter.
I have a few gay mannerisms, but not enough, and all my hobbies and interests are not the stereotypical gay ones.”He worried that it might hurt his “chances of finding boyfriend material when no one would guess that I’m not straight.”The query may well surprise some people.
So many generations of gay men have been forced to hide their sexuality that being “straight-passing” has developed a certain value in the eyes of some.Spend any time on dating apps and it’s clear that many men still tend to go for “masc” dudes.
There can also be open hostility toward femme guys. So why would someone wish to let go of his straight-passing privilege?Then again, this particular poster is not asking to appear less masculine: He just wants other gay people to realize he might be part of the community.Either way, lots of people chipped in with helpful suggestions.The most popular was the simple, “Wear a rainbow watch band.” The original poster said this had not occurred to him but he’d gone ahead and ordered one.Others offered variations on the same theme.“Get a rainbow keychain and casually set your keys on the table next to your coffee mug at work meetings.”“My boyfriend is like you and wears a rainbow belt,” said another. “Get a rainbow wristband or watch band.