Straight-Acting: An Invisible Minority

Keeping a straight face

I decided to develop the Gay Teens idea a bit further, and gave the headphones character a name: Sammick. While Sammick (please see the previous post) is defiantly gay, his friend (whom I have illustrated as above) is unapologetically straight-acting. I really pushed for a more jockish look, even though I don't really like jocks that much. But he has a more romantic side to him, so he is workable. He and Sammick don't get along much but remain friends.

I dare use the term "straight-acting", because it really ignites the anger of some gays who believe the term means trying to hide one's gayness by putting on a straight act. In actuality, men who describe themselves as straight-acting simply behave the way they naturally behave, which means they may not have those qualities that tag them as gay.

It would be foolish to expect all gays to fit into the stereotypical mould that everyone expects them to fit in. Being gay does not always involve singing along with musicals and walking poodles down in the park. There are gays that play sports, love cars, are into gaming, and don't know how to dress or dance.

What is worse, many of these stereotypes are still played out in media, and it only alienates those gays who do not identify with these qualities.

So this character is sort of a big middle finger to anyone who thinks "straight-acting" is a lie. It exists and it is not something to be ashamed of.