So often the argument is used, and I wonder do these people even think about what they are saying, or suggesting?

1. Does this mean that people who are infertile can not get married?
2. Does it mean that people who do not want children should not get married?
3. Will they protest people past child bearing years getting married?
4. Does being married mean you are a suitable person for raising kids?
5. What if the person had children from a previous relationship?
6. Should couples be forced to divorce when their children leave home?
   
7. It infers ignorance that homosexuals cannot have children or do not want them.
8. Should heterosexual people who are divorced and do not have custody of their children, be allowed to remarry?

They frequently reference the Bible when referring to this, which is odd because humans engaged in marriage type relationships long before the Bible was even put together, and marriage exists in many religions, not only those who follow the Bible.

Humans have lived in monogamous relationships for many generations, they held ceremonies to unite the couple even before it was called a "wedding". People united in bonds long before religion set a standard of rules, and to be fair, how is it acceptable for one religion to force its' belief system onto people who do not follow that religion?

Alas, I have wandered off topic. My real issue is the argument against allowing homosexuals to marry, because marriage is about having and raising children. I honestly feel that this is a lame excuse for a reason against homosexual marriages. I do not think many people even realize that by saying this they are insulting millions of other people. Not every marriage is about children, some marriages are actually about love and companionship.

Mostly, how does it hurt society on a whole if gays and lesbians are allowed to marry? The argument that this will result in a lower birthrate is laughable, people will have kids regardless of being married.

I would love to see somebody, anybody, who says "Marriage is for heterosexual couples only, because it's about raising children" speak up loudly against allowing marriage in older couples, or marriage in infertile couples. That person would have a whole lot more credibility than these ones who use it as an excuse to protest against allowing homosexuals to wed.

So before you catch your self uttering such total nonsense, ask yourself, what is the real reason you are against gays and lesbians being wed?

What is the root of the argument that two men (we will address women in a separate review) shouldn't get married? And, in opposition, why does a formal marriage license matter to the gay community?

The religious approach is straight forward in affect to gay marriage- it's not allowed. God (in the three biggest denominations) created Adam and Eve, and it would seem God knew what he was doing if he is in fact The All Knowing Creator of all things. Gay men that believe in the God (speaking of Christian believers in particular) argue against this point. Unfortunately, to argue against the logic of God's powers using Christianity as the basis, against Christianity's logic for the order of things under God's will is incongruous.

Other countries have homosexual men and these men aren't out trying to defy the world with a makeshift religious explanation. For that matter only American gay men are so fervent about a marriage. One could assume the whole thing is a publicity stunt. The argument could be, why all the sudden? Men were gay in the 1980s. What is wrong with the common law union they had? What is the big deal with a marriage license?

These questions and topics are good to start with. Give feed back, so that, some stream of logical understanding can develop. Let's keep opinions and questions in good taste (no gay jokes).

 

Conversion therapies have been around for quite some time and received a surge after homosexuality was removed from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). A few studies have been conducted and aimed to investigate the validity of these therapies.

Shidlo and Schroeder (2002) interviewed 202 persons that had undergone a wide variety religious or psychology based conversion therapies. They used a series of open ended questions designed to gauge the effects of the conversion experience. The average time between the participants' last conversion therapy session and the interview was 12 years. Out of the original 202 participants, only 4% reported a heterosexual shift which can be explained by normal variation. Many participants reported increased levels of depression during conversion therapy along with suicidal ideation, alienation, and a loss of religious belief.

Many supporters of conversion therapy will tend to bring up the study conducted by Robert Spitzer (2003) where he claimed that conversion therapy was successful. It is important to consider a study in its entirety before drawing conclusions from it. It is important to first point out that out of Spitzer's 200 participants 97% identified as Christian and the remaining 3% identified as Jewish; this is not representative of the normal gay population. Spitzer went on to say that conversion therapy did not cause any harm, despite previous research and recorded cases of suicide due to conversion therapies. Even with the methodological limitations to the study, Spitzer reported only an 18% conversion rate which is not high enough to merit the practice of a therapy.

It is also important to note that the APA (American Psychological Association) has deemed it unethical to perform conversion or reorientation therapies (APA 2008). So, whether or not you personally believe sexual orientation can change, current research leads us to believe that it cannot and that attempting to will only cause more harm than it's worth.

It was there that I found out that this affair originated in New York. National Recognition of it, in the United States, began after the Stonewall Riots of June in 1969. The riots brought widespread attention to growing concerns for the equitable treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

In the Philippines, Gay Pride Month is being upheld by The Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines otherwise known as ProGay. This June will mark its twelfth year of recognizing and establishing Gay rights.

In Manchester, a city in England, its City Council has been acclaimed as Britain's top gay-friendly local authority for the fourth consecutive year. The council was voted the highest-ranking local authority in the latest Corporate Equality Index, compiled by lesbian and gay lobbying organization Stonewall. The participating organizations were questioned about their employment practices, such as having a non-discrimination policy and a lesbian and gay employee network group. The council says it has a "genuine commitment" to ensuring that all employees work in an environment where they are secure and confident regardless of sexual orientation.

In Calcutta India, Gay Pride Month is being observed too. This was a scene from the "Rainbow Pride Walk" which was organized by the Integration Society.
Further research on the internet showed me that lots of countries celebrate Gay Pride Month and more and more governments are opening their eyes and recognizing the gay and lesbian population's abilities and rights.
Over all, it was completely amazing. I look at my gay, lesbian and transgender friends and workmates now, and I realized that their gender has come a long way of being recognized, of being thought of as a part of society.

This is the rainbow flag, a symbol being raised high in the month of June for awareness, acceptance of the third gender as they are called in the hopes that one day people like them won't be violated, discriminated against or shunned by people in the society they belong to.
Seemingly, another goal that the month and occasion wish to achieve is to eliminate the fear in every gay, lesbian and transgender heart the fear of admitting to their families and friends, and most of all to themselves their true identities.
I would think that the burden of keeping that kind of secret to oneself and to ones loved ones could be such a burden and certainly an obstacle to realizing ones abilities. For instead of developing his or her abilities he or she would be a lot more occupied in keeping up with the pretense, I think that this is one of the reasons gays and lesbians soon end up hurting themselves or to put it patently, show a lack of respect for themselves.
There was once a school principal in what used to be an all-boys' catholic school in Baguio City, Philippines who said "we (the school) may not be able to prevent some of our students from realizing they are gay, but we can certainly stop them with what they will do to themselves." Oh, he recognized there are students in his school who are gays, considering that the Philippines is a very catholic country and badings or gays in Philippine society are objects of ridicule and shame in a family. Even after recognizing that he had gays in his student body though, the rule of complete uniforms which composes of navy blue pants and white polo's, haircut of two fingers above the ears were firmly implemented. Lipstick and make up were strictly prohibited. The point is, for as long as they were students in that school, they are to be treated equally. The schools aim was to lessen bullying ridiculing of the gay population.
I suppose if there is such a thing as women empowerment, then there could also be gay and lesbian empowerment, that aside from painting themselves beautiful, they should also let out their many talents and abilities.

What is the reason for this “gay moment” and how are gays and lesbians portrayed on prime time television in comparison to the straight characters and why? There are a number of answers for this, ranging from cultural and social issues to politics.

According to Doty (1993), the portrayals of gays and lesbians in popular culture rests on the belief that a homosexual person is consciously trying to mirror a traditional role played by the opposite sex. Doty contends that the term homosexuality isn't relative and being a gay or lesbian is more about culture and personal taste than actual sexuality. More recent television shows with gay characters seem to focus more on the aspects of culture and personal taste without talking about what goes on in the bedroom. According to Andersen and Collins (2007), traditionally gays and lesbians, like other minority or oppressed groups, have had the hardship of trying to integrate themselves into a sometimes intolerant society, rather than society helping to integrate them. Trying to act straight, or not trying to act or look like a member of the opposite sex, is one way that gay characters are able to gain more acceptance when it comes to a mainstream television audience. The bottom line is, they must relate, in some way, to heterosexual characters on the show to appeal to a prime time viewing audience, rather than an exclusively gay television network.

Becker (2006) suggests that the increase in homosexual themes in prime time television could be a result of a conscious social and political movement to make mainstream society more comfortable with gays and lesbians. It's the next step, basically, in gay liberation and making it harder for conservative and bigoted people to ignore them.

According to comedian and political satirist Jon Stewart, the popularity of gay characters in mainstream television in the 1990's had a lot to do with the political climate in the 2000's. In fact, according to Stewart, the popularity of television shows with homosexual themes, such as Will and Grace, may have actually stoked the flames of a new cultural war (Becker 2006).

Becker (2006), explains this further, by saying he believes that George W. Bush was re-elected as a result of conservatives who cared more about “values” than violence in the Middle East or the economy. According to post-election analysis, exit polls realized that a lot of people identified gays and lesbians as a threat to America's moral center. With the pervasiveness of openly gay characters on American television, these conservatives were finding it even harder to avoid the gay and lesbian crowd.

To give examples of how gays and lesbians are portrayed on television in recent years vs. the past, and why, I am going analyze three of the most prominent and longest running primetime television shows with a homosexual theme, Queer Eye for The Straight Guy, Will and Grace, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This essay will examine these shows through a semiotic analysis to provide a conclusion as to how gays and lesbians are portrayed to the mainstream viewing public and will also expose the encoded messages behind these portrayals, and how it relates to a conscious effort by the media to make homosexuality an acceptable part of mainstream culture and integrate gay and lesbian characters with heterosexual characters.

After viewing any of these shows, it seems clear that a cultural shift has occurred in how gays and lesbians are portrayed. In the 80's, in film and television, homosexuals were very often portrayed as victims, especially in terms of being victims of HIV. For example, in an episode of the popular series 21 Jump Street, a gay male teen was diagnosed with HIV/aids but his father lied to everyone saying his son contracted the virus through a blood transfusion out of shame in regards to his son's homosexuality. However, the stigma of HIV being just a gay man's disease has largely been reduced since HIV is now effecting all sexes, races, and sexual orientations. (Dines & Humez 2003).

Since the 1990s, not only are homosexuals portrayed as an acceptable part of mainstream society, but as having attributes for mainstream, or average people to aspire to. These shows are not shows written by gays and lesbians for gay people, but written by the kinds of writers that would be writing your traditional prime time sitcom or drama that would be enjoyable to a wide audience.

However, are these portrayals realistic, and do shows such as Will and Grace try to portray a gay character as a good character only by showing how he can look and act like a straight person? Let's see.

1. Queer Eye For the Straight Guy

   
   
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   (Scout Productions. 1st episode 2003. Final episode aired October 2007)
   
   This reality based show puts forth a causal connection between gay men and fashion. There is an underlying assumption present in the show that gay men are more attractive than their heterosexual counterparts. Afterall, the theme of the show is fashion conscious gay men helping their fashionably challenged heterosexual male counterparts through style makeovers.
   
   In one particular episode, the Queer Eye gang of professionals sets out to rescue a widower named Jim, a physician who has three kids and lives in a disorganized home with his mother in-law. According to Jim, he wants to get out and move on but he is not sure how to do it.
   
   According to the “Fab Five,” which is the nickname for the Queer Eye men, Jim has the following problems that are holding him back in terms of personal happiness: Jim has not cut his hair since his wife died; his home is cluttered; the closet looks like a fallout shelter; there is absolutely no organization in the kid's room.
   
   In Queer Eye, any shame associated with being a gay male is completely obliterated. With their perfectly coifed, and colorfully dressed entourage, Queer Eye brings gay liberation to a new height that involves heterosexual liberation to become more gay, at least in terms of becoming more fashionable.
   
   Each of the Fab Five is picture perfect, and sensitive to boot. Their “queerness” even ads to their appeal by placing them in a position of unattainability for straight women. This is the crux of the assumption of a lot of women that there is a connotative meaning in regards to the concept that a great looking guy is probably gay. The word queer, with its denotative meaning of being “odd,” just doesn't fit the Fab Five characters who have impeccable social graces and taste. The connotative meaning of being homosexual doesn't even seem to be an issue since this show is not sexual in any way. It helps unite straight and gay men through a unifying interest of looking and feeling good.
   
   After the Fab Five gives not only Jim, but his kids, a complete fashion makeover in terms of clothes, hairstyles, and food and wine, Jim looks forward to his new, souped up life and comments that he will always remember his “gay fairy godfathers” who helped him enjoy life again.
   
   The phrase “gay fairy godfathers” contains a denotative meaning in respect to gay meaning happy and fairy as an effeminate, but magical being. Combine this with the word godfather, and you create the connotative cultural meaning of cheery, effeminite men who take on the traditional feminine trait of having a desire to take care of someone.

2. Will and Grace

   

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   (NBC. September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006)
   
   This popular sitcom, which centered around a handsome, gay attorney rooming with a straight, recently single young woman, was an example of a gay television sitcom that was probably written to appeal to a straight audience, as was Queer Eye for the straight guy.
   
   Its gay character, Will, was a conservatively dressed attorney who found very little outlets for his sexuality and didn't seem to adopt any of the traits of stereotypical gay culture. This could be an encoded message that straight viewers could decode as an attempt to show an integration of homosexuality into traditional, masculine identities. Conservative viewers might actually admire the character of Will, if they can separate Will's image and personality from Will's sexual orientation. “Today, if a gay male who is coming out turns to the gay media, most likely what he will find is that to be a homosexual in today's society is to be a masculine young white male, with a well muscled body and handsome face, a good education and a professional job,” (Dines & Humez 2003 p. 219)
   
   The paradigmatic opposition between Will, and his gay friend Jack, who embodies the gay stereotype of effeminate characteristics and childlike silliness, could very will be an attempt to make homosexuality more palatable to a heterosexual audience that may need a stereotypical gay male character as a yardstick by which to measure the significance of Will's professional, well mannered conservative persona. It's as if the show wishes to dispel some of the myths about the gay lifestyle by showing the audience that there's a difference between being homosexual and acting like one. (Dines, Humez 2003 p. 219).
   
   The only problem, though, is that with Will's friend Jack, who's portrayed as having annoying gay characteristics, the show still contains an element of anti gay sentiment. Rather than embracing the homosexual culture, as Queer Eye did, Will and Grace seems to portray an ideal gay person as being ideal just because he takes on heterosexual traits. In fact, in the final episode, Grace ends up pregnant and Will adopts a baby under the premise that they will raise the baby together. Jack, on the other hand, has all the effeminate, flamboyant characteristics of a “flaming” homosexual.
   
   For people who are less conservative, Jack's stereotypical behavior might not be seen as negative. In fact, Jack is a funnier, and wittier character than Will. If the character of Jack was a member of the Fab Five in Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, he probably would have fit right in.

3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

    (The WB Network. March 10, 1997 - May 27, 2003)
   
   
   
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   Just as Gay men have been portrayed as people trying to act like women, gay women have traditionally been portrayed as more masculine. One need only look at major television characters such as Ellen Degeneras and Rosie Oddonell to see that these women do not represent a stereotypical image of feminine attractiveness. The signifier is masculine behavior in women and what is signified is lesbianism. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, on the other hand,breaks the causal link between masculinity and lesbianism with a paradigm shift that links lesbianism with attractiveness and femininity.
   
   Perhaps the success of Buffy the Vampire Slayer can also be equated to the success of Will and Grace for its integration of homosexuals into stereotypical images of success and attractiveness. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you have the best of both worlds in the female characters - women with feminine characteristics who also have the moxie to battle vampires at the same time.
   
   The lesbian character Willow actually started out as straight, and then transformed into a lesbian. This was paralleled with her transformation from being a bookish character to being an aggressive, female warrior, as if becoming a lesbian could have a causal link to self-improvement and female liberation from traditional female roles.
   
   To contrast the character of Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer created Tara, who was very cute, shy and passive. This represented another attempt to dispel stereotypical myths about lesbians - to separate sexual preference from their personality. This made the show popular amongst lesbian viewers, probably because it showed that your sexual identity was not necessarily your entire identity.
   
   Buffy the Vampire Slayer also featured the first lesbian kiss on television, and the characters Tara and Willow had the longest running relationship in TV history (2.5 years).
   
   Perhaps the novelty of gay and lesbian characters on prime time television shows has warn off after the long running success of Will and Grace, Queer Eye, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This could be looked at as a positive and as evidence that there is more openness and acceptance. Now, it is almost as if you expect to have a gay character on a television show or know someone who is. Therefore, it may be time for some people to redefine their values. As evidenced in Will and Grace, homosexuals can even share the same values as strict, conservative heterosexuals when it comes to raising kids and marriage. At the same time, some of the stereotypical homosexual traits such as wit and cheerfulness can be portrayed as positive traits as well. Whether conservatives like it or not, gay characters in television and film will only become increasingly common. The more they do, the more integrated gays and lesbians will be in mainstream culture.

The analysis of these three television shows that there is definitely a concentrated effort to blend gay and lesbian lifestyles with mainstream society, as was evidenced in the literature analysis. At the same time, shows such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy also shows that gay men can maintain some of their more effeminate traits without alienating your average straight guy. Perhaps if more people are able to lighten up about this subject, television shows in the future can portray gays and lesbians celebrating their culture and lifestyle along with their heterosexual counterparts without having to pretend that they're “straight.” At the very least, the door has been opened for an increase in gay and lesbian themes on television. However, as long as there are religions who denounce homosexuality, there will probably always be some tension and controversy.

My recommendation would be to have more shows like Will and Grace since it portrays situations that both gay and straight people can relate to. It also shows them living together and sharing the same hopes and dreams. Hopefully this will help decrease discrimination against homosexuals and help them win more civil rights as well. After all, a lot of people probably pay more attention to popular culture than they do hard news. Therefore, if anything could help create more harmony amongst homosexuals and heterosexuals, it would be through prime time dramas and sitcoms, since many people may structure their personal identities, or an understanding of how people act, through watching TV.

The Gays and Lesbians area may be one of the least active on Socyberty, at least as far as the people who write for it go, but this article should have been placed elsewhere by the editors. The GLBT community is often pushed away from a religious and spiritual life by bigots who can only appeal to a two thousand year old book. Not only did this post about the Word of God not belong in the gays and lesbian section, we can see that many people feel vindicated in their intolerance using religion to keep gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender folks from a relationship with God. We can not blame Socyberty's editors for this. Socyberty exists to make money and controversy is a good way to do that..

But if such people wonder why many people in the GLBT community are anti-religious, they need only to look at the mirror and their own attitudes. Even such people raised in a religious environment are often told they are sinful because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Many will throw off the shackles of this thought pattern, but such people will also throw out spirituality or religion altogether.

Sadly, the bigots who are in many cases a far cry from the people at the Westboro Baptist Church drive more people to the Hell they fear (should such a place exist) than they would by simply accepting people for who they are. Even the most conservative of denominations, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) acknowledge that gender identity and sexual orientation are part of an individual's make-up, and much like handedness cannot and should not be changed. The existence of groups like Evergreen and Exodus confuses the matter, but Exodus leader now encourages people to act on it.

Unfortunately, the idea that pushes many in the GLBT community away from religion as a whole is that something is wrong with those who do not identify with what others believe is normal. Sadly, as seems to be the case, sexual orientation and gender orientation is part of who these people are. It cannot be changed merely because some Christian dislikes gay lesbian, bisexual or transgendered people worshipping along side them.

Sadly these Christians are denying members of the GLBT community the very thing that they say makes life worth living in the first place, a relationship with the divine. Sadly, helping Christians who want to bring the GLBT brothers and sisters into the fold (or any religious group for that matte) will take more than one article, and this is only the start. Sadly, the bigot from the “What the Word of God Says about Homosexuality Article” forced this project of mine a while back to the front of my mind.

Unfortunately, bi guys are the ones who receive the brunt of the doubt/ridicule as opposed to bi girls. A girl can claim her bisexuality, wear it on a t-shirt, and be respected by the majority of the society. Girls can thank the hetero-male dominated world for that one. Straight guys think it's hot when two girls go at it, and they thank their lucky stars if they can lay claim to a bisexual. Even straight women hold bi girls on some sort of pedestal, questioning their own sexuality, and wondering if widening their narrow views on sex would help their luck in the meat market. (At this point I'm going to interject that too many girls, even dirty girls, these days are making out with their same gender simply because it has turned into such the cultural phenomenon thanks to Girls Gone Wild.) Guys, on the other hand, are rarely ever applauded for random acts of bisexual behavior.

Bisexual. Really.

As for myself, I am perhaps a rare breed of bisexual. In fact, to call me bisexual isn't one hundred percent accurate. I enjoy both genders, but having sex with either of them does not give me great satisfaction. Sure it is fun to romp around, but sex gets boring. The same ol' "in-out-in-out-in-swivel-in further-out" is highly redundant to me. No, it is not because I have yet to have sex with someone that truly knows what he is doing (I have yet to actually hold intercourse with a girl due to my valuing the whole hetero sex after marriage thing... will elaborate later).

In fact, I went through a very thorough slut period during the summer of 2004. Each encounter I had was very different. I've had the “one night stand,“ the “sexually charged three week relationship,” the “older guy who taught me everything he knew about sex during the six or seven visits I made over to his house.” Each time left me educated, but never did I feel like any of it was worth it. The whole slut period was a chance for me to see what all the hubbub was about, and I ended up realizing there wasn't much hubbub there to begin with.

Relationship > Sexuality

I am all about the relationship. To get to know someone inside and out gives me such the boner that sex in general has yet to achieve. Trusting someone, learning about someone's faults, hopes, dreams, and realities, and still wanting to learn more. Being there for someone in ways that no one else could even dare to try. Loving that one person beyond all of his or her physical impurities, quirks, and bad habits. All of that, and having the person feeling the exact same way about me.

Of course, this is the ideal that most everyone strives for, but with the inclusion of sex. I could go my entire life in a relationship like that without having any sort of intercourse and being fully content. I am not talking about never seeing my partner in the buff, or vice versa. We would definitely have a lot of cuddling, and a good amount of exploring, and a more-than-substantial amount of kissing, it's just I wouldn't necessarily require an orgasm. If the partner wanted an orgasm, I'd definitely be there for her or him as best I could. The bottom line is that sex, to me, is entirely unnecessary.

Sex is…

Sex, in its truest form, is incredibly stupid. It is entirely animal. Anybody can do it, and most people do. Sex is also not too difficult to master. Even though I don't care for it, I'm actually quite good (just ask any one of the __ guys I've been with). What is interesting to me is how stupid one becomes when having sex - at least as far as guys are concerned. When working towards a climax, guys tend to get this hollow look in their eyes as if the main part of their brain has suddenly turned off. Grunts, sweat, and forceful action takes the place of common decency.

So there I am, caught inside a tumbleweed of friction with nothing to do but to wait until it's over. Most of the time I'm cracking jokes about the situation, or laughing to myself about something that has flashed through my mind, or I'm trying to make conversation with the guy. If the guy is able to provide decent conversation, or even laugh at my jokes, only then do I find that I'm enjoying the goings-on that we are partaking in. Otherwise, just turn on the TV and do whatever it is you need to do. Let me know when you're finished.

Call me bisexual without the sexual. Or, if it's easier, label me platonic. The only unfortunate thing about describing me sans a sexual appetite is that I'm still inherently human. People are created to want to have sex. Especially guys. My little testiculars turn blue if not emptied at least once a month. Then, in that case, it's a simple flick of the wrist, and I'm back to doing whatever it was I was doing before.

I have found it hard for people to accept anyone who doesn’t enjoy sex. "Oh, they just don't know any better" is the most popular response. Fortunately for me, I do know better. I realized, through the aid of a therapist, that it's okay to be platonic. Leonardo deVinci was said to be platonic, and if it's good enough for him, it surely must be good enough for me. So where does my liking both genders come into play?

Liking Both Genders

Right about now, actually. Both genders offer something entirely different. Men provide a sense of strength, familiarity, understanding on a parallel level. Men's bodies are also very angular in structure, which is a visual sign of strength. Even the way men think provides a certain sense of joy to me. Women, on the other hand, provide comfort, nurturing, support, the missing link to everything I've already got. Women's bodies are very curvy in structure, which provide a visual sense of comfort and openness (similar to what one feels when looking at a soft, cushiony bed). The way women think can be tiresome (as I suppose can be true with guys), but it is definitely very energetic. There have been countless books, movies, seminars, and comedic monologues that chronicle the differences between men and women. They all back up what I've been trying to convey in this paragraph.

My Truth

You are probably yet to be convinced that I'm not just saying all this stuff in an effort to feel that my truly gay self is properly masked. Why, I've had tons of sex with guys, and having sex with guys makes one gay. Well, I've definitely made out with a bunch of girls, and I've held way more relationships with girls than the amount of sex I've had with guys. I've seen women naked in real life, held their naked boobies in my hands, and my fingers are no stranger to the female puss-puss. On top of all of that, I've definitely bonerfied from being with a girl. For some reason, though, I tend to put women on a pedestal.

I regard them quite highly, and would want my first straight sexual encounter to be shared with the woman I'd plan on spending the rest of my life with. I feel like I'd owe her that much since the whole 100% virginity thing flew out the window quite a while ago. I don't look at women as sexual objects, so I rarely ever lean over to my buddies telling them to ogle over any girl passing by. Actually, I get annoyed with some of my male friends who do nothing but talk about how horny the girls standing around are making them feel. Women are the more respected gender in my book.

Now lately I've been seeking to have relationships with guys more than I've been seeking to have them with girls. That's simply because I've had relationships with girls so so soooo many times that it's not new any more. It is also tremendously easy to find a girl that I could have a relationship with. Guys are different. It is harder to find a guy, for one thing, that would even want to have a relationship with another guy. Once I do find a guy who's capable of having a relationship, it then is more of a challenge to actually hold and develop that relationship into something semi-lasting. I have been on the prowl for a meaningful male-to-male relationship for over a year now, and I've yet to find something that works. What I have found, on the other hand, was at least three to five girls who could barely hold themselves back from stabbing me with a three month dating contract.

There. I believe I have said my peace. In all honesty, I don't really care about what people think of me. When I'm with straight people, they prefer to consider me as straight. When I'm with gay people, they prefer to consider me as gay. Potato, patato. All that matters is that whomever I am with, male or female, I am one hundred percent committed.

1. He wears suspiciously bright and effeminate clothing, such as a light blue jacket shirt thingy.
2. When he takes off his jumper, he only removes the arms, and lets the jumper sit on his shoulders.
3. He has countless amounts of hair products, a variety of soaps, and lip balms in his bathroom drawer, while you have a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.
4. He has lipstick in his bathroom drawer, which suspiciously seems to go down every time you go to a restaurant, or something of the like.
5. He spends forty minutes in the bathroom preparing his hair, while you spend six minutes in the shower and that's it.
6. He has a sixth sense for preparing, decorating, and serving desserts.
7. You catch him on camera doing/saying incredibly suss things, like: I like willies, they're squishy and carroty.”
8. He looks in the mirror a lot. I mean, a lot.
9. When he plays football, he tends to fall down and say "ow" before being tackled.
10. He bakes/has baked muffins, biscuits etc. etc. for his teacher.
11. He would rather watch High School Musical, (incredibly cheesy) than The Bourne Identity, Alien Vs Predator and such.
12. He listens to, and enjoys listening to; pop music like Forever Young and James Blunt.
13. He watches television programs like Australian/American Idol, Big Brother and The Biggest Loser. (But then again, they are quality viewing. *sniggers*)

A reminder that these ways may not be correct, it is basically just an amount of observations I have made on the subject. It may not apply to your brother, but then again, this could be just the thing you are looking for.