Actually, I think one's relative attraction to men is a measure of how "gay" one is. It's a continuum, not a two-value set, and not even a fixed value over time. We prefer to believe our identities are less complex than that though.
You might think you're 100% straight, but if a virus killed off all the women tomorrow, in a year you might see things very differently.
Dean: Yes, identifying oneself as gay is very different from taking part in homosexual sex. There may be a strong overlap (Love those Venn diagrams), but the terms do not define a formal 'identity'.
That's be an interesting Venn diagram to actually make. A lot of data's missing, of course, but still...
Actually, I think one's relative attraction to men is a measure of how "gay" one is. It's a continuum, not a two-value set, and not even a fixed value over time. We prefer to believe our identities are less complex than that though.
I don't know of any rigorous, peer-reviewed study that supports that claim although I'd be interested in seeing some. Got any?
Well homosexuality is, I suppose, the same everywhere. But in Iran gay male sex carries the death penalty and lesbians are lashed. In spite of that that there is an out for some.
Transsexuals and gay males—I don't think their culture makes a distinction—are legally allowed to have a gender change. It has been allowed by law and done for several decades, and with the blessing of many clerics.
Transsexuality and homosexuality are not the same, but one can be both because sexual preference has nothing to do with sexual identity. I.E. one can have a male to female gender change, and prefer sex with male, females or both. I think the way Iran looks at it is: If a male has a gender change and prefers males he would be considered gay before and straight after the surgery.
But this isn't much help to gays in Iran unless they are also transsexual. No gay male wants a gender change anymore than a straight male would.
I always thought the distinction was one made by Loud Gays to distance themselves from unpopular people like homosexual predators. (i.e. "Men who have sex with young boys aren't gay.") Kinda like how Libertarians tell everyone that if you support the liberation of Iraq Imperialist war, you aren't a real libertarian, you are a dirty Joo neocon.
I’m attracted to the opposite sex. But as far as I can tell, I don’t have a “heterosexual identity”. So it makes sense to me.
So maybe I agree with the Iranian dictator figurehead. I still want him dead, though.
The “gay pride” thing can really turn me off when it becomes more in-your-face.
It’s a wonderful thing to be free enough to be open and comfortable with your sexuality. And I’m happy our society has moved towards more openness and acceptance of all things sexual in the last 40 years or so.
But it quickly becomes annoying when folks center their lives around their sexuality (homo, hetero, or whatever), and flaunt it.
Right. You can be homosexual without ascribing to the stereotypical gay identity. That said, the academic distinction between a western-centric gay/queer identity and homosexual attraction is one lost on ahmadinejad. when he says there are no gays in iran, he is not making an academic point about western cultural imperialism. he means the common-sense interpretation of his words.
Well, I don't know of any studies, but as stated it's easily provable empirically; since I used the universal I only need to find one bisexual to disprove a purely binary situation.
Anyways, I think Arthur C Clarke had it close to right in "Songs of Distant Earth." People were rated some % hetero/homo; there's a scene where two men sleep (just sleep) together for warmth, and afterwards one of them jokes that people will think they had sex, and the other laughs and says after all he's "only 92%" hetero.
10.1.2007 11:57am
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
You might think you're 100% straight, but if a virus killed off all the women tomorrow, in a year you might see things very differently.
That's be an interesting Venn diagram to actually make. A lot of data's missing, of course, but still...
But that's not "gay." Gay, I would say, is same-sex attraction under normal circumstances.
I don't know of any rigorous, peer-reviewed study that supports that claim although I'd be interested in seeing some. Got any?
Transsexuals and gay males—I don't think their culture makes a distinction—are legally allowed to have a gender change. It has been allowed by law and done for several decades, and with the blessing of many clerics.
Transsexuality and homosexuality are not the same, but one can be both because sexual preference has nothing to do with sexual identity. I.E. one can have a male to female gender change, and prefer sex with male, females or both. I think the way Iran looks at it is: If a male has a gender change and prefers males he would be considered gay before and straight after the surgery.
But this isn't much help to gays in Iran unless they are also transsexual. No gay male wants a gender change anymore than a straight male would.
In Feb 2005 I posted from an LA Times artice about this. Unfortunately my source link is no longer valid, but the gist of my point is backed up by a Wikipedia article.
liberation of IraqImperialist war, you aren't a real libertarian, you are a dirty Joo neocon.I’m attracted to the opposite sex. But as far as I can tell, I don’t have a “heterosexual identity”. So it makes sense to me.
So maybe I agree with the Iranian dictator figurehead. I still want him dead, though.
The “gay pride” thing can really turn me off when it becomes more in-your-face.
It’s a wonderful thing to be free enough to be open and comfortable with your sexuality. And I’m happy our society has moved towards more openness and acceptance of all things sexual in the last 40 years or so.
But it quickly becomes annoying when folks center their lives around their sexuality (homo, hetero, or whatever), and flaunt it.
speaking of, did anyone catch the andy samberg spoof on SNL?
Well, I don't know of any studies, but as stated it's easily provable empirically; since I used the universal I only need to find one bisexual to disprove a purely binary situation.
Anyways, I think Arthur C Clarke had it close to right in "Songs of Distant Earth." People were rated some % hetero/homo; there's a scene where two men sleep (just sleep) together for warmth, and afterwards one of them jokes that people will think they had sex, and the other laughs and says after all he's "only 92%" hetero.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.