It seems as if the gay best friend is this season’s most sought-after accessory. But before they were the hottest new trend they were actual people, who were often the victims of social injustice and prejudice. It’s easy to forget that this nation wasn’t always tolerant of our favorite gays, and in the current political climate, many feel that their future remains uncertain. Before you barrage your new best friend with a slew of possibly touchy questions, read what mine had to say.
Q: In the present state of affairs in America, it’s hard not to ask this question. What do you think the Trump administration will mean for the gays?
A: Not just the gays, but for so many other communities as well! He's already messing everything up. Ever since he's been in office, I've felt very uncomfortable and haven't stopped thinking about what it could possibly mean for the future. We just have to be there for each other right now.
Q: Have you ever felt victimized because of your sexuality?
A: I think I did when I was younger. You know how middle school kids can be. People were definitely not cool with seeing a 7th-grader wearing Lady Gaga! Easy target I guess.
Q: What do you think of the popular belief that gay men are constantly having sex?
A: So true. I think it's so funny how obsessed some are with it. Sex is fun, but some of these boys need to chill.
Q: Tell me a little bit about the struggle of coming out. What aspect of this process do you think is the hardest for straight people to understand?
A: I don't know why coming out was so hard for me. I guess I just thought my mom wouldn't want a gay son, but I was definitely wrong. We can have conversations about cute boys now, and I love it! Some straight people are just uneducated, and that can make them insensitive about it.
Q: Why do you think some people decide to believe that being gay is a choice?
A: I think that a lot of people's beliefs are because of their religion, or how their parents raised them.
Q: I've always thought it's interesting that premarital sex and gay sex are depicted as relatively equal sins in the Bible, but one is normalized while the other is surrounded by controversy. As a gay man, why do you think this discrepancy exists?
A: Religion is funny. It can make people so extra. I hope eventually people can wake up and see their prejudice.
Q: Do you believe “gaydar” is a real concept? If so, how accurate is yours?
A: YAS! My gaydar is 100% accurate.
Q: Do you think your friendships with women are more fulfilling than a straight man’s could be?
A: I'm not really sure I've had a friendship with a straight man, so it’s hard to compare.
Q: Why do you love Lady Gaga so much?
A: I love that woman so much! I don't even personally know her and she's made me feel safe. Born This Way really helped me, and I'm sure a lot of people can say that too.
It’s easy to forget many of the difficult aspects exclusive to gay culture. Many gays have a hard time finding their identity, a process that straight individuals generally have no experience with. Even if the gays you know and love seem to be completely secure in their current sense of self, this most likely wasn’t always the case. It’s certainly easier to be born straight, and once one realizes the privileges they have experienced, it’s hard to not commend the gays for what they have accomplished.
