I used to say things like, “I’m straight but” whatever. This was about 30 years ago, and I just didn’t know what to do with the idea of gay men, so I would occasionally say things to virtue signal that I was okay with it.
But it turns out that I was just overcompensating and dealing with a bit of “main character” complex. I really didn’t need to say or do anything overt to be accepting of gay people.
I’ve only ever felt the need to say “I’m not gay” in situations where I thought I might be subject to negative consequences (like violence or getting fired) for being gay, or in situations where I was interested in women and didn’t want to be mistaken for being gay. It’s a combination of cowardice and loserdom.
I used to say things like, “I’m straight but” whatever. This was about 30 years ago, and I just didn’t know what to do with the idea of gay men, so I would occasionally say things to virtue signal that I was okay with it.
But it turns out that I was just overcompensating and dealing with a bit of “main character” complex. I really didn’t need to say or do anything overt to be accepting of gay people.
Inversely, there’s “I’m bi, but…” To point out shit that can just be platonic that people keep trying to romanticize.
Like, why can’t I complement a friend on their good fashion sense without people assuming there’s some attraction there? It’s bullshit
I’ve only ever felt the need to say “I’m not gay” in situations where I thought I might be subject to negative consequences (like violence or getting fired) for being gay, or in situations where I was interested in women and didn’t want to be mistaken for being gay. It’s a combination of cowardice and loserdom.