"Gay" is complicated (thinky pieces)

[drwex]

(I put "gay" in quotes because I want people to see it as that-word-Joey-is-trying-to-define not because I think there's anything wrong with gay as a word or concept.)

I suspect there's a lot more to come, but I wanted to link to a couple of blog pieces by Joey Manley on the notion of "gay" versus men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and why Joey thinks that some MSM conservative Republicans aren't "gay". They made me think and maybe they'll give you thoughtful thoughts, too:
First post, “Closeted” Conservative Homosexuals Are Not Gay
Today's clarification/followup, which I think helps a bit, Clarification in re: Non-Gay Men Who Have Sex With Men

I think I see what Manley is trying to do here and to a large extent I agree with him. I also note that culturally and linguistically there's still a lot more to do around defining and claiming the term gay.

Comments

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

historically, and in a number of other countries, homosexual only referred to the receiving side of sex.

[drwex]

Indeed. And similarly some places still don't acknowledge lesbian sex as there's no penile penetration; therefore, not sex.

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

Perhaps men who have non-reciprocal sex with other men aren't gay, but are they not, like men who have non-reciprocal sex with women, selfish? I guess I really don't get non-reciprocal sex.