# Anti-gay bullying is "healthy peer pressure." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 1, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479 "2011-07-01T04:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/41 "2011-07-01T17:03:31Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I tried to post a comment, but it was rejected as SPAM for some reason (FTR, it didn’t include any profanity) Your comment appears to be up now. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/42 "2011-07-01T17:05:13Z")
> [@Penderel](#): > > It’s a stereotype that gay men are not masculine and gay women not feminine, but it really doesn’t seem to be that far from the truth (using broad generalization). I don’t think it’s all that great of a leap. Usually, the bishop doesn’t slap your face, but it’s the times when he does that everyone remembers. [12] [4] ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/43 "2011-07-01T17:05:15Z")
> [@Penderel](#): > > It’s a stereotype that gay men are not masculine and gay women not feminine, but it really doesn’t seem to be that far from the truth (using broad generalization). I don’t think it’s all that great of a leap. > > And to get a bit off-topic, it has always amazed me that so many gay men are, and are attracted to, effeminate men. Likewise with butch lesbians. In nature, animals are often attracted to each other by gender-specific attributes, so I would think that gay men would like overly masculine men and lesbians would be attracted to overly feminine women. I don’t expect any answers, it’s just always plagued my mind. 😕 You don’t really know very many gay people, do you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Penderel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Penderel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penderel)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/44 "2011-07-01T17:10:33Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > You are an idiot. > > I would argue with you, but it would be pointless, because you are too dumb to understand anything I would say. The only hope for you is this: Get out into the world. Meet real people. Then you may see how stupid you sound. I hope I don’t sound any more stupid that someone whose sole criticism is “you are an idiot.” If you’re too fucking dumb to explain yourself, then don’t bother to post. > [@panache45](#): > > You don’t really know very many gay people, do you? 😃 Actually, I do. What’s your point? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/45 "2011-07-01T17:15:27Z")
> [@Penderel](#): > > Actually, I do. What’s your point? “You see, Billy, when a straw man loves another straw man very much…” ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/46 "2011-07-01T17:15:48Z")
> [@Penderel](#): > > I hope I don’t sound any more stupid that someone whose sole criticism is “you are an idiot.” Sorry, but you do. ETA: in this thread you’ve said you think there might be something like a gay agenda, have given tepid support for gay kids getting bullied (at least through inference) and have equated homosexuality with femininity (what about lesbians?!). Frankly, it would be rather difficult for me to come off looking dumber than you. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/47 "2011-07-01T17:17:54Z")
> [@Penderel](#): > > Actually, I do. What’s your point? My point is that most gay men are not particularly attracted to men who are effeminate. At least that’s my experience. Lesbians can speak for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/48 "2011-07-01T17:22:46Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I hear that a lot, but have yet to actually see that IRL. A [short film](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb_sPmd6DnE)on the UGA “peter meter” study Diogenes mentioned. Then there’s the anecdotal evidence of the constantly growing number of people who make anti-gay/gay-is-a-choice a part of their career who get caught in gay scandals. [List of just a few](http://www.alternet.org/story/146866/7_gay_sex_scandals_of_career_anti-gay_crusaders__/)- there are many more. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/49 "2011-07-01T17:23:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There are scientific studies backing it up. Men who express the most homophobic attitudes become sexually excited when viewing gay erotica… Hate to hit ya with the ‘cite’ outside of GD, but I barely post in GD, so I have to get my ‘cites’ off here. I don’t think that’s good science right there. Sounds like pseudoscience. Establishing that a man gets an arousal watching gay porn doesn’t make him gay. Many \*females \*get aroused watching two men having sex. Also, I question rather there is equipment that can properly judge that a man is turned on. Furthermore, I know tons of females who are homophobic against gay men. They have all kinds of disgusting reasons for their bigotry, most of the time based in their own interpretation of their Christianity. So, I don’t know if I buy that quote of yours without a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/50 "2011-07-01T17:27:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > My point is that most gay men are not particularly attracted to men who are effeminate. At least that’s my experience. Lesbians can speak for themselves. Most lesbians aren’t particularly attracted to men who are effeminate either. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/51 "2011-07-01T17:27:50Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > No, they aren’t. Denial. Denial. Denial. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Penderel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Penderel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penderel)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/52 "2011-07-01T17:32:27Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Sorry, but you do. > > ETA: in this thread you’ve said you think there might be something like a gay agenda, have given tepid support for gay kids getting bullied (at least through inference) and have equated homosexuality with femininity (what about lesbians?!). Frankly, it would be rather difficult for me to come off looking dumber than you. What I said was that there seems to be some underlying reason for all of the bullying “awareness,” and that I didn’t assume it was a gay agenda (as did the author of the article which is the subject of this thread). There was some sarcasm there - sorry for making you think too hard. I did not “support” bullying, but was making the point that it happens, it has always happened, and it always will happen, yet somehow most all people who’ve been bullied have been able to continue with their lives. The sky is not falling. I didn’t directly equate homosexuality and femininity, but defended someone who did. You don’t know my friends, so I’ll point to famous homosexuals like Truman Capote, Charles Nelson Reilly, Liberace, etc. Certainly the public face of homosexuality is effeminate, so you’re outrage at the proposition threw me for a loop. Your wild inferences on the meaning of my comments is the example of stupidity here. Read and understand before name-calling. > [@panache45](#): > > My point is that most gay men are not particularly attracted to men who are effeminate. At least that’s my experience. Lesbians can speak for themselves. I’ve honestly noticed quite the opposite, plus observed that many (I’ll stay away from most) gay men are effeminate themselves. This obviously isn’t the case for everyone, but then again, sexual attraction is pretty subjective, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/53 "2011-07-01T17:34:09Z")
> [@Penderel](#): > > It’s a stereotype that gay men are not masculine and gay women not feminine, but it really doesn’t seem to be that far from the truth (using broad generalization). I don’t think it’s all that great of a leap. You might want to Google “bears” for starters… Uh, but not at work or anywhere you’re worried about your search history! I’ve met dozens of gay men just through my work, and really, there’s a whole spectrum out there. Leather and flannel-favoring motorcycle riders all the way through the “twinkie” type (young, smooth, highly groomed and pretty), with lots of very average dude looks in between. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/54 "2011-07-01T17:42:23Z")
I’m glad folks ignored my point that females also get aroused when watching gay porn, since that point makes no sense. But, yeah, I still question that study. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/55 "2011-07-01T17:48:17Z")
In addition tothe other bullshit this guy is spouting, I loved this gem: > [@](#): > > This is not bullying. It is peer pressure and is healthy. There are many bad behaviors such as **smoking, under age drinking and drug abuse** that are behaviors that cannot be condoned. Homosexuality falls into this category. Homosexuality is simply bad behavior that youth see as such and rightly pressure their peers to stop it. Bolding mine. What school did he go to? In mine, the peer pressure was _for_ doing all that stuff, _not_ stopping it. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/56 "2011-07-01T18:02:04Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I’m glad folks ignored my point that females also get aroused when watching gay porn, since that point makes no sense. But, yeah, I still question that study. Why doesn’t this make sense? Straight men notoriously love watching “lesbian” porn; why shouldn’t straight (or bi) women enjoy watching gay porn? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/57 "2011-07-01T18:09:58Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Why doesn’t this make sense? Straight men notoriously love watching “lesbian” porn; why shouldn’t straight (or bi) women enjoy watching gay porn? No, I mean my point didn’t make any sense. I am embarrased at the point I was trying to make because it was dumb. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/58 "2011-07-01T18:12:56Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > No, I mean my point didn’t make any sense. I am embarrased at the point I was trying to make because it was dumb. Oh. Oops. Sorry!! ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/59 "2011-07-01T18:20:27Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > No, I mean my point didn’t make any sense. I am embarrased at the point I was trying to make because it was dumb. So, you’d like people just to keep on ignoring it right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/60 "2011-07-01T18:44:02Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There are scientific studies backing it up. Men who express the most homophobic attitudes become sexually excited when viewing gay erotica. You and I have discussed this before. Those studies don’t necessarily show that homophobes are more likely to be gay because of a confounding variable, which is that some people get turned on by watching “naughty” stuff. So, a straight dude that thinks being gay is wrong (ie, he’s " homophobic") may also be turned on by naughty stuff, so he may get turned on just because he’s watching something he thinks is wrong. A better study would eliminate that variable by asking people what else they think is wrong and seeing if they also get turned on by that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479.md?page=4)