I think it’s definitely an older people thing. I don’t know that any of my peers would make that association. Me, I always get distracted by how ugly a name I think it is and never get that far.
Stereotypically gay name, not that I believe anyone will presume the a man is gay just because his name is Bruce. (But then again i seem to have great and unwarranted faith in my fellow humans and am often disappointed).
I may have stolen this from National Lampoon, but a new police TV show could be titled “Bruce and Butch,” featuring the the first male/female homosexual crime busting partners.
Another vote for gay name. I think I made the association watching the movie, “They Call Me Bruce.” There’s a scene where a redneck approaches him and says, “Did you say your name was ‘Bruce’ or … ‘Bruth’?” The association was natural enough for me. Many years later I’d created a D&D NPC named Bruth. He was a bard and a complete ass-kicking ball of fluff.
Never met a Bruce in my short, 25 year long life… gay or straight. I’ve met a LOT of gay men, young and old… but none named Bruce.
I’ve always associated Phillip with being gay… not sure why. Met a few gay Phils in my time.
I think it’s a gay name, too, but I have no reason to think as such. I mean…Bruce Wayne?
Bruce Wayne totally diddled Robin.
I dont want to hear the name of the Bat-apparatus he used.
True, but that doesn’t make him gay - just, erm, flexible in his sexuality. I mean, there was Catwoman.
ETA: Then again, Michelle Pfeiffer in that catsuit would make anyone like girls.
She doesn’t need the suit…
Note to self: Pick up a copy of Steel Magnolias to watch this weekend.
I’m 44 and when I was a kid, Bruce was the stereotypical gay name. I have no idea why.
“Trevor” seems to be be used as a “gay” name occasionally, as does “Bryce”. (Which, by the way, was the name of my Granddad’s brother. And he was far from gay.)
No reflection on your Grampa’s brother, sinply a point to ponder.
I’ve known, or known of, several “far from gay” men (and women too) who have turned out to be just that. You simply can’t always tell, especially back in the day when more gays stayed closeted than now.
My thinking is that Bruce has gotta be in the top 10 of The Most Manly Names Ever™, that I’m sure you’d immediately grow an impossibly awesome mustache as soon as your parents name you.
So, upon anyone who happens to be gay and named Bruce, the weird dichotomy birthed the stereotype we know today.
Please, you ever seen how tight those jeans are?
The one gay male cousin I have (that I know of), is named Mark.
A friend of mine, who I haven’t seen for years :(, says Springsteen is “to die for”.
Bruce did kiss Clarence on the mouth.
When asked in an interview if he and Elton John were lovers, Bernie Taupin said “Ewww”
I think that’s funny. 
Bruce is a TOUGH guy name, the whole point of the bruce = gay meme is that it’s funny for a guy with such a tough name to be gay. Same with Lance, its a freaking medieval weapon for gods sake, how can that be gay?
You mean the medieval legions weren’t bfing each other?
Yep. Big Bad Brucie-Wucie saved a bunch of people, but died when he went back in (to what? a mine? a fire?) one more time, shrieking “Mercy, I forgot my purse!!!”.
Don’t you remember him going down on Robert Shaw?