# Does Being Gay Shorten Your Life? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533 "2007-12-19T01:23:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/21 "2007-12-19T13:41:34Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] As well as the whole “stupidly engaging in reckless sexual behavior such as extreme promiscuity and unprotected anal sex with strangers” thing. [/QUOTE] Ah, well, there’s straight people who do that too, you know. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/22 "2007-12-19T13:53:53Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] And since bars are often centers of gay socializing, alcohol consumption and alcoholism tend to be higher as well. I suppose a [cite](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0847/is_n2_v15/ai_12490663) or [two](http://www.alcoholmedicalscholars.org/gay-out.htm) would not be amiss, not that it will accomplish much. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] No, for once you’re actually right. The way the gay social scene is set up _is_ a concern, especially for gay folk who are recovering alcoholics. That’s changing now that the internet is so ubiquitous, but the bars are still the major social centers. Of course, that’s not so much our fault as yours\*, but let’s not go there… \*Not your fault, personally, **Shodan**. I meant straight society in general. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/23 "2007-12-19T13:59:52Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] And since bars are often centers of gay socializing, alcohol consumption and alcoholism tend to be higher as well. [/QUOTE] Ah, well, there’s straight people who do that too, you know. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/24 "2007-12-19T14:06:25Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] No, for once you’re actually right. The way the gay social scene is set up _is_ a concern, especially for gay folk who are recovering alcoholics. That’s changing now that the internet is so ubiquitous, but the bars are still the major social centers. Of course, that’s not so much our fault as yours\*, but let’s not go there… \*Not your fault, personally, **Shodan**. I meant straight society in general. [/QUOTE] _Our_ fault? How so? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/25 "2007-12-19T14:34:17Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Ah, well, there’s straight people who do that too, you know. [/QUOTE] Sure, just not as commonly. Good! Now we all understand averages. > [@the raindog](#): > > Our fault? > > How so? It’s fairly common for alcoholics to blame other people for their drinking. ([Cite.)](http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Drug_and_Addiction_Information/when_parent_drinks.html) Of course, that is true regardless of sexual orientation. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/26 "2007-12-19T14:34:50Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] The way the gay social scene is set up _is_ a concern, especially for gay folk who are recovering alcoholics. That’s changing now that the internet is so ubiquitous, but the bars are still the major social centers. [/QUOTE] Explain how this is any different for heterosexuals. It would appear to be completely identical. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/27 "2007-12-19T15:08:48Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Explain how this is any different for heterosexuals. It would appear to be completely identical. [/QUOTE] In answer to you, **raindog** and **Shodan** : I’m not blaming the straight society for anyone’s alcoholism. I’m blaming straight society in the pre-modern (1980 and earlier) era for basically making homosexuality such a shameful, horrible secret that actually having any kind of social gathering place other than bars was next to impossible. Straight people have a multitude of places to meet potential mates: churches, supermarkets, sports events, on the street, at a restaurant…prior to tolerance and acceptance for homosexuals, trying to feel out someone you were attracted to in those venues was an invitation to hospitalization and criminal charges. Only in the gay bars (and even more unsavory places) was it possible to be fairly sure that an overture wouldn’t be met with violence or official action. We didn’t necessarily choose to become a bar-centered culture. We were more or less cornered there. And yes, this is changing, thanks in part to changing attitudes among straight people and also in part to the internet. But it’s not like we just instinctively scuttered to the dark, sticky corners of society because we liked it there. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/28 "2007-12-19T15:42:10Z")
Yeah, the stigmatization of homosexuality led to bars (usually bars in the seedier parts of town) being the only way gays could safely meet. It also did something else that helped lead to unsafe behavior among gay people. One of the things that society does is to regulate sexual activity. There are a lot of societal pressures on a straight person to settle down, get married, and have a (theoretically, at least) monogamous relationship. Homophobia and stigmatization of gays meant that that didn’t really exist. In fact, gays were discouraged from forming long term, monogamous relationships. The whole “get married and have a house in the suburbs” thing wasn’t really an option for gays in the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc. It’s still not an option for most gays today, although societal attitudes are changing. So this led to a subculture where promiscuity was the norm. Since long term relationships were so difficult, most sexual encounters were between strangers or near strangers. And of course, promiscuitity leads to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. This is one of the big reasons why AIDS hit the gay community so hard. But even HIV aside, the other STDs, while more treatable, still aren’t particularly good for you. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/29 "2007-12-19T15:49:31Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Sure, just not as commonly. Good! Now we all understand averages. [/QUOTE] But, do you have any cite that gay people drink more than straights? Or are more frequently diagnosed with alcoholism? Or, for that matter, spend more time hanging out in bars? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/30 "2007-12-19T16:07:51Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] But, do you have any cite that gay people drink more than straights? Or are more frequently diagnosed with alcoholism? Or, for that matter, spend more time hanging out in bars? [/QUOTE] You actually think a cite is necessary for this? We can reasonably argue about the reasons that gay men are more likely to have alcohol and drug problems than straights, but there is no reasonable argument about the fact itself. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/31 "2007-12-19T16:21:10Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] I don’t think it’s being gay, exactly, that shortens your life. I think it’s the whole, “Being disowned by your family, shunned by your friends, fired from your job, and villainized by the popular culture,” thing that shortens your life. If you’re lucky enough to be gay and avoid all that, I don’t think it will have much effect on your lifespan one way or the other. [/QUOTE] I agree with your conclusion, but your premises are a little too dramatic to be credible. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/32 "2007-12-19T16:26:51Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] You actually think a cite is necessary for this? We can reasonably argue about the reasons that gay men are more likely to have alcohol and drug problems than straights, but there is no reasonable argument about the fact itself. [/QUOTE] It’s not a priori evident that this is a fact. That’s why we want a cite. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/33 "2007-12-19T16:27:53Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] I agree with your conclusion, but your premises are a little too dramatic to be credible. [/QUOTE] How old are you? Fewer than 15 years ago, those were all likely outcomes to being “outed”. More than 25 years ago, they were all but guaranteed except in very few exceptional cases. What **Miller** posted is not at all dramatic. It’s historically accurate (for very recent values of “historically”, even). ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/34 "2007-12-19T16:28:35Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] It’s not a priori evident that this is a fact. That’s why we want a cite. [/QUOTE] It’s common knowledge and well accepted. No cite is needed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/35 "2007-12-19T16:29:58Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] You actually think a cite is necessary for this? We can reasonably argue about the reasons that gay men are more likely to have alcohol and drug problems than straights, but there is no reasonable argument about the fact itself. [/QUOTE] Do you have any kind of evidence for this? The meth-addicted, hard-drinking twink IS a recognized “type”, but it’s hardly the majority of gay men, even in urban areas. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/36 "2007-12-19T16:30:10Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Interesting question, along the lines of “being married adds 4\* years, on average… etc.” Can insurance companies give rate cuts to people who get married? \*I made up the 4 year thing. I don’t know the real number. [/QUOTE] I’ve always thought that’s a classic instance of correlation not being causation. I would guess that in general (exceptions will doubtless be numerous) men who do a poor job of providing for themselves and looking after themselves are seen as less desirable mates - thus giving themselves shorter lifespans and a ticket to singlehood in one cut-price package. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/37 "2007-12-19T16:31:21Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] It’s common knowledge and well accepted. No cite is needed. [/QUOTE] Completely unacceptable as an argument in GD. How long have you been on this board? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/38 "2007-12-19T16:32:51Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] It’s common knowledge and well accepted. No cite is needed. [/QUOTE] I would have said the standard for needing a cite is whether one is asked for or not. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/39 "2007-12-19T16:36:23Z")
[Gay life expectancy revisited | International Journal of Epidemiology | Oxford Academic](http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/30/6/1499) This study says 20 yeqars. But it is cold weather climes. Gays apparently don’t like cold weather. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533/40 "2007-12-19T16:37:40Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Completely unacceptable as an argument in GD. [/quote] There is no need to provide a cite for something which is well established. If someone were to challenge the heliocentric theory of the solar system, it would be entirely proper to put the burden for providing cites entirely on him. If you want to argue about it any further, go to your local state university or some such place and take it up with whoever teaches the basic introductory course on logic. It is simply idiotic to insist that cites for any assertion whatsoever must be presented on demand. > [@jayjay](#): > > How long have you been on this board? Longer than you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-gay-shorten-your-life/430533.md?page=3)