LOL especially since the French have stereotypically been the harbingers of wishywahsiness and sexual ambiguity…
I think the true test is “European or gay” because Europeans in general have less hangups about male-male contact with regard to saunas and hand holding…
FWIW my own personal confusion stems from “good customer service or gay?”
One example I can think of is Melvyn Hayes from It Ain’t Half Hot Mum. In that series he played a very camp part, but in reality he is (or was) married, and has five children.
Hand holding? There isn’t a country in Europe where people observing two men holding hands aren’t going to conclude that they’re gay.
I’m sure there must be parts of rural southern Italy, Greece, and perhaps Bosnia or Bulgaria where this still happens, plus maybe Cyprus or Corsica.
I think the “gay or European” just comes from the fact that Yurpean guys are more likely to look metrosexual, which also causes confusion here in the states these days. Also, they’re more likely to learn British English, giving them a slightly fey accent, to American ears.
Of course, once you travel and or live in Europe for awhile, you realize guys are guys, wherever they are.
One word: Tea.
As a Brit I cannot possibly take offence at the insinuation about my sexuality any more than Americans can take offence that they are commonly (and rightly) viewed as brash, insensitive, obese, uncultured, litigious, mentally ill, bible bashing, poorly dressed, easily-offended cretins.
Very often these stereotypes are based in fact. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to my nearest public toilets.
Why, you…! Iffen mah pants wuzn’t fallin’ down I’d be hoppin’ on mah mobility scooter an’ goin’ fer ter git mah lawyer’n’ sue your faggy ass off right as soon as A’hm done lettin’ Pastor Robbins chase them crazy-demons outa mah skull! :mad:
Actual conversation that occurred in my house between me and my seven year old daughter about the two gay guys on the current edition of the Amazing Race.
Daughter: “Daddy, those two guys talk funny.”
Me: “Yes, honey they do. I think one of them has a lisp.”
Daughter: “Sometimes they act like little girls.”
Me: “There’s a reason for that.”
Daughter: “I know. I think they must be Englishmen!”
So that is now the euphemism around the household.
I am not sure of her reasoning but she came up with the connection independently of knowing anything about sexuality or about the existing meme. Maybe an English accent is just the most familiar accent to her but she has experienced Spanish and Chinese accents in person while an English accent is something she has only seen on television.
Many of the shows that imply that the british are effeminate also imply the same thing about europeans in general.
Frankly, I think this is more a US problem than other countries’.
For example men’s fashion in the US seems a little backward, frankly; it’s still in the era of trying hard to look macho (or maybe goth), whereas in many countries men feel more like they can express themselves more.
I’m not having a go at americans: I think your teeth are generally better, for example: clearly there are some benefits to your healthcare system (though I don’t think the brits have worse teeth than other europeans).
Neither the character nor the actor are british 
Didn’t the English call VD “the French disease”?
You’re George Michael?? :eek:
The brothers? Only one of them is gay.
If I were the signature-having type on this board, I would so steal this for one.
Should you feel so inclined, steal away. 
In French movies Brits are always portrayed as effiminate cissy boys.
But then again the French may well be compensating for something.
I blame the actor Eric Morley for at least some perceptions of us all being gay as he always came across to me as being incredibly camp whatever role he played.
I don’t know if he was gay in real life though.
I’m not saying your fellow there didn’t have a lisp, but Castilian Spanish comes with a built-in lisp.