I have a few theories about teh gay
It was always the guys from smaller towns/villages who were the campest, when I were a student. Which suggested the more they had to repress or hide it when young, the more they felt they had to express it. Gay guys from bigger cities were generally better adjusted, and less, ahem, flamboyant.

Another theory is that it's not unusual* for adolescents to have "feelings" for someone of the same sex, even though they are heterosexual really. But identity politics insists that you "are" homosexual, rather than having homosexual feelings etc, so some young people pigeon-hole themselves too young as being something they're not. Again, when a student, I saw some people (male and female) come out and be all loud and proud. They did the whole Peter Tatchell thing, militant queer etc. Now they're married with kids. I think Bret Easton Ellis riffs on this in Lunar Park, amongst other books. It's just another form of rebellion - and the louder and gayer (in a safe environment, like a student union for example), the more extreme the rebellion. It's all bollocks of course.

*Not based on my own experiences. Oh no.
(McChinaman banned, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 16:26, 4 replies)

^This is basically true^

(MSB Load universe into cannon. Aim at brain. Fire., Thu 1 Apr 2010, 20:25, closed)

or alternately
people could stop labelling themselves, and treat people as people and judge them on that basis of attractiveness. Think we're a bit far away from that though
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 23:13, closed)

There is such a thing as bisexuality, you know
It's a concept ideally suited for this example.

Still, there are other reasons why you might want to be extra camp in smaller towns/villages. If you're looking for a bit of same sex action, there has to be a way of indicating to anyone that way inclined that you're available.

In large cities there's typically venues/groups/organisations where anyone queer can meet, so appearance is less of an issue. You'll still find people who insist an adhering to a particular subculture, but that's ok, because there are plenty others who'll probably be interested in whatever you are.

It really isn't necessarily rebellion, but other places than b3ta are more appropriate to discuss sexual identity and politics.
(syllopsium, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 19:05, closed)

Not exactly sure if this is on topic
but a lesbian friend of mine told me the other day that she had a boyfriend.

She actually seemed more confused than I was.
(Legion, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 9:14, closed)