Magic Johnson's openly gay son. Is this the place for this subject?

[marylander1940]

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/magic-johnsons-openly-gay-son-grateful-dads-support-171017270--abc-news-celebrities.html

 

[video=youtube;19noQ4YKks4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19noQ4YKks4

[operalover21]

I saw this some place else and I thought "good for him, for being public and all that." I was expecting kind of a tall, lanky kid ... was somewhat hoping he'd be hot ... so I was, um, surprised, that he turned out to be the black son of Cher.

[+ Gar1eth]

I saw this some place else and I thought "good for him, for being public and all that." I was expecting kind of a tall, lanky kid ... was somewhat hoping he'd be hot ... so I was, um, surprised, that he turned out to be the black son of Cher.

 

I admit that while I didn't think about Chas, I did notice his weight very judgmental of me as I'm no waif myself. I need to do better. But in reference to another current thread, his body language seems to indicate he is not the most butch gay person around.

 

I'm not saying it is right. But it is easy to see why the stereotype of gay men being effeminate arose. While again obviously not all gay men are effeminate- most likely not even anywhere near the majority. But I wish a population survey could be done on straight and gay men ( or straight females and lesbians) to see whether being effeminate ( or in the case of lesbians being 'manly') really is more prevalent in the gay populations worldwide. And that the survey was able to factor out as much as possible cultural expectations. And then if these stereotypes were true across cultures, figure out exactly why.

 

Gman

[Rick Munroe]

Magic Johnson's openly gay son.

 

I really wish the media (and everyone else) would stop using the term "openly gay" because if we know they're gay, then obviously they're "open." If they're in the closet, then theoretically we do not know whether or not they are gay, so what do we say then? Closedly gay? I know some of you will think I'm nitpicking but I think words do matter and we perpetuate the concept that being gay is something we need to hide when we refer to someone as "openly gay." Is anyone ever openly straight or openly black?

[seeker630]

I really wish the media (and everyone else) would stop using the term "openly gay" because if we know they're gay, then obviously they're "open." If they're in the closet, then theoretically we do not know whether or not they are gay, so what do we say then? Closedly gay? I know some of you will think I'm nitpicking but I think words do matter and we perpetuate the concept that being gay is something we need to hide when we refer to someone as "openly gay." Is anyone ever openly straight or openly black?

 

I've tried to understand your reasoning here, but to me. 'openly gay' means someone is 'out' publicly (vs, perhaps, just to a few close friends or other gays, or totally in the closet). I don't follow your reasoning that using the term perpetuates the idea that being gay is something we need to hide, but the fact is, in some places and times, there are consequences of being 'open', and making the decision to be out perhaps deserves some acknowledgement.

 

Just curious - do you find 'out' just as negative?

[Guest]

I really wish the media (and everyone else) would stop using the term "openly gay" because if we know they're gay, then obviously they're "open."

 

There have been lots of people I knew were gay but who weren't openly gay. I knew for a fact about Anderson Cooper being gay before he came out, because of a mutual friend. Anybody who doesn't know that former Senator Larry Craig is gay has his head up his ass, but Larry Craig is most certainly not openly gay.

[Strafe13]

I think the effeminate stereotype has something to do with the fact that it's partly rooted in reality. Across many cultures, known (and suspected) gay men and women tend to exhibit traits more traditionally associated with the opposite gender.

 

But, alluding to the points made by Rick, seeker, and Unicorn, I think the stereotype's endurance is due mostly because fem guys are the ones who are the most obviously openly gay, so we know about them. More masculine gay guys don't stand out from the larger straight population, and so we don't visually identify them as gay. Same for lesbians. These stereotypes obviously aren't absolute, and even if they don't apply to a majority of gays, it's prevalent enough that it colors societal perceptions.

 

I admit that while I didn't think about Chas, I did notice his weight very judgmental of me as I'm no waif myself. I need to do better. But in reference to another current thread, his body language seems to indicate he is not the most butch gay person around.

 

I'm not saying it is right. But it is easy to see why the stereotype of gay men being effeminate arose. While again obviously not all gay men are effeminate- most likely not even anywhere near the majority. But I wish a population survey could be done on straight and gay men ( or straight females and lesbians) to see whether being effeminate ( or in the case of lesbians being 'manly') really is more prevalent in the gay populations worldwide. And that the survey was able to factor out as much as possible cultural expectations. And then if these stereotypes were true across cultures, figure out exactly why.

 

Gman

[+ Gar1eth]

I think the effeminate stereotype has something to do with the fact that it's partly rooted in reality. Across many cultures, known (and suspected) gay men and women tend to exhibit traits more traditionally associated with the opposite gender.

 

That makes sense. I just wonder why it occurs other than for example female fetuses masculinized by accidental exposure to androgens or possibly nowadays people who were born into the wrong gender and have the option of sex reassignment surgery whereas in the past the best thing they might be able to do was express their inclinations by being gay.

 

Gman

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

We can't help ourselves, right?

I had the same thoughts. I'm glad he has money of he'd be ostracized by the gay community for being overweight and the African-American community for been so feminine.

Is he a cut above Chas Bono?

Damn, I hate been so superficial.

 

I thought at first his name was "Cookie," and thought: "well, what did you expect from the kid? You named him 'Cookie.'" Then I realized that was Magic's wife.

[rvwnsd]

I think the effeminate stereotype has something to do with the fact that it's partly rooted in reality...

 

Just like the stereotypes that people who participate in online forums are socially inept losers; people over the age of thirty are technologically inept; New Yorkers are rude; Southerners are stupid; men who hire escorts are overweight, unwashed trolls; and the list goes on.

[JT Brooklyn]

I'm sure that his Sexual Orientation being "Totally Accepted" by his Family Trumps whatever may be said by ANYONE else on the subject!

 

The Best to Him in his Gay Life!

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Just like the stereotypes that people who participate in online forums are socially inept losers; people over the age of thirty are technologically inept; New Yorkers are rude; Southerners are stupid; men who hire escorts are overweight, unwashed trolls; and the list goes on.

 

I feel pity for the transplanted 47 year-old New Yorker who lives in Nashville, hires and posts reviews on the forum.

[+ Gar1eth]

men who hire escorts are overweight, unwashed trolls; and the list goes on.

 

You are totally right!! I wash all the time.

 

Gman

[Becket]

Well. I am highly offended by the tone of this thread.

 

And God forgive me, I can't stop laughing..........

[Guest Wetnwildbear]

For "Celebraties" Has Publicly embrassed thier orientation as same-gender"

[rocky]

I don't give a crap if Magic Johnson's son is gay. What I find frustrating is using his father's name, fame, etc

for his own gain. Wonder what he does for a living besides go around looking queeny and getting in to places.

Does Chaz come to mind, it does to me. Sorry, be who you want but don't swing on someone else's coatails

while doing it.

[+ FreshFluff]

There have been lots of people I knew were gay but who weren't openly gay. I knew for a fact about Anderson Cooper being gay before he came out, because of a mutual friend. Anybody who doesn't know that former Senator Larry Craig is gay has his head up his ass, but Larry Craig is most certainly not openly gay.

 

To be fair, Craig could be bi. BTW, I've noticed that the phrase "openly bisexual" is used very rarely compared to "openly gay."

[rvwnsd]

I feel pity for the transplanted 47 year-old New Yorker who lives in Nashville, hires and posts reviews on the forum.

 

Indeed.

[Rick Munroe]

I don't follow your reasoning that using the term perpetuates the idea that being gay is something we need to hide, but the fact is, in some places and times, there are consequences of being 'open', and making the decision to be out perhaps deserves some acknowledgement.

 

Very true, but I still think that it's enough to just say that they're gay. For me, "openly" feels like it's something to be admitted or confessed. It just feels negative to me, although I can see how others would see it as a positive.

 

Just curious - do you find 'out' just as negative?

 

Good question. I sometimes do bristle at that because, again, I think that if they're not hiding it, then why not just say they're gay?

[operalover21]

We can't help ourselves, right?

I had the same thoughts. I'm glad he has money of he'd be ostracized by the gay community for being overweight and the African-American community for been so feminine.

Is he a cut above Chas Bono?

Damn, I hate been so superficial.

 

Yes, I metaphorically, flaggelated myself for thinking and saying such an awfully superficial thing but, upon further reflection, I don't know why I expected him to be hot as his father -- to me -- has always been one ugly, goofy-looking mother fucker.

 

On the other hand -- I think both Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger are butt ugly and they produced that unbelievably gorgeous and hunky son Patick! Go figure.

[operalover21]

I don't give a crap if Magic Johnson's son is gay. What I find frustrating is using his father's name, fame, etc

for his own gain. Wonder what he does for a living besides go around looking queeny and getting in to places.

Does Chaz come to mind, it does to me. Sorry, be who you want but don't swing on someone else's coatails

while doing it.

 

To me, the perfect example of this is Ron Reagan. He's a completely talentless nitwit who has never held a real job in his life. And now he's a commentator on TV, not because of anything he achieved, but because of who his father was. That's the most pathetic example I can come up with.

[operalover21]

Just like the stereotypes that people who participate in online forums are socially inept losers; people over the age of thirty are technologically inept; New Yorkers are rude; Southerners are stupid; men who hire escorts are overweight, unwashed trolls; and the list goes on.

 

And the racial ones are even worse. I remember being shocked when I heard that last year the liberal commentator Bob Beckel (who ran the Mondale campaign) referred to Mitt Romney's Jewish donors as "a bunch of unnamed Diamond merchants." I mean, people really think shit like that?

[bigvalboy]

I don't give a crap if Magic Johnson's son is gay. What I find frustrating is using his father's name, fame, etc

for his own gain. Wonder what he does for a living besides go around looking queeny and getting in to places.

Does Chaz come to mind, it does to me. Sorry, be who you want but don't swing on someone else's coatails

while doing it.

 

Are you friends with "Magic" or his son? Curious how you know so much about him.

[+ azdr0710]

I mean, people really think shit like that?

 

only when their ratings need a periodic boost....liberal or conservative, it doesn't matter....political commentators and talk-show hosts are only entertainers....nothing more at all....

[operalover21]

only when their ratings need a periodic boost....liberal or conservative, it doesn't matter....political commentators and talk-show hosts are only entertainers....nothing more at all....

 

Sorry, I'm not that cynical. I have no doubt he really thinks it and meant it.