Top 6 most hated gay stereotypes queer men don't want to see
Do you write queer men?
Whether you write gay men, bisexual men, pansexual men, asexual men, aromantic men, queer men, or trans men... Read on!
Meet our six characters
Gay stereotypes can affect all queer male characters, even if the character is bi or pan, as often writers feel the need to lean into the "loving men" aspect, despite a bi/pan man also being attracted to other genders
Promiscuous Peter
He can't settle down because his motto is “monogamy is a heterosexual thing”.
Peter is heavily sex focussed and promiscuous. Thus sexual chemistry and looks are the sole categories by which he finds a partner.
He doesn't care about finding someone with shared experiences, similar interests or values. Nor is communication important to him.
His whole personality is based on jumping from bed to bed, partner to partner, because that's all this queer man wants.
A real connection? Peter ain't got no time for that.
Sexless Scott
No sex please he's British, even if he's not!
This poor guy can't find any connection with anyone. Love? He wishes, but there's just nobody out there. Like, at all. Anywhere.
That's not to say being queer is all about sex (and aces exist y'all), but Scott doesn't even get to enjoy the simple pleasures of holding a partner's hand, let alone kisses.
It's almost as if the thought of ANY sort of romantic encounter between two men is just too much for certain audiences. Yet the straight characters are sucking each other's faces continually.
Not Scott though, because that would be gross.
Flamboyant Floyd
There's no denying that queerness is a huge spectrum, but it's often the case that if an audience needs to know a man is queer, in rolls Floyd.
His whole personality is to be the most effeminate man in the room, always there with a "yaas queen" and a "slay, girlfriend".
But that's his only input to the story.
It's not his character that's the issue (camp men exist, there's nothing wrong with it). The issue is he's there to be laughed at, his flamboyance being so funny, right?
Wrong, because he doesn't get to have any other emotions or traits. There's no off switch. "Being gay" is his whole life.
And his pop culture references are second to none, because it's a well-known fact that every single queer guy understands every aspect of pop culture, from every single decade. Yawn!
Antonio the Adonis
He's super hot and might as well live at the gym.
All Antonio cares about are his looks, because how else is he going to find love? Without a six-pack? Without pecs? He can't even!
Although sometimes he does let himself go. During that time, the muscles simply vanish, and so does any ounce of fat.
If he's not toned AF, he's super skinny, but still chiselled, obvs.
Antonio couldn't possibly allow himself to look average. Even the thought of having an average body, and average looks, (you know, like the majority of queer men, it's called "average" for a reason. Maths!), makes him shudder.
Lacklustre Leigh
Leigh lacks so much substance, he fades away into the background, which is his spiritual home anyway.
He's often a co-worker, or a BFF, and there for comedy. There's no complexity to him at all. No storyline either. Plot device, anyone?
Poor Leigh is often the weakest (physically and emotionally) in the room, and always needs the help of a strong, competent straight person.
If he's lucky enought to talk about himself, he's sharing the trauma he's faced, explaining why he's so emotionally stunted and self-destructive.
Often he's written so subtle, that audiences need a powerful telescope to spot his queerness. He doesn't get to say he's queer, or do anything queer, which leads to a lot of debate amongst audiences.
Victor the Villain
Viktor is queer because he's a villain right? Because Queer = Evil.
Hell, nah!
No thought has been put into Victor's queerness. It's not a step in the right direction for diversity, because Victor is queer CODED!
He's not a queer villain. He's a villain that must be queer because villains and queerness are wrong.
He lacks any nuance. Like AT ALL.
Poor Victor doesn't have a male partner, or queer friends, or even a Golden Girls boxset.
Any hint of queerness goes into how creepy he is with the male hero. His flirtatious taunting is the only way he can get his kicks, because he doesn't deserve any real love (because he's evil, and queer, which amount to the same thing in this instance).
So I can't write ANY gay
stereotypes at all??
It's not that you can't or shouldn't write these kinds of characters. We all know real people who are just like them. It's more about digging a little deeper, to create a queer male character that feels fresh & unique, but still authentic.
Also, these gay stereotypes always feel more pronounced when the queer guy is the only queer guy. If you were to write more than one, well, then those cliche characteristics look less like cliche characteristics, and more like an expression of the wonderful diversity of the lgbtq+ male experience. (insert gif of the guy tapping his temple with a knowing smile).
Are there any other gay stereotypes (including male bisexual stereotypes and male pansexual stereotypes) that I've missed? Let me know.
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