The Acceptable Face of Homosexuality.
It is also true that the sheer bulk of critical opinion and therefore of general discussion caused my existence to impinge upon even the most sluggish consciousness. As my agent said, 'You must accept the fact that you will become part of the fantasies of total strangers.'
The teleplay in which I appeared for about a minute and a half came to be called my program.
When the laws of England were being changed market research into homosexuality was carried out. . . When asked what they would expect a gay man to look like, housewives replied, 'Oh, you know - actorish, effeminate, inclined to wear bright colours.' (Now they would merely say 'someone like Quentin') If on the other hand, they had already admitted to knowing a homosexual man and were asked what he was like, they usually answered, 'Just like everyone else.'
Superficially the present fashion among gay men for normalizing their clothes and their mannerisms is a relief to the rest of the world. Socially it makes dealing with them less embarrassing but, deep down, this subdued public image makes heterosexuals uneasy. If gay men look like everyone else, then they may be anywhere - everywhere. How much safer to be able to see one coming from a mile away! It gives you time to make up your mind what to do - call the police, lock up the kids, scream with laughter or duck.
The teleplay in which I appeared for about a minute and a half came to be called my program.
When the laws of England were being changed market research into homosexuality was carried out. . . When asked what they would expect a gay man to look like, housewives replied, 'Oh, you know - actorish, effeminate, inclined to wear bright colours.' (Now they would merely say 'someone like Quentin') If on the other hand, they had already admitted to knowing a homosexual man and were asked what he was like, they usually answered, 'Just like everyone else.'
Superficially the present fashion among gay men for normalizing their clothes and their mannerisms is a relief to the rest of the world. Socially it makes dealing with them less embarrassing but, deep down, this subdued public image makes heterosexuals uneasy. If gay men look like everyone else, then they may be anywhere - everywhere. How much safer to be able to see one coming from a mile away! It gives you time to make up your mind what to do - call the police, lock up the kids, scream with laughter or duck.