It was like there was a direct contradiction between what it meant to be a proud non-conforming geek and what it would take to be a proudly conforming gay man. Social capital is valuable and similarly earned by being attractive, cool, and “popular.” As I figured out how being gay intersected with the rest of my life, I immediately felt that participating in “the scene”-here meaning social clubs or bars-came with certain expectations about how I should look, what I should prioritize in my life, and what I should take an interest in. Connecting with friends who share your geeky affinities is relatively easy, but finding community among other gay men has proved to be more of a Water Temple–level task.Ĭomparing the gay community to a stereotypical high school’s clique culture is unoriginal, but apt.
But socially, there were big differences. In a sense, both involve rebuffing the expectations of society and taking pride in what made me me, regardless of what anyone else thought. Most designs are available on T-Shirts, Tank Tops, Racerbacks, Sweatshirts, Hoodies and other items. So when I first came out as gay, it was easy to embrace my new identity because of the experiences I’d already had as a geek. Browse our collection of 21212 Nerdy Pride T-shirts, Mugs and more.
You can read all of the stories in the issue here, and you can listen to a full episode of the Outward podcast covering more of the queer scene by subscribing on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your audio. But what, exactly, is this scene? Who’s a part of it? Who isn’t? Who decides? Is there more than one? What happens when a scene evolves-or when it doesn’t? These are the questions we’ve gathered a group of writers to consider for an Outward special issue on “The Scene” in LGBTQ life today. You’ve probably heard of the idea of a queer “scene,” perhaps most often from people who don’t care for it. Now, Queer Puerto Ricans Are Busy Sewing Something New. Hurricane Maria Tore at the Fabric of Their Island. “Leather” Usually Conjures Images of Butch Gay Men. But as We Grew, I Learned That “Stuff” Could Include More Than I Imagined. Should Queer Culture Trade Disco Balls for Decaf Lattes in the Name of Inclusion?