08-31-2012, 05:12 AM
Part of being stacked behind the racks of clothes and shoes of Closetville is in missing out on certain basics.
In other words, now that I'm finally talking with other gay and bi people, I keep running into lingo that goes over my head. I can't be the only one with this problem, so I'm starting this thread as a crash course.
I'm not going to list what I do or don't know, since it may not be the same list as other newbs (rather, newly admitted?).
What I'm looking for is common--and less common--lingo definitions. What's considered acceptable, what's not, and a few of the acronyms. The other thing is symbols. Everyone knows the rainbow, of course, but are there less obvious symbols the average person might not know about?
The other part of the symbol question is whether there are subtle things a gay person might wear or say in public to clue in another gay person. I saw a reference to guys wearing a pearl bracelet or something at the gym, for example (I think it was). What about the girls? For example, even before now, I've gotten looks from women who looked like they might have been couple, like a question mark, but I never knew if there was something I missed. That happened again today while out shopping.
Of course, that situation is something I might ask about in another thread, because that's curious to me. I never thought I looked particularly gay or anything. I'm not really butch, I don't think (or maybe I'd be "soft butch"? I have no idea!). But there you have it, it seems like I've had those kinds of looks from other women from time to time over the years (yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're giggling at me for my chosen obliviousness!).
Okay, that's my spiel! Now, Discuss!
In other words, now that I'm finally talking with other gay and bi people, I keep running into lingo that goes over my head. I can't be the only one with this problem, so I'm starting this thread as a crash course.
I'm not going to list what I do or don't know, since it may not be the same list as other newbs (rather, newly admitted?).
What I'm looking for is common--and less common--lingo definitions. What's considered acceptable, what's not, and a few of the acronyms. The other thing is symbols. Everyone knows the rainbow, of course, but are there less obvious symbols the average person might not know about?
The other part of the symbol question is whether there are subtle things a gay person might wear or say in public to clue in another gay person. I saw a reference to guys wearing a pearl bracelet or something at the gym, for example (I think it was). What about the girls? For example, even before now, I've gotten looks from women who looked like they might have been couple, like a question mark, but I never knew if there was something I missed. That happened again today while out shopping.
Of course, that situation is something I might ask about in another thread, because that's curious to me. I never thought I looked particularly gay or anything. I'm not really butch, I don't think (or maybe I'd be "soft butch"? I have no idea!). But there you have it, it seems like I've had those kinds of looks from other women from time to time over the years (yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're giggling at me for my chosen obliviousness!).
Okay, that's my spiel! Now, Discuss!
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