I am not really involved with the GBLT community other than my involvement here. Through work I know a few gays and lesbians, and a couple of collegues that have gay or lesbian kids. On a whole a majority of my friends are hetero, but I never really thought about it until I read this discussion.
Out of curiosity about 10 years ago I went to a few gay bars just to meet a few people, and to be honest with you, when you put a group of gay men together the atmosphere just reeks of drugs and sexual tension and lots and lots of flaming which pissed me off no end as I saw that this behaviour was what alienates gays and lesbians from the community as a whole, and that really really gives me the shits, why?
My friends, Family, and work collegues generally all know that I am gay. It's not something that I talk about, it's not something that I 'act out', it's just that if someone is going to ask me if I am gay, I am going to be honest with them and you know what work is like, gossip gossip gossip.
The thing is amongst my predominately heterosexual peers I don't feel the slightest bit alienated, I feel a part of their lives and them of mine because we all have our common interests.
If I was to have predominatly gay friends I WOULD feel alienated because too much focus would be placed on my sexuality, and being gay is only important for relationships....NOT friendships, because sex and sexuality plays no role what-so-ever in friendships, and so it shouldn't.
I mean when we park a car are we GAY parking a car
When we go shopping are we GAY shopping
When we get paid for word are we getting Gay pay
Be comfortable in your own skin, you don't need to have gay friends to validate your sexuality because your sexuality is as natural as you eye colour, but you're not going to go out and get blue-eyed friends just because you have that characteristic in common