Campness

[pigface]

I know that that it is a complete and utter stereotype and that it does not apply in every case, but why do some gay men act in a 'camp' manner. Is campness something that people are born with, or is it learnt, is it part of a certain type of gay identity? I'm not suggesting that it is a bad thing - i'm just wondering where the trait comes from.

[kick3m0n]

It's not even just a gay thing, in as much as it's not only gay men who act this way.  I have two friends, both of whom are heterosexual, but who are also fairly camp.  One laughingly tells us it's cos he was brought up in a house with 5 females, but I tell you - his success rate with women (until he settled down to family life) was second to none, camp or not.

[andy hughes]

I think camp behaviour is learned, as as kick suggests, it is not exclusively confined to homosexual men. Women are definitely more comfortable with camp men - they are seen as empathetic and unthreatening, hence straight camp men's popularity with women. I also believe that there is an unspoken school of thought that some gay men, aware of the fear and repression they encounter on a daily basis, wear their sexuality proudly in their behaviour, with an exagerated 'This is me, and if it doesn 't suit you, then tough!' attitude to the world at large. Their extrovert attitude and camp manerisms can act as a badge to announce themselves to the world, and simultaneoulsy as a suit of armour to protect them from the wider world. In my experience, any camp man drops the 'front' as soon as he is in close company, or there is no gallery to which to play.

[spudqueen]

I think andy hughes may have hit the nail on the head. My hairdresser is sooooo camp (he LOVES Jane MacDonald) but is married with 4 children!

[Scarlett]

I actually disagree!! I believe that some "camp" traits are all part and parcel of the gay gene- if there is one. I have many gay friends, and one in particular was trying to be straight (in denial) a few years back. He hated himself because of his voice and because his wrists were naturally limp!! It sounds mad, but he said he just couldn't help it, and they just went like that. It frustrated him no end. As soon as I heard my friend Neil speak I knew he was gay- and he is very straight acting. He just has that soft tone that a lot of gay men have. I think that in years to come, scientists will find a biological reason for some people being gay, which also results in some physical attributes. Time will tell!

[CiderMonkey]

In A Pickle - I have just read your post - it reminded me that 'being gay' was not always legal - it's still really hard for me to get my head around that!

In answer to the question  - I don't know why some men act 'camp', but I agree that it isn't only gay men. I have a straight freind who acts VERY camp. He loves Robbie Williams, crys when i cry and we chat about fashion and beauty products. He has said that people have thought he is gay because of this but he just finds in amusing.

I used to work with a guy who was gay and very camp. He didn't need to tell me and the other people he was friends with that he was gay - he knew that we knew. But it was strange that a few other people that we worked with DIDN'T know - they totally hadn't picked up on it. When they did find out they were so shocked and couldn't believe that other people just knew. They hadn't even clicked when he'd been singing Kylie songs and decalring his love for Ricky Martin!!

[Octavius]

I must say I find it rather irritating as in most cases they are just 'putting it on'.  Please don't call me homophobic as I have many gay friends, most of them do not feel the need to camp it up in every situation under the sun.  I also have straight friends who camp it up as an act as well.

It's put on.

[Octavius]

Oh and by the way, I grew up in a house with 5 females and darling I ain't camp!