It was actually an accident of Spotify’s algorithm – I had been listening to an album by revered disco pioneer Patrick Cowley, whose ethereal, frisky compositions, often soundtracks to ‘80s porn films, couldn’t be more different from the Village People’s stereotypical garishness. Then, around a year and a half ago, I listened to their music out of choice – the listen that changed it all. Can you imagine being caught listening to the Village People with any kind of sincerity? I avoided it quite organically, actually we all have to at least pretend we have high tastes, after all. Yet, because of the band’s supremely cheesy reputation, their music passed me by for a long time. Their signature song YMCA – one of the most famous of all time, most recently appropriated by Donald Trump supporters, who have turned it into M-A-G-A – is about cruising for sex in a mens’ health club others celebrate traditionally male-oriented institutions such as the navy and the police. However, be this memory real or simulacrum, it strikes me as hilarious given what the Village People are universally known for: tongue-in-cheek gay innuendo, sparsely covered by a flimsy veneer of hyper-macho drag. Films that make the countryside seem less white This is probably where we all imagine we heard Village People for the first time – those of my generation, at least: such is the way their biggest hits have become the sonic staples of our biggest events and get-togethers. I should admit immediately, though, that I suspect this memory to be made up. I was doubtless very young – as I remember, the venue was either a school disco or a wedding reception. Think gay gone wild with highlights, drama and hard-partying fun blended in.I can’t recall exactly where I was when I first heard a song by the Village People. This is probably one of the stereotypes cisgender, straight people think of when they think of gay men. According to the stereotype, twinks are never older than 30 and often have a queen-like streak in their souls. This term is used for a slender, young gay man who has very little facial or body hair. This is probably my favorite term because it makes me think of the storybook character, Tinker Bell.
A single term could hardly sum up any person on earth, so these terms are really just a starting place for you to learn more about how different people in the gay community are labeled or identify. In reality, human beings are multi-dimensional, multi-faceted creatures. Others in the community might call them a bear or cub, but this is barely a facet of their personality. Your typical jock might be a straight A student and chess member in their off time from basketball season, but they were still called a jock. In reality, even people who identified as a part of these groups had a lot of variations and unique traits. If you think back to high school, you probably remember a time when everyone was described as a jock, nerd, goth or something similar. It would be extremely, extremely deceptive to imply that each gay person belongs in one of these groups. Whether you are a part of the community or just want to learn more about the different people in the world, this list of the different types of gay men can help you to get started. While old stereotypes were about limp wrists and derogatory terms, many of the more modern terms just describe a certain aspect of the gay community. Thankfully, society has become more accepting of different lifestyles and cultures in recent years. Using the terms used by the gay community, you can break down this culture and learn more about different types of gay men.
Obviously, outsiders also have stereotypes about gay men. Like any culture, the gay world has a number of different stereotypes within the gay community.