20MALEGAYNYC: Short film asks why gay guys hate one another

It’s something many of us are familiar with – ‘straight-acting’ gay guys don’t like those who are flamboyant, while those who embrace the stereotypically gay look down on those they think are trying to ‘pass. Young and old gays often dislike each other, the toned often dismiss those who don’t spend their lives down the gym and on and on and on.

Young filmmaker Blake Pruitt set out to explore why this is, and whether it’s the result of some form of internalised homophobia. He’s come up with short film 20MALEGAYNYC, where he interviews young New Yorkers about their views of others in the community.

In an op-ed in The Advocate, Pruitt writes, “Some have an expectation that other members of the community should not act in a typically homosexual or heterosexual way for lack of a “real personality.” However, I’m confident that I could speak with any gay man, however many boas he may be wearing, and have an intelligent discussion about gay identity and internalized homophobia. And he would continue on his way, skipping down the street singing showtunes. The stereotype is not “the other”—it’s us. When we push away other members of our own community by labeling them as a thing rather than a person, even though we acknowledge that the concept of this “thing” comes from outside the gay world, we’re doing ourselves a disservice. Renato identifies this (correctly, I believe) in the film as partially coming from’“self-hate.'”

He adds, “The problem is that the self we hate isn’t totally defined. I have heard so many times, ‘I know I’m stereotypical in a lot of ways, but…’ Why is there a ‘but’? What we see as resisting these clichés is only keeping them alive. I can see how a young gay man would be scared to come out and enter into a world in which acting too stereotypically will not only lead to bullying by others, but also a total dismissal from fellow gay men.”

You can take a look at his film about this above. It’s certainly an interesting subject, as many have noted the gay people often seem more critical of aspects of our our community – whether it’s Lady Gaga loving flamers or leather-clad daddies – than many straight people are.