Misconceptions about Homosexuality

[Paul the Human]

The 'gay accent', for lack of a better term, does exist (talking gay men here). There is a certain manner of speaking that nearly everyone can hear and say, "That guy sounds gay". Personally, I do think it is an affectation. For one thing, not all gay men speak that way.

My wife's cousin came out gay a couple of years ago. Before that, he spoke just like everyone else, but as soon as he announced that he is gay, he began to talk with the 'gay accent'. We (the family) were all fine with him being gay, but the change in his speech and mannerisms became a topic of conversation (when he wasn't around). We couldn't figure out why being gay means you have to speak that way... or why he seems to think he has to speak that way... whatever.

I think it would be interesting to find out where that comes from. It is so similar from gay man to gay man that it is recognizable as a 'gay voice'.