Breaking Down Stereotypes About the “Gay Best Friend”!

While the “gay best friend” image originally began as a flattering depiction of the LGBT+ community, it quickly became burdened with clichés. Like a cat toying with a ball of yarn, pop culture enjoyed amplifying and manipulating this role into something rather cartoonish. A quick binge-watch of ’90s sitcoms will reveal the typical “gay best friend” to be highly dramatic, extravagant, and always on hand with fashion tips or relationship advice. However, reducing the “gay best friend” to a trendy accessory or popularity booster is not just painfully outdated but also disrespectful. To reclaim respect for this role, let’s debunk 7 common misconceived notions about the “gay best friend”.

Myth 1: They’re Born Fashionistas

Just because one’s gay, doesn’t mean that they instinctively know how to pair gingham checks with retro polka dots. The notion that every gay man is a walking fashion Bible is as preposterous as suggesting that every straight man knows how to fix a flat tire. A person’s style is determined by individual taste, not sexual orientation. So, next time before you drag your gay friend on a shopping spree, pause and consider – do they actually like shopping, or is it you merely enforcing a stereotype?

Myth 2: They’re Your Personal Love Gurus

Sure, your gay best friend may have advice on your relationship, but try remember he’s not Jay-Z, nor Beyoncé. Dealing with their own love life might just be enough of a challenge for them. Also, romance is not one-size-fits-all. While your friend may be under the rainbow, they don’t have a pot of golden love solutions at their disposal. Leave the matchmaking to cupid, shall we?

Myth 3: They’re Overly Emotional and Flamboyant

While a splash of drama can be enjoyable (and lead to extra chuckles on sitcoms), it’s important to remember that every person has their own individual personality. Not all gay men are expressive drama queens who react to every situation like they’re on a reality TV show. They can be brawny, they can be reserved, they can be nerdy – there’s a limitless range in personality types, because guess what? They’re human beings, not Hollywood stereotypes. Houston, we have a debunked myth!