Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

RIP Gaydar: You Just Can't Tell Anymore

Straight and gay behavior not so different these days

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 11, 2009 1:27 PM CDT

(Newser) – Gaydar just isn’t what it used to be: The line has blurred between what was long considered classic gay and straight behavior, Danica Lo writes in the New York Post. These days, the fact that a guy's “handsome,” “well-groomed,” and wants to hold real conversations may not tell you anything. “Nearly 10 years after the dawn of the metrosexual, creative hairdos, fashion fever, and meticulous preening are no longer the sole provenance of the gay."

“Boys will still be boys—just more sensitive and stuff,” Lo writes. “A generation raised on therapy, teen flicks, reality TV, and emoticons (it's hard to be butch and Twitter at the same time, you know?) has embraced the freedom of sexual ambiguity.” That can lead to some awkwardness for interested women: “Have you ever tried asking a guy if he's straight? I have. It's awkward." So farewell, gaydar, writes Lo. "We'll miss how you kept us from winking at the other team.”

Sean Avery is a hockey player who interned at Vogue.
Sean Avery is a hockey player who interned at Vogue.   (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Zac Efron arrives at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday Aug. 9, 2009, in Universal City, Calif.
Zac Efron arrives at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday Aug. 9, 2009, in Universal City, Calif.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Some girls see guys dressed in Thom Browne or some sort of amazing suit, and they're like, 'Wow, what's that dude's deal? Is he gay?'
- fashion publicist and straight man Steven Rojas, "who's slim, has tons of girlfriends, favors bow ties and whose Facebook status regularly professes love for his mother"

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
NxBigmouthery
Aug 12, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
And the latent ones are the Texan homophobes.
cochiserocks
Aug 12, 2009 12:13 PM CDT
Well Sacha Baron Cohen is totally straight but had everyone convinced his character Bruno was gay - so some folks Gaydar is definitely on the blink. Mind you, when he played Ali-G, no-one seemed to realise he white, British, middle class and Jewish and the same when he played Borat. Hey - maybe the world is becoming less obsessed with the superficial and soon we'll all just get along regardless of creeds and colours. Or maybe I just need to stop reading these cotton candy puff pieces written by journalists desperate for some copy to sell to people who only read headlines which 'sound interesting'.
Spudsy
Aug 12, 2009 6:10 AM CDT
That's what we thought in Florida. Until our dear Republican congressman ended up trying to bang all of the male pages.

More Newser Stories

Brother Remembers Tyler Clementi

Evangelical Slams 'Gay' Star Wars Video Game

Key to 'Gaydar': Facial Symmetry?

'Not Gay Enough' Ballplayers Win Settlement

Catholic Paper Yanks Column Blaming Gay Attraction on Devil


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne