Why do so many gay men ‘sound’ gay?
By Will Stroude
It’s a question that’s often discussed and that’s never really had an answer: Why do so many gay men, regardless of their age, race, nationality or background, ‘sound’ gay?
Well, after a successful Kickstarter campaign, a new film by David Thorpe which is due to premiere next month (July 10) in New York is delving into that very question.
After a painful break-up, the journalist decides to confront his own anxiety about his own ‘gay’ voice, enlisting acting coaches, linguists, friends, family, total strangers, and celebrities like George Takei, in attempt to discover the answer.
A new trailer and preview clip have just been released for the fascinating film, and Thorpe has written an op-ed on the issue for The New York Times. Read an exceept and watch the trailer for Do I Sound Gay? below:
For the last few years, I’ve wondered why some men “sound gay.” I began asking people for their thoughts on the subject, and received a surprising range of answers. Some people said the gay voice was a put-on, like a man in a conspicuously sparkly dress. Others thought gay men sounded gay just to let other gay men know they were. Some thought that every man who sounds gay is gay, even if he claims otherwise. A lot of people said, “Wow, I don’t know.”
As you watch, consider something that a linguist kept reminding me: There’s no such thing as a fundamentally gay voice. Plenty of men may sound gay, but their voices aren’t evidence that they are gay. What we call the “gay voice” belongs to us all.
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