What It Means To Be Gay

Have you ever fancied other men?

Does you heart skip a beat staring at robust young guys?

Have you ever got aroused looking at erotic pictures of hot males?

Then, you might be gay'

So what??? There's nothing to worry about. Obviously, the term 'gay' refers to those people who feel sexually attracted towards the persons of the same sex. The word can be used both as noun as well as adjective. Though often applied specifically for the men who have same-sex orientation, 'gay' may indicate all people from the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community, which has remained marginalized for quite long in our society. Having the original meanings 'happy', 'carefree' and 'bright and showy', the word got sexual overtones during the later parts of the 17th century. In contemporary usage, the word 'gay' that signifies the eagerness of closing the eyes to traditional sexual ways of life has actually a deep-rooted association with its original meaning of being 'happy-go-lucky and candid'. There are references of gay relationships in some literatures of the 1920s. Gradually, the term got acceptance as an antonym for the word 'straight', which refers to heterosexual man and women or people having sexual inclination towards the persons of the opposite sex. From the 1960s, homosexual men started to call themselves as gay. There is a preconceived notion among a major section of people that gay guys are effeminate and polygamous. But, it's not necessary that all gay men behave in that way. These traits vary from person to person. Though some of them might act in that manner, others do not. Despite the fact that there was a time when homosexuality was considered as 'mental illness', by 1973, DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) made it clear that it is not an illness at all. The American Psychological Association (APA) too has struck out homosexuality from its list of mental disorders long before.

There's nothing wrong in being gay. Some people are born this way. Like being straight, it is just another natural way of expressing one's sexuality. Being gay and having gay affairs is as natural as getting into a relationship with a person from the opposite sex. Sexual desires come from within a person. They cannot be forced. There are some biological differences between gay and straight people. When people are born, they already have their sexuality determined. There are evidences that our sexual orientation is largely influenced by the hypothalamus part of our brains. But the actual reasons behind a person's being gay is still an area of debate and researchers are coming up with some new explanations each day or the other.

During our teenage days, most of us must have felt gay tendencies at some points of our lives. But, it is not necessary that all of our teenaged fantasies will linger forever. Once a person in his late teens or early twenties feel strong attraction towards another man, then it's for sure that he is gay. Some people, who harbor gay feelings at young age, may not feel the same with growing age. On the other hand, there are instances that a person has become aware of his true sexual callings after spending years of married life. In other words, in some people, gay sexual desires are strong from the very onset of puberty whereas the others can take longer period to realize their exact nature. It's up to the person how he has come in terms with his sexuality or whether he has accepted himself as a gay individual. Once he becomes comfortable with himself, then convincing others won't require much efforts. If the gay person is blessed with supportive parents and family, then it's even more fun for him.

With the prejudice against gay people are decreasing, they are getting a chance to enjoy their lives to the fullest. As our society becoming more liberal towards such persons and more sensitive towards gay issues, there's no need to be ashamed of being gay anymore. A closeted sexual life is not at all desirable. It's great to 'come out' than to enter into a lifelong repression. So, isn't it better to get into a sexual relationship with a person of your choice from the same sex than to go for a sham marriage? The fact lies here that there's no way of stopping a person from being gay. If he has such genetic configurations that are making him turned on by other men, then there's nothing he can do to become a straight guy. Various websites have come up where gay men log in for getting not only the right kind of same-sex partners, but also discuss about their innermost sexual cravings, secret encounters with men and other 'gay' related topics. There are gay support groups and telephonic helplines in most of the countries. The organizational representatives are always there to provide you ample information on the topic and guide you in your life, which may be different from that of the majority of the people, but still has its own rainbows, its own joys and tears. Meanwhile, we all can hope for a better tomorrow for all gay people from all corners of the world'

By: Jason Rase

Jason Rase provides gay bondage sex services for singles and a list of the best fetish dating sites in Australia.

How Do I Know If He Is Gay?

Being gay or homosexual in today’s society is not frowned upon any more. So, it is very natural that if you are from this community, you will try to find someone else from within this community. Since people do not really wear their sexual preference as a badge, it is very important that you learn the ways you can know whether the guy you are eying is gay or not. Nothing can be more embarrassing than walking up to a straight guy and asking him out! If the person is homophobic, it can also be dangerous for you. Hence, here are some signs to help you work out the sexual orientation of that cute guy in the party.

1. One of the best ways to know whether he is gay or not is to watch him watch others in the party/gathering. Is he checking out the girls more than boys? Then chances are he is not gay. But if you find him eyeing other guys, you can make a move on him.

2. While talking to him, steer the conversation on to alternative sexuality and gay rights. If he feels squeamish about it and is uncomfortable talking about it, then you can drop your advances. But remember, even if he agrees, it does not mean that he is gay. He may be just sympathetic to gay causes and be straight.

3. Don’t always go for stereotypes regarding how a gay guy dresses or how he talks. Just because a man is effeminate, it does not mean he is gay. So, flirt with him a little and give compliments and see how he reacts to it. If he is blushing and seem proud of the attention you are giving, you can further your chase. Otherwise, cut it out and look somewhere else.

4. If you know the person for long, and don’t see any girls in his life for quite a time for no reason, then you may start to dig deeper. Ask about what kinds of girls he likes or what he thinks as an ideal life partner. If he is answering in third person like, “well the person should be this or that”, it is quite a good chance that he is gay.

5. His choice of clothing’s can also be an indication to whether he is gay or straight. Though today's metrosexual man also love to dress in colors that are considered feminine (like pink) but a gay person loves to dress in more bright colors than his straight friends. Also, many of them have an acute sense of fashion like that of a woman and so they keep themselves up-to-date with all the latest trends in the fashion world.

By: Jason Callum

Jason Callum frequently provides information and advice on dating, relationships and social events. Current readers of his articles might be interested in sites that provide Free Gay Chat and Lesbian Love dating sites.

Is There A Gay Gene?

Whether homosexuality has biological involvement has remained a matter of debate among researchers over the years. Though there is no scientific consensus regarding the influence of biology on determining sexual orientation of a person, researchers consider various biological factors that include prenatal hormones, viral influences, polygenetic effects, brain structure and chromosomes.

From the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, various researchers like Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, Richard von Krafft-Ebing, Magnus Hirschfield, Havelock Ellis, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud have put forward several significant theories in this regard. Many gender variant gay people too have contributed to their studies. According to the scientists of the 'American Academy of Pediatrics', instead of a single 'gay gene', an interaction among biological, genetic and environmental factors determine the sexual orientation of a gay person. People were asked to rate themselves on a scale that ranged from 'totally straight' to 'completely gay' in the oft-cited 'Sexual Behavior in the Human male' and 'Sexual Behavior in the Human Female' proffered by Alfred C. Kinsey in the years 1948 and 1953, respectively.

As per some recent suggestions, an excess of genes coding for female-like traits is represented by male homosexuality. Thus, gay men are tipped over a 'liability threshold' into homosexuality. The viability of their offspring has increased as a result of women choosing 'gay-enabled' men.

Twin studies affirm the genetically mediated nature of male homosexuality. In 1952, Kallman reported the first comprehensive twin study on sexual orientation of gay people. Bailey and Pillard established the fact that 52% of monozygotic brothers and 22% of the dizygotic twins were concordant for homosexuality in their study of gay twins in 1991. In order to get a sample of 4,901 twins, Bailey, Martin and Dunne made use of the Australian twin registry in 2000. In their study, 30% monozygotic twin concordance for homosexuality was found.

Sexual dimorphism is very much evident from the structures of different sections of human brain. Different brain structures leads to variations in sexual orientation. As per researches, the size of suprachiasmatic nucleus and anterior commissure plays significant role in determining sexuality of gay men. As the hypothalamus part of our brain regulates sexual behavior, Simon LeVay made the four groups of neurons of this area, known as INAH1, INAH2, INAH3 and INAH4, the subject of his study. He reported that the size of INAH3 in the brains of gay males and straight females was similar. Further researches by William Byne and his colleagues found that INAH3 size differed considerably between heterosexual males and females as well as between homosexual men and heterosexual women.

In the field of chromosome linkage studies, Dean Hamer came into the conclusion that the number of gay male cousins and uncles of a gay man is more from the maternal side than the paternal side of the family. A linkage examination of a sample of 76 gay brothers and their families was the basis of the findings of Hamer, published in 1993. In 1998, Sanders and others reproduced his study. It has also been presumed that mediated by H-Y antigens in the immune system of the mother, a complex genetic interaction somehow influences male homosexuality. In 1997, Blanchard and Klassen reported that the more the number of older brothers, the chance of being gay becomes more.

As per the reports of Bocklandt, Hamer, Villain and Horvath in 2006, extreme skewing of X chromosome inactivation is quite common among some mothers of gay babies. By the fraternal birth order effect, this extreme skewing may have its influence on male sexual orientation. Another study in 2004 found that the number of offspring is more among the female relatives of gay men than that of straight males. It has also been inferred that compared to straight people, gay men and women are more likely to be non-right handed.

In Sweden, researchers have recently revealed that a region of hypothalamus of gay men and straight women get activated in the same way by the odor of men's sweat. The role of parental hormones in determining gay men's sexual orientation cannot be ignored. Prenatal development and the environmental aspects that control the brain's masculinization are incorporated under the early fixation hypothesis. According to this study, in homosexual men, masculinization of the brain can be blocked due to disparity in exposure to hormonal levels in the womb at the time of fetal development. This hypothesis is related to the research of fraternal birth order.

The pathogenic theory of homosexuality states that a bacterium or virus may be the reason behind this condition. As per the imprinting or critical period theory, gender characteristics of a person if shaped within the first few years of life after birth. This procedure is similar to the imprinting method monitored in the animal kingdom.

By: Jason Sands

Jason Sands provides ways to Meet Gay Singles through online Gay Dating in Australia.

PLACES TO FORM AND FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH GAY, BISEXUAL MEN

This is especially the case with those having same sex preferences or both sex preferences. It does not take very long for society to brand homosexuals and bisexuals as ‘perverts’. What is worse is that there is no valid reason for this ‘label’. The act of sex brings nothing but pleasure-something every individual craves. As long as it is performed between consenting individuals, who are intelligent and capable enough to realize the consequence and face them, society has no right to brand it as anything, much less object to it. Sadly it will take years before this realization dawns on people. However, until then must people with different sexual preferences go about hiding or faking themselves and their desires?

Although homosexuality has been legalized in some countries, the prejudice still exists and is quite rampant. It might be blatant is some communities and milder in others, but usually it is harder for gay and bisexual men than women. Among men too, if you’re a black gay man or a Latino gay man – you will probably find acceptance harder. However, if you look, you will find many black gay men or Latino gay men in your own neighborhood and city, who have desires similar to yours and face problems that you do. The only thing keeping you apart is that there is no platform, no medium through which you could relate freely, without the societal moral police breathing down your neck.

However, this problem is solved by events specifically hosted to cater to individuals like you. Such events are popular in cities like Miami and other party destinations. At such events you will get to meet interesting black gay men or even Latino gay men who, like you, are looking for companionship and fun. These events happen over a weekend, at luxury resorts and beautiful destinations, so you are away from restrictions of society and can just have a good time meeting people you’ve always wanted to.

It is best if one becomes a paid member so one gets invites to such events, as and when they happen. A paid member will also get to enjoy perks like games and workshops, invitations to other high-profile events along with meeting people among whom you will be accepted and where your desires can be fulfilled. All this happens in a no-pressure, no-restrictions and completely safe and legal environment, so you have nothing to doubt or fear, only pleasure to gain.

By: Mira Williams