Queer Corner: You Can’t Turn Him!

Philip Degaltini

Some homophobic individuals will say that they feel the way they do because they don’t want someone of the same sex hitting on them. For the most part this is a ridiculous argument, but I have to admit that there are some individuals in the LGBTQ community that believe that they can “turn” heterosexual men and women. If you’re one of these people I’m begging you to PLEASE STOP TRYING!!!

I have heard too many gay men say, “He’s just straight because he hasn’t met me yet” or one of my personal favorites “Straight? So is spaghetti until you heat it up.” However, the argument still stands that you can’t make someone gay or straight. Sexuality is not something that you choose or change therefore you can’t “turn” someone no matter how hard you try.

I’m not going to lie, I have been attracted to my fair share of straight men, but I have never pushed someone to the point where they have felt victimized. Sure, discomfort creeps in when the tension rises between the two of you; he might have even said that he was curious, but when he says no, he means it.

“No means no”, we’ve heard it a million times, but it’s true. If we want people to respect our sexuality, we need to respect theirs. Please, don’t be a predator. The LGBTQ community is under fire everyday from different organizations and religious institutions, why would you want to give them more ammo? Unfortunately, the actions of a few can affect the reputation of many.

Of course there are straight men that we see and think to ourselves “If only…,” but that’s all it is, a thought, a dream. Acting on that desire can seriously hurt someone. A lot of people don’t really think about the repercussions of their actions in situations like this. Someone could be traumatized by such a situation, or they can react with violence when they wake up the next morning.

Everyone deserves respect. We should give them that respect and expect the same amount of respect in return. If someone identifies themselves as straight, who are we to decide that they are anything but straight? We have no right to bet on other peoples sexual identities. Sexual identity is a private matter, if that person chooses to broadcast their private business that is their decision. No one has the right to “out” another person.

At the end of the day, the important thing is to respect the word “no”. No one wants to be forced or coerced into something. How would you feel if someone tricked you into doing something you weren’t comfortable with? Whether or not the person is curious or not, it’s best to let them figure things out on their own. It makes less of a mess.