Summary of The Limitations of the Discourse of Norms by Jay Clarkson

This article could be titled:  ‘To flame or not to flame’?   Is it more effective to challenge the hegemonic norms through obvious demonstration of homosexual behavior or have flamboyant gay images become outdated and ineffective? That is the question!

What the Straight-Acting Gay Men Want:
Straight-acting men would argue that antigay sentiments, and even violence, results from outwardly effeminate behavior by gay men.  Straight-acting men want to tone down this outward demonstration and not highlight their homosexuality.  They rebuff the media’s representation of the effeminate gay image, proliferated by stock media images of unmanly appearance and behavior, because it inaccurately categorizes all gay men.  Straight-acting gay men are repulsed by these displays, preferring to assimilate more closely with the actions of straight men, especially in public.  They believe in doing so that they can avoid antigay sentiments and do not risk the homophobic reactions that ensue from flaming gay conduct.  The straight-acting gay men reject the creation of a norm for all gay men, contending that it promotes homophobia and subverts acceptance in society and disagree that “flaming” gay images in the media promote a level of visibility that abets acceptance for all gay men.  They believe the time for the gay pride parades, and the expression of outwardly flaming behavior, has outlived its effectiveness. 

What the Author Contended:
The author promoted the need to continue a high degree of visibility for “outspoken, disobedient, visible gay men and lesbians” (392).  While Clarkson admits that the argument for visibility is flawed, he submitted that it is a way for minority groups, such as gays and lesbian, to influence control and show strength.  The author asserted that the effeminate gay image, proliferated by stock media images of unmanly appearance and behavior, may inaccurately homogenize all gay men.  However, Clarkson stated that it is necessary in order challenge hegemonic values so that all gay people (flamboyant or straight-acting) are accepted and to increase recognition that there is diversity in the gay community.  Clarkson conversely asserted that straight-acting gay men, who advocate a quietly gay strategy, demonstrate a submissiveness that does not contest the dominance of heterosexuals in society.  

I think that straight-acting gay men do not want society to view the media image of unmanly gay behavior and assume that it is ‘one size fits all’ for anyone who is homosexual.  I liked the author’s discussion of degrees of transgression which I interpreted meant that not everyone who is gay will look and act the same – just because they are homosexual. The author stated that visibility for the outwardly “flaming gay” is necessary in order to push acceptance for all homosexuals, while the straight-acting gay men believe that a “quietly gay” mode of operation were adopted in lieu of the events like gay pride parades, whose usefulness, they believe, has passed.  I would agree with the author that there continues to be a need for visibility to flamboyant gay sexuality as a means of “exposure, the does of variation of life” (394) because homophobia continues to oppress the gay and lesbian community and fracture our society.