Damon Young over at The Root has created a handy list of all the things straight men should not do if they don’t want to be mistaken for a homosexual, including eating lollipops, riding bikes, keeping a regular skincare regimen, and getting prostate exams.
Now before you get all worked up, you should know he’s been totally ironic.
The video was inspired by comments rapper Wiz Khalifa made earlier this year about why straight men shouldn’t eat bananas in public because people might get the wrong idea about your sexuality.
Related: Wiz Khalifa goes on bizarre homophobic rant about eating bananas
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“If you bite into a banana, you sus[pect],” Khalifa told radio host Charlamagne tha God in July. “If you’re in public, just break it into pieces. I’m just trying to help you out, bro.”
Young says Khalifa’s remarks got him thinking of all the things he’s been told straight men shouldn’t do lest they be considered “less manly.” So he made a video about it.
“It’s interesting how this notion of manliness is so connected to being hashy and dirty, Young says.
Watch.
Kangol
Basically, don’t breathe! LOL A thoughtful response to “professional skinny person” Wiz Khalifa’s idiocy. Anyone who’s that threatened and fearful about his or anyone else’s sexuality probably secretly or unconsciously wishes he could get some male action on the side.
Terrycloth
Staring at a guy while eating a banana is ok
Xzamilloh
Wiz Khalifa and many like him are a perfect example of the kind of “toxic masculinity” that makes straight guys and a lot of gay guys suppress so many natural emotions and feelings and manifest them into violence because we don’t know how to deal with ish in a civil manner.
Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to tell women that just because they’re angry at a man that gives them a right to hit them. It highlights their inappropriate actions, and just might save them from a possible retaliatory slap in the face.
Xzamilloh
that *DOESN’T give them a right to hit them
Sorry for that typo, ladies… almost got a few of y’all in trouble lmao!!
crowebobby
Read a book on Russia by a diplomat back in the 70’s who said no Russian man would eat an ice cream cone in public because it was considered unmanly. This was at a time when a straight, super-macho Russian soldier could kiss a comrade on the lips and no one would think there was anything strange about it.
Jack Meoff
Well that was a waste of time it was neither witty or useful.
StupidBoy
I have an early-20’s mixed boy at work who wears slim-fit sweatpants every day to accentuate his round, perfect-melon ass. He “has a girl.” He is more proud of his ass than any gay man I have ever seen in my life. All the girls at work are in love with him.
I’ve had more than one Black friend die from AIDS because they were too ashamed to get treatment for it because they grew up in an environment of toxic masculinity and to admit they were gay or sick went against their culture, but still went to church with their grandmama where the choir leader was a flaming gay man.
My best friend is a black lesbian, but she rails against “skinny jeans” as being too gay and won’t eat coochie because it’s “too gross.”
Some people think I’m stuck up because I don’t engage with them, but I’m honestly scared of straight men who think that I would ONLY talk to them because I want to get into their pants.
I have no problem with effeminate men or even men who wear makeup. I think it’s kinda hot, but the gay and straight community idolizes rough, tough, mustachioed men. Arab culture, Indian culture, Black culture, and Latino culture especially, but white culture does it, too. The Village People were no accident. They were chosen and crafted to reflect images of masculinity.
I’ve seen men move several seats away from me on the bus and refuse to come into my line when I worked retail because I was obviously gay.
This video was spot on and the Instagram “hotties” on this website reinforce that aesthetic.
Until we all embrace the female-to-male transgender coworker in the next department, the straight man with a little swish in his walk, the son of a coworker who likes skinny jeans, the effeminate guy who paints his nails and wears eyeshadow, the plaid-wearing lesbian next door, we are all less than we can be and help perpetuate the type of toxic masculinity that inhibits our fellow humans and contribute to depression and suicide rates.
WayDifferent
That’s all good and fine but 9 times out of 10 a major attitude and/or additional form of outrageousness comes along with the eye shadow or “swish” which is why people avoid that type. I’d reconsider the behavior more than the aesthetics if you desire change of any form.
Aires the Ram
I just think that men & women both, in all cultures/countries, and across time, do not much like people who act out in any way, the expected mannerisms of their opposite sex. All cultures have social norms about what is generally accepted male & female behavior. Acting/dressing/talking outside of the parameters of those social & cultural norms, is not something most folks like very much. Now I’m not disrespecting those who do, up to and including drag queens and the like, I’m just saying that behavior “outside” of the expected norms of your sex, in your country/culture, is going to draw attention. Sometimes that ‘attention’ comes in a form that isn’t very good.