This just in: Louis Staples is exhausted.
On New Year’s Day, Staples, a London-based writer and editor who covers LGBTQ issues, tweeted about the constant burnout he feels from being gay:
Being gay is exhausting!! You have to have an encyclopedic knowledge of every quote, scene + facial expression from every single female celebrity, pop-culture icon + fictional character over the last 20 years AND know exactly what to type to find them in GIF form! I'm so TIRED.
— Louis Staples (@LouisStaples) January 1, 2018
The tweet got everyone talking. So far, it has received over 8,800 likes and 2,200 retweets. And, of course, plenty of sassy responses:
— Jonathan Day (@Zaniac) January 1, 2018
You must be new pic.twitter.com/1DhxeAQqcz
— J ? (@quenchmeplease) January 2, 2018
— Cecil Baldwin (@CecilBaldwinIII) January 1, 2018
— Joe Zu / ?? (@JoeZuEmpPenguin) January 1, 2018
— Nick Carpenter (@nickcarpenter) January 1, 2018
— John (@chamoniIIe) January 1, 2018
— Paul Dolan (@MrPkD) January 2, 2018
— ANGUSRAZE (@ANGUSRAZE) January 1, 2018
— Daniel Zennon (@dzennon) January 1, 2018
— Name cannot be blank (@AdamPMansbridge) January 2, 2018
or …. Louis …. you can simply be ATTRACTIVE pic.twitter.com/PTt3NlrCsI
— ToonsByKichi (@ToonsByKichi) January 2, 2018
— Zac Skywalker (@zakkorama) January 2, 2018
ChicagoJoe
I’m not sure I get this. Why do I need to memorize pop icons facial expressions and all this other stuff? Is my life as a gay man supposed to be that meaningless and empty that there’s nothing more intelligent out there?
Mandrake
Agreed! How pathetic we need to know all that s—-t for a “gay card” if even that defines us and gives us permission to be gay!
Brian
Your life as a gay man should include a sense of humor.
dean089
He’s being sarcastic. If you’ve never been hit with the whole Marilyn Monroe, hair care products, and all that other nonsense then consider yourself lucky!
Prax07
Meh…I couldn’t tell anyone anything about any female celebrity since I don’t follow things women do, celebrity or otherwise. Not a social media addict either so no need to know what memes mean what or whatever. If life is that empty that it’s just filled with that sort of meaningless nonsense then maybe find something else to fill your time with that’s less exhausting.
Greg
Poor little Millennials. A true card carrying gay man just knows these things without having to look them up.
CdnGayCouple
Haha!
PaulTK
Absolutely! Because ‘knowing these things’ – just like reading – is FUNDAMENTAL!
DeserTBoB
TRUTH! But they’re so busy looking for their next dickdown while in social settings by getting double chins screwing with their iPhones, they simply haven’t the time! In my day, we had PLENTY of time to memorize every Bette Davis and Kate Hepburn line every week before we went out the following weekend.
Josh447
I could care less about such trivia. Human rights violations against Gay ppl, now THAT’S exhausting, debilitating for some. Maybe he would like to trade and see how he flies then.
jkb
Combine that with every other preventable tragedy that most of just seem to accept and figuring out pop culture shit sounds like Nirvana.
PinkoOfTheGange
I see they are on the third use of those 77 Cent store tea bags here in the Comment section today.
Bitter. Bitter. Bitter.
It was a joke. You know a little self deprecating humor…a staple of the community from before the snakes leaving Ireland.
Except Greg…Greg always gets it.
PaulTK
Beautifully put. Meme-worthy, even!!
ChicagoJoe
Actually, I do have a sense of humor, Brian, when something is actually funny.
PaulTK
Maybe try displaying it sometimes? Why so serious?
Brian
And if you don’t find it funny, you decide to take it completely literally instead?
Mykey
You forgot having to memorize all the musicals since the 70s! Talk about stereotyping the whole gay community!
DeserTBoB
’70s???? What about the GREAT musicals?
Kalani
“You think just because I’m a movie star I don’t have feelings; Well you’re wrong I have all of them!”
Jaxton
Gay has become an abomination. Gay is like a set of rules that are required to be followed. Gay is a self-stereotyping mindset that compels towards conformity.
Male homosexuality used to be championed by rule-breakers. Today, it’s been hijacked by rule-makers. Sad.
We are truly witnessing the end of a once-great movement.
Xzamilloh
Gurl, shut the hell up. It’s a lighthearted story, not a highjacking of the LGBT civil rights movement. I swear, Brian, you need to just go to college campuses and argue with the caricature millennials you see on Twitter because that’s who your real issue is with.
mujerado
I’ve been an out gay man for 40 years, and I learned long ago not to worry about living up to the “rules” set by taste-makers and the “in” crowd. If you can’t watch that silliness go on without getting angry or being afraid you’re not doing gay right, you still have a lot of coming out and growing up to do. The gay “movement” you bemoan isn’t ending. It’s never been about fitting in with anyone, even the posh, pretty “community.” It’s about learning to be yourself, no matter who is telling you you’re doing it wrong.
DeserTBoB
You’re right about that…these Millennials are so entitled, they have no clue that about half the country still hates gays. That’s one reason Frumpty Dumpty pulled off the biggest political swindle in US history. Their pissing away all we fought for. And, oh yes…40% of these drug-addicted morons VOTED for the Orange Glob! What’s coming will serve them right.
Xzamilloh
Excuse you??? I didn’t see Viola Davis getting her purse and leaving… as far as I’m concerned, this “story” is invalid.
Kalani
Miss quoted previous post, get it right gurrrrl…. #exhausted ?
Elise: The First Wives Club – 1996
“You think just because I’m a movie star, I don’t have feelings, well, you’re wrong! I do have feelings! I’m an actress! I have ALL of them!” Must See!
kstea
Where are all these ‘right reasons’ as mentioned in the click bait?
JohnMc888
Lol, this is why many, many gay people have a life outside the “insider” gay community.
JohnMc888
Most media people – gay and straight, in any medium – live in a privileged bubble. This man’s bubble is based on having fun, status setting, fun one-upma-ship, and some things I can’t get because I’m not on their inside. A anyone working in an environment where fun is obligatory, fun can’t be exhausting and alienating. But in this tweet I think he’s just being ironic and precious. I see this as having arch fun with all the boasting that goes on about being so busy and exhausting. The tweet is light-hearted, why not take it that way?
He BGB
It’s only work(memorizing good lines, etc) if you make it work. Otherwise it’s fun. Start with reading Myra Breckenridge by Gore Vidal. There are more movie references for gays in that one book to last a week or two. Watch Boys in the Band. Also, lots of good lines. Watch John Waters’ movies, especially the first ones with Divine. Read Dorothy Parker. The play, The Women. Does anyone quote anything since the 20th century ended?
dean089
He’s not wrong. This reminds me of all those stupid “How gay are you?” questionnaires that ask all about hair care products, scented candles, Joan Collins, etc., but don’t mention a thing about sucking dick. None of that stuff has anything to do with being gay! Being a stereotype, on the other hand…
Geeker
Apparently, I’m just not gay enough.
tomk1of1
I’m sure he is telling the truth as he experiences whatever gay culture he is exposed,to. But..,My first reaction was why would anyone feel like they would have to be a pop culture junkie so they can fit into some stereotype that many gays never pay attention to. Not to belittle his experience,but choices are available for the new generation of LGBTQ. Many more than I had.
WHY? Becuse my generation fought tooth and nail for nearly everything this genrsthas and while they weren’t here to see and know the pain and suffering,they know it existed. We survived or died from AIDS and or the grief and loss of nearly everyone we knew,survivors guilt and a plethora of oppressions that won’t fit in a post anyone might read here,just too long.
So,experience is relative. My dad walked 20miles to school every day,lol,…right? Lol. We had different lives too and I wasn’t appreciative of his sacrifices. Point is his realty is real,mine is mine his,his. However,we helped give you choices. Be who you are,brother. You’ll be loved for who you are by good people,regardless of whether or not you’re a pop culture know it all junkie. In the 80’s and 90’s the clubs,pop culture and all of it was just as important to some. But not all,that isn’t,cant be so different.
I never listened to Madonna,well not alone anyway,lol. And many others,Cher,etc…I did just fine. And I was loved and appreciated as well. So can this man and others who might not care for or find all the pop culture there gig. Respectfully
Mr-DJ
Except for the fact that you DON’T have to know all these things, Louis. THAT’s the only fact you need to remember. If your ‘friends’ make you feel that way, then you need to re-evaluate how you chose your friends. Just sayin’ …..