Gay culture

[Cyborg Ninja]

Is Japanese gay/lesbian culture much different from American gay/lesbian culture? Do gay Japanese people ever use patterns of speech that usually only the opposite sex uses?

[chikara]

This thread may provide some answers.

[mewarmo990]

You should look at that thread.

Btw, I remember reading on Grammar Page 5 of this site that Clay once used a phrase that was universally acceptable in Standard Japanese (that is, Tokyo dialect) but when he used it in the Kansai region, people asked him if he was gay. Apparently this phrase is only used by female speakers in Kansai-ben.

So I guess that kind of answers your question. But the thread is more informative than my secondhand anecdote.

[Cyborg Ninja]

I already read that thread some time ago. It wasn't that informative.

[keatonatron]

Cyborg Ninja wrote:
Is Japanese gay/lesbian culture much different from American gay/lesbian culture? Do gay Japanese people ever use patterns of speech that usually only the opposite sex uses?

Maybe? and yes.

How do you define American gay/lesbian culture?

[paul_b]

keatonatron wrote:
How do you define American gay/lesbian culture?

"The culture of gay and lesbian citizens of America in so far as it is dictinct from the culture of hetrosexual citizens of America."

[two_heads_talking]

Cyborg Ninja wrote:
I already read that thread some time ago. It wasn't that informative.

well it's the best we can come up with.. may i suggest you post up on a gay and lesbian sight and ask them. they might be more qualified to answer your question, as I am sure they deal with this type of question on a daily basis..

short answer in my opinion is that it's the same everywhere but a little different.

[keatonatron]

two_heads_talking wrote:
may i suggest you post up on a gay and lesbian sight

:p

[Cyborg Ninja]

I go to gay and lesbian sites everyday. It's not like they're going to know anything about Japanese culture, since the ones I go to are English-speaking, and I'm not able to understand or have been able to find a Japanese-speaking one.

"The culture of gay and lesbian citizens of America in so far as it is dictinct from the culture of hetrosexual citizens of America."
Of course. But that doesn't mean gay culture doesn't have defining elements about it. We have our Stonewall, the Castro, Palm Springs, meth-induced parties, clubs, music, etc that everybody participates in at least once or knows about even if it's not their thing.

[paul_b]

Cyborg Ninja wrote:
I go to gay and lesbian sites everyday. It's not like they're going to know anything about Japanese culture, since the ones I go to are English-speaking, and I'm not able to understand or have been able to find a Japanese-speaking one.

There are english speaking gay sites about Japan. Darned if I remember where I came across them but they do exist. A quick Google around would probably turn up a few.

[coco]

I doubt if there are many TJP members who know about Japanese gay culture very well. But if there were some members, you will(did?) get PM or replies from them.
By the way, have you read this thread?
( I could find this thread by Google +site+ "name" that Paul-san taught us.)

[the_haunted_boy]

to the best of my knowledg, than they are a little bit nicer to the gay/ lesbian community in Japan than they are in the US.
I have a few Gay friends and they educate me about the gay communities around the world.

PS: are you gay? (you do not have to answer if you do not want to.)

[Cyborg Ninja]

I read both of the threads. The first one kind of ended up sounding like a difference between masculinity and femininity, and the second had some interesting posts. Second one made me not want to go to Japan ;_; Actually, the posts from a few Americans (I presume) make me not want to be here either. ;_; And yeah, I'm gay (lesbian specifically).

I'll try to search for some English-speaking gay Japanese sites. I think I've seen some before but there were more for men and just for cruising.

[Frumious Boojum]

Here's a couple you might find useful:

http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=362&pID=377&cName=Gay&pName=gay-japan-index
http://www.gayjapannews.com/

[Cyborg Ninja]

Thanks for the links. One of them has a nice list of gaijin-friendly bars.