Camp characteristics

[Dom Tuk]

At what age do some homosexual men start talking in a very camp way (like Craig and others in BB). Its not there during childhood or in early teens so is it a put on accent??. How come there is no such characteristic for female homosexuals. Serious answers only please.

[morg_monster]

Not all gay men have camp voices, and plenty of straight men have camp voices.   Anyway for those gay fellas who do, this is my take on it.

Some DEFINITELY put it on after they come out, and it also surely can be picked up from other gay chaps when the freshly out lad starts hanging around with them.  Especially the american-ism of making every sentence into a question: that's undoubtedly learned.

Some always have had slightly higher voices.  There are studies linking homosexuality to testosterone levels, and since it is testosterone which controls the length of the vocal cords and the pitch of the voice, this is totally understandable.  There's a difference between the pitch of someones voice and campness, but a higher voice tends to add to the overall effect.

My one gay mate has never had a low voice (I've known him since before puberty), but neither is it very high.  He hasn't started speaking camp since he came out (thank god! not that i would really mind, but it really wouldn't suit him).

[georgit79]

don't all lesbians talk like Frank Butcher? Oh sorry, you wanted serious.

I think it has to be something they put on. I mean, have you ever heard a 9 year old boy talking like that? It's an affectation, and you're right, only the more camp homosexuals do it. I was in love with a gay guy at uni who I thought was straight. He decided to come out after kissing me one night. So I turned him... lovely!

[lilyfrog]

My friend has turned 2!!! oh how we laugh

[georgit79]

I'd start to think I had a real problem if I turned another one!

[Curiouscol]

My friend's cousin has been camp since I met him when he was about 7! His family all thought he'd grow out of it but he's nearly 20 and defininitely gay.

[B00]

Excellant Q Dom, i've often pondered that too.