Are Homosexuals More Prone To Destructive Behaviour?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2942425/Gay-people-drugs-don-t-children-prone-destructive-behaviour-says-Newsnight-host-Evan-Davis.html

According to BBC Newsnight host Evan Davis, homosexuals were more prone to destructive behaviour as they were not bound by the same 'discipline.'

/// Davis comments come after the British Crime Survey found drug use among gay and bisexual men was three times higher than for straight men and was higher in the majority of individual drugs consumed including cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis ///

/// The same report concluded illegal drug use by gay and bisexual women was four times higher at almost 23% than among heterosexual women. ///

[janbee]

Does Evan include himself in this ?

[youngmafbog]

No

[dave50]

Nobody really knows. It's no good all the gays jumping up and down saying it can't possibly be true without some investigation.

[jim360]

What we can know, or at least have a high degree of certainty about, is that homosexuality does not in itself cause people to be more destructive in their behaviour. If there is a link it's many times more likely to be due to social concerns. Homosexuality still carries some level of stigma, so people are less inclined to be open about it. This can lead to destructive behaviour, since people in a situation where they feel they can't be open find more secretive ways to express themselves.

[mikey4444]

Evans should know better than spout such patent nonsense, but its a typical DM headline all the same.

[retrocop]

From a BBC Newsnight programme !!!

[lindapalmara]

Typical retort from Mickey about the Daily Mail. Would you like to read it in the Independent? Or the Telegraph? Or even the Singapore Times?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/evan-davis-gays-take-more-drugs-as-they-dont-have-kids-10027355.html

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

/// but its a typical DM headline all the same. ///

This is their headline, why is it a typical Daily Mail one?

*** Gay people take more drugs because they don't have children so are more prone to destructive behaviour, says Newsnight host Evan Davis ***

If you were referring to my choice of headline, then what is so Daily Mailish about that I was merely asking the question.

Perhaps you prefer this one then?

'GAYS TAKE MORE DRUGS AS THEY DON’T HAVE KIDS'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/evan-davis-gays-take-more-drugs-as-they-dont-have-kids-10027355.html

[anotheoldgit]

lindapalmara

Beat me to it I see?

[sandyRoe]

No kids, more disposable income?

[atalanta]

Maybe "reckless" would be a better description than " destructive". Maybe they feel that society's attitude to them is not fully accepting of their lifestyles, so this behaviour is a type of defiance ?

[Peter Pedant]

O god I thought you meant brawling

as in passing two men scrapping in the gutter in newton heath and me saying 'hey you two are gay - you are ! ' - and then running away with my walking stick trailing behind me

droogs - I cant say I am surprised. They are also heavy drinkers. Young men tend to switch off heavy binge drinking by the age of 30 but this effect is not seen in gay men ( who go on getting plastered )
I cant say I am surprised a similar effect is seen with drugs

[gingejbee]

...of course, heterosexuals never "get plastered", do they?

[sunny-dave]

Only if they are in the trade, ginge

[237SJ]

Well it`s only his opinion but from talking to the many gay guys that I have worked with over the years then yes, they do tend to like to enjoy themselves. Partly because they tend to stay into the club scene for longer in life than straight people and probably for the reasons that he says - less family responsiblity coupled with the resultant disposable income.

[Kromovaracun]

Use of drugs is far higher among gay men than it is among heterosexuals. This is largely because of the growing phenomenon of "chemsex" in major cities - i.e. a scene which overwhelmingly concerns single gay men who are outcasts.

The reason for this isn't because gay men don't have children, because children are disgusting - and it is quite possible and desirable to be childless and happy. It's because they often hate themselves, having been thrown out or disowned by their families (which happens far more often than people think it does) or discriminated against, or threatened (again, more common than people think). There is also a very significant social pressure on the gay scene to get p155ed/stoned and use drugs, which is perhaps a more intense manifestation of club culture. Hopefully this will all decline over time, but I don't really see a solution other than to provide education, decent public health services and just wait it out.

- Signed, a teetotal homosexual who has never touched an illegal drug - or been drunk. Ever.