Atlanta is an amazing city and our unique gay culture extends far beyond the borders.  The city is comprised of so many different ethnic, socio-economic, racial, and cultural groups that you literally can find representation from all four corners of the globe.  As gay Atlantans, we should look beyond our own group and experience the joy and excitement of something different.

                One way to do this is to look beyond the labels that we give ourselves.  We don’t all have to be twinks, bears, daddies, leather, jocks, or otters and nor do we have to only have one ‘type.’  In fact we should be willing to try new things and expand our dating horizons and be open to finding some new attraction or preference.  Wearing blinders at the bar doesn’t have to be the de riguer accessory this season.
        
        Let’s analyze a scene that we are all familiar with:  You step into your neighborhood bar, and the first thing that you notice are groups of guys talking amongst themselves and a few guys that are sitting alone.  It seems mundane, but what is going on beneath the surface?
             Many patrons are scoping and checking each other out, of course:

                “He’s too short.”

                “Damn, that guy is such a queen!”          

                “Oh my God, that guys is so stuck on himself!”

                “Why don’t guys like that go to their own bars?!”

                The personal (and sometimes not so personal) comments flow back and forth like alcohol across the bar.  It doesn’t have to be this way fellas.   Instead of finding reasons why you dislike a person, why not try to find things that you like and can appreciate?  Instead of sticking to one clique or adhearing to one ‘type’ we should come together as a community and find common ground even if someone looks different than you.

                Gay men in other cultures gravitate toward people who are different from them.  What a novel idea!  Nowhere is this notion more prevalent than in Europe, and in particular, the northern European countries.  They find excitement and fun in something other than the norm.  This is why many gay Americans travel to Europe:  to experience new cultures and people.

                Imagine how much more exciting and enriching the gay scene would be if a similar sense of exploration was more prevelant here.  Imagine how many wouldn’t be alone for the night and how many more friendships would be made.

Article By Ernesto Francisco