Why are LGBTQ people so blatant?
LGBTQ people are often accused of being blatant (wearing buttons, marching in gay rights marches, talking and writing about homosexuality, holding hands in public, etc.) Our culture teaches that the only acceptable way to be gay is to be silent or invisible (“in the closet”). Any openness about LGBTQ identity is labeled “blatant” or as “flaunting it”. “Blatant” heterosexuality is rarely questioned (media, entertainment, and other institutional practices such as asking for spousal benefits and hospital visiting rights). In society, the assumption of heterosexuality is so strong that unless one proclaims lesbianism, gayness, or bisexuality, heterosexuality is assumed. To avoid being perceived as heterosexual, “coming out” is often a necessity.
