Gay and Goth? EDIT: First Post

[Malakoi]

Typically, Gothic imagery romanticizes heterosexual love and relationships, forgetting about homosexuality in general. Homosexuals are rarely represented in Gothic literature, music, or art.
Anne Rice has a few characters that are vaguely identified as gay and Poppy Z. Brite has written some rather explicitly homo-erotic material about her vampires but I believe these are the exceptions to the rule.

EDIT: Are there other examples of homosexuality in Goth literature, art, or music?
Do you feel that Gothic culture is more expressive or repressive of homosexuality?  

[MediaclCunt]

Well,I'm bisexual. But,anyway, I do agree that boyfriend-girlfriend, typical heterosexual relationships are more prevalent in Goth media of any kind. Jemiah Jefferson,who wrote the vampire novels Voice of the Blood and Wounds, is the only writer I came across who featured same sex relationships and eroticism in her work.  

[lurichan]

I think it's more likely that people accept homosexuality who identify themselves as goths, but I don't think it's really talked about all that much. Not in a "oh that's taboo to talk about" sort of way, just more of a casual indifference to sexual orientation. It just doesn't seem to be all that big of a deal.  

[Malakoi]

lurichan

I think it's more likely that people accept homosexuality who identify themselves as goths, but I don't think it's really talked about all that much. Not in a "oh that's taboo to talk about" sort of way, just more of a casual indifference to sexual orientation. It just doesn't seem to be all that big of a deal.

It is true that orientation, and sexuality in general, is somewhat ignored in Goth culture. More emphasis is placed on the spiritual and emotional levels of relationships than the sexual.  

[blackfoxi]

well, i'd hate to point this out, but usually in society, the two lifestyles are often stuck together in stereotypes, because very few people outside of those lifestyles understand both.
Homosexuality and the goth subculture are two things that society's norm is the most afraid of, in my opinion. It just so happens that i AM gay, so i get bashed alot.  

[Nimewe]

Well i'm straight but don't mind that people are bi or gay.  

[Kohanna13]

I think that sexuality isn't really important, more the person. Yes sometimes people stereotype but you can't help it. I have bi, straight and gay friends and I love them all the same.  

[GilAskan]

Hephaistion Patroclus

Are there others?

I myself am straight, but I don't think you'll have too much trouble finding other homosexuals in the goth culture. I suspect it's as common (perhaps more common) in the goth culture than in most of society.

Hephaistion Patroclus

Do you feel that Gothic culture is more expressive or repressive of homosexuality?

In my experience, the goth culture is very accepting of the practice, even if it's not commonly represented artistically (such as through music or literature) in the culture.

Simply put, the goth culture isn't homophobic, it's just that the goth culture draws strong visual and thematic influence from literature whose romance is almost exclusively heterosexual.  

[morbid_x_youth]

I don't think goth culture is either expressive or repressive of homosexuality. Homosexuality is just there. Like it is in alot of cultures. I don't think artists purposefully omit homosexuality from their writings/art, they just do. Or maybe, they just don't want to cause any drama or misunderstanding or something... if that makes any sense? confused  

[Malakoi]

GilAskan

Hephaistion Patroclus

Are there others?

I myself am straight, but I don't think you'll have too much trouble finding other homosexuals in the goth culture. I suspect it's as common (perhaps more common) in the goth culture than in most of society.

I wasn't asking about other homosexuals in this guild. I supposed I should have more clearly linked the antecedent but I was actually asking if there are other examples of homosexuality in Goth culture other than Anne Rice and Poppy Z. Brite.  

[Ether-Eating Eskimo]

Read the "What originators think of goth" interview thread...  

[GilAskan]

Hephaistion Patroclus

GilAskan

Hephaistion Patroclus

Are there others?

I myself am straight, but I don't think you'll have too much trouble finding other homosexuals in the goth culture. I suspect it's as common (perhaps more common) in the goth culture than in most of society.

I wasn't asking about other homosexuals in this guild. I supposed I should have more clearly linked the antecedent but I was actually asking if there are other examples of homosexuality in Goth culture other than Anne Rice and Poppy Z. Brite.

Alright. In that case...

- Early Irish goth band The Virgin Prunes always had strong homosexual imagery and messages. ( http://p-ol.tripod.com/pic/over.gif )
- American deathrock/goth-rock originator Rozz Williams claims to have been gay for much of his youth, particularly while working on Christian Death.
- Most of the early goth groups had a strong element of sexual ambiguity, many clearly trying (and some succeeding) to seem feminine or androgynous. The practice, at the time, was commonly linked to (perhaps only in connotation) to homosexuality.

I'll think of more, when I have the time.  

[deathcomes_onsilentwings]

Now that I think of it, I think goth is more about heterosexual love then homosexual. That's strange.  

[-Resurrected Writer-]

deathcomes_onsilentwings

Now that I think of it, I think goth is more about heterosexual love then homosexual. That's strange.

Not necessarily. From what I've seen, one of the biggest underlying themes of goth is the freedom of self-expression. It just so happens that a lot of goths are straight - like in mainstream society - and just because the community is more accepting of different orientations doesn't mean that the majority will be homo or bisexual.  

[DreamerSpirit]

lurichan

I think it's more likely that people accept homosexuality who identify themselves as goths, but I don't think it's really talked about all that much. Not in a "oh that's taboo to talk about" sort of way, just more of a casual indifference to sexual orientation. It just doesn't seem to be all that big of a deal.

From my experiences with the subculture, it does seem to be this way. There is a heavy emphasis on self expression, and a sort of indifference twoards sexual orientation. I have met a couple homophobic goths, but they seem to be rare.

One thing which may have helped to form this indifference is the stor of andrygonus tone that the subculture takes on. Gender doesn't seem as large of an issue as it does in mainstream society. Guys in dresses, and girls with very short, or even partially shaven hair, are all pretty normal within the culture. This seeming indifference to gender may cross over into the realm of sexuality as well, so that many goths are indifferent to the issue.

As far as art goes, I honestly don't know why there is so little mention of homosexuality in gothic art, literature, and music. It is understandabel why older gothic literature, such as Poe and Stoker, does not speak of homosexuality, but I do not know why modern gothic literature averts the topic.