Gays and Tattoos
As many of you know, I’ve been looking at getting a tattoo. Well, as fate would have it, I ran across this article on Facebook from one of my friends.
Being openly gay is like getting a tattoo. Once the deed is done and you put it out there for the world to see, there’s no turning back; except for laser removal and reparative therapy (and while the former may work, the latter is pretty much discredited, unless you’re Ted Haggard).
Although hard statistics are elusive, an anecdotal survey recently taken at a mixed straight/gay summertime cookout revealed that a disproportionate amount of gay men seem to be owners of inked bodywork. On the other hand, maybe the fact that we’ll use any feeble excuse to take our shirts off in public just makes it seem as if we have more tats than the general population.
Check out the full article, but it seems to be very true that there are more gay men that have tattoos, especially large ones, than straight men.
I do disagree with the reason they give, being that we are vane and just like to take our shirts off. I would say it more likely has to do with the fact that we’re already “different” and not afraid of how people will perceive us if we get a tattoo. I think there is also the idea that a tattoo could increase someone’s perceived masculinity, and many gay men already feel they need to be hyper-masculine to the extreme.
It’s a great article and gave me some things to think about. If you have any other good tattoo articles (even if they aren’t gay), email me.
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Interesting but I think that the idea of vanity or being “different” is not the real reason gay men get inked. As in many cultures, here and abroad, tattoos symbolize masculinity. The bigger the tattoo – the bigger the “man” or what he deems makes him a man. All one really has to do is watch the current trends in gay porn toward the most popular and rising actors having large full body tattoos. It is a shame that gay men feel the need to continue to pan to societal ideas of beauty and worth by looking like a butch straight boy with a tattoo..
Just be sure you truly love your piece of ink artwork. You’re going to live with it forever.
you gonna go for the anus tatt referenced in the blog story you have?
I didn’t mean that people get a tattoo because they are “different”… I meant because they are already perceived as “different” for being gay, they are already accustomed to being considered different and don’t have to go through as much to get a tattoo.
Finally, a real keyboard.
I think there is some definite truth to the supposition that gay men are trying to be more masculine, or that they already bear the brunt of being “different” therefore, adding a tattoo on top of that would make little difference. On the flip side of that, I’ve heard many say they wish they had put a little more thought into their ink before they went out and had it done. There is the real key point while you’re considering what you want for ink.
I suggest making sure after lots of thought that you choose a piece that really has some meaning behind it. faith, family, something, and put time into it being something that is created by you, rather than some flash chosen off a wall. You will be far less likely to feel like you’ve done something you may not be able to live with forever.
I have three tattoos myself, each reflecting an aspect of my pagan faith. Each done on a particular day of the year. So they have many levels of meaning and I have been happy to have them all and have never felt it was poorly thought decision. Not saying don’t have ink done if you want it. Be sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.
I would say that we feel tattoos are sexy and we are very sexual creatures. That is nothing to be ashamed about
I’ve never really thought about trying to plan out the exact day of getting a tattoo. I do like that idea.
There is a lot of symbolism that I really need to look at. I want something with deep meaning, but hidden to the casual onlooker.
i have a tiki on my left shoulder. it represents some very fond childhood memories and between my shoulder blades i have a tribal tat that really has no meaning i lust love it.
I think tattoos on gays a gross generalization. Tattoos have become so mainstream that when females get one on their lower back its called a tramp stamp. (80% of females are tattooed there) People get tattoos because people get tattoos. With shows like Miami Ink and LA Ink, tattoos once the act of rebellion, are now being humanized to the mainstream audience by the stories told on those reality shows. On the opposite spectrum a lot of UFC fighters and “douchebags” on VH1 Tool Academy have a disproportionate number of tattoos. Am I going to generalize that all “douchbags” have tattoos? NO! People get tattoos to get tattoos. Quit purveying stereotypes! (DISCLOSURE: I have several tattoos. Check two of them out on my Avatar at http://twitter.com/The_Gravitas)