Gay guy characteristics

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Everyone falls somewhere along a spectrum for each trait — there’s no “right” or “wrong” personality. Understanding this helps both sides be more patient and collaborative.

  • Extraversion: This trait measures how outgoing and energized you feel around people. The pressure to fit into specific subcultures or to adhere to certain physical or behavioural ideals can be overwhelming, contributing to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

    Confronting internalized homophobia is a deeply personal and often challenging journey.

    The injustice harms you, but in making an issue of it you claim that it affects others too.” Sound like any gay activists you know? As I prepare to lead a course on this topic—“How to be a Man When You Don’t Like Football"—I’ve been reading widely in the area of gender identity, testosterone, and evolutionary psychology. Alan Downs agrees. Someone lower might be more direct or skeptical.

    I believe we need to reform our brand of competitiveness so we can all leave the playing field feeling good about ourselves.

    Fortunately, we’re masculine like straight men in one final way that mitigates this kind of competition.:

    Groupishness.

    gay guy characteristics

    Similarly, the challenges faced by a gay person of colour will not entirely align with those encountered by their white counterparts.

    By being aware of the challenges that some hold about the term 'gay community', we open up a space for dialogue and learning. This prejudice manifests as discrimination against certain minorities within the community itself - including Asian individuals, disabled persons, men with fluid gender expressions, religious men, and trans men.

    The prevalence of this issue is notable.

    Their events, which they describe as 'adventures in intimacy,' offer opportunities to step outside of comfort zones, make connections, and probably "laugh harder than you have for a long time"​Explore the Loving Men+ events programme​. Whether straight or gay, the male body produces 10-20 times more testosterone than the female body; it builds our muscles, grows hair on our faces and chests, deepens our voices, and affects our behavior.

    Here’s a quick breakdown of how each trait can show up in the lives of gay men:

    • Openness to Experience: Are you curious, imaginative, and open to change? Neither is better — but knowing where someone falls helps you avoid unfair labels like “too loud” or “antisocial.”
    • Agreeableness: Think kindness, cooperation, and empathy.

      Supportive communities help mitigate this by providing a sense of belonging and connection. Mutual benefit and understanding should be the outcome.

      And yes — personality traits can change or grow over time. Whether one aligns with a subculture, stands apart, or continuously evolves their identity, each journey is valid. In The Velvet Rage, Alan Downs describes life in San Francisco and regular visits to the Napa Valley homes of wealthy gay men he knew, each house more beautiful than the last, the elegant dinner parties that took days to prepare, their fabulous vacations, collections of artwork, clothes, infinity pools, and so on.

      Gay Men and Understanding Personality: The OCEAN Model

      Gay Men and Understanding Personality: The OCEAN Model

      By Ken Howard, LCSW, CST – Founder, GayTherapyLA.com

      Understanding what makes us who we are can deepen our relationships and improve how we connect with others.

      For example, if your friend seems overly sensitive, understanding that he scores high in Neuroticism can help you meet him with patience instead of frustration.

      The OCEAN Model: Five Key Traits

      The OCEAN framework breaks personality into five key dimensions. It helps us navigate romantic relationships, family ties, friendships, and even workplace dynamics.

      One of the most respected ways to understand personality is the OCEAN model — also known as the Big Five.