I've had many years to reflect on this issue. It is an important issue because it does affect me personally. People have a way of avoiding you, singling you out, or making you feel guilty for something you have no control over. In my case, these actions are based around a false conclusion. Homosexuality is a condemned status by the masses and mainstream culture. There has been an increased level of tolerance, but the fact the gays have to be tolerated to begin with signifies a real problem, and is indicative of a negative feeling attached to the perception of the gay community. Gays do not have access to some of the same rights and privileges as heterosexuals.
Although I'm usually perceived as a homosexual, I've never been able to observe peoples reactions to a blatantly exerted gay vibe, such as p.d.a. I didn't want to do anything to risque, but enough to get a reaction out of regular people. I needed an accomplice, and that person appeared in the form of a good friend Lane. Lane's main goal in life was to offend as many people as possible. He had succeeded admirably whenever I was around him. Upon being approached to conduct the experiment, he obviously obliged. At least we were both benefiting from the scheme.
Kirkwood Mall was location #1. I felt very awkward in this situation, but Lane responded naturally by throwing his arm around my shoulder as we walked down the mall. I felt embarrassed, but I kept my attention on the mall shoppers and their responses. This experiment drew your typical looks of disgust and raised eyebrows. We weren't getting too much notice. We sat on a bench and Lane decided to up to the ante by putting his hand on my lap. I wanted to die. Some fraternity clad looking athletic types laughed as one of them recited a line that I've heard far too often, "Fucking fags". Older people had a tendency to stare in an emotionless stare. I assumed that they've seen it all. Other people either ignored us or looked on with surprise. The extent of any negative reaction was relatively seldom. North Dakota is a hotbed for conservatism, and we were determined to get a rise out of someone. We obviously needed a different crowd.
Location #2 is nationally renown for its appeal to the lower class. Walmart is the epicenter of white trash and poverty stricken shoppers. It is my overall stereotype imposed after a summer of employment there. The lower class has a tendency to be more "simple" minded, and lacking a more liberal education. Okay, this isn't scientific, but I needed a reason to justify choosing this spot. At this point, Lane seemed more interested in my project than I was. I was more interested in shopping, since my cousin sent me a $20 shopping spree card. Lane proceeded to cross the line of individual space by not only grabbing my backside, but also dry humped my leg like a dog. He was out of control and I started to wonder if I was the one being the test subject. This part of the study could have been a total loss but I was able to gauge some peoples reactions. Most people just looked at us like we were immature. I guess they were somewhat correct. We didn't quite get the reaction we were looking for at Walmart, but I wasn't willing to make out with Lane. I actually found myself being embarrassed more than anything.
Even though most people just ignored us or didn't care, we still received anything but a warm reception. I would've expected more negativity, but perhaps people around here are becoming more tolerant to the gay community. If they have, it hasn't shown where it counts, such as through legislature. Anti sodomy laws are no longer in place in ND, but two people of the same sex cannot marry, or they cannot adopt children. Its this kind of climate that sets the precedent for the citizens.
Labeling theory is a theory that interprets the responses of others as most significant in understanding deviant behavior. Since homosexuality is considered a deviant behavior in our country, we can assume the labeling theory applies. While I wasn't in the mindset to assess the faux gay prank that I was involved in, I would assume that most onlookers were coming from this perspective. For the most part, gays are labeled deviant, which is accompanied by unpleasant social consequences, as well as having sanctions restricting them. This deviant perception is caused by values and norms that are accepted in our society. While the masses decide how we should all live, the deviant usually succumbs to the label, and becomes reactant to those social consequences.
Overall, this project wasn't as interesting as I thought it would be, and I didn't gain any new insight on the issue of homosexual prejudice. I usually like to avoid situations like this in public as to not draw any unneeded attention from strangers. Not only did I probably make other uncomfortable, but I felt uneasy in that situation as well. Perhaps there is something to say about conditioning, but that?s another topic.