History's 6 Worst Gay Trends

Photo: Apple Collection

Gay and bisexual men have come a long way. Sure, we've had a few fashion and social faux pas here and there, but none that have done that much serious damage to our overall reputations.

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That being said, there are a few trends that gay men have played into throughout history, and a lot of them were cringeworthy at best. 

Here's a shortlist of things that definitely were not our shining moments.

1.) Wearing heteronormative suits (in the '50s)

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"Gay acts" of any kind went underground in the oppressive ’50s. Most gay men lead double lives or completely suppressed their sexuality. The ’50s were a time of conformity and fear for everyone. Young people spent that decade hiding under desks during air raid drills, and older folks were under the belief that everyone was a Russian spy during the McCarthy Era. Men wore suits and women wore dresses. Conformity, while not a really a choice at this time, was one of the darkest hours for the country's gay community. 

2.) Having unprotected sex (in the '60s)

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Unprotected sex was really popular for everyone in the '60s. Nobody worried about STI's because there was no education on them. When birth control came out, the free-love movement started and when gay folks started to come together and be open, they had a free-love movement of their own. Due to the lack of education, this trend led to the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the states, one that claimed so many queer lives. Even with this history, barebacking with strangers is still seen as popular by some folks. This not only puts you in danger, but also puts other strangers in potential danger. Get tested. Wrap it up. 

3.) Wearing popped Polo collars

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Wearing not one, but two popped collars was an easy way to say to the world, “I can afford to wear a double shirt at once and I can afford to wear them wrong while getting over heated.” Popped collars was prevalent in all men's fashion, but in certain part of the country (predominantly in the South) some gay men can still be seen doing it. Come on guys. No more popped polos!

4.) Using amyl nitrite (aka Poppers) for recreational use

Amyl nitrite (aka Popppers) is a prescription drug used to relieve the pain associated with angina attacks (chest pain caused by low blood flow to the heart). It is inhaled through either the nose or the mouth, but after snorting Poppers, a person experiences an accelerated heartbeat and blood rushing to their head, which is why some people use it recreationally during intercourse, as it can lead to a special kind of heady, sex-craving rush. Using Poppers sometimes leads to unprotected sex and there is evidence that suggests that it also lowers immune function. Aside from the risky side effects, Poppers promote an unnatural state of having sex. While, some people like being removed from sex (and that is totally okay), often this leads to habits of only having disconnected and damaging sexual encounters. 

5.) Rocking frosted hair tips and orange skin

The '90s are over (THANK GOD!). What an awful decade to be gay — why memorialize it with fake tanning and hair color?  I don’t have anything against tanning or hair dying, but there are certain kinds of shades that are just unacceptable, like orange for skin and icy-anything for hair! Your hair is not a cupcake and you are not a character on The Simpsons. If you’re going to get tan at least make sure your booty is the same color as the rest of you, and the tips of your hair should match the rest of your scalp! 

6.) Having more than one account on a hook-up app

Using dating apps on more than one device sounds weird, but you know you've seen it before. You open up Scruff or Grindr, find a hot guy you may be interested in, but then there he is — twice.

You only need to use Scruff on one device! This isn't the lottery, people! Having more accounts on the same app doesn't increase your chances of finding someone!