Straight-Acting

Straight-acting is a term for LGBT people, most often gay or bisexual men, who do not display the appearance or mannerisms stereotypically associated with being gay. Some use it neutrally to describe themselves or a preference in dating profiles. Many critics argue the phrase is harmful, since it implies masculinity is "straight" and treats more feminine or visibly queer men as performing rather than simply being themselves. Scholars link its popularity to sissyphobia, the stigma against effeminacy, and writers like Dan Savage have criticized the idea that seeking a same-sex relationship could count as "acting straight." The term sits at the center of ongoing debates about masculinity, visibility, and self-acceptance.