Point of curiosity and item for discussion. All theories welcome.

According to reputable, peer reviewed research, the total population at large will have anywhere from 8% to 10% gay male population. Other figures have been reported, some are less tenable, and not at issue here. The figures for gay women are different, and not of concern here.

A quick polling of the registered membership at the EA shows a gay population of about 35%. The EA Survey rresults show results in the same ballpark.

My question is Why?

Is the incidence of BIID or M2E Gender Dysphoria greater in this population?

Is there increased (hyper) sexual awareness? Greater inclination to explore sexual fantasies that include castration, etc?

Is there an increased level of self-revulsion, such that one desires self-punishment through castration (a bit Freudian, perhaps, but still possible)?

Other ideas? Gay and Not-Gay responses, theories, ideas are all welcome and encouraged. This has been a question that has long been on the table since the first EA Survey.

My first thought is I wonder if we will see a decrease in gay members as society becomes more accepting of gays. I remember the environment I grew up in and it was tough to love ones self. I am also aware of several men who were castrated for religious reasons. In the past there were many messages in the media, peer groups, parents, churches and schools that being gay is the worst thing that could happen to someone.

I would be curious as to the age of gay members. Are there as many joining the EA in their late teens and early twenties as we have gay members who have joined and are now in their 40's and 50's? I know more work but it might be a measure of society's influence.

My reasons as a gay person for becoming a eunuch were initially not feeling like I was good at being a boy. Of course at about the same time was sexual abuse that I totally repressed. Then of course a father who would verbally and physically abuse me for doing something less than masculine. Finally was to stop my great sexual compulsion.

Since I never felt the need to be masculine or to be something I was not my testicles were not as important to me as other men. I never felt they defined me in any way. I actually like myself more since the T factories are gone.

I think that the Gay community is more enlightened about their sexuality and self identiy and therefore more open to acceptance of who they are. Thus being willing to accept that a eunuch state may be more appropriate for them. I think that as acceptance for the eunuch state grows, more straight people will be showing up here, bringing the average back to normal

(snip)

kristoff wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:40 pm Is there increased (hyper) sexual awareness? Greater inclination to explore sexual fantasies that include castration, etc?

Is there an increased level of self-revulsion, such that one desires self-punishment through castration (a bit Freudian, perhaps, but still possible)?

(snip again)

Personal experience, n=1.

Gay and castrated here.

The self-revulsion hypothesis is interesting, since maybe 4 years ago I was dealing with self-revulsion, the gay thing, and wanting to be a eunuch, all at the same time. I dealt with the gay thing first, head-on, then the self-revulsion cleared up as if it were a case of the sniffles.

It also helps that I don't much like kids anyway, came to accept that (along with the gay thing), and that allowed me to confront the preexisting castration desires. That came next, and I've resolved that in steps, with success, over the past year or so.

Hypersexual awareness? Not sure what to compare myself against. Definitely I've needed to be very aware of myself in sexual situations, but I dunno, hard to say.

Other than hyper sexuality, I'm with Tugon.

I would guess at least for some Religion would play a role. Being taught all your life that what you desire is sinful. Seems to me it would put your focus on the source of the desires...

kristoff wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:40 pm Gay and Not-Gay responses, theories, ideas are all welcome and encouraged.

Boy did you open the can of worms!

My theory is that some personality traits tend to come in packages.

For example, if you want to be around smokers, work in construction or drilling, become a gambler or join some group like APEX which is home to everybody who likes everything but male-female missionary position. The portion of smokers from observation is much higher than the national average.

This is not to say that we are not individuals, etc. Just that we are a bundle of characteristics and some tend to group together. Not an absolute rule, just a tendency.

Well, to begin, "gay" is a catch-all category that includes many varieties of non-straight behavior. Note that Chaz Bono ne Chastity Bono originally self-identified as a lesbian but has now determined that he/she suffers from gender-dysphoria. Therefore, it is not unexpected that some members would identify as belonging to both groups.

Also, this site is something of a Shadowlands site, and as others have pointed out gays tend to be more accepting of things that are anomalous or liminal, so the higher gay population is not unusual or unexpected. Note that the same thing occurs in things like the theater and art. Notice too that membership in less accepting groups such as the Aryan Brotherhood, the KKK, Evangelical churches, or the Republican National Committee will have a much lower gay membership (even when closet cases like Ted Haggard are counted) than the predicted 8 to 10%. There is an element of self-selection involved. Gays can say things on this site that they can't say at home around the dinner table.

I think tugon, batman, and Gareth19 are on it.

River

Let's see... I'm gay, over 50, raised in evengelical church - but yet was oldest male of oldest male in direct line, so was up to me to 'insure the name is carried on'.

...and some of my earliest castration fantasies (before I even knew what GAY was) involved gruesome, forced castration of prominent members of my community.

so - how does that fit ME in??????? <grin!>