[Jeff G.]

Many gay men are immediately identifiable by the ‘gay drawl,’ a distinctive, quasi-nasal, adolescent voiceprint. But I’ve never met a lesbian of any class or race who had a distinctive, corresponding lesbian ‘accent.’ Does anyone have any thoughts on why this is?

User Detail :  

Name : Jeff G., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 32, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Rachel G.]

I think the ‘gay drawl’ among men is the product of a somewhat insular community with a long history, especially in comparison to lesbians. Even pre-Stonewall (the 1969 New York riot that ushered in the modern gay rights movement), there had long been some sort of culture there. This isn’t nearly as true for gay women.

I think that any group that has strong ties and culture artifacts among its members might adopt a sort of ‘accent’ over time. I once knew a large group house whose members developed a distinctive tone of voice over the five years they lived together. Come to think of it, when I’ve associated with very closely knit groups of lesbians, I think I have perceived a similar phenomenon, although it’s always specific to the particular group rather than the overall population of gay women. For example, here in Northern Virginia, many lesbians have a sort of rough, jocular way of speaking that almost borders on ‘red-neckish.’ But I doubt you’d find that in other areas. No answers here, I guess – but a very interesting question.

User Detail :  

Name : Rachel G., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 29, City : Arligton, State : VA, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Stephanie]

I don’t believe there is such as thing as a ‘gay drawl,’ ‘lesbian drawl’ or even ‘gaydar.’ Many gay men and lesbians have no characteristics whatsoever to identify them as homosexual. I’ve often made assumptions about others’ sexual orientations based on their appearance or mannerisms, only to find I was mistaken. Very few people, including other lesbians/gays, suspect I’m a lesbian until I tell them. That’s why I fly a rainbow flag from my house and wear a rainbow sticker on my car. I’m proud of who I am and sometimes wish it were more obvious. But alas, I have no lesbian accent or anything else to tip them off.

User Detail :  

Name : Stephanie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Lesbian, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 45, City : Cincinnati, State : OH, Country : United States, 

[Dan27193]

I live in a neighborhood that has a large lesbian population. The lesbians I’ve met don’t have an inflection like that associated with gay men, but rather they sound a bit stern and serious, and somewhat more monotonal than heterosexual women. — an ‘anti-inflection’ of sorts. Why that is, I don’t know.

User Detail :  

Name : Dan27193, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, City : Denver, State : CO, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Ben28329]

I have definitely noticed some gay men having a distinctively feminine speech pattern than is the norm for men, and I have noticed lesbians with a more masculine speech pattern than is the norm for women. I’m trying to think of United States examples, K.D. Lang is a very good example, but Ellen DeGeneris also has a more masculine way of speaking. Hillary Clinton has this manner of speech too, although she is not a lesbian. But equally there are gay-sounding men who are not gay.

User Detail :  

Name : Ben28329, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 30, City : Wellington, State : NA, Country : New Zealand, Occupation : Software, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Virlyn]

It has been my experience that I person that is that has a preference for the same sex has obvious tendencies that are easily identifiable with accent being one of them. Although, I am not gay I have many acquaintences that are. Actually I have had very good friendships that have occured with people who choose this type of lifestyle.

User Detail :  

Name : Virlyn, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 42, City : Flint, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Direct Care worker, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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