Furries and homosexuality, why is it?

[Wereman]

Over the past few years while roaming the fathom it appears that most members pursue a lifestyle to be homosexual. The question why this is. Why are most people that like furry related topics tend to have same sex partners or at least favor intimacy with individuals of their own gender. There are ittle facts, though some research has been made.
Aside from research made, one possible theory is that both furry fathom and homosexuality is a minority in today's society, though being discriminated may be going too far. But how many have received an outcry from relatives and friends when they took up the courage to come out of the closet? You may expect a rejecting reaction from your relatives and friends when they hear of your interest in anthropomorphism. Though this also has to do with lack of education or misconception people have, for they think you love animals (it can get associated with the b-word for instance).
So why, in a simple fashion, not conclude that these two elements most of us feel connected to, or the lifestyle we pursue, find each other because they are being rejected by main stream society?
Input and opinion is always welcome.

It's kinda interesting that I just finish typing this post when we are in the midst of pride week. So let's go out there and show our colorful furs with pride!

[Drake Wingfire]

In my case I was furry before I was gay, it was some of the nice guys (okay and the porn lol) that made me more open to the idea of a same sex relationship and to this day I am glad that's how I turned out.

Now as for why there seems to be such a large gay population in the fandom... I wish I had a solid answer for that one. The closest thing I can really say is that with gay people generally being more open minded and already part of something modern society still considers taboo, furry doesn't seem like such a big deal. For some its probably like "hey animals, fun!".  heck it could even be that the mind of a gay person as a general is much more open to trying new things and is also open to new concepts.

But as with my personal case, some could argue that the furry fandom simply has a way of being so accepting of homosexuality and that our art base caters relentlessly to it that even people becoming part of the furry fandom feel way more comfortable to explore their own identity because they know there is almost no one whose gonna go "boy you should be watching hockey and going on about them big trucks! don't be such a prissy!"
When I was coming into my own sexual identity around 15-17 I had this huge shock with myself that I could even be BI of all things, I said to myself "ugh no way.. how can I like guys.. its just weird" yet I enjoyed the company of guys so much and my favorite pieces of art were becoming all M/M. Once I as comfortable with the idea that I was BI, it never bothered me again, never a second thought, about two years later once I was graduated from high-school I met a few nice guys online and actually formed a relationship with one. My desire to have a female partner was pretty much very very minimal and I found myself wanting other guys. By this point I just came out to myself admitting that I was gay. Everyone I spoke to online and came-out to acted like it was just another one of those things. they said things like "hey that's cool :)" or "good on ya man" or even "its good you are that honest about what you like" it wasn't a shocker to anyone and I never got any sorta talk down or negative comments. The fandom made me feel like I truly belonged. You know that could be one of the very reasons the fandom has such a large gap population, we are just so open and accepting of it. ^.=.^

[Ceowolf]

i don't think i could have said it any better than Drake, pretty much same experience here and along the same things i would have said :P

[Fuzzum]

And bam Drake throws another insiteful and Inpowering View on the Furry Fandom, HE'S ON A ROLE! Damn man your Cool in my books :thumbs:

[Temrin]

I definitely agree with Drake of that scenerio. The fandom is a lot more open and accepting of these things so it allows people to explore their sexuality without feeling ostracized in every part of their life. Even if their family may be all against it, the fandoms till allows for some kind of escape from the close-mindedness they might experience in other aspects of their lives.

For me, i've always liked both males and females. I thought i was bi before i knew what furry was. Though i've come to realize that i am pansexual (i dont care if the person i love is male, female, herm, trans, whatever. As long as we love eachother and we get along in such a way that a couple would: respect, communication, etc, Then thats all that matters to me and all that has ever mattered to me. I just wasnt able to put a word to it until i was in the fandom and had the urge to do a little research on these terms. )

This has really had nothing to do with the fandom itself though. Just something i've always known about myself. Sure, the fandom is very open to these types of things, so its definitely nice not to be judged by your fandom, but still, it really had nothing to do with the fandom, since i was like this before i really knew or became a part of the fandom.

I also do find it amusing that both this years current furry survery (well. one of the few there are,) and last years, shows that there is a majority of hetero people then there are others. :3
With homosexual taking up the second. There definitely is a lot of it in the fandom, but i do know that not all the imagry represents the actual feelings of a person. A lot of those picture are done for fun or because 'they can.' I know people who use their character for whatever means they want. A character isnt necessarily a showcase of what this person actually does. I know completely straight men who have had M/M pics done just because they felt like it, not because it shows what their orientation is or that theyve had relations with this person. (I see a lot of people in the fandom take every sexual image as a direct representation of what/who that person has had sex with IRL or relations with. and thats just silly.) So all of the M/M artwork doesnt really represent all those who are homosexual.
This years current results: http://www.klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey.php
The other furry survery (done by a different group of people) shows similar results: https://sites.google.com/site/anthropomorphicresearch/past-results/international-online-furry-survey-2011

[Drake Wingfire]

I always find those surveys so fascinating, they manage to throw me for quite the loop at times. I think the real reason people think the fandom is nothing buy gay people (when really we might not even make it close to even half) is because gay furs are so loud and proud (I know I can be XD) Like you said, furs don't feel ostracized for being gay, in fact they feel like the are 100% supported by this entirely different world of people. After being in the mundane world and usually having to hide who they are from their family, co-workers, maybe even friends they feel a lill pent up so here comes the furry fandom that pretty much has written on the door "we like gay people!" and as soon as they cross that threshold its like BOOM suddenly an explosion of just being out there and letting it all fly. Most people see how loud and open those furs are and just tend to come to the conclusion "damn the fandom must be this huuuuuge gay bar"

lol I will even admit, I thought to fandom had a much larger gay population than it actually does, but on the flip side.. the amount of people so open and willing to same sex encounters still does count for something, the fandom has a massive grey area with groups like Pansexuals and Bi sexuals that just think its all good. ^.=.^

[Neox]

Furries actually TURNED me gay, no joke.  Well... not completely gay: I enjoy women and men 50/50.  But I had absolutely no attraction to men until I made a few friends in the furry community that were already gay.  They kinda... turned me over to the dark side. =P

It's our experiences that make us who we are.  I'm a product of my environment just as much as I am of my choices.  I was fortunate enough to have plenty of exposure to different cultures and creeds in my lifetime and I'm happy about where it got me.

[zenia]

I always find those surveys so fascinating, they manage to throw me for quite the loop at times. I think the real reason people think the fandom is nothing buy gay people (when really we might not even make it close to even half) is because gay furs are so loud and proud...

Yeah, I know this one gay furry (a real Debbie Downer) who is always going on and on about how 90% of the furry fandom is actually straight or bi.

... Yeah right. I don't believe it. Even if there is a large bi percentage, they must express themselves as gay, 'cause I hardly see any straight furries. The gay ones are most vocal.

[Temrin]

I see tons of straight furries. I read peoples profiles when i go art hunting on FA and other art sites.
You just have to look in the right places. If those with a same sex preference are the loudest, then pay attention to those who are quiet :P

[zenia]

lol But if quiet ones are quiet, I don't know they exist! XDD

[Fuzzum]

its not hard to find a straight one Yell out the Ever classic "OMG IM SO WASTED!" that will lure them out.  :-3

[Temrin]

Lol then look further then what ones actually come to your attention Zenia. lol.
Its not all that hard. Just takes some patience and some time if you want to look enough.

[Drake Wingfire]

Yeah, I know this one gay furry (a real Debbie Downer) who is always going on and on about how 90% of the furry fandom is actually straight or bi.

... Yeah right. I don't believe it. Even if there is a large bi percentage, they must express themselves as gay, 'cause I hardly see any straight furries. The gay ones are most vocal.

Funny you should mention that. Its something I have noticed as well, a good chunk of the bi guys I see in the fandom, you look through their art, their favorites on FA and even talk to them and they just seem totally gay... Till you ask them about it, then they go "haha nah im Bi dude" but its usually Bi in the most fringe sense because they might have only a very very small attraction towards females, not enough to ever pursue them as partners or even to care for sex with a female, but enough to say "yes she is attractive" but otherwise they are always focused on other males.

Part of me thinks that for some of the ones like that, its kind of a pride thing, they may still see gay as this thing that means you are weak, skinny and like wearing hot colors of clothes, like the girly-gay stereotype that's so popular, so they try and hang onto at least some sense that they still like girls so they can feel like they are still rather masculine and that their sexual attraction to other guys is sort of a "one the side" thing. But I must clarify that I am not talking about Bi people on average, I just mean the ones who are extremely gay, only go for guys, only like gay porn. But still claim they are Bi because of that fraction of a percentage of them that could at least picture being with a girl.

Even myself for as gay as I am and put myself out there to be could still claim that I was Bi in the exact same sense simply because of the rare thoughts I have of maybe one day having some experiences with someone of the opposite sex and the fact that I can still honestly admit that there are some girls out there that I see and I do go "holy, she is actually rather cute" or "I really love her fun loving attitude" But I know calling myself Bi would be a farce given who I am in reality. I am just too far gone to ever successfully have any sort of straight relationship, males just do it for me XD

[zenia]

I don't get the ones that say "Oh, I'm bi. I like girls, but I wouldn't want to date/sex one." ... Well, that doesn't count as bi then. I mean, my sister is straight, but she can still see when a girl is attractive.

[Lusiphur]

I don't get the ones that say "Oh, I'm bi. I like girls, but I wouldn't want to date/sex one." ... Well, that doesn't count as bi then. I mean, my sister is straight, but she can still see when a girl is attractive.

Well... There are those who say that merely because they can't quite fully admit to themselves they're gay.  Then again, there are those who say that just because they haven't met the right woman too.

Personal P.O.V. (and again it's just a view) is that everyone on this planet has the capacity to be turned on by both genders... upbringing, environment, personal exposure, etc tend to be limiting factors on what they view as "right" and the rest is more about comfort and base carnal nature. As for me, yeah I'm gay. I've never REALLY been turned on by a woman enough to want to have sex with them. Doesn't stop me from looking at a good looking woman and sayin' "Damn, that's a good looking woman" or even getting... well... some feeling down in the warm n fuzzies if I see one in a SITUATION that turns me on ;)