Latest odd query entered into a search engine that directed a visitor from Michigan to this blog: “Does being around gay people rub off?”
Oh crap, I thought I had seen it all. Oh well, here goes with the answer from a gay man who should know.

Before I delve into an answer, let me define for visitors of this blog whose primary language is not American English what this odd phrase means in this context. According to the dictionary, the term “rub off” has two meanings. One is “to wear or abrade” as in, “the purple fabric rubbed off onto my sweaty skin and now I am purple, too.”

Second meaning, as was probably meant for this question is, “to have an effect through close association or contact, especially so as to make similar.” Example, “his good study habits have rubbed off on you.”

So the question can be interpreted as, “does being around gay people have an effect through close association of making a straight person become gay?”

Answer: Absolutely not. Anyone who believes that sort of stuff needs to go back to school and get a real education.

A man or woman is gay by definition of genetic makeup — not from being around or having friends who are gay. (Also not by wearing certain clothing or going to certain places.)

There are some men, like me, who do not realize that they are gay until much later in life. As I was going through puberty and ongoing through high school and most of my college years, I was not interested in sex — with anyone, male or female. I dated and had lots of female friends who were straight. I did not realize my sexual orientation until my mid-20s.

There are some research studies that show that close friends sometimes adopt each other’s habits and mannerisms. For example, one friend may frequently use the word “awesome” and the other friend adopts that word, too. Or a friend can demonstrate good table manners, and the other friend show the same — his friend’s good habits “rubbed off.” Adopting language patterns and habits is quite common among close friends, and has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

Okay, ‘nuf said — the only thing that will happen when you are around gay people is that you will have a more open mind and learn to accept others for who they are.

Life is short: learn and grow.