Experimental gay

Twenty years later, groundbreaking project is re-released in the midst of growing Queer attacks

Experiment: Gay and Straight

June 2023

BY Identify SAXENMEYER

Twenty years ago this month, the documentary I produced, directed and hosted, Experiment: Gay and Straight(EGS), was telecast on Chicago television, followed by nearly two dozen production festival screenings around the globe–from San Francisco to Montreal, Belgium to South Africa. The plan, designed to foster a better sympathetic between gay and straight Americans, was hailed by American Journalism Review as “infinitely watchable” and lauded with prestigious broadcasting, film and journalism awards. It remains one of my proudest career and personal achievements.

And yet now, two decades later, I watch it with a sense of melancholy. Much of what I consider EGS aimed to achieve and rejoice is being publicly and systematically unraveled by some of the most wicked and dangerous threats in 21st century America.

I called the project “reality TV with a purpose.” We invited five gay and five straight Chicago-area residents, all strangers to one another, to live together for one week. They discussed a mult

Gay but want to experiment with a girl?

You know, perhaps there is a point when some people say that you aren't born gay.

I don't want to shock you or say you have to be a particular way but I suggest not pursuing sexual relations with them but just being better friends with girls and loving them for being the gorgeous and caring creatures that they are. I think you'll find that they're a lot more distinct than you had initially thought.

As a straight guy cleaning up from PMO I have so much more new found respect for women and less anxiety with them too. Although I'm sexually attracted to women I'm not interested in sleeping with them but just being as caring, gentle and honest as I can and this makes my friendships with girls all the more meaningful.

I hope you aren't scared and that you don't get unnecessarily confused over it all. I think just relax, take it for what it is and enjoy making new friends.

Re: Gay experimentation

Unread postby Sam W »

Hi adamthatcher65,

Before we touch on what to complete now, can you tell me a little about what your thought process was when agreeing to experiment with him that first time? Was it something you were genuinely curious about or interested in trying? Did you talk about things like boundaries at all before you started? And did he only carry it up once, or did he keep mentioning it until you agreed to try it?

I think it's also time to check in with each other about how you're each feeling and what, if anything, you're each expecting from this. That will give you a chance to express what you require to and him a chance to share how he's feeling. Do you feel comfortable having that kind of conversation with him?

And you to whom adversity has dealt the final blow/with smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go/turn to and put out all your power of arm and heart and brain/and like the Mary Ellen Carter soar again.

Straight Males and Lgbtq+ Experimentation

Ooner1

Quite simply, I’m wondering how common it is for self-identifying unbent males to experiment with homosexuality. Sorry if this comes off as asking for TMI, or if it’s in the incorrect forum (seemed too "what’s your personal experience?) for GD.

Being gay and having gay friends, I perceive a lot about 2 kinds of dealings with straight guys. The first is youthful experimentation, before the participants are fully aware or comfortable with their sexual orientation. I personally never had such experiences, I didn’t hold sexual contact with anyone until I was fairly mature and comfortable with my sexuality.

The other contact is the kind of thing you hear about more in erotic fiction or porn, which is the sleeping with the straight guy AFTER they’re both older and arrange in their sexual orientation. I’ve had friends chat about how they’ve “gotten with” straight guys just because the timing was right, a guy was horny or what hold you. Again, I perceive nothing of the sort, and always considered vertical guys to be completely unattainable.

Now, I don’t own too many straight male friends, and those I do have I’ve never asked a