They don’t care whether you sleep with men, women, or stray cats. “Dogs are not judgmental - they will sleep with you any night you come home, even if they smell a raunchy Poodle on your breath. Are gays especially appreciative of that canine love - more, perhaps, than someone who’s never experienced intolerance or prejudice? “Gay men have a lot to learn from dog love,” DePrisco says. Secretly, most gay men want to be like dogs, even when they’re standing.”Īcceptance, tolerance, unconditional love … these are things dogs give everybody, but gay people haven’t always been the beneficiaries of such gifts from their fellow humans. Dogs believe in commitment and are defined by their loyalty. Unlike most of our lovers, dogs truly enjoy being used and don’t panic when they decide that you’re devoting too much time to them. For lots of gay men, dogs exist as substitutes for lovers, children, close family, and maybe even good friends. “Yes, gay men tend to spoil their dogs, treating them like true family and giving them high priority. Is there truth in this stereotype? “Truth exists in all stereotypes, even the positive ones like this one,” DePrisco says. When breeders, rescuers, or shelter-dog adoption counselors see a potential dog owner/adopter who is gay, they tend to jump for joy, figuring that dog will enjoy a great, pampered life. The dog is not a rite of passage to a future wife, two kids, and a second home in New England.” When a sensible, responsible gay man - if such a creature exists - commits to a dog, the dog becomes his family, his kid, and a truly important part of his world. “There are wonderful gay and straight dog owners out there, and there are horrible gay and straight dog owners out there, too. What’s the, ahem, biggest difference between gay dog lovers and straight ones? “Regardless of sexual orientation, any sensible, responsible person can make a great dog owner,” DePrisco is quick to point out. “And, yes, there are dozens of other dogs there, most on rainbow and lavender leashes, though Azuki prefers leather to dyed polyester.” “Azuki is more friendly than most Shibas, though she mainly ignores other dogs,” he says. 3) Dogs love to be the spoiled ‘kids’ of a gay couple - two incomes and all the baubles and nylon bones that money can buy.”ĭePrisco has escorted Azuki, his lovely Shiba Inu, to the New Jersey Pride event in Asbury Park.
Gay men are essentially just as greedy, though we will share our toys with men if they buy us a meal first. They don’t like to share their meals, their toys, or their owners (men). “Here are three reasons a dog prefers to be ‘owned’ by instead of hets: 1) The gay ‘family’ dog usually doesn’t have to play second oboe to two-legged children.
“Dogs welcome any chance to be outdoors with a group of half-dressed homosexuals, whether it’s for a gay pride parade, a Lady Gaga concert, or a Log Cabin convention in the Ozarks,” says the charming author, who counts Joan Rivers and Carson Kressley among his book’s many fans.Īs it turns out, there are a few key factors making dogs grateful for Gay Pride Month, DePrisco explains. So are gay dog lovers somehow different from straight ones? To find out, I went to the source: Andrew DePrisco, author of Woof! A Gay Man’s Guide to Dogs (Bow Tie Press). June is LGBT Pride Month, and it’s a fine time to celebrate differences.