The LGBT community gets a surprisingly bad rap for body image discrimination. Whether it's weight, height, bone structure, hairline, age or musculature the LGBT community has become synonymous with perceived "human perfection". No wonder some who've just realised they are part of the community and those who've just had a friend/family member come out to them are so surprised to find that this elusive perfection does not exist. Especially when they exclaim "You can't be gay! You don't look like you're gay!"
I think this myth is mainly perpetuated by straight society and then some in the LGBT community run with it out of disgruntlement. Where else do women get this idea that gay men are always fit, muscular, extraordinarily handsome and always well dressed? Anyone seen a TV lately? Or straight men have this idea that all gay men are beautiful to the point of resembling women? Lesbians get the opposite, they usually are fit, muscular and handsome to the point they resemble men. Doesn't that sound like a straight persons idea of beauty? Attributes of the opposite sex?
If you turn on a TV or walk past a bill board, everywhere you see these few folks who's natural beauty (they usually look like everyone else) has been airbrushed and made up to perfection. This society's current perception of beauty. All of society is obsessed with beauty and perfection. How many straight couples get divorced because the spouse finally feels comfortable to be who they are? Not having to maintain a physique in order to capture the interest of a potential mate? The lady who "lets herself go" after having children or the man who "let's himself go" with the stress of work etc.? Suddenly that image they marry is not what they end up with and it's on to another mirage of perfection.
The LGBT community is not totally to blame for this body image ideal because we are all part of the same society. If the mainstream wants perfection that's what will be advertised to everyone, including the LGBT community. It's in, dahling. It will only change if everyone quits buying into the myth by using it as an excuse not to go after what/who you truly want. Perfection does not exist in society or everyone would be satisfied with who they are dating/married to all of the time. Between cultural, ethnic, racial, social etc, what one person doesn't like another person will. I'd rather ask and be shot down than miss an opportunity. *waggles eyebrows*
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