#4 - Having Gay Friends

Having gay friends is probably the number one manifestation of supportive hetero syndrome. In fact, if you are a hetero with a gay friend, you most likely are afflicted with SHS.

Heteros with gay friends love to talk about their gay friends, especially with their other gay friends (or potential gay friends). Heteros often do the following with their gay friends: frequenting gay/lesbian bars, attending LGBT films, supporting their gay friends at rallies, and frequent local LGBT coffee shops. Bonus points go to those heteros who have attended their gay friends' wedding (s) or invite their gay friends to their own hetero weddings. Really daring heteros attend local Pridefests with their gay friends, making sure to mention that they are going for the "culture," to "support" their gay friend, or to "visit all the booths."

In their defense, it's pretty unlikely in this day and age for heteros to not have a gay friend. However, this blog is reserved for those special heteros that love to talk about their gay friend and use their gay friends to portray their gay-friendliness to the general population (or at least to the homos).

There is also a special category of heteros who have gay friends. These people suffer from supportive hetero syndrome-subtype: denial. These heteros usually say things like "I have a gay friend/best friend/roomate, and therefore I'm allowed to say that gay marriage is wrong, homosexuality is a sin, and you can't tell me I'm homophobic because I have a gay friend/best friend/roomate." While one's initial reaction might be to argue with this type of hetero, the denial in these heteros is so thick that it is best to nod and smile, and remind them of how supportive they are.

If you are a homo with an acquaintance that suffers from SHS with a denial subtype, most likely they are referring to you when they say they have a gay friend/best friend/roomate. Do your best to remind them that they are merely your acquaintance (and not your best friend), and call them out on their homophobic remarks. If their denial is too thick to see past their egocentric beliefs, make sure you avoid this type of hetero as much as possible so as to cut them off from their gay friend/best friend/roomate.