Queer VoicesDavid SedarisDon Lemontim gunn

'Do I Sound Gay?' Documentary Engaged In Kickstarter

Is There Such Thing As A 'Gay Voice'?
James Nichols
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A compelling new documentary is bringing together some of the biggest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) celebrities to discuss a question that probably crosses the mind of every gay man at some point in his life: Do I sound gay?

From director David Thorpe, "Do I Sound Gay?" aims to present an intelligent and and provocative cultural analysis of the "gay voice." Throughout this process, Thorpe talks to linguists, celebrities, historians, voice coaches and total strangers to share their own thoughts and experiences surrounding the idea of 'sounding gay.'

"Confession: I’ve always been self-conscious about 'sounding gay,'" Thorpe notes. "It’s one of the main things that 'gives me away' as gay. Three years ago, I decided I’d had enough. I knew that my anxiety came from my internalized homophobia telling me: Gay = bad, so sounding gay = bad. So, I decided to make 'Do I Sound Gay?'"

Those featured in Thorpe's documentary include "Project Runway" host Tim Gunn, Dan Savage, David Sedaris, Don Lemon, George Takei and Margaret Cho. The film is currently engaged in a Kickstarter campaign in order to fund post-production. Check out the video above or visit the project's Kickstarter for more information.

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Before You Go

42 Historical LGBT Moments
Man Holds A 'We Are Your Children' Sign On Gay Freedom Day At The San Francisco Pride Parade - June 25, 1978(01 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
From The Back Of the Photograph - "That Infamous 'Drag' Quintette Photo (At A Fundrasier)." The People Are From Left To Right- Jim Kepner, Reverend Troy Perry, Morris Kight, Gerald Strickland And Dick Winters - 1971(02 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Lesbian Clones At The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Parade - 1982(03 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Pat Rocco Outside His Cabin On Mount Baldy With A Friend - Undated(04 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Food And Drug Administration Protest, Westwood - January 29, 1988(05 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Block And J.J. Belanger Kissing In A Photo Booth. The Album Caption Reads - 'PGE Exhibition, Hastings Park.' - 1953(06 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Two Women In Uniform Playing Softball, Kansas City - 1920-1935(07 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Five Shirtless Men Pose At The Santa Monica Gymfest - September 1975(08 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Gay Marriage Possibly Conducted By Edgar Sandifer - February 1983(09 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Dikes On Bikes Leads The Procession At The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Parade - 1978(10 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Christine Jorgensen, The First Person In The World Widely Known To Have Gender Confirmation Surgery, Signs Her Biography After Speaking At ONE Incorporated - March 9, 1975(11 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Carolyn Weathers And Denise Crippen Kissing On Driveway At Morton Avenue - October 1975(12 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
The Los Angeles Metro Queer Bus At The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Parade - June 17, 2001(13 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
March On Washington, RuPaul - April 25, 1993(14 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
One Of The 'Fagots [sic] Stay Out' Signs That Instigated The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) Protests Against Barney's Beaner - 1969(15 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Police Officers Holding Hands At The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Parade - 1972(16 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
"Let Every Pansy Bloom!" Banner At The San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Pride Parade - June 25, 1978(17 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Gay Couple, Possibly Students From The University Of Rochester, New York, Sip From The Same Drink While Holding Hands - June 1971(18 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Laid Out On The National Mall At The March On Washington For Lesbian, Gay, And Bi Equal Rights And Liberation - April 25, 1993(19 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Harvey Milk Speaks At The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Parade - 1978(20 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Men Socialize By The Seashore In Cherry Grove - August 1952(21 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Distributing Signs For The Human Rights Campaign Fund, 'End Discrimination - Lift The Military Ban' At The March On Washington - April 25, 1993(22 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Dorothy Putnam With Unidentified Women, Possibly From The Beach House In Ocean Park - Undated(23 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Man Holding A 'God Loves Fags' Sign At A Demonstration, Presumably At The March On Washington - 1993(24 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Gay And Lesbian Couples Kissing At An Unknown Event - Undated(25 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Families Marching In The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Parade - 1982(26 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Philadelphia Gay Wedding. This Photograph Was Part Of A Set That Was Deemed Inappropriate By A Photo Shop In Philadelphia And Never Returned To The Customer - 1957(27 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Lesbians Kissing At The First Woman's Building - 1974(28 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Crowd At The March On Washington - April 25, 1993(29 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Lesbian Women Embrace At The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Festival Gay Think Booth - June 1975(30 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Line-Up At The Leather Sabbat Halloween Party - 1975(31 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Two Shirtless Lovers Holding Hands Across A Table At The Gay Community Services Center (GCSC) Liberation House - 1971(32 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Pat Rocco Relaxing On The Beach With A Friend - Undated(33 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
The Crowd Gathers On The National Mall For The First National March On Washington For Lesbian And Gay Rights - October 14, 1979(34 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Gay Players Take Part In A Softball Game Between Los Angeles And San Francisco - 1982(35 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Crowd Holds Hands At The Los Angeles Christopher Street West Pride Parade - 1971(36 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Student Gay Liberation Front Members Give The Finger In Snow - February 1971(37 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
The King And Queen Of The Metropolitan Community Church's May Festival - 1971(38 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Protesters Gather At The Stop Anita Demonstration At Hollywood High School - June 13, 1977 (39 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Crowd At The Pride Parade At The Civic Center In San Francisco - 1978(40 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
Ron Douglas (Left) And Jack Wilson Cut Their Wedding Cake At The Private Marriage Ceremony - 1970(41 of41)
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(credit:Courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
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