My friends, I think it's time to talk about the GBF: The Gay Best Friend. Ever since being gay was normalized (and I use that term lightly) straight women in popular media are always depicted as having a gay best friend.

He's sassy, he's stylish, he's dramatic and most of all, he's gay! He's bringing diversity to the story! He's giving a voice to the unheard! He is the poster boy for the LGBTQ+ community. To think that the GBF brings diversity to a cast of characters is like saying a bowl of chicken soup will cure a gunshot wound; all the GBF really does is perpetuate the 'Sassy Gay Man' stereotype.

When we stereotype groups of people, we take away from their diverse culture and replace it with one single homogeneous personality that all members of said group have. For gay men, in particular, that's the idea of a gay man being very effeminate and "fabulous" to which all straight women can relate to.

Now, there are some gay men who are very effeminate and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

What I am saying is this: straight people need to realize that to stereotype the gay community and use its members as the "gay best friend" is to turn them into nothing but an accessory or token character in order to make something seem more diverse.

Then, when someone has that token gay friend, they like to use them as a "Get Out of Being Homophobic Free" card. Much like saying you have a black friend does not get you out of being racist, saying you have a gay friend does not get you out of being homophobic.

It's amusing to me when I hear about how someone "supports gay rights" because they have "a fabulous gay friend" but then turn around and talk about how they wish didn't have to see gay men kissing in public (Oh, and don't get me started on the fetishization of lesbians).

Being an "ally" means totally supporting your gay friend, your trans friend, your Bi friend, et al. To have a friend in the LGBTQ+ community for the sake of being viewed as a "tolerant" person is self-serving and mercenary.

What I'm trying to say is this, my friends: When you have a gay friend, a trans friend, a bi friend, etc. please support them. Listen to them when they share stories of discrimination.

Go with them to pride events and speak out against homophobia and transphobia in today's society. Give them a friend that they can trust and rely on when they need you most.

Gay men are not here to be your stereotype, they're here to live their life.