Blocking is a complex process that begins at home with parents or parental figures who model and implement social and physical norms of expected behavior. Because these expectations are based on a widely supported yet inaccurate rationale that all boys are heterosexual, parents generally presume that all male children should be a specific, standardized, heterosexual version of what “normal” is.

The blocking effect is essentially repeated and reinforced on a broader societal scale once the gay boy enters a school-like situation outside of the home. The process then branches out to other dimensions of external society and community. Heterosexuality is an expected standard norm that is modeled and reflected in educational, community, and religious affiliations; it may manifest in the form of direct or inferred pressure that dictates how all boys are supposed to be whether or not they are heterosexual, also referred to as “straight.”

I believe this process may continue to improve slightly due to increased awareness and tolerance about gay men, but blocking will always be a factor for gay boys during childhood. Ironically, the blocking continues in a different capacity and can later repeat and become more fine-tuned for gay adults living among other gay men.

As a health and wellness educator and clinician for over 30 years in health, mental health, and social work, I have professionally and personally observed and experienced patterns of behaviors and traits that are unique to gay men. Much, not all of the dynamics in the adult GMC originate from a response to a different childhood development than that of the majority of their straight peers.