Thoughts on the whole "men in skirts" movement.

[motorman4life]

I know this topic has been hashed out here in the past and I have even brushed on the topic in relation to various threads here before.. but, I had an experience that made me think more about the topic and how it affects all of us in kilts (affect/effect.. I think I used the right one, correct me if I'm wrong).

I was out in my khaki tan UK neo-trad and I had a woman come up to me to complement me on how nice my kilt looked. She went on to say she knew how much confidence a guy has to have to wear a kilt or skirt in public and she thought it was admirable that I would do it, in spite of ridicule and snickers by the ignorant among us.

She then went on to talk about an ex-boyfriend that I gather she believed was bi-sexual (she did make a point of mentioning he had never admitted to her he was bi-sexual or gay and that she had never seen him even kiss a guy) and that he was also a transvestite.

She said when she found out he was a transvestite; she said she was uncomfortable with it at first, but grew to accept it. She said he rarely went out in public in drag, but that he often went out in long and short skirts and sarongs. I asked her if he ever wore kilts and she said she didn't think so, but she was "sure he would" if given the opportunity. I told her that although I did not know him, in my experience guys that like to dress like girls rarely wear kilts because they are a masculine garment and most feel masculine in them. She said she did not think that was the case (she was of the opinion that "a skirt is a skirt and a kilt is a skirt"). But, I also pointed out to her that just because he was a transvestite, did not mean he was gay. She admitted that she could be wrong about his orientation.

Now, overall, this was a pleasant conversation, but afterward I got to thinking about what she had said and I was unsure what had bothered me most about it.

For those of you that don't know me, I am 100% straight. I have one close friend that is a semi-closeted homosexual and I have a few openly gay acquaintances through him. I have hung out with him and his friends and never had a problem with their orientation. I've brought girls over to his place for parties and BBQs in the past and some got sort of freaked out by seeing guys with guys and they felt compelled to ask me if I was bi, or something. I assured them that although I know guys that claim to be straight but have experimented in the past, etc.. I have not. I just have a gay friend, that's it. Anyhow, I don't know anyone that would consider me a homophobe. I've always been a live-and-let-live kind of person… even more so, after I reached my 30's.

But, for some reason, I just don't appreciate being considered gay and I don't like being compared to a transvestite or homosexual/bi-sexual, just because I wear a kilt. Although I am sure there are gay guys that wear kilts, none of the gay guys I know would wear a kilt and most have stated that plainly.

The converation made me think about the whole "men in skirts" (MIS) and transvestite (TV) movement and how much damage they really do to the Braveheart/kilted straight men "movement." I am comfortable being kilted and I generally find the reactions of others both amusing and enlightening.

Unfortunately, while there are elements of the MIS movement that I agree with, I feel as a whole, the "men in skirts" and TVs really have an agenda that conflicts with ours and is detrimental to public acceptance of straight men in kilts. As I've mentioned here in the past, I don't think the average, mainstream, person out there can really tell us apart. They see a guy in a short (or long) GAP denim skirt, a guy in a tartan or khaki UK kilt and a guy in a flowery summer dress with a wig and heels and they can't really see the difference between them. Maybe I'm wrong.

While I have always been okay with the MIS and TV movement in the past, I think as time goes on and I am starting to realize their efforts, in some ways, are counter to ours and the (somewhat predictable) backlash against them may well be the one biggest obstacles to the success of the kilted men/Braveheart movement.

What do you think?

[bear]

The difference is not so much gender based as it is manliness based.

When a guy wears a denim skirt, people think, "why is that male wearing female clothes?"
When a guy wears a kilt, people think, "who is that man wearing a kilt?"

Men in kilts need no movement. We have oatmeal.

[g koch]

Folks is folks.

Y'all quit given youselves grey hairs!

[Geoduck]

Well put, Bear.

For myself, for the most part I could care less what others are doing. Every gay man I've met has mentioned how masculine the kilt looks, and the guys I see around Seattle in kilts, rarely look feminine.

I'm always frightened though when we start becoming afraid of public perception. I fully believe that when public perception becomes fact, over accepted definition, it only breeds ignorance, or worse.

Take our usage of "literal" and that "normalcy" has become a word!

We should never let someone elses perception of us dictate how we wear our kilts!

Not to be too Marlo Thomas, but we are free to be ourselves, and so are the MIS and the TV societies, we aren't taking away from each other.

Cheers,

[Tim Walker]

The Braveheart Kilt forum has an analysis of this topic.

[bubba]

I'm not comfortable with the whole concept of a "movement" in the first place. I don't need a movement or cause and generally ignore the whole concept. I wear kilts because I want to wear kilts. There's no need for some cause to legitimize being comfortable.

[RonDog]

I have been reading the various topics posted here for some time now and finally decided to chime in.

I am a middle aged man who wears kilts because I want to and am proud of my Scottish heritage. I have never hesitated to go out in public or allowed the general public to dictate my choice. I have worn kilts to occasions from formal affairs to backpacking and the only restriction I have is never rock climb in a kilt…it makes your belay man loose concentration.

I started a Boy Scout Venture Crew that wears kilts as our uniform and so far no one has made a negative comment about it. Our unit is involved in the local Celtic community and we study Celtic heritage and help the young men and women with their genealogy. The kilt has been accepted at local and national meetings and gatherings and more and more youth are joining in.

As a portly gentleman, I had not received a compliment from a lovely lass for many years until I was at a restaurant when a young woman smiled and said “nice kilt” to which I replied “thank you”. She smiled real big, had a gleam in her eye and said “No…thank you”

I know not what path others may take but as for me…give me a kilt or give me more beer.

[bubba]

I know not what path others may take but as for me…give me a kilt or give me more beer.

Give me both

[motorman4life]

The Braveheart Kilt forum has an analysis of this topic.

I found the article! Thanks. http://www.kiltmen.com/freestyle.htm A good read.

[highlander_Daz]

I think if your going to step outside the sphere of what (in most other peoples perception) is "normal" then you have to expect some kind of reaction- its only natural for people to wonder why your wearing the kilt, and whilst you answer to no one as to what you can and cant wear, most people outside of Scotland dont know anything about the history or facts about the kilt.

people may think your a cross dresser or whatever, but why does that matter?, I dont mind what people do; cross dress/gay/bi/whatever, I know im none of these things, and if I was then I would be proud to be, you have to accept what you are, recently a Scots guest house owner was criticied for banning two gay man from sharing a bed in his hotel, he was stuck off by the Scottish tourist board but received much support from "the man in the street" his point was he doesnt mind what goes on but not under his roof, some people would use the word "homophobe" I cant stand this word its bandied about to much and doesnt mean anything, other than someone with an irrational fear of the word "homo"

You have to be comfortable with what you are, if people think your a cross dresser -then the world doesnt stop spinning! let them swirl around in a pool of ignorance, Sadly two men were beaten up by neds last year in Scotland their crime- wearing the kilt!!
be happy with what you are and let people think what they want.