Are all male flutists gay?

I've heard this question asked a lot in the years that I have been playing the flute.

It's a strange question because it hasn't been that long since musical instruments were mostly played only by men, regardless of whether they were gay or straight. But now everyone thinks that the flute is only played by girls.

I still don't know when or how that change in thinking happened.

Because of this, both gay and straight male flutists have been bullied for their choice in instrument. But why? What's so wrong with being gay that it has to turn into an insult? That's something I will never understand.

This is my first time speaking out publicly about my thoughts and journey in understanding my LGBTQ friends. I'm nervous about what people will think about this straight person's musings about her LGBTQ friends, but I can't help but feel that this video is already long overdue.

Maybe you noticed that I didn't actually answer the question, "Are all male flutists gay?"

There are just so many problems with that question that whoever posed it first should go home, fix it, and come back with a better question. As it currently stands, this question is not worth answering because it stinks of discrimination, judgment, and coldness. I don't hate a lot of things, but I will say that I hate this question. It offends me to my core.

But why does it offend me? I'm straight.

It offends me because this question segregates and ostracizes a select portion of my friends, only because of their sexual orientation. What does their sexual orientation even have to do with the instrument they play? Why is this even a question? Why do people care?

My time with my LGBTQ friends has been well spent, and I have made the best friends anyone can hope for. They're no different from my straight friends. We're all just human beings.