Do I sound gay? is an American documentary made by David Thorpe on his quest to understand his own ‘gay’ voice. It is a film that unpacks stereotypes, speech patterns, and internalised homophobia in the gay community.
I really enjoyed this light-hearted doco. We get to follow David Thorpe’s personal journey which he then ties to broader social commentary and the science behind speech patterns. David starts the documentary with his dislike of his own voice and investigates what it means for men to ‘sound gay’. He asks friends, celebrities, speech therapists, linguistic scientists, a voice coach, and people on the street. He learns more about himself, as well the history of ‘sounding gay’. While it is not a ground-breaking film, and for me the conclusion was obvious from the start, I enjoyed watching David’s journey and learning more about the history and science of ‘sounding gay’. He talks a lot about being disconnected from his voice and it made me reflect on my own perspective on my voice.
I, like many people, do not like the sound of my voice, and yet I have been told by many people that they like my voice, and that I have a good reading voice, etc. It has inspired me to become better acquainted with my voice and maybe it will for you too!
Do I sound gay? is available on DVD and also streaming on Kanopy.
Rosanna
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