origin of "Bruce" implying "gay"?

[James Smith]

Someone said something like "what's the world coming
to when our heros are named Bruce and Arnold,"
referring to Bruce Willis and Ah'nold S.


--- "Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET> wrote:
> I don't know whether Bruce Wayne had any influence
> on this. I have no
> evidence one way or the other.
>
> I can remember "Bruce" being used as a "gay" name in
> jokes etc. since about
> 1960 ... although men named Bruce were not and are
> not rare and I don't
> think they have or had many jokes made about their
> name, in my environment.
> The name cannot be fully associated with "gay
> jokes": if it were I don't
> think there would be a Bruce Willis or a Bruce
> Springsteen.
>
> My casual impression is that "Bruce" lends itself to
> these jokes etc.
> *partly* (I don't think completely) by virtue of
> having an "s" sound so
> that the name can be lisped. Other names which I've
> heard used in similar
> "gay joke" context: "Francis", "Terence", "Lance",
> probably a few others
> which I forget.
>
> -- Doug Wilson


=====
James D. SMITH                 |If history teaches anything
South SLC, UT                  |it is that we will be sued
jsmithjamessmith at yahoo.com     |whether we act quickly and decisively
                               |or slowly and cautiously.

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