Take the tents down – this is a no camping zone.

Indulge me for a moment; close your eyes and let your imagination catapult you into a futuristic, semi-utopian society - I’ll leave you to your own devices in regards to the date; all depends how optimistic you are. You’re living life in a world where social progression has reached its highest peak; where all forms of prejudice have been eradicated from this world & Madonna, in her never ending bid to stay continuously relevant, has imprinted her personality into a robot and is about to release her 47th studio album (as I said, it’s a semi-utopian society.)

Right, now you’re there get your glad-rags on; liquor yourself up a reasonable amount and head out – we’re going dancing, boys! You stroll into what you presume to be a gay club. Nonchalantly you strut across to the bar, purchase a drink and take a moment to admire your surroundings – you’re in the future after all. Your eyes dart from one side of the bar and then rapidly speed across to the other. There are business types, gents in suits and guys that have just ventured in to watch a football match. A virile stench fills the air and laddish banter bounces off the walls. However, as you look closer, you notice that some of these gents are holding hands, kissing. They’re couples. These masculine macho punters are all homosexual. Something doesn’t seem right, you mutter to yourself; where are all the camp men?

Of late, when I've been out on Glasgow’s gay scene, I’ve noticed that the gay community is evolving. A lot of gay men say that they don’t want to be associated with the stereotype of being ‘camp’ – that they think it’s negative and degrading. But what is even meant by the word ‘camp’? And why now is it being weeded out and shunned by its own community?

I’ve gone out and, at times, it has never even registered that the person right next to me at the bar could in fact be playing for my team. Lately I’ve noticed that although camp guys are getting a lot of attention, it’s not always favourable. Sometimes it’s downright rude the response they get; whispers, comments and disparaging looks are fired their way. In the past I've been guilty of it myself. It’s the sort of reaction you’d expect from a horribly straight club or bar; a place full of ignorant oafs who sport archaic opinions which they’ll gladly offer up without your consent. And it’s when this reaction starts filtering into a scene that’s supposed to welcome ‘camp’ with open arms, you begin to wonder what the future holds for the queens.

To understand why this is beginning to happen, you not only have to look at how society's view on homosexuality is changing; gay men and woman can now be open about who they are without (as much) fear of prejudice, but also have to analyse and define what the very nature of being camp means.

Is it a persona that’s been developed, perhaps subconsciously, by the person in response to what he feels the gay community expects? Adhering to a stereotype because that’s all he’s seen. A lot of the time it boils down to how gay men are portrayed by the media. Homosexual TV presenters are often camp as it’s seen as entertaining, funny – a favourable personality trait you’d like in a friend. Perhaps it’s what the young see being gay as and therefore feel it compulsory to act like that. Or maybe it’s not; some would argue that it’s genetically predetermined, as inevitable hair colour or shoe size. It’s part of who you are; your nature.

Without a doubt it’s a phrase that’s open to interpretation; everyone will have their own view of what ‘being camp’ actually entails. I’ll openly state right now, if someone labels me as camp I get offended – not because I think there’s anything wrong with it, but rather that I don’t fit my definition of camp. To me being camp is, in part at least, down to your appearance: bleached hair, perfectly plucked eyebrows – a tan that owes very little to natural light. The limp-wristed types that are bitchy, but are also equally hilarious. I am in no-way penalizing those who fit my, or anyone else’s, definition of camp. I find them endearing and have nothing but the upmost respect for anyone that has the gumption and conviction to unapologetically be themselves.

Without a doubt though, straight-acting gay men are beginning to dominate the scene and I think that's a lot more appealing to most guys. Even sites and apps that are specifically engineered for gay men, such as Grindr, are full of ‘masculine’ men who want a partner that isn’t effeminate. But surely choosing to adopt the phrase ‘straight-acting’ is a bit counterproductive towards our cause? We’re campaigning for equal rights; to be accepted for who we are – whether we flutter and flit or favour football - anyway, I digress. Maybe it is down to preference; personally I’m not sexually attracted to overly camp men. I go for guys that genuinely look straight; I don't find camp men appealing in that way, but that’s not to say they should vanish from the scene.

So what would happen if the gay scene became a camp-free zone? Personally I think it’d loose some of its spark. As irksome as some 'queen types' can be, they do inject a certain element of flavour into nights out and, as long as they aren't hurting anyone, what's the harm? Communities are shaped and recognized by all its members, regardless of people’s opinions on them or how they’re viewed. Really in the end everyone is going to be who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation. Nowadays straight men are often camp or eccentric. Loud clothing and louder personalities are no-longer simply reserved for the homosexuals. The proposed future I made you visit earlier perhaps, in some parts, may one day exist – humanity could at some point pay little-to-no heed to the concept of sexuality. But people will always be themselves; whether that is camp, laddish or a Madonna fan.