from Gay Activism in the Schools

Davidson's essay is based upon his experience as a health teacher, school counselor and a trainer of peer counselors. He also says his commentary is based upon a "Critical Constructivist, post-modern understanding of multiple masculinities and queer theories."

The author describes the case of a young Latino named Carlos (a pseudonym) who rejects traditional masculinity in favor of a fluid bisexuality. Carlos, says Davidson is repeatedly deconstructing and reconstructing his own masculine identity. "Carlos moves in and out of relationships with sensitive fluidity, reflecting his identity as a person of high standards and regard for others. .... He has deliberately constructed his masculinity on a foundation of what he calls 'feminine knowledge and feminine intuition."

Carlos, says Davidson, "is quite clear that his sexual fluidity is not 'just a passing phase or something you go through for awhile' but rather a permanent, positive aspect of his sexual identity as a young man. He firmly states that being strongly bisexual is an attribute rather than a deficit, and this sexual identity and practice is not born out of confusion, yet he understands that this view is often not held by members of either the heterosexual or gay/lesbian communities."

Davidson believes Carlos' experience offers lessons for educators. He notes: "The experiences and expressions of fluid masculinity found in the case study and portrait of Carlos offers praxis as educators and school counselors overlay a young man's face and lived realities on a theory that offers a broad continuum made up of subtle nuances and practical skills in the embodiment of queer masculinity."