Of course I agree that all labels throughout society and culture are illusory attempts to 'contain' (and thus 'control') experiential phenomena. In the field of sexuality specifically, the rigidity of the terms "gay", "straight" and "bi" has unquestionably led many both to 'gloss over' many experiential elements of their own sexuality and equally to lead potentially unfulfilled (sex) lives if they attempted to adhere completely to the ostensible 'correct' behavioral model imposed by the label attached to their "own" sexuality.

It's ironic to note that one of the key proponents of "sexual reform" and sexology (through the influence of his literature on both sides on the Atlantic) from the 1890s through to the early 1930s, Magnus Hirschfeld, was always careful to use terms such as "homosexual", "bisexual", "intersexual" or "heterosexual" with the unambiguous caveat that these were being used merely as "idealized notions" with no basis in reality in their absolute states. In one 1914 study he indeed undertakes a rhetorical dissection of the number of possible articulations of sexuality that might be contained within the notion "homosexuality", in which he stops once he reaches a ludicrous 6-figure number of possible inflections, pointing out that ultimately, the potential infinity of articulations of human sexuality make the quest to pinpoint and 'contain' ridiculous.

In the highly politicized moves towards equality that have followed, however, such thoughts have become lost amid the need to present solidarity in the cause. Equally, for opponents, the ability to define "the enemy" with ease in a single category has doubtless proved a useful tool as well: a lone enemy is easier to battle than an infinite number of perceived foes, just as a lone cause is easier to fight for than an endlessly disparate number of micro-causes.

I am actually coming to the conclusion that I should perhaps be somewhat heartened to receive at least some of the come-ons that I have from 'straight' men.. since these again point to a dissolution of self-imposed, restraining and repressive boundaries.