Gays prefer oil of olay bar soap

Readers — especially women do straight men read my books? That he might be gay is just too horrifying to even consider. What would his family say? Growing up, that I might be gay never occurred to me. Everyone else knew, but I had no idea. But I blame society. Before I could walk or talk, disdain for feminine behavior in boys, including and especially physical attraction to other boys, came through loud and clear.

As far as I knew, nobody in real life, movies, or on television was homosexual. Being queer was the worst thing that could happen to a guy.

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The love that dare not speak its name was also a mental illness and against the law. Those who engaged in such behavior were perverts to scorn and ridicule. Where did those thoughts come from? Religion is only partly to blame for an attitude that pervaded society in the 50s and 60s and persists among some even today.

Check out this public service announcement warning against the homosexual predator. Like every other kid in America anywhere near my age, I grew up believing homosexuals were either drag queens or pedophiles. When I was 21, a friend dragged me kicking and screaming to my first gay bar. I had absolutely no desire to be around a bunch of pervs.

But the second I saw handsome young men dancing together — guys I could identify with — I knew. Coming out opened a floodgate of repressed memories and feelings. Coming out is easier now. My favorite example came on Jerry Springer a few years ago. Dad and his boyfriend said so, over and over again, freely admitting they loved each other, but unable to say they were gay.

Talk about a stigma. I understand the fear and self-loathing lurking beneath their denial. Been there, done that. Dealing with the repercussions from coming out was rough. But living a lie and hating the person inside for the rest of my life would have been worse — a lot worse. Coming to terms took some time, but once I did, I never looked back.