Brett, age 7
Lima, Ohio (1970)
Here I am in my Easter finery sitting next to my beautiful Mother. Please note the scowl on my face. I am furious – FURIOUS! I am adorned with that plain white carnation, the most blasé of the boutonnières, while Mother is wearing the most GORGEOUS violet corsage I have ever seen.
When we were all preparing to go to Mass and the flowers came out, I could not understand for the life of me why Mother got to wear that corsage and I was stuck with that plain carnation.
"Violets Stir the Green-Eyed Monster" |
I really pitched a fit about it and I sulked through the Easter Sunday Mass and possibly even after we got home.
I guess I learned early on that life is not always fair.
I enjoyed playing Barbies with my sister, and the feel of their long hair. I would brush my best friend Molly’s hair every day after school.
And I loved being in nature.
I was not interested in sports or other “masculine” things.
I was not interested in sports or other “masculine” things.
I look at that picture fondly now. My mother was so beautiful and impeccably dressed, and I look dapper despite the pout.
I came out so early for my generation; I was 15 when I announced I was gay
(in 1977 - at a Catholic high school!) and it was such a wonderfully freeing experience. To be able to match a name to all those feelings that signaled I was different from the other boys.
(in 1977 - at a Catholic high school!) and it was such a wonderfully freeing experience. To be able to match a name to all those feelings that signaled I was different from the other boys.
I recall being particularly captivated by a swim team coach about the time this picture was taken. He was blond, had washboard abs, and was rocking a tiny Speedo - as we all did on swim teams at that time.
I am happy to say that I had a very positive experience during high school and my friends all took the news quite well.
Brett's first, famous-person same sex crushes:
Dr. Race Bannon ("Johnny Quest" cartoon)
Sean Connery ("James Bond")
Jan-Michael Vincent ("The World's Greatest Athlete")Sean Connery ("James Bond")
______________________________________________
Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"
Tweet
4 comments:
You sound like you were such a sweet little boy! I'd love to have a son just like you someday.
Oh my god! I thought I was the only one who thought Race Bannon was the masculine ideal. I used to fantasize about being rescued by that blond hunk.
Oh my ! Your mother is BEAUTIFUL !
Oh that made me laugh -- "FURIOUS!" over "the most blasé of the boutonnières" -- LOL! You are a great storyteller. Thanks for sharing this, Brett!
Post a Comment