Just as I am now, I was a ham as a kid. Just look at me posing here with my mother! But it wasn't until the summer before 7th grade, when I discovered the local children's musical theatre summer program that I truly blossomed.
The earliest memory I have of understanding I liked boys was staring at the cover of the Meet The Beatles album, and walking to the bus stop with my sister, knowing I also thought Paul was the cute one.
I don't really recall my first same-sex crush. Well, maybe it was at summer camp, with some of the older boys or even a camp counselor or two! And a few local friends. And more than a couple of cute jocks at school. And then some fellas in community theatre. And....oh, and...well, I guess I had a lot of crushes!
I DO distinctly remember seeing Dick Gautier on the TV show "Get Smart."
He played a Rock Hudson-esque robot with perfect features and dark movie star hair, and something about him made me feel all gooey inside!
My only distinct memory about any bullying is that a friend of my sister wrote FAG on a piece of sheet music in my room. And that my father covered it up by taping a similar colored piece of paper over it with my name, to cover up the hateful word. And I remember feeling worse for my father than for myself about it.
I was always out to everyone but my parents, and I'm embarrassed by how long I kept up the facade of the "roommate bed" in the living room, for when my parents visited. And much to my mother's credit, she finally asked me if Scott and I were "more than roommates." I was in my late 20's I believe. Crazy!
I mean, I certainly gave them clues throughout my childhood though.
I devoured 16 Magazine more than my sisters, and really enjoyed watching TV shows like "I Love Lucy" to "Bewitched" and "I Dream Of Jeannie" much more than "The Honeymooners" or "Bonanza." And when I discovered Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand as a teenager, I truly received my gay card.
Since then I have had a very interesting life (Google me!) and met my first partner, Scott Wittman, almost 50 years ago! Although we never had children, we share a songwriting career that has given birth to many proud accomplishments.
To gay kids today grappling with acceptance, I offer that old cliché -- "Be Yourself"
And just get through those difficult Jr. High and High School years.
Because after that, you will be embraced for the very differences that some unenlightened people may tease or bully you about now. I have never had a day in my life where I didn't feel it was a blessing being born gay.
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Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"
