Steve

Steve, age 13

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1969)

This occasion was the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Nanny and Poppy, my grandfolks who still spoke with the Yiddish accent of their home in Russia (although they were now true Country-Club Jews). 

All of us grandkids had a song or poem prepared to perform. For my slot, I had written new lyrics to "On the Street Where You Live" complete with multiple three-syllable rhymes to put Alan Jay Lerner's original words to shame. 

Listen, Alan Jay Lerner never bothered to rhyme Caribbean with Amphibian, but I did that night!

I really sang my heart out into the mic. And boy, did I have dramatic hand gestures! I had vocal flourishes to make those high notes soar, and I had all the tricks the pros use to sell a song. 

So I finished Part one (three verses and a chorus) to rousing applause. Part two (three verses and a chorus) covered Nanny and Poppy's kids and grandkids. (Less applause). Part three (yet another three verses and chorus) covered their retirement years. (Begrudging claps). 

And there was still a Part four to go! I know there's a lesson somewhere in there worth learning about brevity -- something something something... 

So what happened to my 13-year-old's dreams of Broadway glory? Well I actually did make it onto the credits of a good number of Broadway Playbills about 15 years later.

But alas, not as the brilliant lyricist I harbored inside me, but rather as an Assistant Set Designer to some of Broadway's greatest designers. 

And that's showbiz!

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Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"

Danny

Age 7
Long Beach, California (1962)

I think I knew I was “different” probably around age 7. I vividly remember going to Drive-In movies with my family, and going to the restrooms by myself 2 or 3 times, and standing at the urinals covertly watching adult men peeing. 

When I was around age 10, my parents forced me to go to church with them every Sunday. So I was raised Lutheran. But I realized how hypocritical organized religion was, and when I was in High School, my parents let me decide for myself if I wanted to continue going to church or not…I chose not to.

As a kid I remember obsessing over electronic DIY kits from Radio Shack, which you would put together and learn about how everything operated.

I wasn't really bullied at all, but in the 5^th grade, this one guy hated me for some reason and was going to beat me up one time after school. And a kid that lived across the street from me heard about. He was around 17 and a high school dropout, sort of like the Judd Nelson character from “The Breakfast Club."

So he showed up at my school the next day. He saw the kid coming after me, stepped in the middle of us, and said to get the hell out of here and go home. And I guess his threat put the fear of God in that kid 'cuz he never bothered me again!

When I came out, my mother was pretty accepting of it. She had many close gay male friends who always went to her when they had a relationship problem. 

I never went to college until I turned 65 years old, and that's when I went through a Neuro Psych test and was diagnosed with ADHD, which I had my entire life. And what explains my long-time problem with not being able to retain things I read!

What gives me the most Pride now as an adult is marching with CHEER LA in the Long Beach Pride Parade to raise money for the St. Mary’s CARE Program, one of the leading HIV Healthcare facilities in Southern California.

I’ve also ridden on the KTLA Pride bus the past three years and in the WeHo Pride Parade. So what I would tell LGBTQ kids today reading my story is:

Always know, that WE older LGBTQ adults do care about you. We’re here for you. If you’re being bullied, find an ally and tell them. We’ll do all we can to help protect you, keep you safe, and be there as someone you can come and talk to, if needed.

IT DOES GET BETTER, I promise!

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Click here - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"

Marc

Marc, age 8

Scotch Plains, New Jersey (1967)

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 - "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
Click here - "My First Gay Crush Blog"