^^^Alternative Role models^^^

[Lilith]

I was wondering about gay role models, especially for gay youth. Do you remember the first person you knew was gay? Did you have a positive or negative view of them?






The first person I knew of as gay was Billie Jean King and I can remember my dad being rude but I could tell my mom admired her.

[Max_theHitMan]

Yep...I sure do remenber this gay guy that used to work as a security guard once, where I worked at.
I tell you, this guy was a gay as they came. Shaking his ass ALL over the place, he was a very comedian type of person, but he was also a cool person to talk to.
He was going to have an operation to have one of his kidneys removed so he could save one of his family members from dying. :(
He was a very courages dude. I admired him for that.
Personally I don´t have anything against if your gay or straight, as long as your cool with your friends and the rest of the world.

This planet as space enough for everyone.

[BlueSwede]

I guess Billie Jean King was one of the first persons in the public eye that I knew about. I just thought she was a good role model...period.

One of the first openly gay people I knew was the godfather of one of my friend's daughters. I had no qualms at all w/that, but I didn't think he was a good role model because he really hated himself for being gay and kept trying to commit suicide until he did finally succeed. My best male friend is gay, and I think he is an excellent role model for everybody...he's just a wonderful human being.

[IAKaraokeGirl]

I lived a very sheltered life growing up. The person I even met who was gay was one of the vice presidents at the bank where I worked in my early 20s. He was the Chief Financial Officer and held a very high position in the organization. He was also one of the nicest people I'd ever met, holding a huge Christmas party every year, always taking time to talk or listen, and genuinely caring for people. He taught me a lot about tolerance and courage, and sticking up for your principles. I am very grateful for that, because those ideals form a large part of the person I am today.

[A Gentleman]

The first gay guy I met came to an office party in drag.

He was a complete scream with a fantastic sense of humour. I've never really understood homophobic people.

Would not want to sleep with him though

[Irish]

The first person that I KNEW was gay,was my cousin in Connecticut.We are not really related,but our families spent so much time together,that we always told people,that we were
related.He is not Obviously Gay.He has two brothers & I have always been good friends with all of them.He doesn't push his
leanings on other people&respects everyones sexual preferances!
He lives with another male,but treats all of his relatives,friends,etc
with much caring.The way that I always felt about things is that,I
don't care what you do,as long as you leave me&mine alone!
Irish

[skipthisone]

One of my best friends is gay, but in the closet to most of his family and others (we live in a small catholic town). But you take this guy to the city and he is a free-gay man.

We do drive my wife nuts together since we flirt back and forth.

[lakritze]

I have always had gay friends for as long as I can remember.I have a relative who is a lawyer in the CA State Attn Gen.office who's gay.His boyfriend calls me hon and dearie.I don't mind.I've had one or two "redneck" friends too.Why? I don't know.Always prefered the gay friends to talk to.

[Cheyanne]

The first gay person that I knew was my high school Sociology Teacher. He was an excellent teacher, and I admired him because he stood up for what he believed in. He wasn't flamboyant, and his lover was a male beautician. They were so cool together.

A year or so after I graduated, some members of the football team started to harass him during school, and went as far as vandalizing his home and vehicles. A bunch of us graduates and current students decided to "patrol" his neighborhood, and call the police if we saw anything suspicious.

He had to eventually quit teaching and move away to another larger town. I was so angry that he had to go thru what he did. He was an excellent teacher and person. The shortsightedness of some people always makes me angry.