One thing led to another and I ran across this shot of the men in my neighborhood in the years when I first came out.
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Wow. This is a window into a period that I've only ever imagined and heard about, a time without the shadow of AIDS. This was a time when gay men wanted and at least tried to be masculine. Or so I assume so, unless the masculine mask was already part of the dress code at the time. What happened? When did gay culture develop this weird case of gender dysphoria?
On a lighter note, I was actually going to suggest that you do a man post, it's been a little while since your last one. Are you in the picture at all? Say, the one on the far right? I recall you said that Littlefinger in Game of Thrones reminds you of yourself. And the man on the far right bears a resemblance to everyone's favorite whore monger cum spy master.
If that's you, I have one thing to say: damn, Daddy, take me home with you! You were seriously hot. Love the vest and wifebeater combo. ;)
I doubt, though, that an INTP and an INTP with strong INTJ instincts would make a very harmonious relationship. Especially at that stage in your life, I think we would've torn each other apart. Present day, though, is another story...
Not me, young sir. :) I was still a friar at the time.
The gender dysphoria aspect has always been there. The 70's, though, was the first time that gays appear to have attempted to lay claim to the masculine, however fumblingly.
That, to me, is the lost "revolutionary" element in "gay liberation", the assertion that homosexuals were a part of the tribe of men. The infection of feminism killed that off and the gay community became an ally to the man-hatred at feminism's heart.
The thought of gay men acting as custodians of masculinity is intriguing, and a little intimidating. I think Jack Donovan or another blogger in the manosphere has discussed how the tastes of gay men have shaped the standards of physical attraction that straight men aspire to. The notion that we hold such influence over our straight brethren is amazing. It is conceivable that, in the event that masculine and unpretentious, unassuming gay men became the default image of male homosexuality, gay culture as we know it would cease to exist. Certainly, androphiles would have their networks for communication and hookups, but they would be quite integrated to the point of finally fulfilling the "We're just like you" line, except this time it would be true.
The thought that two men could sit next to each other in a bar, have the same mannerisms, and only indicate their sexuality when one inquired about the other's girlfriend or boyfriend, is exciting.
On a different note. Jack Donovan's recent post about men being classified as lions and lambs stirred thoughts that were only previously half-formed in my mind. My new-found love of strength training, and desire to protect the weak seem leonine. But I rank every man and trainer in my gym, even if they are around my age, above myself, deserving of my respect. If any of them demanded my submission, I would willingly give it. That seems like a lamb-like behavior. Or, could I better describe myself as a lion cub who gives the veteran hunters their due respect? Or, perhaps I am a ram, a lamb who is not completely helpless, but still recognizes his inferiority to the lions around him?
Don't know the guy. But I have lots of porn stars for neighbors. It's a bit disconcerting, and funny, to see Mr Dominant Top, star of "Seeking Ryan's Privates" standing next to you buying eggs in the dairy section.
Re the lambs and lions and cubs and rams. If hierarchy is essential to the masculine, then so are lower status males. Not outside the masculine, but constitutive of it. What is a leader without followers?
9 comments:
Wow. This is a window into a period that I've only ever imagined and heard about, a time without the shadow of AIDS. This was a time when gay men wanted and at least tried to be masculine. Or so I assume so, unless the masculine mask was already part of the dress code at the time. What happened? When did gay culture develop this weird case of gender dysphoria?
On a lighter note, I was actually going to suggest that you do a man post, it's been a little while since your last one. Are you in the picture at all? Say, the one on the far right? I recall you said that Littlefinger in Game of Thrones reminds you of yourself. And the man on the far right bears a resemblance to everyone's favorite whore monger cum spy master.
If that's you, I have one thing to say: damn, Daddy, take me home with you! You were seriously hot. Love the vest and wifebeater combo. ;)
I doubt, though, that an INTP and an INTP with strong INTJ instincts would make a very harmonious relationship. Especially at that stage in your life, I think we would've torn each other apart. Present day, though, is another story...
-Sean
Not me, young sir. :) I was still a friar at the time.
The gender dysphoria aspect has always been there. The 70's, though, was the first time that gays appear to have attempted to lay claim to the masculine, however fumblingly.
That, to me, is the lost "revolutionary" element in "gay liberation", the assertion that homosexuals were a part of the tribe of men. The infection of feminism killed that off and the gay community became an ally to the man-hatred at feminism's heart.
The thought of gay men acting as custodians of masculinity is intriguing, and a little intimidating. I think Jack Donovan or another blogger in the manosphere has discussed how the tastes of gay men have shaped the standards of physical attraction that straight men aspire to. The notion that we hold such influence over our straight brethren is amazing. It is conceivable that, in the event that masculine and unpretentious, unassuming gay men became the default image of male homosexuality, gay culture as we know it would cease to exist. Certainly, androphiles would have their networks for communication and hookups, but they would be quite integrated to the point of finally fulfilling the "We're just like you" line, except this time it would be true.
The thought that two men could sit next to each other in a bar, have the same mannerisms, and only indicate their sexuality when one inquired about the other's girlfriend or boyfriend, is exciting.
On a different note. Jack Donovan's recent post about men being classified as lions and lambs stirred thoughts that were only previously half-formed in my mind. My new-found love of strength training, and desire to protect the weak seem leonine. But I rank every man and trainer in my gym, even if they are around my age, above myself, deserving of my respect. If any of them demanded my submission, I would willingly give it. That seems like a lamb-like behavior. Or, could I better describe myself as a lion cub who gives the veteran hunters their due respect? Or, perhaps I am a ram, a lamb who is not completely helpless, but still recognizes his inferiority to the lions around him?
-Sean
I believe the second one with the thinning hair is porn star Butch McAlister. Did you him personally? Was he really in the Marines?
http://www.gayeroticvideoindex.com/S/1/28051.html
Nose, ears, and lips seem to match. I'd say it's him. You had a porn star as a neighbor, Ex?!
-Sean
"Did you him personally?"
The omission makes this query amusing.
--Nathan
Oops! I meant to ask, "Did you know him personally?". It wasn't a Freudian slip, honest.
Don't know the guy. But I have lots of porn stars for neighbors. It's a bit disconcerting, and funny, to see Mr Dominant Top, star of "Seeking Ryan's Privates" standing next to you buying eggs in the dairy section.
(LOL, Nathan.)
Re the lambs and lions and cubs and rams. If hierarchy is essential to the masculine, then so are lower status males. Not outside the masculine, but constitutive of it. What is a leader without followers?
Two pieces of brilliant blogging about this:
http://usmalesf.blogspot.com/2009/04/attractive-opposites.html
http://usmalesf.blogspot.com/2009/05/submission-and-men.html
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