Monday, October 30, 2006

Ageism

It seems to me that in TV shows where there is a bit of or significant part of the show being dedicated to things gay, there seems to be mention of old, fat and ugly in terms of older gays. We do live in a youth culture, but sometimes it seems that the gay culture is even more youth oriented. A very close younger gay friend of mine had a most difficult time as his 30th birthday approached. He accepted it, finally, (after it had come and gone) and now he is a mature 37 year old with a solid foundation of personality and character.

As for me, growing older is just what it is - growing older. Nothing more and nothing less. Many of my younger gay friends want to know what it was like when I was their age. They have no idea of there not being a meeting place, a watering hole, or some such venue where gay people could meet and learn that they are not alone.

Even though I was older when I came out, I can still recall being in a gay bar and all the lights suddenly coming on, which meant there were policeman din the bar looking for "perverts" to arrest. If two men were holding hands or if one had a hand on another's shoulder - either situation called for a swift arrest for public indecency. Never mind that the non-gay bar down the street had patrons mauling each other with sexual acrobatics.

Bro Hardy