This channel is dedicated to LGBTQ-themed real-life stories and experiences .If you'd like to be interviewed, or have a story to share, please feel free to get in touch with me.
Can I ask you guys a favor? I’d like to remember my friend Patrick Eddington here on this discussion. He was so beautiful and smart and kind. He disappeared during the early epidemic and I am sure, now, after years of looking, that vicious disease took him. I want everyone to read his name and please help me remember what an amazing human being he was and how much poorer we all are for losing him. I’m old, and I don’t want his name to disappear even more when I go. Patrick Eddington. We lost a handsome, talented, terrific actor who was very kind. He entertained everyone wherever he went. I miss him so much.
I first came.out when I met an older man. I was 26 and him 59 when we met, we spent 8 years.together and just recently broke up. I too am only attracted to older men. It's a gift and a curse.imo. This was a great story and very relatable.
I always wondered when I get older, similar age to the men I like now, 50s plus , will I still be attracted to older men or will I then perfer men my age or possibly even younger men.
A friend with similar preferences mentioned feeling the same way about it being both a gift and a curse. As he got older, he aged out for the guys that he was primarily interested in. Also most older guys tend to be in some kind of relationship already. Did you have the same experience?
What "outsiders" don't know is that being gay or straight is NOT about sex. If it was that 'easy'. there would be little or no problem with any of it. People feel "gay" or "straight" well before they know anything about the sex act(s)! It's complicated because our sexuality is part and parcel or who we are at our deepest core. It's about emotion and connection and can only be ignored/acted away for so long. I feel supportive of you totally ... not that it really matters!
Back then, gay guys could move to more progressive areas that were less dangerous, where we could live our lives. But, now those (blue) areas are often too expensive.
I had a neighbor in TX who had been married, 5 kids and the wife found out he was into guys and left him. He fell in love with the first guy he met and that guy was positive. He was infected and lived 25 years. His partner died 10 years ago and he died 2 years ago. I looked him up for the heck of it online. Very sad for both of them. The partner moved in next door and except for all of their parties, they were pretty good guys, They loved parties.
Wow. What a lovely, smart man. What a great inspiration for my life. Thank Mr. Paul Jacek for all your talent and love to others. Have a great long life.
Even though I know absolutely NOTHING about this process, I totally believe this would be a ridiculously costly experience. Nonetheless, Rollie briefly mentioned something about benefits. Apparently, certain jobs do offer some type of benefit for that kind of thing. Maybe that makes it a little bit more affordable ...at least to some people. From what I remember, Michael and Rollie were still researching and looking into their options when they came to visit me. I wonder if I could record an episode just on this subject. That'll be interesting.
I think I was 20 when I first of went to Studio One and they let me in. I weighed only 115 and only 5'6 all the men wore plaid shirts jeans and mustaches. I didn't go back for awhile I watched dynasty there also. I enjoyed Mickey's I felt more comfortable there.
More from Michael & Rollie: Growing Up Gay: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ul69FLGz8l8.html The Queer Religious Conflict: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QYe8TttcWk0.html Young Gay Couple & the Adoption Adventure: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hpdL26rrjYE.html His Happiness, Her Legacy: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cYqA-PnSdds.html
I believe age is just a number. I was 20 when I met my partner now my spouse when he was 41. We celebrated our 47th anniversary this year. Having respect and friendship is important and also agreeing to disagree helps.
I haven't experienced this myself, but I believe Buck and Chris were trying to emphasize that age-gap relationships often come with the challenge of balancing a retired partner’s free time with the employed partner’s work commitments. The retired person has more time to enjoy life, while the younger, working partner may not always be able to keep up with that. Cons and pros ...
@@lgbtqarchives I do understand that. I watched my spouse enjoy his retirement for thirty years before I retired. We really did not have an issue due to his retiring before me, we were able to enjoy living in New Zealand while I was stationed there. Now we're both enjoying retirement together.
I don’t advise you to work until 75- enjoy your life. Even if you enjoy your work, it’s another form of being in a closet. Enjoy your family. Be blessed
I think it's different for everyone. I've seen people who literally drive themselves to the hospital simply because they can't let go of their business and the stress that comes with it at the age of 80, even though they can easily afford to enjoy life. I've also seen people who retire at that age and fall into deep depression. I believe the type of job makes a big difference as well.
More from Chris & Buck: Chris's Growing Up Gay: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DLp1ZYFBqTg.html Buck's Growing Up Gay: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f_mT4URACc4.html Long-term Age-Gap Gay Couple: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wvz9OMKmWYg.html The S Word: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_DEO0A6s148.html Hard Questions of Age Gap Couples: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1e35OGSIZec.html Relationship Challenges: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TK31SMBFXCw.html No Plans for Tomorrow? : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dWE4YGRf-Gw.html
Thank you for sharing this story. It's not so different now, with gay hookup sites many gay men don't want to put the work into a successful relationship. I lost so many friends to HIV, it was painful and scary. Well we both survived. Congratulations on your sobriety!
More from David Barber: Growing Up Gay: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FUdxAe_Fk4A.html Gay Life at Notre Dame University: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nhS9OC_Uets.html Coming Out : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rCvlIr4uKp8.html We Are Survivors: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qZrIheoP14Q.html Finding my Rainbow as a Gay Man: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fUN-WCN7g6s.html
Thank you Mark for sharing a story full of love, pain and courage. Without a doubt your true love lives in your heart to this day. May you have a blessed life wherever you are. Greetings from NM.
The Living Room was indeed a piano bar. The back room featured a guitar-playing folk singer. I forget his name, but he had a young daughter named Jennifer, whose name became the title of one of my better songs of the time. One of my favorite stories of my time at that establishment was when I had just finished playing some song, and a customer came over and said, "That was great, but could you play a little softer?"
@@lgbtqarchives It's not likely that I'd ever get to LA. I used to work on a ship that sailed out of the other LA, Louisiana, and I couldn't get there, either. But thanks for the offer!
The man i was supposed to grow old with - they let him die back in 1990. And here i am 34 years later still missing him. Its part of life to miss those who are gone and to mourn what might have been. I will NEVER vote for a Republican as long as i live.
I went to college in Lexington (Transylvania). You mentioned The Living Room. That's the first gay bar I ever knew...and the first bar I played piano in. Ah, yes...I remember it well!
🤣 I have a friend who says there are two stages in a gay man’s life: - pulling down your pants to compare d**** - pulling down your pants to compare surgery scars I’m in the second phase. It’s fun conversations like “oh you take that med? Have you ever tried this med?” 😂
Your life story is wonderful. Stephen, thank you for sharing. We are the same age and I have made many new friends as a single woman by giving dinner parties. I live in Mexico and my friendship list has exploded over great food. wine and conversations that can go on well into the middle of the night. You are at the perfect place in life right now to do this. I love being in the kitchen all day preparing for the evening's event! And you will too!
So happy to hear that you've been able to develop real connections. Steve in one of these interviews was talking about the same idea. The hookup culture gets in the way sometimes.
Ken, your life story is wonderful. Thank you for sharing. My best friend growing up was gay and I loved him dearly. He died last year at age 73. He only had one love in his life, a married man that he was close to for over 50 years.
I came out to my parents in 1980. I was 23 when they were planning to divorce. Believe it or not I was trying to make both of them feel guilty and shame them for "creating me in an effort to keep them together. How sick is that. Neither one of them believed me, and my mom said, "You are not like that." So I described in detail what I was doing with men, and I was intentionally descriptive. How horrible is being so disrespectful to come out to your Mother and Father in that manner. I was crying because I knew the risk I was taking in that they would both disown me, but I wanted to tell them who their son really was. They both cried also and hugged me and accepted me always after and until both of them passed away. Although it "worked" for me I do not recommend that for anyone else.
I like the way you talk fast, but very clearly. I’m neg too, being married I dodged the Virus. Nice story, I got married too because I wanted kids. Now 4 adult kids 2 boys 2 girls, and six grandchildren, they love their gay Papa I just spent last week with them 😘 Last summer my wife died of a brain tumor, next year would’ve been our 50th Anniversary if not divorced.
I’m so sorry for your loss. This video sure made me remember “those days.” You’re a survivor and I’m so glad you are. I honestly don’t know how I navigated my way through those dark days with so much loss and I didn’t become HIV+. Love your paintings.
Thanks for sharing Ken. You ended saying you traveled with your brother. Do you have a good relationship with your sibs? I am second of 6 boys from a Catholic family.
