I met a sweet guy last night. While we were talking and getting to know one another, I had mentioned Fire Island. He immediately told me that his mom had partied there back in the 70's, which I thought was fascinating, as I had lived there briefly myself.
He then told me a story about how he used to ride in the car with his mom and she would play Whitney Houston's "I'm Every Woman"; and how she would encourage him to sing along. He said at five he was singing about how he was "every woman" at the top of his lungs with his mom cheering him on.
I thought it was a fabulous story and even more so I loved hearing a childhood memory from another gay man that evoked joy and laughter.
It really reminded me of singing similar songs with my mom and dad when I was little and how they equally supported me. My favorite being Charlene's "I've Never Been To Me". (This also shows my age.)
But I can remember sitting between my folks and just living that song out loud at five. "I've been to Nice and the Isles of Greece while I sipped champagne on a yacht..." I laugh now when I think of the words and how I felt every one of them at such a young age. I can still sing it word for word almost thirty years later.
And I'm sure we all as gay men and women have those stories that I like to call, "They must have known I was gay when..."
For me, singing Charlene, and loving Olivia Newton John, Donna Summer, and Diana Ross should have been some telltale signs, but my all time favorite memory had to be a beacon from the gay gods.
It was my favorite Christmas ever. Santa brought me exactly what I asked for, a Ken Doll and a Dorothy doll from The Wizard of Oz. I was in heaven. The only thing that could have made it better would have maybe been a pet unicorn. I literally felt like the luckiest little boy in the world because now I had my own barbies. I think they gave me a GI Joe too but I was too focused on Ken and Dorothy to care. And I wasn't old enough yet to perform a commitment ceremony for Ken and GI Joe.
I have a feeling my parents knew and I will always be thankful that my folks embraced who I was and got what was on my Christmas list that year.
So I feel it is imperative that we all celebrate those memories from our childhood that make each of us special and unique.
We no longer need to repress who we were as children, or be embarrassed or ashamed of the things that made us feel different.
I want everyone to think of something from your childhood that made you stand out like a sore thumb and I want you to embrace that memory. I want you to celebrate that moment for the first time. Turn that secret into a funny anecdote or endearing tale. It no longer has to be that horrific afterschool special in which you were the star.
And I have too many starring roles in such specials to count. But when I now reflect on those times from the past I smile because I am still that eccentric, dramatic, funny, flamboyant, creative, artistic, awkward, clumsy, insecure little boy I used to be. But I'm not hiding it anymore. Those qualities are the foundation of my character. And I am a grateful for it more than anything else, because it makes me who I am and it is exactly who I was always meant to be.
So if you are reading my blog, I would love to hear some of your memories from childhood that helped make you who you are today.
Be brave and know that we all share similar experiences.
You are not alone.
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