For gay people, we learned about our lives in secrecy and a lot of fear.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The gay people I knew in real life were soft spoken and didn't want to call attention to themselves because they were terrified of exposing themselves, of people finding out that they're gay.
I don't keep it secret that I live with my partner Gio. I'm very proud of my gayness. But there is lots I wouldn't want the press to write about me... it is a matter of regret that being gay is the most interesting thing about me.
Discovering I'm gay just sort of happened much later in life.
Everybody knew me as a gay man, and in my life in London, I never tried to hide.
For a long time, I lived in West Hollywood and watched young gay men strolling through life having no idea what came before. They didn't know about the riots at Stonewall, the vice squad, the raids.
It wasn't a secret that I was gay. I'd come out to my parents during my junior year of high school, on the day that I also wrecked the family car.
The most important thing for me was to never, ever, ever deny it. But I didn't really have the courage to talk about it. I was thinking, The people who need to know I'm gay know.
Young people discovering their sexuality must know they walk with a strong tradition and that they are not alone. They have a right to information without being pressured.
I have lived my life very openly, and have never hidden the fact that I am gay!
I think knowing people by first names, not by what they do sexually, is really what it's about. Not being afraid. Fear is the enemy. I've always been comfortable with being gay.