When I first started teaching at Berkeley in 1958, I could not announce that I was gay to anybody, though probably quite a few of my fellow teachers knew.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I'm not sure when I first knew that I was gay.
I was homophobic because I obviously didn't know that I was gay.
I graduated from high school in '62 and I didn't know any people who were gay. I'm sure there were people, but I didn't know any. For years and years, I guess, I was very uptight about being a gay actor. I thought it would make me less hirable.
If a person wants to be publicly gay, they should not be teaching in the public schools.
As a child, recognizing my difference from other kids, I went to the local public library to try to better understand my reality. Back then, many library card catalogues didn't even list 'homosexuality' as a topic.
I've been openly gay since I can remember.
In the '50s and '60s, the life of a gay man was a secret. Homosexuality was illegal, so you didn't draw attention to yourself.
No one knew I was gay growing up but I was bullied. I was a cheerleader, fairly popular and considered straight.
I was a shy gay man at a time when it was illegal to be gay.
I didn't know any gay people in my childhood.