The woman in the AI debate was brutal… yikes 😱 the societal pressure alone during those years coming to terms with a then evil, unnatural, life-threatening and illegal feelings/attraction to a same sex individual was traumatic in so many ways. Lord knows only the minority, strongest of us struggling with our sexuality didn’t TRY to not be gay. Call it self preservation, selfishness, denial, at the time it seemed that failure to behave ‘straight’ was at best an evil, hollow and miserable existence and more likely, a tragic early death. I didn’t marry or father any children but surely left wreckage to several women in my path. Not sure what would have happened if I did marry or father children. I sure hope I would have been able to ‘free’ my wife and myself and kids to pursue fuller more authentic and actualized relationships. I like to present the situation to my straight friends that straight people were suddenly considered mentally ill, ostracized from family and loved ones, lose their jobs and livelihood, be arrested and jailed, forced into mental institutions for ‘conversion therapy’ and lobotomies and had a high probability of catching an incurable deadly disease if they acted on their true feelings. I’m a 61 yo surgeon denied privileges at a ‘Christian owned’ surgery center TWO MONTHS ago after they found out I had a male partner of 37 years and ‘prayed on it.’ ‘RELIGIOUS FREEDOM’ my ass… guess this one hit a nerve.
Thank you for your thoughtful response Mark. Anyone of our era will have lived through an experience that someone younger than us will never understand. Hopefully.
I remember having a conversation with my husband who is 15 years younger than I. It had to do with how things were back then and him not believing the stories. So I take every opportunity to expose him to any historical information or true stories from that time.
For several years I had it in my head that people had evolved. Then like a lightning bolt I found out that wasn't the case. Maybe they were the ones masking? Needless to say my friendship circle is about half the size of what it was 10 years ago.
I can most certainly keep going for several chapters but I'm just going to thank you for being a regular commenter on my stories. I really appreciate knowing that they touched you.
I LOVE that you share your stories! Your vulnerability and raw content is the most beautiful thing! I hope you know, that your words help people, give insight to those who feel alone in their journey. I am so incredibly proud of you and love you to pieces. ❤️
No, you don’t overshare. You write for people who don’t care to pretend that real life isn’t messy.
A memoir writing teacher once told my class that, when we write about other people in our stories, we should extend them twice as much compassion as we do ourselves. That’s what you did. And I’m sorry you had to suffer such pain just to be able to love and live openly as yourself.
This week's story hass reactions to my last story called "We Did A Good Job", as well as what I did afterwards. There is a very entertaining audio overview between two people debating their perspective to my circumstances. I'm also trying some new formatting, particularly for stories about ADHD, or content related to neurodivergence.
Enjoy.
As always, your comments and reactions are very welcome.
The woman in the AI debate was brutal… yikes 😱 the societal pressure alone during those years coming to terms with a then evil, unnatural, life-threatening and illegal feelings/attraction to a same sex individual was traumatic in so many ways. Lord knows only the minority, strongest of us struggling with our sexuality didn’t TRY to not be gay. Call it self preservation, selfishness, denial, at the time it seemed that failure to behave ‘straight’ was at best an evil, hollow and miserable existence and more likely, a tragic early death. I didn’t marry or father any children but surely left wreckage to several women in my path. Not sure what would have happened if I did marry or father children. I sure hope I would have been able to ‘free’ my wife and myself and kids to pursue fuller more authentic and actualized relationships. I like to present the situation to my straight friends that straight people were suddenly considered mentally ill, ostracized from family and loved ones, lose their jobs and livelihood, be arrested and jailed, forced into mental institutions for ‘conversion therapy’ and lobotomies and had a high probability of catching an incurable deadly disease if they acted on their true feelings. I’m a 61 yo surgeon denied privileges at a ‘Christian owned’ surgery center TWO MONTHS ago after they found out I had a male partner of 37 years and ‘prayed on it.’ ‘RELIGIOUS FREEDOM’ my ass… guess this one hit a nerve.
Thank you for your thoughtful response Mark. Anyone of our era will have lived through an experience that someone younger than us will never understand. Hopefully.
I remember having a conversation with my husband who is 15 years younger than I. It had to do with how things were back then and him not believing the stories. So I take every opportunity to expose him to any historical information or true stories from that time.
For several years I had it in my head that people had evolved. Then like a lightning bolt I found out that wasn't the case. Maybe they were the ones masking? Needless to say my friendship circle is about half the size of what it was 10 years ago.
I can most certainly keep going for several chapters but I'm just going to thank you for being a regular commenter on my stories. I really appreciate knowing that they touched you.
-R. Michael
I LOVE that you share your stories! Your vulnerability and raw content is the most beautiful thing! I hope you know, that your words help people, give insight to those who feel alone in their journey. I am so incredibly proud of you and love you to pieces. ❤️
Thank you Jackie. You are so good at leaving comments as well, which is super helpful. It's all about the algorithm. Ugh.
No, you don’t overshare. You write for people who don’t care to pretend that real life isn’t messy.
A memoir writing teacher once told my class that, when we write about other people in our stories, we should extend them twice as much compassion as we do ourselves. That’s what you did. And I’m sorry you had to suffer such pain just to be able to love and live openly as yourself.
This week's story hass reactions to my last story called "We Did A Good Job", as well as what I did afterwards. There is a very entertaining audio overview between two people debating their perspective to my circumstances. I'm also trying some new formatting, particularly for stories about ADHD, or content related to neurodivergence.
Enjoy.
As always, your comments and reactions are very welcome.