Jun 07, 2011 4:28 AM GMT
I was outed by wrestling - to myself - at about age 7. 
That's a stage of life before anybody has sexual thoughts let alone sexual functions. But watching the "Big Time" pro shows on Saturdays clued me in that I was a man-lovin' man, not that I had a clue then. All I knew was that there was something really interesting about those burly guys in square-cut trunks throwing each other around complete with "grunts n' groans." Since just about every kid in school also watched it, I soon found out that they were more interested in trying what they saw than anything else. If there was something about one of the "wrestlers" they'd bring up, it was passing mention of how strong or tricky or EVIL he was. Nobody focused on how handsome or well-built any of them happened to be. So that was an unconscious "aha" moment that certain things were best left unsaid.
When I got to see the real sport with real competitors, all doubt was removed: the action was hot and the wrestlers damn sure were too.
So, I owe early awareness of my gay sexual identity to humankind's oldest + toughest + funnest + oh yeah HOTTEST sport. I'm sure watching and taking part in it has enhanced the gay life of a lot of us, but how many can look back and say that Saturday-afternoon headlocks and flying mares gave them their first "aha" moment?
That's a stage of life before anybody has sexual thoughts let alone sexual functions. But watching the "Big Time" pro shows on Saturdays clued me in that I was a man-lovin' man, not that I had a clue then. All I knew was that there was something really interesting about those burly guys in square-cut trunks throwing each other around complete with "grunts n' groans." Since just about every kid in school also watched it, I soon found out that they were more interested in trying what they saw than anything else. If there was something about one of the "wrestlers" they'd bring up, it was passing mention of how strong or tricky or EVIL he was. Nobody focused on how handsome or well-built any of them happened to be. So that was an unconscious "aha" moment that certain things were best left unsaid.
When I got to see the real sport with real competitors, all doubt was removed: the action was hot and the wrestlers damn sure were too.
So, I owe early awareness of my gay sexual identity to humankind's oldest + toughest + funnest + oh yeah HOTTEST sport. I'm sure watching and taking part in it has enhanced the gay life of a lot of us, but how many can look back and say that Saturday-afternoon headlocks and flying mares gave them their first "aha" moment?
