I am straight, born in 1964 and grew up in NYC. There was a gay couple next to me that grew up with, although it was never stated that they were gay, it was understood, even to me at around 5-6 yrs old. I never thought it was illegal, and just knew some people were, and some people were not. SOme may claim this to being a unique "city" trait in being able to identify on sight, those who were jewish, gay, deeply religious, or other non-apparent attributes. We were culturally up-to-speed, we know what the current arty trends were. My brother decided to pursue a career in nthe arts, and I learbe dmuch later that he became quite insulted when one of our neighbors came on to him when he was 18, thinking - lol- showing the same sterotype the hippies taught us not to show: the homosexual was profiling, imagine that. As I grew up we all hoped that some day, ther would be nice places and not these seede "gay bars" or after hours places that "they" could go to. I never new how bad it was in other areas, I always assumed that those showing such animosity would be shunned and not get jobs, when I graduated college in 1985 since the hippies and the homosecuals, the agents of change and who were mostly lawyers, would insure it was not so, at least while the good paying jobs were in the city. I did not see that happen and am a bit let down. INtertsingly, when "tuesdays with Maury" as being witten? I was living the same thing with a guy named George Cushman Sherman Miller, He was an old guy and I met him through friends as he needed help in moving and I was at a bad time in my life, out of a job and hard ot find another. So I came over 2 days a week to do chores, shopping and get him out of the "home" he moved into for a drink. I made him stroll to the bar for exercise, he would take a cab back. This was in the late 90's. He said some interesting things that stuck with me. He was a Harvard grad form a good family and chose instead to work in social services because he said " Our generations really felt we could make a difference". He got "taken" by his live-in partner that died soon after, it devistated George, and prompted his move to the home. As he opened up to me a bit more I recall him also mentioning how it was easier to find a "date" in the old days when it as illegal, but nowadays, it wasn't as easy to go to proported "gay" bars, for I had asked why he did not go to these places, we all knew where they were. He also mentioned that back then they were filled mostly with Cops. shrug . I did fee some strange backlash, because I had a familiarity with Theater- my family used to take us to broadway shows ever year around christmas. My dad was an opera singer with the NYC opera co. ( when it was going strong) and because of my kowledge of it ( seeing Zero Mostel, in Fiddler, the original cast to Man of Lamancha, Pippin with Ben Vereen,The fantastiks with a young Jerry Orbach when Off-broadway was just beginning to be "cool". Oddly because of this knowledge Iw as ostracized for being suspected as Gay form people at work, from a really good job I thought I had. they kept making inapprooriate jokes, and I was always thinking it would come around sooner or laterm, and it would surely be manifest in my personal life, more liberal women attracted ot me for thessideals, and as a result more sex, for wch the others would see and wonder why I had this "air" about me. Sadly it never happened, and the people in those banking jobs are the same peple characterized in movies like wofl of wall street and boiler room. They got Rich. the hippes and the homosexuals never came through in a way I expected, no justice or come-uppance was done So I can see. I had an inkling that I might become more religious as I got older, I did not like organized religion at the time and we all "knew" about the catholic church, for that is wher ethe wealthy sent their children if they exhibited gay tendencies, to keep them, under wraps. It was even Lampooned in "National Lampoon" in the "My Name is Bernie-X" articles, we all knew...but thought there would be some kind of self-policing. I guess not. After alot of doubt, I am now, obese and in my 50's and single, and studying the word. I dont se anything bad in it. I am a rock.