Oh Gay Can You See
If you've been reading my blogs for a while, you may recall that in 1991 and 1992 I worked for a gay night club. Tonight I was looking for an old picture of me and stumbled upon something even better (or worse, depending on your perspective... lol). Dig if you will this article that appeared on the front page of the Lorain Morning Journal on Friday 12 June 1992. Sure makes that guy sound gay... and they didn't even quote him correctly. But bear in mind that the Morning Journal is pretty much the northern Ohio newspaper version of Fox News.
And try not to laugh too hard at the picture. 
Stay tuned: in an upcoming blog I will be posting some of my old poetry inspired by the gay bar.
"Daddy don't like it but Mommy still wonders, Sweet Boy
But you're allowed to try it and I point no fingers
Sweet Boy, but I'm still wonderin' what it means, boy
You hold your wrist so limply
You don't have to camp around
Save all your money, go confess on Sunday, Sweet Boy
And you get your copy of "Honey,"
back on the street by Monday
Sweet Boy, but tell me where does that leave me, boy
Save the satin undies, don't pluck out your eyebrows
Stow the mincey lisping, you don't have to camp around"
Reply to this
Hahaha....
Reply to this
The Minister has read about this article in your previous blogs, and is glad that you found and posted it! An added treat is the photo of the young John (in color!) on the page... I am digging the peace symbol and the grave expression.... Would you mind telling us what the correct quote would have been?
As far as "sounding gay", what does that mean? Do you mean that you sounded fair and sympathetic to your gay customers? Well, you did, and The Minister applauds you for it. Hasten the day when people are not judged by whom they love. And The Minister will hold you to the promise of your posting poetry inspired by the gay bar...
Reply to this
Thank you, Minister!
For the exact quotation, I'd have to find my journal. But I remember making a huge point about how SAFE the place was, to reassure potential patrons - but the article ended up making people afraid to visit.
One day I'll write about the time my car was egged and my windshield was smashed outside the bar... or the time I had to case some gay bashers away with a baseball bat... lol. Maybe I didn't really sound gay... but in that picture I certainly look gay... lol. Funny... my girlfriend at the time worked at the gay bar, too (on a part time basis) and the article makes no mention of that.
Gay is a synonym for happy!
Silly me... I went to work for the bar thinking it would be filled with HAPPY people!
Reply to this
a peace symbol around the neck, and a baseball bat... now there's a photo opportunity! lol
Reply to this
ain't that the truth?
Reply to this
It was mainly to scare 'em off... I wouldn't hurt a fly.
But for some reason I has a reputation as a tough guy... a reputation that I was happy to have in that situation... lol.
Reply to this
I feed on your Name like a cockroach on a crumb - this cockroach is holy.
Reply to this
And Allen Ginsberg has never told a lie... as far as I know.
Reply to this
ah, if only he had helped me to quit smoking...
Reply to this
LOL... there's always hope.
Reply to this
i have tears in my eyes from laughing...
Reply to this
shiny happy people?
gayly skipping their way through
a paisley park,
listening to melanie sing
beautiful people,
and raising their hands,
because they...
are sure,
they are not,
going to get their asses
back to sunset blvd.
hee hee...
wait! i'm sure i forgot an artist or 2 for this comment...
Reply to this
I think you've got a hit on your hands.
Reply to this
i may have sampled too many other songs... *laughing*
Reply to this
....all the funnier because of who the author of the article is....do you remember her, JC?....and here i thought peace signs were "taboo" in the 80's....YOU ARE VERY BRAVE, MY MAN!!!!!...seriously......
Reply to this
lol... thanks, barbie!
Actually I don't remember the writer at all. I just remember there was a female reporter and male photographer. And her name doesn't ring a bell anymore. But you've got me extremely curious now.
Reply to this
.....huh, your site blocked my comment...and it was a good one.....
Reply to this
It showed up in my Spam comments (wonder why) - but I can fix that!
Reply to this
Oh, my gosh. You looked so very young. But, you are still handsome as can be.
Reply to this
Thanks, Mama! I appreciate you not mentioning how GAY I looked... lol
Reply to this
i'm kind of digging the "flock of seagulls" hair...
mom's can be very wise.
Reply to this
lol... "I ran, I ran so far away."
I actually love the Seagulls - but I think I was under the influence of Prince as well. As he sang in "Paisley Park":
"There is a park that is known
4 the face it attracts
colorful people whose hair
On 1 side is swept back
The smile on their faces
It speaks of profound inner peace
Ask where they're going
They'll tell U nowhere
They've taken a lifetime lease
On Paisley Park...."
Reply to this
this makes me want to listen to "beautiful people" by melanie...
did you know we can not, as commenters on your blogs, do simple html anymore? *pouts*
Reply to this
I know! And I'm not sure how to fix that. I've tried... but it's still on my to-do list.
Reply to this
bet that list would wrap around the world a few times.
see what happens when i can't myspace to work? i leave even more comments than usual on your blogs *laughing*
Reply to this
nice pic of your xxx self. do bisexuals really exist? why do people hate me? i wish we were working on another screenplay treatment. hugs.
Reply to this
*raises her hand* i am bisexual. yes, we really do exist.
i do not know you to hate you, but then again, i don't hate people, only situations.
Reply to this
Raise your hand if you're Sure!
Reply to this
well, now i'm going to have that jingle stuck in my all day...
Reply to this
Thank you, Zayn!
I think bisexuals do, although I've heard interesting arguments to the contrary. I tend to agree with Dr. Kinsey that everyone is somewhere on the spectrum between the two extremes. Some are very close to one of the extremes, some are closer to the middle, and one can find folks on every point in between.
If people hate you it is because (1) they don't understand you or (2) they fear you - and usually number 2 is caused by number 1. You're brilliant - and I don't think anyone brilliant could hate you - in fact, they'd be more inclined to love you. Nearly every great human in history has been hated as often as they were loved (examples include Socrates, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr - and I daresay Hillary Clinton as well... lol). The mediocre seem more immune to hate - or at least they're not as likely to inspire it.
And let's get busy on that treatment, damn it!
Reply to this
lmao oh man. You have lead an interesting life. People with the most diverse backgrounds are the most interestings I've noticed. It's a very nice/interesting pic of you as well.
Reply to this
Thanks, Jamie! Some parts have been more enjoyable than others, but I must admit it's been pretty darned interesting! "What a long, strange trip it's been...."
Reply to this
lol you're welcome. I think life is supposed to be filled with its fair share of good and bad. All that matters in the end is how you went about those turning points and if you learned from the choices you've made.
Reply to this
I agree, Jamie! And I greatly appreciate your friendship.
Reply to this
aww thanks!
Reply to this
.....oh goodness!!!! i was thinkin' exactly the same thing at the same time as the Minister....LOL...he is just much quicker on the trigger
Reply to this
I'm going to start calling him "Trigger Happy Jack"!
Reply to this
Lol. Only you, John! You have such a way with words!
Reply to this
Thanks, Terese! I had a hard time deciding on a title!
I considered "Happy gays are here again," "Those were the gays," "Gays of Our Lives," and a few others before settling on "Oh Gay Can You See."
Reply to this
I guess "You're a grand old fag" would be out of the question...LOL
Reply to this
LOL... no you didn't!!!!
Reply to this
I just knew you were too pretty to be straight
Reply to this
Thanks, Maria! Are you saying I'm bent?
Reply to this
JC, you do know that "bent" is British slang for "gay", don't you? There's an excellent 1997 British film titled "Bent" that stars Clive Owen, Lothaire Bluteau, Ian McKellen, and Mick Jagger. It's a rather dark yet uplifting film, set mostly in a concentration camp during World War II.
Owen and Bluteau are two gay men who find love despite the brutality of their surroundings("a forbidden relationship... to teach that without the love of another, life is not worth living"). The Minister highly recommends this film.
Reply to this
I didn't realize that... LOL
But your remarks about that movie starring Jagger reminded me of another Mick flick, and this song from it in particular.
Here it is: nudity, "faggy lttle leather boy" (his words, not mine), and the rest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QPN0dbTDAg
Reply to this
Wow-- didn't know that Jagger could look so conservative. He's such a naughty boy. Thanks for sharing that video, JC!
Reply to this
It's always been one of my guilty pleasures.
Reply to this
.....hey, this was on last night on LOGO channel!!!!!! Great movie!!!!!!
Reply to this
And I missed it! Alas....
Reply to this
That took some guts to be shown in the paper. Homophobia is rampant.
Reply to this
It seemed even worse back then. I had no idea it was going to be on the front page - thought it was going to be a little blurb buried in the back somewhere....
Reply to this
same eyes, then and now.
Reply to this
Aye!
Reply to this
Dang you aren't GAY??? hahaha. All good looking men are gay can't convince me otherwise.. SORRY no can do..
Reply to this
LOL...
Reply to this
I love the picture. You remind me of Al Pacino. Something about your eyes...
Reply to this
Everytime I hear the name Al Pacino I think of Tony Montana: "Sanitation? I told you to tell 'em that you was in a sanitarium, not sanitation, sanitarium." LOL
Reply to this
I lost track of you when you finished at LCCC. So this picture is a surprise.
The next time I saw you in person was when you were released on parole. By then it was 11 years later. I wondered what you were doing but didn't know you worked in a gay bar. You should have gone to a four year college and I would have recommended you to Oberlin or some other place nearby. Too bad you were mixed up with that ex-girlfriend. Reality sucks.
Reply to this
Oh man, that picture makes you look like the lead bouncer in some gay bar knock-off of Road House.
...."Rod" House?
Reply to this
Hahahaha! Starring Patrick Gayze?
Reply to this
Totally agree about the kinsey scale and I actually think there are many more bisexual people out there that fear their "gay' side. too much societal stigma and parental fear. it's sad. we should all express and experiment as we please sexually as long as your safe and honest with yourself.
And I wouldn't be surprised if Jesus had some male sexual experiences. Many men did but no one had a label for it then.
Reply to this
Thanks, Pugzz!
When I read what you said about Jesus, which I believe is absolutely possible, the phrase "Prince of Piece" came to mind... lol. Thank goodness hell is nothing more than a metaphor - or I'd be going there for sure.
Reply to this
not to mention the second coming...
Reply to this
Haha!
And "Take, eat, this is my body."
Reply to this
yeah...6" of his body.
Reply to this
Reply to this