David Loves Shaun Cassidy!

I don't care if I am dating myself, but my first gay crush was
SHAUN CASSIDY, baby!

Shaun was bascially the Justin Beiber of the '70s.

In 1976 I was in the 1st grade, and I aked my parents to buy me a "Hardy Boys" poster.

Of course, I certainly never told them why I wanted it. And oddly enough, once I hit puberty, my sexual tastes developed in a completely different direction.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but these days I really go for the bear type of a man. And twinks - a la Shaun Cassidy - now leave me kinda clammy.

David - Memphis, TN
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com

John Loves Peter Jennings!

My first gay crush was news anchorman Peter Jennings.

It was the late 1960's, and I was about 12-years old.

And I thought he was the most handsome newsman on TV.

He was so polished, professional, and a beautiful man.

It was around this time when I first started to be old enough to watch and understand the news, and I looked forward to it every night. It made me very sad when I heard he had died of lung cancer back a few years ago.

But Peter Jennings was still handsome and professional right up to the very end.

I still miss you, Peter. Anderson Cooper is hot, but he still can't hold a candle to you!

John - Raleigh, NC
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Tony Loves Albert Finney!

My first gay crush was actor Albert Finney.

The movie "Tom Jones" came out in 1963, and I was 13.

This crush was so special to me, as it really revealed to me who I truly was.

The guys I had gone to the movie with were all giddy about the buxom Susannah York and her exposed cleavage. But I was silent, as I only had eyes for Albert as Tom.

Finney was suave, debonaire, flirtatious, and just gorgeous. And with a sparkle in his eye and a smile that would have melted butter.

But I knew I couldn't say what I was really thinking: "He is sooo cute!"

I went home that night a changed person, and started to reassess my relationships with my pals: Which ones I liked swimming or wrestling with. Who made me nervous when we had sleepovers. Who earned the badge of being my "best" friend. And yeah, which ones were cute.

I never told anyone about my crush until I came out years later. But every time I see pictures of him circa 1960, I smile warmly. There's nothing like a first love to keep you feeling young.

Tony - Miami, FL
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Nathan Loves Robert Conrad!

My first gay crush was actor Robert Conrad!

I was 12 in 1967, when I discovered Robert Conrad on "The Wild Wild West."

He played James West, the handsomest man I'd ever seen, with the bluest eyes I had ever seen.

He wore the tightest pants I had ever seen. And he had the most remarkable butt I had ever seen!

That combination, plus watching him defeat armies of thugs every week, made me want to spend my life with him. Because this was back in the mid 1960's, I knew nothing about being gay. I just knew I loved James West more than anything in the world. It took me a few more years to realize that the latter meant the former.

To this day, I still think about this TV show, and I'm not alone: there are websites devoted to the same gay crush. And there always will be, as long as there is an Internet and gay men...

Nathan - San Diego, CA
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Click here: "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" book
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Fritz Loves Clint Walker!

My first gay crush was actor Clint Walker.

Even at 10-years old back in 1963, I knew and had known who I was attracted to. Whether or not it could be called sexual at that age, is a moot point.

I knew who I wanted to cuddle, wrestle, kiss, spend the night with, and see naked. And it was men.

Clint Walker was the first man in these fantasies.

I watched everything I could he was in - his movies, the TV series "Cheyenne" - and always anxiously waited for the shirt to come off. As I matured and my excitement manifested itself, it was almost impossible to sit in the den and watch him on our one TV.


As this was South Georgia in the '60s, I told no one about this crush.

But it was more than just physical, though. Clint and his characters were everything I wanted to be. Strong and quiet, and in control of his emotions; a good man who had no need to prove anything to anyone. What you saw was what you got. Were they masculine cliches? Yup.

There were plenty of other male crushes back then.
Heck, I think I was excited to see almost any man with his shirt off. But faithful soul that I am, I've always kept a special place in my heart for Clint Walker.

Fritz - Stateboro, GA
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Bob Loves Tommy Rettig!

My first gay crush was Tommy Rettig on "Lassie."

But I hope "gay crush" doesn't mean wanting to
have sex with them?

Because I actually just wanted to BE him.

Same thing with Brandon
De Wilde as Jamie McHummer on "Jamie."

But, dude - we're talking
57 years ago, in 1954!

It's hard to remember for sure who came first, but I'm guessing Brandon because I think his show was on first.

These were the guys I wanted to be when I became a 
12-year-old (I was 8 at the time)...

Bob - Atlantic City, NJ
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Christine Loves Lindsay Wagner!

My first gay crush was the gorgeous Lindsay Wagner in "The Bionic Woman."

Oh, baby! It was the 70's, I was in Jr. High, and I was so clueless about what I was actually feeling.

All I knew, is that I HAD to watch her every week. And I was really bummed that I wasn't Steve Austin!

It really was so innocent, in a way. I mean, what I wanted wasn't innocent, but truthfully I didn't really understand what I wanted. Or I just didn't pay much attention to what it all really meant. Duh!

I guess I didn't keep this crush a secret. Because at the time, it didn't seem to signify to me what I now know it really did. But oh man, was she hot!


Christine - Vista, CA
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Dave Loves Herb Alpert!

Trumpeter Herb Alpert was my
earliest gay celebrity crush.

My dad had all of his records, so it was bound to be either Herb or one of the guys from Peter, Paul & Mary. But somehow, Peter and Paul never quite did it for me. It might have been the facial hair. I was very picky even back then.

Herb Alpert was hot, and not just because he invoked visions of matadors and "The Dating Game."



Herb was so hot, that he inspired me to take up the trumpet in grade school. We had a very musical school system back then, and every student was expected to play something. Not necessarily the musical instrument played by their first celebrity crush, but something.

I ended up playing the trumpet in a talent contest, in a solo performance where I infamously flubbed the last few notes of "If I Were a Rich Man" (which I'd gotten out of the Herb Alpert songbook). I tried a couple of times more before giving up and walking off the stage humiliated, with the intention of killing myself right then and there at the tender age of 12.

Anyway, what killed my career as a star trumpeter was braces. I tried, but man, all that metal did not mix with trumpeting. Ow. I still sometimes think about taking it up once again. Now that the braces are off.

Dave - San Francisco, CA
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Inspired by the "Born This Way Blog" - BornThisWayBlog.com