Robert Loves Race Bannon!

My first gay crush was Race Bannon!

Back as a 7-year old Midwesterner, I'd had passing crushes on male classmates and a few female cousins' boyfriends.

But at 9, I fell hard for Race Bannon, Jonny Quest's bodyguard.

He was tall, handsome like Rock Hudson, and prematurely grey or platinum blond. 

He had an advanced fashion sense, was a pilot, loved Jonny and pal Hadji, and kicked exotic bad-guy butt every week without sweating.

My dad was uncomfortable with my obvious affection for Race, and my little brother told everyone I loved him. Which was fodder for neighborhood bullies who already couldn't resist hassling me (even though we had the only real pool in the neighborhood at our house).

The show only lasted 2 years, just long enough to have my first real-life experience at age 11.


I dated a few Race Bannons over the years (letdowns), and when living in India, a few Hadjis too. Today I'm in my mid-50's and married to the best guy on Earth.

But Race (we remain on a first name basis) will always be my first "famous gay" crush.

Robert - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
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Steven Loves Brian Kelly!

My two gay crushes were on TV shows in the 1960's.

My first real gay crush when I was around 11, was actor Brian Kelly. 

He played the dad on "Flipper."

He was always shiny and sweaty, or in his swim trunks and scuba gear. 

His character as a strong, strict, loving father was my ultimate fantasy.

And the other was actor Vince Edwards, who played "Dr. Ben Casey." 

I was fascinated by all the dark hair on his forearms, and sometimes getting to see his chest hairs peeking out of the top of his shirt.

To this day, I am still attracted to dark Irish or Italian looking men.

Even as I look at these pictures now, they are mighty fine!

Steven - NYC, NY
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Jim Loves Steve Reeves!

My first gay crush was bodybuilder/actor Steve Reeves

I was 9 when I first saw him in "Hercules Unchained" in 1959.

He was extremely handsome, bearded, sexy, with a muscled physique.

Basically, the total Daddy Package, something I've been drawn to all my life.

The body, the face, the personality:
This hot man was basically a Demigod.



He was a man's man who looked like he could wear you out in the bedroom, but at the same time be devoted and protective of you. And I still love him 52 years later.

Jim - Canton, OH
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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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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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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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David Loves Chuck Connors!

Actor Chuck Connors was
my first gay crush.

I was a little boy in the 1950's, and one of my all time favorite TV shows was "The Rifleman."

And it was totally because of that hunk of a man, named Chuck Connors.

He made this little gay boy swoon. I was riveted to his every move in his tight jeans, which always accentuated his muscular legs and butt.

He played Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford played Mark,
his little boy.

I wanted to be Mark, who got to hug Chuck. And ride horseback with Chuck. And just be with Chuck a lot.

It was my secret, but oh how I fantasized about my crush.

David - New York, NY
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Doug Loves Guy Williams!

My first gay crushes: the men on "Lost In Space." It was quite an alluring show for me.

Growing up in my small town,
I lived mostly in a land of make-believe, while other kids busied themselves with sports. Then "Lost In Space" came along and I fell in love.

I wanted a father figure like Prof. Robinson. He was a stern authoritarian, but also so kind and gentle. Everything my white-collar dad was not.

What I imagined our relationship would be, I can't say. But I knew I wanted Guy Williams to hold me.

And then there was Mark Goddard as Don. There was something special about the way he wore his belt down over his hips, like a gunslinger in outer space. Or perhaps the sexual sparks he emitted with Judy.

My make-believe fantasies included Prof. Robinson and Don together in much different, confusing ways.

I really wanted to be Will Robinson, and I imagined myself traveling to distant planets with my pet Robot. It was quite the fantasy for me. 

Everyone on the show (except the annoying Dr. Smith) set off some radar along the way. Even Debbie, that weird chimp!

"Lost in Space" helped me realize I might be more "different" than I could have ever imagined.

Doug - Ellwood City, PA
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Jack Loves Tim Considine!

My first gay crush was 50's teen actor, Tim Considine.

At my age, the straight world might call me an 'old-timer.'

In gay terms, I guess that makes me a fossil? Thus, I imagine few others would remember my first gay crush?

And back in the 1950's, my mom worked at a time when few mothers did, so I often came home to an empty house.

Rather than playing ball outside with the other kids, I ran home to watch TV, where I sat absorbing what the world was going to be for me.

While I eyed several of The Mousketeers on "The Mickey Mouse Club," my heart truly belonged to Tim Considine. He also played Spin on TV's "Spin & Marty."

As I was shipped off to YMCA camp every summer, that was more fertile ground for forming crushes. And the experience of bunking with other boys cemented my self-casting as Marty. He was the not-cool, self-sufficient kid whose buddy knew his way around.

And who wore jeans that actually fit.

And for sure, Tim Considine gave me a funny feeling in the groin area. Although, there was that friend of my dads who drove a Harley and wore boots and leather, too. But that's another story altogether...

Jack - Upstate, NY
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